I need help with my dobermann!!

» stormySea - My home is a nightmare for her and me

Hi all,

I don't know if this is the right place to bring this up..I haven't even read one post on here yet.

I have a dobermann (red female) who is about 10 months old. We have had her from a small pup. When we got her we lived in a house with an almost 2 acre fenced yard. She loves to run almost as much as she loves to breathe. My husband had to leave his job with a hospital in deep south texas, because I and the kids were so lost and unhappy there. We just felt that we did not fit in, even after being there for 3 years. We are originally from Illinois (25 miles NE of St Louis MO).

Anyway he took a job with an agency (nursing)..and they rent you apartments wherever you go. They find ones where pets are allowed..but it is not enough for Ruby (dog).

Shortly before we moved from McAllen TX.. Ruby got the gate open..(and we had a DEADLY highway right in our front yard.. contrasted with peaceful acres of golf course on the other three sides) She loved to try and break out of the fence late evenings to run on the golf course. She never tried to go toward the street.. just loved to run in the wide open acres of the silent empty golf course. She was an inside dog by the way, we just let her out late because we are nite owls..and it is the only time that it is cool enough down there to be out for very long.

This one time, 2 weeks prior to the cross country move, she decided to get the gate open (which was wired shut because of her..but she can open ANYthing).. We heard the doorbell a few minutes later..and I instantly knew she had been hit. We thought she was nearly dead when my husband and son carried her inside. She was stiff..had evacuated her bowels..cool to the touch ect.. I just about lost my mind and threw myself on her crying and me and my daughter were acting really crazy.. begging her to live. (She was the only friend we had down there..and we had been there for almost 3 years)

She amazingly pulled out of it..and we learned that she had bitten her tongue badly (the end was hanging by a thread)..and that is what the blood coming from her nose and mouth likely was.) She also had a hip fracture..a severe one..more like a pelvic fracture actually. We put pillowcases..towels etc.. in front of her back legs and walked with her outside. She kept trying to run..My son even held up her back legs and ran with her in the yard to chase her cats that she loved to play with. When she tried to jump the 4 foot hedge with him holding onto the splint..he finally had to stop. I have never seen a dog with such a strong will in my entire lifetime of 44 years (had dogs all of those years)..She wanted to live..and to run.. and I just could not allow her to be put down. They said hip replacement surgery might be necessary if the initial surgery did not work. We were talking 1500 to 3000 dollars now.. on top of all the Xrays and pain pills..visits..ect. We couldn't afford to do it right then. This dog came with us to NC in that condition (in an airconditioned van on pillows) along with her pug little sister).

We still have not been able to save all of the money yet for the surgery (3 months later)..but this dog runs..jumps..gets in and cleans out the refrigerator..opens doors. You can't even tell she has a hip problem until she goes up and down the steps (the only time she slows down).

She is absolutely miserable, depressed, and agitated in this apartment. She is freaked out by all the people and barks like a blood hound or something when she sees or hears one. This makes it almost impossible to even get her out for walks on the leash. She lunges and acts like she is going to kill.. but I firmly believe that she wouldn't hurt a fly.. but the people don't know that. I am so scared we are going to get kicked out because of her.. so we keep her inside and clean up after her for the most part. My son and I take her out at night..and then if someone else happens to be out in the quiet darkness walking their little obedient pet.. she starts that barking..(if you can call it barking.. I have had 3 dobermans and I have never heard a bark like this from them..sounds like a fog horn/bloodhound type thing) Lights start coming on in apartments..and my son and I run for cover. We try to take her into the basketball court at night for a run..cuz you can lock the gate..and she never goes potty inside it. But it has a no trespassing sign for 10pm to 830am on it. We can only take her there after 10pm..so we are terrified of getting caught doing that. We have a balcony..but when we let her out there she stands up and explodes with that "barking"..until I have to make her come inside and shut the door.

So she acts out (more than usual..she always did find things to tear up..etc..nothing expensive). Now she tears up anything that she can.. runs thru the house like a horse (we are on the top of 3 floors).. jumping over coffee tables..couches..and sliding across linoleum. She has developed an intense jealousy of the pug (who fits in with apartment living well..so seems to get more good attention) My husband hates her..hates me because of her.. and my kids are even starting to say .."something should be done with her". She constantly wants to play..and comes over to you giving you toys. (right now she is pounding on the keyboard with her rope/bone thing..wanting to play)..but she is so big..everything gets knocked over..drinks spilled etc..etc..

