House Training

by Lisa
(Land O Lakes Fl)


I rescued a female Pyrenees 3 years ago when she was 3. She has bad separation anxiety. We have to crate her when we are not home or she will pee and poop in every room of the house. After 3 years you would think this would stop but it hasn't. Even when we are home she will do it even though she went out an hour earlier. She has ruined our rug and is about to ruin our wood floor. I don't want to give her back to the rescue but am at wits end. Any suggestions???

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Aug 08, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		House-training
by: Great Pyrenees Club

Do you have her on a routine of walks to do her business? Routine is important.

First thing when she wakes up, before you go to work, at noon, after work and before bed?

It's so important to have a routine with her. Without a routine, she doesn't know what she should be doing or where she should be doing it.

Keep her leashed to you when you are home. She musn't be out of your sight until this is under control. If she looks like she will pee or poo when leashed to you, take her right outside to do it. When she finally does do her business, tell her 'good girl'.

Don't punish her for doing her business in the house.

Get a routine in place for her.
Aug 08, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Housebroken
by: Lisa

She goes out first thing at 6 am, 8am when my husband leaves for work then I have someone come walk her at 2pm then she goes out at least 4 more times before bed. She definitely goes out enough. As I said she can go out and come in and pee within the hour. I just want to understand the reason she may be doing it. She sleeps in our bedroom all night for at least 6-7 hours so I know she can hold it.
Aug 09, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Potty training a rescue dog
by: Anonymous

Our girl was 14 months when we rescued her, and she wasn't familiar with houses and many other things. She pooped and peed everywhere, including in her crate, so we kept her in the kitchen where there was linoleum. I put training pads onto a boot/mud mat, and she did learn to use this but it was only a temporary solution.

A trainer suggested that we get her on a schedule, as mentioned in the first response. It's very important. When it looks like she was about to go, I whisked her outside to her area, and as she was peeing I would say, "Go pee". She learned to associate these words with the action (and would later pee on command most of the time when I said, "Go pee"). Then when she was finished, I praised her with "Good girl!", and really meant it. She eventually learned to hold it until she was outside.

However, she still had the odd accident. When this happened, I didn't scold her or anything like that. She had been traumatized enough before we got her. Instead, the trainer told me to do three things: a) not look at her, b) not talk to her, and c) not touch her for a few hours. This worked!! She did not like this at all, and she figured out very quickly what caused me to ignore her. After this, accidents quickly became a rarity.

Hiring a trainer was the very best investment we could have made, and pays dividends every single day that we spend with our sweet girl, who is now about 3.5 years old. I highly recommend getting help from a qualified trainer!
Aug 09, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Milo RX for pee asleep
by: Jeanette

Dogs love routine. Of course you already know that .

Milo was wetting only when asleep . He otherwise did really well. Then when he began peeing only when asleep. Vet gave him an RX. See, his urinary had been hurt by him having been really really fat before I got him from the rescue. Even tho he lost weight. So the RX twice a day. Solved the sleep pee problem .

Also I've a basement floor I clean regularly with bleach water . If I'm unable to let him out due to migraine or some other challenge . He uses it. He learned it from the elder dog.

I was glad he had that option recently when I could not come home to tend him because my daughter was in hospital overnight. She is fine now. I mean he knew where to go .

25 Years ago when I had no basement I had a dog trained to use the bathtub in such a situation. It was easy to clean and no problem at all.

So I'm just telling you what my plan b is as well as being really determined about making myself follow a routine . Dogs love routine
Aug 10, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Separation Anxiety
by: Anonymous

Your dog has separation anxiety. Take her to the vet for prozac.
Aug 21, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		anxiety
by: Anonymous

