separation anxiety???

[Pam]

Dixieland Dancer I have to agree with you. I have done it both ways and the crate makes it so much easier! I never had a dog mess in the crate, although I have heard that some have. That's probably because the crate was too big. The breeder who sold us Bella actually had a little "daily schedule" typed up for us. It included meals, time to go potty, time in the crate, time for play, etc.

We have continued to use the crate for Bella during the day if we go out because she still chews things she shouldn't occasionally. This past week was a milestone. I decided to give it a try and let her loose in the house all week long and when we got home the house was in one piece! My little girl is growing up!

[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Pam ]

[yorkster]

Okay.....went to the vet and found out that everything is A-OK with Scout. At first I was disapointed (not that I wanted anything to really be wrong w/ her), but I felt it would be kinda nice if there was a real understandable reason for her 'accidents'. Now I have had some time to think about it, and decided I need to look at it a bit differently. Like maybe the glass is half full instead of half empty. Meaning: I have only had her since early July. She obviously had not been potty-trained before. She had not been spayed. She was already 3 yrs. old. She was skinny and quite underweight. She had clearly NEVER been around cats before, and thought they were to chase/catch. She had also been at least neglected, if not abused (she still acts like it sometimes when she THINKS she has been bad)- She will run and hide for NO reason at all, with her tail between her legs. I think that she has come a long way already! Passing dog obedience, potty-accidents are more & more infrequent, gets along well with my ***cats*** (a big one!), and most of all she seems to get happier everyday!!! Right now, as I am writing this, she is curled-up at my feet, just chilling. It is actually getting close to her bed time: if we don't go up to bed by about 10:00 pm, she sneaks away and goes upstairs to bed (sometimes ON THE bed). It's the only time she will be comfortable about not being in the same room with us all the time. She is my baby-girl, and I Love her!
I want to thank EVERYONE for their advice and support! Meanwhile, Scout & I will keep working on her 'potty issues' and separation anxiety. Next week I am signing-up for intermediate dog obedience that includes some agility. Yay!!!
PS-
Oh-yeah, I think I mentioned this already, but her and my cats are getting along soooo good. Tonight she even shared a treat with one of my cats! The other cat is taking a bit more time to come around, but Scout REALLY wants to be friends.

[aly]

How did I miss this topic for so long???
I just caught up on all the posts, and am about to fall asleep since I stayed up so late to read them!!! I have a lot of comments and input on all the posts, but some of them were from so long ago, I'll probably leave those alone. Anyway, I got so tired reading all of this that I'll have to post my reply tomorrow, hehe! Just wanted to let you know yorkster that I'm sorry I didn't follow up sooner. My head must be in the clouds lately

[RachelJ]

Yorkster, I do think that the lack of medical problems is a good thing. If you hadn't of had it checked out, you would always wonder. And the glass is half full, or maybe even three-quarters full. I think if you just keep doing what you've been doing, and make sure you know whether she goes when she is outside, the accidents will continue to decrease and you will have a completely housetrained dog one of these months. And then you will be sooo happy.

Last night I let my dogs out, and went back in the kitchen and three minutes later I hear my husband letting them back in. I told him, "They don't *go* that fast!" I put them out again and told them to *go potty* and sure enough, each of them pooped. After dealing with a difficult to housebreak dog, you develop a sixth sense about it.

[ktreva52]

Yorkster -- Congratulations on a clean bill-of-health for Miss Scout. I understand your thought that if it were attributable to some medical problem, there would be medication that would help fix it and it would be solved. BUT, you are giving us a fabulous report about her improving and getting along better with the cats and going to bed on her own, so you must be doing the right things. This is one of those "time will heal all problems" things and you are seeing the effects of that. She will continue to improve and I think you'll find she'll really enjoy the intermediate obedience and agility training. She's learning the "rules" and will really be a great doggie when the light bulb clicks on and she's really got it all down pat. Keep praising her when she does well and try to just ignore the "mistakes". Just make sure you clean them up with something like "Simple Solution" (I like the yellow label cat strength one) and not a regular carpet cleaner. Most of them have ammonia in them and would make her more inclined to continue to use the inside if you use them.

I guess the easiest way to think of it is that you have an overly large "puppy" and act accordingly. If she had never been taught all this, and it's entirely possible she was never an indoor dog before, then, she has little idea what is expected. But, it really sounds like you're getting a handle on things and are making tremendous strides in getting her housetrained. Next July you'll look back on this and wonder how you could ever think she wasn't the best dog in existance! Keep us posted on her progress.