Rescue dog still has behavioural problems 6 years on- at wits end.?

Question

I got my dog from a rescue centre 6 years ago. She was a stray (from her behaviour, badly treated) and was about 5 years old. I was prepared for some problems but believed that I could help her to overcome them. However despite training classes, 'dog psychology' & lots of time, love & attention, she is still wetting and soiling in the house. She doesn't do it for a month or two at a time and then it starts again- every few days. It isn't because she is couped up- I am a stay at home mum (my little boy is 2- but no links between the problem and the baby), the back door is always open and more often than not the 'accidents' are near the open back door (she definitely does know where she SHOULD be going). She was checked for medical problems years ago but there was nothing wrong. I just don't know what to do. We love the dog but I am at my wits end. Rescue centre says she is unlikely to be able to be rehomed- but I don't think I can cope with the problems any more. What do I do?

Thanks for the response but have tried a 'dog whisperer'- have several books on the subject too.

Sorry to sound negative, and I do appreciate your adivce but... we tried doing something very silimal to that already. Didn't change things at all.

Dog is VERY insecure- but runs off at any opportunity too which seems contradictory to me...?

Mutherwulf: She has a kennel outside & I'd love her to spend more time out there but she cries and howls if she is outside when we aren't.
And there's nothing scary in the garden- if one of us is outside she sits out there really happily.

five years ago I'd have had a second dog without thinking twice. After this I don't know if I'll ever have one again. Plus, whenever we're out walking she wants to fight other dogs (and yes we have been to socialising and training classes). She's a cairn terrier cross so only a little thing, but she thinks she's a doberman....

Answer 1

That is a sign of insecurity.. It is sad that after all of these years in a loving home, that she is still insecure.. she must have been very traumatized as a young dog.. She may have a bad dream, or just anything triggers the memories of when she lived in fear...When she remembers to be frightened, she wants to hide her scent from the rest of the world..so the boogie-man can't find her, and where her scent is covered by yours..so, she goes indoors...
there is no real cure for this that I know of, at her age..as you have done all you can to make her feel secure..
Just don't scold her when it happens..as that would only compound the issue..
If you know when she normally 'goes', you could step outside with her at a routine time..dogs usually keep to a routine, if they are fed on a routine..So, feeding her at the same time, and then noticing when she goes, following that..and then try to get her out at the same time daily...you might get her on a good routine...

Answer 2

Had same problem with a Yorkie 5 years ago. Dog would pee everywhere at first. I gave the dog LOTS of attention and walks to prove that he had a stable environment. Only at the end of his days, did he show the signs of not being able to hold it. However, this does not seem to be the case here. Still, another checkup would not hurt.

Maybe the problem could be diet? Does she get the same food on a regular basis? Also, have you noticed any change in your activity or mood? Dogs can sense emotions better than humans and this also may be a trigger if the dog was abused from before. Good luck and do not give up on dogs as this seems to be a exception and not the rule.

Answer 3

Sounds like you have done everything right so far.
Have you checked the yard, my dog messes in the house if she tries to go out and there is a cat out there. (yes, I have a chicken dog) She also won't go out (or will run into the house, sometimes mid-poop) if there is any strange noises. Maybe there is something in the yard that she objects to, but only every once in awhile. Like repairmen in a neighor's yard, or something.
Maybe she could be an outside only dog. Not the best solution, but better than the alternative. She could have short visits to the house.
Unfortuately, some dogs just have quirks they can't be trained out of. Some are harmless, some are annoying. You tried everything, you gave her plenty of time to shape up.
You have to decide when enough is enough. If you truely can't take it anymore, then the best option for both of you may be euthanasia. If you let it continue, you will resent her more and more until you become either neglectful or outright abusive. Don't let it get that far.
You are correct in thinking she won't get a new home. Shelters have to disclose any behavior issues they know of and this is a "deal breaker" for most people. Add that to her advanced age, and the situation is not bright. It is kinder that you have her euthanized. Leaving her at a shelter to take her chances, only to be put to sleep will be horrible for her, and not fair.
Seems like you are looking at getting used to the problem and dealing with it or euthanasia. Which is horrible I know, but try not to feel guilty. I know other answerers are lambasting your hide right now for not just loving this dog to pieces despite the problems, but when all is said and done, it is your life and it is just a dog. You tried, you tried long after I would have given up. 5 years is a heck of a long time to devote.
Good Luck and I'm so sorry you are going through this.