I have no one to ask advice from..and I just can't bring myself to take this big intelligent adorable mischieveous puppy and have her put to death!!! She has a will to live that is unbelievable..but she is very very unhappy here too. No one would want her because of the hip..And I love her so much even though she is such a bad girl. What would ANYone do in this situation is BEYOND ME!!!! I am so depressed over it that I have had to seek help for that..my apartment is a veritable wreck..and now this job is coming to a close..and we are looking at a move to Arkansas in a couple weeks! Somebody tell me what to do..please!!! (tried the anti-bark collar that makes a noise..and that doesn't even work on the pug!) She also cannot be left alone in the apartment.. or she tears down the blinds and howls like a lone wolf. It is sooo very sad..everyone but me is angry at her most of the time.. and now they are angry at me too alot..and my husband barely speaks to me.

~sea

-- posted by stormySea

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» SWALKER0 - Re: My home is a nightmare for her and me

In response to message posted by stormySea:
I am most definitely not an expert, but two things occurred to me as I was reading your posting. Find out if there is an off-leash dog park anywhere near where you live. If there is, that might go a long way toward letting her release her pent-up energy. The other thing is to visit your vet and see about putting her on some kind of mild sedative. You might not even need to keep her on it long-term, just long enough to allow her to adjust to her new surroundings. Also, try contacting a Doberman rescue. They will know Dobermans and may have much better ideas than I have as to how you can deal with your situation. Also, as a last resort, they may be able to help you place her, even with her hip problem. Good luck, and let me know how things work out.

-- posted by SWALKER0

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» lisaberry - Re: My home is a nightmare for her and me

In response to message posted by stormySea:

1. I think it is abusive to keep this dog when you cannot afford the veterinary treatment. Dogs are sentient beings and deserve to live lives as free of pain as possible.

2. Doberman dogs are bred to be active. They want to run, play and go go go, especially as puppies. It is unrealistic to expect the excercise needs of a doberman to be met in an apartment. The off-leash park is a good idea, although her aggressive tendancies are worrying. You may think she won't bite, but all dogs bite, given enough provocation. Ruby is obviously stressed enough at home and it may not take much aggravation for her to snap, especially somewhere unfamiliar. This is only amplified by the protective nature of the breed. At the very least have her muzzled if you do decide to take her off-leash. Is it possible to construct a kennel run in the yard? This could also give Ruby somewhere to run where she can't hurt herself or other animals or destroy property.

3. Have you spoken with a behavioralist? Your local SPCA may be able to provide these services for a nominal charge or perhaps even for free. At the very least they should be able to refer you to a professional who can provide suggestions to help you help Ruby to be a welcome member of the family.

4. Is Ruby crate trained? A crate can provide a safe haven for Ruby to go if properly introduced. http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/cratetraini... provides instructions on how to crate train your dog. Also, a crate can give you somewhere to put Ruby when you need to go out. Please don't view this as cruel. Dogs naturally live in dens and view a crate as a safe haven to sleep or just have some time to themselves.

5. Teaching Ruby some basic commands can help occupy her brain. Dobermans are smart, but they need to have their minds occupied in order to stay out of trouble. If you cannot afford formal lessons, http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage2.cfm is a great place to start. You can teach Ruby to play alone. A Kong is a great toy- fill it with peanut butter and it'll keep her busy for a while. You must also remember that you are the master. Play sessions should only start when YOU want them to and should end when YOU want them to end. Ignore Ruby completely when she starts pestering you (look away, turn so your body is not facing her, do not say anything, touch her, et cetera.) When she stops pestering praise her and start up a short play session. This will teach Ruby that dogs who annoy get no attention, whereas patient dogs do.

There is no question here that you love Ruby, however, this is not a situation in which Ruby can be a happy welcomed member of your family. These are not problems that will magically vanish over time, either. For Ruby's sake, please start dealing with them before it's too late.

-- posted by lisaberry

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