Rescue dog + behavior issues

Question
Hi Shelley,
Thanks so very much for your response - I will definitely take that advice and pay more attention to making Rocky feel comfortable and loved rather than clean and brushed. We haven't scolded him really at all - only the time he pooped, so I don't know why he would be afraid of me, unless, like you said, he's associating the brushing and bathing with me. Last night when I got home we went on a long walk and then played for a good 30 minutes together. He seemed to like the attention and was definitely a lot warmed to me later in the evening when I put out my hand he came and wanted to be pet. So...I think he just needs some more love and attention. I will watch him very closely and if he doesn't start getting better with the allergies, I'll be sure to get him to the vet and see what they have to say. Thanks again for your encouragement and I will be sure to keep you posted on Rocky's situation.
Thanks - have a great day,
Natalie
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Followup To
Question -
Hello,
I am so glad I found this site - I have so many questions for you... My husband and I recently bought a Toy Fox Terrier named Rocky from a local small dog rescue. He's 4 1/2 years old and weighs about 6.5 pounds. When we first saw him at the rescue, he had such a bad coat, lots of dandruff, not a lot of hair on his paws from itching, his eyes were always wet and he sneezed and snorted a lot. The lady that had him said that he'd been at the SPCA and was 8 days away from being euthanized and so she had brought him to the rescue and had had him for a month or so. I asked her to explain his skin/allergy conditions and she said that he's allergic to corn and that he was on a different food to help him get better. We brought him home, I did a lot of research on dog food allergies and we changed his food again, bought a special allergy/medicated shampoo and I bathe him about 4 times a week and brush him out daily. His coat looks a lot better now, but he still has the weepy eyes and is always sneezing and still itches his paws. I called the vet and she said to give him some children's Benadryl or some sort of antihistamine. So..I give that to him two times a day and I also put a coat supplement on his food and give him a few green beans with his food in the morning to help with his coat. So...like I said - he looks a lot better but the allergies haven't gone away completely. This new food is called BLUE and it doesn't have a lot of products that he could be allergic to, so I'm hoping that after a few weeks of eating it, that corn or whatever he's allergic to will be out of his system.
As far as the behavioral problems go, we were told that Rocky was house-trained, and would go to the door if he needed to go out. We've had him for three weeks now and he has always gone to the door accept for last night - he went into the bathroom and pooped on the floor! We don't know what caused that but maybe thought that he did go to the door and we didn't see him right away. We did scold him for doing that though...
We are gone during the day for work, so we take him out in the morning and then again as soon as we get home. We block him off in the kitchen area which is a very good size and we put his crate in there, plenty of toys and some things to chew on - he won't go to the bathroom in there and he does eat and drink during the day while we aren't there. At night he likes to play a lot and we sometimes go for a walk. Recently, just within the last week or so...he doesn't want to be held or loved on at all like in the weeks prior. When we first brought him home he would put his paws up on the couch and I would pick him up and he'd lie on my chest for hour and hours - he loved to be loved on! Now...he can't stand to be held and doesn't ever want to be in the same room as we are. If we're cooking in the kitchen, he's in the living room - and at night, when we're in the living room, he loves to go behind the kitchen table in a corner and lay down or in the dark closet or in the bathroom. I don't understand this behavior and it makes my husband and me sad that he doesn't want to be with us - is he just a "free spirit" or is there something wrong? I think he hates me because I'm always the one that has to give him his medicine and give him a bath and brush him out - all things he DOESN'T like very much! Is he associating all the things he doesn't like to me? We love him so much and got him because we really wanted a good companion - now he just doesn't even want to be in the same room as we are! I hope you can help - sorry I have so many questions. Thanks and have a great day! - Natalie

Answer -
Hi Natalie,

Thank you for writing to me. I would like to help you with the problems that you and Rocky are facing.

#1.  "His coat looks a lot better now, but he still has the weepy eyes and is always sneezing and still itches his paws. I called the vet and she said to give him some children's Benadryl..."

*Benadryl is good for emergencies but it doesn't get to the heart of the underlying problem..merely covers it up and should not be used long term.

.."he looks a lot better but the allergies haven't gone away completely. This new food is called BLUE..."

*I suspect that the stress and vaccinations that were given to him during his rescue period have destroyed his immune system.  I would suggest that you don't vaccinate him in the future (do a google on vaccinations/danger).  

