I have a 2 yr old labrador who recently started to pee in the house. She had blood/urine tests, and all is ok. She is walked min 2 hrs every day, socializes with other dogs, is not in locked in the house for more than 2 hrs, and has constant access to a yard. If the door is closed, she will always go to the door & ask to be let out. The only change in our lives is a 9 mth old baby, who she loves & protects. Tonight she peed on the (new) carpet where our baby plays, 10 feet away from an open door with yard access. Any ideas, I'm desperate !!!

[Yogi]

females mark, hard to believe but they in fact do. This is whether spayed or not they can still mark an area or territory. This can be seen as a protective feature in the dog to protect the child by marking over the childs scent. Keeping in mind that dogs mark territory to keep other dogs out of it. Try treating the area with white vinegar and monitor her when she is in that area and try to catch her before she goes and direct her outside. Protective instincts in dogs are great but they can also be somewhat of an inconvenience when it comes to the marking aspects. Good luck.

[wishbone]

I agree that it could be a marking behavior. Make sure the scent and smell was totally eliminated as well as monitoring her to interrupt her whenever she's on act of peeing or marking.

[lil mutt]

does your dog still pees on your new carpet? i think your dog just need a little behavior correction to stop that kind of behavior.

I agree that she could be marking on the floor to show dominance over your new baby. I'm sure she will outgrow this behavior quickly though...

[Lara's mom]

Try this. Neutralize the smell of urine with plain white vinegar mixed with a little water wherever she pees. Also, take a look at whatever cleaning products you're using. To a dog, ammonia smells like urine which makes it more likely that a floor or carpet cleaned with an ammonia based cleanser will encourage them to pee there.

To further protect your carpet, take a bucket and add some plain white vinegar and a little water. Take a wet rag and go over the carpet with it. Chances are, the dog will look elsewhere for a spot to pee and your rug will be saved. Unless you have wall-to-wall carpeting, don't forget to pick up the rug and scrub the underside where the dog has peed.

[chickprincess]

It could be a marking behavior indeed. Just make sure that the sure that the smell is 100% eliminated to it won't happen again