How to get my dog to stop peeing on the couch?

So short backstory, I've had 1 dog for about 8 years (he's a chihuhua/dachshund mix) and my other dog for about 4 years (he's a chihuahua/sheltie mix so I was told). The 4 year old sheltie mix was a rescue, he was very timid when we first got him and he had a nervous bladder. It took a year or more to get him to stop submissively peeing anytime anyone walked up to him, but he eventually gained confidence and grew out of it and he became a pretty well house trained pup. The 8y/o weenie mix we've had since he was 8 weeks old and is very well trained and never pees in the house.

Now the problem... About a year ago, Rogue (the rescue sheltie mix) started peeing on the couch. I originally thought it was just accidental and didn't really punish him until i realized that it was almost always on one specific cushion, and he never had accidents while we were around. I started punishing him for it. He's only 10 pounds so it doesn't take much, just put his nose in it and smack him on the butt a couple times. It's to the point now where he knows its wrong (because I know as soon as I get home he's cowering in the corner if he's peed on the couch) but he's still doing it. I did a little research and thought maybe he's peeing in his sleep? But I don't think that's the case, because he sleeps in the bed with my wife and I pretty often and never has an accident in the bed or on any of our other furniture. It seems that there is just something about this one cushion on the couch that he can't resist peeing on... help!

 

You have to pee all over it so he knows it's yours.

 

Haha I’ve legit thought about this... but obviously its not a viable option.

 

My pit bulls never go in the house, but the little min pin will pee or poop in the house once in awhile. Usually way off in some corner, but never on the furniture. And I can't really scold her, cause she will get scared and just pee more

 

He has claimed it. Just give him the whole damn sofa and move on.

 

Put either the pooch or the couch outside.

 

unending, unbreakable peeing in the house is a leading cause of death for cats, according a friend who is a cat vet.

It will be interesting to hear how you end up dealing with it and who gives in first.

Hope you are successful because a friend of mine is dealing with a similar issue.

JL

 

These punishments will not work. He does not associate the smell of a place (putting his nose in it after the fact) he pee'd and the butt smack as associative. Frankly dogs are very hard to "train" with negative reinforcement. If he only goes in the same place and is otherwise house broken, he feels this is his Ok "not outside" spot. You need to remove his access to it (baby gates) or throw it out. Even if you use Anti Icky Poo, he will smell it. You also need to re-house break train him (take him outside on a lease to his "spot" and praise him when he goes after eating drinking every few hours etc.)...this could take weeks so it is good it is Summer. You may want to check the vet for a low grade bladder infection and change your behavior to have him come to you (Alpha) rather than you go to him if he's submissive.

 

Yeah, I agree. But it's hard not to get upset when you catch them in the act. I praise my dogs almost every time they go in the yard. Clean that couch really well. Try some of that urine eliminator spray. And make a big deal about them going where they are supposed to go.

 

Being the OP is in HI I would think a lava flow in the yard might be a bigger problem than the weather. As long as that cushion is in the house you will have problems with this happening OP.

 

also dont let him on the couch anymore at all...

 

OP is in Ca. I'm in Hawaii, but no lava here

 

LOL, my bad. Well being in Canada I would think he could just nicely ask the dog to stop. Or if he is in California perhaps the sofa identify's as a toilet.