Re learning the potty/apartment living update.

I have gracefully given up on pee pads and a newly bought potty patch, as per everyone's suggestion. Wilson just looks at them in confusing and holds it in till I break down a few hrs later and take him out as I mentaly tell myself that I am a good owner over and over. Your right, I should be happy with Wilsons need to only use grass, so thank you to everyone that posted and offered help or encouragement when I asked. So what if I have to carry him down flights of stairs more then twice a day so he can go? Really how is that harming me asides from forced exercise that I probably need? Dread dread dread winter time though, but me and the pup will cross that bridge when we come to it.

This apartment living is a new experience, I'll give you that. Wilson has just started to be calm and not bark like a dog gone crazy when he hears someone coming home next door. But maybe its cause he got tired of me, his mama, spraying him with a water gun when he goes into his crazy gunshoot barking modes. And yes, I do spray him but just for training purposes. If he barks and I te him ok thanks for the warning bark now stop, and he doesn't stop and completely loses himself in the barking then he gets water spritz at him. I'm kind of suprised that its been working. But enough blabber! Here's a cute Wilson picture.

Fine mom, ill walk myself by myself.

So there!

Question for those with dogs in apartments (or uses pee pads)

Hey all! We are all moved in to the new place! (by moved in I mean all my stuff is here but not really fully packed) And I need some advice!!! I got Wilson peepads to use since we no longer have a yard and I set up two areas for him. One on the balcony and one in our storage room off the balcony (has no door). Ive spritted it down with some puppy trainer that supposed to make it smell like pee.

What else should I be doing?!?! Its the first day here so I can understand that he will be stressed and I'll be patient with him since he does have to kinda re-learn this and all that but I need help! He seems pretty stuck on going to the bathroom on grass but I know I can teach my old dog new tricks, I just need some tips and suggestions!!!

Every time he goes to the door to ask to go out like he did back home I lead him to one of these area's (mostly the storage room as thats where I would prefer him to go) but so far no peeing.

Thanks in advance, I figured I'd use the blog to get some help =p

Back to your regularly scheduled posts

... not that they have been regular ever! LOL

Well I have a good reason for not updating the blog, really! First of all there was really nothing to say or to tell, Wilson still is on crate rest. That and I've been spending a lot of time looking for a place to rent that will allow dogs, fit my room mate and my wants/needs and within my price range.

Chelsea's New Home Wish List
1. It's in a good neighborhood
2. Close to main bus routes
3. Has a yard/a huge balcony for Wilson
4. Not a lot of stairs - either in the place or to get into the apartment. Bad for Wilson.
5. Lots of storage

And I finally have! Whoooow! AND ITS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A DOG PARK! I'm excited! It means more dog park visits!

Annnnnd now that I've spouted almost none related Wilson stuff here are some pictures of the lovable long haired pup.

A Bum Leg wont get in the way of Spring Fun

At least I would like to think so. I miss being able to do stuff with Wilson, just as I am more then sure he misses being able to do things. Therefore a few days ago I decided to sit outside and place him on my lap so he could enjoy the smells that the breeze was blowing, all without having to use his leg.

He loved it! And I loved just watching him sniff for over an hour. I can't wait for Wilson's leg to get better!!!!

One visit to the vet later...

And there is something wrong with Wilson's back right leg, his knee to be exact. Maybe all the spring time fun we have been having together caused it, maybe it was because he was badly bred (his back legs are bowed) or maybe it was something else. I'm not sure and our vet isn't sure either =(.

I noticed that something was wrong when Wilson randomly whined, and my mother and me had noticed oh a walk that the way Wilson walked seemed somehow different but assumed it was because of a stick that I discovered stuck in his fur. I then went into panic mood worried that it was his back after I heard him whine as he was stretching.

After phoning the vet to make an appointment I ran to the Internet and looked up more on dachshund spine problems and teh common symptoms. Almost none seemed to fit, I calmed down a little but still worried.

One vet trip later and Wilson has been sentenced to kennel rest for two weeks in the hopes that his knee will heal without the stress of him running with it. No walks, no playing with me or the cat, no nothing that could stress the knee. 14ish hours of resting his knee a day. The pup gets to be toted around like a little chihuahua when I do need to move him (to go to the bathroom) for the next two weeks.

He also has to take an anti-inflammatory medication and a light tranquilizer. The tranq is for when I have to be at work. Wilson gets very anxious when he is left in his kennel when no one is home so the tranq helps him stay calm so he can rest.

Its already been four days and both me and Wilson miss the days of walks, play time and our training sessions. He keeps giving me his sad face. Poor boy!

