chocolate lab
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How To Avoid a Dog Bite
Never look directly into a strange dog's eyes. This can be viewed as a threat or challenge. It can trigger some dogs to bite.
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Q:I am new to this board but am very excited that I found it. I am housesitting my sisters' 3 years old spayed chocolate lab named Sugar. Sugar was in a freak accident in June '06 where she was riding in the back of the pickup, while leashed and was somehow "spooked" by something. She was dragged for quite a distance before the police stopped my sister to let her know what was happening. Sugars' fur and skin was scraped down to expose her intestines, she lost all padding on all paws and fur and skin from other areas of all 4 legs. She was hospitalized in intensive care (wonderful folks at Auburn University Vet School ) for over 3 months. She finally came home 2 weeks ago. Since returning home, she seems to have forgotten her housetraining . She will go outside to her designated spot as before, will use if I stand there with her, but will use inside - either the sun room where she is sometimes kenneled(per doctors' orders), or in my sisters' room. My sister has always worked a 12 hour day, so my sisters' work habit is not new to Sugar. I have always frequently visited, so she is "used" to me. Could the trauma of the accident be the reason for her regression and what can we do..Re-housetrain?? Also, Sugar can be VERY stubborn. Thanks for your replys and sorry for the long thread.
A:Can you blame the dog !!! Don't you guys know how freakin dangerous it is to keep a dog in a pick up truck???
A:OMG the poor dog!!! Yet another example of why dogs should not be in the back of a pickup (unless one of those cages is put over it), and why you should always look in your mirrors to make sure things are ok! Poor poor dog!!!!
ok now to help...
it sounds like sugar's bladder control has decreased as a result of the "accident". I don't think there is anyway she can handle being left alone for 12 hours at a time (she probably could never really deal with it, but now that her baldder can't handle it, your sister is noticing this). I would say keep her offleash, but your sister NEEDS to come home during the day, or have someone come walk sugar so she can go pee. Sugar just recovered from a SERIOUS injury, and NEEDS more contact and time with people.
ok now to help...
it sounds like sugar's bladder control has decreased as a result of the "accident". I don't think there is anyway she can handle being left alone for 12 hours at a time (she probably could never really deal with it, but now that her baldder can't handle it, your sister is noticing this). I would say keep her offleash, but your sister NEEDS to come home during the day, or have someone come walk sugar so she can go pee. Sugar just recovered from a SERIOUS injury, and NEEDS more contact and time with people.
A:First off, sorry to hear about the accident (btw, accidents are just that folks - not intentional so quit jumping on the OP). Secondly, a routine needs to be established, and given she's in recovery mode still (and likely will for the rest of her life), you'll need to go at this from a "starting over" standpoint. Yes, she likely has damage from the accident that will leave her unable to hold it for 12 hours, probably unable to hold it for 2, so setting up an area in the house where there are puppy pee pads (local pet supply should have em) for her to use is probably a good start. If she's used to you, then work with your sister on this - either via hiring a dog walker or both of you work out a schedule so one of you can take her outside to do her business at regular intervals throughout the day. My ex and I had this system with our dogs, and it worked out well since we lived 10 minutes from my job. Make sure that you're consistent and positive with her re-housetraining, it's essential since she's recovering from horrifying injuries that may have damaged her mentally and psychologically as well as physically. Good luck, please keep us posted on her recovery