If anyone needs help with dog behavior...

[Art Klass]

What color dog bed would go with both the dog and the room?

Lucille, it's hard to say without being there to make a recommendation. I would pick an existing accent color and buy a dog bed to match it. Try to keep it in the same flavor as your other dog beds. Art

 

[Lucille]

Art, so much for the carefully planned introduction. I was feeding them, and they got a nice big dinner with chicken broth and bits in their food because I'm making my son warm chicken salad for dinner which he likes.
Anyway, I fed them in different locations and when I opened the patio door to bring the dirty dog dishes in to wash, the new dog (I have got to decide about names soon) pushed past me to the porch.
It was a scary moment, because I know I do not have the strength to keep two dogs from fighting if they have a mind to.
The new dog is powerful and batted hard enough at Jake the GSD puppy to actually bowl him over. He then pummeled Jake and tried to mount him.
There was never a fight. Jake thought all this was play and proceeded to come back for more. They are perfect together.
Muffin the Shih Tzu, heretofore the alpha, has taken a standoffish approach so there were no fights there either.
Thank goodness it worked out. I appreciate the careful plan though.

 

[PaulSage]

Lucille, I don't know if this would work for your dogs (or if it's even a wise approach...) but we used to have problems with our two male shelties battling over who was going to hold the "Alpha Dog" title. One of them is fixed and the other isn't, although that doesn't seem to affect things much in this case. However, my mother decided to teach both of them that SHE was the "Alpha Dog" and that they had to answer to HER and that she wasn't going to put up with any nonsense from EITHER of them. They listened. It took a while, especially because the younger one wasn't even a year old yet at the time, but it worked. Just a thought.

 

[Lucille]

The 'alpha' title is still held by the Shih Tzu. The new dog came over and was about to bat this tiny dab of neutered fluff and the most amazing growl emerged from little Muffin. They actually fought for a minute after which the new dog backed off....
Size isn't everything.

 

[Art Klass]

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but rather the size of the fight in the dog.

 

[coyote]

Lucille, the new dog is showing a lot of dominance behavior. Don't put off dealing with this. Paul's mother is a good role model. For peace to reign in your household of three dogs, YOU have to be the alpha. I recommend requiring the new dog--heck maybe each of them--to sit and be calm BEFORE dropping the food pan. Feed the shi tzu first, then decide which of the other two is going to be next in the hierarchy and feed him. Most subordinate dog eats last. Be consistent.

A dog should never be in the habit of bulling through a doorway or gate. You go first, then dog waits for permission to go after you.

If you have to, at least in the beginning, leave the leash attached, especially during challenging situations, so you have it to use for correction and control.

My litany goes like this, "daily exercise and obedience, daily exercise and obedience, daily exercise and obedience...."

Tired dogs are contented dogs. They are less motivated to engage in troublesome behaviors. The exercise causes them to spend nervous energy.
And you are going to be in such good shape after all that walking!

Obedience establishes that YOU are the boss and in control. It also teaches them manners.

PS. After a fight, stroke each dog all over and look through the hair daily for the next several days so you can catch any bite abscesses that might develop.

 

[Bar None Reptiles]

House breaking

I work for the local Humane Society and I recently took in a 9 month old "Boston terrier" mix. He definitely looks nothing like it, but since he was born there we at least know what his mother is. He was once adopted and returned for continually digging out. Leave a pupy in the back yard, he's going to dig. But my problem lies in that he will not use the bathroom outside. He has been in the kennel for so long (6 months this time around) and has no idea what it is like to live in a house in a civiized manner. He is crate trained, that is where he is this moment. In the last several days I have only managed to get him to poop outside once. I have been keeping him in his crate at all other times aside from feeding, which I am going to change that today, and being walked outside. I have tried walking him for up to 1 1/2 hours with no results. Would it be better to limit his time outside to say a 15 minute period? If he goes, great! If not, tough luck and back in the crate. Or should I stay out there as long as he needs to go? I am thinking the first, otherwise I will be out there all day. I have to fix this problem. I cannot return him as he is scheduled to be euthanized in 10 days if I don't give him this chance. I won't turn my back on him. I have had huge success with all my other dogs in all aspects of training, but this guy is going to be my greatest challenge. Once we get past this potty issue I'll have him cleaning my house and doing tricks all day just like the others.

 

[PaulSage]

I work for the local Humane Society and I recently took in a 9 month old "Boston terrier" mix. He definitely looks nothing like it, but since he was born there we at least know what his mother is. He was once adopted and returned for continually digging out. Leave a pupy in the back yard, he's going to dig. But my problem lies in that he will not use the bathroom outside. He has been in the kennel for so long (6 months this time around) and has no idea what it is like to live in a house in a civiized manner. He is crate trained, that is where he is this moment. In the last several days I have only managed to get him to poop outside once. I have been keeping him in his crate at all other times aside from feeding, which I am going to change that today, and being walked outside. I have tried walking him for up to 1 1/2 hours with no results. Would it be better to limit his time outside to say a 15 minute period? If he goes, great! If not, tough luck and back in the crate. Or should I stay out there as long as he needs to go? I am thinking the first, otherwise I will be out there all day. I have to fix this problem. I cannot return him as he is scheduled to be euthanized in 10 days if I don't give him this chance. I won't turn my back on him. I have had huge success with all my other dogs in all aspects of training, but this guy is going to be my greatest challenge. Once we get past this potty issue I'll have him cleaning my house and doing tricks all day just like the others.

