Peeing on the couch

[Kananga]

Ok, this has now happened twice in the last couple months.

I'll be vacuuming and of course Kananga gets excited and wants to attack it. But after awhile he'll disappear or calm down, usually laying/sitting down somewhere. Twice now he has decided to pee on the couch. Both times he had just been outside within a few hours if not less. The 2nd time was tonight and I was rather confused. He has been behaving very well lately and has not had an accident in quite a long time. Fortunately my couch is microfiber and the cushions have removable covers (albeit not an easy process). Fortunately both times it was isolated to just one or a few cushions. This time he had stepped in his urine and left foot prints on the other cushions. But still, easily dealt with (threw the covers in the washer).

My confusion is that it seems a bit out of place for him to do that. He hasn't exactly been consistent with doing that while I vacuum. Any suggestions? I'm actually taking him in to the vet in a week or two for his comprehensive exam. He'll be one years old at the end of the month.

My only other concern is that this is him marking his territory. Now, so far, I haven't had a reason to have him neutered. If this is in fact him doing so I would most likely consider that route. But please keep the suggestions unbiased.

[wizard]

Maybe he got tired of chasing the vacuum without getting the desired results (making the vacuum leave) and is venting his frustration this way. I don't think he's marking.
In any case, until you resolve this you might want to put some towels or some other absorbant material over the couch while you vacuum.

[Kananga]

@wizard:

Maybe he got tired of chasing the vacuum without getting the desired results (making the vacuum leave) and is venting his frustration this way. I don't think he's marking.
In any case, until you resolve this you might want to put some towels or some other absorbant material over the couch while you vacuum.

I simply may have to crate him while I vacuum to prevent him from going anywhere else. At least until he gets more used to the noise.

Tonight i'll have to use the carpet extractor since he left a few spots on the carpet (walking around after stepping in it). It allowed him to go again on the carpet last night, although this time I was watching him and stopped him immediately. I can't have any scent remaining.

Thanks for your insight though. I was hoping it was simply related to the vacuum. Him and I have gotten along very well lately (no accidents, no issues, etc).

[wizard]

You might also want to try using vinegar and water to extract the urine.

[sharronhurlbut]

I think you should consider fixing your boy, unless he is from fine breeding stock and will improve the breed.
He will not be so much under the control of his "seasons" and yes, males do have them.
Is there a reason why you don't want to?
I am asking in a non judgemental way….

[Kananga]

@sharronhurlbut:

I think you should consider fixing your boy, unless he is from fine breeding stock and will improve the breed.
He will not be so much under the control of his "seasons" and yes, males do have them.
Is there a reason why you don't want to?
I am asking in a non judgemental way….

He hasn't developed any behaviors that would lead me to having him fixed. That and I have read plenty on this topic about the Pros and Cons. There's no defined choice honestly since there are health issues with either choice.

I'd rather take the very small risk of him getting prostate cancer at an old age than see his metabolism slow and possibly have hypothyroid issues at some point. Not to mention the surgery risks.

He's always on a leash and is always with me when he's outside. I just haven't seen a dire need to have him put under for neutering. Personal choice really, but there's no threat to other dogs considering he's always supervised outdoors.

[Kananga]

@wizard:

You might also want to try using vinegar and water to extract the urine.

I went with a pet solution that has the enzymes to break down the urine. Cleaned all of the carpets this evening and it was a huge improvement. I had him in his crate while I did this since he was getting a bit nervous. I think he realized he was ok after while since he did eventually settle down. This was good training for him to know he's ok in his crate. Plus, he was able to watch me the entire time. He wasn't isolated.

I may do this for awhile until he settles down. He has peed before while I've been vacuuming, just not always on the couch. I remembered that after originally posting this thread. So it must be him frustrated with the vacuum or noise.

[kipsdad]

I had a smiliar situation 2 weeks after having my male neutered! He is now 8 months old and I never had a problem with him peeing on the furniture until last week. He peed on the couch once and then 2 days later peed on another piece of furniture in the living room and shortly after I cleaned it up he peed on the couch again.

I was working inside the house and my dog was soaking up some sun. When I entered the living room the dogg was in his original position - I was not doing any work or making loud noises.

My assumption is that he was "angry" with me because I was out of town for a couple of days. But I travel frequently for shrot trips and have had attitude before but never this.

Any thoughts? Or do you think that as he gets older he is uping the "attitude ante"?

[nobarkus]

Mine pee'd on his pile of toys the other day! I guess he wanted new ones.

[Kananga]

I honestly think it's a form of anger or frustration. I crate my brindle boy every time I vacuum or run the carpet extractor now.

He hasn't had a single accident since his UTI a couple months ago. So I guess he has been happy. He has also really calmed down too since he turned a year old back in March, and also since the neutering back in June.

[-ClarEmmKai-]

KANANGA:

I'm thinking that he views the vacuum as competition and may have pee'd to mark his territory and to release his anxiety, which is normal for any dog to do - it sucks that we shouldn't punish them for doing their deed as I can see a dog associating the negative attention as something positive and that the vacuum should leave and not the 'B'. I'm still trying to figure out if they get anxious because we're vacuuming the scent, hair and anything that they leave as dogs. As well, I think you're spot on about the noise and the suction caused by the vacuum that gets them going.

