Pet Information > ASK Experts > Dogs > Canine Behavior > 2 year old dog peeing in house

2 year old dog peeing in house

18 16:47:21

Question
Hi, I have a brindle toy pug cute as can be but  whenever he gets entry into either my bedroom, a guest room and the living room (rooms he is not usually in) he will pee or pooh he will also go on two chairs in my den where he spends most of his time on the sofa (never goes on the sofa or cage)He will however go on the sofa in the living room. I do not know what to do with him? (He also eats his own and my other dogs poop, on a different note) please help!!!!

Answer
Because the dog is not usually allowed in those rooms, he may very well be marking them (as a sign to whomever!! that he is present.)  He may very well be marking the furniture in this manner, also.  That's what it appears to be (although I can't temperament test this dog.)

Since you have another dog, I have to form an educated guess that the pug is making a statement to THAT dog.  I don't know how old this pug is, how old your other dog is, what sex the other dog is, whether they are both neutered, etc.  This information would help me.  My first reaction is to tell you not to allow this pug onto any of the furniture at any time for any reason; this however involves the other dog, as well.  if the pug is by nature the more dominant of the two, and the other dog is also male and is allowed on the furniture, a problem may ensue between the two.  MAY ensue; I can't see enough from here to determine if this is a probability, but I know it's a possibility.  Therefor, if you keep the pug off the furniture, you must retrain your other dog also.  This is done by putting a long, lightweight nylon leash on the pug (a house tab) and leading him off the furniture with the leash with a calm command "off", EVERY TIME he gets up on the furniture.  Purchase two soft beds for the living room and place them near your favorite place to sit.  Direct your dogs to their own "furniture" and praise (and even food reward) when they go there.  Be patient; be consistent; the dogs will stop using the furniture.

Further, you need to teach this pug some behaviors he can use to please you in order to help him to realize that he is NOT the boss and NOT in a position to need to mark, or even dare to mark, in your home.  When a dog marks, it's usually a sign of territoriality and anxiety (unless there's a bitch in season around, in which case it's plain territoriality.)  With positive reinforcement training, you can help the pug to respect your authority voluntarily (as it should be done), enhance his problem solving skills and calm any anxiety he may have about needing to control your environment.  Do not allow him into the rooms you mentioned without your STRICT supervision.  Reinforce his outdoor elimination with praise and reward.

Regarding his coprophagia (eating stool), this is a fairly common behavior and it is caused by many things: inadequate nutrition as a neonate or at some time in adulthood, eating too quickly (thereby not getting sufficient nutrition as the food passes through the bowel almost whole), improper diet, etc.  Review the food you are giving your dogs, be sure it is of the highest quality and nutrition.  Be certain they are not eating hurriedly (if they are, feed multiple small meals); examine the stool to see if it small (a sign that the food is being well digested) or large and odoriferous (a sign that not enough nutrition is being absorbed and also a sign of poor quality food.)  Offer both dogs a tiny slice of pineapple after they eat; this can render the poop inedible to the coprophagic dog.  If this doesn't do it, there are other additives that will not harm the dog and are available from the veterinarian.