My first suggestion would be to figure out when he has to "go". For example, if it's first thing in the morning, right after eating, etc. and then take him outside for 10-15 minutes until he goes. Learning my dogs' "cues" was a big help in house-breaking them.

Also, are you scolding him for when he does have an accident in the house? I've always been pretty sold on a firm "NO" right at the scene of the accident followed up by placing the dog outside. On that same note though, when they do "go" where you want them to, an excessive and downright absurd amount of praise right after the success seems to sink in.

You mentioned he's been having accidents in the house and that you keep him in his kennel, but does he ever have accidents in his kennel?

 

[Bar None Reptiles]

Perhaps I should have gone into a little more detail. He has to go, I know he has to go, he holds it in because he is not used to going the bathroom outside of his kennel. By his kennel I am referring to his previous enclosure at the Humane Society, his run if you will. Keep in mind this dog was born there and has spent 8 out of his almost 9 months alive in this environment. He will crouch down and assume the position, it takes a peek, but never contacts the ground. Trying not to be too disgusting there.. Even an hour later of walking and what not, he still will not relieve himself. We have a concrete driveway similar to the surface in his run at the kennel and no luck with that either. SO today I have tried him being exclusively in his kennel for all activities aside from the 15 minute breaks for potty purposes, still no luck. Sure, he went on the floor within 5 minutes of being outside before I decided it was the last straw and placed him in his crate, but surely that was not all he had to do. I was just outside with him not too long ago, I could see the pressure building, but no crouching. He has not relieved himself in his crate during any point of this, as I said he is crate trained. Tonight, no matter how much it hurts me to do this, I know I must leave him in his crate. I have never had to spend more than a few days potty training any of my dogs so this is proving to be quite frustrating.

 

[Bar None Reptiles]

Oh and I forgot to address the praise issue. Yes, the few times he has gone outside I have given him stupid amounts of praise. I always felt that you may look stupid doing so, but it works better than anything, even treats. You get the most results that way. And when he has gone in the house, he was scolded, especially when caught in the act. But what gets me is when I do catch him in the act I first issue a verbal reprimand, this doesn't stop him. I have to physically stop him from going and interrupt the action to get him to stop. I've never had a dog keep on doing what they are doing when confronted aside from him. I just hope that his previous behaviors are not too far etched into his brain.

 

[PaulSage]

Shannon, I don't know what else to suggest. I've had Cooper for ~4 months now and he's FINALLY getting to the point of holding it until he gets outside (he's 6 months old now). It took a lot of patience on my part, which I admit wore pretty thin at times, but I would imagine that a dog that is already 9 months old and has become set in his ways is going to require a ton of patience on your part. I know you said "recently" but how long have you had him?

 

[Lucille]

Oh and I forgot to address the praise issue. Yes, the few times he has gone outside I have given him stupid amounts of praise. I always felt that you may look stupid doing so, but it works better than anything, even treats. You get the most results that way. And when he has gone in the house, he was scolded, especially when caught in the act. But what gets me is when I do catch him in the act I first issue a verbal reprimand, this doesn't stop him. I have to physically stop him from going and interrupt the action to get him to stop. I've never had a dog keep on doing what they are doing when confronted aside from him. I just hope that his previous behaviors are not too far etched into his brain.

Here is what I would do:

Treat him like a puppy. Every waking moment he is either in the crate, outdoors, or leashed to you. You just put the leash through your jeans belt loop, and wherever you go in the house, he goes, so you can sort of see when he is getting ready to go. I really think that if you will do this for a couple weeks and be 100% consistent, you will get good results.
When he starts sniffing around and you think he needs to go, take him outside and reward him if he performs. I use little bits of sliced hot dog.
BTW I think you are great for giving the little guy a chance.

 

[Lucille]

Feed the shi tzu first, then decide which of the other two is going to be next in the hierarchy and feed him. Most subordinate dog eats last. Be consistent.

A dog should never be in the habit of bulling through a doorway or gate. You go first, then dog waits for permission to go after you.

We are going to work on obedience training and the sit stay during the summer. I agree with the doorway thing, it gets on my nerves when they are all trying to crowd through.

Since I got the 4th dog who is fed inside because of food aggression, the others are eating together outdoors again with no problem. I have read that they have to have a hierarchy and they have to work it out, and generally I think this is O.K The new dog who gets along fine except for the food aggression with the other dogs, until I do the sit stay I will just feed him separate.
He does nothing if I take up his food dish, every owner needs to be the alpha, there should never be a situation where the dog is alpha over the person.

