Inappropriate Elimination

Whether you have a puppy or an old dog, or a dog somewhere in between, chances are that you have come home at some point and found a little “gift” waiting for you. Maybe you have gotten up in the middle of the night and stepped in something very unpleasant. Hopefully this has been a one-time event. After all, anyone can have an accident once. But, if this is an ongoing problem then something has to be done. More dogs probably end up being turned in to animal shelters because of inappropriate elimination than any other reason. People won’t live with dogs who soil the house.

If you have a puppy who has not yet learned his housebreaking lessons then, by all means, you should start again right from the beginning and work on those skills. Watch your puppy closely. Whenever he starts sniffing around the floor or looks for a private corner you need to hustle him outside, whether you walk him or you have a backyard. Remember to take him outside right after he eats and as soon as he wakes up from naps. It’s also a good idea to put his food and water away by about 8:00 pm and take him outside to potty for the last time at night by 10:00 pm. You will need to get up early and take him outside first thing in the morning. You should also consider a crate for your puppy. Crating him at night while he sleeps will help cut down on overnight accidents.

If you have an adult dog who is having a problem with inappropriate elimination many of these same tips should help. Put away his food and drink by 8:00 pm and take him out for his last potty time by 10-11:00 pm. Consider crating him overnight while he sleeps. Most dogs will not soil their own sleeping area so this may solve the problem of inappropriate elimination overnight.

If your adult dog continues to eliminate in the house you may need to look for other causes. Does he have diarrhea? Could he have a bladder infection? If you suspect there is anything physically wrong with your dog that could be causing him to eliminate in the house — perhaps he is eliminating in the house before he can reach the outside — by all means take him to the vet. That may solve the problem and get your dog the help he needs.

If there is no physical problem and your dog continues to eliminate in the house your dog may be showing signs of stress or a behavior problem. Is there stress in your household? Has there been a recent move? Have family members left or been added to your home? Is there a new dog in the house? Any of these things can cause a dog to act out by eliminating in the house. This would be an emotional problem and your dog will probably stop the elimination behavior when he becomes more secure with the changes in your household. Making him feel more secure by spending time with him and playing with him may help. Continue to take him outdoors where he should eliminate and try to keep a good routine in your house to make him feel better.

If the inappropriate elimination in the house is taking the form of a male dog lifting his leg on furniture you can help stop this behavior by keeping a spray bottle handy. When ever you see the dog start to lift his leg on something, spray him and tell him, “NO.” Be very firm because this behavior can be hard to break if it becomes fixed.

If you have an older dog who is having problems with inappropriate elimination you should probably take your dog to a vet. Many spayed female dogs have problems with incontinence but there is a drug that can help stop the problem. Other older dogs may simply have problems with bladder and bowel control. Some people use children’s diapers on their older dogs to help deal with the problem. Your vet may be able to offer other solutions. It may help if you personally walk your older dog outside a couple of times a day to make sure he is able to deal with stair steps and other problems. Some older dogs may have eyesight problems that make going outside difficult for them. Anything you can do to help make their trips outside a little easier may help the situation.

There can be a lot of reasons for inappropriate elimination depending on the age and condition of your pet. Try to find the reasons behind your dog’s problem and you should be able to stop it.

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