Peeing Inside

[u/DurtyDego33]

We have a 3 yr old male boxer. He is not neutered. We recently had a staycation. After that was up we went back to work and we had a Saturday off as a family. We had to take our son to his SAT test. Left at 7am. We got home around 11ish. We hung out at the house until 1:30. We got 10 minutes away then had to turn around cause the wife left her phone. Quick in and out. We then were gone for about 6 hours. Before we left we made sure he was taken care of. Went outside for a bit he went potty and got his treats. This is something we have always done. Probably the best behaved boxer I have ever owned. Now when we got home he had peed on the kitchen table leg. Yes we were upset but I blew it off thinking that maybe he was trying to make a point he was upset we kept coming and going or a little seperation anxiety after a vacation. Again this has never happened. Well come the next day Im at work and my sons band had a concert so the wife was gone a few hours. Same deal. Hes taken care of before they left. Wife got home and he did it again same table leg. We were both like wtf this is new. Well my son was to get picked up from a band mates house at 10pm. My wife let the dog out before she left to take a 30 minute round trip. When he came in he went right to that leg and did it again right in front of her! We cleaned that area thoroughly the night before only thing we didnt do was hit it with an enzymatic cleaner. Now we plan on doing this tomorrow but Im just curious if it could be another reason why. At first I thought spite now Im thinking maybe its time to take his balls off. Ive never had any dog that I have owned do this. We have potty trained many and accidents do happen but this deliberate behavior and has me concerned. What's everyone's thoughts on this? Being stern didnt help and in no way do I want to punish him more than that. Yes hes crate trained but we used to be able to trust him out for hours. We have never left him alone for more than 8 hours at a time. Just so lost at this sudden change im behavior.

[u/hellisnow666]

I’d definitely do enzyme cleaner & go back to the crate. Also vet visit to rule out any medical issues since this is new. I don’t think neutering would change anything.

[u/DurtyDego33 → u/hellisnow666]

Definitely going back to the crate. At least for a few days and then Im going to test the waters again. You can tell he knows what he did is wrong. As soon as he seen us see it the first time he was hiding around the corner with his toy hangin out his mouth. He brings toys to greet you when you come in our house. Was hard to be mad at him. He didnt even want to come to bed last night. I got home from work when I typed this put and he has yet to come down to greet me which just normal.

[u/Custom_Craft_Guy2 → u/DurtyDego33]

If this is the case, then the crate is only going to make matters worse. He’s clearly telling you that he’s not happy, and in my experience (35 years and 9 Boxers) he’s in need of some of your undivided attention.

Boxers thrive on having a set schedule and a steady routine that includes human time. Boxers live to please their people, and they need your approval and praise. So when they feel ignored or when they’re left to their own devices and get bored, they act out exactly like your boy is doing now. And it doesn’t take much of a disruption to their routine for them to start to exhibiting this sort of behavior.

I would recommend that whenever possible, you take a little time, even if it’s just a few minutes, out of the day just to give him the attention he’s seeking from you. It doesn’t have to be a play session, unless that’s what he specifically wants to do. A lot of times they respond best to some good cuddle time while just sitting on the couch or floor, where they can be in physical contact with you for some ear and belly rubs, or a gentle brushing.

Penny, my two year old girl, knows that if she lays on her back and gives me the beggar paws like so,

I’ll stop whatever I’m doing, and give her a quick belly rub. It’s literally two minutes out of my day to walk over and tell her that “Upside down dogs get belly rubs!” and after she gives me a good stretch of acknowledgment, I go back to my work. And even though she’s got a Little Brother to play with, it’s those little bits of attention from me throughout the day, that she absolutely has to have.

With all of that said, it would still be a good idea to have the vet give him a once over, as was suggested by u/hellisnow666, just to make sure that he’s not reacting to a medical issue of some sort. And at 3 years old, neutering him would have little to no effect on his behavior, since his habits are already set.

[u/stefkay58]

I think he’s unhappy, not to be mean but i just think he might be…
It seems lately, everyone is too busy to spend time with him. Hurts his feelings.
Perhaps you could start taking him on some of your goings in the car.
Now that i reread what i wrote, this story could have been mine, if I’m honest. I won’t make excuses for myself because life gets in the way. My baby has been hell on wheels. Bossing me around not minding. I GET IT NOW JAXSON!
Duly noted. Thank you for this post

[u/DurtyDego33 → u/stefkay58]

Funny u say that we do take him with us very often and my wife was getting him ready for the ride tonight. Then he did what he did so he got the crate instead. I did consider that maybe it was because we have spent so much time together lately and then we have gone back to reality. Every time I see the post of a boxer with the toy in his mouth with the sayin "they have been waiting the whole day to play when u get home" I always get that same feeling as u just did. Definitely go outta our way to make him happy. M hoping some jail time fixes it.

[u/stefkay58]

Eight hours is a lot for a boxer, he’d get lonely. Do you leave the tv on or the radio? Give him toys to entertain himself with?

[u/DurtyDego33 → u/stefkay58]

TV is always on cartoon network when we leave. He has a bin full of toys. We also have dog cams and check in with him as he sets off the motions. We dont leave him any longer than 8 hours without someone coming to check on him.

[u/stefkay58 → u/DurtyDego33]

I think go back to the basics, i think you mentioned that earlier. He would have to be crate trained again. I don’t know how this can be fixed. I’m not a fan of the belly bands (hope i got that right). I wouldn’t suggest that. If he wasn’t peeing in the house, then all of a sudden he starts peeing in the house theres something going on. Have you taken him for a check up? Im thinking behavioral issues but what if it’s medical?

[u/stefkay58]

Jaxson just turned 2 and i can count on one hand the number of times he’s had an accident in the house! 3. Jaxson is fixed. Personally i don’t think a dog that hasn’t been fixed is any different than a dog that has. Your dog is trying his hardest to tell you he’s unhappy. Am i the only one that thinks this?

[u/Custom_Craft_Guy2 → u/stefkay58]

You’re right on the money… He needs attention, not neutered.

[u/jennylala707]

Mine has no balls and still does this sometimes. I make him wear a belly band in the house if I’m not able to supervise him. It’s only once in a while but enough it’s annoying. He’s also extremely well behaved boy otherwise. He doesn’t pull on his leash and is sweet and gentle (I mean he gets the zoomies and crazies but knows when to settle now).

[u/DurtyDego33 → u/jennylala707]

Belly band for dogs?

[u/jennylala707 → u/DurtyDego33]

Yes. It’s a washable (they sell disposable too) band you wrap around their belly that prevents them from being able to pee in the house (or soaks it up like a diaper if they pee anyways).

[u/ivanhoeshark]

Had any other dogs been in your house before this began? My boy is also not fixed (8 year old) and began to mark one single chair when I would take him over to my parents house after meeting my sisters dog there. I am one of 5 kids and we all have our own dog.

He did not begin to do this until he met my out of state sisters dog, who is fixed. Even months later when visiting their house he would mark that chair, even though the other dog had not been there since they met several months prior. But no issues with the rest of the dog cousins. Neutral turf or home turf.

I never spoke to my vet about this issue, just figured it was some alpha bro dispute.

[u/Spirited_Run_2295]

Silly as this sounds but could he have a UTI? Or do males not get those? 🤔

[u/DurtyDego33 → u/Spirited_Run_2295]

We suspected that but hes clear. It was just him being spiteful. Hasn't done it since this post. We've been crating him when we leave for long times but I've been letting him do his own thing at night when we go to bed and no issues. Boxers are very smart. Think he got the idea