Dogs and Accidents, who's to blame?

United States
April 9, 2008 10:10pm CST
Okay we have a dog and our dog has been house broken since we brought him home four months ago. I always let him out right before I go to bed. Of course it's pitch dark and I can't always tell if he has gone or not. So early this morning when my husband got up to go to work, the dog had an accident in the house. My husband was sitting at the computer and looked over at the dog just as the dog was deciding to pee by the coffee table. Of course I didn't ask to many questions from my husband because he is always right. But my first thoughts when he told me this was "didn't you let him out as soon as you got up?" Of course I know the answer to that "No, he didn't because he figured that he had gone when I let him out before I went to bed". I mean come on, dogs are not like humans, they can only hold it for so long. Regardless as to whether I let him out or not. If the dog was up roaming the house when my husband got up. My husband should have immediately let him out. But he didn't and then he punished the dog for peeing in the house by locking him in his crate (which we only use for when we leave the house) until I got up this morning. I don't see it as being the dogs fault. What does my husband expect the dog to do when he has to go pee? Stand up, cross his hind legs, and jump up and down saying "I gotta pee, I gotta pee, I gotta pee"! Since we got our dog, this is only the second time he has had an accident in the house. So, it's not like the dog does it all the time. I really believe it's my husbands fault because he didn't let him out as soon as he got up. Who's fault do you think it is? Husbands? or Dogs? Why? Please enlighten me!!!
4 people like this
8 responses
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
10 Apr 08
It happened I wouldnt worry about blame just let it go. Its like you said the pup doesnt do it all the time. My dog will pee if you raise your voice at him. He is also 10 years old so bladder control gets to be an issue lol. But he will start to whine so I know when hes got to go.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Apr 08
I know I shouldn't worry about it or let it get to me. But my husband just irriates me sometimes. He is always right and never seems to do anything wrong. I just wish my husband could accept the blame sometimes and admit when he is wrong. Thanks for your incouragement!
2 people like this
• United States
10 Apr 08
Hes a man they never take the blame lol.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Apr 08
That is definitly the truth!!! I think if men could actually take the blame, we could be one step closer to world peace! LOL!!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Apr 08
absolutely NOT the dog's fault! i know that i, personally, use the bathroom before i go to bed - and after 6 or 7 hours, i sure do have to go again. seems to me that the dog was trying to remind your husband, simply by being up to be noticed. (mine raises an eyebrow at me if i try to take him out in the morning before my son gets up) possibly, your husband is not the serious dog type - you may need to get up when he does to walk the dog, and if you start later than he does, go back for a nap.
• United States
11 Apr 08
No I am definitly the bigger animal lover in the house and I believe the dog knows that. As for getting up when my husband does, I really don't see that being neccessary. We don't actually have to walk to dog when he needs to go potty. We have a fenced in back yard, it's just a matter of opening the door and letting the dog go out. So there is no excuse as to why my husband can't let the dog out.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Hate to say it but yes, your husband is at fault. Anyone who has a pet has to realize that they are not ppl, they can't come and tell you they have to go potty or that they have a boo-boo. They can't always wait while you go to the bathroom, take a shower, dress, have breckfast, ect. After all, ppl generally go to the bathroom before going to bed and again as soon as they wake up...why should an animal be any different. Hubby never took my dog out but then Petey was my dog...I was the only that ever took him out and he knew that. He had accidents when I'd oversleep or something. It's part of having a pet. Punishing pets for doing what's normal is idiotic. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Apr 08
It seems that I am the only one who takes the dog out as well. Sometimes when my husband and I are both at home and my husband trys to let him out, the dog won't go. The dog will turn and look for me. So my husband will end up having to come get me to get the dog to go out. But it's not always like that. Most of the time the dog will go out if my husband opens the door for him.
@ellie333 (21016)
11 Apr 08
I would personally say that the first thing your husband should have done is let the dog out, we as humans upon waking tend to want to use the bathroom so why on earth would he not think the dog would want to too. When I had my dogs I had a large dogflap so they used to let themselves in and out anyway so for me it was never a problem. Sorry I just got a vision of the dog jumping up and down saying I've got to pee, I've got to pee, giggle even though it not funny really. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Apr 08
I wish we could have a dog flap put in. But we have a screened in pool. So not only does my husband have to open the door going to the porch, but then he has to let the dog out of the screen porch as well. I also know my husband won't go for putting in two flaps, because he thinks we will then get bugs in the house.
@selby70 (283)
10 Apr 08
Husbands and he sounds just like my husband on this one, when the dog pees right at the back door which he has done a couple of times, my husband says it like its the dogs fault but I say I dont know any dogs that can open doors why didnt you open the door for him. It really annoys me.
2 people like this
• United States
11 Apr 08
It is very annoying. And I for one would really like to see a dog open a door for himself. That would be a miracle.
@redrover (597)
• United States
10 Apr 08
I will say it is most likely your husbands fault. I know when I get up to let our dog out. If I don't chances are good we will find a surprise in the house.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Apr 08
My point exactly! Just takes a little bit of common sense.
1 person likes this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
10 Apr 08
If your dog has only had two accidents in four months, I'd say he's doing pretty good! I wouldn't really try to place the blame here, just ask hubby to let the dog out if he gets up before you do! If you're going to have dogs in the house, you have to expect accidents once in a while!
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Apr 08
Well you see here's the thing. He gets up at 3am to go to work, I don't have to get up until 6am. I am normally up until midnight. He has actually said to me "Make sure you let the dog out when you come to bed, so I don't have to when I get up in the morning." There is no asking him to do it. He would just say if you let him out when you come to bed he shouldn't have to go out when I get up. The accident itself doesn't bother me. I have was raised around cats and dogs all my life. I know they are going to have accidents. It's my husbands attitude that he is never at fault for things that gets me.
1 person likes this
• China
10 Apr 08
We have a little dog,it always snarls immediately after we get up in the morning. And my mother knows that it is because he wants to go out for a walk.She loves this dog very much and always satisfy all his request.Sometime she is so tired,but she insists on taking him out for a walk.My brother and I both can't stop her.I just don't know what I should do.I think to take care of a pet to much can really hurt the feelings of some family members.But we have no choice because we must be responsible to the pet.