adopted a shih tzu

Question
On Christmas Eve we were called, and asked to adopt a 14 month old shih tzu, supposedly a child developed allergies... I always wanted a small inside dog, and I said yes....  He is adorable, but a few issues I need help with.  1. Just this morning he seemed to have trouble pooping.  tried many times, and was finally successful.  He did have some poop left on him, and my husband and I had to remove it.  Seemed to have some hair in it.  We cleaned him up, but want to know should we be taking him to the vet.  I have not gotten his past vet records yet.  I am planning on getting him neutered.

Overall he is adjusting very well. My heart breaks for him.  He was in 3 homes over the past 2 months.  One wanted to use him to breed, did not work out, another had an older shih tzu that would not tolerate him, and the third was just a foster stop...

He does not want to be held, but prefers that you sit on the floor with him.  He cries every evening when things are settling down for the night...  I give him lots of attention, but want to figure out what he wants.  He is afraid of stairs, and has some hesitation around men.
We leave his crate open all day, but do lock him in at night.  He is a very good sleeper and actually "yawns" at 11:00 pm to go to sleep.  I just want to make sure that we give him everything he needs to have a wonderful life.
I would appreciate any advice on the pooping issue, and the crying... Thanks so much.

Answer

Hi Nora,

Congratulations on your recent dog adoption!

Stress,  an abrupt change of diet, or even a change of water since adopting your dog, can cause a little constipation. You can try adding about teaspoon of canned pumpkin (or thawed frozen squash) to his meals. An alternative is to add a teaspoon or two of Wheat bran, or a high fiber breakfast cereal such as Grape Nuts. Another thing to try for constipation is to add mineral oil to your dog's food. Use one teaspoon for a dog as small as yours.  If you over-do the fiber supplements, you dog can develop diarrhea.  Be sure you're feeding your dog a good quality food, and that he drinks enough water. Once your dog is having normal bowel movements without straining, an apple wedge or two (no seeds) or a baby carrot or two each day can help give him the extra fiber he needs. These also happen to be excellent non-fat healthy treats!

You can carefully trim the hair under your dog's tail, if you find it traps waste. It's good you're having your dog neutered.

Because your dog is only in your home about a week, he hasn't fully adjusted to living with you. Given his history of being re-homed a number of times, he may seem a little standoffish for a month or more. This is normal. Let him have his space, and come to you. It's okay to entice him to you with a tasty morsel. When he's near you, stroke him gently, but allow him to step away when he wants to. He can't be forced, but he will improve. It can help not to look your dog in the eye, and not to bend over him. Those can both be threatening to a dog. Instead, look beyond the dog, and kneel at the dog's side. Do things to attract him interest without calling her directly to you--bounce a ball, fill a Kong toy with treats and roll it on the floor, toss a squeak toy in the air.  You want him to WANT to be with you, so make yourself interesting, fun, and non-threatening.  Again, do not approach him head-on, but from the side.  Eventually, you will win his trust and love. He's been through a lot. It just takes time, and patience.

The crying should stop as he starts to feel that it's "his" house, and you are "his" people. When he starts to cry, entice him to you, to distract him. If won't come or won't be distracted out of the crying, ignore him. When he sees that he is not getting your attention (which is a reward, even when it's for a behavior you'd rather he didn't do) he will stop, but it may take several weeks. It can help to increase your dog's daily exercise. Exercise relieves stress for a dog, it makes them calmer and serves as mental stimulation, and it also tires them out. A tired dog is a quiet dog!  An extra leashed walk or two each day,  at a brisk pace will be very helpful, especially during this time of adjustment.

If you can, enroll him in an obedience class but explain to the trainer that your goal is socialization more than learning the commands (that can come later).  He should be in a controlled place with other dogs and people where YOU are in charge.  He needs to see that he can rely on you in a stressful situation.

It's not at all unusual for your dog to fear men. He may have know some abuse at some point which he associates with a man. Allow your husband to feed and walk him, so the dog sees your husband in a positive light and is dependent upon him for good things.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti