Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We rescued a Tibetan Terrier, 1.5 years old, from the Humane Society 2 weeks ago. He has many good qualities -- loyal, calm, low shed, cute. He seems smart, took only 2 days to get him to "go" in the same spot outside. But if he gets loose from me (leash) or the crate he will have an "accident" in the house. Same spot. I ignore that, praise when he's outside. Nature's Miracle no use either. Also, he probably needs a groom but he's kind of messy in the anal area (pretty gross, really). Really need advice on how to keep that clean. Haven't had a dog since I was a kid and natch Mom took primary care. Thanks so much for any help!!

Read my article on Housetraining the Urine-Marking male dog at the link with my signature below. The title will be in alphabetical order in the table of contents, and there is no fee or even registration required at this site. It's made available to the public by the Veterinary Information Network.

I would seriously consider having him professionally groomed at least once, to take care of that mess. Tell them to clip rather put him through excessive combing of tangles, and so that you can develop a daily routine of combing him out without his fur being so long while you both get into the habit.

Later on you can decide how long to keep his coat, but for now you may need to have it just clipped down for a fresh start. If the weather is cold, he might benefit from a simple coat or sweater at times, just to make sure he doesn't get chilled until the fur grows longer.

It sounds like regular trimming may be advisable, to keep the fur away from the anus. You may be able to do it yourself--I'm not familiar with the grooming typically done for a Tibetan Terrier as a routine. But every dog benefits enormously from daily grooming, physically, mentally and emotionally. It will greatly strengthen a dog's bond with you, and other things, too. It is time very well spent. Read the Grooming article at the same location as the Housetraining one. It really is astonishing the benefits a dog and owner derive from this few minutes a day.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Read the instructiosn on how to clean up the spot with Nature's Miracle. There's a bit of an art to getting it all up out of carpet.

As for grooming- for the first round, I'd probably find a professional groomer to help you out. Then, I'd work on it myself. Your vet should also be consulted about the anal area. Dogs really should be able to clean themselves for the most part unless the glands are impacted. That needs to be checked out.

Congrats on your new pet.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles www.freewebs.com/performanceshibas