We saw the cutest thing...

...at the dog park the other day. No it wasn't a puppy, or two dogs playing and prancing - though that is a cute image. No what had my little heart going "AWW!" was watching a little girl, no more then three walking her dog at the park. He was a big guy but kept looking back at her as she trotted along beside him with the hugest grin I have ever seen on a child! She was sooo proud of herself and he was so in tune with his little girl owner. I am kicking myself for not having my camera on me.

It made me very happy to see that he was so well behaved and very careful to not tug. He completely ignored the other dogs that were running about and kept an eye on her. Not that her parents weren't either, they were right there just in case. That also made me happy to see a family out having fun with their dog and being responsible. It makes me glad that I have this dog park nearby where for the most part everyone keeps an eye on their dog.

I've read some horror stories on other peoples blogs about off leash parks and yeah I originally and foolishly thought that all these horrible stories were because these parks where in the states. Why? Cause I never had a bad experience with Wilson at a dog park before I had started reading other peoples dog blogs. I'm Canadian, we say sorry even if it was our foot that got stepped on.

BUT NOP!

This is sooo wrong, our parks up here can be bad too. I've had and have seen some bad things at other parks when I went to visit them. I am thankful that I never went to any of these parks before I started going dog crazy and doing lots of reading and studying of body language, I'm thankful for this park close to me where a adorable little girl can walk her big dog through an area with lots of dogs and their owners and have nothing happen. I'm so happy that there are people out there that take care of their dogs and what to do things with them as a family and that the park I go to is in an area where most of the population are responsible dogs owners.

Where I have never seen: a person let their dog go into the park and sit in the car letting their dog become chaos incarnate.

Little dogs walking around on their own with no owner in sight.

Dog fights (I have seen dog arguments but never dogs fighting and trying to make the other bleed)

and etc.

Opps, my little post has turned into a rant. If your still reading sorry, this rant surprised me too =). Clearly I'm very lucky and very happy at how lucky I am! I hope that everyone can find a good dog park, just like I hope everyone can find a good groomer and a good vet office!

Here's a picture my Aunt took of Wilson and her kids while we were at the dog park a few days ago. And oh yeah, ps we are back home!! Wilsons very happy about it!



Replies to last post.

@ itsmebuddy I miss you too buddy! Wilson likes to think he knows cats but his cat Mindy sure proves him wrong often!

@ Jessica from YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner Oh yes! haha I'm sure they were wishing they could jump like Lenon could! There was much dislike for the babygates.

@ Max the Quilt Cat I always read your blog even if I don't comment! But thanks I have missed you too, and yes lol. I've been talking to some people and they all say thats typical of a cat. Guess I don't know them as well as I thought I did, but then again- who really knows cats?

@ jen Yes! It makes me very happy to see some sign of progress, even if it was a little one!

@ Schnauzer Days Nice to meet you as well!

The cat is Crazy!

Wilson is not so much a dog hater, its more he doesn't know what to do with dogs. Meeting dogs that show aggression or extreme excitability (Like our black curly poodle friend Dexter) is what tips him into crazybarkbarker barkbarksnap mode. See here? Cold hard evidence that if a dog is cool calm and collected around Wilson then all is (mostly) well!

Speaking of Dexter! He and Wilson played last night! It was only for 5 seconds before Wilson chased him off but I was so excited after it had happened I raise my hands into the air and yelled "SCCCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!". Which cause two dogs and the cat to stare at me like I was an alien.

And speaking of the cat...He's a little weird. Iv'e always have had cats and I'm used to their catty-ways but Lenon is just a whole new thing for me. Maybe its cause he never had any rules to follow and is allowed to do anything and everything, maybe its just cause he get bored easy or maybe its because he is just plain BONKERS!!

Why do I claim he's crazy? Well last night I was crocheting and I had put up the baby gate to keep both dogs in eye range. This is so I don't have to deal with Dexter peeving Wilson off to the breaking point in another part of the house and my dog getting charged with doggie murder. (Don't worry, I'm just joking. Wilson isn't that bad). Hearing a sound I look up and witness Lenon jumping over the baby gate. Not just once, or twice but over and over and over and over. Both dogs had picked different spots and sat watching this cat repeatedly jump the baby gate with the focus of someone watching a really good movie.

And he kepted doing it untill I stood up to grab my camera. After giving me a look of disgust he then walks over and jumps up onto the TV stand and started to dooze. So I stand by what I have said, the cat is crazy.

Doggie Room-mates: Day 4

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH BOY.........

