Aa
Youngest dog mourning the loss of alpha dog?
Hope someone can help.
We now have 2 dogs. Both under 3. Our oldest dog had to be put to sleep last week due to a tumor right above her eye. She was the alpha dog in the house. Our youngest dog, Australian Shepherd, age 2, has started peeing in the house every night since she has passed. We had a problem with that in the past, but he has done really well for the past year or so with only a few accidents. Now everyday when we wake up there is pee downstairs in the same spot. Like I said before this started right after she died. These two things have to be related. Has something like this happened to anyone else? What can I do to help him get through this?
We now have 2 dogs. Both under 3. Our oldest dog had to be put to sleep last week due to a tumor right above her eye. She was the alpha dog in the house. Our youngest dog, Australian Shepherd, age 2, has started peeing in the house every night since she has passed. We had a problem with that in the past, but he has done really well for the past year or so with only a few accidents. Now everyday when we wake up there is pee downstairs in the same spot. Like I said before this started right after she died. These two things have to be related. Has something like this happened to anyone else? What can I do to help him get through this?
COMMUNITY LEADER
When my husband was in the throes of his last illness, our dog started peeing on the floor. It was always in the early morning. I am convinced it was an anxiety symptom. Though often this behaviour IS about space-claiming and leadership....I felt at the time it was more anxiety related with him. He didn't do it (well only once or twice) after my husband died, just the weeks leading up to it. Part of it could have been because he was getting either: not as much attention as he was used to....or certain negative attention...."comforting" attention which may have confused him. I didn't know as much about dogs then as I do now.
I'm kinda late on this one....IMO, your dog needs a product called "Rescue Remedy". You can purchase it at some Pet stores, usually Speciality Pet Stores....A Health food store will have the human version of it.....There is a people version (Spray) and a pet version (Liquid Drops)...You can use either one.....
It's made from Bach Flower Essences....This product is a combination of flower essences for Anxiety, Stress, Trauma, Sadness, etc.. One flower included is "Star of Bethlehem" which is specifically used for GRIEF.....
As crazy as it might sound, it DOES work......I use it all the time on Pets & People......Wouldn't be without it...I carry one in my purse! ;)
At least Google it and read about it...It's facinating!!! Good luck and come back to let us know how your doing...Karla
It's made from Bach Flower Essences....This product is a combination of flower essences for Anxiety, Stress, Trauma, Sadness, etc.. One flower included is "Star of Bethlehem" which is specifically used for GRIEF.....
As crazy as it might sound, it DOES work......I use it all the time on Pets & People......Wouldn't be without it...I carry one in my purse! ;)
At least Google it and read about it...It's facinating!!! Good luck and come back to let us know how your doing...Karla
you can always lay a puppy pee pad there so he will pee on it and not floor . until he startes being a big boy again .
That is a very good point, I hadn't thought of it that way. And thank you for your sympathies, it was hard to do.
He does not have a problem during the day with this and we are gone to work 8 plus hours and he doesn't have accidents then, only at night. Out of the two dogs we do have now, I always thought he would become the alpha dog if anything were to happen to Hannah (our oldest who recently passed).
He is crate trained, but over the past 6 months we moved the crates out in the backyard. I will have to bring those in the house again for them. We like to let them sleep freely at night since we are gone so much during the day. Rusty (the pee'er) sleeps under the bed on my side at night.
As of his behavior towards Ozzy, our other dog, it hasn't changed in any way that I can tell. Ozzy is a naturaly follower, has always lived with Hannah, Rusty was added about a year ago.
Thank you for your input.
He does not have a problem during the day with this and we are gone to work 8 plus hours and he doesn't have accidents then, only at night. Out of the two dogs we do have now, I always thought he would become the alpha dog if anything were to happen to Hannah (our oldest who recently passed).
He is crate trained, but over the past 6 months we moved the crates out in the backyard. I will have to bring those in the house again for them. We like to let them sleep freely at night since we are gone so much during the day. Rusty (the pee'er) sleeps under the bed on my side at night.
As of his behavior towards Ozzy, our other dog, it hasn't changed in any way that I can tell. Ozzy is a naturaly follower, has always lived with Hannah, Rusty was added about a year ago.
Thank you for your input.
First of all, I'm so sorry you had to put your dog to sleep. That is such a difficult thing to go through.
A couple of things come to mind. Had your oldest dog marked these spots before or did she lay near those areas?
My theory is, right or wrong (but having had *packs* of dogs for years), he may be trying to mark territory and establish himself as the alpha dog. How is he acting toward the other dog or how are then now interacting? Whatever the case, they will have to work out the dominant dog issues themselves BUT, you have to establish yourself as Alpha in the pack. You will probably have to go back to potty training 101 with the one that is marking and/or both. He has to learn this is not acceptable behavior. You may even have to block off that room or limit his access to the house. Do you use crates at all? If so, you may want to crate them at night. I assume you don't think this is a medical problem like a possible UTI and I assume he is fine during the day and not showing any symptoms of that, urinating excessively, little stream, etc.?
My money is on him trying to establish him as the new pack leader.
A couple of things come to mind. Had your oldest dog marked these spots before or did she lay near those areas?
My theory is, right or wrong (but having had *packs* of dogs for years), he may be trying to mark territory and establish himself as the alpha dog. How is he acting toward the other dog or how are then now interacting? Whatever the case, they will have to work out the dominant dog issues themselves BUT, you have to establish yourself as Alpha in the pack. You will probably have to go back to potty training 101 with the one that is marking and/or both. He has to learn this is not acceptable behavior. You may even have to block off that room or limit his access to the house. Do you use crates at all? If so, you may want to crate them at night. I assume you don't think this is a medical problem like a possible UTI and I assume he is fine during the day and not showing any symptoms of that, urinating excessively, little stream, etc.?
My money is on him trying to establish him as the new pack leader.
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