So, Vixen, who is now 7.5 months old, has suddenly started pooping and peeing all over the place the last week or so. She was spayed about 6 weeks ago and was pretty much housetrained (barring the occasional oops) since she was 12 weeks old. Now, our other husky, Zelda, at 8.5 months is STILL not housetrained and has to be crated 24/7.

To cover the basics, yes, we use an enzyme cleaner on all of Zelda's messes, and always have, so I don't think Vixen is marking.

No, I don't think it is a UTI, since the poopingbegan happening at the same time.

No other male dogs around.

No major changes other than she was spayed 6 weeks ago. (Yes, Zelda is spayed too)

Now, I have noticed that since she was spayed, Vixen has been copping a MAJOR atitude. She doesn't want to walk nice, she seems to "test" everything- even refusing to sit unless forced to (a trick she mastered the day she came here) Her wrestling matches with Zelda have taken on a more serious quality, turning from playful rolling around to a real attack that has Zelda cowering and yipping. Andshe has been mounting Zelda a lot. Since NONE of these behaviors were present prior to the spay, it seems extra weird. Basically she is acting like a bratty teenager with raging hormones, and I don't understand WHY.

So, thought? Suggestions?

As for Zelda and her housetraining issues, I am ready to scream. We have done EVERYTHING the same with both dogs (but Zelda came at 4 mos and had a UTI and was used to being crated 12 hrs at a time, so we cut her slack because of her background.) But despite being VERY patient, vary consistent and doing everything by the book, the dog is clueless about not going in the house. that was stressful enough but now the dog we COULD trust has decided that she can crap whereveer she darn well feels like it too. Argh!

Quite honestly just seems like shes hitting her teenage years. There's a reason why we say when they hit the teen stages, its like retraining all over again. Start from scratch, take her out every hour, praise her when she goes outside, just like you would train a puppy or new dog. Stay consistent. Tether the dogs to you and give them more freedom the longer they hold it. If you have to do the dishes or something, either tether or crate them so they can't make a mess when your back is turned. As soon as you see a squat make a dash for outside.

Agreed, it's the teenage years. ^^ Mobezilla is right.

Thank you for the confirmation. That is what I was thinking too, until today. Today she was lethargic and not eating much, and suddenly shockingly skinny! So took her to the vet and turns out she DOES have a UTI- so guessing that is why she has been being so naughty. Poor girl, I feel so bad that she was suffering and trying to tell us the only way she knew how. Hopefully she will be feeling better very soon!

Yep teenager. Pongo did this right around 5 months. He would actually pee right by the back door.

I had this problem, too. Pretty much perfectly poddy trained and then a solid week of accidents for no real reason - sometimes immediately after going out! I did the enzyme cleaner and if you use white vinegar they don't want to go there again. Something that helped me was separate words for number one and two, so he knows we won't go inside and I won't stop repeating myself until he goes