Help please! Pedigree related. Long, sorry!

[Nacster]

I was asked some 6 weeks ago to mind a young shih tzu (aged 15ish months) for "a couple of nights."

She is still here.

She is on heat. Possibly as a consequence of this, she has been constipated, and she needs clipping - had to take her to the vet today to manually clear her rear end (sorry TMI!)

The person who "owns" her had had her 3 months. She was painfully thin when she got here and is still slightly underweight. But the vet told me today I am basically doing everything wrong. I'm used to big, working type dogs, usually mongrels, who are quite frankly easy to look after. Apparently this one needs specialist food, regular professional grooming, no scraps, and is likely to need regular vet input.

She's also terrible with recall and general obedience.

I can't keep her, (rented house, low income, expensive dog!) but I can't rehome her - she's not officially mine! I don't know where I stand legally - the owner has not contacted me directly, but I've had messages passed (I'm not to get her spayed, that's about it.)

Equally, I can't insure her as she's not mine, but I'm paying for everything?

How does the law work in this situation? I'm totally unwilling to rehome her through the RSPCA, but am looking for a home - but of course, I can't say for sure she's available.

The owner has had 5 expensive puppies in a year, all of which have been rehomed after a max of 5 months.

So, any advice at all about care/ food/ grooming would be great. And also advice about where I stand and what I can actually do in this situation!

Thanks for any replies by the way!

She doesn't need expensive food, she doesn't need expensive, grooming, regular care and decent food should avoid too many vet visits (flea, worm, etc.)

There's nowt wrong with Chappie or Skinners for working dogs. Buy some clippers and have a bash at grooming her yourself. She honestly will not care if you make a pigs ear of it. I regularly attack my terriers unruly mop with some old kitchen scissors, he doesn't seem to care

I would contact breed rescue do my best to stop her digging out of your garden and getting 'lost'.

Right firstly I would send an indirect ultimatum to the owner about the dog, you can't keep her long term so either they need to take her back to them long term or she needs to find a new forever home.
I agree good quality food does not equal expensive food she just needs an appropriate amount for her size.
Grooming you can do yourself, but if she is in a real muddle she may need a professional do just to have a zero to start from.
Shih Tzus are wilful little people who need good consistency to be well trained hence the need to be in a forever home.
You are doing your very best, but actually the owner should make so decisions instead of just saying no.

Cod liver oil on her food will fix the constipation easily and is cheap
Text or call the "owner" tell them if the dog is not removed by the end of the day/week/month you will be handing them over to a rescue
Personally i would also send them a bill for all the extras you have spent on the dog
Any dog food is fine i moved my lads one kc reg one not registered from Royal Canin £50odd quid a bag to Lidl own brand £6.99 a bag they have no more "accidents" in the night from being loose and other than that they are no different

I know this won't be popular but, to be honest, the vet has spouted a load of claptrap. All my dogs are pedigree,one of the endangered British native breeds as it happens & not big dogs, & they do not need special food just because they're pedigree. Nor professional grooming, good regular brushing can keep most long haired, small breeds in order. Clipping is not vital to life. There's no reason she should need any more vet input than any other dog. Get a decent food that you can afford & that she will eat, brush her every day till any knots are gone then two or three times a week. Apart from that, just treat her as you would any other dogs of yours.
I think her owner has treated both you & her very shoddily.

Thanks for replies! I did buy a comb, but she hates it, so will go and get a brush tomorrow.

Anyone know how long the bleeding lasts when they're on heat? And how long after that I have to be careful about male dogs?

Bleeding on average lasts 7 to 10 days and the bitch can be receptive to the dog (so fertile) for up to 21 days after that.

It sounds like the owner is thinking of breeding from this dog as it seems she doesn't really care about it at all, but was very specific about bpnot having her spayed.

Perhaps try calling Dogs Trust or the PDSA and see if they can help re ownership in your particular situation.

Personally, I would try feeding her raw food, she'll need tiny amounts and it's very easy. Won't be any more expensive than dry food.