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 Expert
Posts: 1304
 
| I have an 11lb mutt named Bradley that I rescued in 2012. He was dropped off along side the road with twenty-nine other little dogs hairless and infected with mange (google "30 dogs found in Ritchie County WV" and that'll show you how bad it was). He is very skiddish but a little ham once you get to know him. He has come a long way but has skin allergies that cause him to itch and he still gets scared of random or loud noises, some strangers, etc and shakes, hides, or runs from "scary" things. He wasn't very potty trained when I first got him but within a few months his accidents were minimal and he's been pretty good and RARELY goes in the house. He's receptive to people if he gets to know them but isn't the most with younger men and I'm guessing that there's a reason for that and maybe he's had a bad experience with a younger male with where he came from. Fast forward to now and he's acting out with my boyfriend (who he's been around since September) and sometimes my girl friend (who he's been around him since 2012). If my boyfriend goes to my apartment before I do, while I'm at work or class, Bradley more times than none ACTS out. I thought it was out of fright and some of it I guarantee is but I believe it's more spite than anything. My boyfriend went to my apartment and was petting him on the couch last night and thought everything was fine until Bradley jumped down, looked at him and pooped a big one on the floor...he then proceeded to sit in it and ate some of it...I'm disturbed. He doesn't act like this but is obviously ****ed when I'm not there and he is. He's also peed a few times when my girl friend goes there before I do. By the way, neither of them live with me so he is FINE when it's just him and me and is FINE when we stay at my grandparent's, other places, etc. But he's just started this in the last couple months and this is a problem and just plain gross and I'm not too sure where to start. I'm trying to establish some harsher discipline but how do I go about this when it happens and I'm not home to do anything about it? Anyone else had problems with what I believe to be dominance issues??? I need help! |
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
 
Location: Red Raiderland | Well shoot I had a long post written and I hit the back button and poof-gone!
Anyway, in short, I don't think he is doing it as a dominance play I think he has a lot of anxiety, as he should from what he has been through. My guess is that he lived his life in a cage and deficating on himself or near was his only option. Dogs will poop out of fear or anxiety. I don't think animals think about spite so I wouldn't punish him for this problem. I'd just clean it up with no emotion and go about your business. He had an awful start to his life but y'all are both better for having each other.   |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I don't know about dogs and spite, I think they are smart enough to have it personally. Just not real sure. Now cats very much act out in spite. Most everyone I have talked to had a cat story. If mine would run low on cat food or if we locked her up in her room while we were gone etc, she would come upstairs and pee on my bathroom rug. If kitty was happy, no pee. Miff kitty off and she peed. I don't have much for advice for your pooch. It's not really fair to kennel him when you have company, but maybe the only option. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Dogs pretty much live in the here and now. They get over their past a lot easier than humans do. Be careful that you're not making excuses for him because of his past. I don't think he's doing any of it out of spite.
Like the other poster, I believe he might have learned the pooping from being locked in a kennel. Now he needs to learn that it's not ok. You could have your boyfriend or your other friend walk the dog when they get to your place ahead of you. He might be giving them cues that you understand and they don't know that he is asking to go potty. But, them taking him for a walk would be a positive thing for him to bond with them. |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Nita - 2015-01-27 8:20 PM Dogs pretty much live in the here and now. They get over their past a lot easier than humans do. Be careful that you're not making excuses for him because of his past. I don't think he's doing any of it out of spite. Like the other poster, I believe he might have learned the pooping from being locked in a kennel. Now he needs to learn that it's not ok. You could have your boyfriend or your other friend walk the dog when they get to your place ahead of you. He might be giving them cues that you understand and they don't know that he is asking to go potty. But, them taking him for a walk would be a positive thing for him to bond with them.
I like the idea of them walking him too. Might make them all buddy buddy |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Nita - 2015-01-27 9:20 PM
Dogs pretty much live in the here and now. They get over their past a lot easier than humans do. Be careful that you're not making excuses for him because of his past. I don't think he's doing any of it out of spite.
