Please help! I NEED ADVISE ABOUT MY DOG.

United States
March 5, 2008 12:23am CST
I don't want to have to get rid of my dog, but I am afraid I might have to. I'm hoping someone has some good advise for me so that I don't have to. It's a long story so bare with me. We had to go to out of state to pick up some of our belongings that were left behind after we moved. My fiance's aunt and uncle, who is also his boss, offered to watch our small dog while we were away. I took them up on the offer and trusted them because they own three dogs, two horses, and were also watching their daughter's dog(because she was traveling with us). We ended being gone longer than we planned because our Jimmy broke down in Georgia, then my son got sick and was hospitalized in Georgia. We kept in touch with my fiance's aunt and uncle because they had our dog and also they were the boss, so they knew everything that was going on. We left the hospital on a Monday night. Earlier that day we called them to say we would be home in the morning. They told us that our dog, Dixie, has dropped off at our house Monday and that they left the house key under the mat for us. At the time we thought that they meant that day Monday. It turned out to be the previous Monday, yet they never mentioned this in any previous calls when we were inquiring about our dog. When we arrived home at 2am, instead of our dog greeting us at the door she was shaking in the corner. She had pooped all over and urinated on every corner of every throw rug in the house. Mind you we rent a house, and by the way the landlord happened to stop by while we were away to drop off the lease and saw the poop. Instead of being relieved to be home I was devastated. My dog had quit eating and was nothing but bones. I think she quit eating because she didn't want to have to go to the bathroom in the house anymore. I hoped that my dog would be ok and that after gaining weight back and a regular bathroom ruitine was reinforced that everything would be fine. But I realized very quickly that something was wrong with her. Apparently while in the care of relatives she had been kept in her crate, which is no big deal, except that she was kept in it so long that she pooped in it several times.(this is the first time she has pooped in her crate) After a few days of that they dropped her off at my house and they let her roam the whole house for a whole week. (now she jumps on the kitchen table) They claim that they came by twice a day to let her out and I'm not sure if they are telling the truth or not because I think what messed her up was that they kept her in her crate so long that she couldn't hold it in anymore (several times) and that it messed her up and that now she has trouble holding her bowels and urine. The first day we were back home she kept pooping every 20 minutes or so, and many of those times was in the house, mind you before this she went once or twice a day (outside of course). So the next day I put her outside every twenty minutes and it still wasn't helping. She had no control at all of her bowels. I can't have a dog do this where I live not only will my landlord throw me out but I have a toddler running around. As the week went by she did get better and I thought with a little time the problem would fix itself. It has been almost two months now. She still has accidents almost every day. I try my hardest to avoid it. She's let outside in the morning before I even go to the bathroom, before I even change my son's diaper. When we leave I put her in her crate. I just don't know what else to do. I don't want to get rid of her. I have had her for almost three years and my son loves her. But I can't loose my home and I can't stand a dog using my rugs as a toilet. But I'm afraid that if we take her to the pound they will put her to sleep. If anyone has any advise I could really use it. But please don't try to say that she's doing this out of spite because we left her for 10 days. When she was 6 months old I flew to New York for the week. Had someone come over twice a day and let her out. She had no accidents and was fine when we came home. She has always been a very good dog until this and like I said it's been almost two months now. I know I could keep her in her crate all the time but what kind of life is that? And she's now the type of dog that you can leave outside on the leash 24/7. She has slept by my feet on my bed for too long to be able to fully adjust to outdoor life. I don't know what to do and I have cried about this too many times now. On top of it all it has caused a lot of fighting between me and my fiance because it was his family that did this to us and I don't think that I will ever forgive them. If it weren't for the fact that my fiance would loose his job I would have had them prosecuted for abusing an animal. They have not apologized to me or admitted any wrong so I am not talking to them anymore because of how bad they have hurt me. Please, please can anyone help me?
1 person likes this
6 responses
• United States
5 Mar 08
I am so sorry this happened to you!! First off, dogs don't do things out of spite, that is purely a human emotion. :) Your dog was starved and more than likely had little human interaction during those ten days and is reacting to it. During that time, she needed help in adjusting to new surroundings and was perhaps traumatized a bit from the whole expierence. They are resilient and with love, time and patience she should bounce back. Take her to the vet get her checked out, and then get her back on a potty routine. How did you potty train her? You will need to do the same thing over again. What worked for me was to keep my pup leashed to me at all times, and when he made signs of needing to go, i would take him out, praise him and treat him for going outside. Did you clean up the accident areas with an enzyme cleaner such as Nature's Miracle? She may still be going in the house because she can smell it. She also may be going in the house still because she is expierencing separation anxiety and fears that you will not be there when she comes inside. Just make sure to go with her, pay her a lot of attention, and remember PATIENCE!!! :)
• United States
5 Mar 08
Not to sound demeaning, but are you correcting her each time she does it? Yes, her behaviour will be different. She basically was abandoned for that time and resorted to what she had to do to get food. She needs to be retrained and it has to be consistent. What about calling a trainer in your area? While a vet will do just a fecal, it may not be a bad idea to get her checked out. She could have ate something that has made her gastric system upset and it is taking a while for it to work itself out. Think of it this way, if your three or four year old was left alone for ten days like that, what kind of habits would he pick up? It is training that will correct those bad habits. Can you talk to your landlord and explain what happened?
