[fearlessknight]

First of all I am 4 months pregnant. About 2 months ago, my little house dog (not a pit bull) starting acting strange (I didn't know at the time I was pregnant). He started staying stuck up my butt and followed my every move. Then he started going into the dirty clothes when we were not home and getting my "personals" he would never do anything do with them, just carry them to his bed and sleep with them. Well I started shutting doors when we would leave so he couldn't do it anymore.
Then he started peeing in various places in the middle of the night and each time he did it, he got closer to our bedroom. (luckily it was never on carpet, but ceramic tile instead) I at first was thinking it was an accident, I guess all dogs and people have them. But then, it continued, not everyday, but at least 2 times a week. I put up with, when I cleaned it up, I checked the color, and it seemed fine. He has NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE....very well house trained. Well I finally had enough of it and put him outside perm.

I feel really bad, because I think he just sensed that I was pregnant or something. I have been doing research on this subject and found some amazing stories about pregnant women and dogs, but none quite like this one.....Anyone ever been through anything like? Should I have put him out? Ann and all advise will be appreciated...
Thanks in advance!

[fearlessknight]

ok.....am I out of line here.....I really could use some advise! Please...

[buddysmom]

It is not an unreasonalble or "out of line" question!

I feel for you ... just do not have an answer as to what you could / should / should not do ...

A dog behaviorist certainly if you can swing it ... and/or NLIF? and/or crating?

Putting a dog outside is not a crime especially if he has good shelter, mild weather etc. but I can understand you feeling guilty ... but then you couldn't let things go on as they were either.

I hope someone with more knowledge or experience can help.

[Purple]

I'm not much help, either. Can you try crating him at night?

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by Purple I'm not much help, either. Can you try crating him at night?

Unfortunately, I am a bad owner....he is 4 yrs and has never seen a crate in his life. Never had to though. I have not tried it, but guess it couldn't hurt.
I think, I feel more like he is doing it out of protection or something...... I don't know. It is just really weird.

I know it is no crime, but he has spent his life indoors, and VERY much knows how to take of himself outdoors, as he is a hunter!
I am not worried about that, I just see his sad SAD face everyday when I leave for work and them when I get home, he is waiting for me to bring him in. I think he has fairly good though, considering. I just feel bad.

[buddysmom]

Not crating doesn't mean you're a bad owner. I have never crated because I have never needed to either.

Have you heard of a training method (actually more than that; a way of living peacefully with dogs) called Nothing in Life is Free, or NILF for short?

If not I think it may be something that could work very well for you and your doggers. Great for when baby comes too.

It's never too late to crate train, start from scatch and work into it slowly like you would with a new pup and it should be fairly easy. The next step is A. rule out any medical reasons that could cause inappropriate urination and B. umbilical the dog when you are home to correct him when he does mark in the house.

He is neutered, correct?

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by huskylove It's never too late to crate train, start from scatch and work into it slowly like you would with a new pup and it should be fairly easy. The next step is A. rule out any medical reasons that could cause inappropriate urination and B. umbilical the dog when you are home to correct him when he does mark in the house. He is neutered, correct?

yes he is.

[Michele]

If it was me, i would not put the dog outside. The dog is probably very very confused right now. He's always been an inside dog and suddenly, he's outside. In your original post, you say that when the dog urinated, you just cleaned it up, and that was that. There was no correction. Have you taken him to the vet to see if he's ok medically? If he is, i would start crate training him and maybe doing NILIF.

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by Michele If it was me, i would not put the dog outside. The dog is probably very very confused right now. He's always been an inside dog and suddenly, he's outside. In your original post, you say that when the dog urinated, you just cleaned it up, and that was that. There was no correction. Have you taken him to the vet to see if he's ok medically? If he is, i would start crate training him and maybe doing NILIF.

I know I am by no means an expert, but I am pretty sure it is nothing medical. I have checked him and the color of the urination and all seems fine. For years he has been able to eat sleep and drink, whenever he feels like it. I have NEVER had a problem with him on anything of the sort until just a couple of months ago. Thats why I feel bad, because I did put him out.
I didn't correct him at first, as I thought it was just an accident, but then it continued, and I didn't know what to think. But he kept getting closer and closer to our room, and when I would leave doors open to where he could get in my things, he wouldn't do it.
He has been outside before, but never perm. He is a patterdale/mix, so I know he is fine out there, hell he could take better care of himself then I could mine out there! LOL.....
I just feel bad, I think I am slowly getting over it though.

