dog messing problems

[nonmaster]

I have a 7 year old female staffie. Unfortunately she spends most of her day in a very large kitchen. Without fail in the morning or when i get home from work there is a number of 'presents' on the floor both solid and lquid. She goes out first thing in a morning and last thing at night. This happens a lot even if i just put het in the kitchen for 10 mins or even if she has just been out. The problem is so frustrating for me that I am SERIOUSLY considering letting her go which is a shame but I just cant seem to cure this problem. Im sure it is an 'attention' thing but how do I cure it. Any help would be very welcome. Thanks

[PatriciaH]

Working all day and having a dog just dont go together , havent you got anyone you could ask to take doggie out in the day for a good long run? my daughter tried what you are doing and eventually realised it wasnt working and had to re home him - she was gutted obviously but it wasnt fair on the dog , hope you find a solution x

[PatriciaH]

I dont think its an "attention " thing shes lonely : (

[SlackAlice]

Dogs are 'social' animals and like to be in a group, even if its only a group of two (ie. owner and dog).
They are definitely not 'loners', your dog is lonely and bored.

[nonmaster]

thanks for your reply. I know its not ideal, my long term partner and i split up and it was her dog, she used to come home at dinner time etc but the problem was just the same then. There must be thousands of homes with dogs etc in the same situation, get left when their owners go to work. The easy solution would be to just re-home her but i want to try everything else before i do that. Regards

[Schutzengel]

By now your dog associates the kitchen with being left alone. I sympathise with your situation with both you and the dog being left. Try to stick together. I would suggest that you advertise for a dog walker, there are a lot of people who walk dogs especially for people who have to work all day, but love the companionship of their dog in the morning, evening, and weekends. The charge is usually quite reasonable for a daily walk. As you say you are willing to try everything, this would be well worth trying. Hope things work out for both you and the dog. By the way, what is her name.

[lankeela]

What the hell do you expect. For the dog's sake find her a new home as soon as possible. A breed like a Staff needs loads more attention than most other breeds, and she is probably going crazy being cooped up all day. They have so much energy and unless you are prepared to give it to her then the only option is to find her a home. I agree it is an attention thing, but she is obviously not getting enough.

[gelda]

I was waiting for a reply from you Lankeela!!! What a miserable life some of these dogs have, poor things.

[barney1966]

i take it you too could manage without using the toilet from first thing in the morning until last thing at night.

[nonmaster]

nice one barney, it is NOT first thing in the morning till last thing at night, it is 5/6 hours max and yes i could go that distance without going to the toilet...you should try tenna lady. That is not the problem, i expect it if it is for that time period. If i went and put her in the dogs home in a small caged pen would you prefer that? Bunch of PC's

[Schutzengel]

nonmaster
Have you had any thoughts on my previous post?
Hope things work out.

[shaneystar2]

Pretty obvious that you have taken a dog on and not invested time and training into the equation .You cannot expect a dog to hold it for five to six hours at a time .If you can go that amount of time without a wee or poop then you must be superhuman .
But you expect a dog to do it .

[terambulan]

She's getting on....has she been a breeding dog. She can't hold herself; and she may be frightened locked in alone. Can she be contained outside safely while you're out?

She only needs feeding once a day so restrict her feeds to when you return home. Walk her after her feed.

[kitesurfer]

plus if you put her in a dog home and she doesnt get a new home she could get put down. Somehow sorting the problem seems a bit more appealing. have you considered cage training it?

[phillipa.d]

Just an idea guys, but around by me there is a puppy creche - I know she's not a pup, but they may take older dogs, it must be worth asking the question before getting rid of her. Or could you employ a dog walker - someone to take her out for an hour a day; break up the day/boredom for her and give her some company? Providing the cost would not be prohibitive for you.

Otherwise, I think I agree that it would be kinder to find her a new home.

[nonmaster]

thankyou for all your replys, some of which are more helpful than others. I know i cant spend enough time as i should/would like to with my dog but I have loved her/ walked her etc for the past 7 years and will be gutted to let her go. I would rather keep her as she is than put her in a small cage in a strange environment. I have a secure back garden and she could be in there all day but she is soft and prefers it inside where it is warm and dry. I think the kindest option would be to keep her until i can find her a new home directly as i wolud feel guilty having her in a dogs home. Maybe i should advertise her on the web/ local media? Does anyone know where to do this? All i want is the best for my dog, she is a lovely dog and deserves the best. Thanks

[ganesh]

You were bound to get a hard time over this one.,and I feel sorry for your circumstances. We all have to leave our dogs sometimes,even I do and although I don't go out to work I often spend some mornings out ,shopping for example. Poor dog is expected to sleep all night alone,then go back to bed in the morning for another 3 or 4 hours.So I feel guilty even for that.
All day every day is obviously too much for your doggy and she must be so bored. 7 years doesn't seem that old though,maybe you should check her out physically,she ought to be able to go through the night without weeing but she's obviously got into a pattern of going when she feels like it.
I wouldn't want to re-home her either unless I knew the person who was taking her.
Surely the best option would be a dog-walker-they don't cost that much and there are loads of them advertising these days. That way you would both be happier.