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?

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

Because I would not want another room to have to disinfect from a disease that is contagious to humans. I would not want the dog on my bed sheets or duvet either.

I would prefer to keep the dog and the poo in the fewest easy to clean locations as possible - hence the op wanting to keep it in the kitchen. Once the giardia is cleared up then this could be reviewed.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel really? how constructive

Oh, do pipe down, Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel. OP wasn't expecting a project dog - by the sound of it the rescue didn't do their homework or get the dog fit before passing it on. It's not OP's fault that this was a homeless dog with issues. Having a gas cooker junked is not only costly, it's also dangerous. A bit of compassion for the human side of the equation here wouldn't go amiss.

There is a constant mantra on this board of 'get a rescue... Have you considered a rescue.. what about an overseas rescue... Plenty of homeless dogs, why get a puppy?!' And this sort of story is why some people want a puppy. The overseas rescues I've known locally have been a very mixed bag indeed - one is dog aggressive, one bolted and was never found, one escaped and was found >week later, one took months and months of patient rehab, 3 or 4 have been fairly chilled from the off (and at least 2 of those came from a breed rescue). I'd only ever consider an overseas rescue from a reputable, well-recommended breed/type specific outfit, but I've got a fair bit of dog experience and a lot of contacts, and I know what questions to ask (what is the dog's backstory? Health clearances? Tested with cats? Any training in place?). For someone new to dog ownership it's a lottery.

^^ this

I am also an experienced dog owner and there is no way on earth I would rehome a dog from abroad through a rescue.

I meant this to Grumpies thread

Hi everyone
Appreciate all the views even the not so pleasant ones - see how panicked you are on 3/4 hours sleep when you staring down the need to purchase a new cooker at likely £300-400 just after £550 ish quid of vet bills in the last few weeks. Apparently it’s not that uncommon and is a common source of fires so not sure why our reaction to it is so impossible to relate to for many here. Destructive behaviour is one thing our conservatory flooring is still ruined from a previous pets efforts as I said we have worked through previous issues with Animals in the home.

Funnily enough he could not give a monkeys about spending time with us he would sit in dining room and look out window from dawn til dusk if we didn’t encourage him out, feed him, walk him etc not saying it’s not anxiety of course but would understand it more if he showed any attachment in the day

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to not want to share bedrooms with animals particularly sick ones.

Putting him in a crate tonight from nowhere isn’t an option so will let him in dining room and see how we settles. Vet and rescue contacted by email and asked them to contact us tomorrow thankfully his “deposits” have been fewer and more poo shaped so maybe the panacur is working and he will be more settled tonight. I’m definitely going to explore with vet probiotics and maybe a change of food though he is already on good quality dry food only.

In terms of the rescue they don’t know of any if this yet maybe my expectations of them are too low as felt he was now our responsibility as he had full health check prior to travel. Yes he was imported I know lots of people who have gone this route with the rescue who have not had these issues so don’t think it’s fair to suggest they are at fault. Likewise any animal coming into the home is a risk we know this and were prepared for that but we’re not prepared for the risk of him potentially burning that home down.

We will continue to monitor him, speak to rescue and vet tomorrow and seek solutions if behaviour continues we have a training school that runs out of our village Hal so will likely start there.

@Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel

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.

How constructive

Do you have any suggestions as to how to stop him shitting himself half to death or potentially burning down my house or you just being a ranting and judgemental?

@Figgygal Our puppy had free roam of the kitchen but a crate to sleep in but the door open. However, after weeks of him ripping up my flooring and eating it, chewing my kitchen table and chairs and eaten the splinters from it and chewing the door frame too, destroying beds etc, we made the decision to crate him.

We wish we did it sooner. It's an X Large one so much bigger than he is but he is happy to go in there and at least then, we know he is safe. Since crating him, he's a much calmer dog and rarely chews now

I still don't understand if, why he's so settled and content in the dining room, you don't leave him in there overnight and when you're out?

