Rescue dog - help needed and MSE

Sassers

Morning everyone I'm normally on the DFW thread but thought I'd pop in here and maybe get a few opinions from you all.

You all seem to give really good advice and I really need some help.
I've owned Jack Russells all my life - well for at least 20 of my 37 years and I'm really stumped at the moment.

Sorry about the long post - I've sort of poured my heart out here in the hope of some help....

A couple put an 18th month old Jack Russell on of all places, Freecycle, last week - bit of a strange place to put animals and hey in fact I think it's wrong but anyhoo....
I rang the family up and we had a chat (my jack Russell died last year and I was heartbroken) and he invited us round to see the dog and he seemed OK.
Gyp was a lovely dog and we were happy to take him and his bed, food toys etc and give him a home
When we got home he seemed to settle down with our other dog a dopey Springer Spaniel although he was a bit quiet, still strange people, strange house, new dog etc....
In our house we dog walk at least three times a day round the local woods and they both have a large back garden to run around in...
Gyp is a lovely dog. He sits, comes and listens to you when you call him, loves a cuddle and has started copying our Spaniel in offering his paw....
However there are two things that are causing problems and I was hoping someone here could offer me some suggestions or tips.
Gyp sort of seems to go off in a reverie at times which I've never seen in a jack russell before. He's at times very quiet and I'm not being funny, I was wondering if he has mental health problems.
I can't really explain it....one minute he's there, the next he's not which is strange for a jack russell.
Sorry not explaining myself very well. I think maybe Gyp has been handed from pillar to post in his life which he has made him very insecure. He's had a couple of insecure moments - bit like the dogs in the polo advert, one minute a total extrovert and the next a shivering cringing wreck.
We don't treat him badly, he's one of the family and I'm at a loss.
The other real problem I have is although he's going out in the garden to do his business and goes out for a long walk three times a day, he keeps lifting his leg on things in the kitchen.
He's peed up three door frames, up the mop bucket, i caught him about to have a go up the side of the cooker.
Everyone there's a `cockable' surface he's done it. In the last week I'd say about 30 times.
My OH is far from impressed and has been muttering quite darkly about a new home - thing is I don't want to do this but I don't know how to curb his weeing/marking!
The last straw yesterday was when he cocked his leg up my newly washed and tumbled-dried washing in the washing basket. And then has cocked his leg again against a newly-plastered wall and ruined it.
I was so upset - I actually rang the Dogs Protection league in tears saying I didn't want to give him up but I might not have a choice! I feel like people have failed this dog and I don't want to be one of those people either, but I don't know what to do (sorry I've started crying)
The weeing is causing rows in our house - I kept JR's for years and never had this problem.
Anyhoo, the Dogs Trust lady was lovely and she said she will pass my number to their dog psychcologist to have a chat.
Can anyone maybe give me some pointers - I would be most grateful as I getting to the end of my tether with it all, and I'm not usually like this with animals, especially the dogs and animals I've had all my life.

Many thanks Sassers xxxx

Penny_Watcher

(((((Sassers)))))

There is a lady on these boards who fosters Jack Russells. I think she'll know better than most how to help Gyp settle in. Maybe you could PM Kimberely.

Meanwhile, maybe the cocking his leg on your things is a way of marking his territory? Fortunately none of mine have ever tried that in the house. All I know about that is you need to clean up very thoroughly using something biological to completely get rid of any residue or he'll try marking the same spot again.

Well done you for taking on a rescue. :T He's sounds like he's had a hard start in life, but with a bit of patience he'll be a lovely dog. I hope you get the help you need.

LittleTinker

I have the same problem with my male Yorkie.....I think it tends to happen more with the smaller male dogs.....and I have not been able to stop him and Ive had him 9 years now......(although he doesnt do it so much now)......We keep the kitchen door closed. I would never get rid of him because he marks, he is just being a little male dog. You could try some distraction when hes about to do it, such as a very loud bang or a high pitched whistle?

Kimberley

This is the problem when you take on a dog thats been advertised on places like Gumtree and Freecycle. You don't know the history of the dog at all. I would get the first problem checked out, just in case he's ever been hit on the head and has brain damage or it could be as you say that he may have been passed from pillar to post and is just displaying signs of nerves.
His weeing could be through nerves also if he is doing it in the kitchen and around the house. Maybe he is marking his territory and keeps doing it when it's been cleaned, maybe he's frightened of being kicked out again, i don't know. I would contact a behaviourist and ask them what they think. You have had Jack Russells all your life so you know them like the back of your hand. Dogpages.com may help you more, they are experts on doggy problems. Do give him a chance and be patient.

If you get no joy i'll ask in my doggy forum for you.

scheming_gypsy

My Staffie cross started doing the peeing thing about 2 years after i got him. He was the only dog in the house at the time, it wasn't a bit pool of wee so i took it as marking his territory and had him done. Never done it since.

Kimberley

Penny_Watcher wrote: »

(((((Sassers)))))

There is a lady on these boards who fosters Jack Russells. I think she'll know better than most how to help Gyp settle in. Maybe you could PM Kimberely.

Thanks, although i'm no expert, i'm learning

sammy_kaye18

Kimberly - are you on the jack russell terrier forum??

