Advice for Dog Owners

If you own a dog or are thinking of owning one, please post any questions you might have in this thread.

Please note that most pet owners will advise from personal experience and are not necessarily qualified to answer questions related to medical issues for your pet. Always consult a vet with any deeper questions that are outside the realms of our help.

Hey I Have a dog now he is very good dog.

:clap: Congratulations!!!

What kind of dog? What does he/she look like? What's it's name? Do you have any questions about caring for your new dog?

My schanuzer got punished cause shes being peeing in the bathroom and my hubby took her outside and left her to sleep outdoors,she has a doghouse of course,but im just worried about her.I mean shes a dog ,she doesnt get why she is being punished ,or is he gettin it?
And he says shell never sleep indoors again,and Im really ****** cause im the one who cleans,and Im not complaining...Its not human to leave her outside ,we dont have snow ,but the weather is cold...I didnt want to argue cause ...well ,i dont want to get into a big fight cause of the dog...I do have Harrys temper in book 5 so im posting here to get it off and maybe some one can suggest something besides kicking my hubby which i already thought...

Dogs don't have much memory, so punishing them doesn't work, it only makes them scared and upset. If you are worried about the dog peeing in the house at night, make sure she goes just before the last person goes to bed, this may take a bit of additional house-training, but once she gets the idea, she'll be fine.
It's possible the peeing may not be simply because she had to go, she might have a bladder infection, of she might be having territory/attention issues.
Whatever the case, forcing her to sleep outside in the cold is just cruel, and solves nothing. And you might find yourself in trouble with the neighbors if she makes noise, or if they decide to report you.
Personally, I think it is worth getting in a big fight over a dog, she trusts you and relies on you to look after her and keep her safe. If you and your husband aren't willing to take the bad with the good of dog ownership, perhaps you should start looking for a new home for her. Good luck. :)

This is what happens when a 80lb 11 year old lets a dog drag her down the street instead of letting go of the leash like any normal person would.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/LBuccalo/DSCI0058_0001.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/LBuccalo/DSCI0059.jpg

This is my little sister and she was walking a pit bull/boxer mix who is very nice, and the dog's owner, her friend, took off down the street on a bike and so, of course, the dog runs after her and takes my little sister with him. It was actually kind of a humorous situation to hear about.

So the moral of the story here is if you are walking a big dog and the dog takes off running-- LET GO!!

Dogs don't have much memory, so punishing them doesn't work, it only makes them scared and upset. If you are worried about the dog peeing in the house at night, make sure she goes just before the last person goes to bed, this may take a bit of additional house-training, but once she gets the idea, she'll be fine.
It's possible the peeing may not be simply because she had to go, she might have a bladder infection, of she might be having territory/attention issues.
Whatever the case, forcing her to sleep outside in the cold is just cruel, and solves nothing. And you might find yourself in trouble with the neighbors if she makes noise, or if they decide to report you.
Personally, I think it is worth getting in a big fight over a dog, she trusts you and relies on you to look after her and keep her safe. If you and your husband aren't willing to take the bad with the good of dog ownership, perhaps you should start looking for a new home for her. Good luck. :)

Well,i couldnt sleep knowing she was outside,so I went to my mom who lives next door and ask her if my doggy could sleep over at nights in her garage,and being sweet as always she agreed.So the doggy sleeps over at grandma,she is the envy of my girls:lol::lol:

Im trying to walk her just before her bedtime too,a stroll down the block wont hurt her,and she can pee as much as she wants.

Thankyou for your advice

This is what happens when a 80lb 11 year old lets a dog drag her down the street instead of letting go of the leash like any normal person would.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/LBuccalo/DSCI0058_0001.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/LBuccalo/DSCI0059.jpg

This is my little sister and she was walking a pit bull/boxer mix who is very nice, and the dog's owner, her friend, took off down the street on a bike and so, of course, the dog runs after her and takes my little sister with him. It was actually kind of a humorous situation to hear about.

So the moral of the story here is if you are walking a big dog and the dog takes off running-- LET GO!!
Oh, ouch! Your poor sister! I hope she will heal up soon. :huggles:

I hope things work out, Montse, it's really nice of your mom to help out. :)

My schanuzer got punished cause shes being peeing in the bathroom and my hubby took her outside and left her to sleep outdoors,she has a doghouse of course,but im just worried about her.I mean shes a dog ,she doesnt get why she is being punished ,or is he gettin it?
And he says shell never sleep indoors again,and Im really ****** cause im the one who cleans,and Im not complaining...Its not human to leave her outside ,we dont have snow ,but the weather is cold...I didnt want to argue cause ...well ,i dont want to get into a big fight cause of the dog...I do have Harrys temper in book 5 so im posting here to get it off and maybe some one can suggest something besides kicking my hubby which i already thought...

