10 month old Lab/Husky mix peeing in the house...

Question
QUESTION: My 10 month old Lab/Husky mix has already been house broken and he was neutered at 8 weeks. We've also already kennel trained him and he's NEVER
had an accident in his kennel. It wasn't recently that he started peeing in the
house.  He went about three months with no accidents and now he go's in the
house about once a week. I don't know what to do. My wife and I have no
problems with our 8 month old Lab/Mastiff mix (also a male). It just seems
that the husky mix is the problem child. I have a baby on the way and I don't
want to get rid of the husky. I'm up for any suggestions. How do I get him to
stop peeing in the house?

Thank You!


ANSWER: Hello Joshua,
The first thing I would do is clean the floor where ever he has gone with an enzymatic cleaner.  Usually with a case such as this, it is not a matter of improper training or disrespect-more often than not it turns out to be owner error.  Really keep an eye on him, and watch his signals to you-he may be telling you he has to go out and you are involved in something else.  Keep him crated if you cannot be interrupted to take him out-we don't want him to continue practicing this habit or he will just get better at it.

Keep persevering and you will succeed,
Erica Slomka
Jumpin JACS Dog training
We Train YOU To Train your Dog

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

QUESTION: My wife and I have cleaned and re-cleaned the area that he has soiled, with
every pet product on the market and steam cleaning. I would have just taken
both dogs out only a matter of minutes earlier and then with no warning or
signal he will pee while walking around the room....no squatting, whining, anxiousness, just peeing while nonchalantly walking around. We took him to
the vet to make sure that he does not have a problem with his urinary tract
and nothing was found. He is going outside on command and then being
rewarded, and we take him out about every hour and a half. We are at out wits end and we can't seem to fix what ever is wrong with him.

Answer
Has he been neutered?  This sounds like male marking behavior.  Another technique you can use is to bring him in the house and either leash him to you or put him in a crate for a short time, and take him out again.  Removing his freedom will remove his ability to practice the behavior.  It may be a matter of what I call "a double pee-er".  Some dogs will go outside, urinate enough to take the edge off, and then explore.  When they come back in the exploring is done as they are familiar with the house, and that is when they realize they still have to go.  The above technique addresses this behavior as well.