I would suggest the Contech Scarecrow. It's a motion sensored sprinkler. When the dog approachs the yard, it'll trigger the Scarecrow and it will shoot a stream of water but you may need to watch it b/c it may be triggered by passersby as well. This is usually enough to deter but will not harm. There are also ultrasonic deterrents but I have heard that some humans can pick up on the sound and it can be irritating, but since it'll be outside, it may work better for you. Search around for outdoor dog deterrents and avoid any type of spray b/c they need to be reapplied often and with this rainy season we're having, it may cost alot to continue to keep up on the spray.

I have a neighbor who thinks it's the funniest thing to let her dog crap on my front lawn. Even though I've caught them in the act and talked to her about it, it hasn't stopped her at all, in fact, it made things worse. And this is a leashed dog on a walk. As a "responsible pet owner" it's their job to ensure that this doesn't happen. I know I don't allow my dogs to do this and if an accident happens, I make sure I pick it up. Unfortunately, we can't control other people or their actions. Good Luck! And avoid a fight if at all possible b/c that can cause more problems such as my case. She does it every single day now b/c I said something about it and the police could care less even though technically she's trespassing. I've resorted to tossing it back in their lawn and obviously, this is not the most adult way to handle the situation. I feel like I'm at war with the Bumbus' from A Christmas Story.

Well, accidents are going to happen, it's just the way it goes. So unfortunately, we just have to take it with a grain of salt. Now, as for the wet feet issue, have you tried Muttluks?? Most pet stores sell some sort of booties (avoid the fleece, what good are they during wet weather??) and get a reinforced rubber or vinyl. Now, of course, she is going to hate them to begin with but if you make it very happy and fun (play games in them to get her used to them--make a positive association) she should take to them pretty quickly.

The dominance thing though needs to be monitored at all times. Avoid challenging her by using techniques such as staring, growling, the alpha rollover, or physical punishments. REMEMBER, leaders are calm, consistant, always in control, and are comfortable in that position. If I, the leader, constantly challenges her, all I am showing her that I am insecure and uncomfortable as the leader and she will usurp me from my throne (which is to be expected).

Anytime she is picking on the Lab X, it is your responsibility to interrupt the behavior and protect your dog. Remember, that's what a leader does. Make sure that you are taking any stolen toys away and giving it back to the rightful owner. Now, you need ro really reinforce that the Lab X is your 2nd and she is last on the totem pole. Do this by always rewarding in the proper order (you first, Lab X 2nd, Dobie 3rd) This will reinforce her spot within the pack and she will work harder to try and move up within the ranks. Basic Obedience class is a MUST and I am going to try and send you a link to NILIF which is outlining leadership exercises. Remember that she is young and right now she should be earning everything. Often times, we accidentally reward our new dogs in an attempt to make them feel comfortable, but what we are really doing is throwing off the hierarchy within our home.

I couldn't get the link, so I am copying and pasting in its entirety. Sorry, I know it's long winded, but there is a lot of really good information in here:

DUTIES OF THE LEADER:
-Establish the Rules
-Enforce the Rules
-Maintain Social Order (You choose who’s in the pack and what authority
they do or do not have)

SPECIFIC THINGS THAT SHOW DOG WHO THE LEADER IS:

-Leaders eat first
-Leaders go through doorways first
-Leaders stay CALM and in control
-Leaders set the pace and direction of all walks
-Leaders don’t let their personal space be invaded
-Leaders initiate and end ALL play
-Leaders DO NOT beg for attention
-Leaders DO NOT offer “free” treats
-Leaders assume the higher ground
-Leaders never change direction or step over dog
-Leaders assign resting place for other pack members

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS ASSUMED THE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN YOUR HOUSE:
1. Is your dog becoming pushy at the front door?
2. Is your dog trying to or has attained the most central and elevated
sleeping position?
3. Does your dog growl, nip, or bark when you disturb him while he’s
resting?
4. Does your dog growl, nip, or bark when you attempt to move him from
his resting spot?
5. Does your dog bark at whatever he wants, whenever he wants, for as long as he wants?
6. Does your dog think he gets first dibs on all food and/or possessions?
7. Does your dog defend his food and/or possessions?
8. Does your dog control when and where he is touched?
9. Does your dog demand attention or constantly initiate play?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then it is time to put your
dog on the “NO FREE LUNCH POLICY”

NO FREE LUNCH POLICY:
This should be incorporated into your daily activities. This simply states
that your dog must earn everything he deems “likable”. This means that
everything (treats, walks, dinner, toys, petting, play, car rides, belly rubs)
are rewards that you dog MUST earn by performing simple obedience cues.
Withhold everything until obedience becomes 90% proficient and then slowly
return freedoms.