Have you ever considered getting your dog a crate? Crate-training is the best way I have found to prevent accidents (peeing or chewing) in the house. Dogs will not pee where they sleep, so as long as your crate is the right size for your dog, the dog will not pee in there. It is extremely effective in teaching new puppies to potty outside and not in the house. Once the dog is crate-trained, she will see it as her den and enjoy spending time there. Both my dogs like to nap in their crates; I leave the doors open and they go in there whenever they feel like it. You can also crate your dog when you're away or when you sleep. It will keep your dog out of trouble and keep you from fighting with your hubby!

Have you ever considered getting your dog a crate? Crate-training is the best way I have found to prevent accidents (peeing or chewing) in the house. Dogs will not pee where they sleep, so as long as your crate is the right size for your dog, the dog will not pee in there. It is extremely effective in teaching new puppies to potty outside and not in the house. Once the dog is crate-trained, she will see it as her den and enjoy spending time there. Both my dogs like to nap in their crates; I leave the doors open and they go in there whenever they feel like it. You can also crate your dog when you're away or when you sleep. It will keep your dog out of trouble and keep you from fighting with your hubby!


I LOVE this method! It worked so well for me, it was rough starting out but definitely for the best. Once our dog was crate trained he only had a few accidents and then he would just go and sit in his crate and punish himself. He loved it in there. He used to rather sleep in his crate than on the bed with me. Great training method I highly suggest it!

I have a question
I have a dog . Her name is titina , she's 9 years old and a pug .
One thing I can't get her to stop to do is lick hers and other dogs pee . Is that normal ? Or should I take her to the vet ?

I have a question
I have a dog . Her name is titina , she's 9 years old and a pug .
One thing I can't get her to stop to do is lick hers and other dogs pee . Is that normal ? Or should I take her to the vet ?

I looked on the computer and a lot of places it says that they lick their pee when they lack nutrients in their diet. I'm not sure if this is true or not because I couldn't find a site that I completely trusted that said anything. I think you should definatley talk to the vet.

I have a question
I have a dog . Her name is titina , she's 9 years old and a pug .
One thing I can't get her to stop to do is lick hers and other dogs pee . Is that normal ? Or should I take her to the vet ?

If it's any consolation, your dog might just be weird, not malnourished. My dog licks the floors constantly for no (confirmed by vet) reason. I think it started when he took steroids and went a little "loopy". I'd still get her checked out by a vet, though, because it could be something else.

Thank you . I took her to the vet and he told me to change Titina's diet . I hope it works because that doggy appointment was not a cheap one

My schanuzer got punished cause shes being peeing in the bathroom and my hubby took her outside and left her to sleep outdoors,she has a doghouse of course,but im just worried about her.I mean shes a dog ,she doesnt get why she is being punished ,or is he gettin it?
And he says shell never sleep indoors again,and Im really ****** cause im the one who cleans,and Im not complaining...Its not human to leave her outside ,we dont have snow ,but the weather is cold...I didnt want to argue cause ...well ,i dont want to get into a big fight cause of the dog...I do have Harrys temper in book 5 so im posting here to get it off and maybe some one can suggest something besides kicking my hubby which i already thought...

There is a very good book called "The Only Dog Training Book You Will Ever Need" (It has a photo of a bulldog on the front cover). This book would be a good resource for you. It has positive reinforcement training tips to help you with this problem. You need to have your veterinarian examine her to make sure she does not have a bladder infection or other problem. Good luck.

I have a question about dogs fighting.

My mum and dad have two staffs and they used to get along fine. But recently they have been fighting ALOT. Anything can start them off now. for instance if there are quite a few people around and they laugh loudly theloud noise sets them off. One of them keeps coming out worse. The other dog just lock jaws on her and that's it. We can't get them apart. they've tried throwing water over them, shouting.. even hitting them. otherwise one would end up dead. Anyone know how to break them up? Or why they keep fighting?

Are the dogs neutered/spayed? Are they both the same gender? It sounds to me like dominance fighting, which can happen between same-gender dogs even if they are fixed. If they aren't fixed, doing so might put a stop to the fighting. Shouting and hitting can be counterproductive, since that tends to get the dogs more excited. The best way to break up a dog fight without getting hurt is for strong people to grab each dog's hind legs and pull them apart, but this can be tough with dogs like staffies since they have such strong grips.
If they are both fixed then working with an experienced trainer who understands dominance issues might help, otherwise you will simply have to find a new home for one of the dogs. Staffies were originally bred for fighting, once it becomes ingrained, it's very hard to stop, so please do training even if you give one dog away, to prevent the remaining dog from hurting a strange dog or even a person.
In the meantime, try to keep the dogs separated, or consider using soft muzzles on both (they allow for panting and drinking, but prevent biting. The dogs must be supervised while they have the muzzles on, however.
Good luck. :)

I have a question about dogs fighting.

My mum and dad have two staffs and they used to get along fine. But recently they have been fighting ALOT. Anything can start them off now. for instance if there are quite a few people around and they laugh loudly theloud noise sets them off. One of them keeps coming out worse. The other dog just lock jaws on her and that's it. We can't get them apart. they've tried throwing water over them, shouting.. even hitting them. otherwise one would end up dead. Anyone know how to break them up? Or why they keep fighting?

