PlantAKiss
Moderator Schmoderator Fluorescent fluorite, Engl
About a month ago I took in a rescue dog. I had been [foolishly] considering getting a second dog so my dog Ollie would have someone to play with when I'm not home. I got a call from a friend on business trip in NC saying there was a wire fox up for adoption. I was given this info: he was imported from England as a gift for a man to show and breed. The man suddenly died 2 weeks after Charlie arrived. He went to another home for about a year and a half. That man had to give him up (divorce). Charlie then went into two temporary home for short time periods. I was told he was housebroken, played well with other dogs and was very sweet. And also I've had two wire fox terriers so I know the breed and what wire ownership is all about.
Sounded good! I [foolishly] said, "Bring him up!"
This is when Life in Hell started. Upon his arrival, I discover that in his toy basket was a chewed up barking collar. Ok. News flash...he's a barker! I wasn't told about that. I had a neighbor complain within 3-4 days about him barking. So that started the stress of having to watch him constantly for barking when he was outside. So...No. 1) BARKER
THEN...he climbed my fence and got loose resulting in a day lost from work driving around my neighborhood crying and puttin up lost-dog flyers. Thanks to the kindness of dog-loving neighbors, I recovered Charlie safe and sound that evening. But now I cannot put him outside alone so I have to go out with while he is leashed. I feel terrible that he can't run and play outside with Ollie but I can't have him getting loose again (I live on a 4-lane avenue). So...No. 2) Fence jumper so can't be unattended in the yard
Charlie also climbs on my kitchen counters constantly...knocking things off into the floor. Last nite it was a potted orchid. Orchid bark everywhere along with a cutting board. This happens 2-3 at least every nite. So...No. 3) Destructive Climbing
The worst of it all...he poops and pees constantly in the house...hardwood floors and oriental rugs. So...No. 4) Housebroken?? NOOOOOT! It doesn't matter how often he is taken out, walked, how many times he pees outside...he still pees in the house. Some of this is marking territory but often its just plain-long peeing. AND he rarely will poop on the leash. He saves it for the house. My evenings are spent cleaning up pee after pee...and poop. Some morning I clean up 3 pees and a poop before I leave for work. I get home from work and spend an hour cleaning up pees and poops I didn't see before and new ones. Last nite it was 3.5 poops (the .5 was the partial one when I caught him going and I screamed at him and he ran.) I finally sit down for 5 minutes and then there is the CRASH in the kitchen. I have to get up clean up the mess in the kitchen.
It goes like this every day. Every minute of my time is spent dealing with Charlie...either being outside with him on the leash or cleaning up messes.
NOW...all that aside...Charlie is very sweet. He's bright, agile, graceful, smart and very loving. He gets along well with Ollie although there have been some episodes of him showing some sudden aggression towards him which also concerns me. But the point is...he isn't all bad. He is funny when he plays. He's just amazing with a tennis ball!
This is breaking my heart. I feel like I must get rid of Charlie. I have so many other issues going on right now plus the holidays are coming and I have no time for myself, the house or yard. Social life? Forget it. Its 24-7 Charlie. I hate to bounce him to another home. I also don't want Charlie to have a life of being crated ALL the time. I try hard to give him some freedom but that's when the problems start. He has little life as it is. I feel bad.
The previous owner said she'd take him back if it didn't work out. I also have a phone number for a local fox terrier rescue. So...I'm having a hard time making the decision to give him up but I just can't keep doing this. He's ruining my house and there is no end in sight.
Any suggestions?
Sounded good! I [foolishly] said, "Bring him up!"
This is when Life in Hell started. Upon his arrival, I discover that in his toy basket was a chewed up barking collar. Ok. News flash...he's a barker! I wasn't told about that. I had a neighbor complain within 3-4 days about him barking. So that started the stress of having to watch him constantly for barking when he was outside. So...No. 1) BARKER
THEN...he climbed my fence and got loose resulting in a day lost from work driving around my neighborhood crying and puttin up lost-dog flyers. Thanks to the kindness of dog-loving neighbors, I recovered Charlie safe and sound that evening. But now I cannot put him outside alone so I have to go out with while he is leashed. I feel terrible that he can't run and play outside with Ollie but I can't have him getting loose again (I live on a 4-lane avenue). So...No. 2) Fence jumper so can't be unattended in the yard
Charlie also climbs on my kitchen counters constantly...knocking things off into the floor. Last nite it was a potted orchid. Orchid bark everywhere along with a cutting board. This happens 2-3 at least every nite. So...No. 3) Destructive Climbing
The worst of it all...he poops and pees constantly in the house...hardwood floors and oriental rugs. So...No. 4) Housebroken?? NOOOOOT! It doesn't matter how often he is taken out, walked, how many times he pees outside...he still pees in the house. Some of this is marking territory but often its just plain-long peeing. AND he rarely will poop on the leash. He saves it for the house. My evenings are spent cleaning up pee after pee...and poop. Some morning I clean up 3 pees and a poop before I leave for work. I get home from work and spend an hour cleaning up pees and poops I didn't see before and new ones. Last nite it was 3.5 poops (the .5 was the partial one when I caught him going and I screamed at him and he ran.) I finally sit down for 5 minutes and then there is the CRASH in the kitchen. I have to get up clean up the mess in the kitchen.
It goes like this every day. Every minute of my time is spent dealing with Charlie...either being outside with him on the leash or cleaning up messes.
NOW...all that aside...Charlie is very sweet. He's bright, agile, graceful, smart and very loving. He gets along well with Ollie although there have been some episodes of him showing some sudden aggression towards him which also concerns me. But the point is...he isn't all bad. He is funny when he plays. He's just amazing with a tennis ball!
This is breaking my heart. I feel like I must get rid of Charlie. I have so many other issues going on right now plus the holidays are coming and I have no time for myself, the house or yard. Social life? Forget it. Its 24-7 Charlie. I hate to bounce him to another home. I also don't want Charlie to have a life of being crated ALL the time. I try hard to give him some freedom but that's when the problems start. He has little life as it is. I feel bad.
The previous owner said she'd take him back if it didn't work out. I also have a phone number for a local fox terrier rescue. So...I'm having a hard time making the decision to give him up but I just can't keep doing this. He's ruining my house and there is no end in sight.
Any suggestions?
