I have a two year old Shih Tzu that is an angel when I am home. The second I leave, she uses my floor as her bathroom, and destroys everything. I could even take her out right before, but she will "save" enough to show me she's mad. The worst part is that she knows she's done something wrong because she hides when I come home. She also only goes in the same stop, in front of my bedroom door. I really don't want to start with the crate again because she barks so much when I put her in it. I don't know what to do now.
By Julie from Chicago
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I can assure you that the dog is hiding but not because she knows she did her business in the house. It is because she senses you are angry.
I would have her checked by a veterinarian first and then focus on crate training her. You really don't want to shut a dog up in a room like a bathroom. Try a wire dog crate, where she can see around her. She has seperaton anxiety which will cause her to go to the bathroom. She only relaxes more then likely when you are home. Here are some dog training links that I am sending for you to use...Let me know if I can help you further, write to me anytime.
The second link is a German Shepherd training specialist but the info can be applied to any dog....
leerburg.com/
Another site:
www.gashihtzu.com/
I hope this helps~ Let me know if it doesn't and I can help you find something that will or advise you about finding a rescue group. Thanks, Robyn
She may have a mild form of separation anxiety. We had a lot of trouble with our two-year-old American Eskimo. We felt bad leaving her in a crate, so we let her stay out. She peed on the floor, got in the trash, everything. She would hide when we came home because she just knew she was in trouble. We talked to a lady at the local clinic and they told us she had the symptoms of S.A.
My little Lucy would poop on the floor only when I left home also. She sometimes would take one slipper and leave it in the middle of the floor of the living room. It wasn't chewed or wet, just left there. I think they do these things to let you know they aren't happy. All I could think of to do was crate her when I left.
Here is a website for you to visit
Cesar Millan is great with dogs and I am sure he has so hints for you. I watch him all the time on National Geographic and he does wonders with dogs. They call him the Dog Whisperer. He will teach you how to become the Pack Leader.
The best thing you can do is take the dog for a 4 hour run (that's what Cesar does) then they are too tired to do mischief. I have a little rescue Yorkie that was eating my tables and the tiles off the floor. I did buy a crate and he is it in when I go to work.
Crate train your dog. Put her in her crate when she's gone--no messes, no destroyed items. Your dog is bored and trying to find something to do. Our dogs are always crated when we leave. The crate is also their 'safe' spot they can go to anytime when they feel the need.
Get a second dog. Having company might be the answer. GG Vi
My dog hated the airline crate but does well in a wire crate, a much more open feeling. She goes right to sleep and when I get home at noon to take her out to relief, she acts like I woke her up. Cesar is right, dogs are really made for running half the day, so find out about day boarding and get the discount on multiple days.
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