Q:  How can I get my dog Rhea, who's three, to stop peeing on the sofa? It's disgusting! She uses the same area all the time. I even cover it with the waterproof pad and sheet but have to bleach that daily. She is home alone and has free range of the living room and kitchen. She just lost her sister due to renal failure on March 3 — I thought it was the sick dog until I actually caught Rhea.

A:  First of all, let me express my sympathy — losing a dog is so hard, and if Rhea's sister was in the same litter she was so young.

If one particular spot on the couch is the only place Rhea ever pees indoors, then it's a safe bet that somewhere along the line she became "housetrained" to that particular spot. Most dogs like an absorbent surface to pee on, and many also seem to be attracted to elevated spots. (When there's snow on the ground, plenty of dogs will head for the top of a bank to pee and poop.)