Hey guys...Haven't been on here for a while, but usually get some great advice. I've got a 5 month old Yellow Lab..She's a sweet dog, and is crate trained, my problem is...she's an inside dog. When we are sleeping at night, she will go and eliminate on the living room carpet. I have cleaned it with vinegar, soaking the carpet and then shampooing, but I can't seem to get her to stop. The house is rented, so it's not like I can just pull the carpet up. She will go outside and stay outside with my other pups for an hour or even more and come back in the house, and pee's or poops on the carpet. She has been crate trained, and stays in the crate while we are at work, no accidents. It's been the last few days and it's a very strong ammonia odor coming from the carpet, that's where the vinegar came into play, and does eliminate the odor in the room, but, I can't seem to get her to stop. She's outside every hour or more and not sure at this point and frustrated on what to do next. Hubby is talking about finding her a new home, but I love her and don't want to do that. Is it possible she has a bladder infection? Not sure what those signs are, have never had this problem before. Thanks in advance for the advice!

Maybe when she is outside with the other pups she is too distracted to go potty, then goes when she is let in the house. I have 2 dogs, got one a month after the other, and the 2nd one I had to take outside on a leash so she would actually go potty instead of just play. Maybe try that?

Sorry you're having this issue.

OK, first thing here is at night, she needs to be crated. That will eliminate the problem of her going on the living room carpet when everyone is asleep and no one is able to let her out. As much fun as it is to have a furbaby in our beds at night, it's best and more safe for them to be crated during that time.

She could be getting a bit excited to see other doggies and that could be an issue. Other than that, if you never catch her in the act, it's difficult to get on to her. If you see her going potty in the house, clap your hands and loudly say "NO" and try to get her to the door.

Now, there is a product made by Nature's Miracle. It's a cleaner for carpet and soft surfaces and it's also a deodorizer. It also has a "No More Marking" agent in it that actually makes them not want to go wherever you spray it. I raise my babies in my house and I had one who was stubborn...I began to think he was part mule. He would just pee puddles in the dining room. I bought this in a gallon container and filled a spray bottle. After I used the carpet shampooer, I just sprayed the entire house with this stuff. Sofa, beds, carpets...anything that I thought he would want to pee on. It has worked for over 2 months now. Even though it's technically a "cleaner" for accidents, I just spray it on the carpet periodiocally and the behavior has stopped.

Remember, if you're taking her outside to go potty, she still needs to get a treat and lots of praise from you for doing her business where you want her to. If you're just letting her go outside and stay for an hour or so and then come back in, she doesn't make the connection of where you're happiest when she goes potty. She's still very much a puppy and training at this age is critical. Take her out rather than "let" her out, treats and praise after potty and she'll catch on.

Bladder infection? I wouldn't so much lean towards that at this point. She's pooping on the carpet, too. I would say just a bit more agressive with training and no marking spray.

Hope this novel is helpful and maybe some others will be along with better tips for ya.

Best of luck!

Our 5 month old lab will pee in the same spot on the carpet if left to himself or not taken outside first thing in the am. We have him baby gated in the down stairs bathroom (with his dog bed) at night. Maybe she is just to young to have free rain in the house at night. Could gate her in the kitchen or a bathroom with her bed untill she grows out of it and you get the order out of the carpet.

I think Big Buck has it on the head...the dog just simply needs to be crated or contained for a while. I crate my dogs at night till there at least 18 months. Just because Pups will be pups.

I know that the crate may not be the most intriguing option, but look, the crate works. Keep it by the bed, so the dog feels secure. The dog may whine...you can let the dog outside...but this may lead to more whining. once the dog turns 9 months. I would not let them out of the crate at night to go pee. They can hold it. Also, do not give any water after 7 pm. And remember the other option is getting rid of the dog. And once the dog is older and has potty training down...the dog can roll all night..for the rest of it's life.

And as a rule of thumb a puppy can only hold it's bladder it's age in months plus one...so a five month old...6 hours.