Her Majesty Dogmad

I have 2 dogs with dementia, 1 is a foster and 1 is a girl I rescued 6 years ago. With the foster, her symptoms are that she will stand in my gravel pathway and move her legs backwards and forwards for hours. As she was sometimes making her feet sore, I have blocked the access to that which seems to have helped. She will make the same movements inside the house but not for lengthy periods. She will also bark at nothing sometimes, but she's also deaf and virtually blind which doesn't help. She can certainly see her ear drops bottle though and runs a mile, she is a happy and loving little dog. With my own dog, the symptoms are a lot worse but due to the fact she has Cushings Disease and is on chemo and thyroid meds, the vet isn't putting her on any other medication. She gets lost if you take her away from her own environment, even if she knows the places extremely well so she can no longer be let off leash in certain areas or visit other peoples' places. I've had to take all the carpet up because she starting peeing all over it (luckily I have tiles but it's been freezing). Tried small rugs but she does the same thing. She hasn't eaten from a bowl for a year, she would rather starve so I hand feed her. She is also weird about drinking water and will turn around and go back to the bowl for another drink up to 15 times. Aside from all her problems, she is still enjoying her walks and cuddles. Although certain people have said put her down because of the weeing inside the house, I was reluctant to do this whilst she remains happy! I would rather just not have carpet than be without her. She is the most exceptional dog and I adore her and want her with me as long as possible but that will only be while she is happy and still enjoying life. Wishing you all the best, you will know when the time is right.

Nadia is spot on with this advice I have an Italian Greyhound and he is actually very distressed if ever we get separated, he will not tolerate being in another room (I got him aged 7 as a rescue dog). He gets into bed with me if he gets cold but he has a thick coat and polar fleeces over him during the night, even in summer sometimes. This type of dog REALLY feels the cold so outside, even in a laundry is not suitable.

Here are some housetraining tips I got from a trainer - they've worked for me on 30 odd foster dogs! HOUSETRAINING TIPS Ok - first thing to do is decide on the command (I call it “do wees”) you will repeat over and over. You have to really focus on the dog for about 2-3 days to be successful. You have a pocketful of special treats on hand all the time for the first 2-3 days. Walk the dog several times a day and every time the dog wees, you get very excited and keep saying “Good boy/girl, do wees, do wees” – give the dog treats every time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and every time you see the dog eat or drink (both precursors to weeing) whisk the dog into the garden and repeat the command “do wees”. Get very excited and present treats every time dog goes. The dog’s aim in life is to please you. If the dog should have an accident inside the house – say NOTHING at all. The dog soon gets the idea that when he/she goes outside you are really, really pleased and he/she gets rewarded.

There was a fantastic invention on the "New Inventors" tv program recently - a doggie toilet designed especially for units. Really brilliant. It's on the ABC, try looking for it or something similar. I rehomed a rescued dog to a unit with a box containing grass and she adapted to that no problem. I had housetrained her at my place first. Puppies are always a bit more effort with housetraining as opposed to older dogs. She sounds like she'll get there though.

So sad for you Varicool, she deserved a long and happy life, what a beautiful girl.

Well said Shoemonster. I just think certain situations can arise with young dogs and people are not in any position to fix the problem. I speak from experience. I recently fostered 2 young dogs under 2 years of age (to save them from the needle) and then about 2 months later, another dog of around 2. I work full time. My dogs (and fosters) have a morning walk inc off leash exercise, the run of the house and garden, toys etc but all three of these young dogs were not happy when I was out for 11 hours a day and barked. And yes, my neighbours complained. If I had been the owner of these dogs, what could I have done? I cannot afford to pay dog walkers (and won't after some awful experiences), my dog loving friends are not nearby. I rehomed them to the right situations with a lot more company available but if they had been mine, I would have found myself in a difficult situation.

You won't get any apologies from me, I wholeheartedly agree with my rescue group's policy - also please note that I didn't say it was EVERY puppy but even other respondents on this thread think that the home on offer is less than ideal. For pet shops and some breeders (note the word SOME please) it is all about making the sale, no worries about how suitable the home on offer is. I wonder if those 70 year old people I met last year at my vet with a husky pup still have it? They could barely walk and had no idea of the needs of the breed. We get calls, all day every day, from people wanting to be rid of their dog. I do know that this is not everybody, this forum is full of people who love their dogs.

