Mostly Mutts

Argh, why is there so much stigma about psychiatric medications? Seriously, if people (even medical professionals!) think a dog is better off dead than getting medicated, that definitely doesn't say anything good about their opinion of people who take psychiatric meds. No wonder so many people don't get the psychiatric help they need. What is wrong with these people, why do they think meds for the brain are so much different than meds for the body? Blah. OK, that's my rant for the day .

Glad to hear she's showing some improvement! That's a good sign that she'll continue to improve as the meds have more time to take effect.

Winchester said:

I talked to Rick's mom yesterday, told her I was changing The Beast to our vet. She wasn't happy. I explained about putting her on Prozac and that the other vet didn't even want to talk to us about it. She doesn't want Jackie drugged; evidently, it's OK to put her down? But not drug her?   I pretty much said that it doesn't matter, that we are paying Jackie's bills, we are the ones trying to deal with her, and we will do as we see fit. And that was that. 

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I've got nothing good to say about this. :dk: It's just ridiculous.

She's calming down. Way down. Still gets excited when we come home from being out of the house and that's just a dog thing. But yesterday I got home from work before Rick did, so I took her out. She barked, but only barked, when I came in the house and I ignored her. Put my stuff down, opened the computer room door for Muffin to come out, and when I came back into the living room, Jackie was lying on her bed and fairly calm. Just that quickly. I got her chain to go outside and that got her excited because she really had to pee. But we came back inside, I got supper ready for everybody and life was good. 

Rick came home and I couldn't get Jackie to hush as I was on the phone. So she did bark. Rick came in, he ignored her, she calmed down. 

She really is cute in the morning. She knows that the she gets a treat every morning before I leave the house, so she's almost pushing me out the door.   She lays in the hallway and watches me walk back and forth from the bathroom to the bedroom while getting dressed. She knows that I give Muffin a bit of kibble in the computer room before I shut that door. And then when I walk out the hallway to the kitchen, she knows it's close to her treat time. The tail starts to wag and she gets excited....I swear if she could just push me along, she would and I keep expecting her to nose me in the butt to move me along faster. I plug the Keurig in and turn it on, take my morning meds. And she's watching intently. And then I said, "OK, Beast" and she knows it's time! Time for the treat! I open her treat container, pull out a treat, and she takes it so carefully, gives me a bit of a snort to thank me, I guess, runs into the living room, and flops on her bed with her treat.

The thing is, we're not really happy with her. But we also feel badly because Jackie probably thinks she's in dog heaven in a way. She has a big yard, she gets a lot more exercise than she used to, she gets plenty of food, there's always fresh water, she gets way more treats than she used to get and a wider variety of treats (apple pieces, carrots, frozen green beans....she just loves green beans), she has a really nice bed. She does get more attention from us than she did from Rick's mom. She has five fur-sisters (OK, maybe that's stretching it). What more could a dog really want? We're really torn.

You still have a lot of resentment built up which is understandable.  If the Prozac goes ahead and calms her down more maybe in time the resentment will begin to go away.

I'm SO glad the prozac is working for Jackie It sounds like there's already been a huge improvement Hopefully that'll bring everyone's stress levels down a bit now :cross:

Pam - I totally understand where you're coming from. Dogs are most definitely not cats, and they do require a LOT more work/time. It really is like having a toddler about the place....and that isn't for everyone. There's absolutely no shame in that You've also had a hellish time of it with her up to this point, and it's only natural that you'd both be feeling worn down and exhausted by it all. Hopefully the increasing peace will help with that. At the very least, Jackie being calmer and happier will make her a MUCH easier dog to rehome (should you decide to go down that route), and will make the prospect of you and Rick acting as fosters during the rehoming process a much more viable one.

Whatever you decide, Jackie wins now, and that's something you need to hold on to in moving forward

I'm so happy to hear of the improvement!  I know how a dog's issues can take over a household, it is stress on everyone involved.  Our poor geriatric Max, before he passed--oh how our lives revolved around his needs (and I would have gladly done it for years more if it would have kept him happy, healthy, and with me--but he was 23). I love dogs and dearly miss having one, but I just can't handle it right now.  Hubby is gone too much and I like the simple life with the cats--no bedtime walks in the rain, cold, etc.  I definitely don't miss that. 

