View Full Version : Dog issue
fidgiegirl
9-20-12, 6:54pm
Surprise! Surprise! We are having an issue with little Gus.
First, let me show you how cute he is 99% of the time.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8007526366_2369bb002c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7733846@N05/8007526366/)
Gus! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7733846@N05/8007526366/) by fidgiegirl (http://www.flickr.com/people/7733846@N05/), on Flickr
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, the problem: Gus is having an issue in his kennel when we leave him for the day. When we come home, his face is soaking wet.
He did have water bowl, but we removed it and same problem.
His bedding in there is wet, too, but we can't tell if it's urine.
He likes the kennel otherwise, and goes in it when we are home.
When he was left out, he was scratching walls and doors and chewed on the blinds, so that wasn't a good solution, either.
He settles down pretty quickly when we get home.
Have tried giving a Kong, it remains full of peanut butter when we get home.
Who can help us solve this mystery? What the heck is he doing to get SO WET?! On ears, above the eyes, all over the snout. And no where else on body. Drooling? So weird.
Random thoughts:
1) put in fresh bedding, do the UV urine detection test if you can't tell by smell when it is wet again
2) I bet it's drool
3) Give him more to do when he is with you. Dogs like to have jobs, and shared activities with their alpha pack members. This may reduce his anxiety/panting/drooling, if it's drool. From your description of his scratching/chewing, it sounds to me like he needs a job.
4) These guys know their stuff:
http://www.newskete.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=26&cat=Exceptional+Dog+Books
treehugger
9-20-12, 7:33pm
I agree, it sounds like panting all day (due to anxiety?) is causing the wet face. My dog is not a drooler, but she is afraid of fireworks and thunder. When she hears them, she pants for hours, and this produces quite a lot of wetness that covers her whole face and wherever she is hanging out.
I'm glad he seems to like the crate in general and goes in when you are home. Make sure that continues. That is, make the crate a safe place to hang out, never a punishment. The kong was a good idea to try, but it sounds like that's not interesting to Gus. Maybe try it again with different treats. And see if you can find other "active" toys/treats that he does like. I also *highly* recommend a long, tiring walk before you leave for the day. Tired dogs don't have time to be anxious. Good luck!
Kara
What kind of bedding does he have? I'd think you'd smell urine.
I imagine he is bored and chewing his bedding (blanket, pillow, whatever) and creating lots of drool.
Tussiemussies
9-20-12, 11:00pm
Our girl used to like going in her kennel crate when she was younger. We didn't need to do it for awhile and now it is terrible for her, she shakes the whole time, pants and has an anxiety attack while in there. We don't have the same type of issues you have so we stopped putting her in there.
In your situation, I think it is drool coming from anxiety. I would put his water back in there. He may get very thirsty eventually and decide to drink it. Was he doing this before you crated him, when you were leaving him alone, I know you mentioned he scratched the wall. It sounds like separation anxiety to me...
Wildflower
9-20-12, 11:25pm
It is drool. Our Pug does the same thing when we are gone and he is in his crate. He's usually only in it for a couple hours at a time, as we are retired, so are not gone for very long at a time. But we always come home to a panting and wet dog. It is not hot, the temp is kept quite comfortable for him, but still he is panting like crazy when we get home, mostly from excitement we think, but probably anxiety while we are gone....
Wildflower
9-20-12, 11:33pm
And Gus is VERY CUTE!!! :)
Yes, drool. What seemed to help most with my Shih Tzu's separation anxiety, at least with the appearance of her mental state, since I don't know exactly what she did when I wasn't home, was to ignore her before going out and especially for the 15-20 minutes after coming home. Never make your coming and goings a big deal. When I left I'd just throw her a special treat that she only got when I went out, and then just leave. When coming home, just put her out in the yard, no verbal or physical contact from me at all. Then once she's calm again (and has probably forgotten that I just got home) normal interaction.
fidgiegirl
9-21-12, 8:07am
Thanks all, we will try some of these things. Our other dog has a backpack. Maybe Gus needs one too for his morning walk. And a treadmill?! :)
decemberlov
9-21-12, 10:09am
Kelli, I think the morning walk would definitely help. My pup is a big panter and drooler when she's anxious.
