Expert: Christine (Chris) Vassonei, APDT - 7/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: This was my question in April...
"my cockapoo is 1.5 years old...i adopted him @ 9 months. he was not housebroken. i thought the training worked...until the last few weeks ago. he pee-ed (on kitchen floor) twice & deposited a tiny poo (in his crate) while left alone for a few hours. he has gone 8 hours without an accident many times. then he peed sometime during the night. i am taking him out every few hours, giving him plenty of exercise. any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks so much"

I followed the advise, there are no medical problems & from the training classes, he is totally obedient on leash, going in and out of doors, etc. (I have been working on obedience training from the start) I should mention he also has separation anxiety & is very shy with other dogs & people, so I have been working on that too.
I read the articles you linked to your 7/3 housebreaking question.
Last nite, my cockapoo pooped all over the living room in the middle of the nite...he had been out just before bedtime. I tried crate training for 6 months months... he gets himself so worked up (trying to bite & claw his way out) that I am afraid he will break his teeth. I have bells by the door that he occassionally remembers to use (I remind him every time I take him out, if he doesn't ring it)...this morning he simply sat by the door to go out (this was before I discovered the poop in the living room). His bed is in the bedroom & I can keep the bedroom door closed at nite, (although this throws off the air conditioning), but in the past he has also peed in the bedroom, so that doesn't seem like a solution.
Also, I just started using a "belly band"... if I am going to be gone for several hours. He did pee once through the band and there was a puddle on the floor...a few weeks ago and nothing since....but I haven't left him for several hours either.
He has a routine, gets lots of exercise, he is praised lavishly & rewarded when going outside...I have been doing this consistently for a year...where am I going wrong?
Thank you...I am feeling so desperate.
ps the handle on the basket in the photo is no longer there..a casualty from his separation anxiety.

ANSWER: I think trying to address these problems through email exchanges and give adequate assistance may be rather difficult. I think perhaps you might benefit more if you worked with a trainer in your area.  If you give me your city, state, and zip code, I will try to find some names to send you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Chris,
I am in Sacramento, CA... I have consulted with my vet, the SPCA (training & a behaviorist) & a few trainers. I would appreciate a housebreaking expert.
Thank you.

Answer
Here are some documents pertaining to sep anxiety:

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/sep-anxiety.pdf
http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/Behavior/Handouts/SeparationAnxietyShortRx.pdf
http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/Behavior/Handouts/Anxiety.pdf

Unfortunately, I only find 2 trainers in Sacramento who are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, one of which is the SPCA.  That information is listed below.  But I also found that this link; you might try contacting the University to see if they have any suggestions:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAB/behaviorproblems.html




Sacramento SPCA
Val Masters, CDBC, CPDT   Sacramento, CA
95829    
Web: www.sspca.org
Services: Dog training classes for puppies/adults, including classes for small breeds; private consultations for behavior issues, including aggression  

Big Dog Pet Sitting and Dog Training
Katee James   Sacramento, CA
95829    
Web: www.bigdogpets.com
Services: Obedience training and behavioral problems.  


THIS LINK IS TO THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR CONSULTANTS in California:
http://www.iaabc.org/suchen/display_consultant.php