Your dogs need some help NOW! Separate them completely (out of the same house) , get a good trainer who is competent in dominance behavioral problems. One of the dogs will kill the other if you do not act now. Neuter them (I suspect they are both males). If you try to break up a dog fight YOU MAY BE ATTACKED INSTEAD! So, separate them now to prevent any future fights. These dogs can do a huge amount of damage to each other or to a person.

They are fighting because: they are a fighting breed, they are most likely 2 intact males, your parents never trained them, they have recently became adult dogs, does any of this sound familiar?

Is there a way to get your dog to stop being agressive to other dogs? My dog, Zoe, has some isues with other dogs for some reason. Particularly large dogs(Zoe is a chuahiaha). Zoe doesn't bite, but he barks a lot and sometimes looks like he might attack. I really want him to be more friendlier.

Is there a way to get your dog to stop being agressive to other dogs? My dog, Zoe, has some isues with other dogs for some reason. Particularly large dogs(Zoe is a chuahiaha). Zoe doesn't bite, but he barks a lot and sometimes looks like he might attack. I really want him to be more friendlier.

Yes, you can help your dog learn to be less aggressive, but it is hard work. First, is he neutered? If not, have him neutered now. This will help, but is not a magic cure. Next, why is he aggressive? Small dogs often are fearful and will act aggressive due to fear. Is he a dominate dog? This will also cause aggressiveness? Is he aggressive to people as well as dogs, or just dogs? Is he aggressive in his own yard or home or anywhere? Is he protecting food or other resources (toys, people)? You will need to have your veterinarian help you determine what is causing the aggression, or if your vet is not good with behavior problems, then ask for a referral to a good canine behaviorist. (The Univ. of Penn. Veterinary School has some great ones.)

You need to have help with the training, because some types of training (dominance training for example) will make dogs worse with this type of behavior. Positive reinforcement training is the only way to train this type of dog. Find a good trainer to work with. It may not be cheap, but it is a whole lot cheaper than the bill from a lawyer after your dog bites someone, or their dog.

Chances are, your dog is afraid of other dogs and you need to train him and help him to learn that he doesn't need to be afraid of others. Good luck, and remember never to punish him, it will only make him worse. Reward him for good behavior.

Yes, you can help your dog learn to be less aggressive, but it is hard work. First, is he neutered? If not, have him neutered now. This will help, but is not a magic cure. Next, why is he aggressive? Small dogs often are fearful and will act aggressive due to fear. Is he a dominate dog? This will also cause aggressiveness? Is he aggressive to people as well as dogs, or just dogs? Is he aggressive in his own yard or home or anywhere? Is he protecting food or other resources (toys, people)? You will need to have your veterinarian help you determine what is causing the aggression, or if your vet is not good with behavior problems, then ask for a referral to a good canine behaviorist. (The Univ. of Penn. Veterinary School has some great ones.)

You need to have help with the training, because some types of training (dominance training for example) will make dogs worse with this type of behavior. Positive reinforcement training is the only way to train this type of dog. Find a good trainer to work with. It may not be cheap, but it is a whole lot cheaper than the bill from a lawyer after your dog bites someone, or their dog.

Chances are, your dog is afraid of other dogs and you need to train him and help him to learn that he doesn't need to be afraid of others. Good luck, and remember never to punish him, it will only make him worse. Reward him for good behavior.
Yes he is neutered. I think he is a dominant dog, he deffinitly is a spoiled dog too. He's agresisive to both dogs and people. He won't be agressive to people unless they pet him though. He is agressive to people only at home at other people's houses he is calm, but when he is with his owners and is outside he is agressive. He is also always agressive to other dogs. I think you could say he is protecting us.

What I've been doing when he starts barking and trys to chase after people or dogs is I tell him bad boy. After I say it about two or three times he stops and then I pet him if I don't have any treats with me. This works mostly with people than dogs though. Zoe is a chuaihaua and I've heard that most chuaihauas are agressive dogs arn't they? We never hit and we only yell at him if he bites or goes to the bathroom on the carpet or something because he shouldn't. He knows better. Is it harder to train an older dog? Zoe is seven years old.

Very small dogs can be aggressive, it's like they're trying to make up for their size, Leo (our pom) can get that way too.
Dogs don't respond well to negative feedback (scolding, yelling) since they can interpret it as attention, or even that you are joining him in barking. When you pat your dog after he stops barking/chasing, you could be unintentionally reinforcing that unwanted behaviour. In his mind, he chased the threat away, and you rewarded him for doing so.
My recommendation would be to keep him leashed, and give him an appropriate leash correction when he tries to chase, for proper correction technique, see a trainer or check out a training book by Brian Kilcommons, he explains it very clearly and includes photographs. Do not praise or give treats shortly after he barks/chases. Work on teaching him to sit, in a calm quiet area, without distractions, and with lots of treats and praise. Once he knows sit, start using that command just before he's likely to start chasing someone, and give praise/treats when he sits instead of chasing.

