At my wits end (long)

[BangersAndMashh]

Ok so I suppose I better give you a back story on my dog. She is a 2yo chocolate labrador, we have had her since she was 8 weeks old. When we first got her we ensured she was introduced to all household noises (hoover, hairdryer, bin bags rustling, loud music etc) so she wasn't nervous of noises (unfortunately the hoover fell on her head when she was 12 weeks old and she has been scared of that ever since and barks like a nutter at it).

Myself and my partner never hit her ever as we don't believe that is any way to discipline a dog. However, we had a lodger living with us when we got her and he used to kick her and slap her no matter how many times I tried to keep her away from him and tell him not to - this really frustrated me and the lodger was asked to leave shortly after. I have also caught one of DP's friends hitting her hard on the head a few times - what is wrong with these people - I would never dream of going against someones wishes and hurting their pet?!?! She has also been attacked by a couple of dogs on her walks as well, which really doesn't help matters, so as you can imagine, my lovely bouncy dog is sometimes a very nervous, timid creature!

Now, whenever anyone comes to the door or she hears the back door open, she barks. Now you might not think this is a problem, but you haven't heard how loud her bark is and I don't like dogs barking when someone is at the door anyway. I am 25 weeks pregnant, and want her to stop barking like this because she will constantly be waking the baby when it's born! We have tried lots of things to stop the barking, but has anyone got any suggestions?

Another problem I have is her point blank refusal to poo at times. It gets to the point where it is literally a power struggle. We have got into a routine where she does her business in a morning before getting fed, then is walked an hour or two after being fed. Then she is let out in the garden again in the evening and does her business before being taken for a walk and then we have our tea then she has hers. Sounds simple right? Well it would be if she didn't stand there and stare at me and point blank refuse to have a poo. Sometimes she is literally bulging (sorry if tmi) and desperate to go, but she completely refuses. Whenever we have given in and taken her for a walk anyway, she literally gets outside the gate, we walk up the street and she will squat and do it (really winds me up!)

It might not sound like a big deal to some people, but it is turning into a power struggle - she knows she is supposed to do it and refuses and does it on the pavement instead. It is driving me nuts because sometimes I am in a rush and need to get somewhere, yet I have to wait until she will do her business (can't just leave her in her cage without doing her business and having a walk!)

Any suggestions anyone?

Sorry for the long winded post, but needed to post background info.

Just a thought but do you think your dog likes routine so much because her life has been run in such a regimented fashion . Obviously there needs to be some structure but perhaps it works better if its a bit 'looser' . My dog gets walked first thing in the morning ,but that is anytime between 6.30 and 9 depending on what I'm doing that day and hence what time I get up . He gets fed at roughly the same times each day . His other 2 walks get slotted in at my convenience . He poos on his walks ( who cares about carrying a nappy bag of shit ) and that is whatever time , there is no set time of day that he poos . If he doesn't poo on a walk he goes in the garden at his convenience . I applaud your organisational skills but when you're baby arrives you may find that you have to go with the flow a bit more so perhaps you should start practising now .

It's not regimented - I don't stick to the times on the bloody dot - they were a rough guide so MrsHoneyBean could get an idea for how our day works. I don't get up at the same time every morning, some days I'm at work, some days I'm not, some days DP doesn't get back from work til gone 6, sometimes he's back at quarter to 5.

AnSome mornings she is fed at 7, some mornings its more like half 8, weekends it can be up to half 9.

You might enjoy living in chaos, my dog doesn't. She thrives on routine, as she knows what comes next - when she has been for a walk and we have had our tea she knows its time for her to be fed because every time you stand up she runs over to cupboard where her food is kept!

And I didn't say I minded her pooing on her walks - I am quite happy when she does another poo in the field, I do not however like her shitting on the street outside a school or right behind a car reversing out of a drive - it is disgusting. And no, when suffering with hypremesis, I do not want to carry a bag of shit for an hour thank you very much. In the garden it isn't bagged, it is put down the drain and rinsed down with the hosepipe.

Stop making assumptions about my life - I was asking for advice on how to stop my dog shitting on the pavement and barking at the door, not on how your oh so perfect chaotic life works. And if you bothered to actually read my posts properly, you would see I already said to MrsHoney that the routine would have to change when baby comes. When you work, you can't just "fit things in" like that.

I don't think there is any reason to be so rude , I wasn't . I just don't know anybody who's dog shits at the same time every day , maybe I know a bunch of very strange people . Also I have made my assumptions about your 'routine' life from your posts and I would point out that my post does not indicate that I live in chaos . FYI I also work part time , I have a 13 yr old disabled child who is not in full time education , a parent who I don't live with who I care for ,an older child ,a husband and a house to manage . I also had hyperemesis throughout both of my pregnancies , you had not mentioned that in previous posts which would have explained your aversion to shit !

Bangers - you have made some assumptions about Floral's life there yourself to be honest. I made the same assumptions re your routine, but your last post clarifies this.

Did you see my post about bagging, stashing the bag, then binning at the end of your walk?

Yes, shit isn't great outside a school but if it cleared up immediately by a responsible owner, most folk will not have an issue.

Your posts are very defensive, they do not need to be, people may have strong opinion but they generally are trying to help, honest!

