Hi, my 5 month old Golden Retriever has gone for many weeks now without weeing inside the house (he is crate trained).  When he is in the lounge with us he goes to the patio doors and looks out when he wants to go and have a pee in the garden (and anything else!).  We put him out when he has had a sleep as well even if he doesn't "ask".  However, today, after going to the vets and drinking quite copious amounts of water (but went and had a pee in the garden on coming home) he peed in the hall and then about 10 minutes later (after I had cleared up) he did it again in front of me - just stood there and did it!.  I shouted at him the second time as he was in front of me (the first time I heard him in the kitchen but didn't quite get in in the act as thought it was a hose outside!).  Is this just a one off (or two off) or is this the start of adolescence and misbehaviour that I keep hearing about???

Why did you shout @ him ? Chastising dogs for toileting inside can result in them actually going more indoors, but hiding when they do it.

Far better to not react @ all & simply clean it up & deodourize the area.

When you say you put him out don't you go out with him ? If you don't how do you reward him for toiletting outside ?

Dogs do not shown"deliberate"bad behaviour in the way you describe, they do not reason good from bad, the only thing I agree with a certain American TV dog behaviourist "Dogs live in the now" They remember getting rewarded for behaviour(that we find acceptable)& it is this method that should be used especially with puppies. They remember agreesive body language linked to a behaviour & that is not a route I would want to go down.

Hiya,
Your pup is still very much a baby, and it sounds like he was hot and tired after the vet visit.
When you take him outside to do his business, just as you you see him about to perform, tell him, "Go toilet" (or whatever word), and as soon as he's finished, "say "good toilet!!" and praise him as if he's won Crufts! My dog's 3 now, and I still say it...
Also make sure you've got the proper stuff for cleaning up indoor mistakes, otherwise he'll use that spot again.
Be patient, it all takes time.
HTH
PS That 1st mistake in the kitchen was your cue to take him out for 15 or 20 mins...if he makes another mistake, take him straight out and stay out until he does something.

> after going to the vets and drinking quite copious amounts of water

Is the vet trip relevant?  Some treatments may affect input and output...  Our pup was on steroids for a while and that dramatically affected his bladder control, so much so that sometimes he just 'leaked' whilst sleeping.  His brain wasn't getting his 'bladder full' messages, poor boy.

> he peed in the hall and then about 10 minutes later

If you get accidents inside your dog is unlikely to have emptied himself completely so always take him straight outside and wait til he goes again.  Then catch him doing it in the right place with lots of praise and a reward.  I always keep a box of tiny treats near the door for all the outside training.  At 5 months old I'd still be going outside with him every time so that you can reward in this way.  My dogs are 5 years and 12 months old and I still go out with them if I need to be sure they've gone, esp before bed, before car trips, and often before a walk too so that I can avoid carrying two very full poo bags home!

Don't tell your dog off, although it's hard not to say anything - mine was usually Oi! Outside! whilst moving quickly to the back door to call him out.  If young dogs pee inside try and treat it like it's your fault for not catching the signs, or remembering to take him out often enough and learn for next time.  I would also clear up whilst he was out of sight as it's quite hard not to tut and moan whilst doing it!!  He isn't misbehaving, his bladder capacity is gradually increasing but accidents at this age aren't unusual.

I've been told to shout (by which I mean a loud "No, don't do that") only if you actually catch them in the act, not if you come upon it from earlier.  He's usually a very good dog and gets tons of praise and treats, weeks and weeks ago when he was smaller and occasionally went inside in the kitchen, I did ignore it, but was advised that if he did something out of the ordinary (like this) to quickly tell him off and then do what you advise, i.e., clean up etc.  I do go out with him "hurry up" and give him lots of praise when he goes outside (which is usually all the time ...).

Who told you to chastize him ? He will only know you are being aggressive & it is counterproductive IMHO. Far better to still ignore & reward the behaviour you want.

Will ignore any future wee's indoors as advised and continue to reward as usual. Thankx

My dog has weed in the house on his bed after being clean in the house for some weeks,

What i do not understand after reading the posts is why you cannot tell them NO surely if you say nothing when you actually catch them in the act then they will not learn that what they are doing is wrong?

Pauline

Hi Pauline,

you don't say what age or breed your pup is (some breeds, notably toys, are slower to house train than others) but hopefully the following will help.

Depending on the age and length of period a dog has been able to be house trained, personally I would definitely not ignore one which I felt was needlessly soiling indoors - now't wrong IMO to say "Ah! Ah!" to undesirable behaviour of any kind once a youngster has had sufficient time (specific to each individual of course) to truly understand the basics.

I wouldn't reprimand a young puppy but one at 4+ months for eg that had otherwise been clean indoors and able to remain so overnight would be told "Ah!Ah!" and taken into the garden - then praised of course for performing where appropriate :)

Ignoring the bad and rewarding the good behaviour needs to have a sensible balance with discouraging undesirable behaviours too :)  Kind, fair, consistent and a firm vocal tone can all be used in conjunction with one another!

HTH,
regards, Teri

I agree that a NO when you actually catch them in the act is ok. For really young pups I think you need to give them the benefit of the doubt as their little bladders are so small! However, my girl benefitted from a NO when she practically wee'd on my foot and hasn't messed in the house since. I think it is good to make it clear you aren't happy with it, but a NO is as far as I would go to avoid making it an ordeal.

Hi

I have a nearly 8 month old BC. Rescue dog he is great concidering i have only had him 6 weeks and not owned a dog for nearly 25 years.  He has been clean for 5 weeks.  Then last night he just weed on his quilt which is on the floor in the living room i was very surpised and shouted no and told him to go outside which he did straight away with head down.  Have to say i think he is being a proper adolescencant dog as he is getting more naughtier the longer i have him and i thought it got better.  I remember when i first had him reading posts from of a BC site feeling smug that my dog does not do all those naughy things ha ha that will teach me he is soon catching up. I'm now ticking them all off day by day.

Pauline