Dog Community

Need Help With Adopted Dog - It's a long one!

Posted : 7/19/2006 11:20:56 AM

Hi All -
My husband and I just adopted a 1 year-old Beagle from a local rescue group. We've had her for just over a week today and I'm becoming very frustrated. She is super sweet and affectionate, but we're having lots of issues with getting her settled in. First of all, she's got a pretty good case of separation anxiety (total velcro dog). We cannot be out of her sight for more than a few seconds without her whining, and eventually howling and barking (for such a little thing she's got a BIG bark!). Unfortunately, my husband is in the military and gone right now, and I work during the day. We also recently moved (prior to acquiring the dog) and don't have any neighbors, friends, or relatives to take care of the dog during the day. She is also not housebroken, so we're working on that. She does pretty well when we're home, but does occasionally still go on the carpet, so she can't have free run of the house while we're gone. We tried gating her in the kitchen but: a) she's an escape artist and ends up using the carpet as a toilet, and b) she vocalizes her displeasure for a good 30 minutes after we leave. Our neighbors (we live in an apartment) have complained to us about her barking in the morning, so I have had to resort to crating her in the bedroom with the door shut. She does well with the crate - in fact she really likes it and doesn't mind being in it at all - except when I leave. I have tried giving her chew toys, music, and leaving movies on when I leave. I even have tried the herbal supplements that are supposed to ease stress on the dog - all to no avail. She completely ignores the chew toys (even those "enhanced" with a little peanut butter!) as soon as I go out the door, and within a minute she is in full panic/bark mode. I have been trying to desensitize her to my leaving by going out for very brief (a few seconds) times, and also have been ignoring her for a full 20 minutes prior to my leaving and upon my return (my online research shows this is supposed to help level out the emotional roller-coaster of my comings & goings) but things seem to be getting worse. She gets lots of exercise during the evenings - frequent walks and playing fetch. According to the training video we bought, the dog is supposed to remain under our direct supervision while she is being house-broken, so we can keep an eye on her for hints that she needs to go outside and to prevent accidents. However, I think this might be making the separation anxiety issue worse because she goes from constant companionship to being completely alone.
The next issue is the potty training bit. She eats at night so she can go out first thing in the morning and be "empty" for the duration of her time at home. The last two days, though, I have taken her for walks (about 20-25 minutes) and she doesn't do her business. She just wants to smell everything! I don't understand why the change all of a sudden because prior to the last couple of days she went potty and poo no problem. This is really bad because she can't hold it all day while I'm gone, so I come home to a mess in the crate, and the poor dog has to deal with it until I can clean up.
I am also trying to work with her on walking properly on a leash, but that seems to interfere with the potty-training. She will only go potty outside if I let her have her way and pull me to wherever she wants to go. If I try to enforce the "no pulling" rule and keep her in one area to do her business, she simply won't go. I've been letting her have her own way just so she will go, but this isn't working in the morning. I'm thinking maybe I should just forget about leash training until we have resolved the other issues.
Finally, she needs to be spayed, but I am afraid to take her in just yet because I think it might stress her out even more and aggravate the separation anxiety.
Has anyone had or heard of these same problems? I don't know what to do! I'm trying everything I can to help her adjust, but our situation (with me practically living alone with no support network nearby) prevents me from employing a lot of techniques (like taking her to friends or family for the day). I know I can't afford doggy day care, but she and I need a solution.

Xerxes

Posted : 7/19/2006 12:34:08 PM

Wow, you've got alot of issues with this little one. I think that they can all be handled in time with alot of patience and alot of love. I don't have much specific advice for you except that changes in behavior do not happen overnight and that hounds can be particularly stubborn. Clicker training or play training will work very well with your dog, but keep the sessions pretty short and most of all keep them FUN!

agilebcs

Posted : 7/20/2006 7:36:01 AM

First, why didn't the rescue spay her? I'd be leery of a rescue group placing an intact female. Too late now, I know.

A rescue can take weeks or months to really settle in so please be patient with her. You may have a very different dog in a month! I know it must be tough for you on your own right now but give it time. Are there any places around you where you can sign up for an obedience class or something similar?

On the separation anxiety - it sounds like you are doing the right things. Other things I would try and covering her crate and/or giving her something to really occupy her when you leave (like a Kong with frozen peanut putter or moist dog food, or some other mix of stuff). If you've only had her a week I would keep up with the herbal supplements and give them more time to work.

If she's going potty when you're letting her on a loose leash I'd allow it. You can work on the leash training when you are on a walk. Her nose and sense of smell are her strongest instinct so putting her nose down is natural for her. An obedience class will help you with these issues - especially a clicker class. Clicker training can be great for the sniffing issue.

If she's not going potty in the morning I'd put her in her crate when you get home and then 15 mins later take her out again. Do you have one specific spot for pottying?

I would take her in to be spayed sooner rather than later. A vet can deal with the SA.

jennifer

Posted : 7/20/2006 8:46:13 AM

ITA- after perhaps three months she will be settled in a little. Meanwhile I'd recommend finding a competent trainer that works based on positive reinforcement. Give your dog more time- she just arrived!
Here you can find a good trainer:
[linkhttp://clickersolutions.com/]http://clickersolutions.com/[/link]

Great info, too! [

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jennifer

Posted : 7/20/2006 8:48:27 AM

Oh- and don't let her alone during the time she needs to settle- you can totally destroy her trust with this, and make it next to impossible to leave her alone relaxed later on.

