My dog and I seem to be having a relationship melt down?!

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poiuytrewq

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I don't know why and I feel awful about it!
He's always been "my little solider!" due to the fact the rest of the family are not small dog lovers and although they are nice to him he's certainly never been anyones favourite, nor have they been his favourite. He follows me everywhere and does as he's told for me etc

However, more recently he's changed a bit! He cries (he's always been whiney but its got gradually worse/louder/more constant) Its not always just a little wimper but think small child aaarrrrrggghhhhh over and over and over and over............ from the second I get up til the evening (when he does relax at last) to go out for walks.
This is fine, of course he needs to go out so I take him on long walks all the time but actually the more I walk him the more he wants so the crying starts again!
He gets a little bit snarly from time to time with my daughter- she's 14 so I'm not worried about the danger side of it, but it is rude and he knows better.
When we are out he's started pulling on his lead- he's always walked nicely on a lead until the last month or so. He pulls sideways, the only place he's happy to walk is in the very middle of the road- there he walks perfectly!
If I let him off several times recently he's run away, totally ignoring me calling- Twice being brought home by strangers. Once only after id looked for hours and posted pleas on facebook and in the local shop. Once maybe, twice is embarrassing!
He randomly pee's and poo's in the house (I've posted before about this) I tried a crate and yes it worked, certainly overnight but if I go to work he screams the place down and the neighbours comment. Yesterday he popped upstairs and cocked his leg over my daughters stuff in her bedroom.
He moults like nothing on this earth and costs me a fortune in vets bills..........

So there rant over, I am so sad and tonight we will make up and be each others bestest friends again but dear god he's trying my patience at the minute!
 
He's 10 years old and a small x breed- Shih-Tzu cross something, probably JRT

Its actually since he was diagnosed with a heart condition come to think of it. My friend jokes he knows he's on borrowed time and is living life to the full rather than behaving!
 
Is he on any medication for his heart which could explain his change in behaviour, to me it sounds like a pain issue and I would want a full health check including his teeth which often gets overlooked and an abscess in a tooth would be very painful.
 
From what's been said by Op he's always been noisy, snarly and never house trained. If he's now got health issues and annoying everyone, including the neighbours then I would accept defeat and have him PTS. His/the owners problems are not going to get better, chances are they will get worse and the enevitable outcome will be a trip to the vets anyway. Sorry to be so blunt but every thread about him makes me think this.
 
Dobiegirl said:
Is he on any medication for his heart which could explain his change in behaviour, to me it sounds like a pain issue and I would want a full health check including his teeth which often gets overlooked and an abscess in a tooth would be very painful.
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I would second this!
 
Of course I don't let him walk in the middle of the road. I am keeping him on a very short lead to avoid it. I said the only place he walks nicely- without pulling outwards is in the middle of the road.
I also said he has always pretty much done as he's told so basic training wise he's a damn site better than most I meet out on walks. He has always had excellent recall and its just recently its failed a few times.
He's in no pain, he's had lots of vet checks recently, Its excitement.
Amymay, It all started before the new puppy arrived. I was worried this would make it worse but really couldn't back out of puppy as we had had our names down for it since way before the bitch had even visited the dog. I don't think puppy bothers him too much. Its out of the house all day and pretty knackered in the evening!
Bonny- yes he's always been a bit noisy, not really snarly, I'd not leave him with young kids but I don't have young kids and to be fair he only growls if he's being picked up or something which I wouldn't let anyone else do. He is housetrained but over the years has had odd phases of having accidents. He's not the easiest dog sometimes and I guess when I have trouble with him I come on here and rant about it or look for an explanation. He doesn't need putting down yet at all but I asked for opinions and that's yours.
 
[QUOTE, the only place he's happy to walk is in the very middle of the road- there he walks perfectly"

You said in your OP that you let him walk in the middle of the road!
 
GeeGeeboy said:
[QUOTE, the only place he's happy to walk is in the very middle of the road- there he walks perfectly"

You said in your OP that you let him walk in the middle of the road!
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I didn't read it like that, I read it that the only place he was happy walking, ie without pulling, was in the middle of the road.

OP this dog sounds utterly miserable, I will be honest. Is he eating well?
 
poiuytrewq said:
…….. He pulls sideways, the only place he's happy to walk is in the very middle of the road- there he walks perfectly! …….. !
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I wonder if your dog is like those racehorses, those that only run up against the rail. How is he in a wide open space, in the middle of a field for instance, and whilst on the lead? Would the middle of the road be as the middle of a field for him?

If, as I suspect, it's the security of a 'wall', literal or figurative, which he needs, then providing that it hasn't become a habit which is too engrained, then you have work to do! If I'm right, then insisting that he walks on the opposite side from your more usual side, may well deny him his perceived support. If you try it, and if it works, then you will never again be able to return to the side which he favours, or he'll probably revert straight back to his previous behaviour.

As for the other problems, I've no advice I'm sorry to say! He doesn't sound to be the happiest pooch in the world.

Alec.
 