Why do you keep putting him in the kitchen when it clearly provokes some form of stress or anxiety?

Is he dismembering the cooker because it smells of lovely, lovely food?

I think if I had experienced starvation and was then expected to sleep in a room where there was a magic box that gave off the odour of roasted meat and veg, I'd be fairly interested in getting it open to see if there was something I could scavenge from it.

(And I had an ex who was finally diagnosed with Giardia. He was a bloody eating machine right up until he had the Metronidazole, when he reverted more to normal levels of greedy bugger).

@vanillandhoney

I still don't understand if, why he's so settled and content in the dining room, you don't leave him in there overnight and when you're out?

Why do you keep putting him in the kitchen when it clearly provokes some form of stress or anxiety?

Long story is it’s not just a dining room it’s a second sitting room plus converts to guest bedroom when have visitors we do not want to give up that room to the dog when it’s the only place we have for people I.e my parents to stay when they visit. But looks like covid making that a non issue for the forseeable so will give it a go.

He has never shown any distress at going to sleep in kitchen and being there overnight until the last 4 nights, he has gone happily into the room with his bed and toys and slept . It’s the last 4 nights he’s been pooing overnight too

Will speak to vet ASAP about the giardia all previous blood and sample tests have shown him healthy (other than the giardia and then he came down with the kennel cough)

[quote Snackz]@Figgygal Our puppy had free roam of the kitchen but a crate to sleep in but the door open. However, after weeks of him ripping up my flooring and eating it, chewing my kitchen table and chairs and eaten the splinters from it and chewing the door frame too, destroying beds etc, we made the decision to crate him.

We wish we did it sooner. It's an X Large one so much bigger than he is but he is happy to go in there and at least then, we know he is safe. Since crating him, he's a much calmer dog and rarely chews now [/quote]
Certainly not ruling it out but it’s a big change for him and I believe would be stressful for him so would need to take guidance as to how to introduce slowly

For the time being I'd put himon plain cooked chicken and rice and get some Pro-Kolin as well.
(Apart from the above mentioned behavioural advise).

Long story is it’s not just a dining room it’s a second sitting room plus converts to guest bedroom when have visitors we do not want to give up that room to the dog when it’s the only place we have for people I.e my parents to stay when they visit. But looks like covid making that a non issue for the forseeable so will give it a go.

I think you should put him where he's comfortable and deal with guests on a kind of "as and when" basis. It's the dogs full-time home and he should be able to feel safe when he sleeps.

Of course, it could be that the medication solves things, which is great, but otherwise I think it's important for him to be happy, and that room is clearly his happy/safe space at the moment.

You say he was a street dog, maybe he likes being in the dining room because he can see outside, being a street dog I imagine he likes the outdoors. Try the crate in the dining room by the window/doors and see how it goes.

Please don’t give up on him... seek help. I agree poster who said crate him in dining room for everyones safety. On a side note, what did you expect with his background?

he might be happier sleeping in with you guys? Its likely seperation anxiety. Streetdogs are rarely solitary, they are usually very social and stay in groups/packs. he possibly feels unsafe and its dawned on him that this is it

Dog with upset stomachs are the worst. I can empathise why you don't want him In your rooms and the destruction must be horrendous

We rescued dog in June and I reckon he is just about settled. He slept in the Landing in a bed separated by a baby gate at first.

Understand this is not possible due to stomach issue so you may well have to sleep downstairs with ddog which is what we do if he is ill and what my friend with a puppy does. It must be very distressing in the kitchen for him.

We took him to a trainer -institute of modern dog trainers- and she helped us crate train him. There are lots of videos on you tube.

Essentially a crate is safer for you and ddog.

Now our dog sleeps in the hall in a crate after two night time (wees in the new carpet).

We leave him during the day for a max one hour in his crate if we need to pop out or he goes to a relative of we need to go out at all. We are very lucky.

Also try pro kaolin for upset tummy. I wish you all the best.

