Need help please!

R

Rileysmommy

Forums Novice
Hello all,

I have a 5mos old male Sheltie named Riley. I have talked to couple dog trainers about this weird anxiety issue he has. We can not open or close either of our front or back doors ( more front ) without him getting nervous pacing and if not taken out immediately peeing on the floor. Even if he just went out and peed 10 mins ago. We can leave him alone in the room, we can open and close other doors, and we can crate him when we leave and no issues. They tell me it's not separation anxiety, but want to charge me 350.00 for a behavior they haven't dealt with. We got Riley when he was 12weeks old and never let outside. So potty training has been slow going but much better one accident a day. Took us forever just to get him used to outside noises first. He was born with an umbilical hernia and while it was repaired two weeks ago he was neutered. Another issue he just started was barking and running full speed along fence to chase cars. Any advice, suggestions are greatly appreciated!! I would pay for a trainer, but was not expecting heart surgery two months ago.

Thanking you all in advance!
 
My first question to you: are you crate training? This is more of a potty training issue. Or at least have papers laid down? I would start at potty training 101. I got my boy trained by 12 weeks(but I was taking him out every 2 hours). It might be best to know what steps you ARE taking. Also, your baby has had a lot of changes to adjust to. Stress pee is a real thing.

1. Designate his "safe place" in your house. e.g. the crate/ex. pen. Get him on a strict schedule ASAP.
2. Take him out frequently when he does have an accident in the house make clear distinction to distract them like saying "no" and clapping to get his attention. Immediately take him out and let him finish and reward him profusely.
3. Don't associate outside with play time or food rewards.
4. Take him to the same potty spot so he can "smell" HIS smell. This totally works!
5. Clean messes with pet odor eliminating spray(I like nature's way). If he smells old pee; it will take a long time to housebreak.
6. Don't scold or yell at them. This makes it worse and they will not eliminate in front of you.
7. Let him eat where he sleeps take advantage of the instinct.
8. Encourage him to whine and take him outside. You want him to let you know when potty time is.

I know there are times you want to do this: :gaah:hide . Be consistent and it will happen.
 
I wonder if something happened between Riley and a door like getting caught in it? My other thought is that when you open an exterior door he may be able smell and hear the outside world - and if that is new to him it is probably increasing his anxiety.

I would work on making those doors a very friendly place to be. Will he go near the doors on his own... or does he keep his distance? Do this in baby steps. It may take days or weeks depending on how he's doing. Start where he feels comfortable and treat him when he is near the door. Encourage him close to the door and treat. Put your hand on the door knob and treat. Eventually you can try opening the door and treat. Make the doors the best treat dispenser in the world.

If it's the outside world that is increasing his anxiety, I'd also suggest trying to spending more play time there. Be sure it's more than just a place to potty, that the smells and sounds mean fun!
 
The only thing I can think of is to try to make the opening and closing of the door more positive for him.

One of you sit on the floor with some yummy boiled chicken, hot dogs, or some other food the dog just can't resist, and just hold the food under his nose and let him nibble at it. The other person walk over to the door, do NOT open it, just walk over to it. Reward with the piece of food if there is no negative reaction.

After you reach about an 80% success rate with this, make it a little harder - walk over and turn the door nob; again not opening the door.

After 80% success, start to open the door just a little bit, not much more than a crack, and then close it again.

Once again, after about an 80% success rate, open the door a little further.

Continue with this in small steps until you are able to leave the door open. You'll have to repeat this process separately with both doors.

The idea is to associate the door with "good things", in this case the super yummy can't resist food. You may need to reward opening the door with food for a little while but you should be able to fade the reward eventually.
 
Absolutely agree with Silaria's post, slowly introducing a more positive approach to the door (that's the approach used to deal with separation anxiety but should also work in this situation). Atm the doors to go outside are associated with bad things (you leaving or maybe outside noises, or something may have happened when he was going through a fear period and it's turned into a hang up). Has he always done this or is it relatively new?

I also suggest getting some DAP (dog appeasing pheromones) in the spray form and spraying it around or on the door at his level so the door has a positive smell. Also try putting his food bowl next to the front or back door and feed him there. While he's eating hang around the door, touch the handle if he is okay with that.

It does sound like anxiety issues, even if it's not entirely separation anxiety (and I'm still not sure it isn't) it is still an anxiety. Peeing is an indicator of anxiety. When you do have to leave try giving him a Kong or throwing some treats in the other direction (might have to be really high value treats if he is that anxious). Rather than talking to a trainer a vet behaviourist may be a better option (and possibly cheaper).

The fence running is a self-rewarding behaviour. Best way to stop it is to prevent him doing it. Put obstacles in the way to make it harder to run the fence, and as soon as he does it put the lead on and take him away.
 
Thanks for the advise. He will go to the front door and lay down beside it just fine. It's just when you open the storm door, or Someone goes in and out he gets anxious. Last two days we try to distract him with a squeaky toy, special treat to get his mind off the door. I think I will defiantly try the positive door training as suggested. It's not a potty training issue, he goes out backdoor ( fenced in yard ) to potty no problems. He has come a long way with potty training. When we have warmer weather days (far and few between here in Ohio lately ) and have inside door open he will go stand and look out storm door. It's the craziest behavior I have experienced with any of my dogs. I almost wonder if it's because the breeder had them in a mudroom with his parents and would let them out but not the pups?

Yes he is crate trained. We have two one in living room and one in bedroom. He has been known to put himself down for a nap... :)

As for when he does have accident we clean it with a vinegar mix. Safe for pups and children.
 
Sounds like good advice. Just wanted to add, I am not surprised that this pup didn't spend time outside in his first 12 weeks. This was a horrible winter for a small breed pup. It shouldn't be what caused the issue. Sounds more like a separation anxiety to me.
 
I want to thank you all for your advice. I have been working with him all morning with the door. By the way he loves cheese pieces now...lol. He had a little anxiety when husband left for work I distracted him with his training treats, reinforced his sit, stay, and leave it, and we did not have to go out to pee and no accidents!! Same again when my oldest son came home for lunch and left.

You guys rock!! :) :smile2:
 
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