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catahoula puppy

19 11:16:30

Question
hello,
our catahoula is 3 months old.  he peed in our house about 5 times max during his first month and since has proven to be housebroken - and only poops outside.  My husband works from home and they are together all day long, the only time he spends in the cage is if he chooses or when we sleeps at night.
Anyway, today he peed in the house twice, right in front of us and we don't know why!  He hadn't even gone to the door to be let out...  So he peed in the house around 6pm, again at 8:30pm and before that he peed at 4:30pm at a park.  
Do you have any suggestions of why this might be happening?  We are about to have him stay with a friend for a week and are worried that something is wrong!

thanks,
Jaclyn

Answer
Maybe you have already found a solution elsewhere.  It never hurts to check with the vet, but this sounds to me like a leadership challenge.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

For younger dogs:  ''Elevation for small puppies:  Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up.  He is facing you.  Hold him for 15 seconds.  Repeat until he no longer struggles.  If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.  

Cradling for small puppies:  Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby.  If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds.  With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down:  Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you.  Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position.  When he is quiet, praise him.  Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position.  When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work.  It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual.  I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective.  You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too.  Helps bonding.  There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly.  The latter cements your place as pack leader.

He may be a canidate for neutering as soon as the vet will do it.