I need some advice..

[Elizabeth]

We just discovered tonight that Sophie has been peeing on the floor in the lower level. We don't think it's been going on for long. We were told she was potty trained. We noticed that she wandered off downstairs a couple times, but we didn't think anything of it. Tonight, my husband stepped on a wet spot in the carpet down stairs, he says there is an obvious area she has been going to. Sophie had cataract surgery on Dec 1st. Everything is going well with that. Her eating schedule got a bit off track at first, but now she seems to be back to normal. She does seem to drink a little more than usual- and has been asking to go outside a couple times at night- which she didn't do prior to the surgery.

A couple things I could mention is that she was initally 1. submissive peeing when we would come home and let her out of the crate and 2. she was afraid to go into the basement at our house, and at a family member's house. We brought her into the basement and rewarded her for coming down there and she has been fine ever since... going downstairs freely with no hesitation.

Any advice on why she's doing this and how to correct the behavior before it becomes a problem?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would also think that maybe it is significant that the area where she sees you leave (maybe causing some anxiety) and where she knows you'll return (causing excitement) is the area where she is urinating. But I am far from an expert on this.

[Christa]

Hi Liz, I agree with many of the above posts, step one, make sure she doesn't have a urinary tract infection with all shes gone through. The gates seems like a good idea too. This is a whole new world for her. Hopefully when her routine comes back, it will seem more normal for her. Give her a couple of days and see what happens. If I ever come back to this world, I wanna be a doodle in your house!! Good luck Liz. Patti Cake sends kisses

[Denise, Winnie, and AngelAbby]

We have a 12 week old pup - and she is crate trained - she sleeps in there during the night - and I pull her food and water dishes up at about 7pm. She sleeps thru the night. Maybe you could try putting her crate in your room and having her sleep in that instead of giving her full run of the house - or try shutting your bedroom door to keep her in with you. With any luck, she wouldn't want to potty in your room and will let you know if she has to go out. Eventually I would like to allow our pup to have full run of the house during the night (my daughter can't wait until Abby can sleep with her) but it will be a while before that happens.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Liz -
This probably is just a behaviour issue that you have to correct.

I have researched seeing issue in dogs particularly as it relates to my Mariner. One of the issue that I researched that I beleive also relates to Sophie is about how dogs handle regaining their eyesight after not seeing for their whole life or having lost it early in life. The only information available on this has been a show on TV as it relates to a man that lost his sight as an infant and had it restored in his 30's. Although he has perfect sight his brain does not know how to interpert the sight. A humans brain learns to see from birth until about 2-3. After that the part of the brain that is in-charge of inerperting sight no longer learns. It appears that this is what is going on to some extent with Mariner.

My point of this is that although Sophie may be seeing perfectly her brain does not know how to interpert it - so she is getting a little confused and needs time to adjust. She s also used to using her other senses (particularly smell) to guide her, so make sure that any urine smell is completely eliminated.

[Oonagh]

Hi, Elizabeth--
Last summer our doodle Oonagh had surgery for hip dysplasia. Prior to the surgery she was perfectly housebroken but she developed some issues in the postsurgical period. We let her out OFTEN and she came around nicely. Maybe Sophie just feels punky. Our JRT Edith was always meticulous about housetraining and she too developed some difficulties after lens removals X2. She was cowed by the ecollar for the first few days. Is Sophie taking any drugs that would be related? Maybe she thinks the basement is 'outside." Our experience with our girls has been that recovery takes longer than we thought but they are both terrific now.

[Ali]

Nature's Miracle and lots of it, particularly on the spot where she pees. But that's all the advice I have. Good luck

[Elizabeth]

Well, the doctor said that the medications she was on were making her hungry and super thirsty. He is tapering her off of those because she doesn't need them anymore. We took the cone off yesterday, and she is acting more like her old self again.. She hasn't gone is the basement again.. as far as I can tell. I sprayed the area like you suggusted, and we have been watching her very closely throughout the house. Letting her out more frequently to go to the bathroom, and praising her. I have a feeling it was a simple case of not being able to hold it... she was going through water like crazy and we don't kennel her at night. I think she wasn't waking us up to go. We'll see, only time will tell.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Very glad to hear that Sophie's doing better with the peeing issue! Did the doctor have any more to say about her vision? Are her activities still restricted?

[3lf12ffyckhuk]

Dandi had an urinary tract infection when we got her. She would drink alot of water (she still does but no infection, guess she just really loves water) When she would go out to go potty she would squat and pee several times. Your vet could take a urine sample to see if she has an infection. We have had several dogs that would pee pee when they got excited, Dandi does this every once in awhile. All the dogs seemed to grow out of it. She sure is cute and blessed to have you guys in her life!

Hope all goes well,
Pam & Dandi