Hi

I hope some one can help me.  I bought 2 shar-pei bitches, they are both over 2 years old.  They go for walks daily, and we have a very large garden and they go out numour amount of the day.  But when it comes to us going to bed.  They poo and wee in the kitchen, on the carpet and the laminate flooring.  I have tried changing their eating from mornings to nights and nothing is working. I shout at them, and throw them out, they know they have done wrong. Any suggestion would be greatly appriciated.

Julie

your dogs are marking their territory because they are the pack leaders. I saw this on sky3s the dog whisperer.When you have been out what do yiu do first when you go into your house, do you make a fuss of the dogs or do you take off you coat and sit down with a cup of tea.

Hi Julie,

Sounds to me like your Shar Pei may be suffering from separation anxiety, I have a two year old Shar Pei and she too suffers from it only she does not defecate she chews things when we're out. Does this tend to happen only when you leave them ie go to work or bed? if so then sounds like an almost definate case of SA, try changing your routine this is somehing that dogs are experts at picking up on they know exactly what is going to happen next by your movements.

 Secondly, dont make a huge fuss of leaving them, keep all the attention really low key for about 20 mins before you go to bed, minimal talking and minimal eye contact do the same in the morning. If they jump up then dont look at them and just say "down" but with a gentle stroke so there is still a minimal amount of affection. once they have calmed down or as I said after 20 mins or so then go to them and pay them some attention. This also helps to assert your Dominance over them, dominant dogs will act non chalont when being demaned attention from and will go to the other members of the pack and demand attention when they want it.

 Another point here is that shouting will do nothing but teach your dog fear! Dominant dogs never bark loudly or go crazy or nuerotic they simply give a low rumbling growl to let lower members know they're boss. if you catch your dogs doing something wrong then by all means correct the behaviour with a low toned rumbling "NO" and a gentle but assertive touch to the shoulder.

 Something else you could try is a Dog Appeasing Pheremone Diffuser (DAP) you can get them from the internet or your vets (although internet tends to be cheaper) and all it is a plug in like an air freshner that gives off a pheremone which a *** produces after having pups, this helps to calm and reassure the new puppies. It works in exactly the same way for adult dogs! they cost about £17 and tend to last over a month. you switch them on just before you go to bed and turn them off when the dogs are in your presence. And dont worry we cannot smell it only the dogs can so it wont give off any funny smells in your kitchen!

You can also try some fun obedience training about an hour or so before bed to make sure they have tired minds, walks are great but they may not necessarily provide sufficient mental activity. 

 Sorry for the essay but I hope some of this helps!  

 Caz

Good advice from Julie.

I'm a qualified veterinary surgeon and that's pretty much the advice I give for dealing with separation anxiety.

 The main points are: when you arrive home after leaving the dogs alone, or when you get up in the morning do not give them eye-contact or attention for 15-20 mins - that way they will not associate their messy behavious with bringing you home.  Shouting, making a fuss, giving attention etc will serve to re-inforce their behaviour rather than discourage it.

Discouragement should be mimicking an angry pack-leader.  A low, growly voice with simple commands.  'No!' etc and, if necessary a sharp, firm (but obviously not violent!) tap/grab to the shoulder. Avoid, prolonged, fussy, high-pitched altercations.

 There is a chance that your problem could be due to something other than sep/anx.  It could be failure of toilet training.  It could be a dietary problem.

Make sure that you don;t feed them too late, you take them out for a decent walk before bedtime and tehn give them time to calm down after the walk before you retire.

Make sure that they are being a fed a good quality, complete food and not getting titbit and the remains of your dinner - as these things will lead to unpredictalbe and varied bowel movements.  Chat to you r vet about it - they will recommend a decent brand of food.

If no luck, get them checked by a vet and refered to a behaviourist.

 

Hope that;s helpful.