hi im new to this forum any any advice appriciated. originally we have a five year old westie, fantastic dog cant fault her and also brill with the kids. three days ago i was having a chat with my mum on the phone and she was telling me about a pup that a friend of a friend of hers had that no one wanted it had till the end of the week to find a home otherwise it would have to go to dogs home. mum said she had seen this pup and it was lovely. any way me being a softie went and brought him home.
  hes five month old and looks like a border collie cross terrier about an inch taller than my westie bitch. he has prieviously lived in a stable and is very thin
i put him in a large crate downstars at night and while i am out. however as soon as i left him he started yelping and barking and wouldnt settle, so the next night i put him in smaller crate next to my bed and he settled, however still barked during day if put in big crate. am feeding him in there his toys and chewy things there so its nice for him. to try and solve the barking i am putting him in for short periods and then reward him when he is quiet with a little treat but i am squirting him with water when he barks. this seems to be working and he is settling quite well, is this right or is squirting him when he barks wrong.
sorry to be long winded but also he is soiling in his cage, he didnt for the first day but now has some diorreah (think thats spelt right ) could this be why or wasnt sure if the crate was too big as it was used before for a very large boxer so is big. he has had a few accidents on my floor but i have ignored him and keep taking him outside and telling him to have a wee, he is doing well at this bit. i have made an appointment with a behaviourist and trainer as i want to start on right foot and cant get to puppt classes but he cant come till next week.

am i on the right track

Not an expert but sounds you are doing pretty much all I can think off. The soiling could be just because he was in a stable and  has had no reason not to go anywhere he wanted until now. It sounds like he is getting the message. I think a smaller crate could well be help. The behaviorist is a sound idea.

Sorry, did not offer you anything new . I  just think you are doing all you can and I think it will  work.

Hi, i am sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon but in the meantime i would suggest you stop the water squirting. The poor little mite is probably completely confused as to what is expected of him and his letting you know by barking at you. I would perservere with the crate training as it will give him a place to feel safe. As for the upset tum, apart from the fact that he is more than likely used to pooing wherever he wants, he needs to be shown by you what you want him to do, so take him into the garden at regular intervals and reward him when he wee's and poo's in the garden hun. He has had a big upheaval and is probably absolutely terrified and is very much still a baby.

Good luck with him ;-)

Sounds like you have good advice and doing it right (squirting apart :().
So good for you and I hope you have a delightful boy in no time.
Just be kind, and good luck.

Karen :)

Sorry missed the squirting part I would agree too harsh.
Good luck

He may have diarrhoea cos of change of food apart from the total upheavel in his short life! he may also need worming. Has he been checked over by the vet yet?

re the water squirting - it very much depends on why he is barking IMO. I cant really see what harm it can do if he is barking for the sake of it and if it is working to stop him doing it. If on the other hand it is to let you know something isnt right or that he needs to go out to toilet, that is a different matter. Can't see that he would be asking to go out to toilet though if he has been living in a stable as he wouldn't be house trained any way but can see that he may not want to soil his area.

People do sometimes squirt dogs to stop unwanted behaviour :-D

my vet appointment is booked to get him checked. he isnt barking to be let out for a wee cos i tried keep letting him out and even after hed had one he continued to bark. i wasnt sure about the water either but it was a suggestion from my dad, it does seem to have worked though as ive only squirted him 3 times in total and he seems much better but if its not the way to go ill stop..as for the diarrhoea i sort of expected it as he didnt have it when he came but had only been fed horse food so i supose most things will give it him to start with. thanks for your advice and any more would be appreciated .

Feed a good quality food with as few (or none ) additives as poss.

My boy has a sensitive tum and I feed arden grange (dry),  naturediet and natures menu ( both wet as a topper )with fantastic results in fact after just a few feeds of naturediet, his poos firmed beautifully after having colitis.