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Originally Posted by Yorkie118  I would love to say that these have been some of the best months for me, but sadly I can't say that at all. I have had so many issues I'm starting to think that I made a mistake in buying him. ...My first problem was him crying everytime he was alone, trying to eat his way out of his cage. .... I contacted the breeder and she said that he had NEVER been caged. GREAT. I wish I had known that before. ... He is in the cage when ever I couldn't keep a constant eye on him. Like when I am cooking, going to check the mail, things like that. ... Now he still cries like crazy when we leave him and he has started to show some signs of aggression. When I am ironing I put him in the cage so he doesn't get caught in the cord or anything. When we look at him he starts growling at us or barking... ...He has said that if it doesn't hurry up and get better I have to get rid of him. ... We can't take him with us everywhere. We can't even take him out of town with us. No one will let him into a hotel. So we have been trapped at home this summer. Not able to go anywhere. ... No one told me that this dog was going to take over my whole life. ... He is so stubborn. He just kind of does what he wants. ... I'm starting to think that people have destroyed the breed. We baby them so much they don't know how to be dogs. ...I love animals, but I can not have an animal control my house.... I think that some breeders as so in love with the money that they can make off of these dogs that they don't care about the breed or about the life that they are going to have to live once they are brought. They are not breeding for temperament... I have two other dogs that are perfect. But this one has me at a lost for words. It has been hard to connect with him. ... |
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Originally Posted by rebeccag I feel like I missed something along the way. Did I? The OP has stated she does not crate him all the time. For example: going to get mail (once a day maybe 10 minutes), ironing (once a day for 10 minutes or once a week for an hour), and making dinner (1/2 hour). That's less than an hour a day because he goes in the bathroom at night. ... |
Rebecca, (I love how you try to be the peacemaker) but....I don't think the dog is only in a crate for less than an hour a day in 10 minute increments. That is just not the impression that was made. Dogs rarely try to chew their way out of a crate they are only in for 10 minutes at a time. I think she gave ironing, cooking, mail events as examples and not the only time the dog is crated. She did say. " He is in the cage
when ever I couldn't keep a constant eye on him. " and goes on to say, "Like when I am cooking, going to check the mail,
things like that. "
But that is really not the root of the problem I was seeing anyway. As I posted to her (not sure if she read it or not) I think the real problem is her attitude towards the dog. I have quoted excerpts from her original post above -- she is basically saying she does not like the dog, feels she made a mistake buying him, feels trapped, has not bonded or connected, and wants out of the situation. To post those feelings they must be pretty strong and I am sure they come out when interacting with the dog.
How many have only bought one toy for a dog they have had for 4-5 months? That was another "tell" for me. A blanket, a toy and a broken alarm clock -- that is what he has to amuse himself? She has two other dogs she feels are "perfect" -- but does not mention any interaction with this puppy. She has kids, but again, no mention of them playing with the puppy.
I hope she did read what I wrote. It was not meant to make her feel bad, but to get her to really take a look at how she was feeling and subsequently treating her puppy. I am not sure the situation can be helped at this point. She seems pretty resolute about her feelings towards this puppy. A puppy is not going to act "perfect" and it seems she will not be happy unless it does.
She also lashes out at breeders and owners in general saying they have spoiled the breed, not bred to temperment, only care about the money, etc... that did not set too well either. At no time did she take any responsibility for what was happening with the puppy. So, if people seem harsh towards her in your eyes, maybe it is because of all the things I mentioned above. It just will do her no good for us to say, "Yes, you are doing everything right." She asked for advice -- if most want to tell her that they feel she may be crating her puppy too much -- that is their take on the wording of her posts. Not saying she crates them 24/7. It is not being cruel. It is offered in good faith. Regardless of time in the crate, I do not get the impression the dog is getting the sort of hands-on, personal loving care and play that will help it to become a well-behaved member of the family. One of the last problems she mentions is that this little Yorkie puppy is getting aggressive with her and family members, growling and barking at them when they look at him in his crate. That tells me the situation has gotten very difficult for the puppy too. Sad situation.