Serious help needed with new dog...

[teamfargo]

First off, a bit of background. We rescued Gloria, a six year old (?) mix in October. She is a wonderful dog. Quite the diva and has us wrapped around her paw! Knows how to get what she wants and rules the place! Once in awhile, she will pee in the house. I let her out every four hours because of this. She seemed lonely. We knew she lived at the shelter for six long years with other dogs, so we decided to get her a playmate.

We adopted Biscuit, a one year old female mutt. She is not blind or deaf, but she appears to be retarded. After one month, she still does not know her name. I tried using treats to teach her to sit. One box of treats later, she has no clue. My frustration is with her having accidents in the house. She goes out every four hours also and will do her business outside. I know she has some grasp of what to do. I have a large area in my bedroom where I put down newspapers and pee pads. (I chose the section of my carpet that she pees all over). What does she do? Choose a new spot that I step in as soon as I get out of bed in the morning. There is nothing like waking up late only to step in pee and then having to hobble around to clean your foot up!

Now Gloria has decided that our bedroom in a great place to pee and poo and I also will wake up to a wonderful aroma! (At least she will go on the pads...)

Can a dog be retarded? How do you work with a retarded dog? She is very timid, but loves me to pieces. She will romp all over the bed and engage me in play, so she doesn't see me as scary. (She's scared of the kiddos though!) I gently tell her no when she pees inside. I take her over to the spot, point and say no. She appears to have a grasp of what no means, although I'm not sure how much. I plan on going outside to praise her when she goes, but the weather has been cold and I've been too much of a wimp to stand out there for 5 minutes every four hours!

I think I will be able to deal with Gloria's problem as she is being lazy and can smell the carpet, so a professional carpet cleaning and enzyme treatment should do the trick. Biscuit is worrying me though. She lives in my bedroom and won't leave willingly. We have to put her on a leash just to get her to her food bowl. I relented after one month and put a water bowl in my bedroom as she wasn't getting hardly any water. Both dogs get a can of wet food mixed with kibbles in the morning (Gloria's rule!) That was Biscuits only 'water' until the bowl in the bedroom. She just will not go downstairs to eat, drink, etc.

Any suggestions on working with her?

[JakodaCD OA]

first of all if they are pottying in your house, they have to much freedom.
Working with shelter dogs, (actually it sounds like Gloria who was sheltered longer has been much better about it) can be tough, you have to treat them as puppies since they haven't really grasped the idea of potty training..I NEVER use papers or wee pads, this will only encourage a dog to GO in the house, sending mixed signals..
I would definately crate train Biscuit, get her on a tight schedule, outside every couple of hours, when she potties outside HUGE PRAISING/REWARDS,,
They would be tethered to me or crated UNTIL they earned the right of freedom by not pottying in the house.
As for a dog being, whatever, (I don't like the word retarded), I doubt it. She has probably been a dog who has no clue about ANYTHING. I would work with her alone on a daily basis..If she is food motivated, use it as your reward..You have to keep in mind you are working with the mindset of a puppy,
Good for you for rescuing them both!
I also encourage you to take some kind of obedience classes

[Sirlocksley]

The key to you training these dogs is consistency. I know it gets cold in the winter, but if you only stand outside with the dog sometimes, it will think it is ok to go outside sometimes. I sugtgest crate training and obedience training also. As for the dog that will not eat or drink, put the food and water in the area of the house that YOU want. When the dog gets hungry or thirsty, it will go to the food and water. Right now the dogs are training you. You need to turn that around.
Joseph L. Bickel
www.obediencedogtraining.com

[spoiledrottencleo]

Hey, Joseph. What part of Indiana are you from? I live in the northwest.

[sharon]

i highly doubt your dogs retarded. I got my pug at a very young age and as he was growing, i also at one point felt he was deaf or maybe as u called it, retarded. He couldnt understand his name no matter what treats we gave and he only had a slight sense of what no was. We would call his name and it was if he couldnt hear us. He just seemed so into himself. but he was so playful and always wanting to fool around with our other pup. Needless to say, he grew out of it. He's very food obsessed and will literally block out everything else once food is present. Just give it time, your pup will come out of it. Just gotta give him all the love

[mojo]

Can a dog be retarded? How do you work with a retarded dog?
im sorry but this is by far the funniest thing ive ever read