[telescopium]

I have a 7 month old beagle mix. We got her from a shelter when she was about 3 months old. We actually didn't know she was a beagle when we got her. The shelter said she was a lab mix and then about a month later she started turning brown and getting beagle markings. We had testing done and she is a beagle and dalmatian mix. She is a very sweet dog. Her temperament is great.

Now for the problems. We crate train. When we are gone, sleeping, or can't watch her she is in her crate. We feed her twice a day and give her water 6 times a day. We would love to leave her water down, but as soon as she drinks she turns around and pees on the floor. We have tried putting her in the crate and she won't pee in there. When the water is left down she just pees anywhere she wants as soon as she drinks. She doesn't even try to ask to go out. She just jumps off the sofa and pees. We take her outside about every 30 minutes when she is out of her cage or she pees everywhere. We praise her like crazy when she goes outside, and just say No when she goes inside. We have tried not saying no, scolding more strongly, nothing works. She doesn't care.

If you turn your back on her for a second she either ruins something or pees on the floor. If I have to go get a drink say I have to crate her because in the 3 seconds it takes me to walk to the fridge and back she will have peed or pooped and then will be chewing something.

Lately she learned to open her cage door. I don't even know how. It was twice we came home to a huge mess. We had to throw out two rugs that she soiled so bad and chewed parts of. She knocked our tv down. She at my laptop cord, shoes, clothes, stuffed animals, the shower curtain and a bunch of other stuff. We have had to start using a pad lock on the cage after closing the latches.

This is the one we use:
(It won't let me post link) The petco pro concepts two door training crate, with movable divider.

I don't even know how she opened it. It doesn't seem possible.

She howls all the time, every minute she is in her crate. She is so loud we were evicted from one apartment. We already moved because of her. The place we are at now, no one else can hear her (rented house). However we can. Plus she howls the whole time we are gone. We had to leave once for 4 hours and left a tape recorder on. She howled the whole time. We leave a radio on for her. We got a heartbeat doll. We leave lights on. We have tried noise machines and aromatherapy to soothe her.

At times, like when we can't hold her, she has to be crated. She can't be out unless she is literally being held or on a short leash to play with some toys. We will be playing with a ball say and I am sitting on the floor rolling it across to her. She stops all of a sudden and squats and goes. I tried taking her to a doctor because I thought maybe she was sick or something. The doctor said she is fine. He did a stool check and tested for bladder infection. He even did a scan to see if her bladder is able to empty fully. It is and he said she is fine.

I don't know what to do though. She causes me so much stress. I've had dogs before and never any problems like this. I just want to know it will end. Is it because she is still 7 months old? Will she outgrow any of it? I have lupus and the reason we got a dog was because having one reduces stress which lets me have less flair ups. She is so loud and destructive and plus getting evicted because of her has caused so much stress that I have ended up in the hospital several times.

I spoke to a trainer and I've tried everything they said. Training reinforcement, not scolding her when she ruins stuff or goes inside. We have switched foods to an ungodly expensive one. We have tried vet visits. I've had puppies before, but never had such a problematic experience. Usually the dog seems to want to please you but she couldn't care less.

Between the constant howling, having to hold her when she is out, the messing and not even trying to be potty trained, the destructiveness I don't know what to do! If I saw some improvement in anything. In the 4+ months we have had her she isn't any better. Potty training is no closer, the howling isn't even a little better. She destroys more stuff I think. Now she can get out or her crate! If I just saw improvement in any area! I can't take the stress she causes anymore and I don't know what else to do with her! The one trainer recommended another trainer because she didn't know what to do and that trainer costs $3,500. I don't have that kind of money for dog training. I need options that cost less than $1000. I'm holding her as I type and she is howling because I am not paying enough attention to her. She just never stops!

[CorkyMax]

No expert here! I am wondering if she is getting enough exercise. I have a breeds book that I will quote from about these 2 breeds:
Beagle: Energetic and possessing great stamina, the beagle needs plenty of exercise, but a yard of reasonable size (dog off leash of course) will take care of most of its requirements. A brisk daily walk will cover the rest.---Beagles need firm handling as they are strong willed and not always easy to train.----They crave companionship.

Dalmation: A Dalmation is not an ideal dog for apartment dwellers unless it can be taken out for a brisk walk or run several times a day. It needs plenty of vigorous exercise. Adapts well to urban living, but needs plenty of space.
Temperament: Spirited and playful. They are rather sensitive, so training takes patience and gentle but firm handling. They like to spend time with their owners.

