Dog hard to cope with?

Question

I have had asthma for just over a year now and it is getting progressively worse. Last case ended in pneumonia and hospital stay. My dog is two and very boisterous, but his worse habit is that of wetting/marking his territory in my bedroom of all places, it really stinks and ruins pillows and duvets. Not being too well I forgot to put board up stairs to stop him getting up, is the only solution to rehome as the smell is vile and makes me heave and also I find changing the duvet etc so hard what with all the extra dust etc.

Answer 1

take him to the vet and obdence school. If that doesn't work then really think about if it is worth keeping this dog. Maybe you could find another one that is smaller and calmer.

Answer 2

Neutering won't help much. My 5 year old dog is neutered and he still likes to make his mark. You could try obedience school but that can be costly and a hassle if you're not feeling well. If the only place he does this is your bedroom, there are child gates you can buy for the stairs that can be unlatched to swing open like a door. I believe Graco makes some. These would be handy. They are something you can leave up and wouldn't have to walk over. Of course this depends on the size of your dog. There is a cleaning solution called Kids & Pets that can clean up the odors and stains that are there. There are also solutions at a pet store that you can spray to deter your dog from peeing there. However, if you have problems with asthma, maybe your best option would be to give the dog to a friend or family member. That way you can still visit, but it won't be in the house with you. He may be contributing to your illness.

Answer 3

Unless the dog has some serious neurological disorder, no dog should be hard to cope with, it's the humans that can't cope with the dog. If you really don't want to get rid of the dog, you need to speak to your doctor to find out your options on how to deal with the dog. I've known plenty of people that have allergies and such and still have pets and manage. Besides all that, the first thing you should do is get him neutered. It definately will help with his territory marking and you will save him some potential health problems in the future. After that, you'll need to get started on some serious training with that dog. Try crate training as someone suggested as well as obedience school. If you don't want to crate train or take him to school, you'll need to get strict with him. Start by putting him on a schedule. That's the best way to get him housebroken, which I believe is the biggest hurdle, because I feel once you get them housebroken everything else should be a breeze. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 4

Your dog is urinating where he has previously gone. He will continue to if he doesn't get nuetered and trained properly. Also the smell of urine will attract him to urinate there again.You will have to get rid of the smell completely , carpet, padding, floor etc. They sell products for that at pet shops and some Vets. It wouldn't be fair to punish him ( not saying you are)for peeing if he hasn't been trained.Some breeds of dogs have a very high energy level and still act like puppies when they are two which means they require more exercise and playtime. It is not too late to have him neutered. Sounds like he needs some training and more playtime outside. If you are not in good health to properly care for your dog (walking, playtime, training, etc.) you may want to think about re homing if you are not well enough, It's not fair to crate him like someone suggested just because he hasn't been trained properly.All that does it create a dog with more energy once he's out of his crate. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

First of all you may be allergic to your dog !! My first instinct is to tell you to find him another home. He sounds like he is too much for you and you are too ill to take care of him properly. If he is the cause of your asthma, you will be doing yourself & him a huge favour by finding him another home. Be sure to let the next people know that he will have to be retrained in the housebreaking department or you may find him back on your doorstep.

You also need to clean everywhere he has gone with an enzyme cleaner designed to get rid of pet odors. You can find them at a pet store & some come in large enough containers to use in a steam cleaner. Ordinary cleaners do not get rid of the odor. Animals usually mark on top of what they have done.

If you do not want to find him another home....He may be doing this to get your attention so you need to walk him more and let him out more often. Praise him like crazy every time he goes outdoors and do not punish him if he goes inside the house (it's a form of getting attention even if its the wrong kind). Keep your bedroom doors closed so he can't get in. You will probably have to get rid of your bedding & start fresh, unless you can wash what you have with the enzyme cleaners.

Is he fixed? If not - that could be another problem.

Good luck with him. Dogs are so loyal and fun - when they are trained.

Answer 6

His fur is more likely to aggravate your asthma than his urine. He needs to be bathed once a month and groomed daily, run a damp comb through his fur.
Wrap your pillows in plastic bags and freeze them for 48 hours to kill dust mites that trigger the reaction, hoover the mattress once a month and use a steam cleaner if oyu can.
His behaviour is a seperate issue from your allergy. If he is triggering asthma attacks then see your gp for advice. Or rehome him.
Try the Dogs Trust, they will have a waiting list but I guess you'll be a priority. Tell them about his behaviour as they have trainers to deal with it.
http://www.dogstrust.org

The trick to housetraining is you make the dog an obvious spot in the garden where you want him to go, you take him there on the lead and you reward him for going there; but its my guess that you need to see a behavioural trainer for this as I think its a stress related problem not a toilet training problem.
Good luck.

Answer 7

At two years the dog should not be doing this and either he is a nervous dog suffering from separation anxiety whenever you go out or he has not been properly trained.

There is one other situation in which a dog will 'mark his terroitory' and that is when he thinks of himself as the leader of the pack. It sounds to me as though the dog is becoming too much for you and in fairness to both of you, I would rehome him. Asthma as you know is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. Do not subject yourself to any further unnecessary strain.

Answer 8

I think you need to answer a few questions for yourself
1. Do you have the time and energy to walk the dog daily for 30 minutes or more?
2. Do you have the time and commitment to train the dog without breaks
3. Have you got your dog neutured, if you haven't this will probably decrease the amount of marking

It sounds like you need to invest a lot of training into the dog which you haven't been able to do. It might be in the best interest of both you and the dog to rehome him....

Answer 9

Rehome the dog. It's too bad you didn't realize your asthma would be triggered by a dog before you got it. And I mean "too bad for the dog" not you. You still have a home to live in. The dog has to suffer now because of this situation. Live and learn.

Answer 10

It's hard to say why he is doing this, but my question would be why you have a dog if you have asthma. If it is as bad as you say, the wetting would be the least of your problems. The shedding/danderis not good for you either. I would try to find out why he is wetting and then find him a good new home.

Answer 11

First, get your dog neutered asap. That will help with the territory marking.

Second, don't allow your dog upstairs, ever. He needs to learn that it's out of bounds from now on. Keep him confined to the kitchen and living room so you can keep upstairs hair and fur free which will help your asthma.