Concerned about inappropriate urinating

It will be a while before I can start thinking about adopting a dog, but I definitely do want one when the time is right.

There is one thing I can't stop worrying about though: If a dog urinates inside for any reason, will a cat think that spot is OK and stop using the litterbox? I want to know because I was thinking about buying one of those fake grass trays and training a dog to use it indoors. Obviously if it would make a cat stop using the litterbox, I will scratch that idea!

What kind of dog were you considering? I'm not a fan of training dogs to potty inside (it tends to confuse them).

I suppose it would depend on the cat--some cats will mark over dog pee and some won't. If you handle potty training correctly (like Ian Dunbar's errorless housetraining), there shouldn't be a lot of indoor accidents anyway.

I would never train a dog to potty indoors on pads or those grass pads. I do know of people who live in a city high rise apartment who use these for toy dogs. Yes, the cats will also be drawn to use those grass pads and will most likely eat the grass which will not be good. Good luck!

I too have had reservations about the grass pads or using pee pads except in the case of very old dogs. I know some people in cold climates use them for small dogs like the Italian Greyhound that are very sensitive to cold weather but I always thought that would be part of the consideration when deciding on a dog. The reason I don't have a dog now is because I moved back into an apartment and was working 12 hour night shifts. That made the bathroom situation for a dog impossible.

I will definitely get a small dog that can live anywhere and fly with me, so it could use a grass tray if necessary. I would love a Cavalier but they are not found in shelters very much.

If I buy a pet door for the dog, the cats can get out. Obviously I don't want that to happen!

How long are you out of the house? Most adult dogs can hold it for 9 hours, no problem. The majority of dog owners who work don't have a dog door or use pee pads/grass boxes.

Cavaliers have a zillion genetic health problems running rampant in the breed. Heart defects and syringomyelia being the most common. If a breeder doesn't do MRIs it's a huge risk. If you get a rescue, prepare yourself for the possibility and familiarize yourself with the symptoms. If you buy from a breeder, make sure they do the MRIs and heart testing. It's a shame the breed's in so much trouble, really--they're such sweet little dogs.

I know about the heart problems. The reason so many cavaliers get cardiomyopathy is inbreeding was necessary to get enough dogs for a breeding program. So they were doomed from the start.

Of course, other breeds have their own set of problems. I heard or read a lot of boxers get cancer like that breed has it more than others. So I figure it just happens to be heart disease for the CKCS.

I wish my mom could hold urine 9 hours!

I had read that about boxers as well.  At the time I was still taking the kitties to a vet that also treated dogs and I asked her about it. She said it was true, she called them cancer factories.

Seems so against what a dog knows.  If anyway to avoid it I would.  A dog walker maybe?  Or exchange walks or something else with a neighbor.
 

Do not train the dog to use a pad. It's ludicrous. I've had many dogs and have always been able to train them to hold it for extended periods of time. When you train a dog to a pad, they get confused when you then take them outside. It's no good really.

Small dogs are just as trainable as big dogs, it's how much work you want to put into them. My 18 lb shelter mutt is one of the best trained dogs at the park,including the big dog side. She can be on the opposite side of the park, mid-chase and I can tell her "let's go home" and she'll stop mid run and go to the gate and wait for me. While potty training her wasn't a breeze (it isn't with too many dogs) we followed proper training and have had no issues out of her or our big dog for that matter.

As to the cat using the pads....we had a cat that was trained to pee pads as opposed to litter and in seven years, none of our other cats or dogs used them. Only one of the other cats even noticed they existed, because he was always trying to cover it up when she darted off. :lol3:

I would never recommend pads to anyone unless the animal was old, sick or had a medical condition.