Dutch Shepherd Forum

Stella has never used the bathroom in the house. She was completely house broke when we got her. About a week ago I started allowing her to go upstairs. Last night she pee'd in the hallway and this morning in my bedroom. My son's pet rabbit is upstairs (he's going home with my stepdaughter after xmas break because having a DS and a rabbit is just asking for disaster) she knows he's there and gets anxious by the door to the room his cage is in. Could that be why she's doing this? I let her out several times a day so I know these aren't "accidents" not really sure what to do.

Oooh dear. That can be frustrating! For sure, make sure you are getting the pee spot realllllly thoroughly cleaned up, I love Nature's Miracle and similar enzyme-based cleaning solutions. If they can smell even a trace of old urine it'll encourage them to repeat there.

As for initial causative factors, there's always the possible medical route, a UTI or in older spayed females simple "leakage" but another thing to consider might be revenge peeing?

I don't have enough DS-specific experience, yet, so definitely interested in what others in the community might suggest, but I know GSDs, in particular can be notorious for revenge-peeing or using it to make a statement of displeasure. Has anything occured recently to make her feel very put-out with you or someone at home?

My GSD, Cory, only used it on judicious occasion, she was impeccably housebroken and very proud of it, (even housebreaking Cedar for me when he was first adopted by scruffing him and dragging him to the door if he widdled inside!) but I can recall twice that she used peeing as a clear statement of opinion. The most memorable one was when I had first started "getting serious" with a long-term boyfriend... Cory was MOST put-out that he had usurped "her" spot on my bed, she squatted right there, on his half, all the while making full eye-contact! "THERE! Sleep there, NOW, *expletive deleted*"

She did eventually grow to adore him, but that was a very memorable instance of peeing to make a statement.

I also had a friend whose sister had a GSD who, every time she went on a trip somehwere without him, would, at some point, pee in one of her left shoes. Always the left one.

Regardless of cause, you definitley can't let her continue doing it. Make sure to clean it really well, and maybe gate her out of that area for a while? If not incidents, slowly allow her more freedom, if she does it again, restrict access again for a while, maybe even go back to crating for a time period? Just a thought.

Good luck!

sounds like these arent accidents, she is doing it because of the rabbit. If it was an infection she would be doing it all over the house. Dont leave her untended in the hallway by the rabbit. Make sure she stays with you so you can keep an eye on her so she dosnt get away with marking.

But if she has a low grade infection, then maybe adding the over stimulation of the rabbit could be creating the perfect storm for more urgency than you can control.

I would cut the area off completely for her (baby gate...etc), and see if it occurs anywhere else. If yes, get her checked. If no, don't let her back up there until the rabbit is gone - and then only supervised for a while.

I haven't allowed her upstairs at all today (only need to gate the steps at night) and no accidents.... we scrubbed the hallway carpet really good.... hopefully she can eventually come up at night again she really seemed to enjoy sleeping in the bedrooms. Are their any other signs of a UTI to watch for? She always has water available and is acting normal and healthy.

Inappropriate urination is usually the most common first sign. That's followed by increased urgency.

I have found it helpful to tether dogs to the bed with a 6-8 foot lead at night. It gives them plenty of room, but teaches them to stay close and limits their room enough that they tend to stay clean.

katm4110 wrote:I haven't allowed her upstairs at all today (only need to gate the steps at night) and no accidents.... we scrubbed the hallway carpet really good.... hopefully she can eventually come up at night again she really seemed to enjoy sleeping in the bedrooms. Are their any other signs of a UTI to watch for? She always has water available and is acting normal and healthy.

If you've ever had one and know what it feels to have one having to go often even if it's just small amount of pee, you could possibly see some blood in the urine, it could have an off smell..

You could contain her in one bedroom (yours or one of the older kids) by either closing the door or having a baby gate. Then you don't have to worry about her roaming and possibly peeing in front of the rabbit's room and she will still get to be upstairs with you.