Hi,

Just need some advice.  As you all know, I am owner to 8.5 month Tundra (Malamute).  We were able to housetrain him very quickly.  He learned not to pee or do the other inside of the house.  For the past week or so, he has decided to start peeing and pooing at night.  Nothing has changed in his routine but he is normally so very good.  This morning I came down to 1 poo and he did another just afterwards while we were not looking.  He had already been out and did one first thing this morning.  Also, last night, OH was stroking him and Tundra started to pee straight away standing up whilst being stroked.  I also found this very strange.  He has done this in the car also.  I always thought dogs wouldn't pee where they have to sleep but it seems that it doesn't bother him whatsoever!

Does anybody have any ideas or reasons why he has started to do this?

Thanks

Charlene

I don't know about Malamutes but my Chance did the same thing - at about 9 months. I just put it down to adolescence (sp?). He soon grew out of it. If it worries you though I'd have a word with the vet in case it's an infection of some sort.

First thing is a visit to the vet, to pee and poo at his age is not normal and if it is not some sort of infection you will have to try to sort out what has happened may be with the help of a trainer who you vet should be able to suggest.

Edit too add the occasional pee may be excused partially if excited but to be pooing and not asking to go out is strange.

Has something worried him in the back yard?

Thanks for the replies you guys.

I was going to get a urine sample down to the vets to see if he had an infection.  When we first brought him home as pup he had one then which was treated by antibiotics.  Maybe like you say, he has another.  He is normally very good.  If he needs to go, he runs to the back door but something is definately strange.  Maybe he is reaching that 'kevin' stage but I should talk to the vet first.

I don't think anything in the yard has worried him recently.  We have 2 cats also and I thought maybe he is marking his territory but he has been neutered so I'm not sure if this is the case or not.

Anyway, I appreciate your replies,

Kind regards,
Charlene

Sometimes at around that age a dog will start wetting around the house as scent marking his domain but the messing is not normal. Something seems wrong their somehow. The scent marking may be part of the "Kevin" stage but the messing is not an instinctive thing in that way.

There are a number of non medical reason, apprehension is one. He could be worried about something. Just the action of making one mistake could be enough to worry him into another. I don't mean you have been hard on him but he would know that he has displeased you and that could be enough with a "Soft" dog.

Best wishes, John

When was he castrated?

When he was 5 months......I know, I know, I am going to get slaughtered for this!  I know some peoples opinions differ when it comes to castration ages but I checked with my vet and his breeder and they told me it would be fine.  I hope nobody starts on at me about this!

Charlene

No it is up to you but, and some will now shout me down, it is possible because you have removed the hormones involved in the process of growing up that it has caused a hiccup in that process. He will get there in the end but you may need to go back to the beginning and house training again. The peeing with excitement is also a juvenile trait. Get him checked out by a vet and if he is ok then I would go back to treating him like an 8 week old pup.

When I had so many problems with a dog I had castrated years ago, I did a lot of research into the affects, not just with owners but also vets. The extension on the juvenile stage is quiet common, and as one vet pointed out to me when I was asking, of course, it affects the dog or bitch, if you did the same thing to a human you give HRT to balance things out, but with dogs, because they don't live long enough we don't bother unless it starts causing problems that the client complains off. There is every chance he will grow out of the juvenile stage without medication but it may take a long time. Manage without tablets if you can because not only are they very expensive but they also have side effects.

Hi Jackie,

Thank you for not shouting at me :-)!  He never pee's when he is excited.  Our other dog does that frequently.  We learned not to get her too excited when we first saw her in the mornings etc.  She still does it now and she is 5!  I will keep a close eye on him and put him out every couple hours so he remembers that his toilet area is the garden NOT my nice rug!!

Thanks again,

Charlene

Sorry thought you said he pee'd when he was stroked.

No, I would not yell at you, I may put myself out to try and stop someone castrating a dog but there is no point once the deed is done, and because I have made a study of some of the ensuing problems I am more than ready to try and help should the need arise. Hopefully you will not have any problems and your re-training should cure the present one.

Hi,

Well he did on one occasion pee when OH stroked his back.  From what I could see, he wasn't at all excited (he is one of the most laid back placid dogs I have ever seen!).  It seemed as if maybe pressure was put on his back and then he pee'd.  That's what made me think it was a urinary tract infection.  He has been better for the last day or so so I'm just going to be very vigilant with him.

Thanks again Jackie,

Kind regards,
Charlene

Your welcome, it could have been that he had been holding the bladder and the stroke caused some sore of stimulation. Glad things are improving