6 yr old rescue dog too scared to pee!!

aww, poor boy... what if you tried putting him on a long leash and try to tie the leash to something solid outside and then leave him be? or just let him drag the leash, he'll be easier to catch if he's dragging a long line...

he will simply have to pee eventually...

I might have to try that, but I'm worried about him getting caught up in something and hurting himself.  I can see most of the yard through the window, but I don't know how long it will take him to relize the lead isn't going to hurt him and actually go to the bathroom.

Just let him drag the leash **all** the time.  It's easier to get used to something *all the time* than something that gets clipped on and then something MORE new (a *walk*) at the same time. 

He needs concrete -- that's a good share of his problem -- he's not used to elminating on grass.  Then once he's gone soak it up with paper towel and pick up the solids and put it IN your back yard so he can smell you have moved it there.

Be patient.  Long lead -- just take a book outside or a magazine and some treats and a chair and SIT while he's out there so he gets used to your presence and that wonderful things happen when you see him elminate when you are near!!  Gentle but not loud praise -- big huge smiles. 

Teach him to 'sit' right off -- he'll thrive in the borders of "nothing in life is free" training once he discovers he gets what he wants when he does that "sit" 'thing. 

 Callie's suggestions are right on the mark.  Also, grab yourself a copy of the book "The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell, or "Help for Your Shy Dog" by Deborah Wood.  Both can help you help him.

Good point about the concrete, Callie!

Mine go nuts, if there's no grass to pee on, since that is what they are used to! Dogs can be quite particular about which surface to go on!

Exactly -- and anything other than that causes stress.  The big thing is not to cluck or worry over her --  she's already anxious.  She will mistake worry for fear that she's screwing up.  She's lived a life of uncertainty --

Thanks so much for the suggestions I have a large concrete pad in the front yard I'll take him on. I'll look for the book while I"m in town tommorrow.  He peed a little today, but only bc a load truck drove by and the noise scared him. He cowered and urinated some even though there's an 8 foot privacy fence between him and the scaryness.  Still no bm.  Working on getting him to except treats,  he hasn't wanted to eat anything except his food.  I tried using that as a treat, but he's only taking it when he's in the kennel.  He's also pretty skinny. Any ideas on putting weight on him?  Feeding him Apex holistic dog food, organic ingrediants, and chicken and other chicken products as first couple ingredients.  No corn meal at all.  That should do the trick, but I'm open to any other suggestions.  I really want to help him become a healthy and happy dog.  Its so hard not to coddle him when he gets scared, but i know that only rewarding the behaviour.  I"ll post some pictures of him soon for those intersted. Thanks again for all the help!

Darn I'm racing out of the house -

An abused dog often is wary of treats.  Because a hand offering treats may also be the same  hand that will 'hit'.  (or at a shelter the hand offering treats may also lead a dog "down the hall" from where it doesn't return)

Don't try to put weight on fast at all -- let it be VERY slow because the frame can't handle the change and the dog is too weak.  It will happen gradually and that will be good muscle -- you don't want to push food and just get fat.

Spend time on the floor with this dog -- on your back preferably.  Offer things from your hand/mouth to his.  Bits of meat, etc.  Just keep it simple and very very slow.

I spend alot of time on the floor with him already laying flat on my back or on my put with my back against the wall kind of slouched so that I am lower than he is.  I try to pet him under the chin instead of bringing my had down on his hand or back so he doesn't mistake me for hitting him.  This afternoon when I called him he came out of the crate, but didn't approach me.  I laid down and called him again and he came up to me and allowed me to pet him a min. before going to the crate.  For some reason he enjoys being on the couch, and when I sit down to watch tv he will eventually sneak up and curl un in my lap,  any loud noise or fast movement will send him bolting back to the crate though.  Still trying to find a good treat for him that he likes.  Hoping to go to the grocery store tomorrow and get some beef liver.  It can be kinda messy, but I haven't yet found a dog that will refuse it, and its supposed to help absorb toxins from their systems which is good.  I once had to nurse a puppy through parvo, and beef liver and plain rice was all he would eat during recovery.  Appreciating all the advice. Thanks again.

lightly cook the liver in lots of olive oil.  Then cool TOTALLY.

Cut up in wee tiny pieces and spread on a cookie sheet sprayed with olive oil pam. Bake at about 200 degrees for a couple of hours.  Store in an airtight container.  Makes a lovely training treat that isn't too messy to handle

 As you build trust you will find the treat.  This dog is too wound up in fear to accept ANY thing as a treat (because food can fool you and become a weapon -- he's learned that)

It will take months -- probably 3-4 before you see significant progress -- and many things will trigger fear. 

