[abyrd23]

I just adopted a 2 year old greyhound terrier mix from the kennel four weeks ago. The kennel said that he was an inside dog. The problem is getting him to go to potty outside. He seems to be shy about peeing and pooping. I have taking him for a two hour walk through the park and around the block and I cannot get the dog to go outside. The most he will do is a couple of drops. People have suggested a bladder problem, but he leaves huge puddles and poops all over the house. The strange thing is no one ever sees him do it. He hides under the table, behind the entertainment center any other place he can hide. I have tried leaving him is the yard for a couple of days and seeing if he will go but there was nothing in the yard and when he came in the first thing I found when I woke the next morning was pee and poop all over the entertainment room. I know dogs take work but it is a full time job trying to get the dog to use the bathroom outside. Any suggestions.

[labman]

I do all I can to encourage adoption, and hate to see somebody's good deed punished like that. The long walks were a good idea. Leaving him outside by himself would have worked with some dogs. What you are going to have to do is learn to read him, learn his schedule, and keep a close eye on him. Use gates or closed doors to keep him in the same room as you. I have a short chain fastened to the one computer desk so I can keep a puppy right at my side while I work. Some people even leash the dog to themselves.

When you can't watch him, you must restrict him, a crate is best. Other dogs may not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with. Still your house and dog will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away. 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. They are harder for dogs to open too. 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. Accidents are the fault of whoever was watching the dog.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
Time for more than one dog.

Part of the problem may be that he was punished too severely when caught relieving himself in the house. He learned he would be punished if seen relieving himself. He didn't understand it was for being inside the house. You must catch him in the act, but rather than punish him, rush him outside. If you can, pick him up to take him out. Then keep him moving. Maybe even let him disappear behind behind a bush in a fenced yard. Eventually he will finish relieving himself. Praise him lavishly for it. A few instances of that may be all it takes. Keep it up until he understands you will not punish him for relieving himself. The praise slowly shifts to going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it even gets near the door.