Separation Issues

Question
QUESTION: Dr. Connor, I have a 6 year old Siberian Husky in which I have had for about 2 years.  I do not know much about his history before coming to live with me, but I do know that his breeder took him back from his original owner after 4 years because of the poor treatment that he was receiving.  He spent most of his days in a fairly large kennel outside.  I picked him up in July 2006 and he lived in a house with me and my girlfriend at the time.  He was out of his kennel most of the day but slept in it at night.  I moved out of that house and into an apartment and kept the same routine.  After about 3 months I decided not to make him sleep in his kennel because he liked sleeping on the floor by my bed and that is what I was raised doing.  Shortly after moving into my apartment he begin to urinate and defecate on the floor by my kitchen.  He did this daily while I was at work and occasionally at night while I slept.  On the advice of a breeder, I put him on the ground one night and laid on top of him with his paws over his head until he relaxed and the messing in my apartment stopped and did not return.  8 months later I moved into another apartment and didn't have any problems.  Approx 18 months after he stopped, he started again.  Same exact place but in a the new apartment.  When he messes after I leave he usually urinates twice and defecates once.  He has only gone once while I have been home since he has restarted soiling in the apt.   I am currently trying a Comfort Zone Diffuser which has been in place about 30 days.  I would love your advice in what I should do or what you think is causing his behavior.  Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: That routine you did with the dog (forcing him on the ground) sounds like the old fashioned method of establishing dominance and in some dogs might produce high anxiety while in others might produce aggression!  Certainly NOT trust.  The Siberian Husky is close to type but this is NOT the manner in which these dogs are placed in "rank" nor is it the way to establish a calm, trusting environment.

This may or may not be separation anxiety.  Because the dog soils the exact same spot that he did in your old apartment is a clue: in your former home, was there an outside door approximately in this location?  it sounds as if the dog is attempting to approximate outdoor elimination.  Occasionally a dog will eliminate under a window or in line with a door.  I assume you've attempted journaling his defecation so as to capture this outdoors when you walk him?  The dog is either attempting to approximate outdoor elimination or is choosing this particular spot to 'mark' out of anxiety.

While the Comfort Zone Diffuser is alleged to reproduce pheromones that will calm a dog, I frankly don't put much hope in this product.  I suggest you NOT try any more dominance routines with the dog, totally inappropriate and may worsen this problem if it's anxiety.  He's undergone an inordinate amount of stress in his lifetime (as well as change) and he may be demonstrating his emotional/psychological inability to cope.  Three things: journal his outdoor defecation/urination to be sure you're giving the dog ample opportunity to do it outdoors while at the same time reinforcing his performance outdoors with reward.  Second thing, introduce one behavior using positive reinforcement training (should take approximately thirty trials for a strong, reliable conditioned response) and then ask the dog for that behavior (for reward/praise) ON THE SPOT he is using to mark/eliminate; and third, feed the dog on that spot twice a day, picking the food up after fifteen minutes each time.  If the combination of these things does not work (should take approximately one to three weeks tops), discuss with your Veterinarian a course of Clomicalm and repost for treatment for separation anxiety.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dr. Connor, Thank you for the timely response.  I have answers to most of the questions you asked so here they are.  In my original apartment, the area where he would go was not near a door or window.  It was in a dining area that was right off the kitchen.  In my new apartment the area is between 3 and 5 feet from a sliding glass door which goes out to a balcony that he goes out and lays on.  The square feet in both apartments that he would go on is about 2 x 2, it is very confined and right in the center of the room.  He is very regular on his walks, he urinates twice every walk and defecates twice a day.  This has been his pattern since I got him.  A side note about when he defecates in the apartment is that it is never normal size, they are usually a about a quarter of the size compared to when he goes outside.  I also would like to apologize for the things that I have done incorrectly with him and will not use these tactics any longer.  I will also try the recommendations you gave and see what result I can get.  Thank you again for your time and help.
Jeff Kahn and Jack D Husky

ANSWER: NO NEED to apologize!  MANY dog owners read, and watch, terrible trainers and think they're doing the right thing!  And I can't tell you how many really awful trainers I've had to clean up after in my career; there really should be state licensing mandated for anyone calling him or herself a dog training professional!

Your dog, from your description, may be marking out of anxiety.  The moves you and he have undergone have put a great deal of insecurity onto the dog (again, not your fault, you have to live!)  The pattern of elimination near the sliding glass door may be a different problem from the interior marking; give this dog a solid, secure emotional base by using your positive reinforcement training on a daily basis.  Make him earn a special treat twice a day (very small treat) and ask him to sit/stay (using positive reinforcement training) before letting him out onto the deck.  Feeding him on the spot he eliminates indoors will help, also, as suggested earlier.  Please repost with results.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dr. Connor, I wanted to let you know a couple more things that I have thought of over the last couple days that might give you more insight.  He marks in the same spot every day, the spot is right infront of the sliding glass door.  That part has been consistant.  There are a couple behavioral changes that I have noticed in the last couple weeks that I thought you might want to know.  He has gone from sleeping on either my bed or his (which is right next to mine), to sleeping in the closet or under my girlfriends bedside table.  Also, his playfulness level has decreased as well.  He just did get over a bacterial infection in which he was on Amoxitabs and was given a dose of amoxicillin with a mild steriod in it as well.  I made the comment in my last question to you about how when he defecates they are usually small and appeared to be forced out, well tonight it was the same way.  One inch by inch piece and 5 pea size droplets around it.  When it comes to his diet, I started adding yogurt to his breakfast and dinner but I cannot see why that would change his mood.  I hope I am not giving you useless information, I am just frustrated because he is my first dog of my own and I have never dealt with a situation like this.  My parents breed and show dogs, so I have expereience many things from whelping puppies to serious Alpha Bitch issues but nothing like this.  Thank you again for listening and helping.  Jeff and Jack D Husky

Answer
Your dog is highly emotionally stressed; his obtaining a closet means he requires a closed in, safer haven.  Have you ever trained him to a crate?  Obtaining one, putting it in your room (you can use it like a night stand, put a blanket over it and a slab of wood for your lamp, etc.) and leaving the crate door open (or even removing it, as some wire crates allow) can provide him with this security.  The steroid he was given could have affected his behavior.  But this dog needs psychological structure.  Use positive reinforcement training; obtain one solid command from him that he can perform successfully 100% of the time (takes about 3 weeks INDOORS and another 3 to 6 weeks outdoors in various environs).  Make the dog 'work' for his food, exercise and interaction with you (once he has obtained this behavior) for about a month.  This will relax him (because you are psychologically promoted).  Do NOT 'comfort' his apparent anxiety or fawn over his stress, you are rewarding it.  It's possible the combination of move and short physical illness (and perhaps the steroid use) has exacerbated his already anxious condition.  Your job is to provide CALM, CONSISTENT, PATIENT presence so he can relax.  Let's try this for a few weeks and repost with results or any further questions.