Insanity

Jesarie said:

Axle is driving me insane! LOL His seperation anxiety is off the wall. I can't do anything without him crying and I don't mean a little crying, I mean CRYING that is so loud I have had complaints with neighbors. The second he sees I am about to leave he will start to "puppy scream" that gets my blood boiling. No matter what I do he will not stop. And he is jumping ALL the time on me and then scratching me when he comes down if that makes sense. He barks and growls at me for no reason that my husband is getting quite frustrated with him. His pulling when we walk had gotten worse despite all the hard work we have done for months. Today he ate part of the wall, yes the wall. I am at my wits end. OH! And he refuses to eat. Ok, well he will eat when he wants ONLY to the point where he throws up everyday from being so hungry. I dont know what to do anymore. I love him so much but now since we have a baby on the way I am getting to the point where I am crabby when I have to deal with him and I need to focus on other things now and this is driving me insane. Also, when we eat dinner he begs BAD, very bad. And, if we try and pick him up or walk towards him he RUNS under the couch and my husband and myself have to lay on the floor of each side of the couch and try and get him out. When I get up at night to pee (cuz im pregnant, lol) he barks and whines and I have trouble sometimes going back to sleep. I dread the day he barks and wakes the baby up after I just got him / her back down. Im so done but I love him so much.

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Hi Jess, So sorry to hear what a hard time you're having with him - last thing you need when you are pregnant. The last time you were having big problems with Axle was when you went back to work - have you suddenly changed your home routine or can you put your finger on what's upsetting him? If not, then maybe since you've been at home full-time you've just given him too much time and attention and not set the boundaries firmly enough?? I'm only making suggestions for you to consider, because I've no way of knowing, but sounds like he's really testing you. This is what I would try in your place, but there are others on here much more expert at behaviour than me:
Could you try going back to some basic training to reinforce the "come, sit, stay, leave" commands. If you never feed him from the table then he shouldn't be begging - if you have done, then stop. Why would he beg if he never got any result from it? Try to establish a clear routine, where time playing or training with him is followed by time when he is ignored and expected to amuse himself. I think that if dogs have a routine, they get used to it and accept it. So maybe food, amuse himself while you clear up, walk, amuse himself, training, amuse himself, walk, amuse himself.
When I need to go out, I give Dylan a bone. He is so busy with the bone that he barely notices I've gone and he doesn't even follow me to the door.
As regards the not eating, are you sure there's nothing wrong with his stomach for him to be sick and not eat? Never heard of hunger causing vomiting. Maybe he's off his food and you could think about changing to a different type.
Hope the situation improves. :hug:

Dylansmum said:

As regards the not eating, are you sure there's nothing wrong with his stomach for him to be sick and not eat? Never heard of hunger causing vomiting. Maybe he's off his food and you could think about changing to a different type.
Hope the situation improves. :hug:

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Sorry about Axel's behavior recently. I too, would be sent over the edge with that, and I'm definitely not pregnant!

Regarding the vomiting, dogs can definitely throw up if their stomachs get too empty. In the boxer world, we call it "the hunger pukes" (all that comes up usually is some yellowish looking foamy stuff - blech!), and boxers get it easily, which is why most boxers are fed at least 2x daily; some even get a small snack at bedtime b/c they can't make it through the night. I guess it's b/c they have such high metabolisms?? I don't have a boxer anymore, but I still feed my current dogs twice a day (daily ration divided into two equal parts), and they're much happier that way. I agree - maybe either change foods, or mix in a tablespoon of no fat plain yogurt, or some low sodium chicken broth (just enough to dampen food) to encourage better eating.

The begging at the table must stop. Our dogs are not allowed anywhere near the table while we're eating. They have to stay in the living room, well away from the table. If they don't mind, they're crated during dinner. It didn't take them long to learn!

Betty sometimes does the yellow foamy sick, usually first thing in the morning, so interesting to know that about Boxers as I hadn't heard that but defo makes me feel better as I know she wasn't ill but it did concern me at times, but she was a fussy eater so it does make sense!

Jess - I echo what people have said already. As for food, Betty was hugely fussy and I tried a few different kibbles, she would eat them the first meal and then nothing for the next day. It got to the stage where she would only eat 2 meals out of 6. In the end I resorted to giving her a good quality wet food (it's a UK food called Nature Diet) which she loves and she now wolfs this down and I have even found her waiting by where her food bowl goes for food in the morning now which was unheard of before.

