Help for Bassett Hound

[awesomesadiesue]

Hi, I have acquired a bassett hound that is about 2 years old.  She has been spayed and came from the humane society.  A friend had her, but got a new job out of state, far away, and had to give her away.  I do a lot of work with retraining and retreating animals, so she felt safe leaving her with me.  However, she has adopted a problem that I cannot come up with a solution for.  If I call her at any time to go the the bathroom, she and my older jack russell will run to get outside.  If my husband calls, however, and her bladder is not bursting, she will refuse to go, and will wet wherever she is laying-the floor, the bed, the chaise, the sofa,etc.  My husband is not soft and cuddly like me and can only see how much we are losing in furniture.  He is not cruel, but is incredibly frustrated with no end in sight.  If she is near the door, and her bladder is bursting, she will go with him.  Otherwise, no deal.  So, I have to get up for all rr breaks and he cannot call her or she wets the furniture.  I am assuming she was abused by a man.  She used to shake incorntrollably when my husband touched her, now she comes to him.  He has picked the name Turdball for her, which is not her name, and she even responds to it when she calls.  But no bathroom...Please help!

[Jaybay]

It's going to take some time for your new dog to get used to being around your husband, and vice versa.  I suspect that what is happening is the dog sees your husband as a very strong alpha in the pack.  One way that dogs lower in the social structure show their respect for the alpha is to.... pee!  She's picking up on the way your husband feels about her and is trying to show her respect in the only way she knows how.  The more upset your husband gets with her, the more she's going to pee.

The same situation happened with my sister and her dog.  Every time she called Shadow, the tail tucked in and she peed.  Of course, my sister got upset and the dog peed again.  The escalating anger and frustration just made the peeing worse.

Shadow and your dog sound like they have something in common - insecurity.  Your bassett needs some confidence and it's going to take some time and work on your husband's part.  He's going to have to tone down his personality when he deals with her.  Ignore the accidents.  She can't help it.  A good way for them to begin building a positive relationship is to go to an obedience class together and learn better methods of discipline and behavior correction.  If that isn't possible, you all need to go on daily walks as a pack.  

I could write more, but without knowing a bit more about how both of you deal with the bassett, I don't know how helpful it would be.  Good luck!

[HElmore]

It does sound as though there has been abuse. My advice would be for the husband to just love her and be as gentle as he can. I have three 2 year old bassets and have had them since they were 6 weeks old. Bassets are very loveing.They love to be petted and held. She will respond to love and will probably start doing her business outside if just handled with patience.

[Sanity]

By the sounds of it she must have definately been mistreated at some point in time by a man. It's a fear that not many animals really get over, especially if they live in a new home where the man of the house is gruff in nature.

All you can do is give her time to adjust. it can take a year, it can take a month, it all depends on her and your husband. It's frusterating when they piddle all over the place, but as you know she isnt doing it out of spite, just nervousness and an old fear.

I hate to say it but try getting your husband to have a goody in his hand when he calls and to give her lots of praise and pets. Keep the treat for about a week or so and gradually phase it out, and try to get her associating him with kindness and love. He may have to go to her for the first bit. It will take time and patience, but she should pull around and soon ease up and stop the piddling.