Bangers you seem very upset about people who are trying to help you find a solution to a problem that you have posted about. Are you Ok? the people here are so kind and have helped me through all sorts.

People are asking questions about your life because your life is what it is all about...making it work for you and for your dog, and finding out why some solutions are not practical for you..which they can't know until you say why it does not work for you.

You sound so stressed. It must be getting you down a lot.

Just in case it helps: I am a lone parent with lots of children: my dog is walked on the school run, does her business in the field after the school run (baby in buggy) fed on return from the walk around 10.30. has second walk later in afternoon, does not poo usually but if she does it will be in the field on this walk, then continues on to the 2 schools then she has her food after us about 6pm-7pm depending.

Obviously this will not be your pattern at present but in the future your life will continue to evolve and routines will change. My lovely girl has adapted with us and enjoys family life. She is healthy, happy and obedient, never begs (except for roast chicken!!), she used to ask for food following us eating because that was her trigger. I don't personally like her begging so I dissociated them and moved them further apart, you may prefer not to do that but you could..takes a few days to change the pattern.

I am sure others would reply with much more insight and wisdom than I . I hope that you find them helpful and won't be cross with them for trying to help you.

The working bit wasnt meant to sound like "I work you don't" by the way, sorry if it came out that way. And I wasn't being rude - you were the one who said I was regimented and.made out like I didn't know what it would be like when my baby is born.

Forget it, I give up. I will just ask a dog trainer, can't be bothered with people being all judgy on the way I care for my dog.

Not checking this thread again so if anyone has anything constructive to offer then pm me.

Oops I seem to have ruined this thread . Apologies to those of you who had given such helpful advice.

Foolonthehill yes I am stressed but not because of my dog - she is great. Like I said she is trained in every other way.

Sorry if I have been abrupt I really am, I'm not having a great time at the minute and don't want to offend anyone on here. I just got overly defensive, sorry.

Turnip - sorry for being off, I'm just being unnecessarily bitchy (hormonal cow springs to mind) puts tail inbetween legs

Turnip - its nkt a rainwater drain, its linked direct to the waste pipe - we checked before we started doing that :)

You didn't spoil the thread Floral

Bangers - agree with fool. People are trying to help you but not agreeing with you doesn't mean they are making a judgement about your life. Plus, it sometimes takes a few posts to really get full information.

There's lots of contructive and helpful advice on here, the written word is difficult to interpret sometimes as you can't 'hear' what's being said.

You do sound very defensive and stressed, I hope you are ok.

Banger - there! Have a cuppa, settle down and stick around Sometimes The Doghouse is abrupt and there's strong opinion but people are very helpful and kind too.

Wait until a thread is started by someone who says they are buying a cockapoo/labradoodle from a bloke on Gumtree

OP, a dog trainer to help with the barking is a good idea. Find one that uses positive reinforcement methods (maybe you have one already). They will also help you work out why the dog is barking - for example since you have mentioned the dog can be timid, it could be due to fear. In which case using treats will desensitize her and show that someone coming to the door is not something to be afraid of.

I don't recommend shaking a bottle with stones. It might work temporarily but probably won't work in the long run, but the main reason is that it's better not to use aversive methods in training. The best results come from positive reinforcement, which also helps to build your relationship with the dog.

I notice e-collars were mentioned. If the OP is in Wales then electronic shock collars are illegal. In any case, they can have significant negative consequences. Last year's CAWC report on shock collars stated specifically that they should never be used on a dog that is barking out of fear, because it does nothing to address the underlying fear and just makes the situation worse for the dog.

Another thought re the toileting is that you could try feeding the dog once a day. I am like you and prefer to feed twice a day, but there are a lot of people who only feed once a day and it generally results in only one poo a day. You could take an allowance out of her food for treats to be used in training sessions, so she would still be getting some calories later in the day.

(Knew I should not have looked at this thread )

Right

First your dog is not having a power struggle. You think you have taught her to wee and poo in the right place. She is not yet fully sure. so back to basics. Go out with her say a wee or poo word and reward when she does it.

Do not take her to any other location until she has pooed - this may take time and patience. She is not holding on to be awkward. She may be holding on because she is unsure or uneasy but not to be difficult or awkward. Some dogs do not like pooing away from a certain spot. So this may take some time but if you are consistent and reward correct location she Will get it.

Personally I would look at changing the timing of eating pooing and walk to make life easier for her.

Barking I would want to know why she is barking, excitement , fear etc but either way I would just offer her an alternative behaviour for when she hears the door bell. This is dead easy to teach a lab

Have her on a lead and get someone else to open the back door take her to her bed (ignoring the barking) and give her a treat. Do this several times a day, feed her whole meal like this. Her default behaviour is hear the back door open I go to my bed and get a treat. Do this religiously and you will have a dog that charges to her bed everytime anyone puts their hand on the back door handle. - job done!

If you use a electric collar or rattle bottle it will either have no effect after the initial first few uses or just increase her excitement which will actually make the behaviour much worse. She may bark and then also add an alternative unwanted behaviour.

so glad there's somebody out there with the toiletting-as-control issue aswell! My dog does this periodically too. No advice, he usually just gets over himself after a few days. What he seems to want is for me to accompany him fine when you have nothing better to do...