Hi,
I'm new here, but I'll try to pitch in and help with other problems if I can. Here's mine.
My foster dog, Mercy, is an older purebred GSD, probably 7 - 9 yrs. She was a stray for at least a time but was found 9/2007, was treated for HW and lymes 10 - 11/2007. Subsequently adopted out, was returned 1/2008. I took her in as a foster almost two weeks ago and have seen some interesting behavior. The home she was in was questionable for her, it seems we messed up in placing her with them.
-She's quite attached to me, won't let me leave her sight, will follow everywhere. I know this is normal.
-She's pretty skittish, and seems to not forget much. She hits the deck if I (and especially my husband) look at her funny, and will run scared if I try to grab her by the collar to dry her paws or place her in a spot. To me, she seems to be just scared of getting in trouble. This doesn't seem out of the ordinary to me either, though it sounds like she wasn't showing these behaviors before she was adopted out.
-She eats and drinks normally, and seems to particularly enjoy mealtimes. She eats in her crate (a place she enjoys and considers safe). I'm happy for this.
My problem and things related to it:
-She will wait many hours to pee. 24 hours twice now, and many times >12 hours, too. She will only pee if I walk the yard with her. If I stand on the deck and watch, she will stand four feet from me and wait for me to move. She will only pee if she's not stressed in the least and she will barely leave the deck if I am not out there with her. Pooping is a little better at once a day, mostly.
-I have made peeing (and pooping) the most exciting thing she does in the yard, ignoring every other behavior she gives me (including a perfect recall and sit, darn it).
-I have tried intimidating her a little to keep her away from me, but that obviously didn't work. That was done more out of frustration than anything else. It probably did more damage, I know.
-She's not affected by other dog's pee or her own pee that was done recently.
-She's been to the vet and there are no signs of any medical issues. The vet thinks it's behavioral.
-She hasn't peed in the house or in her crate (that I have found, and I have a good nose and keep her close).
So, am I missing something? I think I'm doing the right thing, but I feel like she's not getting it. Is there another way to get the dog to pee so I can reinforce it so she'll do it more often? Better treats? She seems motivated to be safe, likes treats, and likes me.
Help! I'm going crazy over here.
I'm new here, but I'll try to pitch in and help with other problems if I can. Here's mine.
My foster dog, Mercy, is an older purebred GSD, probably 7 - 9 yrs. She was a stray for at least a time but was found 9/2007, was treated for HW and lymes 10 - 11/2007. Subsequently adopted out, was returned 1/2008. I took her in as a foster almost two weeks ago and have seen some interesting behavior. The home she was in was questionable for her, it seems we messed up in placing her with them.
-She's quite attached to me, won't let me leave her sight, will follow everywhere. I know this is normal.
-She's pretty skittish, and seems to not forget much. She hits the deck if I (and especially my husband) look at her funny, and will run scared if I try to grab her by the collar to dry her paws or place her in a spot. To me, she seems to be just scared of getting in trouble. This doesn't seem out of the ordinary to me either, though it sounds like she wasn't showing these behaviors before she was adopted out.
-She eats and drinks normally, and seems to particularly enjoy mealtimes. She eats in her crate (a place she enjoys and considers safe). I'm happy for this.
My problem and things related to it:
-She will wait many hours to pee. 24 hours twice now, and many times >12 hours, too. She will only pee if I walk the yard with her. If I stand on the deck and watch, she will stand four feet from me and wait for me to move. She will only pee if she's not stressed in the least and she will barely leave the deck if I am not out there with her. Pooping is a little better at once a day, mostly.
-I have made peeing (and pooping) the most exciting thing she does in the yard, ignoring every other behavior she gives me (including a perfect recall and sit, darn it).
-I have tried intimidating her a little to keep her away from me, but that obviously didn't work. That was done more out of frustration than anything else. It probably did more damage, I know.
-She's not affected by other dog's pee or her own pee that was done recently.
-She's been to the vet and there are no signs of any medical issues. The vet thinks it's behavioral.
-She hasn't peed in the house or in her crate (that I have found, and I have a good nose and keep her close).
So, am I missing something? I think I'm doing the right thing, but I feel like she's not getting it. Is there another way to get the dog to pee so I can reinforce it so she'll do it more often? Better treats? She seems motivated to be safe, likes treats, and likes me.
Help! I'm going crazy over here.
