Ok, we are going on a year of having our “special” dog John. I got him from the HS. He was an owner turn in who had him since a puppy. They were frustrated that he wasn’t house trained. Well, the HS neutered him and I’ve taken him to classes, tried different training methods, ect. Nope, he still goes in the house. I’m ripping up the carpet in the living room today because I’ve done everything I can to clean it and I’m sick of the house smelling like dog piss.
He is just a little brat all around. The vet put him on dog ADD meds, but they don’t help. I don’t even think a horse tranquilizer would calm him down. I’m just tired, of everything. I’m about to give up and it hurts.
I am so sorry that you are going through this. Does the HS you adopted him from know what all you have been doing and how the dog is still peeing in the house? The only thing I can think of is a crate if you have not tried that already. But that would only work when you are gone, if he still pees while you are there…? Is there anyway he can be outside during the day and in a crate at night? I am just throwing stuff out there, not sure if it helps (I hope it does) though. It sucks to think you were doing the right thing in adopting a dog from the HS only to have to go through all of this.
Here is a cyber hug for you for trying so hard for this guy!
Is there anychance you can afford to bring a trainer into the home to help you? We had a hard time house trainer our new addition and had to crate her (even while we were home) and take her out to pee and play outside and then come in. We also tried leashing her to one of us so as soon as she started to squat in the house out we went and woohoo we went crazy with the treats when she went outside. The 2 of us definitely had to be consistent and found that she craves mental stimulation - so we keep her in obedience classes even though we no longer need them. Later this spring we will start her in agility classes - mental and physical stimulation !!
I would talk to the HS where you adopted the pup and see if they can offer any help. Then maybe advertise for someone on a farm to take him.
Best of Luck - I know how animals become part of the family.
Thanks for the encouragment. Maybe I just need to step it up if I really want to make it work. I should call the HS and see what they say. He’s just such a lover and a cuddler and so stupid sometimes that you can’t help but laugh. But it’s also like having a two year old on crack getting into stuff every second. Why can’t he just be lazy like the other two?
I don’t blame you at all for being frustrated and tired of it. I have given away more than one pet because I couldn’t housebreak them. It does hurt because you get attached to them but if you have to give them up you shouldn’t feel guilty. This is causing the animal as much stress as it is you.
I’m sorry you are having to deal with such a frustrating issue. But just remember, each dog is different. Which I’m sure you know, but I just wanted to remind you since you are frustrated.
Kudos to you for sticking it out this long, there aren’t many people out there that would do what you are doing. You are giving him a chance at a great life, whereas if he were sent somewhere else he may get abused for not learning it fast enough.
Puppies are puppies until at least 2 years of age, some dogs are puppies a while longer too, I think you got that one! You are a great ‘Mom’ for doing this, please don’t give up. You’ve made it this far, he needs you and is depending on you. YOU CAN DO IT!! :cheering: :cheering: :cheering:
Have you talked with your vet? Do they have any suggestions? Do you take him on walks daily to get that excess energy out? Yes, do call the HS and ask for their help. They want you to do that so they can help you keep the dog with you. Is he pooping or peeing or both? If it’s just peeing, then maybe reduce his water intake. Obviously don’t deprive him, but just cut back a bit.
I know you are at your wits end, but just try and stick it out. As for sticking him outside, remember that dogs are pack oriented, they want to be with people, not stuck outdoors all alone. I tend to preach when it comes to dogs and cats, so please forgive me, I just love them so much and hate to see any animal (or owner) having a hard time.
Remember, you are an awesome person for getting this far! Don’t give up!!
As I’m typing this he’s wrestling with the new dog and tearing thru the house. He should be going on 3 soon but acts like a puppy. I really think he’s a few milkbones short of the box :roll: I should walk him more and in nice weather I try and get them out. They are never just stuck outside, I’m always with them. Which is maybe why they aren’t out as much. He does both in the house and sometimes you’ll have him out to go potty, he doesn’t do anything then runs back in the house and goes! The little sh*t!!! He’s so lucky he’s cute and I’m a sucker.
