Oriental rug is dog’s new bathroom
I am writing from any possible underlying
Palm Beach where I live health issues,
with my 5-year-old including possible
Cavachon. She has gotten pain, although there to going to the are probably none. I
bathroom on one corner believe that the likely of an oriental rug cause of what you are
with some regularity seeing is behavioral
over the past four or because the dog is
five months. There is both urinating and
no pattern as to time of defecating in the
day or night as to when same area. That has
this occurs. She has become her new pad.
always used pads to do Since she was trained
her business in the previously to a pad,
house previously but you can start by putting
now she even looks up the pad in that
at me sometimes when area. If she goes to
she soils the spot and then turns and another part or adjacent part of
runs away to hide behind the couch. the rug, she will need retraining.
Could there be something wrong Has your schedule changed at
with her? She seems completely all? Are you home less now than
healthy otherwise. On a few occasions, before if you were home a lot due she has even gone to the to COVID restrictions? That
bathroom when I have had guests could mean she is suffering from
over to visit. Do you have any suggestions separation anxiety. Has there I can try that might stop been a change in visitors or other
this behavior? environmental factors like construction
Your last question and sentence outside or anything else likely have a word that describes that could possibly upset her? If the situation. Behavior. This retraining is needed, crate training sounds like a case of a behavioral is a good start as would walking change that may have no health her outside more often and significance whatsoever. Little getting her to go to the bathroom dogs, like a Cavachon, are sensitive outside with positive reinforcement. personalities. They are prone to You may need to confine bad teeth, trouble housebreaking, her to an area with tile or hard lots of verbalization or barking, flooring with pads to retrain her and protective of their owners but to the pads. Lastly, you could find they are also sweet and endearing some dog behaviorists in Palm pets. I, myself, have a 9-pound Beach to help with what can be a Yorkipoo. complicated problem. Good luck!
To be sure there is nothing wrong with your dog, I would start by having your veterinarian do a thorough physical examination and bloodwork. That can rule out
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.