Nicole B

Posted : 7/20/2006 11:21:00 AM

Thanks to everyone for the tips! Every little bit helps, believe me!!

As far as the spay, the rescue did not take care of it as they only had her for 2 days before we picked her up. They gave us a voucher to have her spayed, though. Prior to being at the rescue, she was with a family for about a week. That family had picked her up off the streets and somehow found her original owner. When contacted, the original owner told the family they did not want her anymore! =(

I have read in several places that she can't be left alone until she is settled, but how can I do this? I have to go to work! We just moved to this new place a little under a month ago, so there is no one nearby to take care of her. We left all our family & friends behind in the old town! Not sure how to accomplish such a feat...

As far as distractions while I am gone, I have tried stuffing a Kong with peanut butter & giving it to her just before I leave. She adores the peanut butter while I'm home, so I figured this would be the best thing. However, when I come home the Kong is UNTOUCHED! (How can she possible resist???)

Thanks again for the suggestions!!!

- Nicole

jennifer

Posted : 7/20/2006 11:30:04 AM

Best get her into doggy daycare. It would be wisest to get a new dog only while you have at least two weeks vacation-now you better get her into some kind of daycare. I'm sure there's some kind of network in the US that can help with that.
As far as the Kong is concerned- either she's too stressed, or she leaves it until you're back and she can make sure you don't want it yourself. Sounds strange, but that is how some dogs behave! [

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Try to find a good positive reinforcement trainer in your area today- he/she will perhaps have an idea on where to leave your doggy during the day. Get help! It's so much easier when you have someone to ask about all this.[

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Pam

Posted : 7/20/2006 3:34:34 PM

Have you picked out the command word for peeing/pooping? Our command word is PEEPEE. You can use, POTTY, EMPTY, HURRYUP whatever, but must use it everytime. Next time you take her out and see her go (while she is going), You say PEEPEE GOOD PEEPEE in a very happy voice (we use PEEPEEE for pooping too). As soon as you see her anus/rectum opening up " PEEPEE GOOD PEEPEE ". Then later on, she will go on command for you.

My rescue dog never had accident and he was never house broken at age 3. I spent 4 days straight with him taking him out every hour on the leash, with the PEEPEE command. Now I jsut open the door to the yard GO PEEPEE and he runs off to do it.

Pam

Posted : 7/20/2006 3:37:27 PM

Yes, forget the walking properly on the lease until you get the potty training done. This is too much for the dog to learn at once.

Nicole B

Posted : 7/20/2006 3:55:32 PM

Thanks for your help everyone!
We do have a cue - it's "go potty". Still working on getting her used to that one! She's not going in the morning still. I wonder if it's because she eats at about 6 or 7 pm and is not yet ready to eliminate at 6:30 am. Whatever the reason for that, it has been meaning that I come home to a huge mess in the crate. I think she is panicked the whole time we're gone, so so steps in it and manages to get poo ALL OVER the inside of the crate... bath for dog + scrubbing of crate = 1.5 hours, a roll of paper towels and a very frazzled & tired me! Any suggestions on how I can help to keep her clean?
I take her out several times during the evening still. She has made friends with a neighborhood dog & I think the social time is good.
Have given up on leash manners. She can sure pull HARD for a 14 pound pooch! Will deal with that problem after the bigger ones are handled.
Thanks again & take care -
Nicole

Elizabeth Lutz

Posted : 7/21/2006 7:54:22 AM

I dont know for sure what to do but just a suggestion..........maybe feed her dinner earlier and make her take out time before bed earlier?? Like say you normally taker her out for the last time at 11pm, try 10pm or even 9:30pm and then see if she goes for you in the AM. Also take her to the same exact spot for potty time. With each puppy we have had (I realize your dog isent a puppy) we take them to the exact grass spot and say "go Potty" and I dont let them leave that area until they go. IF They refuse to go no matter what I take them back in and keep them in the kitchen and try again in 15 minutes...............and I have never had them not go after that. IF you have a crate you can crate her for those 15 minutes.
Beagles have huge separation anxiety. Daisy had the hardest time with it when she was younger but Im a stay at home mom so it was only for church I had to leave her. But gradually she learned that I was coming back. Everything your doing seems right on with easing her anxiety. Beagles can just be so loud. [

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I hope it all works out smoothly for you here on out.

Nicole B

Posted : 7/21/2006 11:00:45 AM

Good info on the potty training. I will try taking her out for her last walk earlier in the evening - that sounds like a great idea. Maybe then in the morning she'll be ready to go! Hope all is well for each of you & thanks again for the advice! =]
- Nicole

mudpuppy

Posted : 7/21/2006 12:37:32 PM

I don't know about the "never leave the dog alone" until she's settled in idea. Won't it be quite a shock to her to then suddenly be left alone all day? best to get her used to the idea from the get-go. You may want to talk to your vet-- I believe many dogs with severe separation anxiety need some pharmaceutical help (anti-anxiety meds) during the re-training phase.