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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Rehomjng dog- no judgment please

60 replies

squishyegg · 19/08/2021 16:16

Hello.

We have a 1 year old miniature dachshund.

She is a bit of a nightmare and always has been but we dealt with it as much as possible.

We have paid for training but nothing seems to help.

Main areas are;

Constant barking
Nipping/biting faces
Peeing
Ripping up everything (furniture etc)

I recently had a baby and slowly been introducing them both with guidance from a professional.

Two times the dog had gone to nip the baby in the face. Luckily we've been there holding them both for it not to happen.

The dog is now living in the kitchen away from the baby and I in the lounge. Everytime we try to bring the dog in, she's hectic and tries to bite.

The barking is just annoying alongside the pee and as my partner is back at work 24/7 it's me having to deal with a baby breastfeeding, cleaning up after a dog and another child.

I just don't know what to do? The behaviourist came today and worked with her again and we are doing everything she has told us.

I don't want to rehome her as my partner and other child will be sad but the stress and anxiety it's causing is hell!

Any ideas?? We also are stretched to walk her two times a day, partner is too busy and I'm recovering from a bad c sec and sepsis. I said we could pay for a dog Walker but partner said no he will try to walk her but he hasn't so far.

Feel awful and I know I will get people bashing me for this but I'm just being honest and reaching out for help x

OP posts:
Original poster
squishyegg · 19/08/2021 16:29

My partner just suggested we get a nanny/housekeeper for a few hours a day to help walk her and tidy house so it's less pressure

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 19/08/2021 16:33

Not being walked will be massively contributing to her behaviour as will shitting her away in the kitchen. She must be really bored! I don’t know how you can solve this with the baby, I guess your partner needs to step up or maybe rehoming would be for the best although it would be traumatic for the dog.

NoSquirrels · 19/08/2021 16:33

I think you should rehome. Is it your first dog? Miniature Daschunds are hella cute but they’re by no means ‘easy’ dogs and yours sounds stressed and highly strung. Did you buy from a decent breeder? If so you should contact them.

If you’re the one doing the majority of care you need to be the one who makes the ultimate decision. Even if it makes your DP sad.

A dog that nips, particularly faces, isn’t a good family pet with young children and it’s unfair to put either dog or children in danger.

LawnFever · 19/08/2021 16:34

How often are you walking her if you’re saying you’re struggling finding the time?

When you say your partner hasn’t walked her so far do you mean at all?

Dogs up to this age are a handful, it sounds stressful but puppies/young dogs are stressful and none of what you’re talking about seems overly unusual.

What is the behaviourist actually suggesting in terms of training?

LimitIsUp · 19/08/2021 16:36

I am guessing that she isn't getting enough stimulation (I agree with the poster who says she is bored) and hasn't received enough training. If you can't provide this then it seems that you will need to rehome.

Hellocatshome · 19/08/2021 16:37

I think in this instance I would re home the dog for the dogs sake. If you couldn't get her properly trained before the baby arrived you are probably not going to now.

Squills · 19/08/2021 16:37

I don't think you should feel bad about the situation. You've clearly done all you can to resolve the problems but even with professional help it hasn't been achievable. If your dog is nipping at your baby then you need to find another home for your dog before something awful happens.

The dog isn't being exercised and being shut in the kitchen isn't going to achieve anything.

It will be a sad situation for you I'm sure but finding your dog a suitable home will be a relief all round - the dog included.

Floralnomad · 19/08/2021 16:38

Unless there is physically something wrong with the dog the fact that it still pees indoors is purely down to inadequate house training at 1 yr old , as for the biting and ripping things up it sounds like the dog is bored senseless and why is it anywhere near enough to a baby’s face to be nipping it or nearly nipping it anyway . I think you should rehome as you obviously have not got the time to deal with the dog but do so through a reputable rescue or breed based rescue .

RogersVideo · 19/08/2021 16:39

If your partner would be sad to rehome the dog, then he needs to step up and start walking her.

You could hire a housekeeper, I think there is nothing wrong with that if you can afford it. We regularly put our dog in homeboarding when we had babies even though we weren't going anywhere, it was just nice to have one less dependant for a few days.

Original poster
squishyegg · 19/08/2021 16:48

@Floralnomad mini dachshunds are renowned for weeing unfortunately. And ripping things up! As I said before the baby this was manageable but right now as I am recovering, looking after a newborn, another child and a dog alongside housework it's all getting a lot and I'm filled with anxiety. I can't exactly take the baby to be rehomed.

The dog trainer was actually here to introduce the dog and the baby- the dog is no where near my baby at other times. She let the dog sniff her. And she went to nip her in a playful way.

