Urination indoors can be troublesome, especially when the carpet has been repeatedly soiled. There are several reasons that a dog might start urinating inside and showing a “reversal” of housebreaking. The first could be a medical reason. It is important to have the dog examined by a veterinarian before any behavioral modification is attempted. Some dogs will urinate inside as a way to “get your attention” when they aren’t feeling well. Low-grade urinary tract infections and bladder stones can cause discomfort and dogs can go a while with these issues and not show signs of sickness that we easily recognize. Testing the urine and blood tests are a good first step in ruling out any medical causes.

At 7 years old and as a large breed dog, she is transitioning into her ‘senior years.’ Some dogs develop cognitive dysfunction (“doggie dementia”) as they age and reversal of housebreaking is common. Some dogs can actually ‘forget’ how to get back outside so they find a place in the house that they like to go and make it their toilet location. This is another issue to talk to your veterinarian about. Other behaviors and physical changes can provide clues that this may be occurring.

Cleaning the carpet with an enzymatic cleaner is a good start, but sometimes there can be scents that linger and draw the dog back to the same spot. It becomes a sort of habit and sometimes the carpet must be removed to help prevent the problem.

Another possibility is that she is unhappy about changes within the house (closing doors, turmoil, a new routine, etc.) and she is ‘acting out.’ If medical issues have been ruled out, a different routine or a consultation with a veterinary behavioral specialist may be necessary for a personalized behavior modification plan.