OK, i have one for some advice. Just got a cocker mix that's about eight months old. We got him home and now he has a bad case of submissive urination. only with males which makes me believe that someone beat him before. also, doesnt seem to be interested in getting housebroke. about ready to take him back to the shelter. any idea's??

 

Call the shelter and ask them what you should/could do. I would bet that this is quite common with the dogs that go through there and end up getting adopted. It may help as well that if there is someone in the house that the dog "takes to", you might want to let them handle him for a while until the dog gets more comfortable with other people. A dog that has been possibly abused will take awhile for them to build up their trust in you. I wouldn't take him back to the shelter though, but it's your call, especially if it is biting at you. I have a 2.5 year old lab, had him since he was a pup, that when he gets excited or has to go to the bathroom really bad, he dribbles. Until you decide what to do, go by some Spot Shot carpet cleaner, Albertson's has it.

Good luck.

 

He'll probably settle down once he gets comfortable around you and your family. Try talking softly to him and not making any sudden moves around him for a while. Spend a lot of time playing with him outside. My golden retriever does this once in a while. Heck he always pees like a bitch (technical definition) anyway.

He's better now but I really solved the problem by buying a house with no carpets. Wood floors only on all 3 levels. Makes it a lot easier to clean up.

 

Bring the dog to a place where theres a lot of other dogs - daily - like a park. Once he gets comfortable with his surroundings he'll stop the curl and pee thing.

Crate him. Get a crate that he fits in comfortably not to large. Take the dog right outside after letting him out of the crate use a leash. When he "goes" make a big deal out of it - that a boy (works on kids to - for potty training) - bring him back inside or let him run only after hes done his business.

For starters crate him while you're eating your meals,sleeping and while you run errands as he gets use to it you'll be able to leave the door on the crate open. Need to take him out for a walk though each time the crate door opens.

Don't use the crate for punishment.

Animal shelters will often have spare crates.

Good luck

 

My chocolate lab does the same peeing thing. Had her since a pup so it's definately not abuse related. She's just so passive when you scold her she instantly drops and pees....Damn annoying.

The crate training worked for us too. She never has an "accident" in the house anymore. Problem now is she has terrible "seperation anxiety" when we leave to go to work/school. So bad we have to close her in a room with nothing in it but her toys or she'll destroy the whole house...

 

I tend to agree with blu. Try the crate thing for house training, etc.

I adopted a German Shephard mix that acted kind of like that, he would cower and pee himself if anyone approached him. Once I had him about a month, he was almost over that. He grew up at a shelter and I didn't rescue him until he was almost a year old. I was too late to 'civilize' him, but he was fine with me and my wife.

My dad and stepmom had a cocker that would pee wherever it was everytime someone came to visit. She'd get so exicited that she would just go wherever she was.

You won't ever have a cocker spaniel be the alpha dog, it just isn't in their genes. You should, however, end up with a great family dog after some time. Every time you raise your voice, you are going to digress with your progress. Be calm, and patient. Remember, he is only about 5 yrs old in human years. You can teach him what is acceptable and what isn't.

Everyone else has good advice, too.

 

thanks for the advice ya'all. I think we will still try to work with him. I hate seeing a good dog in that enviroment.

 

Stick with it or do the dog a favor and put it down.

 

Here's a link for you to read.
http://www.perfectpaws.com/subr.html

I am a dog groomer, and I come across every personality a dog can have. With aggressive dogs, you have to be more confident than them. Submissive dogs need time and patience. It's like showing a baby he can walk. They need guidance, and learn the world's not out to get them.. But, you can't give in to everything, or it will end up spoiled. Follow me?

I own a dobie that is submissive. I take her to the dog park, to build her confidence, and learn to socialize. She'll run with other dogs, but the second they turn to chase her, she runs. She hides next to me with her tail under her. My job here, is to teach her how to play with others. I also make people approach her when she's with us, so she never becomes too protective over the family. She's never shown her teeth, and that's the way I want to keep her.

Dogs are like children. There is a pecking order in the litters. For all you know, your pup could of been the lowest on the pole. So, he has learned to submit to others.

