Omg! Help!!

[mabird]

Ok, here goes...

As some of you here may know, I had adopted a retiring breeder beagle girl back in October (She was being used to breed puggles), she was six then, but has since turned seven this past spring. Her name is Ezzie.

At the end of June we got a new puppy, a female shih-tzu, Paisley. Since then, Ezzie has begun "peeing" in the house. Not lil' squirts I had always imagined 'marking' dogs to leave, full-fledged pools of urine. First, my loveseat, then the floor, clothes waiting to be put away in the bedroom (folded on floor),then she got the loveseat again... I love her to death, but it is truly a burden. Most recently was this morning's "marking"... Paisley had been spending time on the couch getting brushed and watching tv with me & our beagle was on the other side of me, sleeping as usual... I always am sure to show Ezzie equal attention, since the first "marking incident"... Therefore, Ezzie had been brushed, was being pet & spoken to this entire time. Paisley had then settled down and went to sleep next to Ezzie. I had to start laundry so I took Paisley off of the couch (we have hardwood floors & I didn't want her jumping down and hurting herself) and the next thing I know is I've got a couch full of pee! She soaked 2 cushions and the ATTACHED back of the couch has absorbed quite a bit of it.

First I would appreciate any help as to how to stop this (As I am already very emotional over this, please spare me the 'get rid of the puppy cuz Ezzie was there first' comments & the "you've got to catch her in the act & retrain her" technique... THAT is impossible)

Secondly, I would appreciate info on how to clean my cushions & the parts of the couches that are not removeable. I have removed the zip-off cushion covers, however I have no ideas on the other parts.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Poohsbirds97]

Oh I am so sorry you are going through this. I am not sure how to clean the couch, as I am getting new furniture tomorrow cause I don't know how to clean mine. (So maybe I can learn something here with you on this one.)
As far as retraining or helping with the Ezzie issue, lost on that one too. Hope someone has a plan to help you.
I fully understand not getting rid of her, cause if our human kids did it we wouldnt be getting rid of them either. So just know, I am thinking of you in this time of stress.
If I can find out anything of help I will surely send your way.

[Jwhear]

I would use a steam cleaner on the couch cushions that you can't remove, be careful washing the covers though since they could discolor and/or shrink. They make a stuff called Urine Off and it works really well.

As for getting her to stop, try not letting her or the new puppy on the couch and try using bitter apple to keep them off. That would only eliminate urine on the couch and not the urinating problem. The other thing is I would have her checked by a vet as she may have a baddler infection which would or could cause uncontrollable urinating. It sounds like a behavioral thing, but it could be medical as well.

Good luck

[mabird]

Originally Posted by Jwhear

I would use a steam cleaner on the couch cushions that you can't remove, be careful washing the covers though since they could discolor and/or shrink. They make a stuff called Urine Off and it works really well.

As for getting her to stop, try not letting her or the new puppy on the couch and try using bitter apple to keep them off. That would only eliminate urine on the couch and not the urinating problem. The other thing is I would have her checked by a vet as she may have a baddler infection which would or could cause uncontrollable urinating. It sounds like a behavioral thing, but it could be medical as well.

Good luck

I truly think it is behavorial, rather than medical... it happened RIGHT after the pup had been on the couch. Also, she (Ezzie) is not spayed, since I got laid-off form my job back in January, I'm not sure if that may be a factor, as well.

[red192]

I'll ship u my dog if you want! the mutt! she peed on my couch too! she is in da dog house. I tell ya Melissa u need to be closer! we could be out there on that dock, sunning and flirting and having some serious mixed drinks! we both need em!

[magdalena]

Usually urination if it isn't madical is a sign of submission. You can google submissive urination and probably come up with a lot of ways to help her deal with it. She's unsure what is going on and that's her reaction. Leerburg.com has some great forums you can take a look at there too.

I've generally only deal with dominant dogs but if I were you I'd make sure your first dog got fed first, pet first, walked first, played with first to let her know that the pack order is still in place and Paisley hasn't taken her spot. She's nervous now and not getting cues from you as to what is going on. If it is behavioral it could be a sign of marking but I'd look at the pack structure first. I never let dogs up on the furniture because that can lead to dominance issues as well.

[mabird]

Originally Posted by red192

I'll ship u my dog if you want! the mutt! she peed on my couch too! she is in da dog house. I tell ya Melissa u need to be closer! we could be out there on that dock, sunning and flirting and having some serious mixed drinks! we both need em!

Ya know, they say timing is everything... let's ship both the girls to their Uncle Tom now!

[mabird]

Originally Posted by magdalena

Usually urination if it isn't madical is a sign of submission. You can google submissive urination and probably come up with a lot of ways to help her deal with it. She's unsure what is going on and that's her reaction. Leerburg.com has some great forums you can take a look at there too.

I've generally only deal with dominant dogs but if I were you I'd make sure your first dog got fed first, pet first, walked first, played with first to let her know that the pack order is still in place and Paisley hasn't taken her spot. She's nervous now and not getting cues from you as to what is going on. If it is behavioral it could be a sign of marking but I'd look at the pack structure first. I never let dogs up on the furniture because that can lead to dominance issues as well.

Oh, trust me... she has totally lost her right to be a couch potato in this house!

[magdalena]

If she's not allowed up there (understandably) Paisley shouldn't be either or it may exacerbate the problem. Also your reaction when she pees has to be calm (yeah I know good luck). The more she expects you to freak out the more nervous she will be and the more she will pee. It's not an easy cycle to break but if you can be consistent you CAN break it.

You can always try contacting a behaviorist/dog trainer. I'd read up on pack structure and introducing a new dog into the house first.

Also never correct her for peeing unless you catch her in the act, as in her butt is near the floor (or sofa cushion heh) and she's peeing, then just firmly say No take her outside and let her finish. Calmly. I'd also take her out a dozen more times a day, if she is all peed out she can't pee in the house. If she's getting you to herself on a walk she's re-establishing her place in the pack order and exercise will trick their brains into a state of happy peaceful doggie sanity.

And even if you are pretty sure it's not a medical problem have her pee on something light (like cement sidewalk) and make sure her urine isn't cloudy or wrong colored. It could be a UTI.

Leerburg.com Discussion Forum: Submissive urination questions....

[Falsk]

Originally Posted by Jwhear

The other thing is I would have her checked by a vet as she may have a baddler infection which would or could cause uncontrollable urinating. It sounds like a behavioral thing, but it could be medical as well.

I want to second this. I have cat who'll be 11 this year. About four years ago she started peeing in paper and plastic bags. (We, unfortunately, found this out Christmas day). Over the next couple of years we'd find scattered incidents of her urinating on our dog's bed, on couch cushions in the living room AND on the porch. We thought maybe it was due to a cat outside who she'd see (she's an indoor cat).

Her urination increased when our dog died and we got a new puppy who would terrorize her. All this time we'd been taking her to the vet and they had been prescribing some sort of kitty anti-depressant pill. By the time we'd gotten our puppy she was diagnosed with a severe bladder infection. She was given lots of new medication and we also moved her litter box to my room where the dog couldn't get to her.

Almost overnight the random peeing stopped. I don't know if it was changing the environment that helped her or the change in medication, but the point is, I don't know how long she'd had the infection before we were able to find it and treat it. It maybe something latent with your dog?

Sorry for the long story (it was a VERY long ordeal). Hope everything works out! With our cat's pees, we found a special cleaner called "Nature's Miracle" that eliminates the odor in the carpet/furniture so the animal won't try and remark.