My husband and I have discussed this and we both came to the conclusion that we don't want him running around the house all day with a baby anyways, for sanitary purposes (meaning the floor and such)
I would hate to see my baby with dog hair in her mouth! He sheds a little much, I would be sweeping and vacuuming 10 times a day!

[Michele]

What kind of weather do you have where you live? And how old is the dog?

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by Michele What kind of weather do you have where you live? And how old is the dog?

Live on the border of the Carolinas, not too hot not too cold in the winter, and he is 4 yrs

Banishing the dog permanently to the yard is only putting a bandaid on the problem, and because dogs are pack animals, it's unfair to the dog who lived in the house long before the baby came. Either find the dog a new home or deal with the issue of the dogs behavior

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by huskylove Banishing the dog permanently to the yard is only putting a bandaid on the problem, and because dogs are pack animals, it's unfair to the dog who lived in the house long before the baby came. Either find the dog a new home or deal with the issue of the dogs behavior

First of all he has not been banished, he is right at our front door. He gets love everyday just like he always has. Second I completely refuse to find him a new home, especially when I think it has something to do with the fact that he senses my being pregnant. I am trying to fix the problem, not get rid of him, and I feel bad enough as it is....................thanks anyway

Your pregnancy has nothing to do with his behavior, as I'm sure there are plenty of women on this board who owned dogs (myself, I had three dogs) and pregnant at the same time quite sucessfully.

I wasn't being snarky, and did give you a way to deal with it, but when you post a statement like this one,

we don't want him running around the house all day with a baby anyways, for sanitary purposes (meaning the floor and such) I would hate to see my baby with dog hair in her mouth! He sheds a little much, I would be sweeping and vacuuming 10 times a day!

it doesn't leave much room to the imagination that the dog isn't a priority anymore.
Oh, and my kids ingested the occasional dog hair and they both managed to survive (even thrive) in spite of it ; ).

[Michele]

I have to agree with Huskylove on this.

[diva]

Originally Posted by huskylove Your pregnancy has nothing to do with his behavior, as I'm sure there are plenty of women on this board who owned dogs (myself, I had three dogs) and pregnant at the same time quite sucessfully. I wasn't being snarky, and did give you a way to deal with it, but when you post a statement like this one, it doesn't leave much room to the imagination that the dog isn't a priority anymore. Oh, and my kids ingested the occasional dog hair and they both managed to survive (even thrive) in spite of it ; ).

I think it's only natural for her to want to put her child first. This is not to say that the dog is not a priority any more. He just moved down on the priority list.
I don't have any children, so I can't be much help. But, if it were me, I'd probably try moving the dog outside. If he likes it, then great. If he does not, then I would probably try to designate certain areas of my house for the dog.

Diva, she doesn't even have any children, and she's only 4 months pregnant, so why move the dog outside? Why can't someone take the time to fix the problem instead of just shoving the dog outside?
Quite frankly, living outside is no life for a dog, especially one that's accustomed to being an indoor family pet, and if the dog cannot remain inside and get the training it needs, then do the dog a favor and find it a home where they won't mind a little doghair and will work on training him to be completely housebroken.

[Phebes]

Geesh, my kids all just thrived on animal hair. You want your children to develope allergies keep them away from animal hair that's a real good plan.
I get so sick of hearing stories about people who dump their dog cause of a baby. People have dogs for 4, 8 even 10 years and just throw the dog out the door cause of a baby.
Did you every think the dog is doing these things cause he can feel the way you have changed your feelings about him cause you are pregnant? Gathering your clothes sounds like a security issue. The urinating is probably him marking. He was scared he was losing his home and it looks like he was right.
I have never read a headline in the news that said "Baby dies from ingesting dog hair"
I am sorry I am being so harsh. But you are being very unfair to this animal.

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by huskylove Diva, she doesn't even have any children, and she's only 4 months pregnant, so why move the dog outside? Why can't someone take the time to fix the problem instead of just shoving the dog outside? Quite frankly, living outside is no life for a dog, especially one that's accustomed to being an indoor family pet, and if the dog cannot remain inside and get the training it needs, then do the dog a favor and find it a home where they won't mind a little doghair and will work on training him to be completely housebroken.

You have issues....MOST dogs belong OUTSIDE.....they are not children....