I haven't commented so far as my advice ould be similar to the others. Please let us know what Therese and Kevin suggest, it may help others as well. I hope you had a good weekend.
Sally Jo Pee'd Help!
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:eek: Hello,
Sally Jo is having issues with peeing and or BMing when we take her out. For the most part she won't do either. We are taking her out approx, 3 to 4 X's daily. Sometimes she pee's, but most of the time she won't have a BM but 1 time every other day. We stand out there forever. She really needs to pee when we take her out! She had not had any accidents (except for the submissive peeing when she wakes up in the morning) until last night. I had the boys take her out around 8:45p.m. They came in only 5-10 mins later,and said she wouldn't do anything. About and hour later we found that she used the bathroom in the office. In the mornings we stopped talking to her until she went out, and that helped. But now she holds her pee even in the morning. I know she has to go, but she will hold it and then needs to be taken back out an hour later. The only other time she pee'd was while were gone one time about 1 week ago. Luckily in the ktichen not on carpet.
She is also not eating when we feed her. She waits, which is not helping. She has not created a system.
I am afraid to let her roam the house.
One last note, she met some of the neighborhhod dogs yesturday, and showed her teeth and low growled. I know she's afraid, but what do I do to get her used to our friends family and dogs. She is so afraid. My neighbors don't listen either. They won't wait unitl she is ready they just keep approaching her with a happy voice mind you, but I keep telling them to give her time. I guess my probelm is that they bring their dogs to the bus stop everyday, which is my driveway, and I wish they wouldn't. I would like my dog to be a peace while sitting in her yard. They let their new puppy just act wild, and crazy. All the puppy wants to do is get near Sally, and All I think Sally wants is to be left alone! hahaha..How do I politly say, leave your dogs at home. One last point. They other neighbor lets their dog, pee and poop in our yard. They clean up the poop, while taking out half the grass at the same time. I don't want the dog the kill the grass in our yard, and we have asked several times and they don't care. We make Sally go in the same area in our back yard. Besides I don't want to have to watch where I step in my front yard! They never clean the poop up in their yard. Gross!
Also she did the same thing to our youngest last night. He was doing nothing, just sitting near her. We have mad sure they are never alone together, because she is so new to us. Wow is she ever a very shy girl.
I guess I'll have to keep Sally in every morning while at the bus stop, again in MY Driveway!
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Sounds like there is WAY too much going on for Sally while she is trying to adjust to her new home.
Yes, you will have to tell people to leave their dogs at home until she adjusts, or yes, you will have to leave her inside when the bus comes. That doesn't mean it will always be this way, but for now, yes. If you detect that your dog is nervous, YOU have to advocate for her and say "I am sorry, this is too much for my dog, and please back away right now"…you can fancy it up by explaining that she is a rescue, and is very unsure of new things right now. But YOU must keep her from feeling scared enough to react. Sounds like your neighbors are pretty insensitive..that is too bad...
As far as the growling at your son...that could be a red flag, or Sally may just have been overly tired, and didn't want to be bothered. Did she do it when your son approached and sat down, or did he shift around prior to her reaction? My advice would be to not reprimand her for that behavior, instead call her over (off the couch?) in a happy voice, give her some scritches. You may need to do some training to intervene with her once she settles in a little more.
With the food, put it down, leave it for 20-30 minutes, pick it up...if she misses a meal, no problem. If she refuses meals often, you might be feeding her more than she wants. Cut back until she eats all of her food twice a day. You might also try hand feeding her, to help her bond with all of you.
With the peeing, you just have to be patient. You have to take her out for a LONG time until she pees, if you are pretty sure she has to pee, don't come in until she does. It helps to add a word when she does pee, we use "hurry up" as soon as they start to pee; soon we give the command and they go! And, yeah, for now she will need to be confined in the house. Either a dog safe room, or a crate when you can't actually watch her.
Good luck! Try to slow down all kinds of interaction for Sally, particularly with new dogs and people until she settles into your household. It wouldn't hurt to talk to a trainer/behaviorist...but beware of anyone who tells you to just force her into new situations. She needs some trust groundwork at home, and then gentle exposure to new things.
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Andrea has some good suggestions for you to try….
However, I have never understood "making" a dog go in a certain place in the yard for fear of killing the grass?.... Grass grows back... Me, I am just happy mine go outside and are not a problem in the house... even at 16+ (which is like having puppies again.... just bigger accidents)....
