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My lovely 2.5 year old neutered border terrier dog, Elwood, had an accident in the house when I we were out longer than usual in the evening. We think he got really stressed out and pooed and peed on our guest bed.
He has never done anything like this before and even as a puppy only had one or two accidents during toilet training but since this time he has peed in the house once when I was in the house, once when I left him for an hour and my husband woke up this morning to poo and pee all over the lounge floor where he sleeps at night (which has a cream carpet ).
We haven't told him off because we've never caught him in the act and we don't want him to be scared etc.
He used to be really good at letting us know he needed to go out, coming to find me or barking but he seems to have broken a barrier in just one incident and lost his inhibitions about going to the toilet in the house.
The first step is a full vet check to see if there's any medical issues.
What are you cleaning up the poo and pee with? Some detergents which contain ammonia can leave a smell that will encourage him to use the same spot again.
It might help to go back to toilet training basics, taking him outside every hour, say, and praising/treating him when he performs. Also make sure his stress levels are kept low - don't leave him for too long, and then when the toileting seems to be resolved, build up time again gradually. If you do see him in the act, don't tell him off, but just take him outside, then clean up without saying anything.
I've got an appointment with the vet today. We have been cleaning up with specialist cleaner which eliminates the odour of pet toiletting, but he's not done it in the same place (or even room) twice. I haven't left him for more than an hour since it first happened and will make sure we go back to basics with a toilet training routine again.
He doesn't seem stressed out (except the first time) and we're wondering if the vet gives him a clean bill of health whether to go back to crate training him and have him sleep in there at night.
Because he's done it in while I was in the house without alerting me, and didn't bark overnight which he usually does when he needs the toilet at odd hours I'm wondering if having one accident can completely make him lose his training altogether?? I.e. The first time he was desperate (we let him out to go for a poop before we left but didn't supervise and think he may have got distracted) and now he doesn't mind toiletting in the house? Can it be that quick a reversal of habits?
I guess we need to wait and see what the vet says too...
heathldv wrote:Can it be that quick a reversal of habits?
I really don't know - but I know dogs can learn some things remarkably quickly so it's possible. I can imagine a totally housetrained dog who, on having one accident for whatever reason, thinking 'I didn't even know that was even possible! But it seems it is, so I'll add that to my list of "places to poo/pee".'
I hope your cream carpet cleaned up OK, and he soon gets back to being accident-free.
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