Quote Originally Posted by Pacmanides
I adopted Sam, a one year old Chow-Lab mix, from a shelter about a month ago, and bathroom issues were immediately evident, but I was (and am) prepared to work through them. At first the issue was that when I got home from work, she would have pooped in my bedroom. This is no big problem, but I had to correct her so we could work towards a better system. My method has been to take her near the accident, make her look at me, and sternly say "No" once or twice. This must be a bad method, because after a while, though she stopped pooping in the bedroom, when I went into that room upon getting home she would pee on the floor*in fear, I assume. Now it has gotten to the point that whenever I come in the doog she immediately pees on the floor. This has become a vicious cycle because I feel like I still have to scold her for peeing, even if she is peeing because she is afraid of being scolded. I don't want my new friend to be afraid of me, what should I do?
Alright- do this- walk into the house- casually, calmly ( no matter what you find now), walk past the dog- go do something normal- like getting a drink out of the refrigerator, put you belongings up, read the mail, and mindless chatter about nothing quietly so you are not stone quiet.. ( "hello self, well lets see- what can i make for dinner, oh and I guess I need to call mother later or something anyway self.. so... well.. latee dah...) then after a few minutes casually walk to the door, if the dog is following you with wagging tails and you dont have to leash the dog to take out, just let the dog out and go out into the yard and sit down- wait for the dog to come to you. After the dog does- look away really casually= that is dog language for I see nothing to get alarmed about.. If you can leave the dog outside for a minute, go back in the house, clean up if there was a leak, say nothing, wash your hands, go back outside.
If you have to leash the dog to go out, try not to bend over the dog and glance away as you hook the lead to the collar, then casually say " come on- lets go outside..." after the dog walks arounds a little = sit down outside again with the dog.. same talk..
Soon she will get it your arrival is no big deal, and things are just normal and quiet on arrival time. Too many people give their dogs treats right away when they come home.. The dog learns to anticipate your arrival which is nerve wrecking.. sort of like you waiting for kids to come home or a guest to arrive= you are looking constantly out the window.. same thing..