My take from all these quotes is that your dog needs vigorous exercise and a lot of loving attention--That he may be acting out because he wants attention and more exercise. Is he getting attention from all that pooing and peeing? Do you have a dog park nearby you could take him to? It also said about both these breeds--They love children! Maybe you have a niece or nephew--some child that you could have come over and play with your dog and pile attention and in same process--exercise. Maybe this would give him something he wants and also tire him out some. Don't wish to offend and I know why he is in the crate most of the time, but It sounds like he needs to be out of there more as he is very unhappy and is begging for attention and more exercise.

Lol, she sounds like a very smart dog--opening the crate and all! What is her name? Have any pics to share?

[cigwyllt]

It sounds as though she is very anxious. My oldest dog suffered severe separation anxiety when I first got her (she was older than yours) and I couldn't visit the bathroom without coming back to something destroyed and/or a puddle on the floor.

But your dog sounds extreme.

If she was mine I would be tearing my hair out and stressed as you are. I'm only going by what happened with my dog (who incidentally may be part beagle) and I'm wondering whether the crate training is making her worse. She desperately wants to be with you doesn't she. Have you thought of using an umbilical leash? (hope it's ok to put a link here?)

Umbilical Cord Housebreaking Method

I have a friend who did this with her dog and found it very relaxing and positive.

[Lara's mom]

I also know a couple of people who used this method and had good results from it. It's certainly worth a try.

[telescopium]

Her name is Lenore. She is actually really lazy and has to be coaxed to want to walk and she doesn't like to go far. But usually she gets a walk around the neighborhood when the weather is nice (we live in Ohio and winter is tough). We are in the rental house now and while the yard isn't large it gives her some room to run back and forth. She has to be tethered though because no fence and I don't trust her enough to let her be free with the road there.

About the only thing I haven't tried is the umbilical method. I am home with her almost all the time. I go to school and I am gone 2 days a week for about 3 1/2 hours. So that really isn't much time alone. I can crate her when I am gone and try that the rest of the day.

We are going to try the potty training weekend this weekend. Where every hour on the hour she goes out and when she goes she gets a treat. Even if we can just solve one problem it helps.

I am going to see if the vet can recommend anything else, like a puppy chill pill. I don't want a little druggie, but maybe it can ease her stress and mine a little.

I can't post links because I am new, but here is a picture:

yfrog dot com /0hhpim4132j (obviously replace dot with . and take the spaces out for it to work)

[Yogi]

If you have a photo gallery on your computer, scroll down to the next section when you post next. There is an area "manage attachments". Click it and go to the photo gallery, click on the photo you want to use then finish by following the page instruction to download the pic. Next, close the box when it is done and scroll down a little further and click "submit". This should attach your photo to the post. It is in the box noted in the upper left hand corner, additional options.

[cigwyllt]

Ask your vet about a DAP collar or diffuser. These give off a scent that reminds the dog of the mother when they were pups and lots of dogs find it soothing.

[Todd]

I agree 100% with Corky/Max. Exercise is VERY important in clearing up behavioral issues. This is probably the cause of the destruction the dog has caused as well as the constant howling. The dog is bored. Stir-crazy. It needs exercise to burn some of that pent up energy. As far as peeing in the house goes, was the dog ever successfully potty trained? Doesn't sound like it. Make sure to spray off all the areas the dog has peed on with an odor neutralizer designed specifically for dogs. This is very necessary for eliminating the smell from not only our noses by also the dogs. Nothing but an odor neutralizer is going to be successful to its full potential. Remember, dog's noses are WAY stronger than ours.

In housebreaking this dog, you must also establish yourself as the alpha in the household so the dog will respect you as its leader and comply to your commands. She may be trying to mark her territory (no not only male dogs do this). You do not want her to think she can do this. You must make it clear that this is YOUR territory in a sense, NOT hers. The key to becoming the alpha is controlling your dogs actions. For example, you must make it clear to your dog that, for example, it may not jump up on your bed unless you say it's ok. The key here is compliance through becoming the alpha. But be sure to remember, all dogs are different and require different training methods to be successful. The key is the owner or trainer recognizing when a certain training method is and is not not advancing successfully Here is a link on becoming the alpha;

How To Become ALPHA DOG -- Pack Leader -- You'll Learn Here -Be TOP DOG

Here is also a nice link pertaining to how to correctly housebreak your dog;

Housebreaking a Dog or Puppy

By the way, has the dog been fixed? If not, this could be contributing to the issue.