Dirty dog....Ideas?? - Page 4

RedDoor, you've received a lot of good suggestions, but for the sake of this dog, PLEASE do NOT follow this particular advice:

"if you come home to a mess, yell at her and make sure she knows you are not please and put her in the other crate. clean up her filthy crate complaining loudly about it. once the crate is clean put her back into her now clean crate and loudly clean the other crate. never beat her.....but let her know that you are mad and that she doesn't get freedom unless the crate is clean."

Chances are that this problem you're having with her is part of her separation anxiety issues, but even if it wasn't, yelling at the dog hours after she's soiled her crate is not going to teach her anything save for the fact that sometimes when you come home, you yell at her.  She is no more going to associate you yelling at her with the fact that she pooped in her crate than she would associate it with her having burped earlier in the day. 

I WOULD suggest if you come home and find a soiled crate, you don't say anything at all to her as far as greeting her--just remain quiet and neutral, let her out of the crate and into the yard, and THEN embark on cleaning the crate.  Don't do the clean-up in front of her--handle it while she's outside, and then clean her up and let her back in the house...but pay no attention to her for a while--you want to try and keep the 'vibe' around your leavings and returns very low key, very laid back and quiet.  Ideally, with dogs that have any degree of separation anxiety, it's best to have the dog go into her crate about 10-15 mins. before you're going to leave, and while she settles in there, you quietly go about your business getting ready to leave.  When you actually do walk out the door, a quiet, neutral comment, like 'wait here' or 'watch the house', is sufficient--no fussing, no apologizing for leaving. I've found it helpful to turn the radio on at a low volume when I go out and leave dogs home...mine seem to like classical music on NPR, but anything other than hollering right-wing talk shows should work.  It helps mask any sounds of any activity that might go on outside, which could be riling the dogs up while you're away. 

I hope you're successful in figuring out what the problem is and hitting upon the right solution for her; clearly you've invested a good amount of time, effort and affection in this dog, and are willing to do even more, and I'm optimistic that you WILL be able to decipher the code to what's causing this behavior and then identify how to repair it.

RedDoor, the choice ALWAYS lies with you. Each person does what they think or believe is best for their dog(s). I'll leave it at that. Here are my experiences. 

My 9 1/2 y.o., Reiker was bought when I was a LEO. I was working 12 hr. shifts., 3 on, 3 off. 6 am - 6 pm and 6 pm - 6 am. I would dress and go in an hour early and due to paperwork and turning in/shift change, an hour later, 14 hr days. If I had a situation or an arrest at or near end of shift that could turn into 1 - 4 hrs. over. When I bought Reiker, the goal was for him to be a PSD. But down the road we found out the department didn't want a K9. For dayshifts I was training at 0400 hrs. with him. I felt bad because he was crated but at that time in life there was no other way. There was never a problem, not one. The bond or love is there no matter what the circumstance(s) are. The dog won't give up on you so don't give up on the dog. That dog only wants to be with/near his/her MASTER. When time permits then spend the MAXIMUM time with him you can. On my days off and my Mids Reiker was glued to my hip/passenger side of the truck. He turned out great and that is/was life. I would've felt worse if I had given him up. Whenever I get an animal I never want to for any reason have to give them up. PERIOD! The longest he was ever crated was 19 hrs. due to multiple arrests at shift chamge. No problems.

Thanks Hexe and I agree.....I never did get mad at her because I didnt see how it would accomplish anything. All that she would know is that when I get home I yell....instead I put her out with the rest and clean up...When I leave I do not make a big fuss either; just say bye and be good as I walk out the door.

Alboe I like your post in that it is all about the bond/love and trust...everything else just follows.
With Cora, I dont know what she has been through and I dont care. She is comfortable with me, and it has been a long road to get her from being completly terrified to being indifferent of strangers. She isnt going anywhere.

I was out in the yard with her last night...I was sitting in the grass and she walked up to me, kissed my face and rolled over onto her back. We just sat there together....neighbours kids and cats walking by; she just glanced at them then continued to stare at me. LOL I swear hearts pop out of her head when she looks at me

Long and the short of it...it has been a long road and we have a little ways to go still, but Im not giving up on her. Nothing worth doing is easy...and I am far to stubborn to give up!!

   RED DOOR:
    

     Why feed dog in morning when you know she is gonna be left in a kennel.

     When I travel I hold food for 9 hours before I hit the road..THEN feed when get to destination.

    Doesn't hurt dog either. SO if you work all day, feed at night.

    THEN put outside for hour or so if you have fenced yard, or what ever your situation is.

    Do not feed if you know you have to leave dog in crate for long hours...Feed upon coming home.

   Also your food may not be agreeing with the dogs intestines. PUT a small amount of
   extra virgin olive oil daily on food at night feeding..Olive oil helps digestion.

   OR change dog food, to something with no corn or no grains. Raw would be better.

  YR

I actually do feed at night and they are on a 'holistic' type food with no grain/corn. Was feeding raw but mu supplier moved.....thinking about going back to it as well.



Dont want to jinx anything here...but she has been good this week and last friday. No messes!! I decided to try something totally different as I have tried everything else......I left her in the house.  Usually I keep my dogs in front entrance when I am not home- this room is 20x20 and they all have their own seperate area. For whatever reason I decided to leave her loose in the house with the cats for company....No messes and it has been 3 days!

Ideas on why this would work?

Seperation anxiety?...house smells more like me than dog room( I hope!!) and is more comforting? She is great with the other dogs so I dont get it but..hey if it works it works...