[SquirmyPoodle]

Hi Everyone! Well my husband and I adopted our first dog, Carter. . . he's an adorable, squirmy toy and he's around 2 years old. We've had him for about 2 months now and have a few issues I could really use some advice on- mostly related to when we leave the house.

We adopted him at the age of 2 and he's almost housebroken. . . I think! He knows that he shouldn't go potty in the house (he never poops inside), but sometimes when we are sleeping he'll go pee somewhere and I'll find it in the morning. When I go to bed, he's asleep next to us. When I wake up, he's asleep next to us. I don't know when he's doing it! We haven't tried crating him at night since we both work full time and he's crated M-F for about 8 hours.

Today when I was walking him in the park, my neighbor in the condo below us told me that she hears him cry all day when we are away--we crate him when we are gone and assumed he slept all day. She had the week off last week and so it was the first time she'd been home to hear him.

We've got the perfect area to corral him in but so far the little Houdini has escaped a variety of fences (over and around).

So---

1. what can I do about the howling? He doesnt do it when I get home so I don't have any behavior to correct.

2. any fence recommendations for squirmy little toy poodles?

3. any advice on corrals vs. crates?

Thanks for reading this crazy long post!

 

[PonkiPoodles]

A lot of people view barking collars as inhumane, but we had adopted a 2 year old doberman (very LOUD) who only barked when crated and we were not around... which is extremely hard to fix with anything but a barking collar because no one is around to correct the behavior. I suggest a barking collar, one that you can ajust the intensity. We did a couple of trial runs with him in his crate while we were at home, before we left him in for the day. Only use it when his crated - otherwise he'll think he's not aloud to bark... period.

I prefer crates... keeps them out of trouble. And they do just sleep the whole day if there is nothing for them to get into.

As far as the peeing at night... our toy use to do the same thing. We just stopped giving food or water after 6pm and walk or potty break before bedtime - make sure they pee before you go inside to sleep. (just like kids) We usually give the last bathroom break at 10:30pm

 

[SECRETO]

I too agree that a bark collar might be a good resolution for a noisy dog while your away. They usually learn to stop the behavior quickly after the collar corrects them a few times. Ive used one before and I personally liked how quickly the issue was resolved.

About the potty at night issue. Petsmart carries a fabric type band that you can put over the penis area. Its refered to as a belly band. I met a lady a few days ago that adopted a Toy Poodle at 4 yrs and he marked all over her house. So the only way he would not mark in the house is to wear this little belly band. I actually thought what a lovely idea. This little dogs wears his belly band when ever he's in the house and the band itself seems quite comfy. She puts a little feminim (sp) pad inside just in case he attemps tp potty with the band on so the pad would absorb the potty. I would try it if I were you.

 

[WonderPup]

Belly bands are great, I have several for Howie. When we moved into the appartment he had some housetraining issues.
The only caution I have is to make sure you take it off before you let them out to go potty!! I have to really be careful in my house if I put one on Howie now. Hubby forgets all the time to take it off sometimes.... POOR HOWIE! Anyway, I don't have to use them very often anymore which is good, but they can be a good tool.

 

[starkeeper]

I think if I were in your situation....

I would set up a small room that has a door as a nice dog hangout vs using a crate while I am gone.

Have a crate with an open door for the dog to settle down in when tired, lots of toys to keep him busy (like the stuffable kongs), maybe a piddle pad in a corner (though I dislike having to resort to them for my own dogs).

At night, you could use the crate or belly band (though I don't like using them for young dogs....only old incontinent ones).

Is there anyone who could make visits with the dog during the day to give him companionship? A dog daycare near you (they are expensive though....about the same price as child day care)? Some seniors (retired but not frail) in my neighborhood get dogs from neighbors who work all day and hang out with them at the senior's home. How cool is that?!

 

[SECRETO]

I would set up a small room that has a door as a nice dog hangout vs using a crate while I am gone.