The important thing is to clearly communicate to him what you want him to do, rather than reacting to what he does do. It will take time, and training is an ongoing thing, but it's worth it.
For socializing, a dog park or doggie daycare (if available in your area) can be good, as long as he's closely supervised and is kept with only small dogs.

Good luck, and feel free to owl me if you have more questions. :)

Yes he is neutered. I think he is a dominant dog, he deffinitly is a spoiled dog too. He's agresisive to both dogs and people. He won't be agressive to people unless they pet him though. He is agressive to people only at home at other people's houses he is calm, but when he is with his owners and is outside he is agressive. He is also always agressive to other dogs. I think you could say he is protecting us.

What I've been doing when he starts barking and trys to chase after people or dogs is I tell him bad boy. After I say it about two or three times he stops and then I pet him if I don't have any treats with me. This works mostly with people than dogs though. Zoe is a chuaihaua and I've heard that most chuaihauas are agressive dogs arn't they? We never hit and we only yell at him if he bites or goes to the bathroom on the carpet or something because he shouldn't. He knows better. Is it harder to train an older dog? Zoe is seven years old.


You really need to find a good trainer for Zoe. It is not too late to retrain him, but it will not be easy. You can't yell at him for biting or urinating on the carpet. Zoe will not understand why you are yelling and it will make him more fearful. This will not make his behavior better. He is probably afraid and reacts aggressively due to fear. Yelling will not make him less fearful.

Your veterinarian may be able to help also. Some dogs may benefit from medications to help change their behavior.

You can start by working with Zoe by having teaching him to sit and stay. He should sit before he gets anything. This is a way to teach him that you are in charge without causing him to become fearful. You must make him sit before you put his food down, before you let him outside, before he gets any toys or food treats, or anything else. You can teach him to sit by taking a small piece of food and holding it at a over his nose at a level where he has to sit down to get it or risk falling over. Remember, nothing good happens unless he sits down first. If he refuses to sit, then he just doesn't get a treat, or any other reward. Praise him when he responds correctly.

You need to find a good trainer for Zoe to really help him. If you allow him to continue with this behavior, someone will get injured. Unfortunately, many dogs like Zoe are euthanized for behaviors like his. Please do not let that happen to Zoe.

Help!
I recently got a cat, who is pregnant (not my fault. She came to me that way.)
I have decided to keep her and will find homes for her babies when they are weaned (I have a feeling that's going to be a lot harder done than said).
Anyway, the point is, I'm moving home in about four weeks, where my dogs - yes, I am a doggie person by nature - will be awaiting my return with joyous yips...and where, I am afraid, they will try to eat the newest members of the family (okay. That's an exaggeration).
But seriously, any tips on how to get dogs and cats (and kittens) acquainted? I plan to keep Shye (mama cat) and her babies separated from the dogs while they are being weaned, but eventually, they will have to make their debut, and I'd like to be prepared. :) How do I introduce my dogs to Shye and the babies?

That can be tough, depending on the animals involved. If one or more of your dogs has a strong 'prey drive' they will likely chase Shye, scaring her and generally causing an uproar. And it will depend on how Shya reacts to dogs, will she be relaxed with them, or will she be scared/aggressive.
First off, use a secure carrier to bring the cat into the house. Then keep her in one room for a while to let her get used to all the new smells, and to let the dogs get used to her smell through the door. Then, depending on how things go, start allowing them to interact with supervision. Even if they all get along well, provide Shye with a space the dogs can't access, so she can have some alone time, and so she will have a place where she feels safe to have her kittens. As for introducing the kittens, give them and the dogs plenty of chances to smell each other on your hands and clothing, but don't try to introduce them directly until the kittens have their co-ordination, so they seem less like prey, and introduce the dogs one at a time. It is something you'll have to sort of play by ear, depending on the various animals' reactions to each other.
For example, one of my dogs, Sandy, likes cats, but they're usually scared of her. Barney, on the other hand, regards cats as 'food that moves'. :shrug:

*IMPORTANT* keep the cats' litterbox somewhere that is completely inaccessible to the dogs, even if someone forgets and leaves a door open. Dogs usually consider litterbox contents to be gourmet treats! It's not healthy for the dogs, and can create a huge smelly mess, especially if you use clumping cat litter, which will stick to a dog's fur. Yuch! Also, try to keep the dogs from eating the cat food, which can make them ill.
Since your dogs are quite small, using a baby gate to block the cat's room could work quite well, unless they're jumpers. It would allow for smelling and limited interaction, while keeping them from direct contact unless Shye wants to jump to the other side.

Thanks for the advice, Colonel! :) I'll just do as you suggest and play it by ear!