If your dog was a rescue, any number of things could have happened to her in her past that still trigger her anxiety at present. Her actions are not 'disobedience' or 'lack of training'.
Keeping to a very strict routine, as you are doing, is a good start. Keep it up. Make sure she doesn't have an underlying health issue (kidney etc) Your vet can check for that.
If you are away from the home for long hours every day, do you leave a radio on? Have you given her an old t-shirt of yours to snuggle with? Is your neighbourhood noisy with the sounds of loud truck traffic, other dogs barking, train whistles? Are you matter of fact when you are preparing to leave the house? If she starts to pace and pant as you are preparing to leave, you must take the time to redirect this moment...sit down and relax with her. Breathe calmly. Cookies infused with lavender and chamomile for dogs are available at pet stores...now would be the time to give her one of those.
If this takes more time than you think you have, then change your schedule. You must leave time for her and not be rushing about. Resist the urge to lecture her, as that will translate to her as 'this is a bad thing', and then be left alone without direction. The meaning of our words mean nothing to her; however, your attitude means everything. So, keep your actions, voice and energy, positive...calm and low-key.
Your goal with her is to replace her old beliefs and worries (whatever they are) with new positive ones. They are very sensitive creatures.
Her whole life and the goodness of it, is in your hands. Being gentle, soft, forgiving; giving her a clear and reliably consistent routine are the best action for you to take with her. She may do well with a homeopathic rescue remedy (or doggy Prozac, as a last resort)
Good luck with this! Remember always that what you are doing now is showing her how to over-ride her own fear-learned belief system. And believe me, their memory is long and unshakeable, BUT you can give her new beliefs...trust in you, and trust that with you she is safe in her home.
Thank you for rescuing. You are saving a life.
Aug 22, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Housetraining response
by: Anonymous

Thanks so much for taking the time to write that response! Daisy is very much aware of our routine. She stands by the bathroom while we are getting ready with that worried look on her face. We then take her out again and then she automatically runs to her crate. We then give her a treat and turn the tv on for her. We live on a few acres so it is very quiet. We started giving her .05mg of xanax so she relaxes. What she does after a while is just goes crazy barking then under her chin is so wet when we get home she drinks a bowl of water. The xanax has made her relax but doesn't last all day. I think I will have her urine checked again also she poops at least 4 times a day which to me is excessive. It's normal not loose or anything. I currently feed her 3-4 cups total per day in two feedings. I am using Fromms large breed that was rated high for quality. I think she was abused somehow because when we first got her if we raised our voices even now if we do she squints her eyes and blinks them real fast like we are going to hit her which we never ever do. Anything else anyone can recommend is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Aug 26, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		worries
by: Anonymous

Seems to me you need to do some detective work to help you figure Daisy out. Bet you wish she could talk, eh?
Are you at home on the weekend? How is she then? Have you observed her carefully while you are at home all day? Does she relax or does she follow you everywhere? Does she spend more time outdoors when you are at home on weekends? If you are in the country, does she have a fenced yard for exercise or is she tied? Have you noticed if any wildlife comes close to the house when you are away? (Droppings not hers...interesting smells she homes in on?)
Do you have a doggy neighbour that barks or is loose to wander into her outdoor space? Does she have play time with other canines? We would be wrong to think that dogs only need us, a home, a regular meal...we need to also consider if all that may just be a comfy isolation jail cell for her.
There is something that is making her anxious. The drooling, unfocussed barking and bowel releases are all symptoms of her inability to change for herself whatever is the cause. Have you considered a companion canine for her?
Is there any chance you could install a camera within the house to record everything that happens while you are away? You have had her for 3 years, so whatever you have done up to now hasn't worked to alleviate her. You need to find the cause; is it from being alone, intrusions into her space while you are gone (ie: other animals), a health issue?
I am not familiar with the food you give her. Pyrs should not have corn in their diet so, check for that. Her many bowel movements seem a bit excessive. She could have a food allergy that leaves her in some discomfort (bloat, gassy?)
If you haven't done this already, find a registered Pyrenees breeder in your area. They are experts of the breed. Ask for advice. Ask a Pyr rescue organisation for advice. They, have much experience with rescued dogs' behavioural problems. Have one of them come to your home to observe her. Find out what food they recommend. Try everything you haven't already tried. She isn't happy and that is sad, both for you and her.
You just need to find the key to whatever it is she needs. Keep a daily journal of her life as she is living it. Write 2 lists....one list of things you have tried, another of things you could try. Check them off as you go. There's a solution for her problem somewhere, I am sure of it. Good luck with this...she is worth every effort you make!

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