Cutie patootie Bruna update
 

I posted this over at SOS in the Wonder Thread but thought I should share it here with all my pet lover friends!

This is Miss Bruna on Saturday night movie night with my daughter. Son-in-law went to a bachelor's party - til 3:30 in the morning. I stayed at their house so daughter could go pick them up whenever and me stay with grandoody. They called at 3:30 am for a ride wayyyyy over on the west side of Des Moines, a good half hour drive from where they live. She didn't get back home to bed til 5:30.

Anyway, during our movie, Bruna wanted to lay between my legs on top of the blanket but wanted to be covered so I put a baby blanket over her. I checked her a little while later because she was so quiet and still, and this is what we saw, LOL. Here's Miss Bruna relaxing on my legs on a blankie, and no that isn't her pill bottle, it's mine, LOL.


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Her potty training continues to be a huge challenge. But then she did spend the first 3+ years of her life in a cage, so all she knows is pottying in a cage. Also battling realllyyyy bad doggie breath even though she's had 2 dental cleanings in the past year. I've been searching reasons why and ways to help eliminate, even brushing her teeth.

I've been feeding her Evo dog food which is what she was fed at HUA, so I'm not sure what in her diet could be causing the really foul smell. Maybe that food doesn't help, I don't know, but she likes it.

Otherwise, she's come out of her shell so much! She prances around and plays with the oddest things. Runs around having fun. She doesn't like doggy toys, she likes any old thing laying around. Like a small box I dropped on the floor, she played with for a long time, LOL. Anything but dog toys!

HMMMMM, looks like I have somehow offended Photobucket, LOL! With pictures of Bruna? Hmmm, guess I better go check, I have no clue!

Okay, well...that's interesting. ALL except one of my pictures of Bruna are x'd out in my album. Very interesting.

Here's the one that isn't.


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Wow...
 

censored by Photobucket! That's a new one on me!

Bruna is cute. I admire your patience with the house training tho.

Like I said before, she is a LUCKY DOG!

Aw, thanks Mrs. D.

Yeah, I thought...wow, apparently naked bellies on dogs has offended PhotoBucket, LOL! I emailed them about it and they responded almost immediately. Said it was done in error and had been restored. :rolleyes:

I got a cat several years ago from the APL and she had terrible bad breath until I took her to an new vet who pulled out her tooth, and she never had bad breath again.

Maybe you could take your pup to a vet that specializes in dental problems......
maybe there is something wrong with her gums?

Good luck with whatever you do.......

Adorable!
BTW, I've had several dogs...many different breeds in my life.
Our little doxie took by far the longest to house train.
Believe me...I've heard this complaint before.
Even today (she is five years old), she has more accidents than I care to think about.
She also has a little tendency towards bad breath.
Today, we had her teeth cleaned professionally and I picked up some canine mouthwash for her daily use (I wonder how healthy this is for her though).
We'll see if this eliminates the problem.

Aww, thanks you guys.

Abbey, yes Bruna has had 2 dentals since getting out of the puppy mill and 1 of those was right before I got her. But you're right, I'm going to take her to my vet and have her teeth checked out some more. Maybe she has a bad tooth or who knows.

I also found some recipes for dog biscuits that look like she might like them. One of them includes fresh parsley and mint in it. And one has some kind of type of charcoal added to it in a small amount, though I'm not so sure about that!

Vowel Lady, yes for sure doxies are one of the most difficult breeds to train! She won't even use a puppy pad! That's what my daughter does with her mini dox, Otto. He uses puppy pads in one area of the house.

She will go on paper but in general she has just gone wherever she darn well pleases.

But I know this is my responsibility. I'm the one who has to take the time to figure out her potty schedule and try to work with that. Doxies should have poopy duty anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour after they eat. But I haven't felt inclined to be outside with her for an hour in the morning, LOL!

