My Funny Picture

Questions About My Dog (Sorry It's So Long)?

I recently relocated from living with my family in New York, to living with my husband in Wichita Falls, Texas due to his active duty in the United States Air Force. Out of all the items and people I had to leave behind the one I miss the most (literally the most), is my cat. I raised my cat since he was a month old and he would play fetch with mice, answer to me every time I called his name, and cuddle with me under the blankets before we went to bed. Despite the love for my cat I decided not to torture him with 26 hour drive, and not to take him away from the other 4 cats we have at home. My husband saw how upset I was about leaving my cat, so we talked about getting a puppy due to the long days I spent sitting home by myself. I have never had a dog before so I was extremely excited to bring home a small puppy in which I could bring everywhere with me. When we went to the shelter I fell in love with the first dog I saw, which wasn't quite a puppy. Her name is Daisy, she's about 2 years old and the shelter said she was a Shepherd mix, but they were unsure of what. She's full grown, and about 25-35 pounds, a medium size. Funny thing was that her previous owners who had "returned" her to the same shelter they adopted her at, lived in my apartment building! One day while walking her I ran into them and they told me she was a Shepherd/Chow mix. My husband told me that Chow's are extremely aggressive and mean dogs, but Daisy is the opposite. She has not barked once in the 2 months I have had her (except at the UPS man once when he walked into our apartment). She has not tried to bite at either of us, and has never growled. After about a week of having her I have trained her to sit, lay, and give me both paws. Before she came home we went to Pet Co and bought her a bed, and a variety of different toys, including regular tennis balls, kong balls, stuffed animals, rope toy, bones and squeaker toys. It took her a couple of days to realize the bed was hers to sleep in, but still has not played with any of her toys. She does cuddle with her stuffed squeaker elephant toy before she goes to bed, but does not even care for any of the others. Because of Daisy's preferable taste we decided to take her to Pet Co to see which treats and toys she likes. An employee who had saw her asked us what she was. My husband told her she was a Shepherd/Chow mix and she said "Really? I haven't seen a dog of that mix be so small." I have several questions about my dog Daisy. Does anyone know if she is in actuality a Shepherd/Chow mix? Or something else? Description of her.. She's medium size, 25-35 pounds, amber colored medium length fur, with lighter colored paws, and tail. She has a mane like a lion, and random long fur on her paws, her back legs, and behind her arms. Her nose and mouth is darker brown, with spots of white, and under her chin to her belly is white. She has floppy black, amber and white ears, and the biggest cutest brown eyes. Here's a couple of pictures of her. http://tinypic.com/r/25qdpy1/7 http://tinypic.com/r/15zgjzo/7 http://tinypic.com/r/2laaat0/7 http://tinypic.com/r/1xyr7n/7 http://tinypic.com/r/ndarg8/7 Also, why doesn't she like to play with toys? She's a lazy dog who sleeps all day. I take her out about 4-6 times throughout the day and then for about 45 minutes at night. During the day she must stay on the leash because EVERYTHING is a distraction to her. It will take her 25 minutes just to pick a spot to pee! At night I take her off the leash and have recently been trying to teach her how to play fetch with a kong ball I had cut a hole in and stuffed with cold cuts. She has learned to chase after the ball, but I'm still trying to teach her to bring it back. Pees because of emotion? This be a sign of previous abuse? Though Daisy is such a good dog, she still has one problem. SHE WILL NOT STOP PEEING IN THE HOUSE. I tried everything. Taking her out multiple times an hour, putting down training pads (which she would just rip apart), and I even went so far as to buying a crate and putting her in it every time she peed in the house. Now if she pees in the house she just looks at me and goes straight into her crate without me even telling her. I don't even have to go in there and lock the crate door. She will stay in there until I tell her to come out. What I have noticed is that she only pees in the house when she's scared or excited. So I don't get upset anymore when she has an accident I just clean it up and then take her outside and tell her it's ok I won't tell daddy lol. Why doesn't she never bark? Could this also be a sign of previous abuse? Thanks guys. I'm sorry this is so long!

Public Comments

1. I really don't see any chow in her and the employee at the pet store was right- if it was just those two breeds the dog would be bigger as both of those breeds are about twice that. I can't say *what* I see besides the shepherd- it's anyone's guess- it could be two or three breeds. Submissive peeing is not necessarily a sign of abuse- just nervousness or excitement. Don't put her in her crate after she does it. Try to anticipate when she might do it and crate her *before*. Don't give her cold cuts- they are terrible for dogs- they have way too many nitrates and salts. Some dogs just don't like to play and almost all dogs sleep alot if they aren't working. The submissive peeing will likely stop as she gains confidence and trust. Until then, tell her "no" and take her outside when she pees in the house.
2. ok She is cute i don't know what the mix is but don't worry about it. Dog have individual personalities and just because one chow is mean does not mean they all are. Toys-- she probably never had toys so des not see the fun in them. The urinating on the floor well it could alot of things just clean it up and keep working on helping her to not have accidents. There is never a reason to yell at a dog they just want to please you. Her behavior by going in the crate shows she know your expectation of no peeing inside but she may not be able to control it. Have her checked out by the vet and Good luck she sounds like a great companion.
3. Hello Mary. You have a "rescue" dog. She was abused when young and not properly trained. She is still young at 2 years old. Don't fret about play toys. That will come in time. What the dog needs most is love and "affection" so that she is not fearful. Never let any dog run free outside even at night. Always have the animal on a leash. If the animal gets to running at some "kid" and even scratches them or bites them you have a police report, a vet examination bill, a medical bill from the victim who will always go to the emergency room and report a dog bite ($1,000 usually for ER) and even a police citation in your community for an unleashed dog. You don't need any of this especially that your husband is an Airman at Sheppard AFB, Texas. And, if you are living "on-base" there is basic base housing regulation against letting pets run without a lease at all times. Now, it makes no difference what kind of mixed breed your dog is. She is a precious faced animal. I can see the "goodness" in her eyes. You also need to get a vet to check out the dog to see if she has some urinary infection that needs antibiotic treatment. He/she will ask for a sample of the dog's urine. Also, you can do this: There are "pee pads" for animals like "pampers" that you put down in apartments etc for when people are at work and the animal is "home alone." Walmart has "dog training pads" Look into it. http://www.walmart.com/browse/Dogs/Training-Pads/_/N-8rss?ic=48_0&ref=+409276&catNavId=202072 Put them by the front door so that when you see the dog go there you can immediately divert the dog to the outside. Keep the leash at the door. http://www.ugodog.net/ I am first concerned that the dog may have a bladder infection. Then, because the dog may be "scared" due to past treatment of its owners who did not know how to train the animal and so they either beat or scolded the dog when it went into the apartment rather than being able to hold it to go outside. This is a nice doggie... work on her! Best wishes, Larry Smith Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret.) First Sergeant