[Dailydrool] Peeing in house

[Riche Churchill]

None of our current house dogs pee in the house, except for one I'll get 
to later, but if they ever do, am sure it will be old-age incontinence 
related. Our recently ATB old bulldog had this problem in final year. 
Doggy diaper and vigilance in observing signs he needed to go were only 
solutions. He couldn't help it, he didn't even know he was doing it. He 
just leaked. Bark = leak. Get up = leak. Lie down = leak. Eat = leak. 
Sleep = leak. On the other hand, he never once went potty in the house.

Then there's the Shih Tzu -- a puppy mill bitch who had lived in a crate 
for 5 years till I got her. The outdoors scared her to death. In time, 
she got braver, but she still (6 years later) won't go out after dark or 
in rain. At first, she would pee in our main bathroom (logical, that's 
where WE went...) but that was impractical because of human traffic, not 
to mention all the dogs who choose that time to visit and be petted. So 
we suggested she use the laundry room at the end of the hall. Fine with 
her. Puppy pads and a few extra paper towels in case her aim is off, 
which it seldom is, works fine. She never goes anywhere else in the 
house. Oddly enough, none of the other dogs ever visit the laundry room. 
They seem to know it's her territory. Of course, a Basset pees a larger 
quantity than a Shih Tzu (though sometimes I wonder...) but a similar 
arrangement could be made for a Basset if absolutely necessary. But 
diapers probably are a surer thing.(Always assuming, of course, that 
there isn't a treatable medical problem.)

Riche