Last night I stood out in the misting rain for almost an entire hour waiting for her to go before bed! We were both shivering and there was no reward. Put her in bed, went to brush my teeth, came back and she had soaked my pillow with pee.

:thud:

I was SO tired and that didn't sit well with me but I didn't yell or chastise. Training is hard enough but I suspect since she's only known a tiny cage all her life that it's difficult for her to understand the concept of going outside for poop patrol. :rolleyes:

eeuuuwwww...
 

I have to confess-- I couldn't tolerate this!

I can understand the dog's not understanding things about a "home".

But peeing on YOUR pillow? That is more IMO...that is a message!
Cats do this when they are spiteful.

I think this is part of her attachment grieving for the other person who she
was bonded to.

My husband had 2 doxies as a child. The second one developed encephalitis as a pup and was braindamaged (the vet wanted to put him down, but my husband's mother said she would take care of him). And even so, they could house break him without problems. (he was addled, and barked only at people when they LEFT the house, never when they arrived. He was rather dull and had little personality as one might guess.

I guess you are going to have to crate her severely and only remove the crate slowly. I would NOT let this dog into bed again, for a LONG time at least until she learns the ropes. I would also put her urine outside where you want her to go. Take the soiled papers and put them there, so she can scent them.
Also it might be worth a try to take Otto outside with Bruna...let her see him relieve himself appropriately. She might learn faster from him than from humans.

I would keep her in a "playpen" and not give her free roam of the house. Definitely set limits and show her that YOU are boss, pack leader (as Cesar Millan would say).

The other thing that comes to mind for me, about that bad breath is a kidney problem. Here you have her leaving YOU a direct message about urine and she has that stinky breath. They could be connected. My brother's cat had cystitis and she urinated on his CHEST while he was in bed, to tell him about it! Kidney and liver disease cause terrible bad breath. So I'd look at more than teeth if you go to the vet.

I don't envy you this problem....it is the one thing that I cannot tolerate about pets. I hope you get her trained soon, for everyone's sake!

Thanks Mrs. D.

I do have her in a playpen all day while I'm at work and put her in it when I'm doing things around the house unless I know she's relieved herself.

The last 3 days she has done all of her business outside! Except for last night. :rolleyes: And yes, I didn't like it at all. She's been sleeping with me since I got her and this is the first time she's done that. NOPE wasn't pleasant at all.

I'll have the vet check all those things. Thanks.

Hmmmm...
I spoke with our previous vet (don't get me started...okay...too late) about the bad breath and he said it was "nothing.) However, out of respect for Mrs. D's mega brainpower and love of doggies, I will ask the new vet the next time I go (if not sooner).

Why I don't like my previous vet:
You see, one day our doxie, who has the world's BEST personality, was acting VERY strange. Her tail was between her legs. She was shaking. Her eyes looked forlorn. I could not get her to wag her tail for anything.
She was like this for two days. I got totally FREAKED. I thought for sure that someone hurt her behind my back. Yep, I know I must of sounded PARANOID, but the dog was NOT HERSELF. So....I took her to the vet. (#$@!$#@%).
The (#$@#$%~) told me that I was nuts. That the dog was fine.
I was so distraught, I called our son to the house (he is a young man going to college living in an apartment nearby). He came home and we forced the dog to walk. She (my doxie) seemed ANGRY. She walked a little funny. Son was able to determine that she was favoring her back legs and wombling slightly. The poor little thing seem to be really pushing herself to walk right!

That night I took her to the emergency vet. She had a slipped disc and a "degenerative spine." We put her on prednisone and crated her for many days. She worsened and worsened. The next thing I know, she was crippled. The next thing after that...I was rushing her to the next city for emergency surgery.

However, she is doing very well now. I WISH WISH WISH I had trusted my instincts 'cause I feel like if the dog had gone on prednisone as SOON as I realized she was sick, she would have had a MUCH better chance of recovery WITHOUT SURGERY.

