Need help with behavioural problems!

Hi everyone,
I got a male Staffie from a rescue centre in April this year. He's a lovely dog, very friendly and affectionate. However....we seem to have quite a few behavioural problems! I have to leave him in the garden when I'm out during the day as he can be destructive (eating the mail, chewing carpets - possibly down to boredom?) However, the main problem is his toilet habits. He poops about 4 times a day, 6.30am, 10am, 5pm and 10pm...I'm concerned it may be a dietary problem as he has smelly wind also! I've tried different foods, we're currently on Chappie and complete biscuits twice a day. He wasn't house trained when I first got him, but when I'm with him he will let me know if he needs to go. I'm worried with winter setting in as I can't really leave him outside when it's really cold, but at the same time don't want to come home to messy carpets. He will also wee inside if he needs to go!

Also, he will try to wake me up sometimes at 4am if he needs to go the toilet, which I don't mind as he is letting me know afterall!

The rescue home say he's about 3-4 years old. He was a stray when they got him. He had the chop in the summertime also as he is extremely boisterous and the vet said it would calm him down (it didn't). When he's having his mad moments he will also jump on and off the couch, run up and down the stairs and will not listen to me at all. Coming home from work is also a mission! He is so excited to see me, he jumps at my face and sometimes scratches me accidently. I have to face the wall and cross my arms for a minute until he calms down before I can show him any attention.

Hope you help me, thank you
Lisa.

how many time a day do you take him out & how long for?

have you thought about a crate?

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/cratetraining.html

Thank you for replying. We go for a walk in the morning and around 6.30pm. I also pop home every lunch time for ten minutes to make sure he is ok. I've not considered a crate, do you think it is more a behavioural problem rather than a medical one?

it will stop him chewing things up, how long are you taking him out for?

Crate training is def a good idea. Just get a crate, put some blankets and toys in there and leave him in there when you go out. It may take him a while to used to it, and he'll whine alot at first. Start off by just leaving him in there a few minutes at a time and build it up. He'll be safe in his crate, yr house will be safe from his boredom and he wont be out in the cold. It sounds like he is just adjusting to his new life. With training, patience and consistency, he'll be fine. Good luck

Ooo difficult at that age, and being a rescue. But don't give up because your obviously trying to get it right.

Personally I think you need to start the training right from stage 1. You'll have to start as if he is a puppy. Crate training is an idea, but I have never done that.

I had a similar problem, mine was a rescue @ 8 months. She would soil the house at night, she ended being shut in the bathroom over night on paper. I tested her for alsorts and nothing ever showed. I ended up changing her diet and feeding times which solved the issue, much to my resentment of folking out a small fortune!!

Definatly think its behavoural, but can be sorted. Its gonna take a lot of one on one though

About 20 minutes walk, we do a bit of jogging also to tire him out! I can handle the chewing by keeping him in the hall where there is nothing for him to chew, but it's the weeing and pooping that is hard to rectify. I would like to leave him all morning, let him out to do his business at lunch time and keep him in the house all afternoon until I let him out when I get home (only when its cold as he likes to be outside usually).

Thank you also Shontelle. I feel a bit more confident about the crate training, was a bit worried at first as it sounded cruel ha. Where is the best place to get one from?

Janey I agree, he is definately stuck in his ways and it's going to take some time. He tricked me into picking him aswell. He was the only dog in the rescue place that seemed timid and quiet. The minute I picked him he was super boisterous! He's a clever thing! Thank you for your help.

Have to disagree and say I dont think its behavioural. He was picked up as a stray and lived in a shelter, you are now the centre of his world, its no wonder he's so happy when you come home, he probably thinks you might not come back when you leave him. The destruction of the house is common, especially if they are bored or anxious, he is probably both while you are out. And the toilet troubles are very common in any dog that's adjusting to a new life. As Janey said, back to basics. Start obedience training with him, establish yourself as pack leader and crate train him. Give him time, he was on the streets then in shelter and now in your home. Its alot for the poor little guy to take in and adjust to.

i would be taking him out 45mins or hours plus before you go out so he can fully do stuff 20 mins is not much really for a dag his age

Search online for crates. You want a metal one not plastic one and get one with a tray in the bottom. Dogs do not like to mess in their beds so crate training is also a huge help for house training too.

