Unique Housebreaking Problems

LoveLabs · 06-21-2004, 06:35 PM

We have a wonderful one-year-old male Chocolate Labrador. He was rescued from a family that did not train him or spend time with him. He was left in the basement and has not been fully house broken. From what we can gather he became used to going in the basement. Because of our working situation he is left in the basement for several hours a day. At first we left him on his own and found that he continued having problems. We were advised to put him in his cage during the day (No Luck). We have tried another area of the house and feeding him in his cage and none of this has worked.

I have two female Labs that he visits every other week and he is fine all day long in the living area with the other dogs. He wants to do the right thing but we can't seem to get him to pull it together. Positive reinforcement, treats have done nothing.

Taz · 06-21-2004, 06:43 PM

What problems were you having with the crate?

Crate trainning takes some time. Did you try leaving him a Kong filled with peanut butter? How long do you have to leave him durring the day? Maybe you could find a dog sitter/walker to come let him out once during the day.

By the way, thank you for rescuing him. I don't understand why people get dogs they can't take care of

Welcome to GlobalPaw

LoveLabs · 06-22-2004, 07:43 AM

He has been put in the crate for about six months. Yes, when she leaves she puts a kong with peanut butter in the Crate with him. He looks forward to this. She tried feeding him only in the evening he still poops or pees in the cage or in the basement if not in the cage. He is alone for about 6 hours but he is left alone for that length of time with my girls as well and has not problems. Its as if it’s a leaned behavior that we can’t seem to break. She has tried to leave him in the kitchen at her home same result unfortunately.

He is very smart and loving boy who craves attention. He does understand that he can’t do it in the living part of the house when he is with my two female labs. Here he waits until he is let out and does his business and comes right back to the door. He did have some problems initially but has learned as you would expect him to. It appears to me that he has tremendous separation anxiety when left alone, he seems fine when he is with my girls.

Any other ideas?

Taz · 06-23-2004, 08:19 PM

As a last resort, maybe you could try puppy training pads. You can get them at a pet store, and have a scent in them to attract the dog.

If he is going to be in the basement, start by putting one near the bottom of the steps. Gradually move them up the steps, until you can put them outside. Make sure he knows it where it is outside. Maybe some play time outside near the pad might help with that. Give him lots of praise, and treat when he goes outside. After he starts using them outside consistent, you may try cutting them in smaller pieces until you don't need them anymore.

Good luck, let me know how it works.

Lilly'smom · 06-24-2004, 07:40 AM

A friend of mine has a kennel in the basement, with woodchips inside. It won't solve the problem, but maybe it would makes it easier to live with.
Have you tried talking to a behaviorist?

LoveLabs · 06-25-2004, 04:41 PM

I am sorry even though I have had Labs for over 30 years I have never heard of a behaviorist pardon my ignorance. I guess I thought that was only on Sit-coms how do I find one ?

Taz · 06-25-2004, 05:39 PM

Check the phone book, or call local vets or pet stores, they may be able to refer you to a good behaviorist.

Lilly'smom · 06-25-2004, 06:29 PM

Unfortunately they are not on every corner. If you have a Vet. university close to you, they usually have one.
http://animalbehaviorcounselors.org/...counselors.cgi

LoveLabs · 07-14-2004, 05:38 PM

Thanks you all for your help! We are not sure but just by talking it out through this forum we think we might have a solution. It appears that Griff has separation anxiety of a grand nature. He has been fine while at my home with my labs without anyone home. However he has been having big-time trouble in his own home in his crate or out.

Well, for over a week and a half now he has been fine not one accident in the crate. The solution appears to be the addition of some T-shirts worn by my fiancé in the cage with him his Kong filled with peanut-butter. She walks him at night feeds him in the evening and the combination of these elements appears to be the answer.

As you may have read he was rescued from a family that kept him locked in the basement and it appears that this behavior was learned from a very young age. This separation anxiety was so sever that he apparently felt such fear of abandonment that his behavior pooping etc. was the reaction. Now he seems to see that she is coming back for him he is fine. He is such a loving caring dog and a wonderful companion for her that we are truly blessed and is he. My fiancé if 90% deaf and he is a wonderful companion for her. I am just a little bit jealous.

Thanks to all for your information and help through this situation. We hope this is a final step in his house breaking sure looks like it is.

sheltiepups · 07-14-2004, 05:44 PM

Welcome to the forums; I'm glad you found a way to slove your problem! Good Luck!