Does anyone have any advice on toys for dogs that can chew through everything? I've tried every so-called 'indestructible' toy out there, and nothing has stood up to my dog. Aside from toys, we've tried different types of bones, like Nylabones, and he chews those to bits. We've tried rawhide, but they last him about 20 minutes. He needs to always have something to chew, because if he doesn't, he'll chew things he shouldn't be chewing. You would think such a little guy wouldn't be able to chew through things so easily. I know some people have said that it doesn't matter if they chew pieces off of toys, as long as they don't swallow them, but I don't want to take the chance of him accidentally swallowing something. So I'm just wondering, before I waste anymore money on toys that last a day, if anyone has any advice. Thanks. :)

Does anyone have any advice on toys for dogs that can chew through everything? I've tried every so-called 'indestructible' toy out there, and nothing has stood up to my dog. Aside from toys, we've tried different types of bones, like Nylabones, and he chews those to bits. We've tried rawhide, but they last him about 20 minutes. He needs to always have something to chew, because if he doesn't, he'll chew things he shouldn't be chewing. You would think such a little guy wouldn't be able to chew through things so easily. I know some people have said that it doesn't matter if they chew pieces off of toys, as long as they don't swallow them, but I don't want to take the chance of him accidentally swallowing something. So I'm just wondering, before I waste anymore money on toys that last a day, if anyone has any advice. Thanks. :)

Did you try the durable nylabones? They are much more heavy duty than the flexible ones--my dog can mow through a flexible one in a matter of minutes, but the durables last. She does chew them down, but it takes a while and it doesn't hurt them to swallow those tiny bits--that's how the nylabones are made.

Other than that, have you thought about trying an actual bone? They sell them in the pet store. Some come stuffed with a tasty filling, some you can fill, I think. I have not tried those with my dogs yet, but a friend of mine swears by them.

Did you try the durable nylabones? They are much more heavy duty than the flexible ones--my dog can mow through a flexible one in a matter of minutes, but the durables last. She does chew them down, but it takes a while and it doesn't hurt them to swallow those tiny bits--that's how the nylabones are made.

Other than that, have you thought about trying an actual bone? They sell them in the pet store. Some come stuffed with a tasty filling, some you can fill, I think. I have not tried those with my dogs yet, but a friend of mine swears by them.

I actually didn't know that they made durable nylabones; I'll definitely check those out. I was worried about him swallowing the tiny pieces, but if you say it doesn't harm them, I won't worry about it. Thank you!! :)

Does anyone have any advice on toys for dogs that can chew through everything? I've tried every so-called 'indestructible' toy out there, and nothing has stood up to my dog. Aside from toys, we've tried different types of bones, like Nylabones, and he chews those to bits. We've tried rawhide, but they last him about 20 minutes. He needs to always have something to chew, because if he doesn't, he'll chew things he shouldn't be chewing. You would think such a little guy wouldn't be able to chew through things so easily. I know some people have said that it doesn't matter if they chew pieces off of toys, as long as they don't swallow them, but I don't want to take the chance of him accidentally swallowing something. So I'm just wondering, before I waste anymore money on toys that last a day, if anyone has any advice. Thanks. :)

Have you tried the "Big Brute" brand of toys or the "Tuffie" brand? Also there are Kong toys that are made for power chewers. They are black or very dark in color.

There are also the natural bones stuffed with things that you can buy at the pet store. Just be careful and supevise your dog with these. I've had one that broke clean in half, but all the others were fine. Also, you want to watch that your dog doesn't chew them so much that they wear down the teeth. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but I've heard it can happen. I haven't had any problems, but my dog isn't that much of a power chewer anymore. He grew out of it. :)

Also, you want to watch that your dog doesn't chew them so much that they wear down the teeth. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but I've heard it can happen.
It can definitely happen. I've seen many dogs with "tennis ball mouth." Their teeth wear to form the shape of the ball.

I bought a durable Nylabone and...well, it's been about 15 minutes and he hasn't yet bitten off any pieces, so that's a good sign. :lol: I'll definitely check out your other suggestions as well.

Also, you want to watch that your dog doesn't chew them so much that they wear down the teeth. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but I've heard it can happen. I haven't had any problems, but my dog isn't that much of a power chewer anymore. He grew out of it.
Oh, wow. I'll have to be careful of that. My dog isn't constantly chewing, it's just that he can get through things when he does, so hopefully we won't have that problem - and hopefully he'll grow out of his chewing as well.

Thank you both very much for your help. :)

It can definitely happen. I've seen many dogs with "tennis ball mouth." Their teeth wear to form the shape of the ball.




Ouch. :(

You're welcome _LoonyLovegood_ . Good luck .:)

Also, you want to watch that your dog doesn't chew them so much that they wear down the teeth. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but I've heard it can happen. I haven't had any problems, but my dog isn't that much of a power chewer anymore. He grew out of it.

Yes, my Sandy was always quite a powerful chewer, nylabones were great for her, but now, at 15, her teeth are worn down to little nubs. There wasn't much I could do about it though, if she didn't have the nylabones she would chew on whatever she could get ahold of, which led to a few vet visits....:rolleyes: so the vet said to just let her have the nylabone.

