One of my male 4 year old cockers has started to wee and mess in the house, only at night, in the conservatory, same spot every time. He is taken out for a walk about 10.30pm any ideas on how I can stop him. I have been putting paper down but do you think that this is maybe encouraging him?? PLEASE ANY IDEAS.

could he be getting too cold in the conservatory ?  can he get out to go if he needs to? canhe get to you to tell you he needs to go?

He has the run of the whole house our bedroom included, he does'nt let me know when he wants to go out.

Strange isn't it, if it is only on a night, especially if he goes for a walk at 10.30pm that should empty him for the night, if he were just let in the garden on a night with the weather we have been having I could understand it, some dogs hate going in the garden in the rain and will hold on and hold on, it is possible he is doing the same even on a night walk if he is not happy with the weather.

Have you by any chance got a pup recently that was toileting in the conservatory males especially like to add their scent to cover up other urine, this could also be a possibility.

It could purely be that he can not hold himself for hours anymore and needs a medical, just make sure you do not feed him after 6pm, continue with the 10.30pm walk, bio wash the area he is using to get rid of previous scent, and if possible pop downstairs a couple of hours before you would usually get up to let him out to see if this stops the problem.

Hopefully it is weather induced and he will be his usual self again soon.

Thanks for your reply.  We adopted a new male dog last September and he is fully house trained has'nt yet had an accident in the house and he does'nt move in the night at all. 
If I hear Danny go down the stairs during the night I'm up straight away but it's usually to late the deed has already been done. It seems to be about 1am ish.
I'm looking into having a dog flap installed then theres no excuse.

Just thought I would mention I have a dog flap but as my dog likes to chase and bark foxes I have to close this up at night time otherwise I think the neighbours would have  a reason to complain.  We do get foxes in the garden and would get woken up by our dog barking at them....

maxine 

Foxes can't get into our garden, our cat even has trouble getting in. It's like Fort-Nox :-D

Hi, I think your male dog is messing in the house because he is letting your new male dog know that he is the boss.  I think it sounds like a territory thing.  if he didnt do it before you got a new male and he is doing it now, then maybe you should stop him being able to get down to the conservatory to mark his "space".  Does your new male sleep int he conservatory?

Lynn

Hi Lynn, no Robbie the newest member of the family does'nt sleep in the conservatory he too has the run of the whole house.
Last night I shut our bedroom door so all were shut in with us. No wee or mess!!

My GSD bitch went through a *phase* last year (she was about 4 too) where she would mess in the house, same spot each time, no explanation- nothing to suggest an upset in her routine etc.  As I said it turned out to be just a *phase* since she stopped doing it.  I think once she'd done it, it became like a habit to her so when I changed her sleeping arrangements (crated her at night instead of allowing freedom and access to the area) she stopped after a while :-)  Providing there is no medical reason for it, I wouldn't worry about it- just do as you did last night- keep her sleeping routine changed until he *forgets* the habit.

Stacey x