[wkusigep460]

First time poster, so I apologize if this is in the wrong thread.

Here's our issue. Our 9 1/2 month miniature dashchund has been potty-trained for a long time. We clicker-trained him as soon as we got him at the age of 2 months old. When he needs to go out, he goes and sits by our front door, we let him out, say "go potty" and after he's done, he comes back inside for a treat.

Lately, however, it seems that he is sitting by the front door a 3-4 times an hour. Every time we let him out, he urinates (sometimes a lot, sometimes just a little). I realize that he is a small dog, and therefore, has a small bladder. But I honestly don't think he should be going that often.

I have a reasonable theory, and that is that he is doing what he knows to do in order to get a treat. Could a dog possibly space out his urination schedule in order to get more treats? I don't think he has a bladder infection because he doesn't relieve himself in his crate when he's in there for 3-4 hours at a time and he doesn't go in the house at all.

If he goes and sits by the door 15 minutes after he last went out, I don't want to reprimand him. I don't think I should just ignore him either. Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[TooneyDogs]

Rule out the medical first as it could be the start of a UTI and then go from there.

That 15 minute thing for the treats/attention is a common side effect in the early stages of potty training but, as that was "a long time ago."

 

[GenuineGoldens]

What if you stay outside with him for an hour? Does he still pee the same amount of times? If not, then I would lean towards the fact that he just wants a treat and/or to go outside. Otherwise, UTI is a possibility.

 

[Thracian]

Sounds like a UTI to me. I would go to the vet and get him checked out. If he's got one, he'd hang on as long as he could so he didn't go in the crate, but would feel a bit more free to go once out of it.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

Rule out UTI and then discuss this topic.