General Chat

We adopted an 8month old collie/labrador from a sanctuary on Sunday. This is her 4th home as her previous home 'couldn't cope'.
She is alert but Very Nervous and will not go in the garden or on any grass. Her dog cage is my pantry which is not helpful or hygienic , but she found it as soon as she got in the house.

When she goes out on the lead she keeps looking round as if she is afraid of being followed, It's quite a performance going out for a walk. However far she goes on a walk she does not go to toilet while she is out, but waits until she gets back into the kitchen. She knows she is supposed to go out as she seems to 'perform' near the back door. Last night she found her way to OH bedroom: when he took her back downstairs she had made a total mess on the floor again. Perhaps she was trying to tell him? That was 3 times during the night and the poor chap is exhausted today.

We have adopted puppies before, but never had this trouble.

Does anyone have experience of this? How did you overcome it?
She will be lovely, but this is a worry.
Help needed for 2 tired 'parents'
carol

If she's going near the back door...I'd put layers of news paper there ..then...when she has been I'd take the top layers off...but leave a sheet or two with a bit still there so she has her scent for next time...and keep doing that for a while til she's more used to outdoors...not nice for her to be fouling in the house..but better in one place where you're ready for it that all over the house.

I'd not give her the run of the house...just keep her wherever you are so you can keep an eye on her and learn to read the signals she gives just before she goes...Harper picks up mats and becomes a bit naughty to get my attention..other dogs have done the nose down and circling thing...they're all different...I'd give her the chance every hour to go outside with you...just in case she manages to overcome her worry about it and go then. Obviously when she does..major fuss and treats so she knows she's done the right thing.

Most of the pups I've had always seems to go for a p** immediately after their dinners........so it's worth a try then as well.

I'd crate her at night..harsh though it sounds...she'll feel safe and secure in her own little world...and dogs rarely foul in their own *den*... I'd also put a bone in there that she loves...but is only allowed to have in there..so there's good news for her ...I'd also only leave her without the chance of a toilet break for five hours to begin with. I've been burning the candle at both ends with Harper but she's now 100% clean at night and has taught herself to hold it in..so we're up to six/seven hours now !!

Poor love is probably just a bag of nerves. She must wonder where she is if you're her 4 owner.

I'm sure time will improve things.....it's early days yet. She'll be desperate to please you but just not sure of what you want...and her confidence in people has probably hit rock bottom. That trust will come I'm sure.

Best of luck with her...Keep us updated x

It sounds as if she was taken away from her mother too early , I guess reward is the only way, perhaps a chat with an animal pychologist , maybe she would benefit from being with an older dog to show her the basics ?

Bed, toilet, food need to be clearly defined areas.

hi carol.
i posted a thread last week asking for help with my 2yr old lab,ive always had labs and find them very easy to train,they are lovely with children and very calm,they also love other dogs(which is not always a good thing)but they are also very nervous dogs,my lab has never messed on the floor since we got him at 3m old,but my god hes a nervous dog,he wont go for walks now and my son has to carry him to the end of the lane before he will walk(hes 5stone,thats the dog and not my son lol)he cries all the time when he hears anoise out side or on the tv,he hides under the bed if its windy outside,its like looking after a child,the vet says that hes just a nervous dog and he will grow out of it,he also follows me around the house and wont lie down until ive sat down,which can get on your nerves after a while,but we hope that as time goes on he will settle.it looks as if your dog is trying to get your attention by going to the toilet wher she knows she not allowed to go,it doesnt matter how much attention you give a lab it always wants more.good luck and im sure she will settle soon.x :-D :-D

I forgot to mention that we have a cat. If we shut the dog in the kitchen the cat can't use her cat flap if she wants to go in/out during the night.
At least they are beginning to get on with each other, and the cat goes for the bedtime walk with them.
I told hubby we didn't need a puppy at our age.
Our last dog we had at 10 weeks old and she was always little angel until she died at 15.years.
She was a collie/gsd cross with lab tendencies.
carol

She will need to poo or wee when she wakes up, after a meal or after excitement as in playing. 5 hrs is too long to leave her at first,can you go 5hrs without a wee? Play with her in the garden, you can begin indoors and gradually extend it into the garden eg throwing a toy or ball make the garden a fun place for her, even feed her there. Don't despair it will come. Good luck. Elaine.

Lassie is doing nicely but we will take her to classes for socialising, and see the behavioural therapist. She can be quite funny and now plays chase round the garden and up and down stairs with the cat. Toilet work is much better and she seems to have made her own decision that the garden is a good place to do her toilet, rather than the kitchen. Though the garden is still a bit of a scary world unless the cat is there. We make such a fuss of her when she ddoes it , and she looks at us as if to say "so whats the fuss about?"
Unless we are barking up the wrong tree , we think we may have a clue as to what sort of place she came from. Possibly a busy housing estate, or a really rough area?
She seems to be afraid of 'toileting' on the grass, the sound of diesel cars, she won't go past parked mopeds or motorbykes, white vans or open car boots, doesn't like sudden noises even shutting the dustbin. but funnily enough she doesn't seem at all bothered by aircraft flying over. Maybe the Waddington airshow next weekend will prove us wrong.
Poor little thing, poor hubby.
Lassie responds to her name, and eats OK and wants to know what we are eating.
She has come to see where I am so I have to go and put her to bed, which means shutting her in her cubby hole.
will keep you posted
carol

playtime now is jumping up and down like a spring lamb, and woofling, and she likes re organising her bed.

she has taken herself to toilet in the garden several times.

What do you think about getting her a nice kennel - her own place in the garden? The cat might end up in it, but Lassie can't stay in the pantry all day. every day. My sisters dog has a kennel and HE keeps his handbags and teddies in it. big softie.

She looks like Sallie's dog by the way. Black with a white chest and paws.