Morgan and Jack
Ok gang. It is time to put our heads together and figure out what we can do concerning Morgan's potty difficulties. Claudia and Amanda have been so patient with me and I am at my wits ends trying to figure out how to help this ole gal realize that the house is not the place to urinate and deficate! It is a REAL problem . Morgan literally cringes when I tell her it is time to go outside to do her business. Its almost as if she has decided that the house is the only place to go. Needless to say, I am at my wits end trying to figure out what the problem is and how I can help her resolve it. There is an animal behavioralist at the University and my daughter suggested that maybe we should concult her and see if she could think of anything that we have notdone. Before we do that, any suggestions that all of you could give me would be most appreciated. Claudia has been a saint trying to help me figure this out. Morgan did not display this behavior at Claudia's and Jim's. I am beginning to tear my hair out trying to resolve this issue. Morgan has come a long way, but as you can imagine, this is a BIG problem and we definitely have to find an answer to it. I crated Morgan this evening in a plastic crate while Barb and I went out to dinner. She broke out of the crate and then went all over the house and peed and deficated. Sigh. She can not use a metal crate because of her former life at a puppy-type mill. She was forced to breed for 6 years poor dear. As Amanda stated, she has come a long way since we brought her home, but of course this behavior is making it so we can't find joy in every day we are together. For her sake and mine we must find a solution. What am I doing or not doing? This really has me stumpted.
Thanks so much.
Lin
5 Comments:
Hi Lin,
This is probably not helpful, but TJ pooped in the house because we do not have a doggie door like his foster mom did. Did Claudia have a doggie door?
What has changed from the foster yard to your yard. Can you duplicate it somehow to some extent.
Why can't you use a wire crate with a great mattress? Taylorsue hated the plastic because she could not see out.
What about puppy pads (scented) for just outside the house and maybe putting her potty samples on the pad for a start.
I really feel for you and hope you don't think these comments are dumb, but just trying..........
I have fostered puppymill dogs and they did just fine in a metal crate.
What if you just walked outside with her and not mentioned "potty" and let her sniff around. Take her out every couple of hours though the same door until she learns where to go.
It does sound like some separation anxiety and a behaviorist might help.
Sorry, Jackie about the doggie door! But it was the best thing we did!
Terri
I think Jackie's suggestions are wonderful. Trying to duplicate the potty structure from the foster home until the dog adapts to your house may make the transition easier.
Bacari was leashed to potty for so many years that he did not know what to do when we finally got a fence. I still had to take him on his nightly walk to do his business for a few weeks before he finally got the idea that he could poop in the back yard.
Morgan is a smart girl and you are one dedicated owner. I know this will have a happy ending. Maybe some of the other families who have adopted had to deal w/ potty issues and can offer additional suggestions.
Amanda
if yard fenced in you sit all day and walk with treats and lots pats on head for doing whats good. Not fenced in put on leash long walks every day 3-4 times a day.. And a create can be done you must show her this is good thing to going in (must start when you are home) not as a get in I'm leaving.. We people think that you can't do because of past-- you are new life new eveything (good). every day well pay off LOTS LOVE kisssss will do it /with good treats
What worked for me was to physically take Curtis out on a leash with lots of treats. We walked the yard with a cue word "go potty" sometimes for hours until he went. Then it was HUGE praise and treats. You may have to do this every hour until she starts using the yard but it will pay off. The trick is to never give Morgan the opportunity to potty in the house. Her world needs to be very very small until she is not having accidents in the house. Use baby gates to keep her in one area where you can watch her like a hawk and get her outside as soon as you see her looking like she has to go. If it is easier, you can use a leash to keep her near you in the house all the time. If she is adverse to going outside, you'll need to make it seem like the best place in the world to be by using yummy treats to lure her out. Keep your attitude light and happy, "Wanna go for a walk" in a happy voice. As for the crate, again, you'll need to make it a great place to be and start when you are in the house. A Knog filled with cheese will help too. Do it for 5 minutes and work up to longer periods when you are there with her. Eventually she will learn that the crate is a good place to be. You can also put the crate in a smaller room so if she breaks out, she does not have run of the house. Pretend that Morgan is a puppy and treat her pottying as such. She needs to learn all about housebreaking as if she was a young dog. Hope this helps.
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