Rescue dog - help needed and MSE

Sassers

Thank you pboae - I think you've hit the nail right on the head there with the going off in a reverie....
If he hasn't been allowed to do the things most dogs and humans don't even give a second thought about - like coming over to you for a cuddle or wanting to play - that also might explain his lack of confidence and day dreaming.
Your post actually bought a tear to my eye - I actually had a flash back to when I was a five year old at school. I'm dyslexic with numbers and I remember being so scared of my teacher. She hated me and bullied me because of being dyslexic and being unable to cope with basic sums.
As a result I used to day dream a lot as well. It was a coping mechanism.
I also cut a small square of my blanket I'd had as a baby to have in my pocket as well.
Back to the present, I have some nice fleece knocking around and a spare moment today before all the rugby starts, so I might make Gyp his own soft squashy dog mattress and a `comfort' blanket. I have some cotton fabric squares that i might cut out into bones and sew on as well...

Sorry went off into a MSE money-saving `let's make a dog bed and blanket' reveries myself there...lol hopefully it'll save the post being put in the arms!

Love Sassers xx

Essex_Maid

Sassers wrote: »

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

I really recommend you watch The Dog Whisperer on Sky 3 on at 6pm most days. One of the things that Cesar Millan always states is that the dog needs a calm assertive pack leader (that most dog lovers consider affection is cuddles etc - which while not wrong - with an animal that is insecure he is marking his territory. Shouting and smacking is not his style - it is amazing the results he has. The programme is also available on Freeview, channel 11 on my box. I am sure you will be successful with this problem if you could see a couple of his programmes for inspiration.

Kimberley

Hi sassers

This is a reply to your plight on my terrier forum.

OK obviously it's very difficult offering advice via another person.Firstly the marking - obvious question is he neutered?I'd be inclined to crate him when he's left - even when owner is in the house,it's very very rare that a dog will wee in a crate and soil his own area.Then really concentrate on watching him intently when he's out of the crate,a sharp No when he starts to !!!! his leg and bundled outdoors,huge massive totally OTT praise every single time he wees outside - if she doesn't feel utterly stupid if someone overhears her the praise isn't enough
The odd session he seems to be having almost sound like some form of a fit? Has he seen a vet and been assessed for epilepsy or another cause.
I think a vet is needed here before a psychologist,tell the owner to copy out what she's written on the forum and take it in,if he is suffering from sort of mental problem this may also explain the peeing.

Mojisola

Sassers wrote: »

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

When we got our little fellow from DogsTrust, they said to use biological powder to wash away any wee.

I'll second watching Cesar Millan - we've sorted several problems very quickly through following his advice.

Kimberley

Sassers here are some more replys to the terrier forum i'm on:

yes id be inclined to get him checked out with a vet first an foremost. ive got a brain damaged jack russell,and she does a similar thing going from being friendly to a shivering wreck. also sometimes i think she doesnt recognise us and you have to talk to her and sort of reintroduce yourself to her. she doesnt do this every day just every now and then.i agree with the other person about the housetraining bit, loads of ott praise.

He sounds a bit like Joe, my brain damaged JRT.Whippet, he will !!!! his leg on anything if I am not arround so I crate him when I go out. On the rare time he does it when I am in, I just use my voice to stop him, not a shout but a noise to distract him.

He should really be checked by a vet, but if she can let me have a photo of him, I can send him Reiki, it may help.

sammy_kaye18

Hi Sassers

I aheva jack russell terrier too who is also an adopted dog - we've had him 3 years now (he is 6 in total) and he still cocks his leg at whatever he can despite beign walked 3 times a day (he has two 20 minute walks and then an hour long walk about mid day, he also is in the garden when we are out there too) yet he still does it inside.

My dog is also like the POLO dog advert


He is a shivering wreck some times but then when hes back home and comfortable hes fine - he lieks to be secluded and away form others which i think is unusual for a jack as they are normally quite a playful socialable dog but not mine. Hes happiest havign a cuddle with mum and spending time with me, he howls if i leave him with bf and rarely will go out with my boyfriend. I think he has established me and my son as his famiyl but refuses to accept anyone else into the house/home even though bf has been here since the first day we brought him home,

I hope your little man is ok - and that hsi vets check up goes well. He may jsut need the love and reassurance - maybe he is unsettled because hes unsure of whether he is actually staying put. PLenty of love on your part will break any barriers he has put up though im sure.

our dog was never taken outside when he was with the family previous to us (the people who placed him in the home), His teeth were bad, his skin was bad, flea infested, mites, hair falling out, he chewed his legs to shreds through anxiety, had a hernia on his stomach, severely underweight, no vaccinations, worms, no training at 3 years old and in general just a miserable dog, but plenty of love and attention has made him a wonderful little dog. He has learnt recall (well he does to me and my 3 year old son!), knows 'sit', 'bed' and will sit right up to beg. His legs are healing, hes got his boosters this month, skin is fine now, teeth are fine too, and he is a healthy weight for his size. He does get very ill at winter for an unexplainable reason - us and the vet have no idea but think maybe he suffered soemthign horrid in the winter and it haunts him because his weight plummited winter jsut gone and we thought we were goign to lose him and we had to stop his walks all together and it was only February the Vet gave us the OK to start walking him again.

I hope your little man gts the help he needs.

(hugs!)

Raksha

Please be very careful with TV programmes, most carry a warning 'do not try these techniques at home' for a very good reason - the dog needs to be fully assesed by somebody who can see things the average dog owner can't, as many of these techniques may 'flatten' the behaviour you don't like, but if there is an underlying reason for that behaviour and it's not allowed to express it, the dog may then turn to other alternative behaviours which are even less desirable - such as aggression........

It's very early days for this new little family - the dog doesn't yet understand that all this lovely stuff isn't going to end soon, so it's understandable he's not secure yet, although a thourough vet check is a great idea to rule out any medical issues. Try hand feeding as much as you can, so he comes to connect you with good things, and don't forget to encourage a little independance so he learns to be alone for short periods too.

HTH

V_Chic_Chick

Do you know if your dog was ever house trained in the first place? If not, it might be time to go back to basics. Also, is there any way that you could get back in touch with Gyp's last owners to get some more history on him? That might help the dog behaviourist.

~cleo~

i know its not a long term fix but how about making a belly band (strip of material and some velcro, very MSE ) to to put on him to try and curb the marking for now

Bagpuss741

Hi Sassers:hello: just wanted to wish you lots of luck with Gyp and hope all is well when he gets his doggy mot.