Answer 4

I'm sorry to hear this... it is the risk you take when adopting an older and possibly abused dog.

Just be patient with her and don't yell at her for her accidents, she may have an overactive baldder and just not be able to catch it in time. It is alos quite possible she is getting flashbacks or somehting is disturbing her and stressing her out at those times... causing her accidents.

Maybe get her a kennel to keep her in part of the day so you don't have to watch her all the time or try keeping a piddle pad near the door in case she doesn't make it.

It's tough taking on a dog with such isses, but you are doing her a great favor having saved her from a life of abuse and possibly being destroyed at the shelter.

I say explore ways of keeping her outside more and ways of calming and reassuring her that she is in a safe place.

Answer 5

if you got the dog 6 yrs ago when she was 5 that now makes her 11. at 11 yrs old she is an old dog. you have had her this long KEEP HER! she does'nt have that much time left anyway so let her live out what she does with the only family that "loves" her. you"ve dealt with it this long a while longer wont hurt. also think about getting another dog, one that is house broken just might teach her what you couldnt.

Answer 6

I know you said that she is house trained, but you can try this: When she goes outside and goes potty throw her a party, GOOD POTTY, GOOD GIRL, and then give her a treat. Then when she goes in the house do NOT rub her nose in it, or even scold HER. Look at the mess and in a stern voice point at it and say Bad potty, bad, bad, bad. then put her outside, and do NOT let her see you clean it up. Then after you have the mess cleaned up you can let her back in.

There is some stuff that works really good for getting rid of the odor of dog messes it is called X-O and the only place I have seen it offered is on QVC. go to qvc.com. it works great. Good luck.

Answer 7

Some dogs don't potty train well. My dog is almost 9 yrs old and I have steam clean the rug once a week. But I love her. Also your dog is 11 now she may be having a hard time holding it.

Answer 8

It sounds like your dog is stressed, and most likely, believes that it is her job to take care of and protect your household (the alpha dog). Dogs have a pack mentality, and she sees your family as her pack. Everything you describe points to that:
1) Marking the doorways as a way of protecting her home.
2) Howling/crying when she is separated from her family/pack.
3) Protecting her pack by wanting to attack other dogs.
4) Running off to investigate the outside in an attempt to protect her pack from the unknown.

There are several things that you can do to help relieve her of this responsibility:
1) Whenever you are apart and then reunited, ignore her for about 5 minutes. This may be hard, but it will communicate to her that you are the alpha dog and her leader. This may seem hard or cruel, but she will be a much happier dog without all that responsibility on her shoulders. And much of the time, we give dogs attention because of what we get out of it, rather than for the good of the dog (that’s my temptation, any way – I like petting my Riley, etc.)
2) When she barks at things outside, thank her and then remove her to another room if she still is agitated. This will acknowledge her helping but will communicate that it is not her job to monitor who comes in or out of her pack.
3) Work on helping her to learn how to sit, stay, etc., because then you will help her to 'know' what you want and is supposed to be doing. Sit/stay is useful because you can at times distract her from one thing into doing ‘good’ another.
4) After you have mastered the others, work on the walk and being the boss of what you do. She should not be the one to guide you, you guide her - that means no pulling, etc.
(This process is explained in greater detail in the Fennell book.)

Praising the dickens out of her good behavior and not making a big deal out of the bad will reinforce what you want her to do. And make sure that you are consistent :)

The Fennell book is excellent for understanding more how dogs thinking and also offers training tips. The Cantrell book is hugely useful because it also offers training tips but also provides an easy set of tests for you to figure out where your dog is at and how it learns. Both authors promote a dog thinking and choosing to obey. The Dog Whisperer is useful because of his notes and ideas on dog psychology, but I like their approach better.

Answer 9

If you can't give her the attention she needs then it isn't fair to keep her. She may not be able to be rescued, but how would you feel if you were her? Post this (not the question part) of freecycle.org and you may find a good home for her. Tell the truth & screen carefully so she doesn't have to jump from home to home.

Answer 10

Call the Dog Whisperer. Try buying some of his books. He is a genius when it comes to dogs.