Toilet Trained Pup Peeing On Carpet - Is It Something To Worry About?

[StaffiesRock]

We have had our 6 month old staffy pup for just over a week . She was toilet trained by the breeder and for the first week we had her she always went to the toilet outside. However, in the last 2 days she has urinated inside 3 times.

The first time was at my parents-in-laws' place on their carpet. At the time I thought it may have just been excitement and confusion at being in a new place.

The second time was when we got home that night. It was storming quite badly and when I went to check the windows were all shut she followed me and urinated on the carpet in the spare room (even though the door to outside was open). Again I thought this may have been caused by fear of the storm.

The third time was last night. I was in the study searching for something when she followed me in and peed on the carpet. I can't even begin to justify why she did it this time.

I understand that she is still a pup and accidents do happen. My husband and are first-time pup parents and I was just wondering if this is something that we should be worrying about or if there is anything we should look out for, or can do to try and prevent peeing inside becoming habit.

At the moment we take her outside every half an hour or so to do her business and praise her when she does. She also sleeps inside at night and manages to hold on from about 9:30pm to 4:50am (when she wakes us up and lets us know its time to go outside).

I would appreciate any help you can give. Thanks

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Could well be fear but it could also be a urinary tract infection, one of my housetrained dogs had the same problem suddenly and that's what it was.

Her urine was darkish in colour - check the colour of yours.

Once you eliminate that as a possibility, you could remind her how to be housetrained. She could be going over others' smells perhaps?

Here is the method I use (I've successfully housetrained over 40 dogs with this):

Ok - first thing to do is decide on the command (I call it “do wees”) you will repeat over and over. You have to really focus on the dog for about 2-3 days to be successful. You have a pocketful of special treats on hand all the time for the first 2-3 days.

Walk the dog several times a day and every time the dog wees, you get very excited and keep saying “Good boy/girl, do wees, do wees” – give the dog treats every time.

First thing in the morning, last thing at night and every time you see the dog eat or drink (both precursors to weeing) whisk the dog into the garden and repeat the command “do wees”. Get very excited and present treats every time dog goes.

The dog’s aim in life is to please you. If the dog should have an accident inside the house – say NOTHING at all. The dog soon gets the idea that when he/she goes outside you are really, really pleased and he/she gets rewarded.

[StaffiesRock]

Thanks Dogmad. I will check the colour of her urine when I get home to elimante that as a possible cause.

When we take her outside we do actually tell her to "do wees" (I thought we were being original) and give her lots of praise and pats when she finishes. We might have to start adding some treats in there - do you have any suggestions (we bought some Puppy Training Treats from the supermarket but they make her do the smelliest fluffs ever! ).

Thanks also for the tip about not doing anything when she pees inside. I didn't react the first two times as I didn't catch her in the act but the third time I tried saying "ahh ahh".

I guess she could be marking over old smells. We have only owned our house for 3 weeks - prior to that it was a rental and I know the previous tenants had a dog (god knows what they let it do inside).

[Teebs]

Im guessing she is just doing it cause she is confused from the move - go back to toilet training and she should get it - Staffs are smart!

My 20 month old bitch just peed on the floor, i took the other dog for a walk, and she went inside that will learn me for not taking her!

[fido666]

Pups will find the most absorbant material to pee on, Carpet is just the best for that . If you do catch her in the act or about to go, whixk her outside (mid-stream if you have to), take her to her place and praise her if she finishes it outside. Do as others have said with the praise and treats. Until she is 12 mths old don't expect her to be accident free, she's still a baby after all. Also, because your pup is 6mths old it might take a bit longer to housetrain her. The breeder may only have paper trained her rather than formal housetraining. I had terrible trouble with a 5mth old who had only ever been on paper in her run or outside on the grass. I had to work on making the paper smaller, moving it closer to the outside door, and eventually had to resort to taking the paper out on to the grass so she knew it was OK to go out there too. It was a struggle but we persevered, eventually she got the message.

Good luck and enjoy your new puppy ;)

Cheers,

Corine

[ellz]

I find too that quite often it is a territorial thing. The best toilet trained dog of any age will quite often have an "accident" in a new location. As suggested, check her first for a urinary infection and then take her back to basics and you'll probably find she is back to trained again in a very short period of time.

[Dogs4Fun]

I find too that quite often it is a territorial thing. The best toilet trained dog of any age will quite often have an "accident" in a new location.

I'll say. We took our mature well toilet trained border collie to a friends place once ...

and he peed ...

all over their christmas tree and presents!!

So embarrassing.

[Staff'n'Toller]

If it continues it would be worth getting her checked out by the Vet for urinary tract infection.

Probably just because she is settling in with you, Staffords can be a bit sensitive about things.

Mel.

[Cordelia]

She's only been with you a week and she's still a bub..... UTI is unlikely based on the info given...

Give her a chance to just settle in. She's finding her way and her place in a new world for her and it can throw them out of sorts for a few weeks.

[Staff'n'Toller]

She's only been with you a week and she's still a bub..... UTI is unlikely based on the info given...

Once upon a time I would have said the same thing, but my latest pup had the beginnings of it, a couple of weeks after arrival.

Mel.

[StaffiesRock]

Thanks for the advice. I checked out her urine that day and it was normal so no UTI thankfully. I continue to reward her with pats and praise when she toilets outside and so far so good. No more accidents. I guess it must have just been the confusion and stress associated with the new environment.

Thanks again for your help...it really helped to ease my mind as a first timer. :D