Hello,

I have a Great Dane that I am "taking care of" because her owner is unable
to keep her at the moment. She's a good dog, for the most part, but she has
urinated on my bed several times, and also on my roomates bed, where she
also defecated. I thought that I had solved this problem, but I went off to
the store and when I got back saw that she had pushed open my bedroom door
and peed on the bed.

I did what I have done previously, which is to lead her to the bed, put her
nose on it, "yell" at her, and (since I have to have her on a leash because
she "knows" she's done wrong), hit the end of the bed, the mattress and
everything else (except her) with the end of the leash. But I am losing
patience. I have never hit a dog (I rescue dogs, usually golden retrievers,
who have been abused), but she is really causing me to lose patience.

The owner can't take her back until June at least, and the breeder has been
informed. The breeder suggested keeping her in a crate when we leave the
house and at night when the household sleeps. (She was crate trained, and
she likes it in there. I leave the door open and she goes in and out at
will. She is only locked in when she can't be "supervised" or when, as
after this incident, she is being punished.

I am really at my wit's end. I have no idea why she does this. She will
behave well for a couple of weeks (she hasn't peed on the carpet in quite a
while, or defecated in the house), but if she can get an opportunity, she
will urinate on the bed. I don't know what to do. I have always used borax
to absorb the urine and then a pet spray to get rid of any traces, but I
don't have any idea how to get her to stop doing this. She will be "locked
up" for 24 hours (I will take her out to go the bathroom and to eat), but I
know that in a couple of weeks she will likely do the same thing again.

I should say she always acts remorsefully, and as I said, she's basically a
good dog. She also is walked and let out to "do her business" regularly
(with my other dog, a male golden) and it's not a problem. Both dogs are
neutered, btw, and they get along very well. Other than the bed wetting
(she is not allowed on furniture), she is a good dog. The problem (she's
about five years of age) is her "owner", who as near as I can tell did not
discipline her and spoiled her, giving her no boundaries. (Letting her on
furniture, walking her every 2 hours, lots of "treats", toys, etc., and
keeping her as a constant companion. The owner has no boundaries, and I'm
afraid it has rubbed off on the dog.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to "cure" her? I was so angry
(and frustrated) tonight, that I wanted to hit her and physically punish her
(which is not in my nature). Her owner can't take her back for a while, and
while the breeder is willing to place her, it would be permanent. I should
mention that she is a beautiful and well-bred (and for the most part)
well-behaved dog.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Any insight into why she does
this would also be welcome.

Thanks,

Cody