Now, so far, since the cleaning (she was a LEVEL TWO!) her breath seems real good at this moment. However, I will be watching (smelling). If it worsens toooo quickly, I WILL get her to the new (lady) vet...who who seems very bright and caring too.

Housebreaking:
She took a long time, but all the doxie books say this is common.
Her "deal" is that she does NOT bark when she needs to go.
She casually looks at the door. MAYBE she goes to the door and stands there for a minute or two. If you MISS these subtle clues, she will go to the bathroom.

Other dogs I have had, bark LOUDLY or scratch at the door.
Madome doxie, can't be bothered or something...I don't get it.:rolleyes:

I am hooked on daschunds. I was adopted by Miss Mya 2 years ago. She was found wandering around downtown Tampa. My dil tried to find out where she lived , no luck.

My rottie was just diagnoised with cancer the day after she found Mya. I agreed to take her.

She weighed 6 pds she was all skin and bones and had a very advanced case of heartworms. She was approx 2 years old and when I got her. I had her spayed was told she had several litters of pups. After treating her heartworms (she had a very hard time) and getting some weight on her (she is a healthy 10pds) I was the happiest Hoomom ever.

In january of this year I came homr from work to find her walking funny and hanging her head very low. This was no where near the normal greeting I get when I come home. Off to the vet I went. Neck injury. Next day to neurologist.
she had 2 ruptured discs. Surgery the next day.

She is fine now!!!!! and I would do it ALL AGAIN.

One week after she came into my life I lost my Rottie, I never thought I could love a dog as much as I did Nala. I was wrong!! I will always be owned by a daschund!!



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Oh Jaded! She is absolutely beautiful! I love those long hair doxies.

I have to say...
 

all the doxie photos posted here are very cute...very endearing!

When I was looking on YouTube there is a very funny one of doxies jumping
into a large swimming pool! LOLOL

If it weren't for the hard to train aspect and the medical weaknesses, I'd get one in a flash when we get our first little doggie. (after Sheba passes--and the way she is going now, I may die first ! :rolleyes:).

The rocks and other stresses at our summer home worry me as far as
injury etc goes. We need a dog with longer legs I am afraid.:o

I can take no credit for Myas potty training.....she is a camel never goes in the house.

Her first night with me she did pee in my bed!!! I blamed it on fear, it never happened again.

she is very obedient she comes when I call, stay when I tell her. My only problem with her is keeping her from jumping off furniture!!! I have ramps since her injury. She usues them half the time. She is an angel!!

Jaded, you are so lucky and she is so beautiful. I want to hold that little girl really bad!

Bruna has had a few accidents, but not so much since I've been working so hard at taking her outside. It's a pain in the neck working with her in the morning. I have to get up earlier so I have time to get ready for work and take her outside.

Baby steps I guess. She's still getting used to being outside. She doesn't spook quite as much as she did and is starting to think of it as HER yard. When people pass by or make noise she starts roo roo rooing at them, lol.

She also uses the ramp my dad built for me to go down my deck steps. The steps are even too steep for me (hurt my knees). So far she hasn't leaped too many times from furniture.

I agree...I have had many dogs in my life, but the doxie personality is the most fun and interesting. I have a mini and she has no understanding that she is "small." Her spirit is amazing. I have never seen her get angry, perhaps a tiny bit (and it was barely discernable) when was in tremendous pain just prior to her surgery.

After her surgery, she required a little physical therapy, which I did myself after the vet taught me how to do it. She is walking perfectly.

After her teeth cleaning, her breath is perfect. It's been about two weeks.

Housetraining is okay now. I am home most days, and try to take her out in the morning and again at 3 p.m. If I have to go out, I leave her in her crate. She will NOT go in her crate. I also take her out again around 6:60 and then before I go to bed.
If I forget to take her out, she is NOT likely to remind me like other dogs I have had. The most I can expect is that she will casually walk up to the door and stay there for a few minutes. That is my signal. Other dogs will bark, scratch the door, etc. She JUST WILL NOT DO THIS SORT OF THING. Maybe it is beneath her or something. :eek: Maybe she has me trained. However, bottom line is she will NOT go in her crate (she is camel in the crate...she has her standards...LOL!) and she is good if she is walked regularly. She just is a little extra maintence and one better have a good memory or use timers or something.

