I am so overwhelmed

I didn't get a puppy b/c I didn't want to deal with the puppy like behaviors. I thought getting a 5yr old dog would not be like getting a puppy.

Diesel has recently started pooping in Katie's room when we aren't home. This is the furthest point in the house so I dont think its a territorial thing, I just think he is trying to get away from where he normally hangs out. I really can't close her door b/c then the room will be too cold.

The poop eating has not stopped with the product I am currently using , so I am on to try another product

Today I had a banana on the counter for Katie, I ran to get a bib and when I came back , Diesel had eaten the banana off the counter. We didn't have any more and Katie screamed her head off

When we came home from our friends house tonight to discover the poop, we also discovered that Diesel had ripped to shreds, her leapfrog doll. One of the many stuffed animals he has shredded

we don't have the room for a crate. I guess I was niave, I didnt think I would need to crate an adult dog so I didnt worry about it. And either way, money is tight. I think DH would kill me if I now needed to also go out and buy a baby gate. On top of the poop deterrents I have been trying and all the other special things he needs

I am currently teaching him leave it but all of that seems to go out the windown when we are not home. I usually clean everything up, but sometimes , something is left out. Maybe on the bookshelf where he can reach or on the couch. I forget sometimes. The way my house is set up, I have a really small kitchen with a big opening into the living room, where all of katies toys are, I can't gate him off anywhere.

I am going to call the vet tomorrow to see if the pooping in katie's room is a side effect to any meds, but nothing has changed and this is a recent behavior so I dont think thats it. He had already pooped 6 times today. I let him out before I left (he didnt poop) and we were only gone for 2 hours, I am shocked that he pooped in her room. This is the second time in a row he did this while we were gone.

I dont know what else to do . If I wanted all of these issues I would have just gotten a puppy. The rescue said that the previous owner did not say that Diesel had all of the above issues so she thinks these are all new bahaviors. I dunno

Message edited 12/28/2009 9:40:58 PM.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Oh Denise.

I cannot believe he is doing these things. I really cannot. I feel so bad for you. You meant well and always mean well. How does your DH feel about this? As much as I would hate for him to go back to the rescue, maybe he would be better off in a home that doesn't have small children or another dog? I wonder why he is having such a hard time when it sounds like you are doing everything and then some for him.

How long has he been with you? I forget. I wonder if the rescue lied....really I wonder.

The pooping thing is just awful, I wonder why he is NOT eating that poop in the house? He is def acting out, I wonder how long it will take him to adjust and why is he getting worse??? Maybe it is hte meds, 6 times a day is a ALOT.

You poor thing.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

I heard giving a dog pineapple makes their poop taste really bad. I would try instead of just letting him out before you leave the house to walk him for a few minutes. Maybe that could help? Good luck. Don't give up on him just yet.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Posted by Goobster

Oh Denise.

I cannot believe he is doing these things. I really cannot. I feel so bad for you. You meant well and always mean well. How does your DH feel about this? As much as I would hate for him to go back to the rescue, maybe he would be better off in a home that doesn't have small children or another dog? I wonder why he is having such a hard time when it sounds like you are doing everything and then some for him.

How long has he been with you? I forget. I wonder if the rescue lied....really I wonder.

The pooping thing is just awful, I wonder why he is NOT eating that poop in the house? He is def acting out, I wonder how long it will take him to adjust and why is he getting worse??? Maybe it is hte meds, 6 times a day is a ALOT.

You poor thing.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Re: I am so overwhelmed

I have no advice, just some

Re: I am so overwhelmed

It sounds like he is sick. Dogs don't poop 6 times a day. I would have him checked for worms.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

I am so sorry you are going through this. Just wanted to offer you some What about trying a professional trainer? My vet does training and I swear he is like the dog whisperer. Maybe you could try that?

ETA: I agree 6 times a day is A LOT to poop. Sounds like he may be sick.

Message edited 12/28/2009 11:22:52 PM.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Denise I am at a loss for words. I would not know what to do. Def you have to keep him out of Katie's room though, whatever way you can. That would upset me a lot.

I know how long you looked for a dog to adopt and help out. However I do believe you can only take so much. You have your own health to take care of, Murray has his issues and a DD to take care of. And you will have another child eventually.