06-21-2004, 06:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
LoveLabs Labrador Retrievers Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 7 Rep Power: 84	Unique Housebreaking Problems We have a wonderful one-year-old male Chocolate Labrador. He was rescued from a family that did not train him or spend time with him. He was left in the basement and has not been fully house broken. From what we can gather he became used to going in the basement. Because of our working situation he is left in the basement for several hours a day. At first we left him on his own and found that he continued having problems. We were advised to put him in his cage during the day (No Luck). We have tried another area of the house and feeding him in his cage and none of this has worked. I have two female Labs that he visits every other week and he is fine all day long in the living area with the other dogs. He wants to do the right thing but we can't seem to get him to pull it together. Positive reinforcement, treats have done nothing.

06-21-2004, 06:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 98	What problems were you having with the crate? Crate trainning takes some time. Did you try leaving him a Kong filled with peanut butter? How long do you have to leave him durring the day? Maybe you could find a dog sitter/walker to come let him out once during the day. By the way, thank you for rescuing him. I don't understand why people get dogs they can't take care of Welcome to GlobalPaw
	__________________ Money will buy a pretty good dog but it won't buy the wag of his tail. - Josh Billings

06-23-2004, 08:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 98	As a last resort, maybe you could try puppy training pads. You can get them at a pet store, and have a scent in them to attract the dog. If he is going to be in the basement, start by putting one near the bottom of the steps. Gradually move them up the steps, until you can put them outside. Make sure he knows it where it is outside. Maybe some play time outside near the pad might help with that. Give him lots of praise, and treat when he goes outside. After he starts using them outside consistent, you may try cutting them in smaller pieces until you don't need them anymore. Good luck, let me know how it works.
	__________________ Money will buy a pretty good dog but it won't buy the wag of his tail. - Josh Billings

06-24-2004, 07:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lilly'smom Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 99 Rep Power: 85	A friend of mine has a kennel in the basement, with woodchips inside. It won't solve the problem, but maybe it would makes it easier to live with. Have you tried talking to a behaviorist?
Lilly'smom Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 99 Rep Power: 85

06-25-2004, 05:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 98	Check the phone book, or call local vets or pet stores, they may be able to refer you to a good behaviorist.
	__________________ Money will buy a pretty good dog but it won't buy the wag of his tail. - Josh Billings

06-22-2004, 07:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
LoveLabs Labrador Retrievers Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 7 Rep Power: 84	He has been put in the crate for about six months. Yes, when she leaves she puts a kong with peanut butter in the Crate with him. He looks forward to this. She tried feeding him only in the evening he still poops or pees in the cage or in the basement if not in the cage. He is alone for about 6 hours but he is left alone for that length of time with my girls as well and has not problems. Its as if it’s a leaned behavior that we can’t seem to break. She has tried to leave him in the kitchen at her home same result unfortunately. He is very smart and loving boy who craves attention. He does understand that he can’t do it in the living part of the house when he is with my two female labs. Here he waits until he is let out and does his business and comes right back to the door. He did have some problems initially but has learned as you would expect him to. It appears to me that he has tremendous separation anxiety when left alone, he seems fine when he is with my girls. Any other ideas?

06-25-2004, 04:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
LoveLabs Labrador Retrievers Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 7 Rep Power: 84	I am sorry even though I have had Labs for over 30 years I have never heard of a behaviorist pardon my ignorance. I guess I thought that was only on Sit-coms how do I find one ?

06-25-2004, 06:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lilly'smom Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 99 Rep Power: 85	Unfortunately they are not on every corner. If you have a Vet. university close to you, they usually have one. http://animalbehaviorcounselors.org/...counselors.cgi
Lilly'smom Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 99 Rep Power: 85

07-14-2004, 05:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
LoveLabs Labrador Retrievers Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rocky River, Ohio Posts: 7 Rep Power: 84	Thanks you all for your help! We are not sure but just by talking it out through this forum we think we might have a solution. It appears that Griff has separation anxiety of a grand nature. He has been fine while at my home with my labs without anyone home. However he has been having big-time trouble in his own home in his crate or out. Well, for over a week and a half now he has been fine not one accident in the crate. The solution appears to be the addition of some T-shirts worn by my fiancé in the cage with him his Kong filled with peanut-butter. She walks him at night feeds him in the evening and the combination of these elements appears to be the answer. As you may have read he was rescued from a family that kept him locked in the basement and it appears that this behavior was learned from a very young age. This separation anxiety was so sever that he apparently felt such fear of abandonment that his behavior pooping etc. was the reaction. Now he seems to see that she is coming back for him he is fine. He is such a loving caring dog and a wonderful companion for her that we are truly blessed and is he. My fiancé if 90% deaf and he is a wonderful companion for her. I am just a little bit jealous. Thanks to all for your information and help through this situation. We hope this is a final step in his house breaking sure looks like it is.

07-14-2004, 05:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
sheltiepups Semper Fidelis - Marines Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere Posts: 2,438 Rep Power: 132	Welcome to the forums; I'm glad you found a way to slove your problem! Good Luck!
	__________________ Breezy & her shelties Thank you Dawn, for a wonderful siggy :) 2cutepups

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