My Izzy was so Good!
By tammyr
@tammyr (5946)
Etowah, Tennessee
July 24, 2007 2:11pm CST
Many of you who are my friends or have read my posts may recall that I take my dog Izzy with me were ever I go. For those who do not know me or remember this, let me explain.
I had left her at home loose in the house a few weeks after getting her and she tore up the carpet, and padding; as well as the floor in front of my front door,and my front door itself. I could lock her in the bathroom with no damage, but to let her run free was a disaster. She also howled not stopped. She would potty all over the house and poo-poo a few times as well.
I decided that she would not be left alone again.
Then I got a job. I got a friend, Debby, to agree to keep Izzy as well as my daughter, or to give it a try. She knew Izzy was a wonderfully behaved dog who listens and learns quickly. Debby was keeping my daughter for the summer and it would be easier on me to just take them both, and my DD would be there as a comfort to Izzy.
The first day of dog sitting, her first words were, " I WILL NEVER KEEP THIS DOG AGAIN!!!"
Izzy sat at her door and howled! She scratched and dug and was SSOOOO sad and distraught! Even when Debby put Izzy in her lap, she howled the most pitiful sounding howl that just broke Debby's heart to hear.
I took her to work with me and left her in the car while I was at work. It was not hot enough to hurt her and she would have plenty of room. She was HAPPY!! Problem solved. I kept her food and water and checked on her at breaks and lunch.
Then it got HOT! I had to put her back in the bathroom while I was at work again. She changed her behavior a lot when I have to do this. She is scared and even more clingy to me than normal. I hate to do it to her, but the car is too hot and I can not afford to leave her out in the house.
Well yesterday I only had to work 6 hours and she was so afraid of me putting her in the bathroom that I decided, to heck with the floor, and left her loose in the house.
When I got home... Nothing. Not one scratch to the door or carpet. I could not see bare wood where my carpet should be, not even one unraveled loop of carpet. No accidents anywhere to be found!! I am so proud of her! It is like a REALLY big break through for her. The family I got her from did not have this trouble with her, and she was not so clingy to any of them as she is to me. I think she may be able to have the house open to her all the time. I will continue to take her everywhere with me, of course, but when I can't, at least I know she will be okay in the house and not locked in our little bathroom.
4 people like this
9 responses
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
24 Jul 07
I'm happy she was the way you wanted her to be. It wouldn't be a happy situation to be confined always to a room. I'm happy she loves you so much too. Just be patient if she slips up. Don't punish, just continue with your love. It will work out I'm sure.
2 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
25 Jul 07
You might also try diverting her attention to activities that keep her busy while you are gone. A hard bone with peanut butter inside keeps my dogs busy for a long time. They will spend hours trying to lick the peanut butter out and then they gnaw on the bone for awhile. Also, I keep toys around for them to play with. Lizzie spends time trying to get the last few drops of milk out of the empty milk jug and then plays soccer with it. Gizmo takes naps and then when I get home, we go for a walk.
There are some products on the market that you put dog food inside and they have to work to get the food out. It is like a puzzle for a dog.
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
26 Jul 07
She must be like Gizmo, (she even gets called that occasionally) She naps ALL the time. She doesn't play, at all, unless you are a feisty young kitty!
I use to give her the rawhide bones. Twice she got her "lip" stuck in the bone and I was crying harder than she was before we got it loose. I give her the other kinds though.
And I think you know how I feel about PB! BLECK
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
25 Jul 07
i'm so glad to hear that tammy... i think you had managed to train and teach her how to behave if she doesn't want to be locked up in the bathroom again... :-) well-done... now you can go to work in peace and does not have to worry about her...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
25 Jul 07
That is a good break through, and I am glad that it is going so well. I thought you were going to say you got permission to take her to work with you. You must have interrupted whatever cycle of fear she was experiencing, by showing her that you always came back, whereever she was.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
24 Jul 07
That's great! My dog is the same way. Or was, I should say. I trained him to love his cage when he was young. He sleeps in his crate on his own, and I just have to say "Get in your cage" and in he goes. He has toys to chew on in there (in fact, he puts his toys in there on his own!) and some water in an air conditioned room. I did not want him running around the house where he could get hurt or hurt my things. Ask any expert: dogs don't mind being in enclosed places. Like I said, he goes in there on his own. He comes with my most places, but I can't always have him with me. He doesn't cry in his cage (except if I wake up late in the morning and he has to go REAL bad!) and he sleeps just fine in there. I would look into training with your pup so that you can train her to love her cage, too. It's such a piece of mind knowing that my baby is safe, and he's just sleeping or chewing on a bone instead of maybe chewing on a power cord or chewing up my floor!!! Good luck!
1 person likes this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
26 Jul 07
She's not a pup. She was SO scared of being back in the bathroom I had to let her stay loose. I don't think she would ever get use to a little cage.
With a puppy, yes I would try to cage train her, but at 3 with her nervous behavior and fears, I don't think it would be good for her.
Thank you for the excellent advise, but I just don't think it would be good for my Izzy.
@Angela07 (202)
• United States
24 Jul 07
OMG!!thats greatt. u housetrained your dog.
I'm still tring to housetrain my puppy haha
but its coming along just fine.
and that is a pretty awesome story ...How long did it take you to type all that lol?
what breed is your dog could you please put a picture up.....
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
27 Jul 07
Welcome, Hope you like it here at myot!She is a dachshund.
I typed it in about 15 minutes or so I guess. I typed it up in wordpad first, while I had my ccleaner running and browser closed. Then copy/pasted it. You will be able to copy and paste at 500. As well as add photos to responses.
She was housebroken when I got her, sort-of. The best advise I can give on that is be persistent and regular. And never punish harshly, but praise completely. My other dog Jack took about 3 months to get the idea and not make boo-boos everyday. When we had him neutered, he had a lot of accidents for about 3 days!
Take the pup out, to the same spot, just till he pottys then praise and come in. If he doesn't go, be silent and go back in.
If you want to go out to play take him to a different area so he knows it is not time to poty but time to play. Does that make sense?
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
20 Aug 07
Sounds like she was crying for you and your attention , could she be spoiled now ...
I hope it continues this way for you and especially for Izzy ...
She is obviously lucky to have a mom like you ...
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul 07
Tammy that is great and I am glad that she was so good
That is one thing Gissi has never ever done and when I first got him I did not leave him on his own till after having him a month
I left him only half an hour at first and he was great and then I gradually worked up to longer and he has never done anything at all
I guess I was very lucky there
The only thing that you could tell on him is he was never sure if I would be back but then he realized that I would be
I am so glad that Issy is getting good when you leave her
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
25 Jul 07
I think that was Izzy problem. She was not sure if I would be back. Having a job is hard on her. Tara is now staying at the friend I got Izzy from. She is happy to go there and stay with her and if I take Tara to their house while I work, then Izzy goes with her. The only time she is left at home is when it is so hot out. She loves being in the car. She will even hop in if we leave the door open and sleep there until we go make her get out.
@cblackink (969)
• United States
25 Jul 07
God bless you for caring so much. I hope everything works out well. I'm a cat person, not a dog person, but I totally understand what it's like to care so much for a pet.