Our B would paw at the vacuum and after unsuccessfully trying to get him to like the vacuum - even trying to groom him with it, I now go straight to his crate and vacuum it out. Sometimes, he'll paw the vacuum head all the way to his crate and will go inside - which is great because then I get to close the gate while he's inside. I guess if he were to mark in there, all the better because at least he'll understand that he shouldn't be marking on his own things, especially his bed and especially when he has to sit in there for a couple of hours while I vacuum. =p

[-ClarEmmKai-]

@nobarkus:

Mine pee'd on his pile of toys the other day! I guess he wanted new ones.

NOBARKUS:

Karioe has these Virbac Enymatic Oral Hygiene chews - given for his teeth and bad breath due to the cod liver oil we put in his food, that he likes to chew by the front door. We wanted him to chew his 'special treat' in his crate instead of the mat by the door as part of his crate training .

That week was most confusing, mind boggling and humbling. We would give him three chances to stay in his crate with the treat and if he did not stay, we would take the treat away and give it to him the next day. By the fourth day he was doing great with little correction needed but by the fifth day he was back by the door, so I picked up the treat and threw it back in his crate. What does he do? He picks up the treat, goes straight to his puppy pee pad and urinates on it. WTF!? lol So, I left the treat on top of his urine for the rest of the day - gross yesss…but...since the treats are so enticing, he was back chewing it - IN HIS CRATE! WTF!?

I took the pee'd on treat away and gave him a fresh one and to this day he stays in his crate with the special treat. Funny thing is, is that he did the same thing with his toy that's supposed to stay by the door with which I washed the toy and gave it back to him...B's are funny creatures..

[-ClarEmmKai-]

@kipsdad:

I had a smiliar situation 2 weeks after having my male neutered! He is now 8 months old and I never had a problem with him peeing on the furniture until last week. He peed on the couch once and then 2 days later peed on another piece of furniture in the living room and shortly after I cleaned it up he peed on the couch again.

I was working inside the house and my dog was soaking up some sun. When I entered the living room the dogg was in his original position - I was not doing any work or making loud noises.

My assumption is that he was "angry" with me because I was out of town for a couple of days. But I travel frequently for shrot trips and have had attitude before but never this.

Any thoughts? Or do you think that as he gets older he is uping the "attitude ante"?

KIPSDAD:

Our Kairoe started lifting his leg at 6 months and since then, anything vertical is a peeing post. We're glad that he doesn't do it inside as he's potty trained but there have been a couple of accidents during the early stages when our routine was being defined and when I'd miss his cues. Unfortunately, the five people at the dog park in recent weeks are no exception - he is now 'that dog'! We spoke to our breeder and she advised us to limit marking and leg lifting by making him pee on flat grass. Great advice.

[nobarkus]

@-Clar|Emm|Kai-:

NOBARKUS:

Karioe has these Virbac Enymatic Oral Hygiene chews - given for his teeth and bad breath due to the cod liver oil we put in his food, that he likes to chew by the front door. We wanted him to chew his 'special treat' in his crate instead of the mat by the door as part of his crate training .

That week was most confusing, mind boggling and humbling. We would give him three chances to stay in his crate with the treat and if he did not stay, we would take the treat away and give it to him the next day. By the fourth day he was doing great with little correction needed but by the fifth day he was back by the door, so I picked up the treat and threw it back in his crate. What does he do? He picks up the treat, goes straight to his puppy pee pad and urinates on it. WTF!? lol So, I left the treat on top of his urine for the rest of the day - gross yesss…but...since the treats are so enticing, he was back chewing it - IN HIS CRATE! WTF!?

I took the pee'd on treat away and gave him a fresh one and to this day he stays in his crate with the special treat. Funny thing is, is that he did the same thing with his toy that's supposed to stay by the door with which I washed the toy and gave it back to him...B's are funny creatures..

Actually mine may have done it by accident I don't know as he is still a puppy and if I don't get him out within 3-5 minutes in the morning upon getting up he may lift his leg in the house. The toys are actually a chewed up mess anyway and they were sitting next to the china cabinet. He barely pee'd on them anyway.

[lvoss]

@-Clar|Emm|Kai-:

Unfortunately, the five people at the dog park in recent weeks are no exception - he is now 'that dog'!

Dog parks are the worst for this behavior because often the people stand around like trees and then are shocked and angered when dogs then use them as trees. Though you can't do anything about the other people, try remember to keep moving when you are at the dog park and encourage Kairoe to check in frequently and keep an eye on where you are.

[nobarkus]

@lvoss:

Dog parks are the worst for this behavior because often the people stand around like trees and then are shocked and angered when dogs then use them as trees. Though you can't do anything about the other people, try remember to keep moving when you are at the dog park and encourage Kairoe to check in frequently and keep an eye on where you are.

You are absolutely correct! They stand around then their dogs group around with them and you get dog fights. And then they complain! It's a social gathering for some people and they are not even paying attention to their dog.

[-ClarEmmKai-]

@nobarkus:

You are absolutely correct! They stand around then their dogs group around with them and you get dog fights. And then they complain! It's a social gathering for some people and they are not even paying attention to their dog.

…Uhh, is it bad to admit that I don't correct my B when it comes to the coffee tree people?...

[nobarkus]

@-Clar|Emm|Kai-:

…Uhh, is it bad to admit that I don't correct my B when it comes to the coffee tree people?...

That'll teach em to stand around!

The thing I see most at the dog park is humping.