Why is my dog refusing to go outside and having accidents indoors?

With sudden accidents, it is always best to schedule a vet checkup first to rule out any underlying issues such as infection, GI upset, neurological or muscular issues, etc. if she checks out healthy, it may be that something has startled or upset her, especially if this was the same time last year that she had accidents last, causing her to have accidents inside instead of going out. You may need to temporarily revert to a "puppy" style of potty training again, just to get her back into the routine of going outside until she is more comfortable with whatever caused the accidents to start. Using enzymatic cleaners on any accidents can help discourage her from going there again, and making sure to offer some exciting treats and praise when she does go outside may help speed up the process.

I am sorry to hear about your dog! The first step is to have your vet examine him to be sure there isn't a medical reason for this new issue. There are a multitude of issues that can cause urinary accidents, including urinary tract infection, bladder stones, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. If the vet rules out a medical cause you can discuss if this is an anxiety issue or a loss of potty training. Anxiety is sometimes treated with oral medications. In mild cases a pheremone product like the Adaptil collar or diffuser (available online and at some pet stores or vet offices), thundershirts (also online and at stores), and oral supplements like Composure and Zylkene. You can read more about re-potty training at https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/is_my_male_shih_tzu_being_a_s_when_he_potties_in_the_house/

Poor guy. He's very handsome and 13 is an impressive age for a Great Dane. You must take very good care of him. There are two possibilities that jump to mind for me. The first is that he may have enough arthritis and pain that he doesn't want to get up and walk outside. Even if he moves around ok and doesn't limb, and even if he's already on arthritis medications, I would recommend an orthopedic exam with a veterinarian to make sure he doesn't need more. The other possibility is that he's starting to have cognitive dysfunction (aka doggie dementia), which can cause dogs to forget their house-training. Actually, he likely has both things going on. A three thing to throw in there is he could have a true gastrointestinal issue such as parasites, IBD, issues digesting food, etc that is making him uncomfortable or feel increased urgency. So I would recommend starting with a vet visit to check him out for pain and talk to them about cognitive dysfunction. Bring a fecal sample too in case they want to test him for parasites. Best of luck to you and sweet Maverick. Please let me know if this was helpful information and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

You did not mention if this is a new problem with Kash or an ongoing problem. If Kash was previously kennel trained and has just started going in his kennel, then I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine him and check a urine and/or fecal sample to make sure there isn't a medical reason for this. If a medical reason has been ruled out, then I would work on positive reinforcement when he goes outside. That may involve longer walks (rather than just going inside as soon as he goes), treats when he goes outside or verbal praise/excitement when he goes outside. You may also need to change when you walk him. For example if he tends to go 30 minutes after eating, then you may need to wait a little after eating to take him on a walk. And if you just take him outside in a yard instead of out on a walk, then you may want to start walking him. I am attaching a handout below that may have some other ideas for you. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8562851 Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I'm afraid that, if Apollo is only 20 pounds, you are letting him drag you back to the house. Pick a "bathroom spot" and go there with him on the leash. Do not walk around. Just stand and repeat your "go outside" command (if you don't have one, make one up and stick to the same one all the time). Do not let him pull you anywhere. If he refuses to go, Bring him back in the house, but do not remove his leash. You can attach the end to your belt loop so your hand are free to do other things. This way he won't be able to go inthe house. The minute you see "I have to go" behavior, walk him outside again. Repeat this until he does his business, and then give him lots of praise and bring him in, Keep this up until he gets over whatever was bothering him and is willing to go out again. Good luck!

Please do not ever, ever rub your dog's nose in his pee or poop. He has no idea what you're doing and why. Also, he does not "throw a temper tantrum." Kids do that; dogs don't. Put him on a leash and take him outside to his designated spot. Do not walk around. Just stand there and repeat "go outside" or a similar phrase. As soon as he starts to go, repeat "go outside" and praise "good dog!" as he goes. When he is finished, or if it appears that he is not going to go, bring him inside but do not remove the leash, even if he has done his business. Attach it to your belt loop and keep him with you. Don’t let him out of your sight! When you see him start to circle or sniff, take him right outdoors again and repeat the process. If he does mess in the house, do not scold him unless you actually catch him in the act. In that case, say "NO!" and take him right outside. Tell him to "go outside" and praise as he finishes. If he does do his business in the house and no one is right there to correct him, he will have no reason to believe that he is doing something wrong. Keep him in a crate at night, or for short periods when you are not at home. If you continiue to have problems with this, you can click on the prompt to start a consult.

Poor Buccs! It sounds like he has a couple of things going on. Urinating within the house can be a sign of a medical problem, such as bladder stones or a UTI. He is also an older dog, and his back leg could be hurting him due to arthritis, which is common in old dogs. As for not wanting to come back in, he could be suffering some confusion at his age, or there could have been something that frightened him, and he doesn't want to come back in due to that. All of this requires a trip to the vet. The vet can do routine blood tests, a urinalysis, and possibly x-rays to see if he does have a UTI or bladder stones, and can treat accordingly. If he does have arthritis, the vet can prescribe him some pain medication, and I would recommend giving him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis. The vet can also discuss strategies to help bring him back inside without a leash. I would take him into a vet today for a visit.