Diva's kennel cough has mostly subsided (its been a week since i brought her home and about 5 days on the meds her vet gave her) but she sneezes like CRAZY. Im not *too* concerned. I do have some concerns that Id love to get some input on:
1) Shes stopped peeing/pooping. She was only going once a day as it was, on her last walk of the day. Now its been well over 24 hours and she hasnt done either one. Shes not going in the house either. I dont see or smell anything and I really check. Shes eating and drinking. I walk her around 4 or 5 times a day for about 30-45 minutes. I dont know what to do. Im trying to get another vet visit because she needs the heart worm test anyway, but Im concerned....this leads to my next question...
2) Crate training. I dont want to do it. She hasnt had an accident in the house since the 1st night. She is blocked off from the living room/bedroom/bathroom when Im not here. This is where the most dangerous stuff is. Ive doggie proofed the area shes in AND she has two doggie beds. One in the "social" room, where the boyfriend and I chill (this is the one she prefers) and one in a small room off the kitchen. the bed is situated between a desk and the wall and when I leave she goes straight to that one. But everything I read/hear tells me I need to crate train...do I HAVE to? Am I doing damage by not crate training?
3) I think this is normal/expected: I live in a 4 family house. She really only sees me and my bf in the house, the hall, the front yard. She doesnt really "get" that there are other people living here so when she sees people in the hall (which is very small and narrow) or the front yard (where we spend a lot of time) she growls and even barks at them. When she met my neighbor the other day in the front yard she growled and barked. I took her off the step and asked my neighbor to come down very slowly and stand still and then say hi. Then in my sweet doggie voice I introduced them and Diva calmed down. When she was totally calm I had her move closer to my neighbor and my neighbor fed Diva a treat. All was well. But I dont know. Was that right? Will I have to do that every time? (FYI...Im not trying to do EVERYTHING by myself, Im going to the vet asap and Im going to a meet the trainer at petco on sunday). Any and all advice would be appreciated.
THANKS!!!
Juliet
1) Shes stopped peeing/pooping. She was only going once a day as it was, on her last walk of the day. Now its been well over 24 hours and she hasnt done either one. Shes not going in the house either. I dont see or smell anything and I really check. Shes eating and drinking. I walk her around 4 or 5 times a day for about 30-45 minutes. I dont know what to do. Im trying to get another vet visit because she needs the heart worm test anyway, but Im concerned....this leads to my next question...
2) Crate training. I dont want to do it. She hasnt had an accident in the house since the 1st night. She is blocked off from the living room/bedroom/bathroom when Im not here. This is where the most dangerous stuff is. Ive doggie proofed the area shes in AND she has two doggie beds. One in the "social" room, where the boyfriend and I chill (this is the one she prefers) and one in a small room off the kitchen. the bed is situated between a desk and the wall and when I leave she goes straight to that one. But everything I read/hear tells me I need to crate train...do I HAVE to? Am I doing damage by not crate training?
3) I think this is normal/expected: I live in a 4 family house. She really only sees me and my bf in the house, the hall, the front yard. She doesnt really "get" that there are other people living here so when she sees people in the hall (which is very small and narrow) or the front yard (where we spend a lot of time) she growls and even barks at them. When she met my neighbor the other day in the front yard she growled and barked. I took her off the step and asked my neighbor to come down very slowly and stand still and then say hi. Then in my sweet doggie voice I introduced them and Diva calmed down. When she was totally calm I had her move closer to my neighbor and my neighbor fed Diva a treat. All was well. But I dont know. Was that right? Will I have to do that every time? (FYI...Im not trying to do EVERYTHING by myself, Im going to the vet asap and Im going to a meet the trainer at petco on sunday). Any and all advice would be appreciated.
THANKS!!!
Juliet
