AboutPatti Expertise To date, I've owned 7 dogs, all of which have lived into old age.
Having cared for them in all stages of life, I feel I can offer sound advice to other pet owners, and people considering getting a dog.
I am knowledgeable about the AKC (American Kennel Club) dog breeds, training and exercise, caring for sick and elderly pets, feeding, as well as many holistic treatments pets can benefit from.
My only request is that you write me using standard English and punctuation.
Experience My life experience in this field is more like "on the job training" rather than an actual degree in animal welfare. You may benefit from my experiences over the past 30 years.
Aside from the dogs I've owned, I'm also involved in "breed rescue" and have fostered several dogs, all of which have been adopted to wonderful "forever homes".
I find helping people who want a dog very rewarding.
Question QUESTION: Hi, I have a 6 or 7 year old beagle mix. Hes great! I have had him for just about his whole life. When I first got him we lived in the country, where we put him out on a long leash and he ran around all day. Now I moved to the city and we have to walk him, now we have always had a bit of a problem with him peeing but before we just stuck him out side. Now, I wake up every morning and he just goes in the same spot, and no matter what I do, he won't stop. I tried to put down a bag so if he did go it wouldn't be on the carpet, but he went somewhere else. Please, what do I do?
ANSWER: Hi Willow,
You didn't say how long ago you moved to the city, and if this problem has been going on since you moved. Usually, when a reliably house trained dog starts having accidents in the home, there is a medical reason, such as a urinary tract infection. That's something you may want to have your vet check out. It's also possible the former owners or tenants of where you live now might have had a dog that also marked those areas, and your dog is marking to claim the house as his.
Have you tried containing your dog over night, so your dog won't have access to the areas where he's been soiling? You could use a dog crate (if your dog is crate trained), a child gate or two, or an indoor dog pen (like this one: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16677 )
Lay a thick layer of newspaper down over the entire containment area, so if your dog has an accident, clean-up will be easier.
Clean the areas where your dog has been soiling with an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle or Simple Solutions. These cleaners will help remove odors which might be attracting your dog to mark.
I hope that helps.
Best of luck,
Patti
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QUESTION: I moved him to the city about 2 months ago. I have tried to keep my bedroom door shut at night to keep him in there, but he just starts to bark to go out. I try to put him in his cage, which i put him in when I leave the house, but if he knows we are there, he barks and barks until you let him out. I used soap and water to clean up the mess, and when i have covered the spot, he goes to a different spot. I guess my next step would be to take him to the vet. I was wondering if there were any tricks to get him to be okay in his cage. I made it comfortable with a blanket, but not sure what else there is to do?
Answer
Hi Willow,
Giving your dog the run of your home, isn't the answer if you can't trust him not to mess in your home. He needs to be contained in some way over night and when you aren't able to supervise him.
Your dog has been conditioned to bark when he's crated because he knows if he does, eventually you'll let him out. You shouldn't be letting your dog out of his crate when he barks. It probably will take a while to train him out of this habit, since he's fairly confident by now that his barking works. There isn't a trick to this. If you stick to your guns, and NOT let him out, he WILL learn. Get yourself a pair of ear plugs (seriously!) and ignore your dog when he barks.
You dog isn't barking becuse he's uncomfortable, he's barking because he doesn't want to be in the crate.
Ignore him when he's in his crate. Do not allow him to come out of the crate while he is whining or barking. When your dog is quiet for a couple minutes, reward him with a tasty treat while keeping your behavior low-key and pleasant. (You can toss the treat into the crate from a few feet away.) After your dog has been quiet in the crate, reward him with some time out to play with you.
If your dog whines or barks continuously in the crate, teach him a “quiet” cue. When your dog starts barking or whining, say “quiet” and interrupt his barking by shaking a “shaker can”. (A “shaker can” can be made by filling an empty soda can with a few pennies then taping the top shut.) When your dog is quiet, stop shaking the can immediately and reward him by saying, “good” and giving him a tasty treat. Do not continue to shake the can.
If barking and whining is occurring at night, it might help to move the crate into the bedroom where you are sleeping.
Soap and water will not clean dog urine like the enzymatic cleaners will. Your dog has a much better sense of smell, and soap just doesn't cut it, like an enzymatic cleaner can.