Betty wasn't great at being left when I first got her and I really did stress myself out over. Now she has a routine where whenever I am going out and leaving her she goes and lies on her blanket and waits for her treat that I give her when I go out. My neighbour says she hears the odd bark from her (but she does that when I am home anyway if she hears things outside) but defo seems more settled.

I wonder if the fact you are a little bit stressed by Axle's behaviour may be as he is picking up on hormonal changes in you and your stress which may be making him worse. I only wonder this as my best friend was looking to have to move overseas and his dog started weeing in the house etc and misbehaving almost as if she was picking up on my friends stress.

I really hope you get it sorted and congratulations on your impending baby!

Heres the thing. I do not and NEVER feed him from the table I know that is a HUGE NO NO so where this behavior is coming from is beyond me. And no matter what you do he will NOT stop. So now we have resorted to putting him in his crate sometimes just so my husband and I can sit and eat. I am fully aware that crates should NEVER be used for a "punishment" but I have no choice. I live on the 3rd floor apartment not like I can put him outside and when he is in the crate he will stare at me and cry.

Axle will sit and wait when I say but that's it! He will not come, he will not walk right NOTHING! And it's not like im a newbie god owner, I have had dogs literally my whole entire life.

When I leave bones in his crate do NOT work. He will cry and cry and cry and when I come home they are still there. He will NOT touch them.

He is almost a year old.

I do not work and have not worked in over 6 months. I am a full time house wife and since my husband is a disabled combat vet he is home too so it's not like Axle is always neglected. He is played with, gets walks everyday 4x a day and I hate it. Not like the walks are pleasant. NOTHING has changed in his life he will just not change and I am sooo over it.

We talked last night about possibly giving him to a new home because I cannot do this. Axle trips me when we walk up the stairs and Dave (husband) said that if he EVER sees that (since I am pregnant) he is not sure that he would not be able to pop him. But with all this being said we talked for hours last night in bed and decided that we cannot give him away. It's too emotional.

This behavior even started before I was pregnant. Axle literally thinks he is the king of the castle. I am just not going to be nice to him AT ALL until he calms down. I know this sounds mean but I am at my witts end. And last night was a final straw when he ate the wall.

Also, I will take him for a walk, he will pee but he will ONLY poop if we stand there and coax him in circles for like 5 minutes. Literally. I am NOT going to put up with this anymore. I am so OVER it. So, he won't poop sometimes then we walk up 3 flights of stairs get in the house, take off my shoes and jacket and he WHINES because he has to go. Then we have to take him out...again.

We plan on moving in April because the Army is sending Dave to school. And I already told Dave that when we get a house and we have a yard Axle will only come in the house to sleep BUT at the same time I dont want him to have free range of the yard because I don't want poop and holes everywhere.

I am stuck between a rock and a hard stone.

I don't have much experience with dogs and my dog is no angel so I won't offer up much advice. Just wanted to say how sorry I am that you are so stressed. I would be too, in your position.

Have you had or considered a private session with a dog trainer? Things can't continue on as they are and maybe a professional could help evaluate the situation.

I know it would be difficult emotionally (and I do believe animals are a lifetime commitment) BUT rehoming him might be best for all of you. It doesn't make you a horrible person, though it is a horrible decision to have to make. Far better than losing your temper with him and him getting hurt in the heat of the moment (not saying that would actually happen, but...)

Your human baby has to come first now

Whatever your decision, I wish you well...and Congrats on the baby

tessybear said:

Jess I am going to come straight in with my opinion here!
I have been in your situation before but with a cat. I was pregnant, with an unmanagable but much loved young cat and decided (it was very painful) to rehome it. You are an experienced dog owner and it sounds like you have tried everything. In my opinion you should call it a day- at this stage in your life you should be calm and relaxed and enjoying being pregnant, preparing for your baby. I think rehoming it would be the right decision for you as a family and the best for your baby- it certainly was for me. Good luck!

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I cannot agree more with you. This is a VERY painful decision that I have come to but just right now my husband and I were watching tv and Axle pooped right in the middle of the living room. He stopped telling us when he has to go out, he just goes when he wants. I cant do this anymore. I need to prepare and get my house ready for a newborn which includes clean floors for when I cuddle with him / her laying on the floor or what have you. I have been to tears many times today but in the end I know this will be better for myself, the baby and Axle. You are totally right. I have been putting up with this for months and the last thing I need is high blood pressure. We are taking him to the "doggie orphanage" tomorrow morning where I know he will be treated with care and he will find a GREAT home. The adoption agency that I am taking him to tomorrow is wonderful. They treat there animals with royality. I have been there so many times and I am confident that Axle will find a new home and fast.

I really appreciate your thoughts and I will keep you updated.