Like the other poster, I believe he might have learned the pooping from being locked in a kennel. Now he needs to learn that it's not ok. You could have your boyfriend or your other friend walk the dog when they get to your place ahead of you. He might be giving them cues that you understand and they don't know that he is asking to go potty. But, them taking him for a walk would be a positive thing for him to bond with them.
This too |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | Nita - 2015-01-27 9:20 PM Dogs pretty much live in the here and now. They get over their past a lot easier than humans do. Be careful that you're not making excuses for him because of his past. I don't think he's doing any of it out of spite. Like the other poster, I believe he might have learned the pooping from being locked in a kennel. Now he needs to learn that it's not ok. You could have your boyfriend or your other friend walk the dog when they get to your place ahead of you. He might be giving them cues that you understand and they don't know that he is asking to go potty. But, them taking him for a walk would be a positive thing for him to bond with them.
This could be very possible. Every time my mom takes care of my dogs for me while I am out of town or something my Doberman will poop in the floor. I finally asked my mom if she was asking to go out, she said "Well how does she let you know?"... I said "Well, she stares at you." lol. My mom says "She always stares at me!". It is true, she will stare you down for an hour just because she wants to look at you I guess. When she wants out it is a "different" stare. I'm the only that notices there is a difference though. My husband just thinks she is weird, she would have to write him a letter for him to get that she is wanting out.
Now if my Doberman doesn't like someone (usually young men), I can usually give them food to feed her. Then she loves them dearly.
I would see if you can find a way for them to buddy up with the dog, maybe that will help. If anything maybe he will do his spiteful poop outside while they are sucking up lol. |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you for the suggested advice. Unfortunately, I forgot to add that he does let him out to pee! He'll poop or pee, come back inside and do it again...that happens more than it does when he just comes in and hasn't had the chance to let him out and that's only happened probably twice. The one day I let him out to pee and he went like a good boy and then about an hour later my boyfriend went there and let him out and he pooped and then he came back in and pooped behind my couch and wollered in it O_O it's getting very frustrating because he's a perfect angel when it's just me there! |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| I wish I could buddy up but I don't know anyone around me with dogs cause I'm away for school. And I don't think he just needs to go again by him going so many times cause he never does that with me or anyone he's close too! Just my boyfriend and occasionally my friend. Some days he acts completely fine with him and will let him pet him or will try to jump on the bed and lay with him if he's layin in there. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I would also suggest when the BF or friend is around that they start feeding him when its dinner time. The other thing I suggest is a good run. A tired dog is a happy dog...have them go out and PLAY with the dog until he is tired. He may be acting out cause of pent up energy. Good luck and good on you for giving him a much better home!! |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | Dogs can get mad and act out. When we got a pup one of our other dogs was mad.....he refused to eat with the pup near by, like a 5 ft radius.....and he refused to drink from the community dog bowl....resulting in 3 UTIs in 2 months.
sounds like your dog needs to bond with your friends....make them something he looks forward too! lots of treats and play time! |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | My latest rescue is a ShihTzu that was kennel raised. Like you, I've dealt with some really tough stuff trying to make him a "normal" dog.
Mine also poops out of anxiety. The worst part about dogs like ours is that they have absolutely no aversion to their own poop! YUCK!!! They can reach an anxiety level when they aren't using all of their senses (smell, for instance) and do crazy stuff, like sit, stand, and jump in their own feces. Then again, even if they are using all their senses, our dogs are used to the filth, so they just don't care like a normal dog would.
My advice would be to crate train him, if possible. I cannot crate mine b/c it sends him into all-sorts of craziness! He literally loses his mind, then poops and pees all over himself! But, if you can teach yours that his crate is his safe place, you could have your friends potty-walk him, then give him a treat in his crate. Maybe he would feel secure enough in there to not have an "accident." You could let him out when you get home, but do not show him any sort of affection until he is calm.
I think these types of dogs can develop unhealthy relationships with us (their "rescuers") b/c of their past. They love us too much. It will take time for him to trust others, just like it did for us to win their trust in the beginning.
Good luck!!!
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