My Pet World: When your pet’s behavior leaves you guessing

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Sep 2, 2026

Dear Cathy,

Pup Pup is five years old, and has been with me since mid-March. She is a great dog and excellent companion, but she doesn’t accept commands like sit or stay, and walking is a holy train wreck. She’ll walk a few steps, then go behind me or just stop. She was dumped by her former owners.

She loves me, and I feel the same about her. Not every child will grow up to be Albert Einstein, and I figure it’s the same in the pet world. I considered dog training, but one place wanted $30 to evaluate her and mentioned possible boarding. Get the heck out of here. She’s a normal dog who eats her meals and sleeps at least 18 hours a day.

Bottom line: I’m happy with my decisions, and Pup Pup is happy living with me in a comfortable home.

— Michael, Arizona

Dear Michael,

I didn’t see a question in there, but I have two suggestions for you.

First, you don’t need overnight boarding unless you’re paying for a board-and-train program, where trainers work with Pup Pup and then teach you how to continue the training at home. A regular weekly training class can teach you the skills you need to train her. Also, I assure you, Pup Pup is capable of learning things like her name, sit, down, stay, come, and how to walk on a leash. Dog training is as much about training the human as the dog, since we have to learn how to communicate what we want and reward them when they get it right.

Second, if weekly classes are out, consider purchasing Clicker Training for Dogs by Karen Pryor (blue cover) and an inexpensive clicker. The book offers step-by-step illustrated instructions that are easy to follow. Keep treats and a clicker handy all day, and when you make a request and Pup Pup listens, mark the correct behavior with the clicker and immediately follow with a treat.

As for walking, start small. Reward Pup Pup for walking just a few steps beside you. If she stops or goes behind you, encourage her forward and reward her when she catches up. Five good steps today can become 10 tomorrow and eventually a walk around the neighborhood.

Training is one of the best things you can do to build a stronger bond between the two of you. It keeps her mind active, builds her confidence, and gives you something fun to do together. So don’t give up on her.

Dear Cathy,

My eight-year-old female Lab mix has suddenly started peeing in the house, mostly overnight. She has never done this before, and her veterinarian says there are no medical reasons causing this. How can I stop or redirect her behavior?

— Earl, Des Plaines, Illinois

Dear Earl,

The word that jumps out at me in your letter is “suddenly.” When a dog who has been house-trained for eight years suddenly begins urinating indoors, my first thought isn’t that she needs to be retrained. It’s that something has changed, and it could be medical or stress related.

I know you said your veterinarian found no medical reason for the accidents, but I would follow up and ask what was ruled out and whether additional testing is warranted. Urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, bladder problems and urinary incontinence can all cause a previously house-trained dog to have accidents.

Another culprit is middle age. Older spayed females can develop urinary incontinence, which may be more noticeable when they are relaxed or sleeping. Pay attention to what you find in the morning. Is there a puddle where she has been sleeping, suggesting she may be leaking urine without realizing it? Or is she getting up and urinating somewhere else in the house? If she is leaking urine overnight, a doggie diaper can help protect her bedding and your floors while you and your veterinarian figure out what’s going on. Just be sure to remove it promptly in the morning and keep her skin clean and dry. These details may help your veterinarian determine what’s happening.

If medical causes are thoroughly ruled out, look for changes in her environment or routine that could be causing stress. A new person or pet, schedule changes, construction, noises, or even minor changes in routine can affect some dogs. If stress is a factor, a canine pheromone plug-in diffuser may help her feel more secure.

In the meantime, take her out immediately before bedtime and consider adding a late-night or early-morning potty break. After eight years of being house-trained, she hasn’t suddenly forgotten the rules. Something has changed; the challenge is figuring out what.

_____

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)