*It sounds like he definitely has allergies, most likely to food, but check out his environment..any carpet cleaner, poisons on the lawn etc.  I clean only using Dr. Bronners and Vinegar and use nothing on the lawn but Gerry Baker's all natural approach.

*As far as food is concerned, I urge you to give him real food instead of dog food.  If you want to use dog food, Blue is supposed to be good but I prefer a food that is fish and potato or venison and potato etc.  Also, a raw food diet might be very beneficial.  There are companies that sell pre-frozen raw food that is mixed with veggies and grains.  It is first necessary to find out what Rocky is allergic to..it could be grains, or chicken or beef etc.  The best way to find out is to do an elimination/rotation diet.  Do a 6 day rotation where you eliminate let's say chicken for 6 days and then rotate with another protein such as turkey.  Watch for signs of allergic response.   A useful book on the subject is by Dr. Pitcairn "Natural Health For Dogs And Cats."

#2.  "he went into the bathroom and pooped on the floor! We don't know what caused that but maybe thought that he did go to the door and we didn't see him right away. We did scold him for doing that though... "

*It is counter productive to scold or punish a dog after the fact.  Prevention is the best way to train a dog.  There are reasons why Rocky soiled in the house.  First, you have to get a full medical check up to make sure there is no underlying medical condition such as a bladder infection.  Secondly, perhaps he did go to the door, as you suggest and wasn't seen and then became discouraged and couldn't hold it any longer.  Punishing him after he was  a good boy and was ignored can do emotional damage to the little guy and confuse him.  

*Prevention means going back to basic puppy housebreaking and preventing him from having the freedom to roam the house and make mistakes.  However, you would have to be on top of the situation and walk him at specific times so as to get him into a routine he can count on.

*Never use punishment as a means of training your dog.

#3. "We are gone during the day for work, so we take him out in the morning and then again as soon as we get home.."

*Walking a dog only two times a day is not adequate and will eventually lead to bladder and kidney problems and long term, possibly even to cancer. Unless you get a dog walker or leave a wee wee pad down for him, the stress on his bladder is too much.  At the very least he should be walked before going to bed.  The best and most healthy schedule is 4 times during a 24hr. period.

#4...."  just within the last week or so...he doesn't want to be held or loved on at all like in the weeks prior.... I think he hates me because I'm always the one that has to give him his medicine and give him a bath and brush him out - all things he DOESN'T like very much!"

*Think back and try to remember if you have ever called him to you and punished him or yelled at him or hit him?  If you have, Rocky is afraid.  

*If he has experienced pain or fear when you were brushing or bathing him then he would naturally try to avoid you.  

*Unless it hurts him to be touched due to an underlying medical condition, this is a behavioral issue based on fear and needs to be address very sensitively.

*There was a time when he experienced his relationship with you as loving, gentle and kind but in his little doggie mind it has changed and he is avoiding you.  Now you will have to give him back his confidence in you.  Stop the baths and brushing for awhile.  Feed him out of your hand so that he thinks of you and physical touch as something nourishing.  Don't scold him.  Get some yummy treats such as real chicken or turkey or cheese and give him little pieces and speak to him in a high pitched, gentle voice.  Handle him very gently and with great care as you would a new born baby.  He is a little thing and apparently has some fear issues so treat him very delicately and lovingly.  Re-gaining his trust is more important than him making a mistake in puppy housebreaking or having a bath.

*When he finally is relaxed with you, get in touch with me and I will give you information as to how to reduce his anxiety regarding grooming.

*It wouldn't hurt to have a professional trainer or behavorist come in to do an evaluation.  Choose one that ONLY does positive reinforcement training.

Please keep in touch. I am concerned about Rocky.  We want to move him back to being a loving, trusting little munchkin.  The best of luck.

Regards,
Shelley Davis
www.bednbiscuit.com  

Answer
Hi Natalie,

So glad to hear that Rocky is improving.  It is really a good idea to feed him from your hand for a couple of times and then to give him little treats so that he continues to associate your hand with great things like bits of cheese and chicken.

Also, vets get about 12 hrs of schooling on nutrition.  It is not their field of expertise.  I have given you just about the best information available without having an expensive consultation with a nutritional expert.  Try something like Fish & Potato (Solid Gold ) and see how he does on that.

Keep me posted.

Also..I would so apprecaite it if you could fill out the feedback form.

Thanks.
Shelley