Need Help on Urinating Problem!

[georgean78]

Hi All - I need your suggestions!

Our male lab puppy who is now 9 months is having a problem in which he urinates on everything while we are in sight. He is kept in his own room with our other older male lab(8years old) during the day when we are at work. When we arrive home, we immediately take him outside, play with him to release energy, feed him, etc. For the past couple of weeks, we have noticed more of a urine smell upstairs. Now we are noticing that he is just lifting his leg on everything. Our bed - he has ruined multiple comforters and bedskirts,,now he has moved on to urinating on our pillows. I set out a pant suit last night and hung it from the door knob in our hallway and he urinated on in this morning after he was already outside. We let him out to our backyard multiple times a night and even walk them once per night. I have 4 labs and have never had this before. Garbage cans, any type of store bags etc if its in his reach - he urinates on it. Kitchen cabinets, computer tower, - everything. My husband caught him outside 2 days ago urinating on the other dog who was laying on the porch.

He goes to the vet next Saturday and is scheduled to be neutered on Feb 9th. Any suggestions - has anyone dealt with this before? Its becoming very frustrating for me as our house is just being destroyed with urine. Thanks for reading!

[Jennicat]

It's pretty common for unneutered dogs to mark things. Unfortunately, now that he's started, neutering him may not stop the problem.

[Jerica]

Yes, getting him neutered as soon as possible might help, even though it may not stop the problem now it can still possibly help. I'm glad he's getting it done. He's trying to claim everything as his and it is a dominance thing. It can be a hard thing to correct, but keeping him in a crate instead of a whole room can help in the house. You probably already do this, but if you ever catch him in the act say "NO" and take him right out side. My beagle, Shiloh, who is 12, still marks everything however he's an outside dog so its not a big deal, he's been neutered since before I got him when he was 4 yrs old, don't know when it was done though, but I assume not soon enough. My mom has never let me keep him in the house so he's been outside most his life, when I do bring him in though I watch him very close and he's crated at night. He'll be coming in the house a lot more now that I'll have my own place in May. Good luck with your dog. I really hope neutering helps, other than that, you'll have to watch him really close and crating may be very helpful. Hope you figure it out.

[rstowe]

Getting him fixed should help but you will probably have to go through "housebreaking refresher" training. He will have to learn to go outside all over again.

Best of luck.

[mommyof2]

Yes, you will need to housebreak again... just because you neuter him doesn’t mean he will stop. At his age it may take a bit of time. With the other dog I am sure it is a territory thing.

You have to catch him in the act. When you do to say " NO" and them show him "outside" then say something along the lines of 'potty outside" once he does go outside praise him! Maybe try first taking him for a walk, and when he pee's on the walk start introducing the words "potty outside" and "good dog" when he goes along the walk.

Dogs are smart. Soon he will pick up he is to go potty outside and will learn. Have you also thought about crate training? :)

[Poof]

Have you tried crate training? About 5 years ago we got our puppy, neutered him, housetrained him, and then my parents broke the news that he was supposed to be an outside dog. After five years, I finally convinced them to let him back inside but he was marking on everything, even when someone would be standing right with him. I got a crate, told him "no" the two times he tried to pee inside, and he's been great ever since. :) It's the crate that did it...Good luck!