Okay, I am having a little problem with my doggy and I need suggestions. My wife leaves for work before I get homeWednesday through Friday. She closes our bedroom door before she goes so he doesn't get into her beanie baby collection. He thinks they're his babies, and likes to chew them (I think it's hillarious). Anyway, he is fully house trained, but has started leaving an occasional poo by thedoor between the time shes leaves and I get home. So, we put up a baby gate to keep him out of the hall that leads up to our bedroom. I came home the other day, and he hadripped up a whole legal pad all over the living room. Sounds like he is having some issues. What shouldwe do? I know there are a few pet behavior specialists on here...

 

Whoop his a$s....

 

+1 /\ any a kenel cab is a good idea to that way when yourwife leaves she can lock the doggy up an then no poo or chewyed up note pads

 

When did it start? Any catalyst that you can think of around the same time he started leaving you "gifts"? Change in work schedules, new family member, arguments over money, whatever? Dogs are pretty perceptive, doesn't take much to get them worked up. Don't make a huge fuss over what he's doing wrong, they still see it as attention. Maybe a quick bad dog and smack on the nose, make sure they see the pile as the bad thing. If he's leaving it by the door, he's obviously trying to take it outside, but without opposable digits that doorknob is the problem. Is the Mrs. letting him out to lay cable before she goes? Could be as simple as that. As far as tearing up ****, does he have toys? Another animal to keep him company?

 

Hes obviously starting to act out. He needs to be held accountable for what he does (****ting on the floor), and rewarded for the things he does good (not ****ting on the floor.) Make sure he has PLENTY of time to do his thing outside before anyone leaves.

 

Oh...very important detail I left out. We have a doggy door that leads to the backyard. He has NO reason to poop inside. He NEVER goes potty inside when we are home. I am thinking it is a separation/boredom thing? When ever I see the poop and I raise my voice a little, he gets all squirley and submissive like dogs do when they know they did something wrong.

 

My dog ****s on the floor, all i do is give her a look and she knows whats going on. Only time she really couldn't control it is when she was pregnant with her puppies, your dog having a doggy door and still acting out...time for the ol' roll of newspaper and nose to the pile of ****

 

Yeah, if he's got access to the outside and is still making **** inside, he's pissed at you guys for something. Could be as simple as changing his food or as problematic as separation anxiety. Next Qhow old is he? My shepherd is almost 11 now, she needs more time outside due to "old woman bladder"

 

He just turned a year old. I don't know how to fix anxiety in a dog. Before I got a dog, I would havethought a person was an idiotfor worrying about a dog's "anxiety"...now I get it, though.

 

Chill out dude ... in the end it is a dog we are talking about. Their emotions consist of "can I eat it?" and "can I hump it?". I love dogs and cannot imagine life without one. Have run the gamut with them ... from class 'A' intelligent to stick their nose in an ant bed stupid (was a beagle).

You know your dog better than us so the cure for his problem is your best judgment. If he responds to a rolled up paper, harsh talk and a nose full of **** then that is a legitimate tactic. Our current canine is a border collie mix and he will not respond to punishment ... only praise after good behavior. Sometimes a mix of punishment and reward/praise works.

I suggest getting a doggy cage and locking him up until you get home ... then let him out and when/if he takes a dump outside praise him. And by praise I don't just mean saying "good boy" and leaving it at that. Our dog loves to play fetch with a tennis ball ... by love I mean the bastard practically goes berserk if you say "ball". So if he exhibits desirable behavior he gets a "good boy" and we play ball for a while.