Thank you for your help!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I really appreciate everyone's input on Mickey. I took your suggestions seriously and it seems to be better. We are allowing him to come to us. We are not reaching for him and he has left us fewer stains on the patio. YEAH!

He is the sweetest, little thing! I still have't seen him actually squat to pee intentionally but I am sure that will come in time. He has found his poop spot which unfortunately is in my planting bed but as long as he goes I am have not pushed it but I think it is time to take him to the pen to poop.

Speaking of the pen, that little scoundrel has found a way to get out - the pen is the area on the side of our home that is enclosed with a gate. We have the dog door there. This little pooper crawls out between the long side of the fence (that goes around the backyard) and the post that has the section that runs perpendicular to the fence. That MAYBE 3" wide! I put up large rocks in the opening which he knocks down with his head and legs. What a brat - I can't trust him to be left in there without getting out. I am afraid if I do, he will try and dig under the fence and I don't want him to get the satisfaction of getting out after digging. I assume he thinks of it as being back in the shelter so I am spending time with him just hanging out. I hope that he starts to think of the pen as his place to chill out and it is not a punishment. Little by little!

He nows eats Samantha's poop. I know he must feel that he has to eat everything he can but he has a bowl of his kibble that is half full since he already ate the other half.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe you could put the rocks on the outside if you haven,' already done that. Also you could get some chicken coop wire or something like that and attach it to the bottom of the fence temporarily. I used to call my older dog Harry Houdini but now that he has given up the title the puppy is Harriet Houdini.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Glad to hear things are a little better. Yes, it will take time. I have a little Houdini of my own right now. Finnegan has escaped a couple of times already. Poor Mickey has a lot to overcome. I hope he feels safe and comfortable soon.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

It is the equivalent of baby abandoned at birth to be raised by dogs (This really happened in the former Soviet Union). She knew nothing about being a human. Animals learn faster. Mickey will learn to be a civil dog eventually. Hang in there! The eating poop thing is really disturbing because we all know why he does it...he probably learned to eat his own just to keep from starving in his cage. Poor little dood! Hug him for me and a great big smooch to the top of his furry little head.

[Janie]

Poor Mickey it will take a little time, but with a mom like you I trust all is going to be good with him sooner then later.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We made major strides today! He actually peep in the pen! Yahoo!

When we got to work this morning, Samantha decided to play with Mickey like she would play with her adult doodle friends. She was showing off! I think she was also telling Mickey that these ladies were her friends. It was funny,

He is trying so hard to play with and like Samantha. We stopped at the dog park. We went into an area that was empty. I kept Mickey on a leash and Samantha and I played ball. All he wanted to do was be with Samantha, It was so cute. He really bonded with her quickly.

Tonight, he took her Moo out to the lawn to play with it. She ran after Samantha but bolted right back to her safety spot under the little maple but she comes out again. She isn't hiding as much, if she is spoken to her softly, the submissive peeing is much less. If only I can get him to pee we would be able to get this somewhat under control.

Tomorrow is another day.

Again, thank you everyone for your support!!

Adrianne

[Leslie and Halas]

You're making great progress. It sounds like there's a really great doodle in there that is starting to find himself with your help. I'm sure it's really cool to watch that happen. Can't wait to see more pics.