seperation anxiety and urination

[culinarycutie]

I have a female Weimaraner, 8 years old. I had her from a puppy. I am having a serious problem with her potty habits. It has seemed she has un-potty trained herself. When I go away- for more than 2 or so hours- she urinates on the carpet. The majority of the time it is in the same half of the living room, but there are several other places as well. I scold her, and then clean it up- and as soon as possible I use the carpet cleaner on it. I use carpet cleaning soap, and then a second rinse with white vinegar sometimes to help kill any bacteria that might be growing in the carpet. She almost never poops on the carpet- only on rare occasions. I know she has separation anxiety bad- won't let me out of her sight really. And needs a lot of attention. I don't know what to do. When she was a puppy- she was crate trained, but I really don't want to put her back in her crate. (She would pee in that as well- on her blanket..... And she figure out how to get out of her crate, didn't want to be in there.... had to padlock it shut)

This problem is out of control. I don’t even put my carpet cleaner away; just keep it in the corner. And the first thing I smell is urine when I walk into my house. I took her to the vet, and they did a urine test to see if there was a problem- and they saw just a few crystals in her urine, but nothing to be alarmed from. They told me I could put her on reconcile, but I REALLY don’t think drugging my dog is the answer.

I don’t know what the problem is, or how to correct it- but it is really becoming a problem for me!
I look forward to your advice

Jennifer and Cleo

[Lisa Coull]

Hi and welcome

If she was house trained before despite the SA, has anything else changed that could be causing the urinating or might you be leaving her too long? There's little point scolding her when you haven't seen her do it, she will just associate your return with a telling off

TBH it might just be that the carept still smells so she is drawn back to that same spot. I'd use biological washing liquid rather than carpet cleaner and then a final rinse with the white vinegar. It could also be worth considering taking up the carpet - eeek expensive job

[Muriel]

I just replied on your other thread. I agree with Lisa, no point scolding her, she thinks you're scolding her for existing.

It would help if you put everything about her in the one thread, it's all related. Drugging is not the answer, you have to figure out the problem, then you can find the answer.

What happened in her life shortly before she started peeing in the house? That is probably the trigger. It could be changes in routine, change in people around her, new neighbours making scary noises, vaccinations, other drug treatment, anything.

First thing I'd look at is food. You mentioned in the other thread that she's extremely hyper so I'd reconsider what you're feeding her. Think about feeding real food - meat, fish, veg, fruit - what dogs ate till someone invented throwing a load of stuff in a vat and calling it "dog food" If not real, look for a high quality organic commercial with no additives, preservatives etc and with actual meat in it, not meat derivatives.

SA - you'll probably have to go back to basics - start leaving her for seconds and build up gradually to longer periods. The Animal Healing CD can really help - from New World Music by Perry Wood and Margrit Coates - play very quietly on repeat. Flower Essences can be very helpful once you know what the problem is. Animal Communication is the simple way to find out what's upsetting her - simply ask. Rhea is in Canada and is excellent www.ridgebluffhealth.com Her site is still in progress but her email is there.

You'll get there once you understand why.

[Kiarazoom]

Yup no point in scolding her as she will not add it up and everytime you leave she will be more and more anxious

I agree on back to basics, my Kodi was crate trained and stayed home all day when I worked but it fell apart when the teens kicked in, luckily for us its no problem as my daughter just stayed with him and we started right back at the begining. We would literally treat him for just going in his crate and out again, then a few moments with closed door etc, he can be left in blocks of hours similar to those he did before now . I know you havent mentioned a crate but it would be the same for you in that you would start just by being on the other side of the door and close it and open it and return etc and build from there

Hope you get it all sorted

[Dexter]

When you go out let her have access to the hall and kitchen not other rooms at the moment esp those with carpet. Does she have some exercise before you go out?
Scalding after the event is adding to her stress associated with you leaving the house.
More stress when you return seeing the urine.
Agree with back to basics suggestions as if she was a pup again.
Keep us posted how you're getting on.

[June Cutler]

The SA anxiety may have escalated and when the dog is distraught as they are when you leave and they have SA they urinate or defecate. Scolding will just make the stress worse and cause her then to be anxious when you ariive home, So then you get a vicious circle.
Have a read through about SA on the forum. There's plenty of advice to be found.

