My dog, Riley, is (most of the time) a total dream. He is doesn't make noise, doesn't lick, doesn't jump on the furniture, is mild mannered, loves to play and cuddle, etc.... Which is great for an 8 month old dog, but I have one problem with him.
It seems like he gets mad at me (and my b/f) when we leave for work and "tries" to poop (only #2, not #1) on the floor (and most recently the couch) right after we leave; however, he is housebroken and gets me up when he needs to go #1 or #2 when we are at home.
It also seems like this is worse if I don't have any noise in the apartment. I have started to leave the radio on during the day, and it seems to help, but isn't a total remedy.
Any suggestions?
And note two things:
1) I work very close to home, so I always come by and visit with him at lunch and take him out.
2) My b/f and I are both anti-crating. We think it's cruel to leave a dog in a box.
2006-09-11 05:22:51 · 9 answers · asked by Laura 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes, I think it is CRUEL to put a dog in a box all day. A dog is an LIVING animal and not a plaything you take out of a box when you are ready for it. I have a friend who crates her dogs and they cry all day. It's sad, and they still poop and pee, just in the crate (and then all over themselves).
Plus, I do not have space in my apartment for a crate.
I tried the baby gate thing in the laundry. He is smart enough to pull it down.
2006-09-11 05:56:28 · update #1
You are not alone! I have heard of dogs pooping right in the middle of their people's bed when they left the house! He obviously knows that pooping upsets you. What a great way to get your attention!
A) Make sure he has access to lots of toys!
B) Clean up his poop, but ignore him (do not punish him, so to speak) for about an hour. Make sure he has seen you clean it up but say nothing, do nothing and ignore him.
C) When you come home and there is no poop, it is party time! Lots of love and rewards!
D) If all else fails and you are anti-crate training, are you anti-kitchen training? I say kitchen, because it usually has no carpet on the floor and it is a reasonable space to confine the dog in with kiddie "fences". If your dog is big for the kiddie gate because he can jump right over it, Do you have a room in which he can stay that has a door that can be shut?
You are doing all the right things. Coming home during lunch for a sandwich and a hug from the doggie, along with a quick walk. No matter how much you love your dog and think that he should be allowed to rule the house when you are not there, you have to make boundaries. He can not and should not be allowed to run around and poop everywhere. Unless you are okay with that, which it sounds like your not because here we are.
Some breeds of dogs are more sensitive then others and come up with these crazy ways of getting even with their people. He has to understand that leaving him is an important part of your life and that it is also necessary. I would bring home a treat of some sort with me when I came home from work, if there was no poop or pee on the floor they got the treat. If there was poop or pee, I put the treat away for a better day. When they smell that good treat on you when you come in, they start to get the picture that you going to work means you are going on the hunt for food! I would leave a box of meaty bones at work and take three home with me every night. That's because at one time I had three dogs! Two pure bred labs. and one a chow/lab mix. I loved them very much and house training them was a breeze!
Anyway,
I hope this helps, Good Luck
2006-09-11 05:49:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because you work so close to home and you come home to check on him, I would try the crate thing. Put him in there before you leave for work with the TV on and a dog rug to lay on. When you get home for lunch time give him water and take him out before you go back to work. The afternoon leave him out and see if it's better for a few hours of alone time. That way you won't have to leave him in the crate all day and he may not be able to work up so much anxiety. Give it a try and let us know how it works.
2006-09-11 05:44:46 · answer #2 · answered by purrfectsandcastle 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I confine mine to the bathroom when I leave the house. I'm not worried about the pottying since she's litterbox trained (toy dog), but I don't want her chewing up things in my home. Maybe you could use your kitchen or bathroom or whatever room you have where the poop won't ruin the floor. I would never let a dog roam free through the house while I was away.
As far as a crate being cruel, mine sleeps in hers at night. She will even crawl right in to nap while we're in the same room.
2006-09-11 05:42:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is STUPID to not crate train. The problems you are having are beacuse of that. It is no more cruel to leave a dog in crate then it is to leave a baby in a crib. Or are you anti-crib, too? The crate is "training" mechanism. It does no harm to the animals. It isn't meant as a permanent solution. It is along the same lines as time-outs. It is much more cruel to not train, and discipline your animal earlier on to be a good pet. Without doing this he may eventually become so hard to deal with he is untrainable, and unadaptable for anyone. It is part of your responsibilty as a pet owner and a parent to do the "hard thing" that may break your heart to see them whining or crying...for their own good in the end. Saying you are anti-crate training...is a cop-out to not do the difficult work of properly housebreaking an animal. Read up about proper crate training and how it works...perhaps you won't be so opposed then. Disipline and training are not cruel....they are necessary.
2006-09-11 05:30:30 · answer #4 · answered by Jaded Ruby 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If you think it's cruel to leave a dog in a box, get used to the poop on the couch. Depending on what kind of dog he is the separation anxiety might manifest itself in different ways as well, for example eating the couch, baseboards, scratching the finish of doors, you name it - I have two breeds that suffer a great deal from separation anxiety and depending on how long I'm going to be gone, I crate them. I have a male german shepherd that is 5 I leave him out all the time. I have a female german shepherd that is just over a year, she's crated if I'm going to be gone any longer than a couple of hours. I have a female husky that is 6 and she too gets crated if I'm going to be gone over 4 - 6 hours. My husky has knocked over lamps which means broken light bulbs and it's in all of their best interest and safety to crate.
You can medicate your dog for separation anxiety, but I think that is worse than crating. Good luck.
2006-09-11 05:39:07 · answer #5 · answered by alis_n_1derland 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is a "doggie Prozac" available that can help him relax a little. It's called "Clomicalm." It's the only anti-anxiety drug approved for dogs, and can be very effective at curbing this kind of behavior.
Another option that may sound silly, but apparently works in some cases is to get an answering machine and call a couple times during the day... saying things like, "Hi, Riley! Mommy will be home soon! Be good! You're a good puppy!" loud enough so he can hear them. He will recognize the sound of your voice and this may be enough to keep him under control.
2006-09-11 05:32:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
human beings choose jobs and to be risk-free from terrorist assaults they do no longer care who gets audited via the IRS. Few human beings have any sympathy for people who get political welfare and tax breaks on a similar time as maximum persons are taxed to dying in this united states of america. next twelve months, we would desire to continually all report a 501 C-4 variety and declare we are a political business enterprise which prevents the IRS from auditing us. it would be a appropriate thank you to laundry money.
2016-09-30 14:08:54 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, since you refuse to crate, can you make room for an ex-pen? they are larger, but you can still confine your dog to one area. just get one tall enough that your dog can't jump over it. expens are also nice, because you can configure them to fit the room.
2006-09-11 06:11:11 · answer #8 · answered by Queen of the Dachshunds 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think it is also creul to leave a dog in a box. i suggest giving the pup more intense and frequent walks. i have a siberian husky who needs a good intense walk, jog, or run everyday except for bad weather or she gets boared and mad and finds thing to do to tell you that
2006-09-11 05:43:48 · answer #9 · answered by owned by a siberian husky 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