OP posts:
Original poster
squishyegg · 19/08/2021 16:49

I have told my partner he needs to step up but he says he is too busy- I do not work/no maternity so we live off his earnings.

He said it's up to me but he doesn't want to rehome her. I think it's a lot of pressure on me and I don't know what to do. My son will also be devastated.

I am wondering if there was a way she could be adopted and it could be open for a period of time so my son would know if she was okay- if that makes sense? With a photo now and again etc

OP posts:
GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 19/08/2021 16:51

I'd agree that the underlying reason for the dog's poor behaviour is probably boredom and frustration. If you haven't the time for her, and for additional training, and if she actively trying to bite, she will be best off rehomed before she sends someone to A&E.

The current situation isn't fair on you, your DC or your dog. If your dog came from a decent breeder, that should be your first port of call. If not, check out any breed rescues.

LadyCatStark · 19/08/2021 16:52

Yes, if you could afford a housekeeper, could you afford half days of doggy daycare? That way the dog would get stimulation and you’d get a break.

Original poster
squishyegg · 19/08/2021 16:55

@LadyCatStark I didn't think about half days at a boarders- might be a good idea while baby is so young?

OP posts:
finova · 19/08/2021 16:55

I’d rehome her.
Get your so. A pair of guinea pigs. Brilliant pets for children.

Original poster
squishyegg · 19/08/2021 16:56

I really want to reiterate the chewing and ripping up things was or is something she has always done! And she always had stimulation, walks, toys etc! It's just her breed; I'm on a massive community Facebook group for minis and it just seems something they 'do' the same for the barking too

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 19/08/2021 16:59

You could always try it for a while and see? Does she have proper chews for chewing? Have you tried pizzles or yak chews (hopefully someone can say if they’re suitable for such small dogs as I have a lab so the opposite end of the spectrum).

MorriseysGladioli · 19/08/2021 17:00

How many walks is she actually getting, then?
It's all very well

leavingtime · 19/08/2021 17:01

I understand your situation and would be rehome. Maybe a family home doesn't suit her and an older person/couple would suit her needs and in a quiet household she would be calmer.

Anordinarymum · 19/08/2021 17:02

I have sent you a PM

Beamur · 19/08/2021 17:03

It's hard juggling a baby and pets. But I suspect you're making a good choice for the dog. They're not the easiest breed.

Floralnomad · 19/08/2021 17:03

@squishyegg I’m not blaming you in the slightest , it sounds like you have enough on your plate and this dog was purchased probably with the idea that your OH would pull his weight a bit more than he actually has been .

Needapoodle · 19/08/2021 17:03

Getting a dog walker to take the dog off your hands for a few hours twice a week could be what you all need to make it work. The dog needs mental stimulation too - dachsunds are good at scenting, a game i like to play is to take some small treats out to a grassy area and throw a couple around and ask the dog to "find". You start by throwing them close to you then when the dog has got the hang of the game you can throw them further afield. You could play this while baby is sleeping and your older child could play too. Your dp isn't stepping up to look after the dog so he needs to pay for a walker/doggy day care.

icedcoffees · 19/08/2021 17:08

I sympathise as you're clearly struggling, but I don't think it's fair to just say "it's her breed".

She can only rip things up and chew things because the environment allows it. What did you do to puppy proof the house when you brought her home, for example? Is she crate-trained and given adequate stimulation in the home - chew toys, frozen kongs, games etc?

Dachshunds were originally working dogs - they need a good amount of exercise and stimulation to be happy. Unfortunately I see a lot of owners who treat them as lap dogs and they wonder why their dog is bored, stressed and destructive.

She needs a good amount of exercise each day (if you can't provide it, then a dog walker will take her for an hour for around £10 a day). She also needs company, brain games and entertainment in the home - so you need to make sure she has access to things like Kongs, snuffle mats, lick-mats and natural chews so she has the "correct" things to chew on.

Barking is a "thing" for hound breeds but it can be worked on. There are plenty of videos online about training a "quiet" and a "bark" command - try looking at KikoPup for some free advice.

I don't think you need to rehome her, I think you need to make sure she's getting what she needs. All young dogs will get noisy and destructive if they're not given enough exercise and stimulation.

XelaM · 19/08/2021 17:20

@finova Guinea pigs are hard work! They create A LOT of mess and need their cage cleaned several times a week and are very sensitive creatures. I would not recommend them as easy-maintenance pets (we have a pair). The most fantastic and easy-maintenance pet in my opinion is a tortoise. We also have one and he is amazing. You can play with him and he requires minimal maintenance, creates very little mess and makes no noise.

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