 Your *voice* will become the biggest reward.  Your voice and your touch.  This is a GOOD thing.  As you can really begin walks -- you can then debunk "things" ... when you see a thing that may be a source of fear (a noise, laundry flapping in the breeze, some metal contraption, a clanging garbage can -- anything) you can approach it slowly .. and show her what it is.  then tomorrow go the same route and approach that thing a little closer. 

Inch by inch -- tiny tiny TINY steps.  Always always quit while you're ahead.  Going literally a fraction of a step further is BETTER than taking a bit too big of a step and having it backfire into fear.  Always quit on a positive note -- and if a step is too big or too scarey, back up and try it from a different direction.  Cut every potential 'step' or scarey thing into tiny tiny bits. 

Learning to 'debunk' scarey things is a big deal.  You touch it, or explain in a soothing voice (your words don't matter -- what DOES matter is your soothing tone and the assumption that you understand it, approve of it and know it won't hurt her)

Example:  we took in a street stray several years ago who was the most afraid thing I've ever seen.  She was not only hugely "gun shy" (she'd been in the ghetto and it was literally *gun* shy) and any sharp stacatto noise or abrupt sound would send her as high as the ceiling and 100 feet away in a heartbeat) but she'd been cruelly abused -- someone thought it was a great game to try to shut the dog in the door.  She was **terrified** beyond belief of all doorways.  They were in no doubt gateways to H$LL!! 

Apparently someone would await to jump out at her from the other side -- or they would suddenly slam the door just to see her jump.  Poor thing was just terrified.

She was terrified in the car --and I had to be able to take her to the vet and to adoption events.  We're in Florida and there are reflectors on the road everywhere.  And when you drive over them they make a click click sound that would send Millie orbital.

Any pothole, any seam in the road -- oh my goodness.

Finally I drove and my husband sat with her between his knees.  I would approach a known "sound making thing" and David would say "Ok -- this is gonna make noise.  here we go bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... "

Because she realized HE knew the "thing" was coming, she began to associate the bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... with him saying it was *safe*.  She would relax and not tense up at the sound.

But it became a panacea for her elsewhere -- and bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity ... became her synonym for "this is a SAFE thing".  What began as a "covering" sound to inspire confidence became her private mantra. 

Resist the huge temptation to give up.  To only go a few steps and call it "good enough".  Please don't settle for that.  This training will take many months -- but the rewards of showing this dog that the world can be **beautiful** and not just tolerable are huge.

Some shy dogs will lap a bit of squeeze cheese from your fingers.  I also use Bravo Bonus Bites treats.  Liver is enticing, but too much organ meat at a time can be harmful, so vary your "smorgasbord."

Maybe I missed it, but has he pee'd yet?!  If not I should think the poor dawg has asploded by now!  I hope he is doing better now on that front, just because I'd be like you... I would be worried about secondary problems stemming from him holding it in too long.  Everything else can go as slow as you like, but I'd really want him to relax enough to pee before it cause a health problem.  I second the suggestions about getting him on a familiar substrate (concrete) and maybe tying him out for short periods.  Have you also tried taking him out on a long lead and studiously not looking at him?  Sometimes a little hand mirror can be useful so you can watch him without him knowing it?

Honestly?  I think you are doing all the right things; not pushing him, giving him his own space (literally), letting him come on at his own pace... Giving him a "den" was a stroke of genius, it's given him a bolt hole, a coping strategy and a way of feeling safe.  Have you put an old worn shirt in it with him?  I am thinking that if he comes to associate YOUR scent with the "safe" feeling he gets in his den, he may come to feel that staying beside you is another option - that way you can SHOW him that the things he fears are safe and not to be concerned about.  It also means that if ever he doesn't have his "den" on hand (like when you go out for a walk together), he still has a way of feeling safe - come to youand do XYZ.

I will try the shirt thing.  I didn't think of that.  He finally did go over the weekend.  He excepted that the long lead is not going to eat him, but he is still uncomfertable if im holding it.  He tolerates me being outside while he goes, and doesn't run away when I try to get the lead.  Still can't get close enough to use the normal lead while outside, but has started leaving his crate to explore the house whenever I'm doing something still like the computer or watching tv.  He wags his tail when I some home, and when I bring him breakfast and dinner and will let me pet him while I'm standing.  I'm lovin the improvements, but he still has a long road ahead of him.

Get a long piece of seine twine (it's silky and strong but light) and make him a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong leash (like 25 feet).  He will eventually be ok with it. 

"long road" doesn't begin to cover it -- it will be 3-4 months minimum before anything significant shows.  And it will be 2-3 years before you see real progress.  Just keep going.  The rewards with a dog like this are incredible.  Email me if I can help.