Advice please with dogs that we babysat

[VScott & Lloyd]

Hi All,

This is not a specific doodle question but I'm just trying to help out my sister because we are running out of ideas...

This past summer my family and I babysat my sister's dogs (2 shih tzu/maltese mixes, approximately 3.5 years old, brother/sister. The female was recently adopted earlier this spring but adjusted well). The dogs got along fine with us and our doodle Lloyd, but we had issues with the little ones peeing and pooping inside the house despite lots of walks and backyard time. It happened almost everyday but I chalked it up to new surroundings. If we left the house (no more than 4 hours at a time), the little dogs were contained in the bathroom. There were no potty accidents there except for the first time. Meanwhile, they got lots of love and attention during their stay. The dogs went home after 10 days and all was well.

A few weeks later we watched the dogs again for about 4 days. My sister and her family flew cross-country to drop of my nephew at his new college. The little dogs came running to my front door excited for the visit. Unfortunately, pee and poop in my house again during their stay.

Little dogs go home and are now pooping in their own home everyday since they got back (it's been a month now). They do it while everyone is gone in the morning, even after they've eliminated prior that morning. My sister isn't gone all day either, she comes home at around noon. If she does stay home, the dogs just sleep with no poop accidents. She's tried crating but they end up pooping in the crate (and stepping in it), and she's tried gating them in the kitchen but she feels it's traumatizing them more since they were not crated or gated as pups. She thinks they may have separation anxiety since my nephew has gone to college (however, my 13 year-old niece is still at home) and the experience of the separation during their trips. They eat 1 meal in the evening and my sister has tried feeding them less but that hasn't worked.

The vet has confirmed it's not a medical issue and is a behavioral issue and recommended just crating. I told my sister I'd write on this forum because so many of you good people have such great advice!

Would love to hear your thoughts/tips/adivce. Thanks in advance!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 It does sound like separation anxiety, especially since it only happens when the entire family is gone. Since she has tried so many things  perhaps she should consider consulting with an animal behaviorist who has had previous experience with this issue. The longer it goes on the more difficult it may be to turn it around.  I think the primary goal would be to help them remain calm when they are alone without people. 

The rescue hasn't been with them very long  really and it was probably very upsetting for her when they left her at your house and her not knowing if they were returning. The male may have just picked up her fear and habits.  And then the nephew leaving was just too much. Any change in a household can be very upsetting for animals-some being more sensitive then others. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have to mention that Maltese are notoriously difficult to housebreak, some of them never really get to the point where they completely stop having accidents in the house, and I'm thinking that may have something to do with this, especially the one who was recently adopted. And if she's doing it in the house, that's contributing to her brother following suit. Unfortunately, there is not much they can do about it if they can't catch them in the act.

Have both dogs been desexed? 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

This is exactly what the first dog we had as a couple did.  We were Ivan's third home, due to no fault of his, or his previous owners.  He was a great dog and perfectly housebroken.......except when we left him alone. Then he pooped right in the middle of the living room.  We could not figure it out, until one day we watched him through the tiny window in the front door.  He pooped immediately upon our leaving and then went to his bed and to sleep!   I think he was simple marking his new home in our absence.

We gave him access to the backyard, which was fenced and immediately the poop moved to the backyard.  Ivan was a large dog in a quiet suburban neighborhood so he was perfectly safe in his backyard.  The little dogs maybe not so much.

Crate them in small side by side crates upon leaving.  The crates should be just big enough for them to stand and turn around.  Spend at least two weeks feeding them every meal in their crate with it open.  Then teach them to go to their crates for a small reward. Then stay with door closed but everyone home, increasing the time. Then just before you leave, return in 5-10 minutes and then extend time gradually.  This really only takes a couple of months, if that.  You want to teach them that crate time is safe time.  Small crates insure no pooping or peeing.

I did know one family that had a crate for their small dog that would line up with a dog door to a small enclosed yard space with a roof.  This worked for them because they wanted to be able to leave her for extended times and give her a place to potty and stretch her legs.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Little dogs are not my friend.  My daughter has a little rescue and she pees and poops inside our home also.  She does it on purpose. This little dog is a dominant one - she even marks. We have a dog door that she has access to and uses. When we dog sit, we use an ex-pen and a baby corral in pieces to block off all rooms with carpet.  When my daughter stays at our house dog sitting, I set the barriers up, but I know she moves them and her little dog pees and poops wherever.   I hate this and because of it I don't like her little dog.  Bottom line is if you are dog sitting in your home, stretch barriers across openings to restrict their access. If you only have carpet at least you only have to clean one room.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

One thing you can try if you think it's separation anxiety is replicating for them what will happen when everyone leaves the house.  So let's assume that you're going to crate.  You'll need to crate them (together but not in the same crate) and then leave the room.  Come in and out every 5 to 10 minutes, and leave them in there for maybe 30 minutes initially but increasing the time.  Either record them on your cell phone or with a remote camera so you can come back in quickly if you see them start to go potty.  If you catch them pick them right up and bring them outside....just like training a puppy.  You'll probably have to  "simulate" this leaving several times and for longer periods until you see that they stay calm in the crate with no accidents.  I'd always give them praise and a treat when you take them out of the crates without an accident.  It's kind of "fooling" them by putting them in the situation that they will be in when you actually do leave.  Hopefully they'll learn to stay calm, but the key is that you are always consistent...that you do exactly the same thing that you practiced each time you leave.

[VScott & Lloyd]

Thanks everyone! I will pass along your words of wisdom to my sister. The little dogs are indeed both fixed and I hope the situation resolves soon.