Anxious BT - long sorry

[Failmum]

Our boy BT 4, is fully house trained. We moved into our house in May which is being renovated and he has been great. He has never liked being left much but has been ok. We have only once left him for more than four hours when DH broke leg so had to go to hospital etc so we had to leave him for 8hours when we came home he was barking and a bit distressed but hadn't weed or marked.

Since DH leg means he can't walk dog, BT has been going to dog walkers which he loves (I work too far away to be a reliable walker). A couple of weeks ago one of the other dogs attacked a 3rd dog very badly (poor dog walker thought he was dead) and then turned on our BT and bit his leg badly. Took to vets leg antibiotics and leg healed. He went back with dog walker (attacker no longer there) and he was very happy to go and still loves it.

The first time we left him since the attack - about 10days later. We came home and he had marked, he did the same another time and today we were out for only an hour and half. We came home and he had weed and marked. We had left his bed, some of my clothes and a couple of biscuits.

He seems fine in all other ways, he's fine with other dogs, he's chilled when we're around. He's fine at dog minders.

I've cleaned the mark or wee with non ammonia based products. I don't know what else to do.

Any advice

soo so sorry for your poor boy.

First thing, have you spent time with him, out for a walk to tire him out and plenty of wee opportunity before leaving him?

I would think the house move could be ruled out as a problem as its been so long since the move and no weeing til now.

Does he normally have continual outside access when you are there and has been going frequenlty outside, in which case, get him checked medically.

I would say he needs to go into a smaller (more secure feeling space) to avoid the need to mark until he is more settled.

Its odd if he's showing no other signs of fear at all towards any other ddogs and still being happy sociable, but at home he is wanting to protect his turf. How would he be if you confined him to one room, maybe the kitchen, but whilst you were still in the house and put him in there with his bed and sent him to settle there for an hour?
either a 'turf' thing or he's suddenly distressed at your absence as a result of the attack and feeling insecure without you around now (experiencing a separation anxiety).

IT does sound as if his recent experiences have triggered separation anxiety.

This can also happen as dogs get older and less confident

I think you need to see a behaviourist for a counter conditioning programme because you need to address the underlying cause of the anxiety. Simply locking him in a smaller crate/space won't necessarily make him feel better, it will just make him less able to express his anxiety. If you want to change his behaviour then you have to help him to feel better

An APBC registered behaviourist is your best bet