I adopted a dog who had been rescued by a hunter from unknown circumstances, the hunter decided he didn't want him because he wasn't fast enough or "high drive" enough. He is mostly the perfect companion dog, he doesn't jump, chew, dig, bark or pull on leash. I needed a compoanion job to help with my recovery from very aggressive radiation treatment to the head and neck for cancer. He is great for this, so sweet. Only problem is that sometimes when I ask him to "kennel up" he doesn't want to, if I gently take his collar to lead him to his kennel he will sit down and start peeing from a sit and then roll on his back and pee straight up in the air. For a while it worked to get his leash and get some forward motion going and he would go on in his kennel, no he start to pee when I put the leash on him. He doesn't do this putting on the leash for a walk, just when I have asked him to get in his kennel. Again, this isn't every time, sometimes he goes right in, no problems. I am very gentle with him and never raise my voice to him. I try to deal with him as I would a scared little child and be as kind as possible. Sometimes I just leave him on the patio because I don't want to force him and make him more fearful (and I don't like getting peed on). Any help with Ranger would be appriciated. Also, as a note to his disposition, he won't play tug as if he has been taught to release anything placed in his mouth, he loves to pick up his toys and bring them to you, he will take them back from you but won't hold on to them if you try to tug.
Re: Submissive Peeing Hello Sorry to hear about your problems with Ranger. You sound to be very caring and kind to him - that's probably just what he needs. I tend to do just about everything through clicker training, and know what I'd do to try to attack the problem of a dog that was scared of something by using a clicker and food, but I think I recall from earlier posts that you don't clicker train. No doubt others will be alone with more suggestions though. When you say he isn't food motivated...what does he normally eat? I mean day to day in his bowl. Does he eat then? I ask because I read an interesting article recently about dogs that are apparently not food motivated. This article was arguing it's not really possible to completely fail to motivate a dog by food. If dogs don't eat, they die. So it's more about the dog's hunger and the situation in which you are attempting to give food, rather than being "food motivated" or not. That said, of course lots of dogs won't take food if they are over excited or very stressed, but it does seem worth exploring whether you can get ranger to learn to earn food, rather than concluding you can't train with food. Best of luck with it.
Re: Submissive Peeing Is his kennel in a pen ? If it is could you spend some time playing with him in his pen ? If he likes to retrieve stand in his pen and throw his toy out for him to bring it back or if no pen throw toy into kennel for him to bring back. I'd do this at times when you aren't putting him in his kennel to begin with. You want him to see his kennel as a good place to be. Where do you feed him his meals ? Maybe he could have one meal in his kennel and you could sty with him. I've always kept my dogs in a pen and kennel and when I put them in they get treats which I leave them with. You could try a stuffed kong but stuffed with something mega tasty like peanut butter or sardines. Again I would do this to start with at times when I wasn't going to leave him in his kennel. I also put treats in cardboard tubes to rip up anything safe that gives them something to do. If he's not motivated by treats usually try it when he's hungry first. Find the right tasty, smelly treat and I bet he'll want it. :
Re: Submissive Peeing Just thought of something. You say its not every time you want him to go in his kennel. Is it always the same time of day though and is it a relatively recent thing ? If yes could something have spooked him or could there be something going on at that time that he doesn't like? I ask this because my old dog went through a phase of not wanting to go out to his kennel to bed at night. It coincided with my cousin, who we share a back yard with, getting a new dog. Murphy wasn't keen on the new dog to begin with too bouncy and pestered him. Once he got used to pip he started going out to bed like normal. Just an idea don't know if it's any help. :-\
Re: Submissive Peeing I would suggest don't try to make it happen, we never put the dogs into crates it has to be their choice so they do it voluntarily. We achieve 100% success rate by that being where they get their stuffed kong, they just need to see me getting it ready and they are in there waiting.
Re: Submissive Peeing What's his routine? When you leave him in the kennel, how long do you leave him for? And how often?
