Advice on a newly adopted senior rescue dog

greeneyespsu

It happened a couple times again after that (one I never even saw wet, but I could smell it and found it that way) but I'm PRETTY SURE that she stopped peeing on the carpet. However, there have been a couple instances where she peed on the linoleum in the kitchen (much better, but still not ideal.. and there is no door outside there so it's not because she wants out and I don't take her.. she doesn't do it on the linoleum at the apt entrance, only the kitchen). Most of the time she does it it's because I'm gone at work. She could be alone for only 5 hours and she pees on the floor, but I can be home with her for 7 or more hours and she's fine. I reward her (treats and praise) for peeing outside on the grass,

She's just not housetrained -- which isn't surprising given what you've said.  When you are home, leash her to you .... if you see her begin to sniff around take her out.  Don't let her out of your sight. 

There's nothing about housetraining that is intuitive ... you just have to watch them and get them out.  Blot up the urine or pick up the poop in paper towel and go put it outside and LEAVE IT on the rass where you want her to go.  Then go get her on lash  and take her there and *show* her where you want it "put". 

Be careful -- treating for elminating can bite you -- there's nothing about **where** you treat that rings a bell with them -- all she knows is she peed and you gave her a treat.  Soooooo why don't you when she pees for you inside??  She doesnt' "get" inside vs. outside --.  You have to teach her that -- and her housetraining has probably been very flawed.  So you'll have to bew 100% consistent.

I'd crate her while you are gone.  She's old enough that she just sleeps anyway and keeping her in a small  area will likely help remind her not to go while you're gone.  Going on linoleum is likely an old habit. 

Dogs are VERY surface-oriented -- she's never gone on wee pads so she's not interested.  But she's likely used to soiling on linoleum and carpet.  And if you let her go on linoleum it will makr your linoleum and you will ultimately have nasty smelling linoleum. 

greeneyespsu

Maybe she's scared I won't come back?

Dogs typically don't think like this -- they don't elminate for revenge -- they do it out of habit.  And she's got a lot of bad ones is all.  There's a LOT of teaching you have to do here, AND you'll need to bond with her so she is inclined to try to please you.

greeneyespsu

ISSUE 2: She barks at nearly everyone and every dog when I take her outside. Sometimes she doesn't bark, but 99% of the time if I see a person or dog she goes nuts. She can't get to them or hurt them (no teeth), that's not my concern, but I just don't want her to be afraid of people or dogs.

AGain this is training.  She's likely simply been allowed TO bark.  You may need to recruit some friends to train this.  Have some super high value treats in your pocket.  As someone approaches (and again a friend can help here -- have them stay a DISTANCE at first ... and **train** this closer and closer) you have her "sit" and watch YOU.  Then once she's quiet you treat and walk her AWAY.  The friend can get closer on successive tries.  But always try to get her attention and get her to 'sit' and bring her attention back to *you*.  You have to continue to try to get her in situations where you can re-direct her attention back to you and a 'sit' or heeling or ANYTHING to re-direct her attention.  Walk her when there are fewer folks around.  or *where* there are fewer.  Keep your walks short  -- a short time with a positive outcome is far far better than a walk that is a bit too long and difficult.  You may have to get a bit anti-social for a while as you re-train her and expose her to people and **quiet** gradually.  Others will have better suggestions here.

greeneyespsu

ISSUE 3: She has a cough that sounds like bronchitis and it occassionally (2 or 3 times now) makes her vomit (just liquid, no food). Sometimes it's the whole force of her body with it and it happens a lot when she gets excited (but not exclusively). I have an appointment at the vet on Monday to get it checked out. Any idea what it could be? She doesn't seem to be bothered by it much, but it worries me.

Could be kennel cough, could be heart.  If she hasn't been get a heartworm test, and some basic bloodwork done.  If her teeth were that bad that would have compromised the heart.  But an old dog that hasn't been well maintained is at risk for heart stuff.  when I got Kee my vet had to pull 13 teeth - they were super bad.  It's not uncommon.