I do understand being "not happy" with your neighbors letting their dogs go on your lawn.. that is just rude....
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Is it possible to walk her around the block? I don't remember the last time we took Nexa for a walk that she didn't pee. Just a suggestion
Dan
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Umm… I think you misunderstood me, I don't care where my dog goes, although I do take her to the back because the road is to close for her to do her buisness because she is so scared. My dog can go in the front if I let her. I just perfer the back yard. Which is a much bigger area. She doesn't like to go where she plays and lives anyways. It's the same as going in the house. Please don't do that. Again …Just my house rules.
If I let her go in the front yard, then all the other dogs (mostly males, keep marking it). I don't want the 4-5 dogs that come to the bus stop every morning to pee and poop in my, well manicured, and exspensive new landscaping. I disagree when you say grass just grows back. No it does not. We have been in a drought and the water bill would be very high if I constantly watered down the very acidic urine the dogs leave every time they pee. Which again is every morning. Not to mention that we just reseeded, and fertilized, and the owner picks up a large clump of grass everytime he "tries" to clean up after his dogs. Which, by the way, is not that clean, because somebody always steps in it,and tracks it in! YUCK…LOL...
Besides I don't take my dog for a walk to go and use the restroom at another persons yard every day. I make sure she goes before we walk, or we don't take a walk.
This is just our rules. This subject is very tender for us, and most of the neighbors that just don't care what their pets do in other peoples yards.
Something to think about though, Dog peeing on plants can = death to plants. Unknown to a lot of folk's….there is a law that says you (the pet owner) are responsible for what damage is done. Therefore replacing said plant/plant's. Depending on the plant, it could be quite expensive. It is considered "destruction of personal property".
Just a little something pet owners need to consider.
Most owners don't treat doggy potty as a trainable thing. It is completely trainable and manageable. Here are some tips:From a Trainer...
If you walk your dog around the neighborhood, first go to their regular potty place (your backyard or a nearby park) and cue the dog to go potty, go potty, go potty, until it goes potty. Then and only then do you start your walk.
Your dog should also be on some semblance of a potty schedule, so you know if he regularly goes number 2 in the morning or in the afternoon etc. This is much easier if you use a feeding schedule, but much harder if you free-feed.
When you visit a friend's home with your dog, and you've just gotten out of the car, don't take the dog inside until you let him potty again. Take him where you want him to go and tell him to go potty. Give him a few minutes. Dogs get excited and they are like children. If you take them somewhere and they get all excited, they will "forget" to potty - until they are inside. Oops! (Mainly younger dogs).
If your dog makes for a neighbor's yard for a potty, pull him out of there - he IS on leash right? Say, "NO", pull him and keep walking. Unless the dog is sick, it CAN hold its poopy. Don't let him squat until he is at the park or other designated potty spot.
update...
Sally did eat all of her food this morning ( I gave her less). She then went outside and "went". I will just keep her on the leash while I'm working and doing things around the house for awhile. (trainer suggested) My kids informed me they did not give her enough time last night. I guess I can't leave that job up to them ! hahaha...
As for Dylan , I'm going to keep watching the interaction between the 2 of them. After all he is only 6, and she is only 2 weeks new to us.
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Sounds like there is WAY too much going on for Sally while she is trying to adjust to her new home.
agreed
How old is your dog?
What the trainer says makes sense.
I am a gardener and collect expensive rare plants. I let my dogs tromp through them and pee on them, without any real killing (except the time my I caught my dog carrying a rare $50 new planting in his mouth) He was so proud helping dad in the garden. I could not be mad at him he was so cute.
Our dogs race through our garden trampling things in their paths- they make paths. We have a large fenced in back yard. If they see a squirrel they are going to go full speed after it regardless what's in their path. If you let you dogs loose in you garden they are going to trample & pees on plants- basenji's do not care what you think. If you punish them it makes them mean.
You seem to be kind of strict, are you sure a basenji is the right dog for you?
They need structure, but as far as being obedient- your in for a battle.
I dont let our dogs near any strangers, small children or other dogs- mine and a lot of other dogs here can't be trusted- your looking for trouble, a law suit or putting your dog down, if she bites someone. Read some of the stories at this site, one person is being sued, another was forced to either put his dogs down or find a new home for his dogs -which is what happened.