But, remember, this dog was in a shelter. How would you feel if you were given up? You'd feel worried that nobody would take you in, right? Overall, don't give up on this pup. There's a saying in the dog world: Train...Don't complain. This dog needs a good leader to look up to and show him/her how to act: YOU!!

Almost forgot. The one important thing. Dogs can sense your behavior as well. I have a submissive dobie. She knows that I am the alpha. I never hit her, otherwise I'd be teaching her violence is ok. As you know, dobies can be pretty aggressive, if not raised the right way. She dug holes constantly, instead of yelling at her, we put her stool in the holes and buried it. She hasn't dug since. Positive reinforcement is the way to go.

Just work with this dog. We found our dobie at my sons school. She used to lie on her back and piddle when I called her to me. It's different now, she comes running when I call her. In fact, she pounces on me when I come home from work, and she's a 70lb broad.

 

Take your time. My dog still does that when I raise my voice, but he never pees in the house otherwise. It's a trade-off; you can have a good dog that pees when you yell at it, or a dog that pees, then you yell at it.
Please don't take the dog back to the shelter, for your sake. That would mean you are a quitter and a failure. Nobody likes a quitter.
Incidentally, if you have carpet that stains, you shouldn't have gotten a dog in the first place, and dog urine isn't that hard to clean up, so like blu sez, train...don't complain.
BDV

 

You call that a favor???

I hope like hell I never owe you anything...

It's a DOG. The only thing in the world it needs is someone who cares about it that realises that IT'S A DOG!

Teach it well, care for it.

Ensure that it meets other dogs, and see's how they are.

TRAIN it. This will build it's confidence...

In particular, show it where it needs to pee. Don't CLOBBER it when it makes a mistake.

- And give it the chance to feel needed.


Notes:

A dog that has been abused, once it has a partner that really cares for it, will bond to you like no other.

Once that bond is established - it will die for you if need be.

Dogs are noted for unconditional love. Keep that in mind, when you feel annoyed.

Time and love can heal just about anything that happens to a living being. Some things take more time, but patience in that is incredibly rewarding.

 

I agree with bigblu. Also, be consistent with praise and corrections. Notice the word correction- it isn't equivalent to punishment. I've had good success with using my voice (as a primary means) to praise and correct every dog I've owned. Raising your voice doesn't always mean raising the volume. If you praise your dog by raising the pitch of your voice and speed of your speech (Good boy, Good girl, repeated several times in quick succession), the dog understands that it has behaved in a manner that is pleasing you. If the dog misbehaves and you lower your voice and slowly say something like "shame on you", you've changed the words and tone enough that the dog begins to understand that they've displeased you. Don't rely on treats to induce good behavior in your dog. That's a bad habit to get into.

I think you've already got a handle on what's going on with your dog. Now you just need to be patient and work with your dog. Keep in mind he's still a puppy. You might want to start obedience school. It's a great way for a dog to become "socialized" and learn some good behaviors at the same time. It's also good for you, the owner. Some dogs just require more work than others. But in the end, all a dog wants is a safe environment and to please you. Stick with it. You'll be rewarded for your efforts many times over by a dog who will give you unconditional love and trust.

 

i am a firm believer in treating and playing with the dog the way you want it to turn out. treat firm but fair with love.

if you coddle it to a point of severe mushiness... oh well.
i would do the crate thing, and once inside.. play some ball, bone games, and roughhouse a little. get the dog used to you in your environment. if you get up to go to the next room.. get the dogs attention, and make it a big deal to go to the next room. they will eventually adapt. that dog is yours for life once it comes around!! it will stick to you like glue. now go build some confidence with your dog.

robbie

 

thanks for the advice. see, this is where I am confused. He doesn't do it to anyone else. the wife can yell at him for messing the carpet and it doesnt bother him. I, on the other hand can't even play with him and he goes which is the funny thing. He gets along good with me, we play, go for walks and all but each time I pet him or speak to him, which incidentally, is always in a low calm and quite voice, he lets go! in fact, i talk the calmest to him and spend the most time with him and I still get it. I think the wife has made up her mind that he goes back and that he just isnt happy here.

 

Maybe not talk to him much, a good thing to do is not stand over him. Try to spend time down at his level, like sitting on the floor with him and a tennis ball or bone.


Greywolf, good post!