A pet health warning:

My dog spent all day in the vet's office today after eating an Airborne tablet. Being a teacher, I'm exposed to a lot of germs, so I use Airborne in the winter and find that it really does help. Well, today my dog, Sawyer, found a random tube of this stuff and ate at least one tablet before I could stop him. My vet advised me to make him vomit, which I did. He seemed fine.

About half an hour later (we were in the vet's office because my dog, Shannon, happened to have her shots scheduled for today) Sawyer threw up blood! It was so scary. The vet said the zinc in the Airborne is very irritating to dogs' stomachs. Sawyer had to stay there all day, having his stomach filled with activated charcoal. He's home now and on three different meds and hospital food. He seems to be fine so far, thankfully.

I just thought I'd post this warning for everyone who has dogs that sniff out any little thing that might smell like food.

Oh, how scary! Good thing you were already at the vet. I'm so glad Sawyer is okay. :huggles:

And it will depend on how Shya reacts to dogs, will she be relaxed with them, or will she be scared/aggressive.
First off, use a secure carrier to bring the cat into the house. Then keep her in one room for a while to let her get used to all the new smells, and to let the dogs get used to her smell through the door. Then, depending on how things go, start allowing them to interact with supervision. Even if they all get along well, provide Shye with a space the dogs can't access, so she can have some alone time, and so she will have a place where she feels safe to have her kittens. As for introducing the kittens, give them and the dogs plenty of chances to smell each other on your hands and clothing, but don't try to introduce them directly until the kittens have their co-ordination, so they seem less like prey, and introduce the dogs one at a time. It is something you'll have to sort of play by ear, depending on the various animals' reactions to each other.
For example, one of my dogs, Sandy, likes cats, but they're usually scared of her. Barney, on the other hand, regards cats as 'food that moves'. :shrug:

UPDATE: Shye and the babies (in a nice, safe, secure carrier of course :)) met the girls for the first time today. And... Yeah. So, I think my cat just just about had a heart attack. Or three. Star and Carly were all really interested, sniffing around the carrier and everything, but Shye (taking it as a threat, especially with her babies being there) started hissing and threatening them with her claws (of course, she couldn't reach them by any means). Well, anyway, Carly and Star were still far more intrigued than anything, but Daisy - oh, my poor, poor Daisy. :lol: She was so upset, she started barking like mad.
Anyway, at the current moment, all of the kitties are in the (now open) carrier in my bedroom behind a closed door where three little Chihuahuas cannot reach them to upset Mama Cat even more. I placed her food, water, and even her litter box (yuck) in my room for her easy access, and I figure that when the kittens are about two weeks old, I'll try this again. This time, I'll do just Shye, though. Maybe she won't be so angry if she doesn't feel like she's protecting the kittens.

Oh, my! A rather eventful introduction! I hope it goes better next time, at least that the kittens will be okay, and Shye will at lest learn to tolerate the dogs from high places. :)

Sandy and I once lived with someone who had a cat, Sandy always tried to play with him, but he really didn't like her. So he found himself a spot on a shelf in the bathroom, behind the door. When the door was open, he was sheltered, but could peek out through the crack. So we had to move some towels...:lol:

A pet health warning:

My dog spent all day in the vet's office today after eating an Airborne tablet. Being a teacher, I'm exposed to a lot of germs, so I use Airborne in the winter and find that it really does help. Well, today my dog, Sawyer, found a random tube of this stuff and ate at least one tablet before I could stop him. My vet advised me to make him vomit, which I did. He seemed fine.

About half an hour later (we were in the vet's office because my dog, Shannon, happened to have her shots scheduled for today) Sawyer threw up blood! It was so scary. The vet said the zinc in the Airborne is very irritating to dogs' stomachs. Sawyer had to stay there all day, having his stomach filled with activated charcoal. He's home now and on three different meds and hospital food. He seems to be fine so far, thankfully.

I just thought I'd post this warning for everyone who has dogs that sniff out any little thing that might smell like food.

I just read this. Yeek. How scary. I have a dog like this. He'll chew up or eat anything that has an interesting scent. He's a cocker, what else would you expect, I suppose. Thanks for the warning! I tend to keep things out of reach, but he's resourceful at getting stuff sometimes.

I'm glad Sawyer got help quickly. I assume he's OK now?

That's a great name for a dog, btw. :)

I just read this. Yeek. How scary. I have a dog like this. He'll chew up or eat anything that has an interesting scent. He's a cocker, what else would you expect, I suppose. Thanks for the warning! I tend to keep things out of reach, but he's resourceful at getting stuff sometimes.