[June Cutler]

Just to add, Have you had her checked at the vet for uring infection or loss of muscle control of bladder?

[culinarycutie]

Hi Everyone!
To answer a few of your questions:

I feed her Biljac. It's made in France- good stuff. (I believe). She loves it. I try not to feed her too much people food- just occassionally get to "lick the bowl".

I can start with the crate again if I must. But she hated it so bad- she would try to get herself out- and figured out how to undo the latch. Wore down her bottom teeth trying to get out! I have to padlock it shut. (She's really smart).

I tried just limited access before- and she made an attempt to dig her way out of the room........
Dug out under the fence when I tried leaving her outside.
She follows me everywhere- same room- at least on the same story- always has to know where I am. If I leave her at my parents house- at first she'll run from room to room frantically looking for me- then eventually will settle down, but will get up everytime she hears a car pull up.

She is full of energy- still. Chases my kitties just to be onerary. We'll race up and down the street. She's a great swimmer- can almost out swim me- and I'm a competitive swimmer- (that's her launching herself off a dock towards me in the water) she can clear a 5 foot fence at a standstill- loves to race up and down the stairs.

She did go through a divorce with me.
She was potty trained before hand (crate trained- would pee in the crate). I "lost" her for a year- then got her back- and slowly worked getting her out of the crate. When I first got her, and my house back- she didn't totally remember me. IDK if my ex treated her properly or not. I do know that he fed her cheap "grocery store" dog food. She eats and loves the good stuff now. Now she's my shadow. My ex is no longer around or in our lives.

She is small for her size- 8 years old about 60 pounds. Apparently- right after she was born, she died, and the breeder rushed her to the vet and brought her back to life. My exhusband picked her out.

Other than that- she's very well behaved (usually)- listens to all commands- and her training. All voice commanded.

So I don't what the deal is.
Eventually, when I get some $$$ I'm going to put in hardwood floors in the living room

She's extremely protective of me too!

So that's it. I'm sure I'm not the only one!
Lot's of stories!!!!

Jennifer

[Joan]

It sounds as though she is very stressed.

Has she always has SA or it is just since your divorce, there have been a lot of changes in her life. I'm not really sure what to advise you, but if it were me, I think I'd go right back to basics as though she was a puppy again. Try not to let her follow you about the house, a dog gate in the doorway may help but by the sound of it, she'd probably jump it.

Does she understand 'stay'? If not, teach her, then start telling her to stay every time you leave the room, but start off my leaving and coming right back, then start to gradually increase the time you're away, Do it very gradually. Reward her for calm behaviour when you get back.

She will still be able to smell the pee in the carpet even when you can't. Just an idea, but I wonder if getting a large seed tray from a garden centre and filling it with newspaper and putting it in her favourite peeing place would work, as you might for a small puppy, just until you've got the SA dealt with?

I wish you luck with this, I think it will take time so try to be patient, you obviously adore her, that shines through in your posts, echoing what others have said, never scold her for peeing in the house, I think it is beyond her control at the moment, she's probably terrified you're going to leave her again like you did when she was with your ex, not your fault but that is how she would have seen it.

[alkospice]

Hi Jennifer
I am afraid I can't offer a solution, but I do sympathise! Our Weim, Elke, is 14 weeks and we have installed a stair gate and don't allow her upstairs. She is very attached to her mummy and if I go upstairs, she will always do a little protest pee in the hallway - at the top of the steps into the kitchen. This is despite her being almost completely house trained (90% of the time she will ask to go out, 10% she will use newspaper by back door). She often does this even when my other half is in the house with her and we have chosen to accept it and hope she grows out of it, and would suggest that, if you can, you do the same. It sounds like you have a beautiful, clever dog and its even possible that if you started to use a litter tray to avoid her SA related accidents, she may even take to using this all the time - proably not a great idea! I spent my teens with a rejected guide dog pup (an amazing GSD) who came back to us at 18 months old and it took the best part of 3 years for her to readjust to her normal self, so I know how hard SA can be.

