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Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985  We have one entrance only, so I couldn't try your technique Nancy. I live in a condo so there really is only one way in. I don't think I take him anywhere unpleasant I take him to the park (different parks), out for walks around the complex, out to potty, the doggie park which I think he enjoys, to my parents house every weekend, and I've taken him to the vet for a full check-up when I got him and two days later for his neuter where he had bloodwork and all that done, he hasn't been back since.
He is a really shy boy, the only times I've heard a peep out of him is when I get home from somewhere and he wants to get my attention (he's upstairs in my room in his ex-pen). He did try lifting his leg the first day he got here, and I just quickly scooped him up since I knew that would make him stop mid-stream. After that I would put his belly band on him, and when I saw him try to mark I would clap twice and say "no" in a firm voice. Not like yelling but a firm no. It seemed to work so when I tried to get him to stop his obsession for licking the other dog's ear I would do the same. When clapping to distract him wouldn't cut it, I would either take Danger away (the other dog) or Kaji by picking him up. It seemed to work because he doesn't do it anymore and Danger is happier not to have a pushy little kid sticking his tongue in his ear. Kaji did whine then because he couldn't help himself, he really wanted to lick Danger's ears. Like I said he doesn't do it anymore, he can go up to Danger, sniff him, give him a quick lick but not in the obsessive manner he started with.
The only thing I can think of right now where I did push Kaji to far was brushing his hair. He got something caught in his hair and I was trying to remove it without cutting his hair and I kept pulling and pulling. Instead of taking a break when he got restless, I kept trying to get it. I realized later that all I did was aggrivate him, and now I try not to push him. If I see him getting restless I put the brush down give him five minutes, start petting him, and then try again with just a few brushes and then I give him a treat for allowing me to do so. It takes me longer to brush him this way, but I don't want him to fear the brush.
I tried to go the "set them up for success" route and repetition. For example, when I figured out that he would pee a few mins after I came back and he got settled, the first thing I would do once he was settled is pick him up, walk downstairs and give him a chance to pee in the correct place. I let him sniff to his hearts content and he chooses the pee place, I just give him options. An example of repetition is when I got him to stop jumping up in his expen when I would go get him. If he was sitting, laying down, or standing in a calm manner I would approach the door. If he started jumping up I would take a step back and wait for him to calm down. I would repeat the process until he allowed me to unlock the door (it has a latch) and open it. |
It sounds like you are doing many great things, and I don't think the brush incident would have anything to do with him being fearful of going out the front door. You are right, slow is better, and I had to give Joey about 10 cheerios in order to brush him when I first started. Start at the ends, and each time go closer to the body, until the final brushing is on the body, and end with a comb to the body, this will ensure all tangles are out, a good conditioner helps a lot with this too.
I know some trainers entice with a bit of treat to help overcome a fearful situation. The small piddling sounds like submissive peeing, and many things can cause this, but perhaps a previous owner was too strict on the housebreaking. Many people still will rub the dog's nose in the mess, and hit with a newspaper, and this often leads to submissive peeing, there are other causes as well, over excitement leads to the same type of peeing, but you usually see it at the door, and the dog is wiggling, and happy to see you, and just cuts loose. Since you have no way of knowing what your dog has experienced it may be more difficult for you to discover what's the cause is, but if being afraid of the front door happened suddenly, I would try to think back and see if there was something that could have set it off. Does he do this every time you try to get him to go out the door? Have you tried enticing him with treats? Overall, I think you are doing a great job!