Okay, good information. And Kudos to you for adopting and what a regal dog !!! My first concern would be a physical problem and the vet NEEDS to check out your dogs back and back end to make certain there is nothing wrong physically. Nerve problems in the back can make it so your dog has NO IDEA of when it is time to go. You wrote: "~ We never yell or hit him when he has an accident. We just show him and tell him, "NO . . . bad dog! Kennel!" Pick up the poop and take it and him to the kennel where we put it down and say, "Kennel . . . good dog, kennel" We then meticulously clean the rug using a good quality dog accident cleaner & deodorizer. " This connect negativity with bathroom works and you should really stop doing it. THIS "Ronin has an accident perhaps once or twice a week, although never peeing. All the other times, we/I just take him out to the kennel and lock him in until he goes, when we let him right back in, praising him, "Good dog, kennel!"." Is also not a good idea. Next I would call the foster person and ask if they had the same problem. If all that turns out to be normal and this is a new behavioral problem I suggest a couple of things - First you have had the dog 3 weeks and he is going through a period of transition - so you are bound to have something come up. You wrote that he is okay with other dogs and people and he gets kennelled on a rgular basis. All okay *BUT* you have failed to write ANYTHING about his daily walking routine!!! This dog should be taken out on a leash walk at least 3 times a day. For at least 15 minutes a day. NO LESS. Im not tqlaking just a quickie around the block where the dog sniffs a couple of bushes. Im talking find a good fire road or an area where your dog can really get in a good pant. DONT let him stop and sniff the bushes or rocks or anything else JUST a good walk at a good clip. Just when you are heading back to the car - let your dog stop and sniff the bushes. Hopefully the regualr walks will help alot - they usually do. Be careful not to go to the same place for his walks. I suspect your new charge is bored, and not stimulated enough. But that is just based on what you wrote....When your dog does do its duty. It is important to first give your dog a command to poop - it should be unemotional. Just a fact - go make a meadow muffin....when the dog does, praise him highly. As if he has just brought you a bag with a thousand dollars in it. If your dog likes privacy (mine does) just make certain you bring a longer leash so he can hide behind a bush or tree for his duties. Another part of the training is to take his present and take it outside to a place where you will walk your dog daily. Be certain to stop and let him sniff his stuff, give the unemotional command and praise him....good luck - let us know how it goes.

No, a ready-made double or triple leash probably won't work for you because your dogs are such different heights. Instead, why not make up your own leash? I'd combine three together that are the right length for each dog (shorter for your Golden, and longer for the two little guys). Since your Golden walks in the middle, I'd make her leash the main ones and I'd sew the other two leashes to that one, cutting off the excess. If you don't sew, or if you want real pretty leashes, contact the gal at www.caninefrosting.com and I'll bet she'll be very happy to do a special order for you as long as she's not gearing up for a big show when you contact her. She's a doll and she does fabulous high quality work. Her leashes/harnesses/bandanas are gorgeous. Plus, she's a single mom struggling to make it.

If you can spare 10 or 15 minutes you might try something that has sometimes worked for me. Our dachshund will start to get frantic with itching and chewing. I think her whole body must feel on fire. If I lie down with her with my arm around her snugly and with the other hand pet her lovingly and say soothing things, it seems to calm her down. I rub her in some other place like under the chin or under her arms to diffuse the focus of her itch. Then we are both better off. This works particularly well in the middle of the night and then we go back to sleep "holding the baby". But of course she is in bed with us which makes this possible. When we get up, she may return to licking a paw but the extreme agitation is reduced. Recently, her itching has subsided somewhat. We did an allergy test panel & there are several things she is somewhat allergic to but nothing off the charts so I still don't know what sets her off--it may be a combination of things. It might also be something not included in the test panel. Best of luck with your effort to help Lucy. My vet told me of an allergic dog whose alert folks noticed their dog reacted to their morning ablutions which he (the dog) always watched them perform, & the allergen was her perfume and hairspray & his cologne and deoderant.

Scenario: A rainy night in Georgia. "Dog" owns the best big dog house that money can buy. "Dog" needs to be trained how to use "her new dog house!" At this pivotal moment our family dog does not understand her new dog house at all! I truly believe she assumes that I purchased this dog house to annoy her. She looks at the dog house as if it were a giant germ. My family and I all have severe allergies, but fortunately we reside in the subtropical area of the US. So the weather is moderate throughout the year, which makes it wonderful for our pet. She is allowed to come in for a short period, but not for long. My mission is to apply a carry-kennel door to the entry door of her dog house, then put her in her new house and shut the kennel door. I plan to sit and talk to her to make her feel comfortable in her new house, then take her out after several minutes. But if she becomes bothered, I will try another day. I plan to work with her till she understands her new dog house is safe, and she becomes comfortable enough to go into her new dog house "by herself!" Got my fingers crossed! I'll let you know if my little experiment works in the weeks to come... And of course if she does good, I will give her a treat.