Pet Troubles :(

[BrenDAnn]

So, I have two dogs and a cat--a rat terrier, a boxer, and a grey tiger striped male cat. Well, the boxer has a tendency to chew things up like remotes, etc. Yes we get her chews and plenty of them. Anyway, so tonight, Dad and I left for work at about the same time, and he left her out of her cage that was in the living room. I came home at 11:30 tonight to find that she'd torn a hole in one of the sections of the back of the sofa. This hole is from the top to the bottom of it vertically, and there was white stuffing EVERYWHERE on the floor. Dad has been saying for weeks that the dogs have to go, for many reasons, and this may just be the straw that breaks the camel's back so to speak. It's killing me to think of it, but I might have to give my boxer back to the people I got her from, or take her to the local animal shelter. I'm sure Dad isn't going to give me much choice. I've been crying all night about it, and I wish there was something I could do. I've had her since she was a pup, granted she's only a year old, but still. I feel as if I'm giving up on her, or giving away a child. I know it's partially my fault, for being a lazy dog owner as far as training goes, and I'm kicking myself for it now. My stomach is in absolute knots, and I'm afraid of what I might face when Dad comes home tomorrow (he's an over-the-road trucker). On one hand, the dog should've been caged when no one was home, as we know she can be a chewer, but on the other, she'd never done anything this bad before. I don't know what will come of this, but I needed to vent and try to get my mind around this whole thing, I'll update everyone after I talk to Dad tomorrow. Please send positive thoughts my way! Thank you!

[Plaidman]

Hope you got some money saved up to replace it. How fast can you knit? You might be able to sew it up enough to be not as visiable. If not, offer to replace it. Second step is to beg to keep the dog, but maybe make it a outdoor dog? Get a fence and kennal. (Sneak it in at night when dads gone to cuddle with).

You really need to start training ASAP if your dad lets you keep it. Keep us inform.

[BrenDAnn]

Thanks Plaidman, and I'm sure I'll be handing money to dad for a long while to pay for a new sofa or repair this one. As for keeping the dog, much as I love her, and it's going to kill me (i'm tearing up again) to give her up, I'm thinking my chances are slim. **sigh** Life just sucks sometimes.

[Plaidman]

Yeah. Life can suck badily. Sometimes you just don't want to see another day. Theres normally a positive twist to everything. Even if you don't see it right away.

But, don't give up hope yet. Ok? Explain to your dad first. Try to call him first or something and explain, so that he doesn't explode when he gets home. He'll have time to calm down. Be prepared to beg and plead. His heart might melt. But it be the very last straw period.

[Flying Grype]

Ask your dad if you can do some training and prove to him that you're doing it.

Dogs chew, and you can't stop them, you can just teach them what they can chew and what they can't chew, and you can give them something to chew that tastes better than a sofa so that they won't bother with the sofa anymore.

If you're on Livejournal, go ask around at this community. There are lots of smart trainers there who advocate non-punishment-based training.

http://community.livejournal.com/dogsintraining

[BrenDAnn]

Thanks, but it's a little late lol. My brother knows a guy that might take her. If not, we'll be advertising. Perhaps it's for the best. We'll see.

[draggar]

You need to crate train that dog and NOT forget to put it in there when its not supervised.

Dogs are a kennel species- they like dens, which is what the crate becomes.

[BrenDAnn]

Draggar, she IS crate trained. Dad left her out thinking she'd be fine. He admitted he should've put her in her cage/crate/kennel, and said he doesn't expect me to pay for a whole new sofa (just part of it) because he was the one that left her out. Thank you for the reply, though.

[Plaidman]

So what was his reply? Letting you keep it?

[BrenDAnn]

Sorry I wasn't clear, and for the late reply. unfortunately, no, but he did take the news about the sofa rather well. He said A) either I find a home for her, or he will, B) he doesn't think we're giving her the home she deserves, C) He/we can't afford the stuff she's tearing up, and D) That was a $500 sofa, but he's not going to make me pay for a whole new one, since he was the one that left her out. I ended up telling him over the phone, as he called this morning to make sure I was home & safe (aww dad looking after his daughter), and as I said it went better than I thought. I'm hoping the guy my brother talked to/is talking to will come through. If not, it's an ad in the paper and we'll see what happens. Then I get the fun of transferring her (new, I might add) AKC registration to the new owners. Sigh. I know, I know, you people think it's harsh to get rid of her, but, I respect my dad enough to listen to him no matter what, and as I said before, maybe this will turn out for the best for the dog and us.