Sudden Behavior Change

[Chuck Holliman]

Our Labradoodle "Rusty" will be 6 months old next week. He has been very good about going out to his potty box, going to the door and barking to go out, etc. and we have not had any accidents for several weeks. This week he started piddling in the house, right in front of us sometimes, and resists going out. We decided that we would go back to taking him outside on a regular basis and he now hides from us when we attempt to take him out or runs behind our yard furniture and piddles in an area that is off limits. He seems in normal health, he had blood work done Friday in preparation of neutering next week (maybe the tech told him what was going to happen), and we are not aware of other changes other than we started obedience training classes last week.. We take him to our community dog park twice a day and he romps with all of the other dogs and seems to have a good time. He does stick much closer to us than before and gets upset if one of us leaves the car (we don't leave him alone in the car). I have read that they go through a second "fright" period around six months and could this be related to that.

We are puzzled by the sudden change in his behavior and are wondering if this is a normal part of their development or is there something else going on?

Chuck Holliman

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

I had a similar issue with my Ozzie. A little different because my Ozzie WANTED to go out all the time, but would come in and go potty!! I took him for UTI tests...and he was also neutered. I'm not sure if the neutering helped, I'm sure a little, but I just kept taking him out when he wanted. Now I think we are through the rough patch.

Now yours doesn't want to go out? Odd - maybe something happened outside?

[Adina P]

Chuck, I would ask your trainer just in case he/she has a good idea about it. It VERY well could be the second fear period going on---so I suppose do your best to make new things be fun and pleasant and be a steady and calm leader. Give him things to do that he KNOWs how to do for confidence building. The accidents may or may not be related...has he had his urine tested?

[Chuck Holliman]

Adina:

Thanks for your input; we have not had his urine tested as he seemed okay overall. He goes in for neutering on Tuesday and I will mention it to the Vet and have his urine tested.

[Joy Originator of GiantSchnoodles]

You mentioned a potty box. At first a dog inspired by the pee poop smell but after awhile they don't like that spot any more when there is too much smell. I would change the spot or change whatever you have in your potty box. PUppy love from Joy & furry folk

[Chuck Holliman]

Joy:

Excellent suggestion! Our back yard is fully paved with Mexican pavers other than the pool; when we decided to bring a dog into our lives, first one in over 35 years, I wasn't sure where he would be able to go without any grass. I found the Pet A Potty on line and it has worked well, but with the weather warming up in the desert I will need to wash the artificial turf and flush out the collection tray more often. I have the potty box hooked up to drain into the sewer and plan on adding a water flushing system that would rinse the tray with fresh water a couple of times a day.

[Jacque Reynolds]

When you mention that he hides I think of a couple of things...
If you have scolded him when you see him going potty in the house, he will think that you don't want to 'SEE' him and he will hide. Dogs don't considre urination or defication as a bad thing...only a natural thing...but if you get mad when you see them they will hide. If you catch him and do anything...just distract him, clap hands, talk in a happy voice and take him outside. If you dont' catch him...the moment is gone. Just clean it up with order neutalizing compounds.
Another thing is that he has no control...your vet may have tested his urine, but sometimes a bladder infection does not show up in urine. I'd ask the vet to check all possible things before neutering.
Finally, he may be marking...marking is a naturual thing, and if you don't neuter them BEFORE they mature, they learn to mark and then it becomes a habit.
If it is physical, use a belly band for him when he is indoors until you can correct the problem...if it is training, just start over at crating agin...it won't take too long to get him back.
Good luck!

[Chuck Holliman]

Jacque:

Thanks for your suggestions; I think that Joy probably nailed it for me. I have been using a vinegar/water solution (and being a male more vinegar must be better) to spray the Pet A Potty; my wife checked my spray bottle and said that I am using way to much vinegar. I switched to a clean piece of artificial turf and cleaned the tray yesterday and he now runs to the box, no more accidents. Amazing how a simple thing of using too much vinegar can change a pets behavior. We have never scolded or yelled at him for any of his accidents so the hiding was not from that, I think he just did not want to go out to his vinegar smelling box. He had his neutering yesterday and came through fine; he was in some pain last night (we have pain meds for five days starting today) and let us know he needed to go out at midnight to piddle and again at 2 AM to potty. He usually sleeps through the night but we were anticipating this with the surgery. He is back to his usual very active self today and we are trying to keep him from jumping on/off the couch, etc which is a challenge. The plastic collar that was put on him was too short and he was able to lick the incision so he went back to the vet this morning and was fitted with a longer collar.