A FEW TRICKS/TIPS TO HELP YOU ALONG YOUR WAY:

DINNERTIME: -You ALWAYS eat first
-Strong sit/stay or down/stay while putting food on
ground.
-Cannot eat until you have released from “stay” with “OK”
-Once he’s finished, remove any remaining food. No free
feeding. Remember, you control ALL food.
-Be sure to randomly approach while eating and stick your
hand in the food bowl. No aggression should be present.
If growling or biting occurs, quickly reprimand with “No”
and remove food and bowl IMMEDIATELY.

SLEEPING: -Do not allow to sleep on bed or furniture.
-Dog should quietly accept being removed from any area.
-Dog should not be allowed to freely roam or “patrol” the
house at night until he has exhibited “good house
manners”
-Minimum 8-10 months although most take longer.
-Good House Manners consist of: quiet, calm, obedient
behavior. Stays off furniture, house broken, stays away
from forbidden objects such as remotes and/or shoes.
-May be necessary to give on-leash tour of the house
again. Disrupt any bad behavior or attempt to grab
forbidden objects with a loud clap. Do not use your
voice and do not let dog see you clap, otherwise he will
only exhibit good behavior when you are there to correct
it.
-Do Not punish any destructive behavior unless you catch
him in the act. He only has a 30 sec. memory, so only
associates punishment with you coming home, not
destructive behavior.
-REMEMBER, you can give back these freedoms as he
earns it through good behavior and obedience.
-Anytime obedience falls below 90% proficiency or bad
house manners return, take away freedoms he’s earned.

DOORWAYS: -Sit/Stay at all doorways to allow you to go through first.
-There should be no crowding or bumping to go through.
-This is ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT around the front and
back doors. This will help to keep dog from sprinting.

PETTING/ -Never give your dog your attention if he is demanding it.
ATTENTION: -Ignore all barking, crying, or whining for attention.
-Remember, petting ONLY occurs when sitting or laying
calmly and quietly. This needs to happen in every
environment.
-When sit or down position(s) are broken, STOP
PETTING. Do not start again until back in a sit or down.
-He should quickly learn that sitting for ANYONE will
result in petting. This needs to be reinforced by
everyone.
-DO NOT PLAY WITH HANDS!!! USE APPROPRIATE
TOYS, NOT YOUR FINGERS.

JUMPING: -Dogs figure that negative attention is better than no
attention at all. If everytime he jumps, he is touched or
spoken to, this reinforces the behavior. This is why the
behavior continues even though he knows he’s not
supposed to jump.
-If jumping for attention, walk away quickly, then very abruptly stop, turn to him, and ask for a sit. Reward appropriate sit with petting and praise, but stop as soon as he comes out of that position. Forget about “No Jump” because he’s ignoring it. Use no reward marker.

REMEMBER, REWARD ALL GOOD BEHAVIOR YOU SEE AROUND THE HOUSE. IF HE’S SITTING QUIETLY, GO OVER TO HIM AND RUB HIS BELLY. IF HE’S CALMLY CHEWING ON A TOY, GO INITIATE PLAY FOR A FEW MINUTES. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE REWARDS TO HIM.

DON’T FORGET, HE SETS THE MEANING OF REWARD, NOT YOU, SO IT MAY BE TIME TO USE A TENNIS BALL AND WEAN OFF OF TREATS. IF A CERTAIN NYLABONE DOESN’T SEEM APPEALING, TRY SOAKING IT IN CHICKEN BROTH TO MAKE IT MORE APPETIZING, OR FIND A NEW TOY OR BONE THAT DOES APPEAL TO HIM.

