There are some isolated older dog housetraining cases, where the cause of a breakdown in toilet habits is a psychological motivation, but results in a problem becoming medically motivated. One example might be the case where the dog seems to forget his housebreaking rules and urinates due to spite and jealously.
Your dog housetraining at this stage almost feels wasted and forgotten. Your dog could develop a psychosomatic urinary tract infection, therefore giving him a reason to eliminate at will anywhere in the house. This very condition can be the result of something else coming into the household like a new cat, bird, baby, or anything that is getting attention from you. Verbal punishment in such cases will only perpetuate the problem.
Your Dog Is Attention Seeking
The dog is getting attention, which is what it wanted in the first place and as long as it is getting this extra attention, whether it is shaming or admonishment, it will continue whatever action prompts the attention. Competition may lead to a regression of housebreaking behavior without it resulting in a psychosomatic urinary tract infection. The owner of the dog must realize that competition can be the leading cause of the problem and it goes without saying that when there is competition, the dog will wet.
The competition may be all in his head or reality and a complete exam to find out if any current changes in the family or household may be necessary. Something may be giving the dog a feeling that its position, or your affection for it is in jeopardy. Whether actual or simply imagined, it is very real to the dog. If competition is to blame, extra time spent with your dog, and maybe even exaggerated affection, will normally suffice in removing the motivator of its bad deeds. Spend time with your dog and do a little dog house training.
Bad Dog Behavior
Then there is the sort of dog who indulges in the type of wetting where he lifts his leg against everything, bedding, curtains and furniture and finds it necessary to try and own or control its environment by wetting on it. This is the type of dog who is self-oriented, selfish and narcissistic and it wets on everything to claim its territory. This would be the type of dog who has to have a master in every sense of the word.
That particular kind of dog knows it is the boss or leader of the pack, even if he is reluctant to be one. This kind of dog may be insecure and requires confident and strong leadership. This behavior occurs or comes about when relaxed and easy going dog owners who baby and spoil their dogs, and the relativity of love and discipline is more balanced toward love.
Your old friend may just need a little love and kindness and this makes for great dog housetraining.