Re: Submissive Peeing OK, a little more information; I got the how to win book and have started with the clicker, he is doing pretty good with that. I use a large plastic kennel when we are away and at night. This has been going on for the 3 months I have had him. He eats dry kibble and will only eat it when I am beside him. He is not interested in his kong with peanut butter or cheese. He will play with his stuffed toys but is not a chewer. I feed twice a day. We just moved into a house with a covered patio and he spends most of his time there. The neighbors have 3 dogs that bark constantly but he acts like they aren't even there. The carpenter comes by most days and after introductions on the first day, Ranger pretty much ignores him. Ranger likes my wife and daughter but nothing like he is around me, he is really attached to me. I have never raised my voice to him or done anything to make him fearful of me. When I go outside to spend time with him he brings me a toy, does a play bow and a groan, tail wagging his whole body. He is such a joy to be around. He hasn't been able to spend a lot of time in the house recently because he is blowing his coat and both my wife and daughter are allergic to dogs. Because of this I spend much more time with him outside. It has been raining for a week so we haven't been able to go on many walks lately. By the way, sometimes he seems to really want to go in his house, like he stands by the door just waiting for you to let him in it but other times he just does not want to go in it, I can't identify any trigger for those times, it seems random.
Re: Submissive Peeing Also, I still haven't figured out how to post pictures here but if you go to the facebook group "black labs are the best dogs" I have posted a few pictures there under Kendall Cook user name
Re: Submissive Peeing Maybe if you had more routine to your days so that he has more idea when he will be in and when out, when walking and when not? Walks in the rain are very acceptable to Labs too!
Re: Submissive Peeing Ranger sounds lovely and it makes me sad to think that the hunter who had him previously probably was a bit rough with him. However, he is lucky to have you now; and you clearly think the world of him. I think Jen and the others are spot on - make his kennel a very attractive place to be. Spend time there with him, stay with him while you feed him in his kennel, etc. I am sure you can get this sorted and with time and kindness the peeing will stop.
Re: Submissive Peeing Well, I know he would love to walk in the rain but after heavy duty radiation and other treatment for cancer I can't risk getting sick by walking in the rain. Ranger's kennel is an extra large but he is over 100 lbs so his food will not fit in there with him and I certainly won't fit. It is difficult to have a real set in stone schedule, I can't control Dr. appointments etc. I do sit with him while he eats, that is the only way he will eat, he doesn't like to eat alone. He seems to be enjoying the clicker training. He seems to love laying on his side while I brush him with a furminator. He seems to trust me, I also clean his ear out regularly for an ifection, he seems to like that to. I have had him for about six months now and he seems to trust me. Getting in his kennel is really the only "problem" I seem to have with him. Yes he needs more training but he is a joy to be around just like he is. He doesn't seem to have any of those "bad lab habits" I consider myself very lucky and blessed to have such a well behaved dog. I can live with the kennel issue as long as it takes to fix it, I just don't want to do anything to damage our relationship in the process. I want to do it right, that's why I came here for help. Thanks for all of the suggestions, I am trying very hard to keep him comfortable with his new home and he is always trying very hard to please, he just doesn't always understand but he trys very hard to please. I know the burden of helping him understand is with me and that's why I am here, to learn how to help him learn. Thanks
Re: Submissive Peeing You and Ranger seem to be developing a lovely bond - that's great. I'm glad he is helping you through your illness. Sounds like you are doing your best to help him with his problems too. [quote author=TexasFD link=topic=7942.msg112091#msg112091 date=1411445350] He seems to be enjoying the clicker training. [/quote] Well, that's wonderful news - really, the best. If your dog is learning to enjoy earning his clicks and treats, then that gives you a lot to work with. It depends where you are at with the clicker training, and how much confidence Ranger has right now, so you might not want to try clicker training to deal with the kennel thing yet - you might want to let his confidence develop a bit more, particularly if you are new to it yourself. Here is quite a simple video example of a dog reluctant to go across a slippery floor (I'm using something very similar since my dog decided he hates a certain flight of steps which he fell on as a puppy), it might help get you started thinking about what you might do, anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-CCJxF-9U4 There are some more complex examples online at clickertraining.com, which you'll find if you search "fearful behaviour" but they might not be so useful.
