hi

just found this website and wow lots of lovely GSD owners (and other dog owners),  i have had GSD's for some 15 years now and one nutty dalmation who sadly passed away in april leaving my 6 year old GSD pal lonely.  Anyway since Mutley (spotty nutter) passed on through old age Rosey our GSD has taken to peeing on the floor every night and sometimes messing.  I think she is missing her old mate, but dont want to get another puppy or dog, i think as she never saw him die she thinks why has he left me here with these mad humans.  She is in great shape and the most affectionate dog i have ever come across with the best temperament, she has never been spayed or had a litter (she has had a hernia since birth and vet doesnt want to disrupt it as it has never caused a problem - if it aint broke dont fix it), during the day if she is left she is fine, but i think she does it soon after we go to bed.  she has the run of the house at night, but never wakes me.  Does anyone have any ideas?????? i have tried the newspaper down on the floor and i am starting to try a herbal remedy of "seperation for dogs", but does anyone else have any ideas apart from getting another dog, which i dont really want to do as i cant replace mutley.  Thanks very much i dont want to tell her off all the time and get her anxious.

Don't tell her off at all (sorry, not sure if you meant you were doing that?) :)

I'd suggest a vet visit as there may be a health problem, it's always a good start and is part of the elimination process to solve the puzzle.

One suggestion I'd make is to get a DAP diffuser. This can take the edge of anxiety and may help :) You will need to leave it plugged in and switched on all the time. If not, it may be best to ask for a referral to a reputable behaviourist.

Lindsay
x

no i not telling her off no point - its like kids if they spill a drink it is not intentional so why shout at them (i a childminder during the day ha ha) - what is a DAP diffuser, what does it do?? - spoken already to the vet who agrees with me that this is seperation anxiety and not a problem with health as she is 100% fit - any other ideas before my house stinks permanently of p.ss!!! thank god for laminate flooring i say as she is also very hairy and i must say i love her to bits i just want her to be happy and the puddle downstairs each morning is starting to come the norm when it shouldnt be.  thanks for helping.

if you look here it shows you a Dap and what it does... and you can actually buy online from them aswell :)

I think you're right - she's missing her pal. It sounds like she's never been on her own her entire life, so it's all very confusing for her, not to mention lonely at night, poor girl.

Do you give her the run of more than one room at night? It might be worth confining her to a small area with her bed as dogs are loath to wet their beds - however this could result in even more upset for her if it disrupts her routine too much. It's worth a try, though. Another thing that may help her feel like she's got company is leave a radio on low - Talk Sport works best as it's not a music station.

It might be trial and error to find a solution and you may even find she stops doing it of her own accord when she comes to terms with Mutley not being there.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT - POOR ROSEY IS VERY SPOILT I AM AFRAID!! I USED TO HAVE 2 GSD'S AND THEY HAD THEIR BEDS AND WERE VERY GOOD, THEN UNFORTUNATELY I LOST THEM BOTH TO THE BIG "C" WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF EACH OTHER, THEN I RESCUED MUTLEY THE DALAMATION FROM THE DALMATION SOCIETY AS I REALLY DIDNT WANT TO REHOME A GSD, AS SOME OWNERS ARE COMPLETE D.CKHEADS AND ONCE REALISING THEY CANNOT GIVE THE CARE THEY NEED THEY MISTREAT THEM ETC., ANYWAY MUTLEY WAS WITH US FOR 6 MONTHS AND I ALWAYS LIKED THE THOUGHT OF THE DOGS HAVING COMPANY SO ROSEY CAME TO US AT 9 WEEKS AND BECAME A SOULMATE FOR MUTLEY, ANYWAY MUTS WOULD NEVER SLEEP IN A BED, HE SLEPT ON THE END OF MINE AND FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS I TOO HAVE BEEN MISSING HIM AS MY FEET ARE ALWAYS COLD NOW - BUT ROSEY SLEPT ON THE FLOOR AND NEVER LIKED A BED AS SHE GOT TOO HOT IN THAT THICK FLUFFY COAT AND THEREFORE SHE HAS THE RUN OF THE HOUSE, I DONT REALLY WANT TO CONFINE HER AS I FEEL SHE MAY THINK SHE IS BEING PUNISHED SHE LOVES OUR COMPANY AS MUCH AS WE LOVE HERS, DOGS ARE CLEVER AND I THINK SHE KNOWS I MISS HIM AND I THINK THAT RUBS OFF ON HER.  I WILL PERSEVERE I WILL INVEST IN ONE OF THOSE DAP THINGAMEBOBS AND SEE IF THAT HELPS AND CONTINUE WITH THE SEPERATION HERBAL REMEMDY I HAVE - THANK YOU ALL IT IS LOVELY TO LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLES VIEWS AND KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL DOG OWNERS OUT THERE - HOPEFULLY ROSEY WILL COME THROUGH HER PERIOD OF GRIEF AND MY HUSBAND MAY EVEN TALK ME INTO ANOTHER PUPPY, BUT NO DISRESPECT TO OTHER BREEDS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A GSD, THEY ARE THE MOST LOYAL, AFFECTIONATE AND TRUSTING DOGS I HAVE EVER KNOWN AND AS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CROSS THE ROAD WHEN THEY SEE US COMING ONLY ONE COMMENT "UP YOURS YOU HAVE A SAD LONELY LIFE WITHOUT A WOMANS BESTFRIEND".  THANKS AGAIN ALL