Confused

[fireman164]

Hello, I have a cane corso that just turned 1yr , he is super smart , well trained (thanks to this site) he has been potty trained for along time now and has NEVER had an accident in the house, until about a week ago, we have hardwood floor throughout our whole house except in the bedrooms and my wife and I were in the bedroom talking and Blade (dog) was standing not too far from us and just pee'd in the floor behind us, I had my back turned so I did not see him do it but he left a huge puddle and even some dribbles, also he sleeps about 2' from where he pee'd, and it hasnt happen since, it really caught me off guard because he has never done this before, do you think he just had a brain fart ? or should i worry since he is at the age to start marking, or maybe he thought the carpet was grass like enough that it would be ok ? I am hoping this is a one time thing and not a new trend starting. Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Roger

[Mike D'Abruzzo]

Hi Roger,

First impression is that it sounds like a marking incident, especially since he sleeps near the spot and Blade is at the age where you may see that.

Here are a few things that may help us understand why:

1. Is he intact? Neutered dogs will still mark, but intact tend to do it more.

2. Have you had any visitors recently - 4 legged or people? Sometimes you will see the marking behavior after (or during) a guest has been in the home as a way for the dog to feel more secure about what is his is still his. For instance, I once had a client who's dog would only mark in a bedroom after the son came home from college and slept in the empty room where the dog usually stayed.

3. How have the pack structure exercises been going? Sometimes if we ease it up too much with the pack structure stuff - especially the affection rules you may see the dog have a tendency to start marking the home in general.

Let me know when you can, and we can make a plan.

[fireman164]

Well it's been while since the accident and he hasn't done it Anymore, as far as pack structure he definitely knows where he stands in that structure and we do have another male yorkie but he normally doesn't go in that room , not to say that not possible, as for the affection issue ... Guilty as charged we do pet him allot and he gets alot of attention, which may explain why when I tell him" place " he goes there immediately and stays but the he whines the whole time until he is freed. Also if I happen to get too get to far out of site he runs through the house until he finds me , at first it was cute but know I can't even get up and go to the kitchen that he is not following me , I call him my shAdow. ThAnks for the help!

[fireman164]

I almost forgot he is still intact, I took him to pets smart and he hiked and peed twice while we were there, needless to say I spent alot of time cleaning up pee , maybe taking him to petsmart is not such a great idea .