Bad habit - still peeing @ the age of 4

[Cookie mama]

seems like Cookie has recently built a really bad habit. he would pee on the floor first thing when he jump out of his bed. he did that for a few consective days now(only in the morning though). i punish him by letting him sit in one corner without interact with the others and wouldn't let him eat breakfast(which is his favourite). by doing this, hoping that he would stop this bad habit but it doesn't seems to help. i usually let him out before i go to sleep around 11ish and wake up around 6ish. it doesn't make sense to me that he would not be able to hold his pee for 7 hrs. i usually leave him home during the day when i go to work. he has no problem holding pee for 9 to 10 hours. i left him out first thing when i get home sometimes he doesn't need to go right away. i tried putting white vinegar in that area that he always pee on, doesn't seems to work! what else can i do to stop him from peeing first thing in the morning? it doesn't seems like a health issue. it seems like he is challenging me by peeing on the floor ever morning...i'm getting really frustrated! please help.

[Elmo]

Firstly you shouldnt be punishing him for peeing on the floor, he wont associate him peeing there with not getting food, all you will do is make him food agressive or a food guarder and keeping him away from the other dogs wont work wither as you are finding out. If he has just started doing it then i think a trip to the vet is in order as he may have  an infection or some other health problem. Personally i dont think any dog how ever old it is should be made to hold it for 9 hours, i think this could cause damage........i certainly wouldnt want to hold it for that long!

Is he actually going to the toilet at night before bed.....do you see him do it? If all is well with his health and he hasnt had any stress/upset in his life recently  i would go back to basic puppy toilet training taking him out every few hours and praising him when he goes and ignore the accidents.

[bibathediva]

How do you know its not a health isssue  have you taken him to the vets
and i really dont think hes doing it out of spite...dogs dont think like that...why would you want to with hold his food that wont acheive a lot except to make him hungry 

[Cookie mama]

withholding his food is my last solution, i still give him food around dinner time not that i'm not feeding him. but maybe i was wrong. i thought food resource would associate with his habit and that he will learn at the end. but what else can i try before i take him to see the vet? i've tried using white vinegar, i took him out pee before he go to sleep(i see him do it). don't think he is stress or upset. he seems enjoying his life very much...he is very playful!!! any other suggestions?

[Elmo]

take him to the vet! Personally i would want to rule out a health problem before trying anything else

[Cookie mama]

what could that be if it's a health issue? start to worry...

[bibathediva]

It could be something as simple as a water infection  but only taking him to the vets will tell you and it would be the first thing i would do..not the last 
he will not associate not being feed with peeing..he will just be a hungry and unhappy boy

[Aearoniel]

A lot of things can cause incontinence in dogs and it's best to go to the vet to check as some can be very harmful where as others are minor.

The way I would deal with it would be by going back to toilet training, right back to the very beginning. Getting up half way through the night and letting him out and gradually extending the time he is left again. It is not his fault. They don't do it on purpose, but it could be that being left for 7hours over night and 9-10hours during the day is too much for his bladder and after prolonged time it has caused this behaviour.

My action if this were my dog would be the following in this order:

Go to the vet.
Get some one to let him out during the day, the maximum time I would leave a dog would be 4-5 hours.
Go back to basics with toilet training.

[Bluebell]

As well as taking him to the vet,could you not crate him at night, as he is unlikely to pee in his bed. Then first thing in the morning take him straight out side to pee in the correct place!

[Sheryl]

I would be off to the vets like a shot.  If it is something like a bladder infection, it must be very uncomfortable for him.  After all, if you have ever had cystitis, you know it hurts!!

[ludo]

I know this is a difficult problem and you are doing the right thing by asking for advice.    Please as a top priority take your dog to the vet to have him checked out.  They will be able to tell you if it is a medical problem which can be treated.