Expert: Karen Brittan - 10/27/2009

Question
HI, I have adopted a miniature poodle from the shelter. We got her since she was really good with my children, 4 years and 8 months old. They hugged her, gently grabbed at her and she simply wagged and licked. We picked her up yesterday after getting spayed. She will not eat, she drinks occasionally, and she has snap at my 4 year old. She was so nice with my husband at the shelter, but now she will snap and bark at him. I have been trying to walk her and have her urinate and poop outside, I walked her 4 times yesterday and 3 times today so far with no avail. She has urinated twice inside. I have cleaned the area with pinesol and water, and a "eliminating pet odor" product as well with doggy pads. I really do not want to send her back to the shelter but if she keeps up with these behaviors, it must happen. BTW, she has been very good with me. HELP!

Answer
Spaying is a very major surgery, and she undoubtedly is in some pain. Did they give you some pain pills for her? (I certainly would not have made it through my hysterectomy without pain pills!) I would keep her in a crate for a few days so she can rest, taking her only out to potty. Do not allow her to do any jumping, and carry her up and down any stairs until she is feeling better. She must be allowed to recover from her surgery before anything else!

Certainly do not let her have run of the house if she has not pottied outside! Pretend that you just brought home a new puppy and start housebreaking her accordingly. At this point, she has no clue as to your family's schedule or "where the door is".... and she is under a LOT of stress due to being rehomed, the surgery, and... well, you get the idea. Keep a journal of her potty habits so that you have a better idea of when she needs to go outside.
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/housebreaking.html

I would also feed her in her crate, and have water available in there for her. You can buy a  bucket or bowl for water that can hang on the crate door. Definitely keep the children away from her until she is feeling a bit better (at least a week, if not two). Just be sure to have a LOT of patience with this dog; she will come around with time and a lot of loving.

Here is an article I wrote on rehoming older dogs... some of this I learned the hard way, unfortunately, when I placed dogs with people whom I thought had more intelligence that they ultimately demonstrated. One of those dogs still lives with me, and will have a home here until he dies. http://britmorschnauzers.com/rehoming.html

Once the dog starts feeling better and starts coming around, start practicing "Nothing in Life is Free" with her. Everyone in the family must work on this, including the children (the older one should be able to do some of this). Basically, the dog must work for everything she wants... petting, treats, etc. http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm It wouldn't hurt to get her into some obedience classes, too, once she is settled in and comfortable with the family. Have hubby and older child take turns feeding the dog so that she gets used to them.

Good luck with this, and.... patience, PATIENCE.