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Back in October I had to take in my mom's 7yr old American Toy Terrier. He had the run of the house and slept on my mom's lap at night.(In a lift chair because she has Parkinson's disease). He also got into the habit of going to the bathroom in the house because my mom couldn't get him out fast enough.
Since coming to live with me I have to keep him confined during the day (on a leash in the kitchen) because he marks his territory and has bitten 2 of my kids when he has been surprised. I do not want to give him up because I take him to the nursing home to see my mom. He is the bright spot in her life.
When I crate him at night he whines yips and barks. I have tried several different ways and after 2-3 weeks of things going fine he will start the whining allover again. I don't want to hit him and hurt him so I have used a fly swatter to smack him and say "no". It worked last time but now he is starting again. I am now thinking about sedatives. My family needs sleep!
I do have him in the bathroom off of my bedoom with a nightlight. I have even tried playing music for him so there is some noise because my mom always had the tv on. Some nights it seemed to work and others not so much.
My mom unfortunately is confined to a wheelchair with limited movement in her right arm. She was a very active woman, this disease has been torture for her. ( and the family to see her go through this that is why I am trying to keep my sanity and the dog). She loves seeing the dog and is always telling me that she is so happy that I took the dog in. I know she misses him terribly but it does cheer her to see him when I go to see her everyweekend. ( she lives in a different city)
As for the kids, Unfortuantely they are kids I watch (daycare) so I can't let him bite them. They are all under the age of 5. Some are too young to understand and 1 has special needs.
I looked up about this breed and unfortunately they do not recommend this dog for children under 14. They also say they are extremely intelligent and will test the limits to get what they want.
Also, another piece of info. My mom got this dog after my dad passed away in 2004. He was a stray that was found wandering. The animal shelter was not sure for how long and could only estimate his age at 3-4 years.
So I know he has a long history of doing what he wants and that I have a long uphill battle.
YOU HIT YOUR MOTHERS DOG WITH A FLYSWATTER?? This dog that was your mothers joy, the dog she cared for after your father passed away, and you are now abusing him because of a situation he was forced into? He was yanked away from his mama, he was thrown into a strange house with a bunch of children that he isn't used to. He is TIED UP in the house??
Love your mother enough to take care of her baby, and let her dog have a life!! Find a home that actually understands and will care for her the way a loving dog should be cared for. If the new family is kind enough, they will let you come and get your mothers pride and joy, to take him to the nursing home to visit her, as he so obviously misses her. These are just not animals you know. They miss people, they miss their homes, they mourn, they have HEARTS!!
I'm sure your mother would just be heartsick to know the way you are abusing this dog!! Yes...abusing!! This is animal cruelty!! Shame on you!!
OK Shame on me on me! I didn't beat him. It was a smack like with newspaper.
And if you read any of the other entries, I am trying to make his life a good one.
Maybe you should offer some helpful suggestions instead!
I'm not defending anyone - Starbuck really knows her stuff. My feeling is that this was a knee jerk reaction because there have been so many people posting just outrageous things on the "dog" board lately. You read enough "I only smacked him" posts and you think EVERYBODY is beating their dog!
I will bet that she didn't read through what went on between the first and last posts.
Again - not defending but attempting to explain. (Starbuck, hope I'm not stepping on your toes but I get the feeling that this is exactly what happened.)
OK Shame on me on me! I didn't beat him. It was a smack like with newspaper.
And if you read any of the other entries, I am trying to make his life a good one.
Maybe you should offer some helpful suggestions instead!
You are trying to make his life better by hitting him with things, tying him up, confining him to a bathroom, oh but you had a night light, and a little music for him. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind why this dog is biting! You never, and I mean NEVER hit a dog. Whether it be with a newspaper, flyswatter, your hands....etc. What exactly do you think it is teaching this dog, and what do you think you will accomplish by this method? You are teaching him to be aggressive, that's is exactly what you are teaching him. Have you ever had a dog before? You are teaching him the absolute opposite of the result you are trying to obtain.
What do you think you would do, if you one day someone came into your home, took you away from your mothers lap, put you into a house with screaming children, tied you up, hit you, confined you, and likely screamed at you, and blamed you for not acting the way they expected. Would be a pretty different life wouldn't it? What kind of a life is that?
I'm not saying that the children in your care should not be bitten, but what you are doing is ensuring that they will! I did give you a suggestion! Find a foster home for this dog, where he has a LOVING and caring environment. This is not loving. This is not how a dog should live. They give so much to us, and this is the treatment they get in return, only because they don't understand why they were taken away from the person they loved, and thrown into a house of terror, because that is likely what it feels like to him.
Thank You for trying to understand my situationand for your support. I am really not a bad person. Unfortunately I know what I did was not the best option that is why I asked for help. I don't want to do the wrong thing anymore that is why I have asked for help.
I love the dog, but I have to also protect the kids I watch. What is your opinion on muzzles? I know some dog trainers say to use them if the dog shows aggression, but I'm not sure how I feel about them? It would allow me to let the dog be free more during the day.
Okay, first let me say that I did get very emotional when answering, because I had tears rolling down my face when I read this. I have seen dogs die from being litterally depressed and just mourning so horribly, by missing someone they spent so much time with. Then when I read that you hit him and confined him, my heart just ached for him. I'm happy he still gets visits with your mom. Just please don't hit him with anything anymore okay? It will make him afraid and aggressive.
No one wants to see the children bitten. I would certainly try a muzzle. There are ones you can get that aren't so confining to the dogs mouth, yet they can't bite. What kind of dog is he? There may be some other training techniques and other methods to use, so that he doesn't miss your mom so much, and so he can adapt to his new environment.
I'm sorry, we did get off on the wrong foot here. I guess you do have alot to deal with. My condolences for your father, and what you are having to deal with going to the home to see your mother. Parkinsons is a very difficult thing. I'm glad she is happy to see her pup when you take him.
Let me take a few minutes and think of a few other alternatives.
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