Yes, some dogs are real bitches. It's why I brought my foster dog home because another female just kept biting and harassing her at the ohter carer's home. I don't think there's anything you can safely put on your dogs because they may lick it too. I'd say speak to the breeder, sounds like she might need to be an only dog or at least in a different mix of dogs, your Yorkie terriers shouldn't have to live in fear. Nipping is typical puppy behaviour but there shouldn't be injuries.

I don't think anyone is saying you can't have a dog because you work full time but for a puppy that will be a very difficult lifestyle. Some people work fulltime and are only out 7 hours or so because they work close to home. Others have to travel and it ends up being 11-12 hours which is quite a difference. My recommendation in this person's situation is for a dog of 4+ years. Many people insist on puppies because: 1. They want to bond with them 2. They want to train them 3. They don't want to face death soon I have fostered 30-40 dogs over the last 3 years. I have not had a problem with training most of them although 1 exception took 2 months to housetrain but was an abuse case that I mentioned above, she must have been locked up somewhere due to her behaviours. As for bonding, there's probably only been a couple that I didn't particularly like but they were fine with me! I have 5 dogs and a foster, 5 out of the 6 were over 4 years old when I adopted them. They are very loving and I adore them, as I have done most of my fosters. As for point 3 above, there are no guarantees in life but I would rather have dogs of 4 + and provide them with happy lives for 10 years than a puppy who may be miserable until he gets to 4. Obviously there can be exceptions but would you like to be on your own for 12 hours, 5 days a week?

[ I would just like to point out that working and not being able to get time off/bring puppy to work is a problem faced by many people who obtain puppies... I was lucky my mum lives near me, but my sister isn't as lucky. She works in the city and I work 40 minutes drive from my home. Not easy get around this issue... I know about the whole considering an adult thing too... but she wants a puppy... And there lies the problem with today's society - everyone gets what they want - and this is especially true of pets, whether or not they are doing the best for the pet concerned. I waited many, many years before I was in a position to get a dog. I could have gotten a puppy - very easy isn't it? But because I was going to be away for working all day (going home at lunchtime) I thought it best to get an older dog that would be happy and would sleep while I was out. I then moved to a house further away from work and was going to be away for about 11 hours a day so I got him a companion - again, not a puppy but a dog close to his own age for companionship and similar requirements. I would not consider myself a suitable owner for a puppy and even as a temporary foster carer, I've found that my lifestyle isn't great for dogs under 2 years of age or very active breeds and that is even though they've got companions to play with and long walks before I go to work.

CF - that's why I ask my question as to how long this is actually for? If it's for any more than a few hours at a time, I would say this is not a great idea. There are other ways of stopping a dog from wee/poo ing in your home - housetraining. Having fostered a young dog recently that I believe was left locked up permanently, possibly in a bathroom, until it was taken to the pound, this dog was a very damaged little soul. My dogs have the run of the house and garden while I'm out. They are all very happy as they have each other, even though I work fulltime.

My Italian Greyhound always wees on his front legs! I used to wash them every day but am too busy these days so have to live with it. He does lick them off afterwards ....

Kristie - can I ask how long your puppy is in a crate during the day?

Not sure where you are but the puppy will be: Very, very lonely Bored and probably Cold Puppies are supposed to eat several meals a day for one thing. I work for a rescue group and we do not rehome puppies or usually dogs under 3-4 years where someone is out for this length of time, Monday to Friday. Why are so many dogs aged under 2 in pounds? I think 8 weeks is very young to be separated from it's mother and siblings. Company is extremely important for a young dog, particularly a puppy.

I pay around $80 for each of mine - 5 dogs, ranging from 2 to 13 kilos. Sydney is bound to be the most expensive! There is a great vet at Double Bay (not sure if there is more than one) but they do fantastic work apparently. Let me know if you need the name etc but maybe there's only 1. I think they do greyhounds at the Sydney Uni vets. Not too far for you. Again, let me know if you need more info.