IF HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE TOY, USE IT TO YOUR FULL ADVANTAGE. EACH TIME YOU DO THESE THINGS, MAKE SURE YOU’RE TELLING HIM WHAT A GOOD BOY HE IS. BEING GOOD IS A BIG DEAL, SO MAKE IT ONE. PRAISE, REWARD, AND PRAISE SOME MORE.

LASTLY, A TIRED PUPPY IS A GOOD PUPPY, SO GET HIM THE EXERCISE HE NEEDS AND HIS DESTRUCTION AND CHEWING INSIDE THE HOUSE SHOULD CEASE.

Let me know if you have any trouble understanding or deciphering this. I lost the format in the transfer. SORRY!

And I am sorry to hear about your loss. I lost both of my grandparents within a month of each other earlier this year and it's been really difficult dealing with the loss of two very important people in my life. So, I know what you're going through and during times like these we just can't give all of ourselves. Stay strong and seek out those things that bring you solace (for me it was Ho-Ho's and bubble baths-sometimes at the same time!). A little me time is much needed during hardships like this.

Search online for outdoor cat deterrents. You will find numerous products. See which one will work best for you and try it out. I haven't used any of these, so I cannot recommend anything specific but i wll tell you to avoid the mothballs. While they do work, they are toxic.

Sprinkle used Coffee Grounds in your Flowerbeds or add Lemon and Orange peels to your flowerbeds, cats hate the smell of both coffee and or orange/lemon peels, keep both methods refreshed until the cat leaves and does not return to your flowerbeds

Okay, first you need to relax. Washing the dog bowls in the sink is quite sanitary. First, dogs have a ton of good bacteria in their mouths and their mouths are one of the cleanest things you can come in contact with. Second, you are probably using some sort of soap (although you shouldn't) to wash them out which typically all have anti-bacterials in them.

Now, YES he should and could rinse out the sink with some Comet afterwards but is it really any more sanitary? NO. It seems as if this issue is more about respecting your wishes which no one can solve except for you. I can't help you with his inability to care about your requests.

But as for the fur, I would suggest that you invest in the furminator and the de-shedding shampoo which will help keep the shedding down, BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE BRUSHED OUT CONSISTENTLY!!!! That is your responsibility. Don't forget that the seasons are changing right now and those thick winter undercoats are coming out for the summer so shedding does increase around this time. AGAIN, maintain the grooming and the shedding will be a minimum.

Lastly, I don't know what carpet shampooer you have so I can't say that it will rid the stain, but I will recommend a product for you which is AWESOME! It's called Get Serious! and you can purchase it online. Now, it is a sanitizer, odor neutralizer, cleaner and will even get out old yellow stains that other cleaners like Resolve leave behind. Now this is also a natural product and is enzyme free which means it's safe for your son and all of his toys.

I hope this helps.

For everyone that I have mentioned the Get Serious! product to, here is the link to a holistic pet care product site where I purchase mine:

shop.robbinspetcare.com

Well, first there have been a ton of changes in his life and he's probably stressed out. You moved him to a new place, aren't around as much, and now he has cats to deal with. He is probably seeking out the basement as a place to call his own and seek solace. Could there be a turf war with the cats?? Is it possible that the cats are peeing down there and you just don't see it???

You can choose to not believe the 3 mins memory, but it's true. He is not associating it to the accident. He knows you are mad and is simply avoiding you or a spanking (which does absolutely nothing to curb the behavior BTW--only makes a negative association to you).

You also need to make sure that you are using a cleaner that has an odor neutralizer. Bleach and detergent just aren't quite enough b/c the scent still remains.

Now, considering his age, have you talked to the vet about possible incontinence???

Have you talked to anyone about the possiblity of seperation anxiety??? Without more info, it's hard to diagnose.

I guess my biggest question is if he doesn't go when he doesn't have access, then why does he still have access??? Management of the problem is the biggest issue. Don't allow him access to the basement when you are not home.

Have you taken her to the vet??? Rule out any medical issues first. Have the anal glands checked.

