Mostly Mutts

Columbine · Oct 26, 2016

Jackie with apples and squash sounds like Leah with cheese - I just have to get the grater out and she comes running :lol3:

I'm so sorry you weren't able to find a suitable placement for her though - I know that's what you really wanted :hugs:

Prozac for life at Jackie's age isn't big deal imo, and it's certainly healthier for all of you than the stress she goes through when she's not on it. I really hope that, with time, she gets less crazy when you both come home :cross: :vibes:

I'm sure it will happen eventually, but unfortunately eventually can be a long time

The gate coming down sounds great - that kind of thing can so often be more trouble than help, and regular hip banging and tripping is NOT fun :uuh:

Mega :vibes:

that things just keep improving for you all :hugs:

Winchester · Oct 26, 2016

Thanks, Columbine. It's an ongoing process.

Yeah, she dearly loves apples. Squash, too. And green beans. You said about Leah and the cheese. Rick will often eat a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats as a snack at night while he's watching tv. And he has to share it with Tabby. Last night, Tabby was sound asleep in bed with me. Rick got the cereal box down and opened it. Just that quickly, the eyes opened wide and she took off for the kitchen. She dearly loves her Frosted Mini Wheats.

I gave The Beast a bath about an hour ago; she was not amused, but it needed to be done. I dried her off as best I could, then dried myself off and cleaned the bathroom....I guess that's one way to clean the bathroom. I still need to brush her out and clean her eyes.

And right away, she grabbed the phone and had to text her dad and tell him about her trials and tribulations with the bath. It wasn't that bad, regardless of what she told him.

Primula · Oct 26, 2016

Winchester said:
In other words, we're suckers.

Not at all. Just kind-hearted folks who didn't give up on a difficult animal.

msserena · Oct 26, 2016

beagle rescue? I know all too well about the howling, I got a doberman/rottweiler puppy in 2010 & she was totally quiet, hardly ever barked unless she heard something/someone outside. My friend lives down the street & she took her daughter's beagle cause they have a giant yard. We went to visit & when the dogs got together they ran all around & barked & then the beagle stopped & started howling. My dog tried doing the same thing, I'm like really? Your dumb dog is teaching my dog how to howl? & she did it ever since. She would start barking & then it would go into a howl. She never did that before she met that beagle!

There's nothing wrong with realizing you can't take care of an animal anymore. I've dealt with quite a few rescue people & they try to make people feel bad if someone want to re-home an animal. I just about lost 2 friends when I made the decision to go ahead with re-homing my male cat. You know your limits & everyone can deal with different things, if the dog's too much for you, then he would be better off somewhere else. I can't deal with dogs, they are just too high maintenance & way too stressful for me.

Columbine · Oct 26, 2016

Winchester said:
Thanks, Columbine. It's an ongoing process.

Yeah, she dearly loves apples. Squash, too. And green beans. You said about Leah and the cheese. Rick will often eat a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats as a snack at night while he's watching tv. And he has to share it with Tabby. Last night, Tabby was sound asleep in bed with me. Rick got the cereal box down and opened it. Just that quickly, the eyes opened wide and she took off for the kitchen. She dearly loves her Frosted Mini Wheats.

I gave The Beast a bath about an hour ago; she was not amused, but it needed to be done. I dried her off as best I could, then dried myself off and cleaned the bathroom....I guess that's one way to clean the bathroom. I still need to brush her out and clean her eyes.

And right away, she grabbed the phone and had to text her dad and tell him about her trials and tribulations with the bath. It wasn't that bad, regardless of what she told him.

Tabby sounds adorable :heart3: Cali :rbheart:

used to adore cereal (or, rather, the leftover milk at the bottom of the bowl), and on the rare occasions that someone had cold cereal, they HAD to share with him. It was non negotiable :lol3:

Oh, Leah HATES baths too - 'bath' is the one word that will send her running to hide (usually behind mum, in the hopes that she'll protect her :lol3: ). She has a lovely little habit of jumping out halfway through and getting everything FILTHY (and refusing to jump back in again...and a labrador is NOT easy to lift :uuh: ) :wife: Particularly nasty, as one of her greatest loves is rolling in disgusting things when out on walks - fox poop is her all time favourite, but she's not averse to cowpats, sheep droppings, dead birds, dead badgers, or even (on one particularly memorable occasion) a dead pig that was washed up by the river :nausea: The number of times we'll walk home in the summer with her surrounded in a cloud of flies..... She looks like a canine 'Pig-Pen' from the Peanuts cartoons :lol3:

Maybe that makes you feel a little less despairing of The Beast - at least she isn't a doggy perfume connoisseur

bbdoll22 · Oct 26, 2016

When I was pregnant in 2010 I had cravings for sugar smack cereal. I would eat on my side of bowl and Domino kitty ate out of the opposite side. He loved that cereal.
My mom had a beagle until almost 2 years ago. He was a huge handful that required constant company or he would go nuts.