We don't crate her now though since she's older and has been really good about not having accidents :)
I heard lavender as well as Rescue Remedy (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1233) are both good for dogs with anxiety, although I haven't tried it yet myself.
And I think the water in there would be good with all the panting and drooling he's most likely doing. Good luck :) Gus is a cutie!!
He's probably crying. I know I would be if I were locked in a box all day. (Yes, I know--non-helpful snark. But I'm no fan of crates.)
decemberlov
9-21-12, 11:03am
He's probably crying. I know I would be if I were locked in a box all day. (Yes, I know--non-helpful snark. But I'm no fan of crates.)
awwww :(
I'm actually a firm believer in crates. Especially for puppies that like to chew. Sometimes it really is for their own good. And introduced properly can be something they really like. Dogs like having a little "cave" to hang out in.
Funny story: Up until my pitty was about 2 1/2 or 3 she was crated when we went to work. One morning I put her in her crate before I left for work. I forgot to actually lock the latch and just shut the door. She was still in the crate when I got home. Little did she know that all she had to do was nudge the door the slightest bit with her nose and she would have had to entire run of the house all day :~)
iris lily
9-21-12, 11:10am
I don't have any good ideas to add, fidgie. These sound like good ideas.
Tussiemussies
9-21-12, 2:17pm
Kelli, there is also this coat-like sweater that is made to reduce anxiety. I have read good things about it although it was mainly from the companies selling it. Here is the URL :
https://anxietywrap.com/default.aspx?gclid=cls876ukx7icfygo4aod0riaga
If you have the time you can do the whole 'separation anxiety desensitizing' thing, where you leave for a very short time, then come back, slowly increasing the time spent away. Or adopt a buddy for him.
thinkgreen
9-25-12, 12:18am
Gus looks like he's worth the effort for sure.
When we got a new rescue we were advised to get a "calming collar" which release pheromones that mimic the smell of Momma Dog. They are also called DAP (dog appeasing Peromones). The collar did seem to help her and it lasts for about a month. Our dog was small so the collar actually was big enough to make two collars out of. We kept the second in the fridge until the first wore out.
iris lily
9-25-12, 12:51am
My big lunkhead rescue dog went off to his new home tonight. Let's all home that he does well. He's sweet as sugar, he's just a big baby.
fidgiegirl
9-25-12, 8:26am
Strangely, as life goes, after I made this post, he hasn't been "wet" one day . . . I did try Kara's suggestion, though I feel amazed if it worked that quickly! I also put a thicker bed in his kennel, and we moved it into another room. We didn't do any of those things on purpose to help this problem, but we did do it at the same time. Who knows what worked but at least the drooling issue seems to have resolved. So weird!! But we'll take it!
decemberlov
9-25-12, 11:51am
Yay! Good for you and Gus! :)
fidgiegirl
9-25-12, 8:03pm
My big lunkhead rescue dog went off to his new home tonight. Let's all home that he does well. He's sweet as sugar, he's just a big baby.
Was this the one that peed at the potential family's house? If so or if not, hopefully he got a good family!
He may need a run every morning and night--with play involved when he wants it, but the most important thing for dogs is to be able to sniff around. Dogs get to make few of their own choices--but if he can run off-leash for 30 minutes at least in the morning and again in evening, it might help, plus he needs tactile interaction with you.
Some breeds survive being left alone during the day much better than others. You can check Brian Kilcommon's book, Paws to Consider to see a list. Apart tfrrom that, I would get him out of the crate as soon as possible. Give him a marrow bone to chew every day (get raw from grocery store, the best being organic so he's not getting trash fed to cows)--it gives him focus, is good for his digestion if given after his meal, gives him calcium and calms him. If I crated a dog (which I wouldn't, because I wouldn't want to be crated, myself) I wuld leave the bon in the crate for focus and calming all while you're away. This is a lot better for a dog than a pb-filled kong.
