Yeah! You exist!!

monasmomma · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject: Yeah! You exist!!

I can't even describle how glad I am to find you all! Finally, people who understand what it's like to be in love with a destructive animal!

My Mona is 3 1/2 years old. We also have a Scottie, Nessy, who is 2 1/2. My daughter was born on Mona's 2nd birthday. And the three of them are best friends. However, Mona suffers from separation anxiety. My husband and I both work full time. We crate trained Mona from a pup, but when we moved to our new house this fall she started hurting herself on the crate (ground teeth, scratched face, torn claws). While I am thankful she's never, broken out of the crate, we decided I wasn't safe to keep her in there. In the design for the new house I included a mudroom where we could keep her, but the first day we put her in she scrated up the door and ate some trim. We've been leaving her loose in the great room, but since then she's eaten TONS of things (i.e. bottles, sippy cups, scissors, my birth control pills... really I could go on for pages, I keep meaning to start a list). We always joke about her having guts of steel but I'm worried she'll really hurt herself. Our vet has recommended puppy prozac, but my husband is reluctant.
How do you all conatin your dog when you're not there? Do you think an outdoor kennel placed in the basement would do any good (more space)?

weimdawgs · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

One of the other addicts has a 6' x 6' fenced in area in their basement which I assume is unfinished. I think that is a very good idea. They have beds in there for them and plenty of toys, water and food (I think).

I have four weims..and a dog room (one of the bedrooms). My three young weims are crated and Jake, my old man (10 years) is free to either lay on the futon or the dog bed in there. He was never crate trained, he was a rescue at 9 years old. I do keep the door closed as Jake would break into the cabinets and pantry, I'm sure of it. He did initially scratch up the door, but we are planning on replacing them anyway, just not now. He doesn't scratch anymore.

wildlifecr13 · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject:

Im the 6x6 kennel.
Well, I am not a 6x6 kennel, but i have one.
Same issues with our Zoe - to keep her in a crate we would have had to bolt it to the floor and chain it shut. She still would have spent all day bouncing off the walls - maybe she is claustrophobic, I dunno.
Anyway, if you want details on what I have, I can share.
It is in my basement - 3/4 is finished, this is in the part that is not finished.
3 sides are chain link, 1 side is concrete.
We had 2 escapes early on, but I figured out why and no problems since... although she will pull at the fence from time to time... its as safe as I can keep her.
We also just lost our other dog to leukemia... all happened very quickly. We put Zoe on an anti-anxiety medicine - lowest dose we could... Im not convinced it did a thing - and I dont like drugging her if I dont have to!
PM me if you want pics, etc.

GailB · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

Welcome Mona and her mommy.

You will love this site.

I have a 3 yr. old boy.

Gail

jamie8dc · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

Post pictures. Very Happy

monasmomma · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:33 am Post subject: pics of Mona

Beth · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:49 am Post subject:

Cute baby and pooches!

kamfam · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:44 am Post subject:

VERY cute!!!

weimdawgs · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:48 am Post subject:

Oh, that is hilarious!! Love the tub shot! Is Mona going to bathe the baby????

jamie8dc · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:21 pm Post subject:

Hahaha that'd make a cute Hallmark card

ReneeV · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject:

Hello Mona's Mommy (what's your name?)! I am new to this forum too, but not new to Weims or Weim forums. I love having people to bounce things off of and get advise from and to simply share stories.

It sounds like Mona is bored while you're gone. How much exercise does Mona get daily? My Roxie is almost 8 mos old and is left home almost daily for 4 hrs at a time while I'm at work. I come home at lunch to feed and check on her then it's another 4 hrs before I get home at the end of the day. She is crate trained but only at night. During the day, we use an x-pen in the kitchen with access to the doggy door so she can go outside when she wants. This last week, we opened of the entire kitchen to her while we are gone and so far she is great. She doesnt have separation anxiety at all.

BUT we do walk her every morning for 30-40 minutes before we leave for work. So while we are gone, she mostly sleeps. Once in a while she will bring in a stick from outside and shred it but she doesn't eat anything she's not supposed to. We also walk her again in the evening or take her to puppy play dates so she can burn off the energy she has stored up from sleeping all day.

Perhaps try a nice long walk before you leave her and see how that works.

clarkiek · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject:

Welcome from Kristy and Linkin!