Winchester · Oct 28, 2016

BBDOLL22 said:
When I was pregnant in 2010 I had cravings for sugar smack cereal. I would eat on my side of bowl and Domino kitty ate out of the opposite side. He loved that cereal.
My mom had a beagle until almost 2 years ago. He was a huge handful that required constant company or he would go nuts.

Awww, so cute! It's amazing what our cats love to eat!

talkingpeanut · Dec 4, 2016

How is it going with Jackie now?

foxxycat · Dec 4, 2016

I don't know why I didn't see this thread earlier. Just wanted to let you know that I back you for whatever you decide. It's a hard decision either way. I hope the meds are helping. There are people out there who love Hound dogs. Have you thought about sharing this on a group in facebook? I see people cross posting all the time with pets looking for homes. Maybe they can help with transport.

Winchester · Dec 5, 2016

It's going. Despite the Prozac, she's still nuts. Rick doesn't want to re-home her and so we deal (or Rick deals and Pam walks away). On Friday, we came home and she was completely spastic. It was horrible and I was ready to just beat the snot out of her......no, I didn't. I swear. I walked back to the computer room, slammed the door shut and stayed back there for half an hour, while Rick got her calmed down. The next day, we came home and....she walked over, got into her bed, and stayed there. We went over and gave her attention and told her what a good dog she was. You would think she'd get it. But she's a stupid thing.

I pretty much ignore her at this point. I interact with her only when I absolutely have to. Rick takes her out, Rick gives her her treats, Rick is responsible for her completely. When he goes away overnight, she is to be kenneled until he comes back home.

I won't force him to re-home her because he really doesn't want to. But I am done. I've been done for quite a while. I really don't like dogs and she's not made it any better. There will never be another dog in this house. Never.

blueyedgirl5946 · Dec 5, 2016

Winchester said:
It's going. Despite the Prozac, she's still nuts. Rick doesn't want to re-home her and so we deal (or Rick deals and Pam walks away). On Friday, we came home and she was completely spastic. It was horrible and I was ready to just beat the snot out of her......no, I didn't. I swear. I walked back to the computer room, slammed the door shut and stayed back there for half an hour, while Rick got her calmed down. The next day, we came home and....she walked over, got into her bed, and stayed there. We went over and gave her attention and told her what a good dog she was. You would think she'd get it. But she's a stupid thing.

I pretty much ignore her at this point. I interact with her only when I absolutely have to. Rick takes her out, Rick gives her her treats, Rick is responsible for her completely. When he goes away overnight, she is to be kenneled until he comes back home.

I won't force him to re-home her because he really doesn't want to. But I am done. I've been done for quite a while. I really don't like dogs and she's not made it any better. There will never be another dog in this house. Never.

This dog makes your life miserable. I don't think I could tolerate it as well as you do. I am not going to be ruled in my home by somebody else's dog, cat, or child. It is too bad you couldn't get Rick to agree to something else before the dog got into your home. Now that the dog is there, Rick feels obligated to keep on. I am sorry it is still a problem, really for both of you.

hbunny · Dec 5, 2016

@Winchester go talk to your vet again. Since she's been on this dose and was actually calming down, it may be time for them to readjust her dose if she is having spastic episodes again. My friend's dog had to have it's dose upped after the first 2 months because it reverted back to the crazies. They also gave it something else to chill it out during the spaz periods, like when they have company coming, during thunderstorms, etc. She may need a dosing adjustment.

Willowy · Dec 5, 2016

Yep, time for a dose adjustment I think.

Winchester · Dec 5, 2016

Rick doesn't want to talk to the vet again. The vet said this is not a lifetime fix and that we are to try training her, that he doesn't want her on the Prozac for the rest of her life. Well, we've tried. Nothing has worked. I've actually tried working with her more so than Rick. And believe me, for the most part, if I come home first? She will start to bark a bit. I snap my fingers, point to the bed, and she goes. And she stays. I'll open the computer room door to let Muffin out, open the living room drapes and the curtains in the kitchen, check the mail, go back and change into home clothes, my whole routine. And she stays in that bed. I give her enough time to calm herself down. Then I'll go over and pet her and tell her she's a good girl. (Ever since I came home one day and found her in the bay window and I hauled her butt out of the window and put her in her bed and told her to stay there, she's fairly good when I come home by myself. I won't tolerate it; I just won't. And she knows it.)

If I go to the kitchen to make a sandwich or something, she knows not to come after me. Rick comes into the kitchen and she's right on his butt. I snap my fingers, point to the living room, and she turns right around. So she can be taught. Darn it.

I think she knows I don't like her and I think she might be a little afraid of what I'll do. It's really not a good thing, though, and, despite my threats to beat the snot out of her, I've only laid a harsh hand to her twice....once was because she went after Mollipop right after she came to live with us. Cats come first. Cats always come first. The second time was when I came home and found her screaming bloody murder in the bay window. But she's not quite sure how to take me. I don't really care. I won't hurt her; I won't abuse her. despite my threats. But I'm done.

