We have the most gorgeous Great Dane-Abigail. She is about 19mos. old. She also thinks that she is DH's wife, but that's another story (she spoons him in bed, follows him around the house, lays w/ him on the couch, jumps up when we hug or kiss, etc.) She is very much potty-trained-she scratches on the door, we let her out ASAP. We put her in her kennel when we leave the house. However, for whatever reason, she likes to pee in our front room-and she does this w/o asking to go out. What p*sses me off, is that the carpet is less than one year old. And the thing is, she knows she is doing wrong. Today as I was cleaning it up, and called her into the room, she looked like a kid w/ her hand in a cookie jar. I just don't know why she feels at liberty to pee in this room. Does anyone have ANY suggestions? Unfortunately, the entry way to this room is too wide for a gate, and given her size, she would just jump over it anyway....

Linny--this is the only place she's going?
Part of it may be that now she's "marked" this has her territory and feels like *ahem* she should be able to do as she pleases.

She may also have a urinary infection or some other medical issue--you might ask your vet.

I don't have any real advice--ours likes to sneak downstairs and go in the guest bedroom! She knows better--but occasionally will. Of course, she's a big ole baby who won't go out in the rain and has to have an umbrella! And given that she's an 85 lb. lab/rottweiler mix--it has to be a big umbrella!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I wish I had some advice for you. I have a similar problem with my 3 year old pom, Buster. He's the sweetest lil guy-so loyal and loving, but dumber than a box of rocks. He's STILL not housetrained and pees and poops everywhere.

Unfortunately, our backyard is no longer fenced, so he has to be chained in the backyard quite frequently because I babysit and I can't have one of the little ones getting into a pile of poop or pee.

It's actually a rope that he's connected to, because the little stinker chews through everything else-even those rubber covered wire things to tie dogs out on. He's got about 50 feet of room to move, and plenty of shady places to lay, but I hate that he's out there so much.

Not sure about your situation, but,I did come across some interesting things on the internet while looking up "house breaking" for our new Puppy. I do remember reading that when they are older and pee in the house again (after being house broken) it is a control issue.

I would suggest you look up some info. on the internet (tons of it out there) and as another poster said, it may be an infection.

Good Luck.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I don't have much to suggest but I loved your descriptive post and sympathize, As another poster mentioned it does sound like it could be a "control" issue. Is it possible to put a bell on her collar so you can kind of keep track of where she is in the house and catch her in the act? I have a a similar problem with my current dog who doesn't always let me know when he needs out and uses the sunroom as a potty by putting down a throw rug on the painted hardwood floor but that wouldn't work in your case. It really is a difficult habit to break but perhaps Abigail is young enough so that it's not hopeless yet.

We went through something like this with Cinnamon, our English Bulldog. I think it is a control issue, like allinaugust said. She also thought that DH was hers, and if I got out of bed at night I would have to wake up DH, so I could safely get back in. Once DH started putting her in her place, the peeing at our entrance way slowed and eventually stopped. DH had watched an episode of the Dog Whisperer and had realized her behaviour wasn't cute. Most pet stores sell cleaning kits that come with blacklights so you can make sure you completely clean the area, so there is no scent attraction left for her, and they also have some sprays that are scented to discourage the dogs from going. Good Luck! It was a very trying period for us, because I knew, that she knew better!

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Nicole

Please check for an infection. It's not the same, but we have a cat who peed indoors repeatedly because of stress (she could smell other animals outdoors), and once, much later, because it turned out she had a really nasty infection. The longer an animal stays in pain, the likelier she'll continue to wet inappropriately, because she's trying to avoid the associated pain, even after it's gone.

We have a great dane also. While she hasn't ever went potty in the house she has had other issues. Mainly, thinking she was ruler of our planet (she's not I AM!!). We have always crated trained our dogs, it works great. When she would do something wrong, ie: get on the furniture after knowing she wasn't suppose to be up there we would scold her and then take her by her collar straight to her crate. She would have a timeout of 10 - 15 minutes. That usually took care of the problem for a while.

BTW, you may have to buy an extra wide gate til you can get it stopped. They do sell them at pet stores.

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Can you get a blacklight and check to see where the stains are? Then you can use an enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle and saturate the carpet. Then put a towel on top with something weighted on top of that. (We use an upside down stool) Change the towel when it absorbs all that it can absorb. If the dogs smells the urine, it will continue to potty there.

Thanks guys for all of your help. I do believe that it is a control thing because when she scratches on the door, we let her out. If she doesn't quite make it, she will pee on the area rug next to the door. DH has been renting a carpet cleaner quite often, and even using Nature's Miracle w/ that, and it seems like as soon as it's cleaned-she does it again. Last night we were so mad at her that we pretty much pulled her to her accident and rubbed her face in it. I've heard not to do that, but I am at my wit's end. I didn't know they made extra wide gates-we may have to look into that. I just don't want my house smelling like a bad kennel-yuck. MyTime, does your Great Dane want a new friend?

We have been having the same problem with one of our cats. I have tried everything I could think of to break her of the habit and nothing works. I have just given up. Luckily, she goes in the same spot, and its not on carpet. Its not everyday that she does it, but usually several times a week. I think she does it just to watch me down on my hands and knees cleaning it up!!!!

Yep, it's a control issue. I say this because I know your dog