housetrained dog now peeing in the house

[wdlmj]

My 6 year old lab/chow mix, Sammy, has recently started peeing in a couple of places inside. He was housetrained when we adopted him at 1 year. Very good dog, intelligent and friendly. A few accidents over the years, but really very good at waiting until we let him out. About a 6 weeks ago we noticed a couple of areas where he had gone in the house. Of course this had to be on the corner of our nicest pieces of furniture! Now we are desparate. We have tried boudary spray to keep him away from these areas, and recently resorted to locking him in the garage (with food and water of course) while we are at work. This was never necessary before.

We think we know what started the problem. Our daughter brought her do over to our house (another male, but much younger). Since then, Sammy must be trying to mark the house as his territory. The other dog has not been back over for the past 3 or 4 weeks, but the problem continues. He must be doing it in the middle of the night when we're sleeping because he never does it when we are around the house with him.

My question for all you experts: What can we do? Can we retrain him? I

think he knows better, because as soon as we notice the spot and start to clean it, he gets sad and goes to lay in the corner. Any ideas? I hate to think we have to continue locking him up during the day or putting him in a crate day and night, but it may come to that unless we find another solution.

Help please!!

 

[elegy]

The first thing to do, IMO, is rule out a urinary tract infection. Then I'd go back to housebreaking 101 for awhile. Don't give him free access to the house. Use a crate if you need to. Go back to rewarding him for going outside. Watch him like a hawk and interrupt if he starts to pee. Don't let him sneak off and pee. Make sure you clean all the areas with an enzymatic cleaner.

 

[wdlmj]

elegy, thanks for the advice. That is basically what we are doing. I was just wondering how long until we can trust him again. I know that is not something anyone can tell me, but I was curious if others had a similar problem.

Thanks again.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Perhaps another option is to make him a comfortable area in your house where he can stay when you are away.

You might consider an exercise pen, or a very large crate so he has plenty of room.

You can put a nice cushy bed in his area, hang a water bucket, and leave him toys to entertain himself with if you like.

This way he can be comfortable in your house, not locked away in the garage, and he won't be sprinkling and tinkling while you are away.