Maybe I’m being a bit silly but my first thought was he’s an ex street dog, maybe he can smell grease/residual food odour in the oven and is trying to break it apart to get to what he perceives as food...?

I think the only answer is a locked door to the kitchen quite honestly if he can’t be crated.
If he can’t access the kitchen he can’t damage the oven

@Figgygal
Whereabouts is he from? Street dog experiences can vary greatly but things I'd consider:

You're right to be cautious of crate training - many street dogs have aversive previous experiences of being confined and do not take well to crate training. For them it's highly stressful and nothing like training a regular pet dog.

I also agree with Swaddlemeinplants
street dogs are often very smart and highly food motivated. He could be focussed on the cooker because it smells of food. What he like with bins or other food sources?

It's very early days but rehoming street dogs internationally can be highly challenging. It's irresponsible of the charity to rehome a dog with an existing infection to you, and without offering insurance support. Do they offer behavioural support? I think you'd benefit from professional advice.

Just to add, the fact he has giardia and has recently succumbed to KC inducates he's pretty stressed and his immune system isn't functioning fully.

Has he ever lived indoors before? What is he like with other dogs?

Sorry to hear things are so stressful.
When we first got our dog (not strictly a rescue but from a very difficult environment) he also had giardia. You need antibiotics for this and sometimes a combination of ABs. Until this clears up, you need to get him outside much more often. We made this mistake and ended up having to bin all our rugs and mats. He really can't help pooing inside because there's no way you can control your bowels with that. It will be a pain but he's not well.
Rescue dogs go through phases from what I have seen with friends. I think if you google rescue dogs 3 3 3 rule you will see. Everything is hugely overwhelming and until he learns how to behave in your home (his first home?) you need to manage him. The kitchen is full of hazards so perhaps you can find somewhere a bit safer. I wouldn't trust my dog (very food motivated) in the kitchen alone even after a year! If the window is calming, having him sleep there may help. Really small steps. Does he recognise his name? You can work on that and helping him see interactions with you as positive and rewarding.
It's really hard and you have set a challenge for yourselves if this is your first dog but set more realistic targets for you and for him. Getting his health sorted has to be your number one priority. That and keeping him safe. It's a real adjustment but there are so many free resources available and lots of support on here and facebook. You've done a wonderful thing so don't set yourself up to fail so early. I bought a couple of those cheap wooden stair gate / barrier things early on and they made my life much less stressful. You can block off stairs, the kitchen, parcels that arrive etc. It won't be like this forever.

Could you give him a den?

Mine liked sleeping in a crate with the door open and a blanket draped over the back end or beneath tables. It made them feel secure.

If he's a street dog maybe he would have slept in small spaces.

Tbh I'd probably have given in by now and had him near to me at night! It's very early days. I know someone with an ex street dog and it's been very hard work. She can only leave him for a few minutes at a time due to anxiety.

Crate in the dining room?
Start by making it a positive experience and give him plenty room. A piece of worn clothing in it to help him relax if he can smell you. Start by giving him any meals and treats in the crate so it becomes a nice place to be. Also if you’re having stomach issues I recommend using hypo allergenic food he may well have a food allergy and try getting a pate it’s soft and easy to digest

Your choice entirely, but you couldn't even tell my dog sleeps in our room. He's quietly snoozing in his basket in the corner. We always have the window on the crack for a bit of air and we won't hear a peep out of him until it's morning, he's the last up always. When my parents had dogs in my childhood they always slept in the kitchen and our first dog slept in the kitchen too, but we were closer as in a flat. This dog is different. Dogs generally don't like pop in their space so this could of made him more distressed with the bad tummy issues. Especially if he can smell it, enzyme cleaners are best.

Also the gazing out the window all day .. does he bark ? It's not idea
as he's on high alert constantly, unless he's literally snoozing in the sun by the window ?

It's tough OP don't bet yourself up, some dogs are very hard work, ours has been. So choose your battles and stay strong with consistent training.

Look for Meesh Masters Romanian Rescue Dogs on Facebook. Absolutely knows her stuff