We took in a four year old sheltie about a month ago. She seems to have learned where to go outside and even has her own "spot" on the deck. We can leave her in the house and go out for several hours and there are no accidents. However, when we go upstairs at night to sleep (she doesn't want to go up the stairs) she will always urinate in one spot right in front of the door that we open to let her out during the day. She will do this several times overnight, even after doing her business right before bedtime. What could be the reason for this? What could we do about it? I doubt you could call it separation anxiety since she is fine when we are not home. Thank you for any help! We never owned a sheltie before (only collies) and just want to get the opinions of more experienced owners.
Urinating only at night PROBLEM! HELP!
- Thread starter LK418
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kskc
Forums Regular
I see this is your first post...welcome! It does seem odd that this only happens at night and not during the day. Does this happen every night? Do you notice her drinking an exceptional amount of water at night before bedtime? When does she get fed? What is the longest she has to hold it during the day? In other words, if she is let outside frequently during the day, that may be why she does fine then but not at night. At first thought, I wondered if she could have an infection... but then she would have trouble holding her urine during the day too. Same with incontinence, I believe. Any chance you have her medical records from before you got her or know anything about her medical history?
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Thank you!
It happens just about every night. She doesn't drink excessively even though water is available all the time. She is fed around 4:30pm every day. She's been holding her urine a few days for about six hours when I have to step out. She is let out about four times a day, sometimes more but she never barks or goes near the door. I just let her out when I feel enough time has passed. Sometimes she doesn't do anything but she has learned that when she does she gets a treat, so she will happily go out, do her business and come back in for a treat. I'm a teacher and going back to work soon so this worries me because she will be alone longer. She was well taken care of and had a clean bill of health when we got her. We do have another dog that was here before her. They get along well. We thought that since he comes up with us each night that maybe she was jealous so we put a gate by the stairs so he could stay down with her but she still went by the door. My next thought is to try carrying her up with us, but we recently put in new flooring upstairs so I'm a little hesitant!
It happens just about every night. She doesn't drink excessively even though water is available all the time. She is fed around 4:30pm every day. She's been holding her urine a few days for about six hours when I have to step out. She is let out about four times a day, sometimes more but she never barks or goes near the door. I just let her out when I feel enough time has passed. Sometimes she doesn't do anything but she has learned that when she does she gets a treat, so she will happily go out, do her business and come back in for a treat. I'm a teacher and going back to work soon so this worries me because she will be alone longer. She was well taken care of and had a clean bill of health when we got her. We do have another dog that was here before her. They get along well. We thought that since he comes up with us each night that maybe she was jealous so we put a gate by the stairs so he could stay down with her but she still went by the door. My next thought is to try carrying her up with us, but we recently put in new flooring upstairs so I'm a little hesitant!
Mignarda
Forums Enthusiast
Perhaps she doesn't like the heat. I have a hard time getting Dickens outside in the daytime when the temperatures are high; it seems he'd rather hold it until it's dark or until he doesn't think he can hold it any longer (adult dogs can have quite a capacity for that sort of thing). The other day around 2:00 in the afternoon I told him he needed to go out; he promptly sat down, which is his way of saying that he'd prefer not to do something. I tried shooing him toward the door, but he ran right to Mama, appealing for "protection." He hadn't been out in more than twelve hours, so I picked him up and set him on the porch, whereupon he promptly went out into the yard and lifted his leg on everything that protruded from the ground.
I'm hoping its something silly that will stop eventually. After all, she has been with us for only a month in which time she changed scenery, was spayed, and getting used to new furry siblings. It's just surprising because I feel she knows exactly where she has to go. If anything it's good that she goes on the hard tile and not the laminate wood! Plus she's very cute so she can get away with it. Lol
trini
Forums Sage
Welcome!
From your description of her never barking or going to the door to indicate she needs to go out, there may be a possibility that she was never fully housebroken by her previous owners. You are currently taking her out in the daytime often enough to avoid accidents, but night time is longer...so never having been 100% housebroken is a question. However, I honestly would suspect separation anxiety may be playing a role in this situation. Separation anxiety has different "faces". Some dogs will settle peacefully when they know their owner is not home, but will be very anxious when the owner is home and they can't be near them at all times.
Although she came to you with a "clean bill of health", I would have a urinalysis and blood work done to make sure there is no "hidden" health issue. If all results are negative then some changes in her evening/bedtime routine might help. I would try picking up her water bowl/s at least 2 hours before bedtime...as long as she has full access to water all day long and drinks well she won't be harmed by not having water access at night.
Also, if you have an area upstairs right near your bedroom so she can hear and hopefully even see you (bathroom maybe), where you can gate her and the floor that won't be damaged by possible accidents, I would carry her up and see if having her nearby makes a difference.
A month is not a long time for an adult Sheltie to fully make the transition into an entirely new environment...as she becomes more secure and sees your home as "her's" she may settle peacefully for the night and not have accidents...which she obviously is not doing now because if she was sleeping peacefully I doubt you would be seeing night time accidents.
Again, welcome to you and your new Sheltie lass.
Trini
It's possible that the smell is there now and she figures it is the right place to go when she is upstairs. I would crate her overnight, stop letting her pee on the deck - you'd be amazed at what dogs will associate with - and have a urinalysis done to make sure she doesn't have a UTI. Remember, dogs can smell a drop of urine in a 1000 gallons of water so cleaning the spot and then neutralizing it are really important. I use a mixture of vinegar and water after cleaning with detergent and water. If it is carpeting, it will also be in the underpad so you have to get the neutralizer down to it as well.
Caro
Moderator
I'd give it time. Have you taught her to do some indicator to let you know when she needs to go to the toilet? If you're upstairs and she's downstairs you aren't going to hear her whimpering or see her pacing to go outside. I'd also suggest setting your clock and getting up during the night to take her outside, she may not be able to hold on all night yet. If she was a largely outside dog before she hasn't had to learn to hold on for long periods. So just like a puppy, her bladder sphincter will need strengthening. Otherwise install some kind of puppy pad or dog loo where she can go while you are sleeping (I had one for my small female who couldn't hold on all night until she was 2 or 3 yrs old, and no she didn't use it any other time)
Now if by chance the peeing continues after you give her a night-time break then it could be separation anxiety.
With the stairs, you'll probably need to teach her to use them with treats, dogs don't naturally take to stairs.
Now if by chance the peeing continues after you give her a night-time break then it could be separation anxiety.
With the stairs, you'll probably need to teach her to use them with treats, dogs don't naturally take to stairs.
ClantyreSheltie
Forums Sage
My dogs have lived with me their whole lives, and they will pee downstairs overnight if I give them access. Simply because they are pigs. So they stay in the room with me at night, and that has solved the issue.
kskc
Forums Regular
You mention feeding her at 4:30pm. Is she only fed once a day? If so, would you consider feeding her in the morning as well... split the amount you feed into half for each feeding? Maybe if she doesn't have as much to digest in the evening, it would make getting through the evening easier for her.
I don't know what the previous four years were like for her, but she is having to adjust to a new way of doing things now in a new home with new people, etc. It's bound to be a quite a transition for her.
By the way... what is your sheltie's name? Do you have any photos of her? Please keep us posted on her progress.
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I don't know what the previous four years were like for her, but she is having to adjust to a new way of doing things now in a new home with new people, etc. It's bound to be a quite a transition for her.
By the way... what is your sheltie's name? Do you have any photos of her? Please keep us posted on her progress.
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