Hi all,

I'm new to the board, but I have been reading all of your wonderful information. I have a 15 week old Puggle (Pug/Beagle mix). She's great, but I think I'm loosing my mind!!

The person we got her from, flys her Puggle litters in from friends who breed them in the Eastern US. This particular puppy was the last of her litter to be sold, and was alone in her crate/pen for about 3 weeks. She was fed, etc., but that's about it. She was so excited to come home with us. I have 2 boys ages 8 and 10.

She has MAJOR separation anxiety. The person we got her from recommended that we put her crate in an "ex-pen" in the house when we leave with the door open so that she can pee/poop outside her crate if she needs to. Seems to me that this is teaching her that it's OK to do that in the house, which it isn't!

I work at home, so am around a good part of the time. Of course, there are times when I have to leave and can't take her with me. (gym, ortho appts for kids, etc). She cries/barks, etc then poops in the crate and eats it--YUCK (got some stuff from the vet to make it taste bad so she won't do that). She is also being treated for Giardia (not sure where that came from, but she's only been outside in our backyard to pee/poop). There is no diarreah--thankfully.

I have been reading your posts, and have tried implementing several things this weekend (first being the crate only...in the crate next to our bed overnight with one-sometimes 2-potty breaks during the night...since I don't really agree with the ex-pen idea). My main issue is the tethering...I have started tethering her to me with the leash, and she HATES it. She plays tug-of-war with it, and drives me nuts! Is there a particular kind of leash to use? I have been puting her in the crate for 30 minutes at a time, taking her out to potty...great praise when she does, bringing her in for playtime (about 20 minutes worth) and then back in the crate. I have also started feeding her in there with the hopes she won't poop in there anymore. I have put a bed in there, but when she's mad, she rips it up! I'd love to give her a blanket with my scent, but she would just chew it to bits. Is this a good schedule? It's a little tiresome! Another interesting aside...she won't go potty outside when it's dark. She's scared. If I take her in the garage on newspapers then she'll go...same with middle of the night. Don't know what that's about (not that I will mind when it's cold and raining).

Second thing is I'm changing her food little by litte. She was getting IAMS puppy food, but I'm changing her to Canidae Chicken. It is a little more predictable with pooping. She was taking several hours to go after eating. Very hard to predict potty training. Now, even with the slow change, things are a little more regular.

Lastly, there were suggestions on this board about putting a towel or blanket over the crate. This wouldn't help in my case, because she would just try to tear it off the top through the grids. Should I buy one of those plastic crates and try that? She's only about 9 pounds right now.

I'm feeling a little isolated at this point...I've been home for a week with her and every time I leave her, I am panicked to get back. I'm only gone 1-2 hours at most. She's such a good girl most of the time, but I don't feel I can leave her alone for fear she will have pooped all over her crate and even worse, (eaten it...yuck!!!).

Any suggestions, comments, etc. are greatly appreciated. Thank you! Welcome to puppyhood, eh?? I feel so incompetent.

Hi,

I would order this DVD and read this article while you wait for it.

http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/housebrk.htm


You can try a regular crate mat. She will be too small to rip it up.

Be sure not to reward whining or throwing a fit with attention or letting her out of the crate.

I would NOT do pottying in the garage. That also teaches her that inside is OK.

She will go potty outside at night on her leash with you on the other end of it, calm and collected. You want to be sure you don't reinforce whatever you are perceiving as fear of the dark.... you want your calm and casual attitude to travel down the leash to her.... no soothing or caressing or otherwise letting her think that there really is something to be afraid of.

You mentioned twenty minutes of playtime. That too is followed by outdoors for potty. Getting up, eating or drinking, or playing --- all followed by outdoors for potty.

The separation anxiety will take a little patience, but it CAN be dealt with. Here is how I have done it: Go out, very casually. Lurk quietly. Come back in before she has a chance to vocalize. Do this several times a day, slowly increasing the time.

Never make a big production out of leaving.


Although this is a done deal, I still think it's worth pointing something out for future reference:

This phrase: "flys ... litters in from friends who breed them in the Eastern US" is a HUGE red flag to me. That would just flash giant neon letters in my brain: PUPPY MILL. JMO. Whether the breeding is actually local and the conditions are being hidden by saying that the pups are flown in, or whether they actually are flown in ..... this kind of setup is not the way ethical breeders operate.

Back to the dog. Nothing you have described here is insurmountable. After one week, you're not having any alarming experiences, I don't think. I adopt adults, but they are often untrained and often loaded with separation anxiety; take a deep breath, be 100% consistent, and set her up for success by giving her no opportunity for inappropriate potty.

Welcome to the board, BTW!

P.S. I realize that what I said about how you acquired the dog might have sounded abrupt.

I am sending you a PM with details about why the acquisition process was a huge red flag. It will be good to for you have the information for the future.

 Quote: Jennifer Langer

I'm changing her food little by litte. She was getting IAMS puppy food, but I'm changing her to Canidae Chicken.

Good!

It sounds like she is having a temper tantrum every time you do something she doesn't agree with (crate and tethering to you).
Make sure that you don't get her out of the crate when she is throwing a Sh*t-fit, you will just encourage her to repeat it.
I think you have jumped to get her out during her fits and being the smart girl she is she has figured out how to get out of the crate in the quickest possible way (scream, carry on, and eat poop).

