I'm Really Overwhelmed.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Potter

I haven't been posting on Yorkietalk for a while but I am really overwhelmed today. Pao has been quite high maintenance lately. I walk him an hour a day every day. He is 8 years old and even after an hour's walk he still has a lot of energy when we get home. He barks at my husband sometimes for no reason, even trying to bite him sometimes. Usually happens when my husband is going to go out. We have been through trainings, nothing has changed. Have been told sometimes it is genetic. When we walk , he is reactive to other dogs on leash nor children so I have to be very vigilant when I walk him. I have to be on constant look out and prepared to change my walking route if I see other dogs, children, cyclists, joggers etc so it is not a relaxing walk for me.

I feel like I can't keep up with him anymore because my hip joints constantly hurt currently as I have some health issues myself. I am quite overwhelmed right now. I have had Pao since he was 3 months old and has never thought of rehoming him but I am so overwhelmed right now I am not sure what to do. I am also still paying off his vet bill since two months ago.

Also, he used to be really picky before he got sick but now he is constantly hungry eventhough I feed him 4-5 times a day but in smaller portions and will constantly bark at the kitchen counter for food.

I am just so tired and stressed out I do not know what to do. I feel like I am at my wit's end.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I can relate.


So here is what I do when my joints are very bad. In house, I play find the toy around my body in the chair. I have treats to reward the find. I *play(* at obedience, sit down stay treat to reward. I play find Daddy, and Daddy has treats upstairs to reward their *find*. We do some other tricks, beg sit stand, spin, etc.


I throw the ball out into the backyard from a chair, and they retrieve it.


If my joints are not so bad, I drive to a water park, ie a park with water in it, and swim my dogs, one at a time.


Usually I can get outdoors and work heel short distances with them.


The key here is engage their minds, it will exhaust them, just like a 2hr run would :-)

[gracielove]

Another thing you might think about is that some dogs do need more food than others. You can"t always go by the package directions. He sounds like a high energy kind of guy so he may be burning those calories off quickly He may also react to what you are feeding him in a way that makes him hyper. Maybe consider a different type of food and more of it. Most dogs tend to sleep more on a full stomach. If he does not slow down after eating I would suspect something in the food might be effecting him.

If you can't do more walking you can get some small balls and teach him to play indoor fetch. I find that to be a lifesaver during bad weather when we can't really walk very far. My girl loves it and gets quite a bit of exercise from it. Walking is great but I assume you can't walk very fast and these little dogs love speed and it helps them burn off the energy.

Gracie will bark at people to get their attention, especially if she wants them to play or take her out. Maybe your fella is trying to get your husband to do something with him. Sometimes a playful Yorkie can be mistaken for an aggressive Yorkie. I have the sweetest little dog but when she is in a mood for mischief she is very feisty and will growl and bark like a crazy dog until we either give her a serious "No!" or give in and play with her. I have found it is better just to help her get the energy out by playing with her for a few minutes and then she is back to her normal self.

[yorkiemini]

Many good ideas here!
I have a friend with hip problems and she uses a tread mill for her dog - has to sit beside him while he is on it.
Can you hire an energetic dog walker once a day or every other day?
My family are all runners and they go over and take my friends dog with them on their runs sometimes and she says the pup sleeps like a log that night.

[pink66]

Originally Posted by Batgirl38

If you don't have a fence/gate get one of those things u put in the ground that you attach a 20ft leash to and just watch him through the window

Please don't watch him from the window! If your pup is outside, then you need to be outside.




Another thing to consider is daycare. It may be well worth it to take him a few days a week. Daycare could get him used to other dogs and wear him out. Many are now also offering training while your pup is there.

[Potter]

Thank you all for replying. Hubby has pitched in a little bit in walking him and tiring him out because I think I broke down in front of him that one day that I just cannot do everything anymore and I need his help and he has helped out a little bit. The daycares around my area does not usually welcome dog reactive dogs and usually in their conditions states that the dog has to be friendly with other dogs and I cannot in my good conscience to put him in those situation knowing he is not comfortable to socialize him.


We did attend group training sessions but he still do not like other dogs. Trainer told me pretty much sometimes it is truly the dog's personality and genetic traits. He grew up in downtown Toronto and we used to go out every day when he was a pup and meets dogs of all shapes and sizes so it is not like he wasn't socialized when he was a pup.

I am looking for a dog sitter that may help me once in a while to give me some space but I also have the problem of letting go and the fear of what if he isn't being fed properly, what if he accidentally got in to food that he shouldn't at the sitter's place etc etc....His health is stable right now and I have figured out his diet part and the amount etc when it comes to his pancreatitis condition so as long as that routine is followed, he is good. It is a little less stressful now after having figured all those out and I have upped his low fat food amount a little since he is so active and I find that he is happier and more contented. I wish I had family around that I can trust or a dog lover friend but I don't and the one dog lover friend that I have has a dog that don't get along with Pao and has the same temperament issues as he does so oh well....

[dottiesyrky]

Hello.
I am happy to hear that your hubby is helping you share the load, and that you have come to some solution for the feeding. I found that my dog was always hungry on the Pancreatic diet and I slowly introduced small amounts of lean chicken to give more substance to his diet meals. He does better on that regimen and so far he seems well. But you would probably like to run this idea through your vet before trying it out.
Hope you can find the right sitter who will agree to only giving your dog the diet food and no extras!!! But I do understand your concerns.
I am sorry he is not good around other dogs and that the trainer had such a negative view of this behavior. I am sure this trait could be modified with a good trainer. Others here may have some useful input on this issue.