ArcaMax

This week, your dog behavior questions are answered by veterinary behaviorist Dr. Valarie Tynes, of Sweetwater, TX, a contributing author of "Decoding Your Dog: The Ultimate Experts Explain Common Dog Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Behaviors" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, NY, 2014). This is the first-ever book authored by members of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, and was co-edited by Dr. Debra Horwitz, Dr. John Ciribassi and myself.

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Q: I rescued an 11-year-old Bichon Frise who was raised in a puppy mill. She's very nervous and very attached to me. If I make a move in the house, she's right with me. I can handle that, but I can't handle that she relieves herself in the house. She'll go outside, but always watches the door so she can see where I am. Any suggestions? -- J.H., via cyberspace

A: Here's the million-dollar question: Does your dog have separation anxiety (relieving herself indoors mostly when you're not home), or is this a housetraining issue?

"If the accidents mostly occur after you leave the house, given what you've said, there's a strong indication that the problem is related to separation anxiety," Tynes says.

"Raised in a puppy mill, it's a real possibility that the dog developed a substrate preference for a hard surfaces, or something other than grass," she adds. "And the dog may have been forced to do its business indoors -- not uncommon in puppy mills."

If that's the case, think of your dog as a puppy again, suggests Tynes, and house train her as you might a puppy. Take her outside on-a-leash, pace to encourage elimination, and when she "performs," offer instant praise and a treat.

Since this dog is very attached to you, instead of letting her fret about where you are when the she's outside, Tynes suggests taking the pup out to do her business on a leash, so you're standing right there. The problem might be solved simply by your presence. Praise and reward your dog instantly for relieving herself.

Some people reward a dog for doing its business as the pet comes back inside. However, in this case you're rewarding the pet for coming back to you -- not for doing her business away from you. For your dog, that would be counterproductive.

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Q: We rescued an Australian Shepherd-mix a few months ago and were told she was great with kids. She isn't aggressive and does like the kids, but she also chases them! I can't make kids not be kids; they run and they jump. Chester runs and jumps right on them. What should I do? -- H.H., Minneapolis, MN

A: "The answer depends on what's going on here," says Tynes. Is the dog over-stimulated and out of control, or is this herding dog doing what comes naturally? To pinpoint what's really happening, you could contact a veterinary behaviorist.

Rather than dealing with the problem, Tynes suggests preventing it. If Chester is on a leash and supervised by an adult (holding the leash), it will be impossible for him to chase anyone very far. Offer a fun alternative activity, such as leaving treats in food puzzles that he must work at to extract.

"However, depending on the ages of the kids, they can also be taught how to act and interact around the dog," says Tynes. "Unless those kids are very young, they can be part of the solution."

For more tips, check out Tynes' chapter in "Decoding Your Dog," called "Lassie and Timmy: Kids and Dogs."

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Q: My brother has a 9-week-old puppy. Our 5-½-year-old Golden Retriever is terrified of this puppy. About three years ago, a huge dog attacked our Golden. Could this be why she's so afraid of the pup? -- M.M., Lancaster, NY

A: The answer is maybe. "Certainly, a dog can be affected by a previous experience," Tynes says.

Does your dog not interact well with all other dogs? Or is this just a 'puppy issue"? Tynes wonders.

"Puppies don't know civil behavior rules, and they bounce and jump, sometimes unpredictably, and for many adult dogs it's all a bit too much," Tynes says.

If, instead, your Golden is wary of all other dogs, you have another problem, she notes. But if it's just this wacky puppy your Golden is worried about, try putting a leash on the puppy for control. Then, take the pair for walks together. Have your brother hold one dog while you take the other leash. A walk is typically fun for dogs, and they'll associate that positive experience with whoever happens to be along for the walk. Supplement the fun with treats along the way.

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Q: We adopted a 3-year-old Beagle/Bassett Hound mix about a year ago. She suffers from separation anxiety and is on Prozac. I tried crating her, but she nearly destroyed her teeth and the crate trying to get out. She's slowly become comfortable in the crate, as I've found that leaving a worn shirt inside helps quiet her, but she still barks when I depart. How can I help her? -- D.C., via cyberspace

A: "I assume a veterinarian has diagnosed the problem as separation anxiety," says Tynes. "And Prozac may be very appropriate, but I wonder if you've also been given a behavior modification plan, which is equally as important as the drug to achieve maximum success."

Treatment for separation anxiety is best when geared for an individual dog. Contact a positive reinforcement dog trainer, certified dog behavior consultant (www.iaabc.org), veterinarian with a special interest in animal behavior (www.avsabonline.org) or a veterinary behaviorist (www.dacvb.org).

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