Resources for Dogs with a Peeing Problem

Posted by Mia Carter Sep 30, 2008

Peeing: it's a common source of frustration (and puddles) for pet owners who are dealing with a hard-to-housebreak dog, or a dog who urinates when excited or as an act of submission. In fact, many dogs are surrendered to animal shelters and rescue organizations because the owner can no longer tolerate inappropriate bathroom activities.

But for every peeing problem that's related to a canine behavioral issue, there's a solution - it's just a matter of understanding why a problem is occurring and finding the most effective training method to resolve that problem. Here are some articles on behavior-related bathroom accidents in dogs and there's more coming soon:

• Solving Excitement Urination in Dogs
• Help for Hard-to-Housebreak Dogs

Canine medical problems can also affect a dog's bathroom habits, so before delving into a new behavior training regime, it's best to rule out a urinary tract infection, bladder infection, hormonal imbalance or other physical problem as a source of the dog's peeing problem. Some of the most common medical problems associated with a dog's bathroom accidents include infections or incontinence, which can be related to age or hormone levels. Here are some articles on medical causes for a canine's inappropriate urination:

• Care for Incontinent Dogs
• Sleep Incontinence in Dogs
• Why is My Dog Peeing Blood?

As frustrating as a dog's peeing problem may be, I urge pet owners to hang in there and be patient because while an old dog can always learn new tricks, old habits can be difficult to break. It's also important for dog training novices to seek professional help from an experienced dog trainer because you, the owner, may be a big part of the problem if your attempts at training a dog are actually sending ambiguous and unclear messages to the dog. As The Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan often says, it's often the humans who need to be trained - not the dog.

Have a pet question? Send your questions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.