Regressing housebreaking in 9-mo old girl

[Janine’s Mom]

Hi all. My Sheltie Janine had been perfect (note the word “had”!), housebroken by the time she was 3 months old. Yet now at 9 months, her toilet habits are growing more peculiar. (I’d thought it was about her having her first heat, but no, she’s done with it.) First, she wouldn’t pee until about 9-10 in the morning, almost 12 hours after her prior one at bedtime. My vet didn’t think that was odd. We certainly did ...
Then she wouldn’t poo or pee unless we took her on a walk (note we have a 3/4 acre property!). Over the last two weeks, she’s peed in my home office, and then at a training session. She also had two poo accidents at home, even though she has had every opportunity to use the yard. She gives us no sign of wanting to go out (note we take her out frequently!). BTW, we never let her out in the yard on her own.
Thoughts? I’d appreciate it!

 

[Chris]

Ah yes, the 8-11 month teenage rebellion. Some are defiant, some are just...peculiar. We learned we have to go back to basics -- crating, routine -- for a while until this, too, passes.

 

[Janine’s Mom]

Ah yes, the 8-11 month teenage rebellion. Some are defiant, some are just...peculiar. We learned we have to go back to basics -- crating, routine -- for a while until this, too, passes.

Thank you! Good to know ... (we were thinking of UTI, taking her to the vet, but maybe we’ll just try to go back to basics first.

 

[Piper's mom]

Yup I second what Chris said...it's the dreaded teenager phase! My dog Piper would pee in the house even though he knew to ring the bell (his phase didn't stop until I had him neutered at 2 lol)...i never knew when it was going to happen but it's like he had the attitude 'meh...I'm just going to go now, don't feel like telling my hooman'. Just go back to basics, it will pass.

 

[Hanne]

Around this age they have control over their "business".
When Minnie was about the same age, she stopped with her "business" in the garden
and would only do it- if we went for a walk.

So we started immediately a routine - I went for a walk with her - at least- morning and afternoon
where we walk about 1 hour and a short trip before going to bed

Then she was/is happy and got her "business" done, a Sheltie must anyway out and read the newest "newspapers"

From that moment Minnie did not do "business" for approx. 12 hours at night.

In the morning, we eat breakfast at first, Minnie takes a little nap before she comes and tells me that we can now go for a walk.

Minnie are now 3½ Y and we still have the same routine.

I never use cages for my dogs, all my dogs have been housebroken in a matter of weeks - it is obvious that I are aware of the puppy.

I have never experienced any of my dogs having had relapses.

Go for walks with Janine - as she asks for and you'll see that the problem resolves itself

 

[jaleely]

Oh goodness, I keep hearing about the 8-11 month teen angst! Mine already talks back, learns something 100% then just "forgets", and has decided that his way of greeting *me* is via my wrist in his whole mouth! Lol, I struggle with that one, bc it's utterly adorable, but those puppy needles! Still, usually a flying leap into my lap, bite-growl-snuggle, then cuddles, lol.

I digress. 2 years for Piper? :,.( Finn already won't do his bell, even though it was one of the first things!
He also thinks "drop-it" now means "eat it quickly, then run away" and "come" now means "Bark. Then run away."

 

[Piper's mom]

Oh goodness, I keep hearing about the 8-11 month teen angst! Mine already talks back, learns something 100% then just "forgets", and has decided that his way of greeting *me* is via my wrist in his whole mouth! Lol, I struggle with that one, bc it's utterly adorable, but those puppy needles! Still, usually a flying leap into my lap, bite-growl-snuggle, then cuddles, lol.

I digress. 2 years for Piper? :,.( Finn already won't do his bell, even though it was one of the first things!
He also thinks "drop-it" now means "eat it quickly, then run away" and "come" now means "Bark. Then run away."

I think part of Pipers problem was that he was marking ALL the time so never emptied his bladder and so would pee in the house...but he wouldn't ring his bell! His behaviour totally changed when he was neutered though, I think since March he's had maybe one accident in the house and he's back to ringing the bell.

 

[jaleely]

Well, any age doggo is an adventure, that's for sure, lol. Finn will only empty his whole bladder when I take him out in the middle of the night, and he's really sleepy. He can hold it 8-9 hours, actually. (He's 16 weeks tomorrow!)
But, if I empty him out, I can sleep a little longer in the morning, lol.
During the day, he goes, then gets very easily distracted, and I always have to be alert for that second pee!

We've never had an intact male before, any breed. So that will be interesting for us. We're debating.
Daisy, our older beagle, is a rescue. She is absolutely horrible about marking. She constantly holds her bladder, and when we go on walks it is insane how many times she marks (and lifts her leg!) & I don't see where she's keeping it all, lol
Bowser was neutered as soon as the boys dropped. He still squats like a girl! But he's also a low-rider, lol. Might be easier that way! When he was a baby (6 weeks!) He would stop and puddle a little, every time something touched is wiener, lol. But, he was just an itybity babe, and only a quarter inch above the ground, lol. And yes, he tripped over his ears a lot, lol.
Its been really neat to see how different they've been.
The problems here are training, and active dogs... Bowser challenges were going "flat basset".
"Forum help! My basset goes on walks, but when he decides he's tired, he lies down & won't get up! I can't move him!!" LOL!
Very different challenges with Finn, lol!

To OP:
We used to joke that Bowser has OCD. When he finally became fully housebroken, at 7 months ( he just woke up one day, and got it!) He decided that he should *only* pee in the front yard, and only poop in the backyard.
Also, pee is first, before a meal.
Dogs like a schedule, but Bowser is very strict, lol!
I guess going peculiar isn't so bad *sometimes* lol. Maybe Janine needs a schedule refresh!