Help! I think my puppy hates me

[Raghu]

After a lot of help from DK family, I was well prepared to receive my first pet my fur ball remy. Again, with help from DK family I was able to get him potty trained over the next 4 weeks.

He has been a very well behaved puppy over the last 3 months. We had to leave him at the boarding 2 weeks ago (for 3 days) to attend a family emergency. On bringing him back home he seemed to have forgotten all the potty training..

The other day, while I was admiring the new carpet we got, I caught him quietly peeing on the carpet.

It was my fault, I screamed in rage and pushed him off the carpet. Off the carpet, he was looking at me in the submissive pose and peeing all over himself. I picked him and took him out to his spot to pee. He did his business and just did not want to get back in the house.

Since then, he has lost appetite. Does not ring the bell when he needs to pee. Not very eager to get out of his crate. Refuses to get back home after his walks. The scariest was a couple of days back when I opened the crate door to take him out for his morning walk.

As I tried to pet him while he stood up in his crate, he peed in the crate !

I quickly picked him up and took him outside to do his business. He refused to get inside the house after  the walk. On carrying him into the house, he did not move from the spot I set him. I gave him his fav. snack but still no response. I cleaned up the mess in the crate after which he walked right back.

He warms upto me over the day. He plays fetch and tug. I let him win and praise him with treats to build his confidence but its the same situation in the morning where he is petrified and scared to get out of the crate.

Have I scared him for life? What else can I do to build his confidence ??

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

have you thought maybe he got sick at the kennel? maybe he has an UTI?

[Raghu]

What are the symptoms of UTI. He can hold while in the crate for 4-5hrs.

[Adina P]

You build his confidence by doing things together like obedience where you HAVE to work together and there is motivation for him to work with you.  As you show him you are trustworthy, consistent, and worthy of obeying, he will learn he has control over his life too =)  You don't win him over the way you'd win a person over.  Talking, bribery, etc won't go as far.

[Raghu]

I feel the same. He must have picked it up from the boarding facility.

I have trained him to sit, stay, down and paw. He picket it all up in days..

He still responds to all commands but he definitely looks scared.

I guess its time for a vet visit and obedience training.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think there is some fear going on here. A UTI would not account for his not wanting to leave his crate or return to the house. Submissive urination when you approach him is also a sign of fear. He is afraid of making a mistake. There may also be a UTI present as well.

Be sure to remember that verbal praise is very important. Treats are fine, but sometimes we forget to give them verbal praise. I was guilty of this. That high-pitched, very enthusiastic happy voice does not come naturally to me, and i had to make a conscious effort to remember to use it any and every time the pup made the right choice.

I do think it's important for you to get the help of an experienced trainer with this, once you have made sure it isn't a medical issue, or gotten it under control with medication if it is. This kind of behavior can escalate into fear biting if it isn't properly handled.

Good luck, I hope things improve.

 

 

[April Cliber]

"That high-pitched, very enthusiastic happy voice does not come naturally to me, and i had to make a conscious effort to remember to use it any and every time the pup made the right choice." 

I had to LOL.  I have to remind myself NOT to talk in that voice all the time!  I've been told I sound like Minnie Mouse.....  I need to find a happy balance! :)

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Too bad we can't combine voices, LOL!

[BG and Gavin]

Sheepishly I admit that I have caught myself "praising" my husband in the happy voice.  "Oh you emptied the diswasher!!!"

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Just don't add "Good Boy!", lol!

[Moe]

The trainer keeps remind me to use a more enthusiastic praise voice. The other day I made the psssst noise at my 15 year old son, he looked at me with that deadpan teenage look and said - that only works on the dog. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

ROFL!

I think using it on a 15 yr old is a great idea!

[BG and Gavin]

Ummm, guilty of this one too.