I'm not trying to be mean, but basenji's do not really care about anything but food and what they want to do, trying to impose all these rules seems tough with a dog(breed) that does not care about what people think. You have to think of them being like a wild animal in many respects. They do potty house pretty easy, but telling them where they have to go seems pretty rigid to me?
Maybe a basenji is not the best fit for your situation?
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Doing business in your own yard is all very good-however, (I've come up against this problem myself as I thought it was a great idea also) I also think you should be aware that if you train only in your yard and no where else you will run into problems. If you need to suddenly board your dog-have it stay at the vet's-go somewhere with your dog- Be Aware that your dog may not go to the washroom elsewhere. I had one dog who held it for about 3 days when I had to board. The end result was not the greatest. This is just food for thought. No offense intended.
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Wow…. this has gotten way off track. I fully intend to keep Sally, she is very loved and I have more faith in her than that.
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nomrbddgs,
Thanks for the advise, I'll keep that in mind. I understand. I was more frustrated with the neighbors. What did you do to make sure it didn't happen again. We do take her to the dog park at the end of the street.
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By the way , she's 2 + years old and has only been at our home for a little over 2 weeks now. Most of that time she was sick.
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I always make sure to feed them (I have 3 b's, a boxenji, and a heeler) THEN take them for a walk as soon as they are done eating, or let them outside. This is why feeding (for me) on a schedule is important. Also, I do use the 'go potty' technique as well. And while they're going say 'good girls, potty outside'. I take them whereever I can and always clean up after.
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Sally Jo's mommy…do you have invisible fence?
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I made sure she ate last night by sitting near her,a nd hand feeding. SHe then went out approx 15 mins later. She didn't go until 45mins later. But she went! we did the good potty potty thing and gave her a treat. She was very happy! We then let her loose in the house with us, as long as we were near her. She then went to her place to sleep, and slept very well.
When she got up we did the same, but she has only pee'd. I'm still waiting for the poop. I've taken her out 3 times now, with no poop. But that may be just her. O'well. I'll just keep her in the tiled area's! hahaha…
No invisible fence. We are putting in a regular split rail with fencing to keep her in and others out. I think she could break through an invisble. Because she is a mix, we think she may have greyhound, or something fast in her. The vet watched her run and felt she was too fast for that. When I say fast, I mean crazy fast! She caught a rabbit. She let it go but it was too fast for me to stop. Too funny! What a good girl.
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I have a super scaredy cat as well. My beagle gets spooked when a leaf falls. And you may do this already but what helps with her is that she has a place where she can feel safe. She is afraid of my son. He is loud and moves to fast for her so she generally will be under my feet or upstairs on the landing when he is downstairs. Thats fine with us. We do make her go outside every hour or two just in case. If there are a lot of dogs at the bus stop-your driveway- and that makes her nervous then maybe she should stay inside or at a distance from the other people and dogs.
With feeding, Siss will not eat if Greggy is downstairs so we generally feed them while he is doing his homework -and quiet-. She is coming around. I will warn you that Siss has been this scared since I first saw her at 4 mos. She is very very slowly relaxing but she is 3 now and there has not been much change. I think you need to let her come around on her own. It seems like you are certainly trying your best. She is lucky she found you.
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Another thought on the poop thing…the 100% guaranteed way to get Ruby to poop is to give her exercise. Also, Ruby only goes once a day (in the morning) unless something really excites her (like deer running across the road in front of her or a dog chasing her when we do an evening walk).
We have a routine in the morning...first thing after I get up, I take her out...say "Potty Ru", she runs off the step and starts to sniff, I say "potty" a couple more times and she goes. (oh and while she's going, I say "good potty" a few times and follow up with a treat once finished). We have a daylight basement that extends off the porch so there is an overhang that she goes under and will potty no matter how hard it is pouring (takes longer in the rain or when it is windy because of all the noise).
After the potty, then I run her on the bike or walk her (walks happen in light to moderate rain) - usually 1 - 2 miles. If I walk her, she sometimes poops on the walk (usually in one spot by a duck pond which is just about the halfway point of the walk). If I run her on the bike, as soon as we are back to the yard, we go in her dog pen, I say "poop Ru" and she starts doing the crazy run/circle thing and poops (again, I say "good poop" while she's going and give a treat to her when finished).
I bet if you walked her first and then tried to get her to poop, you might have more success as she will have checked for messages from other dogs
on her walk and gotten all the new scents from those.
