I have a 7 month old black and tan mini daschund, and I have noticed that in the past week he has been shedding a lot. I took him in the car and when we got out I have to vacuum the hair because there was so much. I have never had this problem with him before. The only thing different from before was that before he was inside but since he pees everywhere he has been outside all day everyday except at night when he sleeps. I'm getting a bit worried and don't know what to do.. please help

Jenna (jwong123)

Puppies don't shed near as much as adults. He may be old enough to be shedding more. To keep a dogs skin and coat in good shape and reduce shedding, feed a decent chow and little else, brush regularly, and bathe seldom if ever. I have found a wire slicker brush very effective in periods of heavy shedding, Otherwise, I stick to a soft bristled brush.

You should be able to solve the peeing problem and bring him back in the house where he belongs. If it is a housebreaking problem, see https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251809

If he was housebroken, and now is urinating in the house, it likely a challenge to your leadership. Take him to the vet. Have him examined. You can't train away a UTI. Arrange to have him neutered if not already.

Then take over as leader. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete Here are some more ways of letting a young dog understand who is in charge:

''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.

Keep a close eye on him at all times, closing doors or using gates to keep him where you can see him. If you catch him in the act, give him a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take him out. If you don't catch him in the act, there is nothing to do but clean it up. The sticky has some help.

When you can't watch him, crate him. It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first. What the puppy
Wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the
Household, and any other pets. In our modern society, even if we are home,
Other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The
Only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around. The dog may be
Happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
Den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
Its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
Will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
Ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put
In a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select
A crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
Anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
Bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at
Feeding time for more than one dog.