shitzu pup

Question
I live out of state and came home to my parents house to visit with my newborn son. (Ive been home for a couple weeks now.) My dad has a shitzu puppy who usually gets all his attention. Well, she made her way to my room upstairs today and peed on my bed by my pillow. My dad went to his room shortly after i discovered the surprise in my room. There he found that she had pooped all over his room on the floor. Is she doing it out of spite/jealousy? I assume it has to do with the baby being in the house.

Answer
Hi Aimee,

Thank you for writing to me.   Dogs are very sensitive creatures and when their world is disrupted, they react emotionally, just as a child would.  This little pup is apparently having some anxiety and confusion about the pecking order of the pack.  She's unsure as to where she fits in.  It sounds from what you are describing that she believes that she is the leader of the pack and she's suddenly been moved down in authority by the new comers to the pack.  She is therefore staking out her territory and marking it.

As with all dogs that are not housebroken, it's crucial that prevention be the key to getting this problem straightened out.  Whether this dog is crated or tethered, she should not be allowed free access to the home.  Tell your father to begin puppy housebreaking all over again.  Do not punish the dog..the dog is simply confused and needs to be centered and given boundaries again.

There may be mixed signals in the house that are confusing her.  Perhaps her schedule has been thrown off or there is a lot of noise that she is not used to.  Perhaps the cry of the baby is stressing her out as dogs read the sound of crying the same as the death cry of prey being killed.  

Dogs are not spiteful..they are anxious and that anxiety leads to acts of doggie "desperation" such as bed pooping and peeing.  Try to give this dog a consistant schedule and boundaries.  Practice prevention and give her some love and attention as well, particularly if she is in a calm, submissive state of mind.  I think you will see changes for the positive if this is done.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis