Get rid of the problem, not the dog!
| Monday, Nov 02 2009 11:22 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 02 2009 11:22 PM
I have a serious problem. I have 2 Shih Tzus. Max is a male/neutered, 8 years and Molly is 3 years and spayed. She is my problem. She is not housebroken! I put them both in the yard every two hours and every night before I go to bed. My housekeeper walks them both twice a week. Molly is good all day but at night she does both in her crate. I am a senior citizen and not physically able to get down and clean this mess and now my daughter wants me to get rid of her because she is too much of a problem. I love Molly so much and she's such a smart girl except for this one horrible habit. I live alone and Max and Molly are so much company to me. I am in tears because I can't bear the the thought of giving her up. Can you help Molly to keep her home?
-- Mary B.
DogLady:
(I e-mailed Mary to get some additional information about the amount and times fed, treats, water, health and body condition)
Molly's not going anywhere, Mary, so stop worrying! What a shame you've put up with this problem for three years. And poor Molly. Dogs instinctively keep their sleeping area clean, this must be causing her great stress. The fact that she does not soil your house and carpets and only has mistakes overnight in her crate tells me this is a food/water schedule and odor elimination problem.
Odor elimination: Clean the crate, then spray it with an odor neutralizer. Dogs can smell urine and feces even when washed with deodorizers. You must use a neutralizer with enzymes to break down this odor so the dog does not return to the spot. I like Nature's Miracle because it doesn't have a perfume smell and is inexpensive, but there are other good brands out there. Make sure you spray all corners, joining of the wire and pull out the pan and spray both sides. Spray the area around where the crate sits in case urine droplets have splashed there.Put some neutralizer in the washer with soiled bedding. Even if there are no mistakes, have your housekeeper and daughter perform this crate cleaning routine for you when they come over in case Molly tracks any scent in on her feet or hair.
Feeding: Since Molly is an overweight adult toy dog, I want you to switch her to an a.m. feeding only. Give her two-thirds (measured) of her usual daily dry ration and limit the wet food to 1 teaspoon only. Pick up any uneaten food. Don't leave it down for her to nibble all day. She is taking in more calories than she needs based on her level of exercise. Toy dogs are also prone to knee problems so as little as an extra pound on a 10-pound dog jumping up and down off the couch can add a lot of stress to the knees.*
Treats: Max and Molly have been getting four bacon strips each throughout the day. I want you to change this to one strip per dog daily. Break them up and ration them out. They also contain a lot of salt, which causes increased thirst that then leads to increased urine output.
Water: The dogs have water down all day until bedtime around 10 p.m. and have no mistakes during the day. Since Molly is well-hydrated and in a temperature-controlled environment all day, I want you to pick up the water at 7:30 p.m. and substitute a bowl of frozen water that will melt slowly allowing her to lap up moisture.**
Last, and very important. Do not assume that when you let Molly out before bed she is going to the bathroom. Make sure. This may mean waking her up from her spot on the couch and encouraging some play or mild exercise to stimulate elimination before letting her out. Watch her to make sure she goes.
Follow this schedule, Mary, and get rid of the problem, not the dog!
* Dogs and puppies have different food requirements based on age, breed and health. Consult your veterinarian or a professional before making changes to your dog's diet.
** Dogs with certain health problems cannot have any restrictions on their water intake. Always consult your veterinarian.
Sherry Davis is owner of CSI 4 K9's dog training. Having problems with your dog? Send Sherry a question at: doglady@ bakersfield.com.
