or, perhaps, badly housebroken. we just got s 6 year old border collie fro a rescue. she is a wonderful dog and is getting along great with our 8 year old bcx.

she is watched constantly, let out frequently, and crated at night and when we are not home, so we've only had a few accidents.

each time i took the poop or pee soaked paper towel outside and showed her, and praised her, but she seemed fearful.

i've tried to catch her going outside and praise her, but she becomes fearful. so i try to keep it low key. i suspect she was spanked for going potty in the house, and i think the message she got is people don't like it when she goes potty. anywhere.

she does not "ask" to go out. (neither does our other dog; we just let her out a lot.)

at 5 am this morning i heard her crying; i rushed downstairs only to find that i was too late. for the first time she had pooped, a lot,(not diarrhea though) in her crate.

i do think a vet visit is in order, although i do not think it is a health issue.

any suggestions. we love this dog; she is an excellent dog in every other way, although she lacks confidence.

It does sound like she was incorrectly housetrained the first time since she shows fear when praised outside. I personally would NOT take the paper towel outside and show her - this is just going to reinforce the fact that pooping/peeing is BAD.

I'd go back to square one with this dog and ONLY give her the opportunity for success. If that means setting your alarm clock every four hours at night or getting up an hour early - then that is what has to be done for a while. She should be teatherd to you when in the house and out of her crate and also taken outside every few hours or so. Just like a pup...

IF she does have an accident in the house, roll up a magazine and smack yourself upside the head a few times for not getting her out in time.

Calm, quiet praise - just a "good girl" in a normal voice when she goes outside - no parties.

How long ago is "just got" her?

Kudos for rescueing her, btw!

"IF she does have an accident in the house, roll up a magazine and smack yourself upside the head a few times for not getting her out in time. "

LOL!!!!

we got her at the end of november. i am recovering from an ankle injury and so i've just been letting her out instead of walking her, but i'm better now so should be able to get out with her.

what a gorgeous gsd in your photo! our dear old max passed away some years ago and i sure do miss him. they are great dogs.

I'm 100% with Barbara. No paper towel with pee .... doesn't mean anything but negative vibes for the dog, IMO.

She needs never to be in the position of not having to have an accident, and if you ever screw up, nothing happens but cleaning it up and taking her out.

"Calm, quiet praise - just a "good girl" in a normal voice when she goes outside" ... yup!

I would start an immediate log of how her poop time relates to her feeding time so adjustments can be made and 5 a.m. won't be a usual "I gotta go, REAL BAD" time for her.

And walking her will make such a difference, because when you have her poop schedule sussed out, you will know when to go out walking and get her peristalsis going.


eta
There's really nothing like adopting an adult or senior who needs a home. I know now (in my aged-ness ... lol) that it's a whole lot of joy and satisfaction for BOTH of us in it, and in fact I probably get the big half.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (01/09/2011 04:19 PM)
Edit reason: eta

Bless you for adopting this older dog!!! AND being willing to work through her problems!!!!!

I have nothing to add.. the advice you got was spot on. I just wanted to give YOU a little praise for doing a good deed

--Kel

aw. thanks, but it's the rescue people and annie, the dog, who did the good deed. poor lizzie, our bcx, was so sad when her dear friend gwendo died and having annie around has perked her up considerably. she has perked all of us up.

 Quote: barbara rudquist

what a gorgeous gsd in your photo!

Thank you! I think he is handsome too, but more importantly, he is teaching me a lot.

Also wanted to add, ditto on what Kelly said.

How's it going, Barbara?

i haven't been able to walk her much due to my ankle, but i have been watching her like a hawk and there have been no more accidents, so far. i haven't tethered her but she is never left alone. which is easy; she is a velcro dog. i have been getting up in the middle of the night or very early to let the dogs out every night. this morning it was 5 am. not really a big deal for me as i am usually up by 6.

thinking back, the night she pooped her crate she was fed fairly late. now we have a rule that dogs must be fed by 6pm. also, we increased her breakfast and decreased her dinner.

as far as her general attitude: she is getting a bit more confident. more playful. very eager to learn new things. her sit/stay has really improved. she is eager to please.

i hope we can really nail this down by summer and start transitioning out of the crate.should be a little easier because i will be able to walk more and i won't have to dress like a eskimo every time i go out!

Good job, Barbara!