Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcb.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcb!cushner
From: cushner@ttidcb.UUCP (Jeffrey Cushner)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Bonnie the Puddling Poodle
Message-ID: <416@ttidcb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Jul-85 13:09:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: ttidcb.416
Posted: Fri Jul 19 13:09:30 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 14:56:04 EDT
Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA.
Lines: 84

Let's see if I can help, shed some light, etc. etc. on your problems.

Not knowing what Bonnie's past history is (before you got her), it's
difficult to really put my finger on the "definitive problem" but I'll
try my best.

You say "anytime she gets loose".  A question that immediately comes to
mind is:  Why isn't she always?  Why do you keep her confined to one
room?  The answer to that question may explain some of the problems.

I notice you also said that she will submissively urinate when you grab
her.  That in addition to saying that you never go near her due to her
odor might account for part of the problem.  Imagine, if you will, a
dog that was never petted, and all of a sudden was grabbed.  If I was
a dog, I would probably be so excited, scared, happy, nervous, etc. that
I would probably do the same thing!

If she is trying to get out from wherever she is, it's probably because
she's not happy there.  If she's not happy she's probably anxious.
If she's anxious, and tries to get out and is caught, she's probably
got some feelings that she's got to get out and dogs can't hold feelings
in.

Consider correction:  Do you praise her after you scold when she's doing
what you want her to do?  Do you show her an alternative behavior when
she does something wrong.  Correction without praise is not correction
it's punishment.  A dog can only turn out worse with punishment.  Don't
assume your dog knows what she's allowed to do and what makes you happy.
Show her!   A well adjusted dog will feel that she belongs, is loved,
feels good about herself, and if corrected, knows that it is her behavior,
not herself that is wrong.  It's up to you to give Bonnie the type of
leadership she deserves and needs.

The type of smell you mention is usually caused by bacteria multiplying
on the skin.  In order to breed, bacteria need warm, moist, conditions.
Dogs, however do not sweat on their skin.  Do you know where they _do_
sweat? (hint: 2 places, answer at end)
The smell probably is caused by a skin condition which has caused the
skin to crack and ooze.  The actual sores can be very small and not
noticable to the untrained eye.  I would recommend you see a vet
the problem.

The housebreaking problem is one that your dogs will never do successfully
as long as you leave the newspaper down and don't neutralize the urine
odor that remains on the floor.

If you want to housebreak, not paper train your dogs, you _must_ confine
them to a small area.  We're talking crates here.  Also you must limit
the times they eat and drink.  When you take them out, take them under
control, on lead, to a spot, the same spot, every time and wait for them
to "go".  give them a command, what ever you want.  (ie. "Go potty" or
for the provocative of you "Shit Dog!")  When they do it, (this is the
key)  praise, praise, praise, praise!!

BTW, the reason that Bonnie has missed is that the smell (from where she
missed previously) is still away from the paper, neutralize the smell
from where you don't want her to go and she will probably hit ground
zero.

This is not the end all answer to the problems you relate, in fact, I'm
only scratching the surface but I hope you can get something from it.

One more thing:  Take an hour sometime to think what your dogs really
want, whether you are giving it to them and what you could do from
your actions to improve the situation.

			    Good Luck,
-- 
==============================================================================

			 Jeff Cushner @
			 Citicorp-TTI
			 Santa Monica CA 90405
			 (213) 450-9111 x2273

	      {randvax,trwrb,vortex,philabs}!ttidca!ttidcb!cushner

    *********************************************************************
    ** The above comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions of   **
    ** Citicorp-TTI and if the corporation wants them to, they'll have **
    ** to pay through the nose for the rights!                         **
    *********************************************************************