wetting in the kennel

Question
hello,  I have a 10 month old Chesapeake Bay Retriever that i am having problems with her urinating in the kennel.  Her name is Damara, I got her as a puppy when she was 9 weeks old, she is fixed and current on all vet needs (shots, exams, etc.) I have another dog, Emma, she is a 3 year old cocker spaniel, not fixed that stays out of a kennel 95% of the time.  Damara is in her kennel when I am not home, in bed or at human meal times.  Where I have the problem is when she is in the kennel if I go outside and take Emma or go by myself but leave her, she will urinate in the kennel this is even if i have just taken her out.  Damara has been doing this for about a month and I can not think of anything that has changed or events happening.  She is a wonderful dog with her temperament and behavior.  I work for a state agency with developmental disabled people, and she is a certified therapy dog with them (she was tested and certified at 4 months old) and she is going to start going to the local retirement home soon also.  Please help, i do not know what is going on but cleaning up pee two to three times a day is getting old and expensive, not mention daily baths for Damara.  Also how do I get her Canine Good Citizen Award?

Answer
Hi Fred, Damara needs you to walk her at the heel at least once a day, either by herself or with Emma. I have had many clients that call me to fix this problem and 99.9% of the time, giving them exercise at the walk will fix the problem. The walk not only exercises the body, but it exercises the mind. You should get a good deodorizer and be sure to do the kennel and floor around it, give her a bath and begin her exercise program. A good therapy dog should be taught to only urinate or defecate on command. To accomplish this, you should take both dogs out frequently to the same location, give the command "take a break", "potty", or what ever command you feel comfortable using in public. Then start taking them to pet supermarkets, dog parks, hardware stores...and tell them to take a break prior to entering and again when they come outside. This exercise will get them used to doing so prior to visiting retirement homes... Where did you do your therapy dog certification?  When you went to pass that test, they should have done the CGC test at the same time. Most agencies will not certify a therapy dog unless it is at least a year old. You cannot get your CGC until she is a year old. Go to the AKC website and click on the CGC link. You can search for evaluators in your area. You can also order the training manual from the AKC so you can begin practicing with her now. It is not very difficult, in my opinion, if you are a good handler. Sometimes they offer it at local AKC sanctioned shows as well. Beware of trainers that say they can do the test, but are not listed as a certified evaluator with the AKC. I hope this answers your questions. If not, let me know. Leave me some feedback and keep me posted on your progress. Thank you and good luck on the work you are doing with your dogs. Regards, Susan