behavior problems-NOT COOL!

[Xander's Mom]

Xander has been having a 'pee' problem lately. (vet checked and its not a UTI) He will pee ANYWHERE! If he needs to go-he will. Even in his crate. The weather has been nice, so his crate was moved to the screened porch for easier cleanup. There isn't anything physically wrong w/ him, but we are back to square one w/ crate training. (and house training!) For a 10month old dogs-isn't this strange? SO....

Tonight we were cuddled on the couch watching House and when we got up for bed I done the 'smoochie-face' thing and gave shotgun kisses. Its annoying-I know, But HE SNAPPED AT ME! He has always been passive and easy going. If anyone has the anger issues its Bailey. (shes spoiled!) I don't think he was trying to hurt me, but it was a shock just the same.

So my question is could the pee thing and the snapping be related? Maybe hes going thru the 'teen' stuff you guys are always talking about? Could he be questioning the 'alpha dog' status we have set? Any tips would be nice. Thanks guys, I've always valued the opinions of my fellow boxer owners.

 

[gmacleod]

With the snapping - well, that actually sounds justified to me. What signals was he giving you before then that he was uncomfortable? Did you notice them? You didn't listen to them And you really should, you know. Because otherwise you're giving your dog no choice but to escalate his response.

It's just like if you continuously poke a person. Probably they scowl at you a bit. Tell you to quit. Tell you again. Then, when you still don't back off, they yell at you. Well, your dog just yelled at you.

I don't think you can possibly say that this is some sort of "dominance" testing. It's a natural response to an annoying situation that doesn't stop on polite request. You could say that perhaps now that he's no longer a baby he's less willing to put up with that sort of thing beyond the point of irritation. You might even speculate reasons why he might be a little shorter-than-usual tempered that particular day. But it really would just be speculation. And doesn't change the fact that the response is a justified one.

Anyway - the answer there is to pay attention to your dog's body signal. It doesn't mean don't ever give him kisses. But if you're getting any signal at all that the dog is uncomfortable, or when you KNOW you're being annoying - back off at the first polite request. Then he won't have to escalate to yelling

As for the peeing - how long is he typically crated? If there is no physical problem, then it sounds mostly like a dog who is losing inhibition about peeing in his crate. And that, in turn, usually happens when peeing is the less "evil" option to the discomfort of holding on. Gradually, of course, he becomes less concerned with having to sit in it, so the length of time he'll hold on reduces. The only real solution is back to potty training 101 for babies - meaning frequent (eg. hourly) potty breaks.

 

[Erin Mohl]

Pee Pee

Xanders Mom-

I was reading the forums and I ran across this one. Our Jack started to do the same thing with the peeing. It was warm out and I too put his crate out on the screened in porch. The inside (house) door was open so he could go out onto the porch and get into his house. Then he started to pee out there, and then it escalated much the same way you mentioned. We too went to the vet. No problems. Then it hit me...

The only thing I could come up with is that it was, at first, association. I think that Jack associated the 'outdoors' with peeing. Therefore when he went out onto the porch, it looks like outside, it sounds like outside, and SMELLS like outside. Thus the pee was on. Then the crate came into play. Being 'Outside', it too became associated as such and became another place to pee. Our solution was to bring the crate in and brush up on the basics of potty time. It only took about 2-3 days and we were back to normal. Hope this helps...GOOD LUCK!

 

[Xander's Mom]

We moved the crate outside b/c of the peeing....It was easier clean. The porch is screened (w/ celing fans I am leaving on for him) and it is like a seperate room of the house. He may associate it w/ being outdoors, but its not the cause.

 

[MoxieFawnGrl]

That must have been upsetting when your baby snapped at you. I haven't had my first girl for very long (about a year) but I got her at 10 months from a rescue group. She definitely tested her limits. From what I understand, you should be able to do ANYTHING (except abuse/pain) to your dog without a reaction. They can feel how you feel and you were showing love with your kisses so I don't think it was warranted. At 10 months, he is going through the teen stage and is trying to show dominance and test his limits. Did he think you were trying to get him off the couch to go to bed? I would watch him and make sure he knows that you are the alpha. This is the time to be the most diligent with your discipline and maybe even try "Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF)" so he can't get anything on his terms. I make my girl wait after I put her dinner down until I say "okay" to eat. Walks are on a reg. leash at a heel, etc... (I was using the retractable before) Some dogs need more structure than others and you don't want it to escalate. The behavorist I am working with seems to think that establishing the alpha role helps many of the dog issues. I am still working on that one, too and have a long way to go.

I just noticed that you posted on 9/26. Have you had any more problems?

Good luck.

 

[Xander's Mom]

That must have been upsetting when your baby snapped at you. I haven't had my first girl for very long (about a year) but I got her at 10 months from a rescue group. She definitely tested her limits. From what I understand, you should be able to do ANYTHING (except abuse/pain) to your dog without a reaction. They can feel how you feel and you were showing love with your kisses so I don't think it was warranted. At 10 months, he is going through the teen stage and is trying to show dominance and test his limits. Did he think you were trying to get him off the couch to go to bed? I would watch him and make sure he knows that you are the alpha. This is the time to be the most diligent with your discipline and maybe even try "Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF)" so he can't get anything on his terms. I make my girl wait after I put her dinner down until I say "okay" to eat. Walks are on a reg. leash at a heel, etc... (I was using the retractable before) Some dogs need more structure than others and you don't want it to escalate. The behavorist I am working with seems to think that establishing the alpha role helps many of the dog issues. I am still working on that one, too and have a long way to go.

I just noticed that you posted on 9/26. Have you had any more problems?

Good luck.

No not really. The snapping thing came to a halt. I'm not sure why he did, I mostly think he was annoyed. I know he wasn't meaning to harm me. I am just re-enforcing my alpha role b/c I am almost positive it is the teen stage. The crate thing is, however, still an issue...I have no clue what to do about that. It's like hes refusing to hold it. I have went back to step one-as Gweneth (sp?) said, and it's like he 'knows' that if he pees I'll let him out to clean it up. Anyway we are slowly working on it. Thanks for asking tho