isabel is mad at us?

[littleisabel]

I haven't posted here in a while but, have a question... Isabel is a little over 2 years old.  Generally, she is pretty well behaved.  She usually goes to work with my husband so, she has never been left home alone for long days on a regular basis but has been fine when left alone.  This morning, we were home for a few hours with Isabel but didn't take her for a walk and then left her home alone for about five hours.  When we returned, she had peed on the couch.  She is allowed on the couch when we are home, but needs our permission to jump up.  We have had suspicions that she sleeps on the couch when we go out but, this has never happened before.  We are assuming that she was just angry that we left her without a walk, but still this is VERY out of character.  So, we are wondering what others think about this and any thoughts about how to keep it from happening again. Thanks!

[BoxerPerson]

Maybe she needed to be potties on a walk???  Just guessing here since I crate all but Goofy who is VERY trustworthy...but still could have an accident if not pottied at a specific time.

[BoxerWB]

Dogs do not know how to act spiteful - they don't have the capacity.  What is most likely is that she was very thrown off by such an unusual day, it made her anxious, and she acted out in a weird way.  It's not unusual for dogs to potty inside or destroy things when their "normal" is disrupted.

If you use a crate with her, I'd crate her for everyone's safety when you mess with her schedule/world.

[Rob T]

Dogs do not know how to act spiteful - they don't have the capacity.  What is most likely is that she was very thrown off by such an unusual day, it made her anxious, and she acted out in a weird way.  It's not unusual for dogs to potty inside or destroy things when their "normal" is disrupted.

If you use a crate with her, I'd crate her for everyone's safety when you mess with her schedule/world.

I agree with this completely.

[BoxerWB]

Wanted to clarify - I used the term "act out" but I should of meant "act out of sorts"... most people associate acting out with deliberate misbehavior by children, and this isn't the same. This is a dog who doesn't understand the situation and gets confused about what is normal. 

A funny example that my mom told me years ago - back in the late 70's, my parents went out of town and had their two dogs looked in on by a dogsitter for a week. When they came home, one of the dogs was laying on top of the kitchen table, chewing an onion! It was obvious the dogs were completely confused about what was normal.

[ltournat]

Well, since she's never left home very often alone, and goes with your husband to work everyday, is she getting more potty breaks than every 5 hours?  Maybe she just really had to go!

[Sophia Sadeyes]

Ms Bel- no pee pee'n on the couch!

Yeah guys, I bet her schedule was thrown outta sorts. I bet it was a freak thing. She's way to sweet to ever be mad at you guys anyway.