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Mar 08
Yes, every time she is caught doing something wrong she is is corrected, I firmly tell her no and to then go lay down. (No, I don't hit her either)I understand that she has issues that will take time to correct. I can handle her jumping on the couch or on the kitchen table. I wouldn't get rid of her for that. But when she relieves herself in the house I'm renting it's a big problem. The thing is I know in my heart that it's not because she needs to be retained or reinforced. She physically can't help it is what I believe. She will lay on one of her dog beds and when she gets up there is a small silver dollar wet spot. She has two dog beds and is allowed to sleep on our bed by our feet. Wherever she lays there is sometimes a wet spot. When I smell it it smells like urine. Dogs don't go to the bathroom where they lay. Especially when they are three years old and have never done it before. I'm just trying to figure out if this problem will ever fix itself. The vet I talked to said maybe, maybe not. Wasn't much help. I try really hard to keep her from having accidents. Tonight we went out to dinner. She was let out before hand and then put in her crate. We got home and opened her crate, started to walk to the door to let her out but my son threw a fit and so it was about two minutes after being out of her crate that she decided to go in the house. She was only in the crate for an hour. The last couple years she was in the house by herself for about ten hours a day. Even when a pup she wasn't put in her cage and she had no accidents. Now I'm a stay at home mom. I maybe leave the house 5 hours a week if I'm lucky. I am always home yet I'm not able to make this work. It's been two months and she's not getting better anymore. Has anyone had this problem before? If so do you think she will ever get better?
• United States
5 Mar 08
I realize that she has been through a lot. It's not just the fact that she relieves herself in the house. She doesn't act the same. Her personality is different. She has acquired bad habits from being alone so long. She jumps on the furniture now and on my kitchen table, takes my sons food off of the coffee table right in front of me, and she is very sneaky now. But for her to poop in her crate and leak a little on my bed or on her dog pillows is different. I truly believe that her muscles that control her bowels and urine are messed up. We just moved to this area in October and I don't have a regular vet here yet but I called one in the area and they pretty much told me that time will tell. They said that they could do a fecal matter test but it sounds more likely that she stretched her muscles out or that she needs to be retrained. They said that she may be able regain control and that she may not be. I love my dog but I can't wait much longer. I wasn't supposed to have a dog where I'm renting as it is. I had to convince the landlord that she was a very good dog and that she was potty trained. Now she's not and I'm afraid I will be thought of as a liar now. I really can't loose my home. My son is 19 months old and I need to worry about him more than anything else. I was just wondering if anyone knows the chances of her being able to regain her muscle control. I'm guessing since it's been two months already that it won't get too much better. Thank you all for all the advise.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Mar 08
Oh My God. You've got more holding back power than I'll ever have because I'd be in their face in a split second!! How DARE they do that to your dog!! And you two!! Oh the poor poor thing!! That is horrible!! Please please go to your veterinarian and have the poor gal checked out and explain EVERYTHING that happened to the vet and see what they say. They might have some good suggestions that may and may not help. It may be that your dog had held her bowels for so long that it could've damaged her colon to the point that she'll never regain control. That's a guess though, so you need to take her to the vet and have her checked out throughly to be sure. Please don't give up on her because she's been through a heck of a lot of trama by being left behind like she was but due to no fault of your own but because of your fiance's jackass' aunt and uncle. Gosh!! I can't believe they stooped so low!! That was so cruel!! I'm so mad!! Bless her sweet little ole heart!! I will pray for her and you, you can bet on that!!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Mar 08
Thank you so much.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Mar 08
You're very welcome hon. I'm so damned mad right now that I could spit nails! ARG!! I can't for the life of me understand how anybody can be so cruel. I'm so sorry. Please take her to the vet and have her checked out, then you may know what you'll need to do. Taking her to the pound isn't the answer. She'll be even more tramatized from that and most likely will be put down because of her being an owner surrender. Spring is around the corner so you could put her outside then and she'll get used to being out there. I'd hate to see that happen but gosh, what else can you do? But first check with a vet and see what they say, ok? Please?
2 people like this
@livintx49 (245)
• United States
5 Mar 08
Put down some of those puppy pads you use for house traing.Get some Bitter Barrier and spray a little around.You can get that at stores like Wal-Mart in the pet section. I'm so sorry people you trusted turned out to be animal abusers.Give her lots of love.
• United States
7 Mar 08
WOW what a predicament! This could be emotional as well as physical.I would suggest finding a holistic vet that works with homeopathics and hopefully they can resolve the emotional issues/personality issues and hopefully the physical will go away once they resolve.I have had great results with homeopathics if that helps you. Good Luck Sweetie its not her fault she is this way so hopefully this will help you and her.:)
• India
5 Mar 08
Ok i am not a doctor or a psycologist.. But when i think of the wole situation logically i assume that the dog is feeling insecure. The fact that it spent all those time alone whould be the main reason.. If you imagin yourselfs to be in that position what would you have felt. how would you react to that situation . Now it is the way you react and make thae dog come out of it hope this helps
1 person likes this
• Canada
6 Mar 08
Your poor dog :( I feel so bad for her. The others have some good suggestions, but I also understand where you are coming from. Search around your area. There may be a pet rescue nearby. Tell them the whole story and they might be able to rehabilitate your dog. If not they may have a nice kennel where she can enjoy her life rather than be put down. Many rescues keep their dogs in foster homes which are very experienced in training dogs. I know with time she will probably come around, but she has been thoroughly traumatized. She's more-or-less gone feral due to her experience. Give your girl a big hug and snuggle for me. I really feel for her.