HELP---Bad Behavior or what?

Banshee13 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:02 am Post subject: HELP---Bad Behavior or what?

Ok--I'm really MAD at Banshee and I'm not sure what to do. We have let her sleep in our bed since shortly after bringing her home. Mainly because we can keep our "eye" on her that way. We know where she is and what she is doing. So last night, we were all laying in bed watching tv, and I was just about to fall asleep when I rolled over into a little wet spot! I peeled back the covers and sniffed and sure enough...PEE! Well, it was a small spot, so I know it wasn't a regular/normal pee, but I was very angry. I had to strip the bed, etc. I didn't scold her because I 1) I didn't know when it happened--it wasn't in the last hour that we were laying peacefully and calmly on the bed watching tv and 2) I couldn't be positive it was Banshee because my other dog, Scout, also sleeps on the bed with us and 3) since it wasn't a normal amount of pee, I was thinking maybe someone had a urinary infection that needed to be addressed. So I let the dogs outside and proceed to strip the sheets, blanket and comforter and "clean" the mattress as best I can with nature's miracle. After throwing a load in the washer and making up the bed with clean sheets, etc., I let the dogs back in the house. (They'd been outside for a good 20 minutes or so!) This is what Banshee did:

She comes in the bedroom, jumps up on the bed, and SQUATS and takes a leak--a REGULAR NORMAL PEE right on my BED!!!!!! I started screaming NO and dragged her by her collar--(she didn't actually STOP peeing though!) and made her go back outside. Then I had to strip the bed again and repeat the process, only this time was worse than the small spot I first discovered.

This does not sound like "incontinence" or a urinary tract infection to me. Does it sound like that to any of you? She did it right in front of me like she thought it was OK!! After that, I made her sleep in her crate, in which she howled, wimpered, and whined for half the night. I know it was like a punishment to make her sleep in her crate...and it WAS! The damn dog is not allowed on my TEMPERPEDIC bed anymore if she can't be trusted!!

The problem is, it's a poor time to try to get her used to sleeping in her crate after spoiling her rotten for nearly a year!! But what else can I do. I don't want her to think it's ok to take a leak in my BED whenever she feels like it--especially if I'm ASLEEP! Any suggestions????

Peri

amazonstarlight · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:

That sounds like dominance to me. It seems that she is trying to make the bed hers. Especially if she is doing it right in front of you like that. I think training her for a crate is the best thing you could do. I know that it's nice to have a dog in bed, but you can't have them think that it's their bed. I would say crate her for about one month and then try the bed again if you want her to sleep with you. If she wees again then it's the crate for another month. I hope it goes well.

Trinitys-Momma · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:42 am Post subject:

That sucks. Trinity had an allergic reaction a few months ago and she was put on several medication and shots. The meds made her pee wherever she laid down. We had to flip the couch when we left and I was literally washing sheets twice a day. Sorry you are dealing with this.

Banshee13 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

Thanks, folks. As I said, I would love to think it is a medical condition of some type, but squatting and peeing right in front of me--and then acting SURPRIZED by me freaking out doesn't seem to me like anything medical. It COULD be dominance, I suppose, but it more seemed like she actually thought it was OK to just PEE on the bed! We are going on vacation for a couple of weeks and I was unable to get anyone to pet sit for me, so unfortunately, the doggies are going to a kennel. I'm sure after we get back, she won't mind as much sleeping in her crate because she will have gotten used to it--but between now and the time we leave, I will just have to endure her whining and wimpering until she falls asleep. (Although I'm afraid that I am the one have separation anxiety! I am SO used to her feeling her warm body right next to me!! ) Our boy, Scout, prefers the foot of the bed. There are some benefits though--last night was the first time I was able to cuddle with my HUSBAND in almost a year!!!!

greydogs · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject:

i would still check for uti etc to make sure.

Welches · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:07 am Post subject:

As for re-training her to sleep somewhere else - it can be done. Our 8 year old Yukon always slept with us and was allowed on the couch. Well, we finally got new furniture and wanted to keep it chew-free and hair-free, so I bought him a bed at Walmart. I never thought it would be easy and part of me thought it would never work. Since the couch was new, it was easier than I thought to keep him off of it. A few NOs and and having him lay on his bed was all it took. Every night we'd bring his bed in the living room, put it on the floor in front of the couch, and he'd lay on it while we watched tv. Then we'd take his bed into our room and within a couple of days, he wouldn't even jump up on our bed when we wanted him to! He LOVES his bed and won't sleep anywhere else. I forgot how nice it was to have room to move and touch my husband in our own bed! Smile

Banshee13 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

Wow! What a wonderful story! Banshee is still at the stage where she TEARS UP her beds, so all she has in her crate is some fleece material I got at the fabric store. No bed for her. I talked my husband out of getting new furniture because I LIKE having them on the couch with us when we watch tv. I think I should wait until she can APPRECIATE a new doggie bed before attempting to keep her off the couch!

Welches · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I had gone through about 8 beds with Yukon. No matter what we did, he'd eventually tear one up when we were gone. He used to have to be in his crate without anything because even when we put just a piece of carpet in with him, he tore it up too. Yukon is old enough now that I don't crate him so that might be why he doesn't tear stuff up anymore.

Banshee13 · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:

How old is Yukon? It's great that you don't have to crate him anymore--even when you aren't home? Wow! I think Banshee will probably have to be around 10 before I can do that! Twisted Evil

I look forward to the day when Banshee stops tearing her beds to shreds so I can buy her a nice one.