Penny Arcade

Hello all.

Things are not so great here with me, my boyfriend, and Penny. When we first got her, she just had some hyperactivity problems (that's still a bit of a problem, but she seems to have calmed down a little). Then, a couple days in, she'd get jealous anytime my boyfriend showed me any affection and try to dominate me. After she figured out I'm the owner too, she stopped.

Now, we're having problems with her wanting attention all the time. She whines and pees any time anyone ignores her. Yesterday, she started going in the house and stopped letting us know when she needed to go outside.

She also still won't eat. Hard food, that is. Loves wet food. We do not want her on wet food but she absolutely will not eat the dry food. I've even tried mixing in a little wet food and she spits out the hard food bits or eats around them. I'm starting to notice a little weight loss and its bothering me. I really want her to just eat the dry food, especially now since she's decided going to the bathroom in the house is what she's gonna do. Cleaning up dry poo would be WAY easier.


We're trying to set up an appointment to get her shots and get her spayed, but other than that, we don't have much money for a behaviorist visit or training or anything like that. I'm thinking she might be homesick for her previous owner, but I have no clue. I'm at the end of my rope and so is my boyfriend. We're very frustrated and don't know what to do.

charady2

I am sure someone will come along with some good advice. Best I can offer is to hang in there. She will need some time to adjust to you guys and you to her. I know it was mentioned before that she will not starve herself-maybe remove ALL wet food from her food for awhile and only offer the dry for a few days? Good luck and I have faith in ya to work out these problems!

Mikey T

exactly as long as wet food is provide she has no incentive to eat dry. As far as loosing weight it is an exceedingly rare basset that could not stand to lose a few lbs. and even if she is under weight this is far better than being even an ounce over weight.

Also keep in mind the one caveate about a dog not starving itself it is that the dog is heathy. The are a few health issues that come into play on a dog refusing to eat dry food most if not all related to oral pain. Peridontial disease, oral abcess, cracked. broken or caviety in a tooth could all lead to increased mouth pain by eating dry vs wet food and need to be ruled out as well.

Mikey T

Jelouse Maybe but it is a streach but there is no way of knowing motivation, Dominace however not at all given your other statement

[quote]Now, we're having problems with her wanting attention all the time[quote]

you are likely to explained the behavior above. That is butting inbetween you and the boyfreind get her attention, It is simply an attention seeking behavior like others. The fastest way to stop this behavior is tostop rewarding it wich mean any time the dog but in both of you simply walk away and leave the dog alone.

While I have just advocaated the most often recommend and least successful method of dealing with attention seeking behavior it will work in this limit setting but it will not work for ending all attention seeking behavior because it does not address the dog underlying need.

Something you need to really think about

1. the dog has gone through a traumatic emotional experince of being rehomed it is natural going to need more emotional support than normal ?

2. if you feel that ginving the dog the emotion suport it need is a burdan are you ready for a dog?

3. Ignoring attnetion seeking behavior do not work becuase
1, it does not change the dogs underlying need
2. a phenonenom know as extinct burst which occurs when try to end behavior by ignoring it . Think of it this way yo get in an elivator and push the buttton for the foor and nothing happens. Do you get out and take the stairs? know you push the button over and over again harder, softer, longer. maybe try a different button before giving up. During an extinction burt the behavior gets worse much worse.

4. the reason a dog use a particular behavior to get attention is because it has learn from experience it is a behavior you can't ignore in the first place.

5. because you have not taught a more appropriate behavior even if successful all that happens is the dog will come up with a even more annoying behavior to get your attention.


the only thing truly succussfull in dealing with attention seeking behaviors are

1. being proactive and giving the dog the attention it needs before it has to ask

2. whenb it does ask give that attention immeadiately

3. teach a more appropriate and less obnoxios behavior for attention and reward it with attent for using it.

see Harmoney Programme
Position Statement on theUse of Dominance Theory inBehavior Modification of Animals

Penny Arcade

We don't feel that it is a burden; we're just frustrated. I'm determined to keep her, but I feel like I'm failing at being an owner so far.

I do think she is feeling homesick for her previous owner though. Right now we're thinking that we should re-potty train her. We also need to find her a good crate ASAP.

bubbad

Best idea yet.

dreamons

Have you checked out her teeth and gums. Maybe she has a problem with her mouth. The visit to the vet should help you know for sure.

OliverMoran

Good morning!

Our beautiful 7 year old Oliver is really sick. He has been back to the vet 3 times in the last 2 months. The vet is finally doing blood work on him and we'll know that results on Monday. His stool has been bloody and he is going to the bathroom all over the house. Recently he has lost all of his energy and 10lbs in a month. The vet put him on a strict diet which he hates. He assummed it was gastritis and sent us on our way. We're so worried because we just lost our Lab to old age a week ago. His shots are all up to date but he has all of the signs of Parvo which is making us crazy. He will not eat the perscribed diet or anything else. He normally would eat Pubix deli turkey and now he jus turns his head. Any suggestions? Going down hill fast and we can not do anything!

bubbad

baby food ,cat food,pedilyte,the milkshakes for old people,(not chocolate)You can make meat balls out of cooked chicken and rice or raw hamburg and rice,put one as far back in his throat as you can ,close his mouth till he swallows it. This is force feeding and as a last resort may save your dog.

murraysmom

Reply to OliverMoran ("dog is sick" post):If you're not satisfied with what happens Monday with this vet and blood results, how about trying another vet? If he's lethargic and not eating or drinking, I'd consider an emergency vet. At any rate, a more aggressive approach to getting a diagnosis seems warranted. Please let us know what happens.

(you might want to start a new thread since Penny Arcade started this one and replys can get confused between the two of you- to start a new thread just go back to the 'General Basset Hound Discussion' page and click on the "new thread" box on the left above the red bar)