Thanks for the updated photo. My gosh she's a young lady now, so pretty. Does she wear a collar or I just can't see it in this photo? Is she microchipped? I am in awe when I read the stories of late of animals being reunited with their owners after being found hundreds of miles from their homes. Those micro chips are a fabulous tool in reuniting animals with their owners. I'm not a fan of any Iams food because they have had too many recalls for my taste. Any company that has had a serious recall I scratch them off my list. I don't ever take a vet's advice on food because they had about 6 minutes of nutrition training in vet school. LOL I talk to other dog owners, research companies. Yea, I'm fanatical about my animals food. One thing no one talks about is the importance of switching up the pet food every 3 months or so. All pet food companies have certain things in their particular food and if fed long enough to an animal, these ingredients can cause allergies and resistance to disease. Another important thing to keep in mind is Iams and other pet food companies that are mass produced and in grocery stores, etc. use animal waste and parts that would equal your pet eating out of a garbage can. I also try to feed food that is organic because of all the pesticides and antibiotics feed to farm raised animals. The thing with any pet food even the bottom of the barrel cheapest food. An animal can live and thrive on it for a short time, then they usually come down with some dread disease as a result of the ingredients in the food. I try to keep my pets out of the vets office as much as possible and I find feeding excellent diet, which includes raw, can, dry and cooked, works well. With the organic canned foods being so expensive I'll switch up and mix canned sardines, tuna, baby food, raw turkey, and other things, in with their organic dry food and they love it. My oldest dog is 14 and has never been ill. The other one is 8 and was born with allergies. Other than that they are healthy. My oldest cat is 22 and I just lost one who was 24. So I figure I'm doing something right. Oh don't take her bullies away unless you see she's having a problem. They love them so much. Mine also like pig ears. Have to be careful with those too because so many are inferior and some even recalled for salmonella poisoning. I usually buy the natural ones. You can tell when they are quality because they don't have that greasy look to them, like they have been slathered with pig fat or something. Yuck!!

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.

She looks like a real sweetie! Harry and Sam would just love her to pieces...and she'd rule the roost if she came for a visit.

Why do you think vets and animal shelters don't use DE? I doubt many have even heard of it. While I love and trust my vet, she's much like my own medical doctor who reaches for the perscription pad first. Natural cures are just not the priority. And pardon me for being horribly cynical, but the drug companies pay well for it!! There are a few naturopathic vets out there these days, but I don't think they're the only option either. Lets face it, sometimes it's just got to be the chemical solution. But I'm learning a great deal on this and other forums and I've been sharing it all with my shelter friends....not to mention with the strays that visit my backyard!!!! lisa p.s. Carmen.....I did see a post here recently saying that garlic is poison for cats. But my cat who ate pesto lived a long and healthy life!! And the flea ridden stray who hangs out here in the mornings is finding some relief with it in the heat, too......so I don't know what to tell ya!!