I have a dog that hates going outdoors. I adopted him from the local humane society and I have reasons to believe that he was abused judging by his extremely abnormal behavior. Taking my dog outdoors is like a punishment to him, and whenever I get the leash he runs and hides (under the bed, under the couch). My dog is assumed to be somewhere around 8 or 9 months old. He is a mixed Chihuahua likely with a terrier (maybe a Jack Russell). I've tried a lot of different things. I've tried giving him treats outside (he won't take them), toys outside (he still barely plays as-is).
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Poor little thing looks so sad.
I have a Chihuahua also, 16 years old. They are not usually timid animals as they think they are big dogs.
Mine loves to go outside but I do keep potty pads down for her to use. I think they have to go more often than the bigger breeds. She will jump down and use the potty pads during the night.
Hi Gillian,
The little guy is precious and you are an angel for giving him a loving home.
Does he like to go for walks? My two rescue Doberkids (who are indoor dogs) are afraid of rain, so merely letting them out back for potty breaks won't always work. If I get the leashes out they get all excited and out the front door we go. They will do their business and seem to forget that its raining. lol
Meanwhile, like the first response stated you might want to get potty pads for the middle of the night or until he understands the routine.
He could have a fear of the outdoors for a good reason, you might want to check with the humane society and your vet to see if they have any suggestions as to how to housebreak him.
God Bless and good luck.
Jennifer
Northern Virginia
Why not try to litter box train him? Obviously something major happened to cause this and I'm not sure if I would force the issue.
Hello,
Awww. your furbaby looks so sad and confused. I would make sure that he knows that he has a great new home and has lots of love. Give him time to adjust. Maybe he thinks you are going to leave him outside? and it makes him scared? Stay out with him and then bring him back in with you. Try and play with him outside. Go out with him even if it is not time to go potty. Good luck Hugs to your baby
I have read about litter training smaller dogs- that might work with your lil one.
Check out ugodog.net. They have a fairly cheap environmentally safe setup.
The potty pads work well. They have a scent on them that dogs recognize. I put my datsun's pad in the bathroom. In the case of your baby Put the puppy pad in the room that he currently goes in. Every day move it a little closer to where you want him to go and he will follow. Only move it a tiny bit each time.
Also about him going out doors, have you ever taken him out and hold him real securely and sit out 1st time about 5 minutes, then 10 minutes and when he appears to be comfortable then when you feel he is adapting this way, then sit on the ground with him so on and so on and so on.
Poor baby. He looks so sad. I found that an abused dog often responds positively if you get down on the floor eye to eye with him, instead of looming over him. It takes a while for them to regain some trust in us humans. Poor sweet dear.
I actually go and sit with him outside and encourage him and pet him and wait with him - I NEVER leave him alone. Also, he won't use a leash, therefore, he will not go on walks.
As far as potty pads go - I've tried them. They don't work. In fact, he just rips them up and shreds them instead of actually using them.
I included a picture of him in his halloween costume
I experienced the same thing with a Chihuahua/ Rat Terrier Mix. I put him on a dog leash/run. At first he was scared to death. But I only left him on there for short periods of time. But after about a week, he was fine and doing his business. It is their nature to relieve themselves when they go outside. They just need a quiet place and time to get used to it. He is my Baby and never is left outside. But now he enjoys his outside time. Sherry
Maybe if you take him outside, carry him in your arms , and just walk aroud the yard and baby talk to him, tell him what a great puppy he is, put a blanket on the ground and hold him close to you. Does he have a favorite toy ? take it outside with you and just hold them both. Does he have a favorite treat? take that with you also and give him one or 2. Something really bad must have scard the heck out of him outside. He looks so sad. Has he had other owners before you?
We have a Jack Russell that refuses to let us know when he has to go. If we get him outside at the exact right time and leave him there long enough, he will go outside. Otherwise, he waits to come in and use the puppy pad (he's 2!). He doesn't go at night, tho, because we have him crate trained. If you get a crate that's the right size - large enough for the dog but not too big - they usually won't go in their crate if it is small enough that they can't get away from their eliminations - that might work for night times. I thought crates were cruel until we got our Lab - now I will crate-train any dogs we get - they have somewhere they consider "safe" and their area and we don't have to worry about them at night or when we are gone. Just give him lots of love - he looks like he needs it!
Some of you may snicker but I have seen this work with insecure animals. If your little guy is so afraid of the outside, you may want to watch curbside for someone throwing out a longer needed stroller. Put the little guy in it with one of his favorite chewie toys or blankie and take him walking. If he feels secure in it, he'll go anywhere you push him. Start with inside the house. Walk for a bit then take him out to 'play', then put him back in to walk. Little by little, he'll find confidence in both you and the stroller. Fear is a terrible thing to get past, for any of us. Good luck..