The rule of thumb I and other dog trainers I know go by is don't subject him to anything you wouldn't subject a 3-year-old human child to. How would you stretch yourself if you had a 3-year-old child? Do the same with the dog--this may sound preposterous to people who aren't used to thinking of their obligations to dogs this way, but if you want happiness for your dog, it helps a lot.
Wildflower
10-10-12, 3:01am
He's probably crying. I know I would be if I were locked in a box all day. (Yes, I know--non-helpful snark. But I'm no fan of crates.)
My Pug would not have survived to be 7 years old now without being placed in a crate when we leave the house! He eats/chews on absolutely everything and I've pulled many a life threatening object out of his mouth, including electrical cords. All of my dogs over the years have been placed in crates when they are puppies for their own safety when we leave the house, but most are fine to stay out when they are older, but NOT my Pug...LOL He LOVES his crate with his big soft blankie and pillow. He goes right in when he sees that we're leaving. We don't even have to ask him. He snuggles up and goes right to sleep. No problem. It would be a problem however if he stayed out! >8) Crates can be a lifesaver for some dogs. It keeps them out of trouble, and if they have had enough attention and exercise (daily walks, morning and night) they are usually happy to be in their 'den' for reasonable amounts of time. It is a great housebreaking tool as well...
Fidgiegirl, I wanted to let you know that the drool problem I have had with my Pug all summer long has suddenly disappeared with the weather change going from heat wave to very cold in a couple week's time. The AC is no longer running, the furnace is on some at night, so thinking the air is a little drier in the house now. Maybe summer humidity was making the dogs drool more, even thought I kept the temp in the low 70's to keep my Pug comfortable. It's a little strange, but I think makes sense that it could have been related to the amount of moisture in the air in the house....
sweetana3
10-10-12, 6:59am
My parents ended up having to take their dog to work because he chewed holes in the walls of the house if left alone. This was 40 years ago and crate training was not much used. He could not be outside as it was in Alaska and he was a poodle/terrier with very little fur.
rodeosweetheart
10-10-12, 7:25am
My parents ended up having to take their dog to work because he chewed holes in the walls of the house if left alone. This was 40 years ago and crate training was not much used. He could not be outside as it was in Alaska and he was a poodle/terrier with very little fur.
We are having this problem with our new Pyr puppy (9 mos). She will lie there when we are all getting to sleep and chew the walls. This is with bones available. With her in our room with us and the other dog. We have a crate and don't use it because she would cry to get out. Now, she has started to go in crate of own volition during day. Hoping to transition her to more crate at night because I can't figure out how to travel with a dog that chews walls.
Pyrs are nocturnal, which I know because I had one before, but conveniently forgot when getting one again. But she is the worst chewer EVER--and we keep her in chew objects, too, so not sure what to do about the wall chewing. Any ideas?
Aren't they also a breed that would rather be outside? Do you have that option or does she bark as well? That breed seems to be pretty quick to get out of puppy stage so hopefully this chewing stage won't last long. I've got friends in NY City with a big black pyr, on a 20 something floor apt. Kiko goes to dog camp daily and is a favorite but he is also 5 years old now and at that stage of life where he is happy to just lay or sit all the time.
rodeosweetheart
10-10-12, 7:45pm
Hi Float, they do like to be outside, some more than inside, but our girl likes to be where we are, and goes outside in and out all day, as we work at home. But at night, she woudl bark at night and bother the neighbors, as she gets very boisterous at the critters that come throughthe yard at night. So she has to be inside at night, and she really doesn't bark much during the day.
Our old Pyr was a worse night barker, but not bad on the chewing at all. She liked to lie around looking regal, but this one is a lot more active--don't remember the old one being so active, but then we had three kids at home playing with her, so she got more worn out.