If you are sure she already knows to come forward when pressure is put on the leash, a dominant dog collar or choke collar used in the elevated position during the tug-of-war, release when she sits, will probably convince her that pulling on you isn't so much fun. Try to park yourself in a spot where you can tie her to something solid, rather than you. The leash looped under a chair leg will work if you are sitting in the chair. But first try exercising her more first, and then a toy to play with instead of pulling. A yummy filled, frozen kong might be an option.

Separation anxiety can also be a symptom of vaccinosis, and a detox may help. http://www.ambertech.com makes a detox for vaccines.
And for another option, a friend put her nervous dog on a Ginko Biloba preparation (Natures Calmplex from http://www.springtime.com) and she thinks the dog is calmer now. And cooincidentally, her dog had THE WORST farts for about a week when she started the Calmplex (she was detoxing SOMETHING).

But I think that the primary problem you are having is that you have reinforced the negative behaviors without realising it.

I think you need to put her in the crate, where you don't have to see the poop eating tantrum, and let her work through it until she is quiet, then get her out. If you go towards the crate to get her and she starts acting stupid again turn around and leave again. Your timing will have to be very good and fast so that you only get her out when she is being nice, you may have to settle for a split second of good behavior initially, and work up from there. She will learn that fits and poop consumption don't get her out. When you get her poty schedule figured out try to time these sessions when she is less likely to poop.
If you switch her to raw she will poop about 1/4 what she is on kibble, which will help with the yuck factor.

At night you could sprinkle a few treats in the dark yard so that she finds them when she goes out in the dark yard. Also take her out at dusk several times and try to stay (with treats) until after dark, keep it short and fun and work her up to longer fun times in the dark.

You can probably leave her out of the crate longer than 20 min at this age, be sure that you take her back out for a chance to potty before you lock her up again.

I prefer the plastic crates over the wire ones, because they can't vacuum things into it, they are also more likely to feel safe in it, they are easier to clean. You could try laying your scent article just in front of the crate, she will still be able to smell it but can't destroy it.
Also try giving her the filled frozen kong in her crate to keep her busy.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm so glad to have a resource and know that I'm doing the right things. Connie, I do have her "papers" from the breeder for registering if that helps anything.

I will give thought to a plastic crate. Another question comes to mind...that I saw posted here. What about a "drag line"? What's the difference between that and being tethered? It would seem to me that if she is tethered to me at all times, her separation anxiety would be worse when I do leave.

I have, up until now, put her in her crate, in the bathroom with me when I shower, etc. I will put her in her crate this time and check on her when I'm done. Only about 15 minutes. Maybe a good way to start.

Thanks again, and I look forward to your comments and suggestions!

"Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm so glad to have a resource and know that I'm doing the right things. Connie, I do have her "papers" from the breeder for registering if that helps anything"

Puggles are mixed breed dogs, and are not eligible for registration with any major kennel club. The AKC, the UKC, the NKC, The CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) .
Not yet anyways.

 Quote: jennifer langer

What about a "drag line"? What's the difference between that and being tethered? It would seem to me that if she is tethered to me at all times, her separation anxiety would be worse when I do leave.

A drag line is for handy grabbing when you are in the middle of teaching doorbell behavior, etc. It's very handy, but not so great for the beginnings of housetraining. You need to have her where she cannot get out of your sight and go indoors without being taken outside, where she can be marked, praised, rewarded, for outdoor potty.

Breathe.

The fastest way to the successful end of the the whole housetraining thing is calmness and zero frustration.

Trust me: I'm not minimizing it. I have trained dogs who lived outdoors for 7+ years before coming to me. The worst setbacks come from giving in to impatience and frustration (which everyone does -- but the less, the better).

No, I don't think tethering will make the separation anxiety worse. She must always be really close anyway, right? You don't let an unhousetrained puppy loose around the house.

You're right, I don't let her loose around the house unless I can see her. Should I trade toys for the tether when she is chewing on it or let her chew on it until it's no fun anymore? I saw someone recommend sour apple, maybe I'll give that a try. How long should the tether be? Should it be the same as her leash for going outside?

Today we are going to try leaving the house for a few minutes, coming back in when she's quiet. No production when leaving. Hopefully she doesn't poop in the crate. So messy to clean up. If she does poop, should I take her out, clean up the mess and put her back in so she doesn't think that's how she gets out of the crate?

I'm trying to be patient...she's just a baby...I can't wait for her to have all her shots and have the go ahead for puppy classes, and walks outside. I think it will help.

As for the collar, right now she has on a small nylon collar. She doesn't know to come when I put gentle pressure on the leash. She pulls right back.

We are treating for Giardia with 7 days of Panacur. She's getting 2ml 1 time daily for 7 days. We are on day 5. That's why the poop eating thing is so bad. She's re-infecting herself when she does it...so I've had to be around 24/7 to clean up after her.

Could I put her pen outside on the patio for a little outside time? There isn't anything she could eat/dig/etc and it wouldn't be the end of the world if she pooped or peed in there. Maybe that would help with the outside sounds and smells.

Thanks again...keep the good advice coming. I'm going to order the DVD, and ebook. I tried Puppies for Dummies...to no avail.

She is eligible for American Canine Hybrid Club. Her papers are for that. Mom is a purebread Beagle and dad is a purebread Pug.

This is a new video that will help a lot, Pack Structure for the Family Pet

it's been finished and is being pressed into dvds as I type this

http://leerburg.com/308.htm