Mm, I really honestly don't know about him being miserable. He absolutely loves to go out and run and gets very excited by the prospect.
Now it's evening and there is no possibility that any movement I make could mean a run in the park or whatever for him he's completely relaxed.
I can make him walk on the inside of the pavement but if I hold him there, the second I loosen the lead he's pulling out again. Previously he would just trot alongside my leg at whatever speed I was doing however long his lead was.
In open spaces he plays, he runs, chases and sniffs around like any other dog might.
He's very animated out- ears pricked and very alert.
People very often comment on him, only today a lady stopped to ask about his breeding at said how sweet he was.
 
If his recall has gone and he is less obedient than usual, have you thought about his hearing? Very common to think a dog is misbehaving when they are actually going deaf. Not always as easy as you might think to spot, even in those who are profoundly deaf.
 
Again you have my sympathy. I might be able to help with the hair shedding - I changed my 10yo terrier from skinners duck and rice to Wainwright's senior small dog with sensitive tummy (well the that's the gist of it anyway) and the shedding has significantly reduced, leaving more time for cleaning up after him! (I actually only noticed this after reading
the claims of one new and quite expensive dog food company that hair shedding should be minimal and any more is a consequence of the food we feed them).

Apart from that, is there a possibility that senility or dementia may be setting in?
 
Both interesting suggestions there. How would I know if he had a hearing problem? I'd not say he was totally deaf but that might explain some things. I also read on another thread here about deaf dogs being far more vocal?
As for senility, possibly! There are a few other little things he's been doing which are slightly odd for him but not a problem! Eg- sniffing, he's never really been a sniffy dog out walking but now sometimes seems to find a scent like a spaniel or something might and will excitedly track it round the playing field- his nose not leaving the floor! he's never done that.
The food is also a good suggestion. I'll have a look for it but he's a fussy eater so it'll be luck as to wether he eats it ;)
 
The only way to properly test for deafness is to have a BAER test done, but you can do small tests at home using various sounds. Just be careful that the sounds you use won't create airflow - many deaf dogs turn when you clap because they feel it. Equally be aware that sometimes they can feel the bounce of sound off a hard surface - mine is totally deaf but will turn towards the wall if a dog barks at him.
Noises like squeaky toys, rustling crisp packets, vocal sounds at differing pitches and making sounds from behind a barrier can all give you an idea, try and get a variety of pitches as it is usually high pitches that go first (although some of this might be because they are so good at feeling the lower pitches anyway!)
Not all deaf dogs are any more vocal than hearing dogs, but they do seem to be extremely chatty a lot of the time, with a wider variety of sounds used regularly. Mine is rarely quiet for long, just chatters away with all sorts of noises, but this could be different with a dog losing it's hearing rather than one born deaf. They can go either way, going quieter because they aren't getting the feedback or getting more noisy because it sounds different or they are trying to hear themselves - will depend on the cause of the deafness as well.
 
I think you may be on to something you know. The last few nights/week he's not leapt up at the mention of "dinner" but stayed sound asleep. He used to be wide awake the second someone adjusted their position on the sofa!
I've tried just talking to him from the other side of the room when his attention is elsewhere and nothing.
Will run this past the vet also
 
I'm sorry to hear of all your problems and I'm probably barking up the wrong tree (excuse the pun) but could it be he is distressed by the way the others in your house are treating him as you say they are not keen on him? Dogs are very sensitive and pick up on emotions maybe he us just plain unhappy and depressed? Hope you get it sorted and no I certainly wouldn't PTS unless his heart condition was causing him real problems - have you tried taking him to a doggy behaviourist?
 
If it is deafness then don't panic, a bit of retraining will help build your relationship back, but pop him on a longline on walks for now until you can sort it out - just to be safe. If you are on fb, come and join the deaf dog network, loads of advice and support, and lots of members have dogs who have lost hearing later in life so you can compare notes. If you PM me your name I will make sure you get added asap.
 
Princess16 said:
I'm sorry to hear of all your problems and I'm probably barking up the wrong tree (excuse the pun) but could it be he is distressed by the way the others in your house are treating him as you say they are not keen on him? Dogs are very sensitive and pick up on emotions maybe he us just plain unhappy and depressed? Hope you get it sorted and no I certainly wouldn't PTS unless his heart condition was causing him real problems - have you tried taking him to a doggy behaviourist?
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I have no intention of having him pts, don't worry!. I believe if you have a dog you have it for life and this one really hasn't been much of a problem for the past 9 years so i'll certainly stick with him though whatever is wrong now. All animals get older and at some point have issues and I think we owe It too them to take the rough with the smooth.
My original thread was maybe a little tongue in cheek, yes he's driving me mental but I love the bones of this little dog and until he shows me otherwise he stays put.
His heart is under control, in fact his tablets are absolutely amazing and better than I'd hoped for even.
My partner and daughter do favour the 2 labs probably but they always have done, If he wants to play they will or just if one of them sit on the floor or whatever he will go over and snuggle up to them and have a fuss, its not like they are out right disliking him. Other half has been caught once or twice having cuddle ;)- this is denied of course by both parties!
He's just been with us to the yard to do some fencing and have a run round and to be fair behaved perfectly (thank god, its the first time in ages he's been out and off the lead with anyone else other than just me so I really hoped he wouldn't let me down!)

Dollyanna- I'll do that now thanks :)
 
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