Rotten Cairn Terrier

Question
QUESTION: I've been having trouble with my Cairn Terrier Lately. Hes Just Turned 1 On Dec. 18th, but Lately Hes Been Peeing Inside The Doorway To My Room an On My Bed. Its Starting To Become A Real Pain. I'm Afraid To Leave Him Alone Cause Hes Been Doing This. Would Getting Him Fix Help This Problem If Its Not A UTI?

ANSWER: Brittany -

Your dog has now entered his teenaged years.  Male cairns from this age until about the time they turn 2 are the most challenging. The rescue I work with gets many owner surrenders of male cairns this age.

He is marking (as opposed to peeing).  You should always crate him when you can;t be around to pay attention to him.  Then, if he does it in your presence, you should do something to interrupt his behavior - Many many dogs stop when you just yell hey-hey-hey, but others need a spray bottle or squirt gun. Once you have interrupted the behavior, you take the dog outside immediately.  He's not likely to actually have to pee, but you do it anyway.  The other option is to crate him immediately for about 10 minutes before letting him out again.

Now to the other questions - Yes, neutering him will likely help this problem, and is a good idea anyway. Neutered dogs live longer.

It is always possible that it's a UTI, and you may want to rule that out by a trip to the vet's but it sure sounds like bratty teenaged male cairn behavior to me.

I hope this gives you some idea where to start.  Yell if you need anything more.  Good luck.

-Beth

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The Vet Has Ruled Out A UTI Thankfully an Basically Said The Same Thing. I Was Wondering If You Could Possibly Give Me Any Hint As To Why He Is Losing His Hair On His Back Legs Only. The Vet Was Puzzeld By It an Couldnt Tell Anything That Would Help Me Any because Its Just That One Area an Doesnt Go Anywhere Else.

ANSWER: Losing hair ?  Is it up near where his rump, hips and tail connect ??

Does he itch it ?

Does it feel hot, or the coat feel a little greasy or almost sweaty (dogs don't sweat) ??

Far and away the most common cause of hair loss on cairns is food sensitivity.  I never feed any dog food that contains any corn, wheat or soy.  Essentially that means I never buy dog food in the grocery store.

The reality is though, that cairns don't eat much (I also have large dogs), so the cost difference between cheap food, or even foods like Iams, Eukanuba or Science Diet - NONE of which I consider OK for my dogs - really isn't that much.

That's just my best guess without seeing the dog and without being a vet.

-Beth

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Its Not Up To His Bottom It Stops Like Mid Thigh. I Wouldnt Say He Itches It He More Or Less Licks At It. It Is A Lilttle Hot To The Touch but Its Not Greasy or Anything. Hes Been On The Same Food Since I Got Him It Just Startd About A Month Ago. Ive Always Had Dalmatians So This Is Kind Of New To Me.

Answer
Hmmm. without seeing him in person and watching him. I can;t make any better guess.  It may still be a sensitivity or an allergy.  It could also be that he's anxiety licking for some reason when you're not around.

I'm really sorry I can't be of any help.

-Beth