I would check out this article provided by the forum. It has some good information and things to try. You may just have to take the easy fix route and get a cat deterrent (electrical, impulse, scent, whatever) and keep it in the room. It should keep all the cats out of the babies room. If one cat is marking and you clean it, then the other cats are going to be more tempted to follow suite and it can turn into a whole big messy cat turf war. I would advise to avoid that possibility and just get something to keep all the cats out of there. ALSO make sure that you are using an odor neutralizer to clean. RESOLVE just doesn't work for marking b/c scent is left behind while stain is removed. Try Nature's Miracle, Simple Green, or this totally awesome stuff called Get Serious!. You have to buy the Get Serious on-line but it's well worth it. It's all natural and enzyme free. It's a stain remover and odor neutralizer and it even gets out those yellow stains that other cleaners left behind.

How to prevent cats spraying

This seems to be an epidemic lately! More than likely, you'll need to have their anal glands expressed. Some groomers can do it externally or your vet can do it internally. It's very simple but disgusting. It's a very normal routine thing to have done and should clear up the pooping problem. I would go see the vet.

First off, how old is she???

PLEASE READ POST BELOW!!!

Well there's a couple of things you can try: Mothballs (these are toxic to humans though), sprays, or ScatMat's. They are impulse machines used to keep cats away from a certain area. You can check them out online. There's natural eliminators or motion-activiated scarecrows. You name it, it's out there. Just search Outdoor Cat Deterrents on your search engine and look around at what suits your needs.

you can always put just a little hot sauce nothing strong like TEXAS PETE it will not hurt the cat it will just let them remember and they will not touch it no more because theu will be afraid that they will taste it again. If this is not a solution you can also but this stuff at a pet store i use PETS MART it is a spray that you spray on any area that you don't want your cat or dog to use to urine or have a bowel movement but most of it you have to spray it every twenty four hours

It sounds like it could be urine marking. A new dog came to the house, your dog peed to signify that this is his house. He is probably continuing to cover the others scent. Read the urine marking article located on the side of the forum.

Just as I mentioned to the Beagle owner below you, you really should go make sure there isn't any medical reason for this either. UTI's are frequent and common, as is diabetes. You just want to rule out this possibility.

It could be a number of things. Without more info, it's hard to say. It could be behavioral (not fully potty trained, go back to the basics) or it could be medical (urinary tract infection, hard time pooping-switch up the food). It could be attention getting behavior or puppy play or since she's a beagle there might be something in the yard so she hunts and forgets to pee.

I would suggest going to the vet to rule out any medical possibilities first.

I would also start ignoring the "I Wanna go outside" and only let her out on a 2 hour schedule or so. She'll begin to stop demanding to go outside as much and start to signal when she actually has to pee. Also, outside should be supervised for right now. Make sure she's actually peeing when you're out there. After she does her business, play in the yard. Set a routine of pee first, play later. It seems a bit more like demanding behavior, but if the peeing is frequent, you should check for a UTI

You need an odor neutralizer. I've heard great things about Get Serious! which is natural and enzyme free, but you can only buy it online (at least here in Chicago). You could also try Simple Green or Nature's Miracle.

The first thing to remember is to not put too many human emotions into what your dogs do. They do not feel spite like humans do, so she's not purposely doing it b/c she's mad at your husband. Now, it sounds to me like this is urine marking. Especially since it seems to happen when new people enter the home or with your husband gone, she may feel like she is supposed to step up. I am not sure what the hierarchy in your home is. I don't know who spends the most time with her, so this is just a guess. The best thing you can do is catch her in the act and interrupt the behavior. You may also need to tether her to you in the home for a week or so just so that you can reinforce this. A common mistake many people make is that they bring home a new dog, feel sorry for it, and then overcompensate. When we give new additions too much freedom, we start to see these territorial behaviors rear their heads. It's important that all the rules that apply/applied to Hunter apply to your new pup as well, even though she's older, she's still new to your home. Also, remember that consistency is everything to a dog. If you are an inconsistant leader, your dog will be wary of your leadership abilities. Rules ALWAYS apply, despite age.

Well, my guy does this at the end of the "poop" when the last bit would get stuck. It was like he was being chased by the poo monster. It was b/c he was having a hard time squeezing it out, so we switched up his food and it's been good ever since.

I have noticed that there are times when he'll get himself all wound up prior and in my opinion I think he's just trying to get things moving so that he can go, b/c he knows that in 20 mins he's coming back in for a couple of hours and will have to hold it.

I'm not a Dr. but that's my best guess. I'd lean towards physical. Getting out the excess energy, getting things moving inside, and b/c it's fun. If you're not playing with them, they will begin to entertain themselves.

