11 1/2 year old cocker spaniel having random accidents

[Rzim]

So my dog never comes upstairs and never has accidents - but twice now he's come upstairs and peed and pooed in the same room in the same place upstairs. Is he looking for one of us? The back door was open the whole time and he never has accidents!! Is this an age issue? Thx

My older dog started toileting in a room that he was never really in - unfortunately it took us a while to realise to necessitated a new carpet. I don’t know why, because like you the back door was open (we keep the door open while we’re in from spring to autumn). We had stairs down to the garden which maybe he didn’t like? I think after they’ve got it into their heads that a place is “okay” they’ll go back there.

He lived for several more years but never was fully “house trained” again. The issues were mostly at night after we changed the carpet and kept him from that room, but he found another place he used in the hard floored room we kept him in when we were out and at night. Because he always preferred the same spot, I started leaving puppy pads down and he went on them.

He was using his place of choice though - if the puppy pads were in his spot he went on them but if I put them elsewhere he still used “his” spot.

It was all a bit of a sad surprise after 13 years being house trained - but he was very old and the same thing happens to humans. I think the thing is that at this age they haven’t become “untrained” all of sudden: their understanding, capacity and needs (physical and/or mental) have changed and we need to meet those needs.

Thankyou for that thoughtful helpful reply xx

He needs to see a vet.

It could be anything from a UTI, to dementia to kidney or liver problems. He needs a full health screening so that any issues can be addressed or medicated if necessary.

The longer you leave it, the worse it will get.