Meet Connor.

[ols386]

Oh, he is so cute. I hope everthing will work out....it sounds like it will.

 

[HeatherH]

I was going to ask if neutering might help, but since you said that he is needed for "services" I'm guessing that's not an option.

He definitely sounds like he needs lots of exercise to work off his nervous energy. He is a beautiful boy and I'm sure he will be very happy in your home, once he realizes it really IS his forever home.

 

[disneymarie]

He is very anxious. He paces if he thinks I am going somewhere even elsewhere in the house. I would be too, if I were him.He has been in three homes in the last week; his own, the female dog that he "met", his own again, and now mine. While I was in the shower, he marked the doorway. This will definitely be a "no no". When I got out, I saw it, showed him and said NO do business outside. He knew he was wrong, but this is a situation that I need to get on top of. He lived with several dogs. Obviously can tell that there was a dog here before him so I think its understandable, its just that its unacceptable. Suggestions please!

I am so sorry about your furry friend. We lost our Mr. Kitty last week after 18 years and it is so difficult. I expect him to be at my feet waiting for my eyes to wake and MeOOOooow to be feed. He was my dd first cat, I am taking care of my grand baby cats 4 others since she passed away. So I know how you miss your friend so much.

My son and I had to take him to the vet and we said goodbye. After he passed ds wanted to have his ashes instead of burying him with our StingRay that was my Mother in laws cat I took in,

Mr. K was a marker, I was his mom, to the days before his passing no matter what I did. He was fixed, but it was his thing. When the younger cats came to live with us three years ago, it was a mess. I will have to tear up the carpets and putting something else in.
In front of my bedroom door is the worse spot.

I am glad you have a new friend, but I tried everything, spray bottle, commands, taking them outside with a stern word, but it was not about being litter trained, it was marking his terf and behavioral.

Maybe the dog whisper web site has some thoughts for dogs,
Good luck and love,
di

 

[ugadog99]

Well, you just made me cry again, Dawn. This time, though, they were happy tears! I'm thrilled for you and your family. Connor may not know it, yet, but he was one lucky dog. I'm sure Jude is standing in complete approval!

 

[DawnCt1]

I was going to ask if neutering might help, but since you said that he is needed for "services" I'm guessing that's not an option.

He definitely sounds like he needs lots of exercise to work off his nervous energy. He is a beautiful boy and I'm sure he will be very happy in your home, once he realizes it really IS his forever home.

I think I would be in REALLY BIG trouble if I did that! I called his owner who said that he doesn't do it at her house but has attempted to in hotel rooms where he has smelled the presence of another dog. She said just be firm with NO, crate him if I can't watch him all of the time until he settles in, and if he does it, give him a time out in his crate.

 

[dislaney]

I'm so glad you and Connor found each other!

 

[terri01p]

 

[TeresaNJ]

Connor is a handsome boy Dawn! I'm so glad you two found each other. May your memories of Jude bring you happiness and joy.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm happy you and Connor found eachother.

She said just be firm with NO, crate him if I can't watch him all of the time until he settles in, and if he does it, give him a time out in his crate.

I agree with the beginning, but not the end of this advice. Dogs don't get the concept of "punishment after the fact" because they live in the moment. In fact, punishing a dog for reasons unbenownst to them is very likely to cause anxiety. And it sounds like this dog is very anxious, and understandably so given his background.

It's going to take some time for him to learn a new way of life with you. Two words of advice: Exercise and Routine. Predictability lessens anxiety in anxious dogs. Medication should not be necessary right now - just love and patience. Also, all interactions should be CALM and assertive with a dog like this, not loud and/or threatening (not that you would deliberately be that way; I'm talking more in his perception).

I would treat him almost like a puppy learning housetraining. Take him out frequently and show him what you want him to do. Praise when he does. Constant supervision (which should not be difficult given your description of him ) should allow you to catch any "accidents" as they happen or even BEFORE they happen. If you see him motioning to pee in the house, or actually going, that's the time to show him what you WANT him to do, ie run him outside and praise. Knowing how smart these dogs are, he will understand in no time.

I think it's a great idea to get him some of his own things. It sounds like he hasn't really enjoyed that before, and it's high time he has. Some handsome new bandanas, a new bed, a few new toys, maybe a nice coat for the cold weather, etc, should make him feel pretty special. They get it.

A friend of my DH's and his wife adopted a dog around Thanksgiving. The dog is very anxious and afraid of men. He wanted so badly for the dog to like him, but my DH told him it was going to take some time, that he had to develop a trust first. The dog actually bit him when they first brought it home because he tried too much too soon. So he backed off. He was there, but instead of going to the dog, he lets the dog come to him. It's been 3 months now, and we just got a report that the dog is finally beginning to come to him on his own with a little tail wag. Progress.

My dog is, by nature, quite anxious. It's taken an extraordinary amount of time and effort to get her to where she is today. Most people meet her and comment on what a great dog she is, saying "I wish my dog was that good". They have no idea what it took to get there - they think she just came that way!

My sense is that Connor is going to thrive in his new home and a year from now, you'll hardly recognize him as the same dog he is today. Good luck.

 

[clarabelle]

Dawn
I saw this on TV one time -it was for a cat -but it can't hurt.
Take a damp rag and rub it all over Connor. Then take the rag and wipe it around baseboards and other places he may mark.
He will hopefully smell himself instead of "that other dog" and not feel the need to mark his territory.
He is beautiful!

 

[JessicaR]

So happy to read this post Dawn! Connor is a handsome boy. I hope you and he will be very happy for a long time to come! I have been thinking of you recently cause I hadn't seen you post much. I'm so glad to read this post!

So I have a funny story and maybe something that will help you with Connor marking his territory. It sounds like he is doing this because he smells Jude and is preparing to have his scent be the dominating scent in the house.