I'm glad Sawyer got help quickly. I assume he's OK now? Yes, Sawyer's doing well now, thanks. Your cocker does that, too, huh? Sawyer's a springer spaniel. So is it a spaniel thing to eat anything they come across? Both of my springers, but especially Sawyer, will find some little thing on the ground outside and just eat it straightaway! Do they think snacks are just lying around everywhere or what?
That's a great name for a dog, btw. Thanks! It suits him--he's sassy like Sawyer on Lost, and he's a little adventurer. :D

Sandy, my cocker, will eat pretty much anything too. I know it's a typical cocker thing, I don't know about other spaniels.
Sandy loves fruitcake and anything mint, including toothpaste. :rolleyes: Luckily, she's apparently got a cast-iron constitution. :lol:

Yes, Sawyer's doing well now, thanks. Your cocker does that, too, huh? Sawyer's a springer spaniel. So is it a spaniel thing to eat anything they come across? Both of my springers, but especially Sawyer, will find some little thing on the ground outside and just eat it straightaway! Do they think snacks are just lying around everywhere or what?

I believe it's partly a sporting dog thing. Ultra food motivated. :) My dog is good for the most part about not picking up stuff outside... except food. Usually I'll read his body language and figure out he's following a scent and catch him before he gets at the food, luckily.

I love springers, btw. :) I was thinking about getting one before I decided on getting another cocker. :)

Thanks! It suits him--he's sassy like Sawyer on Lost, and he's a little adventurer. :D

LOL! I was wondering if he was named after Lost's Sawyer. :) Still a great name. My dog is named after a TV character too. :)

Sandy, my cocker, will eat pretty much anything too. I know it's a typical cocker thing, I don't know about other spaniels.
Sandy loves fruitcake and anything mint, including toothpaste. :rolleyes: Luckily, she's apparently got a cast-iron constitution. :lol:

LOL! Well my Charlie would like all of those things. :) Too bad he doesn't have a stomach like your Sandy. :( He's the sensitive type...

Oh and I think I'll one up you on weird stuff to eat... How about chapstick/lip balm... I usually catch him if he gets it so he's never actually eaten it, but he's tried... and what kills me is it's the type that has no scent/flavor to it... He's weird. Though I suppose it would have my scent on it... that might make it interesting...

I love springers, btw. I was thinking about getting one before I decided on getting another cocker. Oh, yes, springers and cockers are such great dogs! I had a cocker when I was a kid, and I adored that dog. My springers are so much fun, so lovable, and the perfect size--not too small, not too big.

My dog is named after a TV character too.
Well my Charlie would like all of those thingsIs Charlie named after Lost, too? :lol:

Oh, yes, springers and cockers are such great dogs! I had a cocker when I was a kid, and I adored that dog. My springers are so much fun, so lovable, and the perfect size--not too small, not too big.

Yeah, they are a good size too, you're right. :) I ended up going for the not so much energy cocker. I live in the city and I know cockers have enough energy already... :)


Is Charlie named after Lost, too? :lol:

:lol: Actually, no. :) His name is a bit more stealthy. He's named after a Star Trek character who doesn't go by that name. Charles Tucker III aka Trip on Enterprise. :) My dog will actually answer to his full name. It's rather amusing. :)

Yeah, they are a good size too, you're right. I ended up going for the not so much energy cocker. I live in the city and I know cockers have enough energy already...
Ah, yes, my springers can be off the hook, especially with the two egging each other on. One will bark for no apparent reason and they're off on a bark-fest. But they keep each other entertained, wrestling and running, constantly running! I often refer to them as 'maniacs' and they respond to that name! :lol:Actually, no. His name is a bit more stealthy. He's named after a Star Trek character who doesn't go by that name. Charles Tucker III aka Trip on Enterprise. My dog will actually answer to his full name. It's rather amusing. Oh, Enterprise, cool! We actually have a dog on our flyball team named Trip.

Ah, yes, my springers can be off the hook, especially with the two egging each other on. One will bark for no apparent reason and they're off on a bark-fest. But they keep each other entertained, wrestling and running, constantly running! I often refer to them as 'maniacs' and they respond to that name! :lol:

That's awesome. :) As long as they keep each other entertained it's all good... unless they are knocking things over, I suppose. :)



Oh, Enterprise, cool! We actually have a dog on our flyball team named Trip.

Cool! I think it's a fun name. :)

How about chapstick/lip balm... Oh yes, Sandy loves that too. She destroyed one when she got into the bathroom cupboard. Luckily, she didn't manage to get the lid off the jar of vaseline....no idea how we would have got that out of the carpet....:rolleyes: :lol:

I know this is an old thread, but hope someone can help me. It's been years since I've owned a dog. I was a teenager and we didn't have that dog long. The other dog I had, I had from the age of 6 - 10. My mother had to give her away. So, as you can see, been many years since I've owned a dog.

I just recently got a Shi tzu. It's 10 weeks old. It's supposed to be housebroken. I didn't have any trouble her first night here (yesterday), but just a while ago, she had an accident, and peed on the floor. What should I do? I did that thing where you put their nose in it, and say "No!" She peed on one of the small rugs upstairs. I'm going to keep that away from my mother, though. ^^

Anyway, what should I do? Like I said, she's supposed to already be housebroken and is supposed to be trained to not go unless newspaper is on the floor.