Not the times that she vomits -- that can be because her stomach is too empty and they actually get too much stomach acid (like acid reflux). 

greeneyespsu

ISSUE 4: Her muzzle is partly red and purple, almost like a burn, I guess. It's been like that since I got her but I noticed some missing fur on one side that isn't near the red/purple and I'm not sure it's always been like that. I think she may have pulled out some fur from scratching her face roughly.. maybe it's a skin condition. It looks bad, but it only affects that bit under her jaw and around her mouth. Again, I'll be getting it checked by the vet, but was looking for any thoughts on what it could be.

It's hard to tell by what you're saying -- could be a contact allergen or a lot of things. 

greeneyespsu

ISSUE 5: She does what I call a "crazy butt dance". She sits on her butt and kinda hops in 90 degrees back and forth while barking. At first I thought she was trying to itch her tumor because this used to happen after she tried to scratch with her back leg (like she couldn't reach whatever it was that itched), but I noticed her licking herself afterwards (as if the butt dance didn't help either) and sometimes her little pee part is red.

Sounds like anal glands to me -- and often small dogs have a more difficult time than bigger ones.  Different dogs react different ways.  Some scoot, some can just "express" them into the air (uewww, not fun!), other dog have other coping mechanisms. 

But it also sounds like the UTI is still there -- and if it's been treated once and lingers or is back, it's time for a urinalysis.  In fact, I'd have the vet do a culture and sensitivity.  That's where the vet sends the urine off to a lab -- they culture the sample and see what grows (so they can actually identify it).  PLUS they then use different things to kill it so the vet gets back a list of the right antibiotics to treat it.

She could have crystals or something -- you need to figure out what's really there.

Sometimes old dogs are expensive to get this all under control but you've done an awesome thing for her. 

I absolutely LOVE old dogs.  You can learn so much from an old dog and they can be so much company.  It will take you a while to sort it all out -- but let us know if we can help you. 

Hey! Thanks for the advice.. I'm not sure I agree with it though. I've had Layla for 3 weeks now and her peeing on the carpet only happened those first few days as she was likely just adjusting to a new place (she'd be given up, then rescued and shuffled between a few fosters). Of the three times she peed on the linoleum, only once was when I was at home. The other two times happened when I was gone for 5 hours. Most days I'm home with her all day and she holds it all day until I decide to take her out (generally about 7 hours). She pees on the grass as soon as I take her out, so the issue is not NOT being housebroken or not knowing to pee in the grass, because she does (and she gets rewarded for it). I reward her for peeing outside because everything I've read has instructed that (and to ignore peeing inside). Dogs smell the grass an associate it with supposed to pee there. I believe the problem is a further underlying issue. Whether it's a UTI that's causing frequent urination or being home alone that illicits abadonment fears, I'm not sure. (It's fear, not revenge that concerns me) Layla and I are very bonded. She follows me around the apartment all day long and wags her tail and wants her belly rubbed. I love her very much and she trusts me. I'm definitely her alpha dog.

I've tried crating her when I leave and she barks her head off. I believe one day my manager even came in and let her out of the crate (which I know is illegal, but I can't prove it). I haven't tried to do it lately, but I don't want to cause a disturbance to the neighbors and/or cause my own eviction.

I understand -- and if crating won't work because of prior issues that's fine. 

However -- I'd also suggest that if she's having UTI issues as you mentioned above, this can also impact things.  some dogs quit drinking when they have a UTI because it burns to pee.  Their urine gets really dark, stinky and sometimes it can be hard for them TO void (so they'll squat, try, ... go a few steps, try again ... etc.)

However, other dogs are a bit more clever and they will drink MORE when they are uncomfortable.  They learn that the more they drink the less it burns when they void ... so they may drink more in an attempt to lessen the pain and then can't hold it well.