Typically what happens is that we take in a dog who was mistreated and we feel so bad for him that we go out of our way to make him comfortable and happy. Now, making a happy dog is one thing but it shouldn't be at the detriment of yourself. If we constantly make excuses or exceptions for these dogs, they view us as incapable leaders and will take a more dominant position within the house which is what seems to be happening.

Dogs are weary and untrusting of leaders who are inconsistant. Dogs thrive on consistency so if one day he's not allowed on the couch, but the next day he is, you are telling him that you are not confident in your role as the leader and he will usurp you from you throne which is exactly what he's doing.

You need to do an intense supervision method paired with a NILIF program and you MUST BE CONSISTENT. Just b/c a dog is "loveable" doesn't mean that he is eager or willing to please or work for rewards. If we constantly give things away for free, then what is the incentive to work for anything???

I am sending you to the dog chat forum located through www.catsofaustralia.com Look at the top for the Forums link and click on Dog Chat. I would like you to post this topic on that forum as well so that I can send you a couple of links which I am unable to do from here. Plus, Karen will have a ton of advice for you. If you would like, you can check out her website www.westwooddogtraining.com and check out her articles, especially her NILIF program. This issue here is not your dog, it's your inconsistancy with him. Remember, he's a dog, not a surrogate child and needs to be treated as such.

While I commend you for taking in an abused dog and going through the rehab with him, love and affection is not enough. It's great, but it's not all you need to implement. Rules and consistancy are MUSTS!

Also, it says that you have tried all the tricks listed, but could you please be more specific in the things you've tried so that we can rule out those things first before proceeding with more advice. I'd just hate to tell you the same things you've tried. I want you to feel like we are trying something new and not just running into the same wall over and over again.

When I was younger I remember our dog doing the same, By him peeing on your scent its "marking" you as "his" he belives you are his underdog. That is the only thing I can think of, to stop it just make him know that YOU are the boss. dont let him sleep on the bed or couch, dont feed him when you are eating and dont pay him attention when you just want to relax, he will finaly get the point that you are the boss and not him..

:)

The only way to fix urine marking is by being observant and interrupting the behavior.

You can always go with aversives like shock collars (which I don't like) but considering that he's neurotic, it will most likely cause these behaviors to get worse. You could implement a NILIF program in conjunction with the observation and really, you should only have to do intense supervision for a couple of weeks. Remember, if he's peeing on your furniture, then he's not responsible enough to be allowed on it PERIOD.

As for pottying outside...have you tried a pee post. It says this part of the yard is mine and it keeps the urine to one part of the yard.

Well, you don't have to look any higher than a cat's butt, unless the cat jumped up on something to spray. It is more likely it is closer to the ground. Use your nose and also look for tell tale stains or wetness. When you find it clean the area with 50/50 vinegar and water. Then it wouldn't hurt to wash it with an enzyme laundry powder.

Well, there could be a couple of things going on. He could be urine marking you (perhaps you smell like another dog--do you work with animals??) and stating that you are his which is a reasonable assumption for him to make since he controls you. If everytime he demands attention and you give it to him, you are telling him he is in control and you will do what he says. If this is the type of peeing that's going on, it is important for you to do 2 things: Interrupt any attempt to urine mark walls, furniture, clothing, neighbors yards on walks, EVERYTHING!! The second thing you need to do is work on these attention getting behaviors. While they may seem cute and harmless now, they will get worse as your dog gets older and the pushier he will become. The best way to deal with these attention getting behaviors is by instilling a NILIF program and IGNORE all attempts for attention. Now, I'm not saying you can't pet or hug or love your dog...by all means make sure you do, but make sure it's on your terms and not b/c he has demanded it. I am giving you a link to check out some articles in relation to this: www.westwooddogtraining.com

Now, this could also be excitement/anxiety peeing. If you notice little squirts when he gets excited or if he pees as soon as you come home and he sees you, this is more likely the cause. The only way to really treat this behavior is to remain calm and don't get him overly excited. Check out the Urine marking articles located on the right and left hand sides of this forum along with the excitement peeing articles.

The article is called Submissive peeing which is the one I had mentioned was on the right hand side of the forum.