I have a 6 mo female, sophie, she is afraid to go outside. I have been trying to potty train her to use a puppy pad in the shower. She does real well at night but not so good during the day. We have a doggie door. Sophie will not go outside using the doggie door but if we put her outside she will come in the doggie door. I have tried to leave her outside (the first time 2 hours). She had not gone potty all night and she never went until we let her in the house. I do not know how to house break her. we can not get her leash train and she will not stay outside long enough to pee and poop. Any suggestion would be great. I do not believe in physical punishment. She is so sweet and very loveable. I am worried about my very expensive carpet. Please help.
In answer to your question about lead training your dog I have a suggestion you might like to try. I got a rescue dog, border collie 1 year old. When I got her she was so affraid to go out that also when I brought the lead out she ran for cover. I discovered that if I fed her and had my leash ready in hand she would eat and then let me put the leash on her. As for the peeing inside. I was taking a puppy pad out with me so she knew it was not just for playtime. After 2 weeks I took her out she done her "business" and then I gave her a treat and we played. A chew stick was what I enticed her back on to the lead. I know longer have to take treats out with me and its now just her stick when we come home. Hope this helps and good luck and remember consistency is the key
He is such a cute little guy and he looks like he has been so abused. My heart goes out to him and to you for rescueing him. There are so many things that could have gone wrong with him- attacked by a larger dog, whipped with a leash, choke chain etc. Does he have a snuggly blankie or stuffed animal? I would definitely do the crate training method. He just looks like he needs to have a safe spot of his own and his crate would provide that. I think that once he gets over some of his fears, he will be easier to housetrain. His mix of breeds are both smart dog breeds and I think he is just too scared and shy to do what you want him to do. You also didn't say how long you have had him. Could it be that he is still trying to get used to his surroundings and figure things out? There are alot of online resources to help with housetraining tips. Good luck with him. He has such bright intelligent eyes that he looks like he will make a wonderful companion when you get him over this.
Everyone has given you great ideas, just love him and let him know you are there for him. Just like children who have been abused or abandoned, he has to trust you before he can come out of his shell. If you keep your voice even and don't yell, he may respond better. Lots of time and love is what your little fellow needs. Good luck, and he is lucky to have someone who wants to do the right thing for him.
Hi I got a Jack Russell Terrier (Cookie) in Ozark, Missouri. Cookie hadbeen left in a kennel in an empty
apt. with no food or water and she was in there for over
2 weeks. She was about 1 yr. old, skin and bones at 6 pounds.She was terrified of every noise, shadow etc. It really just took love and lots of patience. Cookie had that sad look but now is a happy puppy she is very mellow for a Jack Russell but she is happy. She has been with me for 2 years now weighs 17 pounds and is healthy and happy.Sometimes in the middle of sleeping she will cry out and I just hold her and then she snuggles back and goes to sleep again. I think they really do remember bad times. It just takes time for that trust to kick in. It seems you are very patient and your pup will see that and feel that hopefully soon.
The costume is adorable. Oh my little yorkie liked to be carried around as a pup. I would put him in a scarf and walk around with him and he loved it seemed to calm him down.I also leave cartoons on the tv when I have to crate the doggies, they seem to enjoy the cheerful noises from tv.My dogs also did not understand training pad they chewed and ripped them up. How about a cat box for nightime pee? Since its a little dog it might work.
And do crate it place dog in kennel they feel safe and secure in there. Or use a box with a blankie in it and he can feel safe in it and take him out to pee.The yorkie I trained every time he would start to pee I would rush him to the grass he hated it but learned. He was stubborn. Good luck.
Annie
Hallsville, MO
I agree with the kenneling (crating) idea. I kennel all my dogs and is has controlled the potty accidents nicely. As far as the "won't go potty outside" goes, I all-too-well understand that one! I have two Italian Greyhounds (toy breeds) who when I take them out to go potty when it's raining outside they look at my and go: "I can hold it!" LOL!
And I am going to sound like a mean grinch here, but it's not their choice at this point. Right now they are saying "I don't want to go outside" despite the fact that you know they have to go potty... so basically what it is is a battle of wills, they are testing you (in a way) to see who is dominant.
You know if you don't make them go outside, then they will just go potty inside. In my house that is not allowed so rain or snow, I put on their sweaters (or coats) and trot them outside, give them the "go potty" command and we wait outside until they go. It took a few tries but my dogs eventually realized that I was the more stubborn and would win because not only do dogs need an Alpha in the pack - they need at all times to know who it is. It is their system of hierarchy, they are always testing boundaries to see where they stand until they learn their place or a new animal joins the pack.
What you might want to consider is using a Wee-Wee Pad (sold at places like Petco) and putting it in the garage (for example) and slowly moving it closer and closer out of the garage until they are going outside and then just remove the Wee-Wee Pad altogether.
Anyways, hope this helps and goodluck!
Katrina
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