Shontelle wrote:Search online for crates. You want a metal one not plastic one and get one with a tray in the bottom. Dogs do not like to mess in their beds so crate training is also a huge help for house training too.

Thanks for helping! I'm having a look now whilst he is snoring on the couch

I would say he needs an hour walk MINIMUM. Buster displayed the traits you mentioned when we got him as a rescue too.

I would say that an hours walk is a short 'make-do' walk for the times you can't possibly do any more. A 2 hour walk should be your daily aim, and a 3-4 hour walk if you want him to feel sleepily exercised.

I always say that lots of exercise eliminates most problems. A 20 minute walk is only a toilet walk that you should be doing as 'an extra'.

I know with mine, to get them as well house trained as you would like took a few months, its harder to do at an older age. I was lucky because they used to come to work with me, so had an eye on them all day. Mine was doing 4 toilets a day (half of which indoors) thats now cut to 3 (outdoors), but it was just a matter of taking her out every 30mins and huge praise when done in the correct place, ie outside. And never telling her off indoors just clean it up and show him the correct place. Your house training him for the first time possiably, so your going to have to revert to puppy training. Its time consuming but he will learn fast with persistance and patience, and it wont happen overnight

whmon wrote:I always say that lots of exercise eliminates most problems. A 20 minute walk is only a toilet walk that you should be doing as 'an extra'.

agree a tried dog is a good dog

Awwww now just cause he has had a bad start in life doesnt mean he can rule the roost you got to show him whats acceptable staffords are very clever. with time patience and love hell come good. No lovin when he is anxious and boisterous push him down and walk away he will get the message but you have to be consistent.
All what the others have advised is good youl be fine im sure you have a good dog there

All good advice. When you come in, even if he's hyper, just totally ignore him till he's more settled & then greet him quietly & calmly. If he's been badly treated before, he's obviously really glad to see you as you now treat him well, but it's a pain when you get head-butted & scratched to pieces evry time you walk in the door!

I would add that the smelly wind is almost certainly from Chappie! Is it the tinned or dry Chappie? Either way, I'd get him off it asap. Royal Canin is a good dry food, although a bit more expensive. So is James Wellbeloved. There's a thread on here in the Health & Nutrition forum called Dry Food Recommendations. Have a look at that & see if you can try out one of the ones recommended there.

I feed raw (as most people here know!) but it isn't for everyone & can be a bit complicated until you're used to it.

i found that memphis gets wind with royle canine so i switch to pero which seems to be good

bigwazza wrote:i found that memphis gets wind with royle canine so i switch to pero which seems to be good

OK, so ignore the Royal Canin bit!

no dont get me wrong its good but wont stop the wind lol
after posting the last one i remembered i storted the charcoal bix at the same time as the pero

Oh, yeh, that's right - charcoal biscuits can help with the wind!

only prob is he winces abit when i shove them up there but atleast it works lol

bigwazza wrote:only prob is he winces abit when i shove them up there but atleast it works lol

No problems with this post been in the wrong thread.....just look at the title

20mins before being left is no way long enough. If I leave mine even for a few hours I make sure the have had a good off lead run - an hour off lead and then an hour walking. That way they aretired and will just relax when being left.

I crate two of mine when I am out and the other has the run of the place.

x

[quote="bigwazza"]i found that memphis gets wind with royle canine so i switch to pero which seems to be
good

i started giving Katie them charcoal biscuits the other day i got a sample from the pet shop they work a treat, dont have too wear the gas mask anymore