 

[Bar None Reptiles]

Well, we had what I thought was great progress today. I kept him in his crate all night and first thing this morning within 10 minutes he had accomplished everything outside that needed to be done. I let him wander the house for a few minutes but I had to rush off to work so in his crate he went. After lunch he did what he was required again and was rewarded with time out of his crate for a while. He went a good 5 hours before urinating on the floor suddenly. Not bad. I was about to take him out, but he beat me to it. My fault, not his. He just seems so afraid of living in a house environment. We have a 52" Tv and he is afraid of the people on the Tv because they are almost life size. He spends alot of time hiding under things, he always seems to want something on top of him. I nicknamed him the Boogeyman since he likes to be under my bed so much. Yes, I got him very recently. I brought him home on a 'trial' basis on Saturday evening after we closed the shelter. Since he was not adopted that was the last day I was willing to give anyone else a chance to get this dog. He is absolutely gorgeous, just not trained. His final adoption was completed today. Not that I was honestly trying him out, there was pretty much no way I was going to return him. He'd have to be brawling non stop with my other 3 dogs for that to happen. And since I have been working with him for the last 4 months, I was certain that was not going to happen. I would leash him to me, but this is 44 lbs of hyper, no manners dog. Not something that would happen very easily. I just close all doors and keep him in sight. My biggest issue is that he just seemed afraid to relieve himself outside. When I think back about his time in the shelter I don't recall a single time that he has gone potty outisde of his kennel. No volunteers ever said he went on a walk, and they usually make it a point to tell me when dogs do. And during play he never left anything behind in the yard. I was curious if people thought 15 minutes was sufficient time for him to relieve himself or if I should walk him longer. I don't want him to get the impression that I have all day to wait for him to go and he take full advantage of it every time. I'll try and get some pitures of him later and we can play guess the breed. Maybe even come up with a better name than he has now, Boss Hogg. That was what he was named at the shelter. But anyway, good prgress and I really appreciate the help. I've just never had one take so long to fall into routine. I usually find a spot they prefer and they will go when they come to that spot, but his spot was in my house, and that wasn't working very well.

 

[PaulSage]

Shannon, that's good to hear. Any progress is still progress. I have to give you a lot of credit for being willing to take him in when no one else would, and for having the patience to work with a dog who has spent the last 8-9 months pretty much learning the "wrong" routine. Let us know when you have him "cleaning your house and doing tricks" like the others!

 

[Lucille]

Well, we had what I thought was great progress today. I kept him in his crate all night and first thing this morning within 10 minutes he had accomplished everything outside that needed to be done. I let him wander the house for a few minutes but I had to rush off to work so in his crate he went. After lunch he did what he was required again and was rewarded with time out of his crate for a while. He went a good 5 hours before urinating on the floor suddenly. Not bad.

I think sometimes that we need to look at things from the dog's point of view.
Crating and leashing for several weeks will help create an environment where the dog will realize he can't pee at all inside.
But if he can do so sometimes, I am not sure he will learn that lesson. Accidents need to be cleaned with one of those enzyme cleaners if on carpet as they will detect the scent left otherwise.
Good luck, I know you are working hard with him.

 

[Bar None Reptiles]

Carpet

That is exactly why my entire house, with the exception of one room, which is always closed, is hardwood/linoleum type surfaces. That was the requirement to get me to agree to move here. I don't have time to clean carpets all day. Anyway, he is still making progress. When he does what he needs he gets to join us in the house. If he doesn't go, he is in his crate. I know he doesn't have to defecate everytime he goes outside so it has been a tough call as to when he has done enough to be out of his crate. He is going to get there eventually. We are both learning. I just figured he was smarter than this, but he is stuck in his ways. When I first started at the shelter, on day one I went to go feed him and he knocked the dish out of my hand spilling the food everywhere. Within 3 days he learned that to get his food he had to bow down and wait. So I figured that was great and he was extremely intelligent. he would see me coming and just assume position, but like I said, he would only listen to me and only do this when he saw me. I also remember the first time I put a leash on him, he went into a death roll! Well any animal that acts like a reptile and does death rolls must be cool! He walks very well on a leash now. I'll try to get Matt to put up some pics of him so you can see what I am working with. Thanks for all the help everyone, I was just so discouraged after the first few days and just needed to go back to the basics.

 

[rumboogy]

Hello Art...bet you don't remember me (us). We took our beagle, Louie Loo Eye (Louie) to you about 10 years ago when you were in Maumelle. You trained him in obedience for 3 weeks and then we brought him back every Saturday for about 6 months.

Just to let you know (if you even remember)...Louie is doing fine still...he is almost 11 years old and although we RARELY work with his obedience anymore, he remembers all his skills he learned 10 years ago...it still amazes me he remembers.

Anyway...though you might enjoy hearing about one of your old pupils.

Here he is from a year ago. http://wallyjarratt.com/website/gallery/4_21_08_07_6_15_00_34.jpg

Wally and Lee Ann Jarratt
Louie Loo Eye (The Beagle)
Buster (The Beagle)