Recently, about 3 months ago we rescued our second dog. A rotty cross Lab from The RSPCA

She was fantastic at first, not accidents in the house, came when you called, sat down, everything! As if she was already house trained.

Our second dog is perfect, he is proper house trained, and does not wonder far at all.

We live in middle of no where, it is secure but she can get a fair distance if she wanted, and if we accidentally left the gates open then she could get out.


The past 2 weeks, she has become very different, she just goes to the toilet every where in the house, she rips the others dog beds to pieces if we dont catch her. She even takes her bed outside and rips that up.

She has stopped responding to come back or her name. She has become tottaly uncontrolable.

Im useually clued up on pets, and no how they work. But this one has got me. She has had everything she wanted, and needs and more.

So why would her behavour change. She is 14 months old now.

There is no reason for it to change like it has.

Is she spayed? Has there been any changes in the household?

For any sudden change in behaviour like this, you should consult a vet, there could be a medical reason behind her behaviour change.

It could be because she is at an age where changes do happen... rotts, being large dogs, tend to mature later so it could be that she's got to an 'awkard stage'.

The toiletting in the house is what is most concerning and why I'd suggest a vet visit.
I'd go back to basics, dogs do have training regressions, and so long as you rule out medical reasons, there's no harm in going back to basics with them and retraining it (especially if she's going through a teenage phase).
It's natural for them to take a step or two back from time to time so just go back to basics, train her like a puppy with the recall and even with the toiletting.

You might also want to look at your own behaviour and see if it's changed (my dogs are far better behaved when I'm in a good mood so if you're tired or stressed it can have a big effect!)

As she's getting older now, she may need more mental stimulation (especially as she's from two working breeds!) and the bed ripping could be a stress busting (or boredom busting) behaviour. Make sure she has plenty to do when you're not around and when you are, try to ensure you spend a certain amount of time playing/training.

She has had everything she wanted, and needs more
This could be part of the problem - but I don't know how it was intended to read, does she have to work for what she wants? If not, it could be that she's just being like a spoilt child would be, she's not had to earn anything so nothing has any value.
If this isn't the case, I apologise - wasn't sure how it was intended!

I hope this helps some...

As she is a rescue we have only trained her at basic level, Sit, lay down, no and come back etc all the basics.

She will never use the utility as her tiolet apart from the odd accident in the night, as this is where she sleeps.

Our other dog has a bedroom at the other side of the house. Which is our room for stareing all things as we have just built the house.

The dogs have access outside all day when were here. Longest there left is 3 - 4 hours. dureing the week, but normally less.

They run around like idiots playing with each other all the time and playing tug of war etc.

We gave her everything we did with our first dog, new bed, toys, etc She shredded her bed. so now she only has some old carpet (did have a blanket but she shreded this and now only has carpet, although her toys were close by)

Work wise, we have a good paddock which they spend a lot of time in running around so she is getting more than enough excersie with this.

We spend loads of time outside with them both, treat them both the same.

She has to work for things, ie we wont treat her unless she behaves with Sit and Stay, we make her sit for tea time etc.

She also isnt happy about our other dog been happy with his bedding, hes always looked after it, and she tries to tare this up aswell.

She is actually scared of the dark for some strange reaons.

Behavior change in us, my partner was slightly depressed when we first got her, and now my partner is recovered this has happened.

She doesnt get excess colouring or flavouring in her food, its hypoallergenic (??)



I have just noticed you say "ask about positive dog training" do actually do dog training?

think i forgot to mention she is Spayed and our male is Nuetered.

I wondered whether she might be going through the terrible teens too- I know most dogs hit that stage around 8-9 months when suddenly everything you ever taught them gets forgotten and they become like sulky teenagers- destructive, disagreeable and genreally monstrous. If rotties are late developers then it could be that and if it is, then be reassured it is a passing phase.

The thing about rotties (and dobes -and we have a dobe so know what it's like) is that they are very stubborn and if they can get away with bad behaviour they will keep it up - by wearing you down - you have to be strong and not let them get away with it, but by reinforcing good behaviour and praising and rewarding this- never by harsh punishment- these are dogs which do not respond well to it.

You could try cutting off some of the privilages your girl has been getting, to reaffirm her position in the pack- for instance, if shes being destructive in certain areas of the home, don't let her get into those areas- I swear by dog gates- Ailsa can be a horror but one area we've never had trouble with is destructive behaviour - but she has a voice on her and to prevent her from sitting on the sofa and barking at everyone who breaths on our road, we have a dog gate to block her from entering when we're not there. Same upstairs to keep her away from the cats and give them some peace.

I say she's never been destructive- but there was brief period when her behaviour was totally erratic- she ripped a folding door from its hinges- and gues what - she was being fed on IAMs for a short time- it sent her hyper- soon as we switched her diet to BURNS and NATURE DIET, she became placid again - so you might also want to check what your girl is being fed- diet can affect behaviour. Oh and I'd listen very carefully to what Lotti sugests as she knows her stuff. Hope things settle down xK

Her diet should be fine, as i think it would have effected her previously. Not 3 months into haveing her.

Part of it as she was rescued from the RSPCA i think she could be happy to ahve freedom with us liveing out in no where, no neighbours etc she can near as do as she wishes if she wanted.

Although to stop this i do consider getting a long line and when ever we let her out put her on the line so she cant go far far away then she might learn to stay close to the house?

She ahs lost some of her privaliges, if she wants to ruin her bedding then eventually she will be left with nothing.

What is really getting to us is she will not go to the tiolet in the Utility (her sleep area, but as soon as we let her out she goes out sniffs around and then goes and ****** in the kitchen. Why? No matter how much we try we catch her doing it tell her no and put her out. When she goes out we call her good girl give her a fuss and a treat. But she still doesnt learn no matter how much we try.

