Peeing on beds

[wendybed]

Hi,

 

I am hoping someone can answer a question.

 

About 4 weeks ago, I went to change bedding in the guest room for some friends who were arriving, I found a big pee spot on the bed. We had recently had some work done on our smoke alarms, so I assumed it was out Golden, who was terrified of the smoke alarms.

 

Today, our border collie was upstairs (and the Golden wasn't). When my husband went to bed, he noticed a big wet spot on our bed. The border had peed on OUR bed. We let her hang up there with us, but she sleeps In a crate in our room. She turned 1 two weeks ago. So, then I remembered the other bed and it may have been the border then, too.

 

She has not had any other accidents in the house since then, so I doubt it is a UTI. I have seen that in other dogs, so I know what it is. Why would a 1 year border start this now? And what do I do about it?

 

Thanks--wendy

[Cass C]

Lily started peeing in the bedroom right before she turned a year old, and we had been doing work on the house. Border collies are known for having behaviors like this over the most random of issues, like scary noises. After a particular noise scares them it could be any similar noise that triggers it again. We had to go back to potty training 101 (never out of our sight, doors closed to any rooms I can't see her from, crated at night, ect...)to stop it as well as cleaning all pee spots with a pet smell remover. If they can still smell it they may think it's ok to keep going there.

[wendybed]

That I know! We clean with enzyme cleaners, but she is sooo good about telling me she needs to go out. It's not like you can ignore her pleas when she wants to go. So I am confused. Rings a bell and everything. And, these were two different beds. Just when I thought I was in the clear. This one was not easy to house train. But this has me baffled because she

Iikes to hang in bed in the morning (but sleeps in the crate). Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

Thanks--wendy

[CptJack]

A bed is a safe, comfortable place where good things happen. Or are at least comfortable and safe.

If she got startled or scared during a potty trip, or has a UTI and realized peeing outside hurt, they often go for places like beds. Where they feel secure and comfortable, because maybe then the scary thing won't happen again, or it won't burn like it did last time.

It's shocking for people, but peeing in beds is actually pretty common in housebreaking issues.

[Sue R]

A simple management answer would be to prevent her from having access to the bedrooms when you are not there to supervise (since you've already treated the beds and bedding with enzyme cleaners and laundering). If this isn't a habit, you might simply deal with it by preventing it - in other words, by denying her access to the beds. Sometimes, if a dog has done something undesirable but it has not become a habit or have another underlying cause, denying the opportunity for a while may provide enough of a "break" for the action to be forgotten or outgrown.

 

You said she sleeps in the crate but hangs out on the bed in the morning, if I understand correctly. Does she get into bed with you there? Is that before or after she's had a chance to potty in the morning?

 

Consider for both incidents if there might have been "something" that could have frightened her so that she did not leave the comfort and safety of the bed even to let you know she had to go out. It might not have had to be something within your own house (like alarms being tested) but could have been something nearby. These dogs often have amazing hearing but also can be disturbed by sounds or other things they sense (like vibrations, for instance, when there is blasting) to the degree that they do not act like they normally would.

 

Best wishes!

[aschlemm]

I would catch urine and drop it off at the vet to check for a UTI.

My first two Borders NEVER peed in the house. They lived to be 12 and 13 years old and NEVER had accidents.

Then came these two Borders. Sigh. In the past I've been very frustrated and blamed one dog when it was the other, then I thought it was a housebreaking issue and it wasn't. Turned out both dogs had infections/crystals. Both get distilled water and special (prescription) food. The female needed to be on antibiotics for a month and is on Proin for leaking. I took her to a specialist and he ruled out everything but a structural issue. She has been fine since so I'm not pursuing anything else at this time.

I think all along the issue was the female and that the male would mark when she peed in the house. He marks where she urinates outside.

Perhaps your dog has a housebreaking issue but maybe not. I'd have a urine checked just to be sure. Good luck.