I think that’s a main problem with him right there. He sounds like a bundle of energy and he really needs to get that energy out somehow. If he can’t do it on a walk, then he’s going to do it somewhere. And if he’s pent up with energy, he can’t pay attention long enough to learn anything new.
Do you have a treadmill? You can train a dog to use a treadmill if you can’t take him out yourself.
I have one of those too. I call her the world’s most annoying dog. She is a boxer mix & in to everything if she isn’t either watched like a hawk or crated. The little goober will even eat rocks if I’m not right on top of her. I told her I don’t want to deal with another foreign body removal surgery (went through it with my bulldog the day after I took him). Thankfully she doesn’t do her business in the house though. Best of luck to you.
It sounds like he needs a place where he has a lot of outdoor ability. We had a dog when I was a kid who just needed the room to run. He was a cute little beagle, but way too much energy and we just never could get him house trained. We found a home for him on someone’s farm and he was quite happy. Lots of room to run and since he was outside most of the time the accidents stopped.
Do you have a fenced yard that he could be in for most of the day rather than in the house? I’m sorry you are going through this. It’s really hard when you have an animal that won’t “behave.” BTDT should have a t-shirt.
My opinion will not be a popular one but here goes. I’m a firm believer that if you adopt a pet you should be responsible for that pet until the day they die. Having said that, however, I am also a firm believer in my sanity. Knowing I had done everything in my power to integrate the pet as well as possible into my family and having the pet ruin my home, I would have to find a more suitable owner for the pet. In my opinion (again, not popular) there is no way I would let an animal ruin my quality of life, my belongings or my relationship with other family members just because I felt obligated to hold out and keep trying over and over and over. That does not mean I would desert the pet or return it to the pound. I would however find a suitable owner that could handle it’s problems if I could not. In my opinion, not all dogs can be housebroken or trained to be good pets.
…or until the day you entrust them to someone you trust with their life. I totally believe that a pet is a commitment, but if you can’t keep an animal, you have a responsibility to see that it’s taken care of properly.
I am currently reeling over the fact that one of my friends took all 4 of her cats and dropped them off behind a chicken restaurant. Why? Not because they were bad cats, not because they were moving and couldn’t take them. Because her husband said she had to get rid of the cats if she wanted a dog!! (And yes, it’s done so they’re getting a new Yorkie puppie in a few weeks.) They own a big 4 bedroom house and a huge backyard, plenty of room for everyone. There are a lot of stray cats around the restaurant, and at least the 4 were all spayed or neutered, but it still pisses me off sooooo f’ing bad!! :!!!:
I had posted about in ground fences because we are thinking of that, we currently tie them out. Another problem we have is that he barks at people walking by the property. Yesterday a friend came by the house on a horse (how many people can say that?!) and all the dogs went nuts. Today some delivery guys came and they went nuts again. And hanging over my head is the cranky old man across the street that hates dogs, so I am always walking on thin ice and trying to keep the noise level down. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t help the situation :wall:
Do you have a dog day care nearby? When my lab was a puppy I would take him to ddc 2-3 days a week. He would run and play with other dogs all day and come home exhausted. Our trainer was the one who recommended it. He always says a tired dog is a good dog. On the days he didn’t go he would get a nice long walk and a bunch of mini potty breaks outside and be fine.
Is there a dog park you can take him to? Or even a friend’s yard that is fenced in. He sounds like a dog who needs a lot more exercise.
Yeah, there’s a dog park about 35 miles away that I try to bring them to twice a week when it’s nice. I wish he wouldn’t run off because there’s a huge baseball and soccor field next to us. However, John broke away one time and I ended up chasing him across a corn field until the leash got caught up on something. Don’t want to be doing that again!
for trying so hard for this guy!
