To HATE my dog

[Blossomo]

We have a 7 year old pug who literally drives me nuts, he comes upstairs whilst we are out pisses on the banister. I am so sick of cleaning/re-painting. We have quite a big garden and all he does is chase passers by barking constantly. I know a dog is for life and everything but since having kids I really do not have the time and every time I look at him he just annoys me. It is really unfair to him as he could be with a family who love him, dont get me wrong, the kids LOVE him so I could not get rid but he just really gets on my nerves. I used to love dogs, we got a cat a year or so ago and he is amazing!

@MadamVastra You pup is a cutey!

A few things you have said stand out for me. You say he barks in the garden and wees inside, this is classic behaviour from a dog that is bored and isn't walked enough. You also say he is social, as many pugs are. Pugs need a lot of attention and love and to be out and about. Is he getting enough of, not just walks, but positive attention as a lap dog really needs. He is a companion dog, that's his job, is he able to do his job? If not then you will get behavioural problems. The other one is obviously frustration due to being intact and any female dogs in heat in the area. The other issues could be pain as he is 7 and a pug, he may have back issues, a UTI etc. If this is a behavioural change then he needs to be checked out by the vet. Pugs have terrible backs and dogs show pain in very different ways to humans they can seem fine but exhibit strange behaviours. You don't hate him op. You know its not his fault he's just a dog.

Put a gate on the stairs? Don't let him out in the garden for so long that he can chase passers by continuously?

Essentially be a human and use your human brain.

Poor dog.

This.

I feel so sorry for this dog. You're blaming him for his behaviour when you can't be arsed to do the bare minimum to try and train him.

If it's a new behaviour, take him to the vet. Get their advice. There's plenty of info on the internet. Yes, pugs are notoriously difficult to train as they're stubborn as fuck, but with work, it can be done.

Is it possibly linked to the arrival of the cat/children? I agree with another PP-seems you got the dog as a surrogate for a child-and now you have a child (and a cat) you can't be arsed with this poor dog.

Your failure to put effort in is not the dog's fault. It's yours.

So many people piling on the OP for not neutering the dog. Routine neutering is not always for the best. The last two vets I've been registered with have recommended not neutering as a matter of course.

OP - you need to take him for a vet checkup to see if there is a physical reason why he is marking. I would then consider chemical castration to see if this makes a difference before you go for the permanent option.

It drives me mad to see people who haven't bothered to train their dogs properly and then blame the dogs for their behaviour. You actually hate your dog? What a sad life he must lead if so. Yes, yes, you feed him and take him for walks. That's the bare minimum that you should do. But dogs are genetically programmed to want to be with people and they are generally highly in tune with their owners. He must know how you feel about him, especially if your attitude has changed. He is probably confused and anxious.

These posts crop up every so often. The owners are often praised for being "brave" if they decide to get rid of their dogs. There's nothing brave about it IMO. It's the coward's way out. Look into training, consult with your vet, hire a behaviourist if the root cause is anxiety. You owe it to your dog. He doesn't have anyone else to look out for him.

We rescued our dog because her previous owner didn't have time for her because of her young children. We were warned that she was badly behaved, destructive and would wee indoors.

We took her on and she never did any of those things because we had all the time in the world to devote to her training and giving her company, love, days out, long walks, camping holidays.....everything really. Nothing was too much trouble.

We had 10 gloriously happy years with her.

Give your dog up to someone who won't hate him and can give him the life he deserves. Your kids will get over it very quickly, your life will be easier immediately and your dog will benefit.

It's true - cats are much better. I can never understand why anyone would want a dog when they can have a cat 😻

This.

That's a matter of opinion and does nothing to help the dog or the OP.

So you leave his nuts on, not train him properly, not have time for him, can't be bothered with putting a stairgate on

but you want to keep him: poor poor dog.

So many dog 'lovers' are guilty of this. People are daft as brushes.

Step 1- Stairgates and crate
Step 2 - vets appointment to rule out health issues
Step 3 - if health clear, get a behaviour expert.

Has he seen a vet for a full health check?
Why hasn't he been neutered?
Why aren't you managing his environment so he can't pee upstairs?

On the Battersea Dog's Home website there's loads of information about neutering dogs and it states there it stops scent marking.

Lol. This is nonsense. Vets don't recommend routine neutering for male dogs any more, and I am following my own vets advice.

That's not true.

They do recommend neutering for many reasons - but it shouldn't be the default option as there are many situations where it can make things worse.

I've had two rescue pugs and they are notoriously difficult to train. Particularly once a behaviour has been allowed to bed in BUT it's not impossible, it just takes work and that is something I would be starting straight away.

I would also be getting him neutered as a matter of urgency, why you would have a high value dog running around intact is beyond me. Seriously, get him snipped.

If you decide he really is too much trouble for you, he shouldn't be hard to rehome through a dedicated pug rescue, please, please, not gumtree or pets4homes, muffin pug rescue, the pug dog welfare and rescue association and as mentioned by a PP many tears will find a good home for him.

You've been told what to do. Get the dog neutered. It will stop the spraying.

This. You didn't even bother to find out the impacts of not having him neutered? And seemingly still can't be bothered to Google the basics. Poor dog.

I have 2 dogs. Standard poodles. Our male cocks his leg on everything when we walk. I take them sometimes to our friends home (.they ask us to bring them as the kids love them and come here often to hang out and walk them). I put a belly band on him just in case. In our home he never cocks his leg. Neither dog pees or poops inside. It is marking. If he is doing it in your home, you need to put a belly band or take him out more often.

Ok ok come on now people I'm sure the op feels bad enough! None of us are perfect are we? I remember feeling the same way about my kids let alone my dog! Hopefully she will take our advice on board for all the family sakes

Yes, exactly. They advocate it on a case by case basis, depending on the dog's need. Not as a routine/default requirement.

This!