I am also a dog lover.  When I moved back into an apartment I decided to give up on having a dog.  I was afraid that even though I am a dog lover, I would start to see the dog as more of a problem than a beloved pet.  When working full time even the bathroom thing becomes an issue.  At one time I was working a 12 hour night shift.  I had a 20 minute on the job lunch break so I couldn't go home.  I worked 7 p.m to 7 a.m. so a dog walker wasn't an option either.  

Winchester said:

The Prozac is starting to work;

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Total kudos to you for still trying to help this poor dog. Out walking yesterday in a poor neighborhood I espied a nursing bitch. God knows where she had hidden her puppies. Felt so bad, but if I called Animal Control she would be euthanized in 9-10 days if unclaimed. I could not do that to her.

Pam, I am so glad the Prozac is working... and it is really working.. taking no time at all to calm Jackie down..

I know you have a lot of bad feelings towards her, but if you step back and look at how she was when you first got her, and how she is acting now~~~ well, it is a world of difference.. 

It may not be apparent to both you and Rick because you are so close to the situation, but there has been a vast improvement..and it is happening very fast. She started the Prozac a few days ago.. that is amazing!!

I think the time frame for the Prozac to work is about 2 weeks or so.. You are seeing results in less time, which means this is the appropriate treatment for her...

I am not pushing for you to change your minds about rehoming her, but things are improved. 

Jackie may never completely be as calm as your cats.. dogs are not naturally that calm.. but you have to think of how it was in the beginning.. a big difference...She may still howl and go on at times, but hopefully it will be at a limited amount..

So glad your Vet was able to help out...

As @Columbine   has stated, whether you decide to immediately rehome Jackie or keep her as a foster until a new home is found for her; well, things are in a better situation, at this point in time...

Dogs can be very needy.. that is one reason why I prefer cats...Also, dogs are a different personality.. 

You and Rick are doing amazing at keeping your cool...

Thank you! Sometimes I think we need to hear that we are doing good with her.

We did go to the mall tonight. And when we came back home, Jackie was barking and carrying on. But NO screaming. None. Zilch. Nothing. She was really excited to see us, but we ignored her for about ten minutes or so. Completely. Once she calmed down a bit, Rick took her out to pee. And everything was fine.

This is not lifelong and our vet said so. We have enough meds for about 20 days. 

And I know that dogs are vastly different than cats. We come home to the cats and they start plodding out to the kitchen. It's "About time you get your butts home; feed us!" and that's it.

Come home to Jackie and the tail is wagging, the dog is jumping around and barking. It's "Oh my god, you're home! It's about time! You're home, you're home, you're home! I gotta pee! I gotta poop! I've been alone for SO LONG! Take me out! Take me out now! Oh, you're home, home HOME!" Whether we're gone 15 minutes or an hour. She will never calm completely down; she's a dog and that's just how dogs are.

Jackie must really love you to miss you so much.

OMG Winchester You and your Husband are doing a fantastic job! I've followed your threads about Jackie and think you have been honest in the difficulties and excited about the accomplishments and also the realities of the I can't do this anymore. I feel your pain (I have 6 dogs and 4 cats).

I've had a lot of dogs in my 45 years of life but never a beagle, so I have no special insight there

You mentioned clicker training in a previous post and IMO that is one of the easiest ways to train; especially one that is food motivated!

I'm sure that (as you said) you can YouTube to learn!

The way you greet Jackie is perfect for one that is so excitable [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji][emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji] I have one like that and you can't even pet her too much until she is in a relaxed state.

Give yourself a break regarding your feelings towards Jackie. You've just lost a precious member of your family and here's this loud, obnoxious dog stressing everyone out... but you have found something that is making a difference and you are always thinking of the best interest of all involved. Again, you are doing incredible with her and it will make a difference! Jackie may be hard to love but I can tell you do because of the endearing ways you describe her

Here is my pack ( except for Elvis my old man of 14 who refused to participate )

Shelly (11yrs she's the excitable one) large white dog w/ brown
Olive (4 yrs) med red dog
Pablo (11yrs) med blk & wht
Ivy (~5 yrs) small blk & wht
Winkston (6 mos ) small brown and tan

Hang in there, one day at a time

I have never had a beagle either but I have heard that they tend to be very food motivated.  

@LotsofFur  the dogs are so cute! I don't know how you deal with them all. 

