Peeing everywhere

[ChickenPieBumFace]

I’m after some advice so I don’t have to rehome my beautiful Boston. He is 3.5 years old and has occasionally peed in the house. Over the last 12 months it has gotten more and more. He now can’t be left alone in a room without peeing on something. My husband has never wanted the dog but has put up with it. He wees on clothing, sofa and anything really. Quite often he will wee on our bed. I have spent months persuading my other half that I will make sure he is not left alone. I am at work and the kids forget sometimes. As soon as we are out of sight he wees on something. I left him this evening eating his dinner and was away for less than 3 mins and he wee'd on the builders materials (plasterboard and skirtingboard). He had literally just been out for a wee minutes before, so it's not because he needs to go. It's happening at least 3 times a week and I can't expect DH to put up with it much longer. I dont know what to do. We can't live like this constantly watching him. I don't want to put him outside in a kennel as he would be cold and lonely and it wouldnt be fair. He has been neutered at just under a year. I have no idea what to do and DH is wanting rid of him. I can't disagree anymore as it's not fair on anyone having a house full of wee and having to constantly watch him and make sure doors are shut etc. It's not feasible. We only have to leave a door ajar and he goes in and wees on something.
So not to drip feed, I went back to work around the time it started. He has a dog walker and is only alone for about 5 hours a day (with dog walker coming in the middle of this time). But he never does it while we are out. Only once we are home. What can I do to get him to stop this? I love him so much and he is such a huge part of my life, but it is coming between me and my husband and I don't have a defence. I wouldn't like it if it was the other way around and he had a pet that was weeing on my things all the time.

[ComeTheFuck0nBridget]

I have no advice unfortunately but I'm watching with interest. I have 2x Bostons and one of them wees every time we leave her, if we go to bed or to work or what have you. No matter if she's just been out or anything. She can hold it, we don't leave her that long. She has an open bed/pen that she shares with two other dogs. She's always been the same, nothing we have tried has changed anything. It can be so frustrating, so you have my sympathy

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Has he been checked by a vet to make sure there's no underlying medical cause?

Have you been using an enzymatic cleaner to remove the scent and reduce the chances of peeing in that spot again?

[Rrxox]

What are you cleaning the wee with? They smell stuff we don’t. Have you tried crating him? He might actually be doing it in those 5 hours in small patches that are dry by the time you return.

It’s back to complete basics of out for a proper wee every 30minutes/hour/2 etc too that worked for mine. He’s definitely intentionally weeing not just leaking?

[ChickenPieBumFace]

Cleaning with antibacterial spray. He likes clean washing and anything new in the house he doesn't recognise like boxes from delivery's etc. Vet checked him out and no issues. He is out regularly and can hold for hours if he is in his room. He has his own utility room about 8 square metres with a bed and cage but never does it in there. I don't like him not
Having freedom in the house as it feels mean and he is a member of my family. But at the moment I have no choice but to leave him in there in the day and then have him with someone every other minute, which is hard work.

[PoshPenny]

It sounds more like an act of rebellion than a medical issue. I'd be tempted to have a rethink about his routine and where he's allowed in the house if he's being that naughty.

[missbattenburg]

Interesting as I also know of another Boston who was similar. I wonder if it has a breed link?

Anyway, dogs are not rebellious - they don't pee on furniture to 'get back' at humans. They are not naughty. To be naughty is to know something is morally wrong and dogs have no morals. hat said restricting him to areas that are easily cleaned sounds sensible in terms of limiting the frustration the humans feel - just while you work out what's going on.

Is he marking or weeing do you know? Marking tends to involve cocked legs and only a little bit of pee comes out as the tank gets emptier. Peeing often involves more liquid and - for some dogs - squatting.

[missbattenburg]

He likes clean washing and anything new in the house he doesn't recognise like boxes from delivery's etc.

Actually, I just saw this which suggests marking. Things I would look at doing to reduce marking:

1. I would stop putting new things on the floor. This will reduce the incentive for him to mark. I would also pick up anything he considers valuable, such as chews etc as these can also encourage marking (claiming the item).

1. Whenever he is outside his little room he would be under close supervision (maybe even on a house lead) by someone who can interrupt the behaviour, take him straight outside and reward him for weeing outdoors. When this isn't feasible, you can get doggy diapers to reduce the wee on your stuff.

1. I would use an enzyme spray to thoroughly clean any areas where he has weed. Even the slightest scent of pee will trigger him to do it again.

I think I would also look at his routine to make sure he was getting enough mental and physical exercise - including lots of opportunity to mark outdoors instead. It seems likely that the marking is linked to the stress of you going back to work (or at least, it was in the beginning) so doing activities that help reduce stress might be helpful.

[sillysmiles]

Is it a separation issue? When you were at home with him before going back to work, how long was he left alone. Was he trained to be left alone and comfortably settle himself.

I wouldn't think he is being naughty. Dogs are rarely naughty and rebellious - they are human traits and to think of it in such a way is to miss what is actually happening.

Do you need to tighten up and tidy up his routine and access to the house?

[ChickenPieBumFace]

Thanks for these comments, they are useful. I definitely think it is linked to me going back to work. Although he was used to being on his own he also had days where we snuggled all day and he doesn't get those very often now. And yes to moving anything he wants to mark. I think it is scenting as it's a much smaller amount and stronger and darker in colour.