Kimberley

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Kimberly - are you on the jack russell terrier forum??

No another doggy one from my old behaviorist one. Although i do have one of my foster dogs on there depends what one you mean

Soubrette

Hi Sassers

I would take Gyp to the vet and have him checked over - like Kimberley mentions, he may have brain damage or epilepsy or some other problem. If he's not been castrated then personally I would get him done.

We have a new rescue greyhound (decided to stick with Bandit as his name). We have had him 3 weeks and for the first two weeks he used the dining room as his toilet. :mad: . We now take him out very often as either he's not very good at telling us that he wants to go out or we're not very good at reading the signs and although he's eight we treat him like a puppy - lots of praise for doing it in the right place and we just clean it up when he does it in the wrong place.

We have a stairgate on the kitchen so that there is one room downstairs that he can't go into as he is a bandit - a bit of a food thief .

Now we just have to get him socialised with other dogs :rolleyes:

Good luck with little Gyp.

Sou

Edited to add - I hope this isn't moved to the moneysavers arms because I think it moneysaving in that it shows that there are some pitfalls with getting rescue dogs, even though they are perceived as the cheaper option sometimes and that there are options such as behaviourists which can help - hopefully someone will comment on the cost of using these types of services?

Sassers

Hello everyone
I've just got back from a monster walk around the woods in the rain! The dogs are stretched out in front of the log burner like a big damp furry old carpet lol

Thank you all for the advice and virtual hugs (Penny watcher) - I'm very touched having read them all.

Gyp is booked in for a vet MOT next week, which is good. Might be something and nothing with his `vague' behaviour.

Funny enough, a few of you have brought up castration. He hasn't been done and I never thought that maybe having him sorted out might curb his weeing and pooing.

Late last night I mopped and cleaned all the floor and surfaces before I went to bed with hot water and bicarb to meutralise the pee spots - and this morning I caught him. I told him no, showed him the spot and said no and I think he might be getting the idea.
When I got out the mop, his ears went back and he looked really guilty!
I will take the Dogs Trust up on their offer of a behaviourist though - it helps them as I can make a donation, and find out a bit more.
Kimberley - thank you for offering to talk to your dogs forum for me, I really appreciate that. I think Gyp has been pushed from pillar to post but he has the makings of a being a good dog. In fact he is a good dog already, he's a good boy who needs a bit of work. And he's worth it. :-)
Yesterday when I was making a braised beef stew I kept all the little off cuts as treats to reward Gyp for doing a sit and stay and other little things.
I had to laugh, when I gave it to him he spat it out!
Mind you, he has started to follow me around the house which is a good sign - peeping his head round the loo door and coming to sit by me when I was having a cup of tea. (no not at the same time lol)

Thanks to everyone - I was in a right old state yesterday and today and you've all helped me feel a bit more calmer and rational about it.
I love Jack Russells with all their eccentricities, quirks and foibles - I would never have another breed to be honest, even if you feel like tearing yer bleedin hair out at times.....:rotfl:

I'm going to watch Gyp very closely and see if there are are signs that trigger his weeing - if so - we can take it from there and i'll hopefully be able to train him to come and tell me when he wants to go out....

lots of love and thanks
Sassers x (and Gyp)

pboae

Sassers wrote: »

Gyp sort of seems to go off in a reverie at times which I've never seen in a jack russell before. He's at times very quiet and I'm not being funny, I was wondering if he has mental health problems.
I can't really explain it....one minute he's there, the next he's not which is strange for a jack russell.

This is very common in rescue dogs, especially ones that have been left alone for extended periods. They learn to turn off and day dream. They carry on doing it partly out of habit if they are bored but also as a coping mechanism if they are overwhelmed or anxious. Just ignore it, and he will get better.

It doesn't mean he is unhappy, he is just getting used to a new life. For example, a dog that has hardly been allowed out or had walks might go into a trance when they find a particularly good smell out on a walk, because they are so happy and excited, it is all just too much.

But they can also do it when they don't know what to do next, so in the house if they really really want to do something (maybe get on the sofa or come to you for a fuss) but they don't know if they are allowed or what will happen to them if they do, they might do it then. As a way of coping with not being able to make a decision.

There can be lots of things that cause it, but don't worry about it. If your vet says he's OK, just leave him be and he'll get better. In the meantime try not to spook him while he's day dreaming.

Sassers wrote: »

The other real problem I have is although he's going out in the garden to do his business and goes out for a long walk three times a day, he keeps lifting his leg on things in the kitchen.
He's peed up three door frames, up the mop bucket, i caught him about to have a go up the side of the cooker.
Everyone there's a `cockable' surface he's done it. In the last week I'd say about 30 times.

You've had him such a short time, he's still anxious and insecure, so he's marking his territory. If he hasn't been done yet, it will probably help to get him neutered, especially at his age. If you leave it much longer it will become a habit and it will be much harder to stop.

In the meantime just try and keep a closer eye on him (I know that is easier said than done). He will show signs that he is going to mark, maybe sniffing the area first, or having a way of standing just before he does it. Try and catch him then and distract him. The less chance he gets to practice the less he will do it.



EDIT: oops cross posted, let us know how he gets on at the vets.