A while ago my sister came to my house with her two little pomeranians. One is female and the other a male. My dogs are huge but they all get along nicely. The next time she came over it was obvious that her male, Cosmo was smitten with my female, Maggie. I guess he doesn't see the 140 lb difference between them. He struts around her and tries to engage her attention all the time. He peed a couple of times, more like marked my DR chairs. Of course my male smelled him and peed over it! Ah yeah this is SO not happening here!

So, last time they came over we had finished dinner and we were watching a movie. The dogs were all with us. Cosmo walked up to my sleeping male and peed on his head! I said thats it! Time for you to leave. It was bad enough that he marked my chairs but you are not marking my dog!

My husbands friend owns a pet store so we went to visit him to see if there is any solution. He told us about a product called Boundary Dog Repellent.
I won't go as far as spraying my dog with it but we did spray a few areas inside and outside that I dont want him near. I haven't invited the little dogs back yet but my dogs have responded to the spray outside by leaving the area alone.

It can't hurt to pick up a bottle and give it a try. I was told to spray any area that was marked and any area that we didn't want the dogs near outdoors as well.

I was under the impression that neutered males dont do that but this Pomeranian sure does. My husband was ready to punt him. Not REALLY!

 

[luvwinnie]

So happy for you! Handsome boy.

 

[Jennasis]

Aww...what a looker! I'm thrilled for you!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Dawn, Connor is beautiful. I am so glad your heart will be able to love some more.

Wish I could help you with the marking thing. We brought home an older Siberian one time, still attached, and he would mark my washing machine. I have no idea why. As soon I would see him start down the hall, I knew what he was wanting to do. Unfortunately he kept this up until he was neutered. It was just really weird. He never marked any place else. He was an outside only dog before we acquired him. He house trained quickly. It was just that marking thing.


Hope you have better luck. The washcloth thing sounds promising. And easy enough to try.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

There is no way you'll be able to completely rid the house of Jude's scent. No way, no how.

Dogs' sense of smell is something like 400X the power of our sense of smell, some dogs even more.

It makes more sense to take the approach, IMO, that it's not ok to mark the house, regardless. Jude's scent will lessen as Connor's scent eventually becomes the main scent in the house. And because Jude's not actually there, Connor will learn there's not much threat to him even though he smells another dog.

Dogs smell other dogs everywhere. It's what dogs do.

 

[ambgoph]

Dawn, congrats on Connor - he is quite handsome. Try the rescue remedy - it really does work - I've been able to find it at my local pet store. Also, try giving Connor a "baby" so that he can carry it around with him. My dog loves her "baby" and will nuzzle it when she gets anxious or frustrated. I hope you have many years of hapiness with him.

 

[Feralpeg]

Congrats on your new best buddy! Dawn, I know how hard this must be for you. I still miss my Griffin so much and it has been 7 months since I lost him. The good thing is that my new puppies take up so much of my time, I don't have time to dwell. I hope you and Connor have a wonderful life together!

 

[DawnCt1]

All great ideas everyone. He is calming down today. Last night he was wired! I keep the house cool and he was panting most of the evening. I went out today for 45 minutes. I told everyone to leave him in his crate, which is good; he rested. He is used to that. He is also used to eating in his crate because around other dogs, he is competitive around food. Her twins could remove food from him but not another dog. Apparently he loves to eat, but you wouldn't know it now. I have had to "spice up " his kibble with canned food. If I go out again, I will crate his food with him. Maybe he will finish it. I also don't think that he has had a BM on a leash ever. I think that if DH and I take him out to the back yard, even though it is not fenced, he may be okay and not take off. He has good recall.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, congrats on Connor - he is quite handsome. Try the rescue remedy - it really does work - I've been able to find it at my local pet store. Also, try giving Connor a "baby" so that he can carry it around with him. My dog loves her "baby" and will nuzzle it when she gets anxious or frustrated. I hope you have many years of hapiness with him.

Jude loved stuffed toys. He never left the house without on. Conner has no interest. I may pick him up a bone today, but I don't want to decrease his appetite anymore than it is.

 

[Jockaroo]

Connor is a handsome fellow. He just needs time to get settled. If you are noticing accidents, try keeping him on his leash and clipping the other end to your belt loop. He won't be able to wander off and urinate. Google "umbilical leash housetraining". You also mentioned he wasn't used to doing his business on a leash--no better time than now to learn.

I wouldn't be very concerned about the lack of appetite for a few days. He is still nervous. He has new house rules to learn. He is healthy and he will eat when he needs to.

My current dog was 2 1/2 when we got her. The umbilical leash method does work--trust me. She had been primarily an outside dog and needed to learn manners. It amazes me how fast an adult dog can learn. I did obedience with her (she is very bright) and we have started on agility. You mentioned maybe doing agility with Connor. It is great exercise for you both and a wonderful way to bond. Connor does, however, need to have his basic obedience commands down very well before you start agility training. At age 2 he is a great age for this.

I also agree that you need to get him a few things that are his. My dog destroyed multiple toys per day for her first few weeks. She needed constant supervision or her crate. Since Connor isn't that interested in the plush squeak toys, consider getting him a Kong or a Nylabone chew bone. The great thing about the Kong is you can stuff it with healthy food goodies! Also I recommend Simple Solution or Nature's Miracle for the accidents. Healthy housetrained dogs won't soil their den. Connor just needs to understand that your home is now his den and this isn't acceptable. Since he is intact you may have issues with marking, but this is completely different from peeing in the house.

I do have to ask. Will you be doing his grooming and have to keep him in a full show coat? I can't begin to imagine the grooming challenges--I have a scruffy Scottie.

Enjoy him and may you and Connor be blessed with many healthy, happy years together.