So yeah, we ought to up the exercise, I guess.
Per the crate training: I get a little annoyed when folks assume whatever makes them happy would also make a dog happy. It's not true. I would never chew on a raw bone for hours, smell someone's rear end, or pee on the carpet in a corner of the living room. OTOH, our dogs are *not* happy to take a shower, see or hear fireworks, or be anywhere close to a vacuum cleaner. We each make a few concessions to live together and it's my responsibility to make sure they get enough exercise, food, water, love and medical care to live a good life. It's their responsibility not to cost me so much money that the mentioned goals become difficult ;-) Also, to cheer me up when I'm down, notify me when there may be a threat to the house and eat random food I wind up dropping while cooking or eating. Crate training may help with some of these things, and providing a crate and using it properly may actually make the dog feel better rather than worse. Dogs grow up in dens, humans do not. A wide-open space may be comforting to a human since they can see far that way, but cause anxiety to a dog because there's no place to hide or defend oneself. If the dog gets a good bit of exercise and is in a comfortable temperature it should be OK. Many people underestimate the amount of exercise a young adult dog likes to get, so I'd suggest upping that as much as possible if there are any issues.
SteveinMN
10-15-12, 11:00pm
Thank you, Rosie. Us humans are really good at anthropomorphizing almost any inanimate object, and we can do a real job sometimes on the animate ones. Not knocking dog owners -- we had several growing up and I'm my mom's dog's alpha male, and I felt/would feel their loss as much as any good friend I ever had. But assuming that dogs like wide-open spaces or the same food we like or to be dressed up in bows and costumes ... They're different animals and they have different needs. Just as we accommodate our friends' needs, so should we accommodate our dogs (all pets, really).
Wildflower
10-15-12, 11:05pm
Yes, exercise is key for a young dog. The saying "A tired dog is a good dog" is so true!
We had one dog that needed ALOT of exercise when he was young - without it he could be quite the ornery fellow! We soon figured out that just the right amount of exercise for him everyday kept his life and ours peaceful, and our house intact. LOL
pony mom
10-16-12, 12:08am
My adopted dog loved her crate. To her it was a safe cozy place that was all hers. I assembled it on the day I brought her home and while I was holding the pieces together, she went inside it on her own (had to shoo her out before it collapsed on her).
Always make crate time a happy thing, not a punishment.
Wildflower
10-18-12, 5:08am
My adopted dog loved her crate. To her it was a safe cozy place that was all hers. I assembled it on the day I brought her home and while I was holding the pieces together, she went inside it on her own (had to shoo her out before it collapsed on her).
Always make crate time a happy thing, not a punishment.
Most dogs love their crates. I've had alot of dogs over the years and never had one yet that disliked it. But my dogs also get plenty of our time, attention, and exercise. Lots of walks daily and outdoor play. I feel bad for any dog that spends hours and hours in one on a regular basis. :(
When my grandkids are visiting, they can often become quite noisy, which my dogs aren't used to on an everyday basis. We always find them in their crates when they need a break. For them their crates are a refuge for comfort, peace, and quiet. I could use a crate of my own somedays. LOL
fidgiegirl
10-18-12, 10:47am
I see that I missed a lot more entries in this thread! Lots of good thoughts. Can't remember if I ever made an update . . . Gus is doing a LOT better in the crate. Strangely, the drooling stopped almost immediately after posting this. I wonder now if it indeed was a change in temperature? He goes in the crate pretty well (we put him him, and he doesn't fight, but he won't go in on his own) but doesn't really hang out in there like he did before. Partly I think it is because it is a wire crate (we got our own, and the previous one was a borrowed plastic one, more "den" than this one) and partly because I changed the bedding to a covered bed (less washing!) so he can't nest as much. But I am going to sew a cover for the cage to help it be 1) less ugly and 2) more cave-like.
I think we are finally all settling in around here! :) :) :) Yippeeeeeee!
Out to try him for a run right now. We'll see how it goes!
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