Dog has eaten the cooker, overnight carnage

[Figgygal]

Help

Rehomed a dog 9 weeks ago he’s a street dog and so unknown past, he’s beautiful, good natured, good with the kids, no accidents in the house, keen to please all good. Sleeps in the kitchen and apart from a couple nights unsettled sleeps roughly 10-6/7 there on his own. Initially intended to crate him but he didn’t like it and things were going well so didn’t need to.

He has been hundreds in vet bills however due to bad tummy which then was worms and giardia then kennel cough, that all seemed resolved until 23rd when he’s started shitting for England including multiple times over night so am getting up when I hear him but still having overnight accidents. Calling vet today

I can cope with an ill animal and vet bills hadn’t even had time to insure him when that started and had intended to do it this week since he had seemed better

However his behaviour at night has become destructive

20th went out for couple hours came home to him having pulled all the kitchen towels down from the hooks and unbelievably chewed off one of the cooker knobs, no damage done we thought though was a concern and since actually that knob won’t work

23rd come down in night as he wants out to find he’s turned the top oven on, pulled off the knob cracked it - scared half to death we could have gassed us in our beds so Xmas Eve made a chipboard barrier to slot in front of oven to stop him accessing. Stupidly sprayed it with dog deterrent spray which upset him until he was in such a state we had to let him sleep in the dining room which is next to kitchen. He pooed on floor 4 times that night

Last night he Barked and whined at bedtime for almost an hour, went to let him out for poo then he barked and whined again went down settled him, got to bed midnight 2.30 go down as hear him and he’s torn the barrier down, opened the top oven, I find the grill pan on the floor, he’s torn 4 of 6 knobs off cooker, turned the oven on and damaged the knob so much it won’t go back on, we now have 1 ring, small top oven and grill.

He’s actually broken our oven. He could blow up our house. Have had no sleep yet he’s now happy sleeping in the dining room, I think part of it is he wants to be in the dining room as it has full length windows he sits in there most days ignoring us looking out at the world but for various reasons we can’t give it over to him at night.

I don’t know what to do? Husband wants to give him back as he’s dangerous maybe he is right?

Check for a gas leak dog noses are mire sensitive than human noses hence the destruction of the kitchen

I'm not an expert but is there something that could be giving off a high frequency sound that you can't hear? Lights can do this, as can the radio and then the fridge? The sound could be distressing for the dog which could lead to destructive behaviour.

I do think it's more likely that the effect of being on the streets overnight is affecting him. If he doesn't sleep and he's bored is there something you could give him to 'do'? A kong full of food and then frozen is a good distraction. I do think he's finding the kitchen too scary.

I am also unsure why you keep putting him in the kitchen? Why can’t he sleep in the dining room or with you? He clearly has anxiety and leaving him in the kitchen is causing him significant issues. Why don’t you stop doing it?

I think you're expecting too much, too soon from him. You're expecting to go out for 3 hours and to effectively 'go out' overnight by leaving him in the kitchen. He's been removed from awful but familiar surroundings and moved into your home. He needs your company.

General digestive tip- my mutt had giardia a few years ago. He was given strong wormers and Yudigest for 'binding'. We've bought some yudigest for the occasional upset stomach, it does give some digestive support too. I recommend looking it up.

Mine is a rescue. He was very quiet at first but a few weeks in became so bouncy and boisterous. Perhaps the change is a sign of DD settling in.

Could DD stay in the dining room overnight?

Am I the only one who is that a rescue has rehomed a dog with enduring (and by the sound of it previously untreated) intestinal issues and no known backstory to a family with kids and limited experience of dogs?

Sorry, OP, I'm not having a go at you, but I'm not impressed by the rescue.

@Porridgeoat

Put him in a crate at night

You can't just put a dog in a crate without training them first and some dogs will never be happy in a crate.

This is a scared rescue dog so putting it in a crate and locking it in is the worst thing to do

I had a lucher rescue dog that destroyed a kitchen, and I do mean destroyed a kitchen whilst I was out.

After a discussion with the rspca they mentioned that he probably, simply wasn't used to being indoors, especially locked in a room (no matter how big). So I secured the garden, built him a big kennel, even put heating in it and when I went out he stayed outside, all of a sudden his destructive behaviour stopped overnight.

So do speak to the RSPCA, they may have some really good tips for you

@Figgygal

Thanks for explaining. I haven't experienced giardia (thankfully) but do know how hard it is to get rid of.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman makes an excellent point- can the rescue give you some support and / or advice?

Just another question about the giardia treatment, did he have metrobactin as well as panacur? If not there might have been some cysts surviving in his system that have now caused another flare up. Disclaimer - not a vet, owner of a dog that had a rough time with giardia.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

Am I the only one who is that a rescue has rehomed a dog with enduring (and by the sound of it previously untreated) intestinal issues and no known backstory to a family with kids and limited experience of dogs?

Sorry, OP, I'm not having a go at you, but I'm not impressed by the rescue.

This.... where is the rescue in all of this??

My cat had giardia and he had panicur and a special antibiotic panicur won't cure it on its own. Also it can be spread to humans (as I found out and was very ill) he is probably very stressed with his tummy. My cat went very disruptive with it and ripped up all the carpet on my stairs (he's very plasced normally) he is fine now behaviour wise but he has ibd (irritable bowel disease) and we have to watch what he eats or he gets very ill. Good luck with your dog, it sounds very stressful .

We’ve had several rescues, including a street dog who had never lived in a house before. She was a completely different experience to a UK rescue shelter dog and it did take us by surprise even though we were experienced rescuers/dog people.

Ok. First up- get into vet and get something for a) his tummy and b) his anxiety.