99.999999% of the time dogs are seriously a product of their background. 

Fear is possible but usually you'd know that when you came home.  However -- since you're gone most of the time and can't "see" it's entirely possible that she's hearing a sound (could literally be even the sound of a particular make of car, or someone passing by -- even someone knocking at the door or making noise outside) that may unnerve her -- THAT can cause them to leak or lose control for sure. 

But she's going to the linoleum ... that means to me that's what she's done in the past.  And either it's a particular environmental trigger or something physical that causes the wetting. 

Some folks treat to housetrain -- I don't.  It's too easy to confuse them. 

Right now you are in what is known as the "honeymoon" period.  She knows she's fortunate -- she's likely gone from a situation where there was little positive (and likely little good structure and care) to a situation where she's got a human who CARES.  so she's likely trying hard to do what you want.

But when a dog is that age it can take aeons to really begin to figure out what's up with them.  And it can be THE oddest things that can trigger a memory or a fear.

True story:  One time several years ago my husband and I adopted a little pup (she was only 4 1/2 months old) who had been horribly abused.  Her abuser had broken her back with a broom and she couldn't walk. 

She thrived with us and did very well ... but unfortunately her injuries were too severe and a blood clot/stroke took her in less than 3 months.  (But oh she knew love and joy with us!)

BUT ... altho she'd been horribly misused there was no hand-shyness or such to indicate the abuse.  However -- periodically she would just get TERRIFIED and fall to pieces ... and then just as suddenly she was FINE.  It would even occasionally happen in the *car*.  And that's how I finally figured out the key.

She was TERRIFIED when she heard a Dodge Durango!!!

We had neighbors who had a Dodge Durango and apparently her reaction in the house was when she heard their car (my husband actually caught this happening several times once we figured out the car was the trigger to the fear). 

But when we were in the car, she could be sound asleep and if we suddenly pulled along side a Durango on the interstate she was instantly awake and trembling. 

I eventually called the police dept in the town where she came from and yep -- the idiot who had abused her HAD A DURANGO. 

Now that sounds completely weird -- but apparently different makes of vehicles sound differently.  And she would get scared when HE came home.  But when the car went away she was 'safe" 

Your little girl may have a sharp fear of some particular thing.  My car story about Polly was only one small example.  It can be the smell of a particular type of aftershave/perfume, or it can be particular sounds (keep track in a notebook and see if you can pin down a particular day/time that she has accidents -- like trash day, or the day the bug spray guy is around outside, etc.).

OR ... as likely as 'fear' -- she could have had a bad experience as simply hate certain things in the same way. 

You've only had her 3 weeks -- and honestly, taking an older dog with "issues" -- it will take you MONTHS to sort it all out. 

And when I say "bond" -- she obviously knows she's got a good deal going on and she likes you.  But **trust** takes a long time to build.  For her to fully trust you and know you are going to really protect her ... and for you to trust her and know what you can reasonably expect from her.  That type of bond takes longer but it is SOOO rewarding. 

In my many years of loving dogs, I've had many many senior ones.  And I've adopted a good share very late in life.  I have always found that to be a particularly rewarding experience. 

The peke you see in my signature has only been with us 4 years.  She wasn't horribly abused -- just neglected.  But when she first came to us she was a mass of obsessive petit mal seizures.  She literally lived in a near-seizure state ALL the time.  She wandered thru a fog of air-licking and obsessions and virtually didn't hear anyone call her nor was she able to relate to anyone very much.

Once we got that treated (acupuncture and Chinese herbals -- she's never even had to be on harsh drugs) she has been a different dog.  At first she wanted nothing to do with being held, nor cuddling a human.  Never wanted to be on the furniture nor to be up in your arms. 

Took a long time but she's now a real cuddle bunny and really **enjoys** being held.  She is finally able to derive true comfort from us.  Bringing a dog into a healthy state of joy is a really neat thing.

