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Old female dog started messing our house :/
Hi everyone! This is a toughy but I feel so sorry for her and would love to help her.
My boyfriend has had a staffie cross (I think) for the past 2/3 years, she was 3 or so when he got her and she didn't have a great life before. She was raised by drug dealers essentially to attack people and I believe she was beaten about a few times as well, now my boyfriend has her and has made her a very friendly and well behaved dog. She used to have accidents but I don't think it was very often before, now however, whenever we get home theres a poo/wee on the floor. We take her out before bed, in the morning and before we go out and we never leave her long, the past 2 times we've been gone less than an hour and took her out just before we left as well!
I'm sure she can't help it but it is bothering my bf greatly, he wants to get rid of her because she doesn't listen anymore, I don't agree with his punishments for her but when she behaves he is lovely with her.
I've been reading around and been told about Seperation anxiety and a few other things but mostly that we should take her to the vet. I am somewhat worried he'll be insulted if I say we should do that so if anyone has any understanding of these situations it would be greatly appreciated.
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This does sound like a behavior issue more than illness of a sort. Anxiety may well be the cause, one thing you can do is crate train her so that when no one is home she is not scared. kennels are meant for this, it helps dogs feel secure. It might be a little bit hard just because she is so much older than a puppy which is when the training should begin. Taking her to the vet is a good idea but if the issue is her using the bathroom when you are not home theres not much a dr. can do.
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I don't know why your boyfriend would be insulted at the suggestion he take his dog to the vet. That is the most sensible thing to do. The vet will be able to check for physical problems, and will probably have some good ideas as to solutions if the problem isn't physical. If your BF has had the dog for three years and she as about three when he got her, she's only about six, which isn't really that old for a dog, so age related problems such as weakened bladder or bowel control or dementia wouldn't be my first guess in this case.
The solution may be behavior training, medication, or possibly a doggy door or a means of going potty indoors such as puppy pads or the specially designed indoor doggy potty (google it and you'll see what I mean). It is even possible that your boyfriend needs the behavior training as he may be inadvertantly shaping her undesired behavior. Whatever the case, I'd say a vet visit would be the first place to start.
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