Do You Know How To Get An Older Female Dog To Stop Vindictive Peeing?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
Last summer we adopted an adorable 13 year old Havanese. We were told that she had accidents in the house, but these are ‘on purposes.’ She pees when she’s mad at us, even right in front of us after she’s been out, such as if there is no spot for her on the furniture or if her dinner is not when she’d like it to be. I don’t want to crate train her – is there any other way?
Related Havanese Training & Care posts:
As everyones said, she doesn’t do this to get back at you. She may however be doing it for attention. What do you do when she does this? my guess is you somehow give her attention? Even something like shouting at her and things is attention to her. I suggest when she does it just walk away from her ignore her completely if she follows you and you can shut her in a room while you tidy it up thats good too. Hopefully she should get the idea that she gets no attention from this and doesnt get what she wants
Hahaha! I hear ya! My male can be vindictive! My husband used to suffer his wrath, or rather his belongings did! For example, hubby was cooking one day, dogs were underfoot, he yelled at them to get out of the kitchen, his dachshund, used to this treatment, went and laid down on the couch out of the way. My chihuahua male, promptly left the kitchen as told, headed to the bedroom and was just lifting his leg on my husband’s pillow that had fallen off the bed when my husband caught him in the act! His slippers have also received the treatment. How did we end this? My husband got a clue and quit pissing off the chihuahua!
Best of luck to you!
Edit: To those of you who don’t believe dogs are capable of vindictive peeing, I’d like to see you explain how the only accidents some dogs have are right after they get in trouble for something, and right on your own personal belongings! My male is relatively happy these days, but not so long ago, if you pissed him out, you’d better look out, because something of yours was going to get it. You can’t tell me it was an accident. He’s potty trained, he’s only 4 yrs old, and he knows better. How do you explain it?
dogs do not pee out of vindictiveness.. PERIOD….
at age 13,, she is nearing the end of life and most certainly has bladder control issues… my god,, have compassion for the old girl…
I doubt she’s doing it on purpose,she just doesn’t have any control.
Are you positive this is vindictive peeing? She is an older dog, and before you punish her, you may want to have the vet check her out for any medical conditions that may be present. If you are 100% sure you can:
Limit her access to the kitchen, temporarily. Baby gates work great! Let her earn access to the rest of your home. When she does do her business outside, praise her for it and give her a treat!
Oh, come on. Dogs do not pee because they are “mad” at you or “on purpose” because she knows you hate it. She is a dog and if she pees in the house she does not see it as your house. It sounds like she has dominance issues. Don’t let her on furniture if not invited. don’t feed her when she wants. You need to take control of her entire life, even if she is 13. I hate to tell you, but the problem here is likely anxious and frustrated owners, not a spiteful dog. An old dog CAN learn new tricks. Start watching the Dog Whisperer or go to http://www.cesarmillaninc.com for information on dominance in dogs.
Lifting her leg and peeing while she looks at you means she completely does not respect your rules (or your house) or she simply does not know them.
How do you know it is “on purpose”? 13 is pretty old, maybe she has lost control of her bladder.
Well she is pretty old. Our old dog lost control of her bladder when she was around 12.
Dogs aren’t vindictive. They don’t have the kind of mental ability.
Dogs are like people, when they get older, they may not always have full control over their bladder.
There are many possible reasons for this behavior. Vindictiveness is not even a remote possibility. She needs a thorough vet check (if not done recently). If no medical reason is found, you need to evaluate her other behavior and see if you can find a more plausible explanation, so that you can use effective remedies. If you can’t do that, please consult with a professional animal behaviorist who might have more insight.
Best wishes to all of you.
Okay, dogs do not get even. They respond to emotions they read on their pet parents, and react, but they do not “do it on purpose!” She has obviously been conditioned to pee when her pet parent is upset with her and makes her leave the room in an un-calm way. She also may have anxiety separation and this could cause peeing while you are gone for any length of time.