[culinarycutie]

Hi everyone!
So I've been doIng some reading. One thing I saw was long good byes distress them more so I've tried to make them shorter. She knows when I go to work and she'll pout and I bring her a cookie and sit next to her and talk to her and just say I'll be home soon and tell her to watch the house. If she doesn't accept her cookie right away then I'll sit there a few seconds and pet her ears then try again. I also will Leave her a few cookies in her dog food bowl ( which she saves for when I get home to eat).
So I'm working on the leaving part. Should I not give her/ leave her cookies? Thanks

[Amanda]

Hi Jennifer
I was interested to read your thread as my weim (Purdey) has started urinating at night / early morning for no apprarent reason! She is about 8 too. Nothing has changed, routine is the same. Like yours she is my shadow and can't understand why she can't do everything with me. We have dealt with the fact that I leave her to work to put food in her bowl and I have now discovered that she literally sleeps all day and doesn't bark at anything, postwoman thinks its amazing so she really isn't that stressed, even if she swears blind her day will be 'so dreadful' before I leave and again when I return. I don't pander to that at all as it makes the SA worse. I get ready for work, give her a kong which she won't likely touch until I come home and then leave for work. No petting / fuss as that reinforces how bad it is that I am going.

Anyway about 2 weeks ago she started weeing in the kitchen at night / before I get up. She started to whine at around 6.45 (I suspect that is when she wee's). She always has a good pee before bed, nothing has changed. I can't get to the bottom of why she's doing it. She didn't last night - why last night was any different I do not know.

Sometimes I think she is testing me - these beautiful dogs can be daft as they come but equally are quite manipulative (in a doggy way!) - as I know she wants to be on my bed rather than downstairs but we have always had the same routine.

As to not scolding that everyone is saying, if your weim is anything like mine she knows exactly what she has done. Mine won't enter the kitchen until I've cleaned it all up, I don't get upset with her as its clear in her posture that she is mortified as she knows its not on. So I just clear it up, let her out and get on as normal. Humans sometimes have periods where we need to get up in the night, who knows what sets these things off. I am reading the threads to look for clues but if there is nothing else remiss maybe its best just to give it a bit of time. I toyed with putting paper down but decided that this might be giving her permission to pee.

Re the seperation anxiety generally - its taken me 3 years to 'chill' about it all and that has been the turning point! I banned her from the lounge in the day and she tried opening doors, scratching frames, floors etc. Anyway back end of last year I opened the lounge door for her and she curls up on the chair all day!! Doesn't move and there has been an end to the 'antisocial behaviour'. I actually came home one lunch time and she was so sound asleep she didn't even know I was there!!!! That is progress!

Sorry for the long, long thread, felt the need to share as I know how horrible it is to not know what to do for the best. Good luck and I look forward to seeing what people advise.

[Kiarazoom]

I agree that it sounds like a back to basics approach is needed, she does sound stressed and often us humans think that reassurance is the key but dogs just think that means that there really is something to worrry about.

When leaving I wouldnt look at her or talk to her but I would leave the cookies for her to munch on, you could try getting a Kong and filling it with really interesting goodies that she can work to get out.

tbh the SA wont improve if you cant teach her to be alone when you are there, it doesnt have to be massive alone time but she needs to build confidence so that you can be in another room and as already posted above you need to start by asking her to lie down or sit and walking away just to the point that she is still comfy and wont break the stay then return to her and praise her and build on that slowly.

Ignoring her when your there really does help as it helps to loosen that desperate connection shes made, its good to have a bond but not one so tight that she cant cope alone. Make sure any attention you give is on your terms and very limited.

Its been a long day for me today and im worn out so hopefully that all made sense and hopefully others will be along with more suggestions soon.

Best of luck with the lovely lady, she just sounds like she needs to build her confidence in herself

[culinarycutie]

How about rawhide bones???? Will that be ok to appease her while I'm at work until I can get a kong? Are they ok for her?
thanks

[Lisa Coull]

Hi - I wouldn't leave her any rawhide, they can try to swallow pieces that are too big once they are soggy and they can easily get stuck.

I think you are right to make your leaving routine less fussy for want of a better word. I just give mine a biscuit and say 'settle down see you later,' Della is already in her bed as that's where she gets her treat - goes back to crate days Nina has added excellent advice - work on your alone training whilst at home with her.

Keep us posted