Willowy · Dec 5, 2016

I don't know what's wrong with vets. . .he wouldn't have a problem keeping her on insulin for life, or thyroid meds, etc., and increasing dosage as needed, even if the meds had bad side effects. A brain chemistry problem is just as legitimate, blah blah insert mental health care rant here (save us all a few minutes :lol3

.

Sorry you're dealing with this

. It must be horribly frustrating.

Kat0121 · Dec 5, 2016

Winchester said:
Rick doesn't want to talk to the vet again. The vet said this is not a lifetime fix and that we are to try training her, that he doesn't want her on the Prozac for the rest of her life. Well, we've tried. Nothing has worked. I've actually tried working with her more so than Rick. And believe me, for the most part, if I come home first? She will start to bark a bit. I snap my fingers, point to the bed, and she goes. And she stays. I'll open the computer room door to let Muffin out, open the living room drapes and the curtains in the kitchen, check the mail, go back and change into home clothes, my whole routine. And she stays in that bed. I give her enough time to calm herself down. Then I'll go over and pet her and tell her she's a good girl. (Ever since I came home one day and found her in the bay window and I hauled her butt out of the window and put her in her bed and told her to stay there, she's fairly good when I come home by myself. I won't tolerate it; I just won't. And she knows it.)

If I go to the kitchen to make a sandwich or something, she knows not to come after me. Rick comes into the kitchen and she's right on his butt. I snap my fingers, point to the living room, and she turns right around. So she can be taught. Darn it.

I think she knows I don't like her and I think she might be a little afraid of what I'll do. It's really not a good thing, though, and, despite my threats to beat the snot out of her, I've only laid a harsh hand to her twice....once was because she went after Mollipop right after she came to live with us. Cats come first. Cats always come first. The second time was when I came home and found her screaming bloody murder in the bay window. But she's not quite sure how to take me. I don't really care. I won't hurt her; I won't abuse her. despite my threats. But I'm done.

I'll never have another dog again either. My dog is getting more ornery every day. She listens to me for the most part but she does NOT listen to DD at all. She was DH's dog more than anyone else's and I think she blames me that he's not there. I've gotten way too many accusing looks from her. She did everything in her power to be closer to him than I was.

She also throws screaming fits but not when either of us come home. It's whenever someone closes a car door, knocks at the door, makes noise outside or has the audacity to walk down the street. I got a package from Amazon last night and she went ballistic because the mailman knocked on the door.

She's 14 1/2 years old. She's never going to stop.

I have nothing against dogs in general but I find them too needy. I'm over needy. Totally.

hbunny · Dec 5, 2016

From that last post, it sounds like it is definitely behavioral if she will shape up when you correct her, and not when Rick is around. I am so sorry you are having to deal with this! I just couldn't deal with it, I hate to say that because I love all animals, but you are definitely a much better person than me. I really think I would be blowing a gasket.

Willowy · Dec 5, 2016

hbunny said:
From that last post, it sounds like it is definitely behavioral if she will shape up when you correct her, and not when Rick is around.

I'll say, yes BUT. Yes, she might possibly improve with proper management and training. BUT, many humans with mental illnesses are capable of controlling themselves under certain circumstances, and that doesn't make their mental illness any less legitimate---if a special-needs child doesn't have meltdowns in front of their teacher but has a meltdown as soon as they get home with Mom, that doesn't mean the mom should be harsher so the child is too scared to have a meltdown in front of them. That will just make everything worse. They still need their medication (if their condition can be treated with medication). In the same way, an adult with a mental illness may work hard to not show it in front of their boss/co-workers. . .but they can't keep it suppressed forever. And they still need their meds.

So, tl;dr :tongue2:, just because the dog is capable of controlling herself in some circumstances doesn't mean that she doesn't need medication.

I'd be super annoyed with the vet. They should not be discouraging necessary use of psychological drugs.

Winchester · Dec 5, 2016

Willowy, we are just glad that our vet agreed to the prescription.....period. Jackie's original vet turned us down cold and refused to do anything. Our vet specifically said it was not to be a lifelong thing, but, so far, when we've called in to have the script renewed, he has called the pharmacy to refill. We don't want to rock the boat, if that makes any sense. He was pretty emphatic about the "lifelong" thing.

Willowy · Dec 5, 2016

Yeah. . .just a pet peeve of mine. I think there would be fewer pets surrendered to shelters or put down if vets were more enthusiastic about psychiatric meds. And then the whole stigma with humans using psychiatric meds, which should not exist at all. Your brain is just as capable of getting sick as your body is; it's not a moral failing. Ugh.

Mostly Mutts

TCS Member

In the kitchen with my cookies

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

In the kitchen with my cookies

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

In the kitchen with my cookies

Thread starter

TCS Member

Cat herder - Pooper Scooper

TCS Member

In the kitchen with my cookies

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Cat herder - Pooper Scooper

TCS Member

In the kitchen with my cookies

Thread starter

TCS Member