Rick had jury duty yesterday and they were done with the trial by 1:00. He stopped in at work to chat for with me a couple minutes, then went on home. Jackie ran over to the steps with her tail wagging, but never barked. Not one bark. She was excited to see him obviously. No barking. Rick was really impressed.

She did bark a couple times when I came home from work last night, Rick told her NO and I ignored her. She calmed right down and then I told her Hello and said she was a good girl. She wriggled her whole body, but no barking.

Last night while Rick was bowling, I stayed out in the living room with her. She flopped on the floor to nap and I was on the couch with my Nook. Rick came up the driveway, got out of his truck, and came into the house. Again, Jackie met him at the steps with her whole body wriggling. But no barking.

I looked at her when she came back over to me and said, "Who are you and what have you done with Jackie?!" and gave her a hug. She gave me a lick and then we went out to the kitchen for me to get bedtime snacks for everybody.

The difference is absolutely amazing! This? This is not the same dog. It's just not! 

Now you can see why dog people are dog people.  They are more work and more dependent than cats but they  do have their own charm.

that the Prozac is working so well! Twenty days might be enough for behavioral modification, because she's going to see your more positive reactions to her current "greetings", and there's always non-prescription Zylkene that you can fall back on (we've had really positive results with a very hyper dog at the shelter, plus several cats).

Ehhh, sometimes a short round of meds will do the trick but I'd probably do 3 months at least, unless she develops side effects.

Glad to hear she's feeling like a normal doggie! Poor thing must have had some weird stuff going on in that brain of hers :tongue2:.

@LotsofFur   Wow!  You have a clan!  Oh it makes me miss having a dog.  My cats greet me with "what's for dinner?", and once fed, Wurp does the "away with you, peasant" and is totally done with me.

I swear if he had thumbs he would have already offed us in our sleep.

Thank goodness Shortstack is snuggly.

@Winchester   I am so happy for you that she is showing improvement.  I just know how stressful one crazy can make your entire household.  It just affects your entire life.

That's SUCH fantastic news, Winchester :high5: I'm so happy for you all

As cat says, this period of reconditioning on the Prozac, plus maybe Zylkene longer term if necessary, will most likely help Jackie maintain this new, adorable behaviour long term :cross:

I have to say, the way you describe her now makes her sound like SUCH a sweetie :heart3: Reminds me very much of the greetings Leah gives us all when we come home

Just an update here.....

One of the beagle rescues did get back to me via email. She had found some place for The Beast, but it was in a cage, not in a house. Well, we couldn't do it. We just couldn't. The idea of Jackie spending time in a cage.....just, no. We know how much she hates cages because we tried to cage her in the kitchen and it didn't work out at all.

So she'll stay here. She's on the Prozac and it really has calmed her down for the most part. She still flips out when Rick and I come home together, but at least she's calming down quicker. As soon as we come home, we make her go to her bed for at least five minutes then we ignore her until the time is up. By that time, she's calmed down considerably. She's starting to get the hang of it and she's not screaming as badly as she did. It's a really slow process and there are days when I just want to tear my hair out. Rick is actually OK with it for the most part. He doesn't like the screaming, but he deals with it better than I do.

Rick is also going to take the gate down between the kitchen and the living room. He's tired of banging his hips on it and tripping over the railing on the floor. It's coming down this weekend. Jackie is fairly good at staying in the living room for the most part. When I'm cooking or baking, she flops down on the floor right in the kitchen and watches. But she's not all over me like she used to be and I don't worry about tripping over her too much anymore. Unless I'm working with apples, then all bets are off. She really loves apples and when I start to peel an apple, I get a nose in my butt to hurry up. She also likes butternut squash, so my butt gets a nose then, too.

It is what it is. We couldn't let her go to a caged life. We just couldn't. I told Rick she will probably have to be on Prozac for the rest of her days (or at least until she learns to deal a little better) because otherwise, I won't deal with her. And when he goes away, she will have to be kenneled. But she'll stay with us. There's no other good alternative. In other words, we're suckers.

(She is showing a side effect, we think. She doesn't want to eat her dog food. I started adding warm water to the dry food and that seems to be helping. We can't switch her food because it's a urinary tract food and she has urinary problems. Sometimes if I'm cooking something with tomatoes, I'll rinse out the tomato container with warm water and then add that to her food; she loves tomatoes. So we're trying to come up with other ways to entice her a little bit to eat. She's not stopped eating at all, she just needs a bit of encouragement some days.)