 This may sound odd -- but even at her advanced age, the BEST thing you could possibly do is enroll her in a basic obedience class.  Yep -- even as a senior.

Don't just take a class in a local pet store ... find a good one that uses positive reinforcment.  But it will train *you* as much as her.  But it will give you good experience in how to 'read' her and understand her better, as well as give you better tools to cope and train her. 

Old dogs in obedience class are a riot.  They catch on quicker than pups.  Pups are SOOOO busy chasing leaves, being completely rowdy and all over the place ... and the older dog tends to focus far far better.  And suddenly you have an older dog doing obedience RINGS around the youngsters.

It can build incredible confidence -- it's a really good thing for them socially (especially since you want to work on social situations) but it is just so awesome to see them blossom.

Good luck!! and welcome to you.  There are a lot of really nice folks on here and some really superb trainers. 

calliecritturs

Be careful -- treating for elminating can bite you -- there's nothing about **where** you treat that rings a bell with them -- all she knows is she peed and you gave her a treat.  Soooooo why don't you when she pees for you inside??  She doesnt' "get" inside vs. outside --.

It worked for me.  When I first left home, my dog was 6 years old and had always been an outside dog.  He had no housetraining whatsoever; he was very much in the habit of going whenever and wherever he needed to.  We wanted him to be a house dog.  We did the being consistent and getting him outside regularly and frequently and he made leaps and bounds, but he was still having occasional accidents (say, at least a couple of times a week).  Introducing a high value treat that he got (ONLY) for peeing and pooping outdoors tightened up his housetraining to as high as I could want it to go.  One day, about a week after starting this treat-for-pee regime, I was unexpectedly late coming home from work and there was no one to let him out.  He'd been stuck inside for just over 10 hours.   I fully expected to find pee when I got in but.... nope.  Completely clean. 

Often, I don't think a treat is necessary (like if you are house training a pup who hasn't got a long history of peeing inside, or just whenever he feels the need).  Because peeing feels kinda good in itself, so just making sure they are outdoors every time they need to go is usually enough I think.  But some dogs need an extra incentive, so for that I think a super tasty, very high value treat, kept exclusively for correct pottying, can make an important bit of difference

As it happened, I did use treats for our last puppy too.  Looking back, I think we might have been using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but it worked all the same.  Less than a week after bringing her home, I could take her into the garden and say "go squat!" and she would go within 3 seconds, then run right over to me looking for her treat.  She never EVER did this indoors.  So I'm guessing she knew she'd never get a treat for peeing indoors.  Maybe becuase we used a cue word for peeing?  I established this by saying the chosen word just once AS she was going, each time she went outside, and the moment she finished, stepping up to her and popping the Super Treat in her mouth.  After a few days, we could use the word as a cue, and we took care to pick a word that wouldn't be heard indoors.  It might sound silly, but by gum it's handy when it's raining out, or if you are running late!

I think the fact that you tied it to a command WAS what made it so successful.  Now if you said "go squat" and you were in the house when you said it she'd probably oblige.

Now I've taught Billy to go on 'cue' as well -- and that came LATE.  After he was up at the University of Florida for almost a month he almost became UN-housetrained.  Not at home, but any time we were out at the vet's office (linoleum floors??) he'd go ANYWHERE>  I was mortified.  But realized that he wasn't getting to go "out" upon request at the University and usually college students aren't long on patience but they'd just clean up whatever "accidents" happened.

So I started telling him before we went "in" somewhere "Better pee!" etc. and it worked.

I also use the word "donate".  When we're going to the vet and I know they're gonna need a 'sample' to send to a lab I'll say "DON'T go ... hold it so you can *donate* for the girls!!"

They crack up every time because the instant they say "Billy, Donate?" he will immediately oblige LOL  Of course he talks them into treats merely for breathing *rolling eyes*. 

My point is, Chuffy you're right.  Giving them a "cue" word is really danged easy and boy it is SO handy.