Have a crate with an open door for the dog to settle down in when tired, lots of toys to keep him busy (like the stuffable kongs), maybe a piddle pad in a corner (though I dislike having to resort to them for my own dogs).

At night, you could use the crate or belly band (though I don't like using them for young dogs....only old incontinent ones).

Is there anyone who could make visits with the dog during the day to give him companionship? A dog daycare near you (they are expensive though....about the same price as child day care)? Some seniors (retired but not frail) in my neighborhood get dogs from neighbors who work all day and hang out with them at the senior's home. How cool is that?!

I don't recal her saying she had issue's with her daily crating ruitine though. I personally think crating is the safest place for a dog even if it's a longer period of time. Leaving a dog in a confined area can lead to unwanted damage in your house. They will attemp to eat a wall, chew on a cabinet, etc. That usually can't happen in a crate.

Also why do you dislike the use of a belly band on a younger dog verses a older one? Either way its serving a purpose. Im just curious about your thinking process on these techniques.

 

[WonderPup]

just a note, the belly band is intended to be a training tool. Who likes to pee on themselves, which is what happens with the band. The dog is supposed to learn to hold it... It might help to get up in the night sometime and go for a potty break, like you do with very young dogs if you can manage it.

obviously older dogs with bladder control issues are a different matter.

 

[starkeeper]

She did mention the neighbor heard the dog crying and giving him more room and toys might entertain him so that he isn't making the noise as much.

Belly bands.....I don't like using them since they are a bother. I don't think the male dogs mind the pee near them (as far as I can tell).

I have used one on an elderly male dog who was peeing copiously the last year of his life.

 

[SquirmyPoodle]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I am going to try limiting the water late in the evening- we walk him around 11:30 PM every night, so that's why his peeing by 6am baffles me! I know that sometimes he eats during the night (he's tiny and doesn't eat very much in one sitting to we leave the food out for him to graze) so I guess he's probably drinking during the night too! I never really thought about it!

I was thinking about hiring a dog trainer to go through a proper crate training with him (since we never really did the full training they recommend). I think he has some separation anxiety issues which are causing the howling- he is always so excited and jumpy to see me. He's most excited when I've been at work all day, but he's if I leave for an hour or so and return he's still pretty jumpy.

Does anyone know a good dog trainer in the LA area?

 

[SquirmyPoodle]

I should clarify-the Los Angeles, CA area!

 

[WonderPup]

Belly bands.....I don't like using them since they are a bother. I don't think the male dogs mind the pee near them (as far as I can tell).
QUOTE]

ROFL, I think there are a lot of things little boys don't mind being near???

Howie certainly does mind, I wish I had a picture of the face he made the last time he had to wear one and he lifted his leg in the house. We only use them for travel these days. He's got to wear one if we are in a hotel room because he will mark if he thinks he can get away with it. :banghead:

 

[SECRETO]

Belly bands.....I don't like using them since they are a bother. I don't think the male dogs mind the pee near them (as far as I can tell).
QUOTE]

ROFL, I think there are a lot of things little boys don't mind being near???

Howie certainly does mind, I wish I had a picture of the face he made the last time he had to wear one and he lifted his leg in the house. We only use them for travel these days. He's got to wear one if we are in a hotel room because he will mark if he thinks he can get away with it. :banghead:

Im certainly going to pick up two for my boys. I stress a little when I take Eli into people's houses. Even though he never marks, I would feel aweful if he did in someones home.

 

[SquirmyPoodle]

I didn't think about that- what a great use! I always have him tethered to me in friends' homes because I'm afraid he'll leave his mark! I did let him loose at my mother-in-law's and he peed on her curtains! I pretended to feel bad, but I was secretly proud of the little guy. Am I awful? Don't tell my husband!

 

[SECRETO]

I didn't think about that- what a great use! I always have him tethered to me in friends' homes because I'm afraid he'll leave his mark! I did let him loose at my mother-in-law's and he peed on her curtains! I pretended to feel bad, but I was secretly proud of the little guy. Am I awful? Don't tell my husband!

lmao!!! Thats too good!