What a tough situation to be in. But I would not judge you one bit if you had to bring him back to the rescue, as long as you tried your best.

I am trying to think of something else you could try but you have tried sooo many things already.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

OMG this is so upsetting!! I would def put a gate up in front of my DD door in her room to keep him out first.. Then I would take him to the vet to see why he is pooping 6x a day .. That is not normal.. Did u try the pumpkin in the food? This dog needs ALOT of time and attention.. You really can not leave him for a minute.. He NEEDS a crate and it just sounds like this is not a good fit.. You are far far far from a failure.. This is just not the dog for you and your home.. it would be very understandable if you gave him back so he can be placed in a home that is fit for him.. You must be upset and frustrated all the time.. No one needs an unhappy Mommy.. Good luck to you I am so sorry to read your post

Re: I am so overwhelmed

i just feel like if I don't try to help him, he's going to go from home to home. What if the next onwer can't help him either. I dunno. I really dont know what to do.

I am going to have to keep DD's door closed when we aren't home. I will just have to crank the heat when we get home to warm it up in there.

I am trying something new with the poop eating. I went outside this morning and the poured cayenne pepper on the poop that wasn't picked up yet. When he went over to sniff it, he jerked his head back, so he def won;t eat it. But I wonder if I will have to do this forever or if he will eventually stop going near it?? Someone also told me to sprinkle accent seasoning in his food , it worked for her, but I would have to ask the vet first b/c of the allergies.

I am going to call the vet now and ask him about the pooping.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Posted by Goobster

Posted by DeniseMarie

i just feel like if I don't try to help him, he's going to go from home to home. What if the next onwer can't help him either. I dunno. I really dont know what to do.

I am going to have to keep DD's door closed when we aren't home. I will just have to crank the heat when we get home to warm it up in there.

I am trying something new with the poop eating. I went outside this morning and the poured cayenne pepper on the poop that wasn't picked up yet. When he went over to sniff it, he jerked his head back, so he def won;t eat it. But I wonder if I will have to do this forever or if he will eventually stop going near it?? Someone also told me to sprinkle accent seasoning in his food , it worked for her, but I would have to ask the vet first b/c of the allergies.

I am going to call the vet now and ask him about the pooping.

About hte Cayenne Pepper, I think I posted that for y ou to try. got it from my vet's website. Ok so that worked. Will he eventually walk away and think the poop will ALWAYS have the pepper in it, I dont know.

I know what you mean, odds are he will go from home to home. He has a lot of issues that you are being extremely caring and patient with. Most people would not.

I would be careful with the accent in the food, really. He has so many issues that it might cause another issue, such as to his kidneys.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

It sounds like you're at a crossroads and need to make the best decision for everyone involved. None of us can really tell you what to do here. And there's no guarantees that anything you try or do will be a permanent fix. Some of them just aren't like that and need more effort and time than most people expect to get them on the right path.

Even then, they can regress for seemingly no reason at all. This does not make him a bad dog. But if you envision the years to come and consider the worst case scenario, can you dedicate the money, time and effort to doing the best you can for him, as well as the rest of your family?

If it was me, I would put my own feelings about the situation aside because they do nothing for Diesel. I'd look at the facts and do what's best. As long as you're on the fence about it, he's not really a part of the family, he's just a foster until you decide to go all in or find another solution for him. Some people don't believe this, but dogs absolutely pick up on feelings like this.

At the very least, I would start with his medical needs because the only time ours has pooped that much (in the house also, and he is a poop eater too) was when his stomach was very upset. Can't really fault them for that, so I'd put my initial effort into helping him get well before sitting down with my family and coming to a decision once and for all.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Maybe it is stomach upset from the meds. That's why I was concerned about using something like accent to add to the mix.

It's true that he just started the house pooping and he just recently started new meds, right? So one would think the two coincide.

Hoping you can get some answers soon and that you figure out what is best to do for everyone.

Re: I am so overwhelmed

Posted by Goobster

Maybe it is stomach upset from the meds. That's why I was concerned about using something like accent to add to the mix.

It's true that he just started the house pooping and he just recently started new meds, right? So one would think the two coincide.

Hoping you can get some answers soon and that you figure out what is best to do for everyone.