Potty training | Can 'accidents' actually be on purpose?

[Cosmin]

I have a quick question. We were quite succesful in potty training Louie, however we seem to be having quite a few 'accidents'. I say they are accidents but I actually believe he does this out of pure spite. For example, if anyone is around him, he will not go potty inside or in car for an entire day. Even when he is alone, or just with our other bulldog, he will also not go inside. However, from time to time, an accident will happen (once a week or so). The funny thing is that Louie knows what he did is wrong he knows that as soon as I find the poop he is in trouble. He starts shivering the minute he sees me. So I am quite sure he does this more or less on purpose. Do you have any tips? PS: we did not crate train louie, we only rewarded good behavior (crate training is not a common practice in Europe)

Bests,
Cosmin

 

[davidh]

They do have accidents sometimes, and yes they can do it out of spite or for attention. Just keep the training up, and praise when they go outside.

 

[hannah]

I don't know if dogs have the ability to do things out of spite. But it is definitely an interesting topic. I am going to research this more

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[Cosmin]

I don't know if dogs have the ability to do things out of spite. But it is definitely an interesting topic. I am going to research this more

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It happened again . Last night he was scratching at my door. He has been sleeping outside my bedroom for about a month now. I didn't open as I am trying to make my new bedroom bulldog free. However, guess what i found in front of my bedroom door when i woke up?

This one i'm sure is out of spite..

 

[hannah]

It happened again . Last night he was scratching at my door. He has been sleeping outside my bedroom for about a month now. I didn't open as I am trying to make my new bedroom bulldog free. However, guess what i found in front of my bedroom door when i woke up?

This one i'm sure is out of spite..

It sounds like this would be a case of separation anxiety from being locked from the room away from you. I dont think hes trying to get back at you because you left him alone. I believe his behaviour is just a result of his anxiety from being alone. Any information I have found online says dogs do not have the ability to do things out of spite. They are not capable of that emotion.

Here's an interesting article I found that explains that humans attach their feelings to dogs and and it's called...

Anthropomorphism: Attributing human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena

https://consciouscompanion2012.com/2013/08/05/was-it-for-spite-think-again/

Very interesting topic!!!!!

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[Cbrugs]

While I am not sure your guy is doing it out of spite, I do think they are capable of it. Jax has definitely peed on purpose on his bed when not getting the attention he thought he should have. He hasn't done it in awhile but there have been a couple of times while we were eating dinner and not paying attention to him that he would go to his bed, kick around his blanket, look at us and then pee. It was definitely on purpose.

 

[Cosmin]

It sounds like this would be a case of separation anxiety from being locked from the room away from you. I dont think hes trying to get back at you because you left him alone. I believe his behaviour is just a result of his anxiety from being alone. Any information I have found online says dogs do not have the ability to do things out of spite. They are not capable of that emotion.

Here's an interesting article I found that explains that humans attach their feelings to dogs and and it's called...

Anthropomorphism: Attributing human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena

https://consciouscompanion2012.com/2013/08/05/was-it-for-spite-think-again/

Very interesting topic!!!!!

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I totally agree with you.. the thing is there are so many examples so far... that the topic is becoming more and more interesting. For example, until about two weeks ago I had a girlfriend for a brief period of time. He was so jealous because he was missing out on some of the love and attention that would usually go to him, that when we slept, he would climb into bed and go potty on our blanket and implicitly on us (happened twice).
This never happened before. So I still have a hunch it's out of spite or because of craving attention..

There are countless other examples (i took him out for potty - he did everything) then left him alone for one hour found four puddles in his room


We'll have to see.. i'm sure it's gonna work out somehow. not too worried about it... i just find it funny..plus the cleaning is annoying

 

[MunasG]

I have to agree that they do have the tendency to do things out of spite. When i put my Nellie on time out. She is pissed at me! then when i let her out, out of spite she will run to a corner in the living room, look right at me and when i yell no, she pees and then runs away towards the back door watching to see what my reaction will be. At first i get pissed but i stopped making a fuss out of it and she has reduced her intentional "accidents". On Sunday however she had a terrible fear of the thunderstorm that we had and was whining when i left her to go take a shower. When i came back she had pooped and threw up in her crate! Something she's never done...then i didn't think it was out of spite but more anxiety of being left alone given her traumatic experience. So in your case i don't think he's doing it out of spite but more from separation anxiety. Dogs are very sensitive. you might just have to get him used to this new way of no bulldogs in your bedroom. I haven't had her sleep in my room since i got her. She sleeps in her crate. Bedtimes are pretty easy. When i put her in her crate and say good night. She just looks at me and lays there and eventually goes to sleep. Good luck with your pup!