As she is a rescue we have only trained her at basic level, Sit, lay down, no and come back etc all the basics. Even rescues can learn some pretty neat stuff :D Some assistance dogs organisations use rescued dogs (I think hearing dogs is one), lots of rescues do agility and my old rescue was 11 1/2 when we got him and loves learning new stuff.
Being the breeding she is, she may well benefit from learning some more stuff to keep her on the ball and not too bored.

She will never use the utility as her tiolet apart from the odd accident in the night, as this is where she sleeps.

Our other dog has a bedroom at the other side of the house. Which is our room for stareing all things as we have just built the house.
Do you mean the dog is supposed to use this as his bathroom? Or he does and you don't want him to? Is there a reason you chose to have an indoor area instead of out?
The dogs have access outside all day when were here. Longest there left is 3 - 4 hours. dureing the week, but normally less.

They run around like idiots playing with each other all the time and playing tug of war etc.

We gave her everything we did with our first dog, new bed, toys, etc She shredded her bed. so now she only has some old carpet (did have a blanket but she shreded this and now only has carpet, although her toys were close by)
Our elderly rescue does this and I now understand why he'd had a plastic basket with old blankets when we got him! You can get tougher beds that are harder to destroy, if you're interested pm me.

Work wise, we have a good paddock which they spend a lot of time in running around so she is getting more than enough excersie with this.

We spend loads of time outside with them both, treat them both the same.

She has to work for things, ie we wont treat her unless she behaves with Sit and Stay, we make her sit for tea time etc.

She also isnt happy about our other dog been happy with his bedding, hes always looked after it, and she tries to tare this up aswell.
It sounds like she needs an outlet for this destructive behaviour and although it would help to know if there's a reason for it (it doesn't sound like she's bored, so perhaps it's a habit from kennel life?) it's not essential. Let me get back to you on this one.

She is actually scared of the dark for some strange reaons.
There could be numerous reasons she's scared of the dark... a nightlight may help if this behaviour is a problem and you can try and associate the dark with good things if it's really bothering her and try to break down the fear a little bit.

Behavior change in us, my partner was slightly depressed when we first got her, and now my partner is recovered this has happened.
Even this can have a big effect on a dog, if his behaviour has changed, it's likely to alter her behaviour because there is an upset in the balance. Not much you can do other than continue training but once she gets used to life with your husband this way, she should settle down again (best to take precautions with training though!)

She doesnt get excess colouring or flavouring in her food, its hypoallergenic (??)
Does she get anything else? What sort of treats does she get? The treats can have a big effect.


I have just noticed you say "ask about positive dog training" do actually do dog training?
I do... I'm a 'dog training enthusiast' studying to be a dog trainer at the moment but not actually trading as a trainer. That's in my signature because far too many people don't know about positive dog training or are still very much into the harsher (unnecessary) methods of the past

Does she only rip her bed in the dark/at night when they're shut in? It's possible that she has too much access to everything and therefore gets stressed when she doesn't get full access to outside/toys etc. If you're going to introduce more restrictive access and more discipline (and no, I don't mean smacking her, I mean positively training her that she has to have some self control and doesn't get everything as and when she wants it) it needs to be done very gradually so it doesn't upset the balance even more.

PM me if you want more info - I'll be more than happy to help :D

Her diet should be fine, as i think it would have effected her previously. Not 3 months into haveing her.

Part of it as she was rescued from the RSPCA i think she could be happy to ahve freedom with us liveing out in no where, no neighbours etc she can near as do as she wishes if she wanted.

Although to stop this i do consider getting a long line and when ever we let her out put her on the line so she cant go far far away then she might learn to stay close to the house?

She ahs lost some of her privaliges, if she wants to ruin her bedding then eventually she will be left with nothing.

What is really getting to us is she will not go to the tiolet in the Utility (her sleep area, but as soon as we let her out she goes out sniffs around and then goes and ****** in the kitchen. Why? No matter how much we try we catch her doing it tell her no and put her out. When she goes out we call her good girl give her a fuss and a treat. But she still doesnt learn no matter how much we try.

Unfortunatley, whilst I see your point about the bedding, it works better for kids who understand what you're saying than dogs who don't.

If it's because she's stressed, not having any bedding won't help so it'd be more productive to get some stronger bedding that's made especially for dogs that damage it.
Now, my youngest has a very bad habit of humping her bedding and when she gets into it there's not much stopping her, she'll also rag it if she feels that way inclined and will even drag it around the house to sleep on where it takes her fancy. Not too bad really, but she's a dalmatian and you end up with white hair being dragged EVERYWHERE.
When she gets on one of these moments of madness, I simply put the bedding back in her crate and shut the crate door. Bedding's out of her reach, and she can't use it on a temporary basis because it's locked away. When she's settled open the crate, if she tries it again, the crate gets shut - perhaps you could try something similar?

The toiletting could be down to a medical reason or an emotional reason (the change in your partner for instance).

Make sure you clean thoroughly where she goes, but don't use cleaners that contain ammonia as they actually encourage messing in that area.

She won't toilet in her bed area because she sleeps there, she doesn't sleep in the kitchen. I would restrict her access to the kitchen unless you're there to supervise, and watch out for the signs that she's about to go, then guide her outside quickly (don't say anything) and wait with her while she goes to the toilet.
Don't stand at the door, wait for her to go and reward her as she comes back to you because she's not being rewarded for toiletting outside, she's being rewarded for coming into the house - and may well associate toiletting with being indoors. Hence your problem.

If you do go out with her, that's fine - just an extra little word of caution!

just tried to PM but message too long and inbox full. Is it possible to email yourself? If so please PM me email address.

Thanks