Secondly, you need to employ extraordinary measures during this settling in period- but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to do them forever.

Personally, I would move the crate to his favourite place- which sounds like it’s in front of the dining room doors? Comfy bed in there and I’d also get him a treat but preferably not good to have with him overnight- mine love those flavoured nylon chew bone things.

Secondly- take his food away by the early evening so he doesn’t have so much to evacuate overnight! Maybe give the bulk of his daily food in the morning for now and a small snack in the evening. Again, this doesn’t have to be forever. Some people only ever feed their dogs once a day but if he’s a street dog that might cause more issues with him trying to hunt down his own food.

One of you sleeps in there with him for a few nights. Again- this isn’t forever, just to get you over this hump. The other one takes him for a good long walk/run in the evening to wear him out a bit and help make sure he’s been to the loo before bed.

Minimise the amount of time you leave him alone till he’s more settled, then gradually increase it- but choose where you leave him when you do. If he’s calmest in the dining room, do that but a) leave him with stuff to do (frozen Kong etc) and b) take anything out of that that could be destroyed. Again, this isn’t forever- just during this period.

He will settle if you put the time and effort in, but like I say, a street dog is a massively different prospect to a UK shelter dog and so he will need more work.

Our bin rummaging, food guarding, window-jumping-out-of street dog is now so bonded to us and the happiest most docile little thing ever but she nearly broke us at first so I do sympathise! Best of luck.

He’s lonely in the kitchen let him sleep in a bed in your room till he’s more settled and happy. Don’t palm him off poor dog.

I’m assuming this dog has come from abroad?
He’s a street dog who has only been with you a short time, of course there are going to be issues and it’s going to be a long, difficult and possibly expensive road ahead.

I don't know if it'll help, as he is our first dog
but we were recommended one of those plug in things that calms dogs. By 2nd night he was sleeping much better and not so clingy during the day. Also someone on MN recommended wearing ours put with a later walk which has helped too.
Good luck xx

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

Am I the only one who is that a rescue has rehomed a dog with enduring (and by the sound of it previously untreated) intestinal issues and no known backstory to a family with kids and limited experience of dogs?

Sorry, OP, I'm not having a go at you, but I'm not impressed by the rescue.

Sadly a lot of the foreign rescues don't appear to do any kind of home or background checks whatsoever. As long as you have the money to pay for transport, you can have whatever dog you want.

Even worse, I often see foreign rescues recommended on here when people say they can't adopt from UK rescues because they have young children.

I'm sure some foreign rescues are fantastic but it's such a big risk to take when you have young children and no experience with dogs.

It doesn't surprise me that 9 weeks in and the anxiety is beginning to show. Often it's kind of the honeymoon period wearing off and them recognising that this is home and they can settle enough for the anxieties to come through.

I would agree with the other posters that crate training either in the dinning room or your bedroom would be the most sensible thing. But properly crate train not just stick them in and hope for the best. I would also recommend a baby camera so you can keep an eye on what is he is up to.

I would also see what support is available from the rescue. See what they recommend. I would also suggest getting a trainer/behaviourist onboard too as they often have invaluable ideas for anxious dogs.

Does the cooker make any sort of noise? One of our dogs (a very anxious rescue) runs from the kitchen terrified whenever I put our induction hob on. If your cooker makes any sort of noise and your dog is trapped in the kitchen with it, that might explain his behaviour.

Also don't understand why he can't sleep in the dining room if he's happy there?

I'd let him sleep in your room in a basket. Separation anxiety is very tricky, chose your battles. Do not allow him on your bed, it might be a long night just keep getting him down if he jumps up, hold his collar to guide him down and say OFF.

The pooing so probably because he is pacing and anxious, but I suggest a last thing at night poo walk ( you walk briskly on lead until they poo and then back.) Other than that a first thing in morning walk and let in garden at lunchtime for a wee, an afternoon walk regularly should sort out his bowels. You should be able to drop the late at night one eventually once he's regular. Many dogs won't pop in their own garden.

What are you feeding him ? because dry biscuits is best, wet or poor quality food can create a lot more poo. Even if they turn their noses up to start with, just add some cooked plain chicken ( gentle on stomach as is cooked rice) . We feed James welbeloved. I've tried various cheaper and other brands and this works best. I have had a sensitive stomach dog in the past and it did well with Symply dry food or James wellbeloved biscuits.

Also don't tell him off for pooing unless you catch him doing it. When he does poo on a walk praise good poo good poo repeat a few times. This is then the start of him associating the act of pooing with the word and you can get him
to poo on command eventually.

OP you must feel overwhelmed and paniced by this situation. Eating the cooker is obviously not a safe thing to do.

AS you can see from this thread everyone has an opinion but none of us can give correct advice without seeing the situation in RL.

You do need a vet consult - this may be done over the phone as they have seen your dog already.

To save hours of heartache get in touch with a 121 trainer to start with and if they can not help they will refer you to a behaviourist. They will give you a personal plan that will work for you and your dog. It will be well worth it. If you need help sourcing a trainer give me a pm.

The poor thing must be terrified. If he’s not used to a crate, he will be further distressed, why can’t he sleep in your bedroom?

Not sure I woiuld want a dog with giardia in my bedroom to be honest.

@PollyRoulson

Not sure I woiuld want a dog with giardia in my bedroom to be honest.

What difference does it make whether it's on the floor in a basket in the bedroom or in the living room?

Fucking hell OP ! 9 weeks is NOTHING! It can take much longer for them to settle.

If you fail this poor dog do NOT get any other pets! You sound utterly clueless to it's needs. Your delightful husband wants to get rid . You and people like you are why there are so many homeless dogs with fucking issues.