Outdoor Sports Forum Discussions

Hi Vicki,

We have a 4-year-old lab that we got two years ago from the humane society. For no reason that we can find, she has started wetting in the house, and I'm at my wits' ends! She goes out as often or more than our other dog, and I'm home most of the day and available to let her out. I don't know why she's doing it or what to do to stop it--but I can't be living in a barn! Any suggestions?

Monica

Hi Monica,

The first thing to do is have her checked by a vet to eliminate the chance it is something medical. A urinary tract infection is a possibility. Is her urine a light color, dark color, any blood in it?  If it is not something medical, then we have to consider it behavioral. Do they go in the same place all the time? Could something have happened to her while she was out there? Hopefully not. At this stage I would get a crate and just start your housetraining from the beginning. Take her out by herself (you need to go too) and have some really good snacks with you, like pieces of hot dog. Use the words you usually use to have her go (i.e. go potty) and if she does go, immediatly as she stands up from her squat, throw a party! A term a dog trainer uses which means in a very happy voice say good potty over and over and give her a handful of the treats. This first message that she did what you wanted needs to be loud and clear. Dogs want to please, so it's only fair we make sure we let them know when they do please us. That's how you get the behavior to repeat. If she did not go potty that first time you took her out, bring her back in and put her in the crate. Wait 30 minutes and try again. Be sure not to make the crate a negative experience. you can even throw a bone in or some treats to get her to go in on her own. Never force her. If you don't have a crate you need to confine her to a small area. Crates are better because they can still be in the same room with you or see what's going on unlike being in the laundry room or bathroom by themselves. Good luck, I Hope this helps. If there's anything else, let me know. I'd also like to hear how the vet visit went.