Spot on Erny!!! I have an IG that was a serious abuse case. He also has a disease that means he can ONLY eat Hills Ultra ZD. He makes it his mission to eat whatever he can get his paws on inc poo in the park etc. If he gets the other dogs' food, whose fault is it really? It is mine because I have control over all of this. I can blame him but he is only a dog,doing what comes naturally. After 6 years with me he has not forgotten that he was once found unconscious and near death due to being starved .... he will never get over his food obsession.

Enclose your hands over her muzzle, this will discourage her from nipping. Absolutely NO SMACKING for any reason by anyone. Will scar the dog and I see this constantly, dogs that are handshy.

I feed 3 of my dogs the Ecopet. They usually have the chicken mix but really enjoy the roo one as well. I usually add a handful of biscuits, a little carrot and sometimes a little low fat cottage cheese. They all look great on it and really enjoy it. The other ones have special diets!

I have an excellent mobile groomer who does the northwest area, perhaps you could contact her, might be a bit easier than Caroline who is fantastic but I don't think she goes as far as you would like. Try Jackie on 0414 737 055. I think IBite knows another groomer not far from Penrith but I think that would be too far for you maybe?

I would seek a vet's advice but I would not totally feed any dog on 1 kind of diet. Even my IG, who has Inflammatory Bowel Disease and can only eat Hills Science Ultra Z/d or die, gets veggies, cottage cheese, rice and the odd other addition to his food. He has been relatively healthy over the last 5 years. Try a little flaxseed oil until you can reassess.

Puggles, this is really difficult to live with isn't it? My disgusting foxy took off from the park in search of poo mountain on Sunday morning after a bath. Not only did he find a pile to eat but roll in too, it was all round his head and neck and hanging off his collar so needed another bath. NOT HAPPY! After reading your post, he ain't so bad ....

My latest foster dog is old and had badly neglected ears, the vet says there's nothing can be done for them except to keep putting in drops every 2 days. He found a month after the first examination that her ears looked a lot better and said that as long as I keep it up, they will be fine. I find if I don't do it at that interval she starts rubbing them. The smell that comes from them is fairly strong and yeasty I think. Her whole skin is bad and smells too. My other dogs have snippets of cheese (lots of meds to consume!) so I am avoiding giving her that and she's just gone on to Ultra Z/D to see if that makes a difference. The other biscuits for sensitive skin have made things worse I think. I don't think she'll be finding a new home any time soon as she has too many probs and I wouldn't trust too many people to keep up the regime she needs. She's a sweet old sausage but quite a lot of work.

Hi Puggles, I can understand why this is so upsetting, it's truly gross. I have a few dogs at the moment, they don't eat each other's poo but if we go to the park, all 4 of them will search for and eat other dog's poo. I give them a really varied and health diet, the vet says I'm just unlucky They didn't all do it when I adopted them but they've followed no 1 dog and his dirty habit. My foxie, if he escapes from my house (rarely), won't come back until he's found a pile of cat or dog poo to consume. I think the natural health idea is a good one, I haven't tried that, I keep no. 1 dog on the lead to stop him and try and keep the others occupied with a ball game!! Or an animal communicator might work :p Good luck!

Thanks K9. I have discovered the car problem is fear related as the drooling starts before I've even switched the engine on. Prior to knowing that, I tried putting her on the front seat (to see where she was going) and in the back of the car with the other dogs. That was worse as not only did she vomit but she also poo'd everywhere. I've been given some tips on making the car a fun place and I know it's going to take some consistent work from me over a period of time. We had a first this morning, someone came towards her and she didn't bark but she did at the very next person. She also let me brush her last night for the first time (this has taken a month to achieve). She is housetrained but does bizarre things, eg rushes outside to wee and poo first thing and then 5 mins later poos inside. She didn't do her second poo inside this morning as I shut the door and she went outside. So at last I feel we are beginning to progress a little.

This is an interesting thread. I have "Tiffany" (Chi/Papillon cross originally at Griffith Pound recently). She has lots of fear based problems, including copious vomiting in the car. She barks like crazy when we're walking along and she sees someone. They may be in their garden or walking along towards us. It is obviously fear as she is a scared little dog. I'm also having continuing toiletting problems. Like Toots I have plenty of other dogs to worry about and not necessarily enough time to deal with Tiffany's issues closely enough but until I get somewhere with at least one or two of them, I think she's unrehomable.