You shouldn't stick their nose in it. They have no idea what your punishing them for. You also shouldn't spank them. That will just make them scared of you. If you catch them when they're peeing, then say no firmly but not screaming at them. If you don't catch them, but find it later, there's nothing you can do. It's to late and they don't know what you're punishing them for. You need to make sure you take the dog out regularly, and reward them when they go outside (not necessarily a treat, just praising them is enough). That will make them want to go outside, and not inside.

Hope I helped!

I'm having another problem now! The Shihtzu just won't go! I've been walking her for over and hour, and she still won't "go". She sniffs and sniffs, but nothing. I just don't get it. I've never had that type of a problem before.

Hmm. Has she been drinking enough water recently?

Hmm. Has she been drinking enough water recently?Yeah, she's drinking water. I walked her this morning and she peed, but she won't do anything else. I'm hoping nothing is wrong. She ate a lot of dinner (imo). I gave her 1/2 cup of puppy food as opposed to 1/4 cup of puppy food since I thought it was 1/4 cup. She still hasn't done anything.

Yesterday morning, I had to go to the grocery store (her puppy chow was in the car my mother used) and took her with me (shoulda used a crate) and she did have a number 2 accident in the car while I was in the store. She has to do something, it's just not normal not to. ><

Dogs usually like to go in the same place, and rely on scent to tell them. I gather you don't have a yard, so that makes house training a bit more difficult. It might be boring for you, but take the puppy out to a suitable spot nearby and stay there for 15 minutes or so, and go back frequently, every 2 hours or so. When she does go there, praise her lavishly. Once she's reliably going in the same spot, you can cut back on the frequency of outings, and she should start to go as soon as you reach that spot. It's best that it be close by, so she doesn't have to hold it for too long. Good luck! :)

Dogs usually like to go in the same place, and rely on scent to tell them. I gather you don't have a yard, so that makes house training a bit more difficult. It might be boring for you, but take the puppy out to a suitable spot nearby and stay there for 15 minutes or so, and go back frequently, every 2 hours or so. When she does go there, praise her lavishly. Once she's reliably going in the same spot, you can cut back on the frequency of outings, and she should start to go as soon as you reach that spot. It's best that it be close by, so she doesn't have to hold it for too long. Good luck! :)No, I live in a house and we have our own yard. I did a bit of research and, apparently, Shihtzus are difficult to house break because they're very picky about where they go.

That's true, our neighbors' Shih Tzu would go anywhere except his own yard for a long time. If it doesn't gross you out, you could "seed" an area in the yard with her own pee/poo to give her the idea. But nobody would blame you if you aren't willing....:lol:

That's true, our neighbors' Shih Tzu would go anywhere except his own yard for a long time. If it doesn't gross you out, you could "seed" an area in the yard with her own pee/poo to give her the idea. But nobody would blame you if you aren't willing....:lol:That's ironic. We did that when she had an accident the other night. Ironically, though, she's still having accidents. ><

My problem is that I can't figure out when to walk her for bathroom reasons as opposed to just walking her around the neighborhood for fun. I can't really go by how she eats. She doesn't eat the same time everyday and since she is so young, I would feel bad taking the food up after she eats (even though, with our old dog, we did that and 30 minutes after she would eat, we'd taker outside and she'd do something). For this dog it's easier to figure out when she's going to pee as opposed to doing number 2.

Yesterday morning, for instance, I took her out in the yard. She peed, but didn't do anything else. She hadn't eaten yet, so I just figured it was okay. I brought her back in, started cleaning up the bathroom, like I would do every week anyway. When I came out of the bathroom to check on her, I saw she had had an accident. I took that and tossed it out in the back yard to help "scent it" so to speak, and disinfected the area with cleaner. I just don't get it. I've never had this much of a problem with getting a dog to literally "go".

The only good thing coming from out of this, is that I do know she's okay, but it's getting cumbersome. I don't feel confident leaving her at home for any reason since she's still having accidents.

Toilet training is a very long, patient (or not so patient for some) and time consuming process. We have mostly had outdoor dogs (stepdad won't allow them inside on the carpet) but we once had an indoor dog in our old house when we had floorboards. We would lay newspaper down for her, and amazingly, she would go on the newspaper every single time. She never once had an accident off the newspaper. I have heard that they are attracted to the scent and thats why they go potty on it. Once I had my bunny in the laundry because his hut was being renovated, and not a lot of people potty train rabbits, and mine isn't so I layed some newspaper down in the corner (and our laundry is huge) and he went on the newspaper every time.

I suggest newspaper :)

dogs or horses which r better

Has anybody ever had a dog who injured her tail? My girl, Shannon, is a very, very waggy dog. She wags all the time and she wags her whole body. But yesterday she did not wag at all. And her tail was just hanging down. She acted perfectly normal otherwise. I lifted up her tail and she did not cry or act like it hurt at all. When I went outside with her, she was holding her tail up and wagging it very, very slightly. But it is just so strange for her because she wags so exuberantly all the time. If I just walk toward her she starts wagging. She went to the groomers the day before; I'm wondering if something happened there. Any thoughts?