[GoHawks]

It never fails, the moment I sit down on the couch in the evening, my dog goes to the back door and paws at it to be let out. This is super annoying to me. Before this happens, I spend 10-15 minutes tidying up in the area so she could easily ask to go potty while I’m moving around, but she ALWAYS asks to go the moment I sit down. Does anyone else have a dog like this? I’m not really looking for suggestions as I know I can just let her out myself during that time without her asking, but I don’t always think of it.

[Danielle DeGroot]

@GoHawks This is a great question and a fairly common canine behavior. There are a few different reasons your pup might behave like this. Often, dogs see the time when we settle down and have low activity as a chance to interact. Your pup may simply have to go to the bathroom, but she might also be seeking out attention. You mention that you clean up for a bit before sitting down to relax. While she may want to go out, she may wait until you are not busy. She knows that when you sit down, you will relax and be there for a while, and she wants to engage. She may also be a bit bored and see the low activity time as an opportunity to go outside for a little more activity.

I also have a dog that whines about going out almost as soon as I settle in for a cup of coffee or a bit of downtime. It used to drive me absolutely batty until I realized it was not always a call to go out to relieve herself. I saw this as a sign she wanted a little more attention; after all, we get busy with work, school, and life, and she might feel left out. We have a special playtime every evening with her favorite toys. She loves tennis balls and interactive toys. This gives her that one-on-one time she craves and allows me to have my downtime without the whining. It helped to set a routine. I take my dog for a walk every afternoon, and then she has her playtime after dinner. I feed her before the human family eats dinner so I can have my downtime when all that work is done.

It took a while to establish a routine, but it truly helped me and my dog. Of course, it’s also important to rule out any medical issues. Observe your dog and make sure she is able to relieve herself, is not in pain, and does not have any signs of irritation. If she is having trouble or has a urinary tract or yeast infection, she may be trying to go outside because she is uncomfortable. Have her checked out by the vet if you notice any irritation, pain, discharge, etc. Hopefully, that is not the case, but it’s always best to check. Best of luck with getting some peaceful relaxation time!

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