We adopted 2 small dogs 2 years ago, one male and one female. The male is a jack russel and likely shih-tzu cross and is quite low energy. The first week when we got them, the male was sitting with me(he had been let out often) he and urinated all over me. He nudged us for attention a lot,would scratch and squirm whenever we tried to put him on his back - we decided to do research and teach him that my bf and I were the pack leaders. We read books and watched The Dog Whisperer and got advice from family. We were able to train him properly on a leash, lay on his back on command and get him to eat on a schedule (he shook and starved himself at first). Things were little better except whenever left alone (be it 10 mins or 2 hours) he would defecate on the floor and find my underwear and eat/shred it. He still always fought for dominance and lately he's been defecating in his kennel and in the house a lot; probably 4 days a week. Should we put him down? we've tried everything
Some more details (the allowed characters were short)
- We leave the house 2x a day 5x a week for work for only 4 hours at a time.
- He stays in his kennel with the female when we leave, because after much experimenting he does bad things when left out of it when alone
- We've taken him to the vet and tried anti-anxiety/depressant medication and besides it being impossible to get him to take it (with a treat/peanut butter even) he did not respond to it
- Whenever at someone elses house, literally left alone for even 5 seconds he will poop/pee on the floor somewhere
Yes he is fixed.
He came from a home where he was left alone for 12-24 hours and never taught right from wrong in the house. And yes I'm sure it is my fault that he acts the way he does, I'm just giving some background info. He's also 4 years old.
rocketgrrl, thank you for your reply. I think perhaps this is the method I will continue to try training him in.
They both get their fair share of attention and we avoid favoring the girl over him, because that would make him even more upset and hurt.
Yes, they are both 100% house trained and they are let outside twice in the morning and 3 times in the afternoon/evening.
goodingmargaret, that is definitely what I have believed him to be doing is getting back at me, I just wasn't so sure if it was a common response from an upset dog. I will work on his separation anxiety issues some more.
Also, his person is now definitely my bf, though he definitely loves his old one too.
Another side question, is that they have toys to play with in their crate though they never seem to express any interest, even when we try to play with the toys with them other times. So, we often give them dentabones or other things to chew on, but the Male will only ever guard his treat and never eat it. They both get the treats at the same time and they have seperate places to eat them but he won't still. Any idea why?
DO NOT put him down! First of all, he needs his own space. Buy him his own kennel. Second, it sounds like he needs something to do. Try finding a class that teaches agility. It may be as simple as being bored and wanting extra attention. As far as the underwear goes, don't leave it where he can get to it. Jack Russels are very intelligent dogs, they need to be kept busy.
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February 4th, 2009 at 8:45 am
NO you shouldn't put him down.
why don't you then return the jack-russel to the wherever you got him.
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February 4th, 2009 at 9:26 am
You do not put your dog down. Any failure on the dog's part is a failure on YOUR part. Have you enlisted the help of an actual trainer or behaviourist? These are fairly common behavioural problems and not cause to put your dog down. Quite frankly, I'm appalled you would even suggest it. Please speak to your vet about finding a good trainer who can come to your home to work with you.
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February 4th, 2009 at 9:32 am
hmm. Is he fixed?
Do you give him the same amount of attention as your female dog/
I would try to get him more house trained.
srry, if I didn't help much. I have never heard of a case like that.
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February 4th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Don't put him down. If you feel you can't take care of him, put him out for adoption.
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February 4th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I had the same issues when I adopted a mix puppy that had been abandoned.. and wrestled with the same questions. In the end, I was able to get him to pretty much stop by doing a few things:
Kept him in a safe space when I wasn't home (bathroom or kennel) and made sure he had toys to chew on.
Walked him both before and after I left him.
Made sure that he was never alone in a space that he could damage.
When he did chew or use the bathroom on the floor, I was very firm, didn't talk to him, just went over grabbed his collar and placed him outside. Then I'd ignore him for a bit while I cleaned stuff up.
After about two months of this consistently, he started to improve. I can leave him home now to run around the house, but I still have to make sure there is nothing I don't want chewed up on the floor (like socks or shoes).
I wish you luck!
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February 4th, 2009 at 9:51 am
DO NOT put him down! First of all, he needs his own space. Buy him his own kennel. Second, it sounds like he needs something to do. Try finding a class that teaches agility. It may be as simple as being bored and wanting extra attention. As far as the underwear goes, don't leave it where he can get to it. Jack Russels are very intelligent dogs, they need to be kept busy.
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February 4th, 2009 at 10:10 am
No you shouldn't put him down that's just the easy way out, oh we can't fix it (you might be going about it all wrong) so let's just kill him since we can't be bothered to "train" him. You say you've tried everything, but what have you tried you didn't say. You've worked so hard at training him to become a good dog but apparently he only does this when you leave, which means he has very severe separation anxiety. If he is pooping that much then you need to first see a vet to rule out any medical problems that could be causing him to do that. If once you've ruled out medical then you need to either work on his separation anxiety alone or with a qualified trainer.
First make sure he has eliminated BEFORE you leave the house. Next make sure he's gone on a long run or 30 minute bicycle ride (with him running along side) before you leave, make sure he's tired. Tired dogs are less stressed. Try using DAP to help with anxiety and lastly desensitize your dog to you coming and going.
Desensitizing is a lot of work it requires you to do what you'd normally do when you get ready to leave, pick up your purse gather your keys these are all clues and signals to a dog you are going out, when he sees this he gets anxious. So you need to pick up your purse gather your keys and put them down and sit down. Repeat, repeat, repeat, until he no longer looks anxious when you do this infact you need to keep doing it until he ignores your movements. Then once that happens, gather your purse and keys put on a coat, take off your coat, put down your keys and purse and sit down. Repeat repeat repeat until he stops responding. Then gather your purse, your keys put on your coat and step outside the door, close it and then walk right back in, take off your coat, put down your purse and keys and sit down. Repeat repeat repeat, each time you come back in gage your dogs reaction, is he still sitting laying on the couch or is he at the front door looking for you? Or on the back of the couch? If he's anything but laying down ignoring you then keep it up. Then spend a little longer outside, then a little longer until you can walk around the block and come home to a non anxious dog. It's hard work, but if he suffers from anxiety, which most Jack Russels do then since you've worked this hard you should be able to do it.
Try watching "it's me or the dog" on APL with Victoria Stillwell she works more often with problem dogs with behaviors such as yours Cesar deals with fearful or aggressive dogs, not so much with dogs that poop on the floor all the time.
Also R U 100% sure he was house trained properly? And make sure he's getting out regularly to the bathroom.
Edit: After reading your notes I definately feel he is suffering from Sep Anx. If his former owner left him alone for up to 14 hours a day then yes, he's going to pee and poop because she wasn't around to let him out. Also he probably hated being alone all the time and now when you leave he's reacting to it because he is fearful you will leave him for 14 hours, it doesn't matter you're only gone for 4 to a dog, bottom line is you're leaving. Pills are only a temporary solution and are a short term solution to a long term problem. You are going to need to work on his anxiety issues.
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February 4th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Don't put him down. In the past, he was left alone for much too long. When you leave, I think he's "getting back at you" or getting even. I know this is wrong, but I believe he feels abandonment. And, I definitely wouldn't take him back to where he came from..that's why he has these problems. And, than there are some dogs that can't handle being without their "person."
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I once had an American Eskomo…That breed of dog craves a lot of attention.