These past few days have been interesting since Wilson and I have left home. If I ever wanted a small taste into what the foster world is like I now have it! Dog to dog living situations where one acts like a big mean -pardon my french- asshat has been interesting. It's also been a big learning experience for me too, wonder what else I'll experience with Wilson during my month living with two and four legged room-mates. So to blogger friends that are interested in reading how Wilson's first doggies room-mate living situation is going, here are some things I have realized and learnt.

1. Wilson really really likes cats.

I mean more then I thought he did. He has no problem at all with my friends cat, he was all ready to playplayplayplayplayplay once he realized that this black and brown thing was in fact JUST like his white, grey and tan Mindy-cat back home. It took the cat until today to start to understand Wilson's body language since Wilson tries to initiate play differently then Dexter does.

I wish I had my camera out on the first day cause Lennon (my friends cat) pranced right up to Wilson and kind of wrapped a paw across his back and Wilson just rolled over onto his back and let Lennon climb all over him and start gently chewing on his fur until I picked Lennon off him. My only thoughts where my dog is so cute and that cat is strange...very strange....

2. Dexter get very very excited, and an excited determined Dexter can jump over a baby-gate.

ugh...there goes any plan I had with the baby gates...They are almost pointless where Dexter is concerned

3. Wilson thinks he's my right hand man when it comes to the rules.

When I tell Dexter to do something like 'get off the couch' or 'go away' Wilson magically appears out of no where and does the whole "Yeahyouheardwhatshesaid, yeahyeahyeahyeah get down boyo" just with a lot more snarling and snapping. He also snaps and growls at Dexter if Dexter tries to play with the cat, makes any kind of sudden move or comes into the space between the couch and the living-room table. Which then leads me to realization number four

4. I don't have as much patience as I thought I do.

On the first and second day I almost wanted to pull all my hair out, scream, yell. You know, that whole tantrum thing, every time Wilson started his crazy barking spree. Thankfully I did not - ish, but still I need to work on myself a bit more to be more calm cause I know Wilson feeds of my feelings.

5. The corner method that people use on children works wonders with dogs as well.

On the third day I remembered something that I had read and decided to spin the idea a bit. Next time Wilson did his growl thing at Dexter for no good reason (If he barked at Dexter cause he was all up in Wilson's face then I'm not going to punish Wilson) I will grab his collar and lead him over to a door just in the other room where I will have a leash tied up and clipped him to it and walked back into the living room and start chatting with my friends like nothing happened.

And so Wilson didn't like it cause he wasn't included in the whole happy socializing fun time but he could hear and see it and after the third time of him snapping at Dexter and getting punished so, he then started to realize that every time he did something to the other dog he would just put 'in the corner'. Like magic the number of growly threats against Dexter decreased. At this point he is still doing it occasionally but now I don't feel ready to rip my hair out or die of shame because I have an ill mannered dog.

6. Bribery works.

Wilson hates men, and I'm staying with a happy married couple at the moment. The best way of dealing with his man hate that I could think of was to give my friends husband a ton of Wilson's favorite treats and I told him that he can be as free with those treats as he wanted. His mission was to bride and spoil his way into Wilson's good graces. My friends husband is to never reinforce the rules that I have set for Wilson, share those treat with Wilson at random and not look into his eye's for a while. Me and my friend will be the one that will enforce the doggie rules, not him. Nop.

7. (and this one kinda makes me laugh) Whenever I use my positive, happy rewarding voice on one dog the other one comes running over thinking all my "good jobs" are for him. This makes rewarding either dog for good behavior frustrating, tricky and down right amusing at times.

So now here I am at the end of day 4, sitting on the couch with my best friend as she crocheting away. Her husband is playing a video game, all is quiet with the animals all laying around the living room sleeping. The cat on the computer chair, Dexter by my friends feet (in that space that Wilson had attempted to claim a few days ago) and Wilson is laying up against the wall about four feet from Dexter. He's ok when my friend's husband stands up or goes to do something, half the time he follows behind him with his tail wagging and a crazy OMG PLEASE GOVE ME GOODIES look in his eyes. Dexter can walk by Wilson half the time without Wilson loosing it, and I can see that Dexter is a bit relieved about this fact (Heck, I would be too!). Wilson and the cat had a big communication break through this morning and have had a few spurts of running, pouncing, paw batting play that they both seem to enjoy. Will this calm last is the question now.

Anyways, thanks for reading my long post. Any suggestions, questions or comments are always welcome!

Static: It happens to dogs too.

His 'fly away' ear hair was MUCH worse before I got my camera out!

Anyways I also wanted to say thank you to those that commented on this post.

Your words have given me confidence in introducing Wilson to his new doggie room-mate!