Cant take it anymore

19 15:00:04

Question

Molly I have a 4 month old beagle. We got her when she was 4 1/2 weeks - we knew it was early, but she was rejected by her mom and was going to the humane society otherwise. Since the beginning, we've been having problems with her. We thought it was just normal puppy stuff - extreme excitement, getting into everything, peeing in the house, pooing in the house, drinking out of the toilet, eating off the table and counters, unable to properly walk on a leash.
We've been very constant with training her - there isn't a time when she gets away with much.
We also have another dog, whom she looks up to and we think sees as her "father". She's depressed when he's not around, needs constant attention from him and follows him everywhere. He doesn't seem to mind too much - they play and get along well, except when he's tired - but it's not an issue.
The problem is we have been trying SO hard! Everytime she gets near the table we say "off". She knows what she is doing is wrong, but she does it anyhow. She has a box full of toys and plenty of bones, so she's pretty good with chewing only on her toys and not shoes and other things. She pees ALL OVER THE PLACE. At first it was hard because she was so young, but then we started teaching her. We know not to scold her unless we catch her in the act, which is not often. She has peed on every bedspread we own, every bed her and the our other dog have, on every inch of the kitchen flood and living room floor. I feel like I live in filth, even though I wash the floors everyday. She poops on the floor too, but at least that is easy enough to pick up. Some days shes' great! She whines when she has to go, she holds it until she gets outside. She sleeps alone and she listens. But other days, she'll pee on the floor while staring at me, tonight she stared at me while she peed on my bed!
I would like to crate train her and not allow her in our bedroom, but our other dog is allowed in our bedroom because he's fine, and I'm not about to change that. Can I crate train her without making her feel too separated from our other dog? I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't want to give her away, I love her, because she can be a good dog. But sometimes she just seems so defiant. I don't want her to think we hate her because we're constantly scolding her, but I don't know what else to do.
PLEASE HELP!

Oh- and for the life of me, I can't seem to leash train her.

Answer
Hi Samantha, I am so sorry to hear that you are having so many problems with Molly, I can hear the exasperation........ It sounds like you have put a lot of effort in to trying to get her trained and I want to encourage you to not give up, every dog is trainable.

First off let me comment on the crate training issue. Yes, you certainly could crate train her however be aware of a couple things, dogs with potty problems (who were not originally crate trained) will usually take their potty problems right into the crate with them and still end up going in the crate instead,which believe me is a HUGE mess to deal with all the time, plus more importantly they don't (in my opinion) ever learn how to behave outside of the crate properly. I am NOT a fan of crate training but must always add the caveat that some people think it is a good thing. What I can tell you though is that people who do believe in it will tell you it is never to be used as a disciplinary item or a way to seclude an animal. Proper crate training leads to a dog that loves his crate as his own private space, it is not a problem solving device.

As you seem to be aware, a good deal of her issues may stem from being away from mom and litter too soon. Important socialization occurs during that time and pups who miss out on it often have issues but the housebreaking issue would not be one of them. Her attachment to your other dog would therefore be normal in that she was so young and needed a figure to attach to for support and guidance. Ideally this should have been you instead as the surrogate mother and Alpha. I know this is all easier said than done so please don't misinterpret anything I am saying to think I am blaming you for anything, I am just giving you the true facts. It is very obvious to me that you love her very much and want the best for her.

Next I'd like to comment on the fact that she is only 4 months old and at 4 months a pup would only be able to hold it about 4-5 hours at a time.

As well to expect her to be leashed trained in any fashion at this age is folly. She is too young. In most circumstances a pup wouldnt even be allowed out of the house or yard until their shots are complete to avoid being exposed to any possible diseases. Normally at 4-5 months, when cleared by the vet, a pup would just now be learning to accept a leash having worn it around the house prior to any events outside. Once beginning to go outside on it there would be no expectation that they would do anything but get used to being on it and get used to be outside with all the stimulation and that would include pulling and starting and stopping etc fora while. When a pup is about 6 months "puppy kindergarten" classses can be undertaken however in most cases they maintain perhaps one or of two things from it as they are not mature enough to really be trained or have what they learned go into long term memory. Anywhere fromr 9 months forward is the opportune time for obedience training to begin which also includes behavior issues that remain. The people who have "perfect trained puppies" are people who do nothing but train their puppies all day every day until it becomes habit. Not too many of us have the time to develop these super dogs so dont be upset that you havent, while it is possible with hours and hours it is not easy to train a puppy to go against instinct because that is about all there is in the puppy brain.

You made a comment about her drinking out of the toilet and I am just wondering, one how she can even get that high and two: why are the toilet seats open? In all honestly with a dog or a cat in the house
I would always keep my seats down for many reasons, they can get sick from the blue stuff if you use it, they can pick up bacterias and infections, and small ones can fall in and even drown. I think this one is easy, train the PEOPLE to always keep them shut, it is natural for them to be curious.

Next how does a four month old dog eat off the table and counters? Does she jump up onto them? This is another case where if you have a dog or cat you must dog proof, be careful that nothing is out that is enticing,look at these areas from a dogs point of view and see if there are ways to accomplish these feats, if there is a way it will happen! she is after all a dog and then a beagle which means that food will rule her life and her nose. Is it possible to have a dog that you can drop food on the floor in front of and tell them "off" and they wont ever touch it..... yes, BUT not at four months, dogs that can do that are older and their owners have spent literally hours
upon hours daily training them to do it.

Lastly, before this becomes a book, I think the best thing you could do for yourselves and Molly is to engage the services of a trainer who will come to your house and work on these issues with you one on one. I can give you my housebreaking instructions that may curb that for you but the rest would be good to have someone in person working with you, even if you only do it once or twice you can gain a lot of insight and direction from it. If you would like me to send you the housebreaking paper please email me directly as it will be too long to add to this and I will send it as an attachment to an email. My email is have4paws@verizon.net...... you can also go back in to some of the old answers I have given others on this site and find it in someones elses answer.

I wish you the best of luck, Molly will turn out to be a great dog if you just hang in their and adjust your expectations of her at this young age and get some one on one help!

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