Oh we put up a tiny little fenced in area within our backyard. This is the mini doxie yard. She is only allowed in it. I walk her on a leash in it (with the exception of times what we go around the block). Perhaps because of smells, etc. she goes to the bathroom pronto when we go in her little yard.

BTW, this dog LOVES to get dressed up! I have NEVER seen anything like THIS! I think it is 'cause the dog figured out if she is wearing a dress, she gets a lot of attention and therefore she loves to wear them. The more the better. She is a riot! If I come home from Target with a dress...she jumps up and down! Too bad this is not the case when she needs to let me know that it is potty time.

Anyway, life with our doxie has been sooo much fun...its hard to describe unless you've had one. However, I do agree that back problem is very frightening indeed!!!!

Ya know what, I think we should join this group. :D


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Oh my gosh, ya gotta go there just to see all the fun pictures at the different group meetings, LOLOL!
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you know....
 

the rocks at our summer place would be very bad for doxie backs.

Even the cockapoo down the way, hurt his elbow on them.
The cats sort of leap from rock to rock...like cats do. They don't seem affected.

But our choice of dog ultimately will be one who can handle that obstacle.
example:

A little wiener dog with great enthusiasm wouldn't last long here:
And we cannot afford the huge vet bills anymore (retired).

I agree the doxie looks like great fun. But would it be fair to the doxie?

But...But...I can go over rocks Mrs. D!!!! You can adopt me! :D

Yeah, I agree the rocks would probably be an obstacle, I'm not sure.

I'm glad we walked down a couple blocks to visit my best friend, Penny. She was holding Bruna and thought her tummy looked funny. So we got her in the sunlight and looked. She has a small bruise/hematoma. It's soft. And she appears to have a scrape along with it. I have NO CLUE how that happened!

I'm thinking it may have been when she tried to jump up a stair or something like that. So yeah, low riders would probably at least be bumpin tummies with the rocks, LOL!

But, as I said, I can. :D

i belong to this group......great people......lots of doxies


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My dog (had 8 years) only pooed once in house because he was sick and couldn't help it.
I have 5 cats. The sisters (2) didn't like when the brothers (2) came, but accepted it, but the male 5th kitten/cat pushed one over the edge. One now sprays on wall to mark her territory (I didn't know girls could do that but she backs up, twitches tail (I've seen it!), never squats, and when you look, there's something on the wall.) (they have free access to outside.)

Anyone know what to do? It's not stinky like male spray but when fresh, does smell like cat pee. Ick.

I have a friend who has a weinner doggie her name is Jenny the dog I meen her name is Jenny. She likes to get inside pillow cases and be warped all up in a blanket . Do all weinner dogs like to burrow and such?
I have a kinda big 58 pound yellow lab mix and he cannot fit in any pillow case. but I think that is the neatest thing Jenny also likes to try and climb into my hand bag when I am there she is a cool little doggie!
Peace
BMW

Wow...Mrs. D...those rocks and the yard look really beautiful!
I agree, no place for a little rambuctious weiner dog!
I can barely control ours when she gets in the bushes chasing squirrels. She has a mind of her own.
DH always jokes that the squirrels are all laughing at her in her dress! LOL!

that
 

That picture is not in our backyard. It is the shore at our summer home.

We live in another place during the summer. It is a remote island, and requires a boat to get to, and is all rocks.
The only flat areas are the short paths we must walk to the outhouse, shed (where the gas refrigerator is), and to the dock. (I had my son remove rocks from those paths, over the years so I would not fall and break my neck.)

I have a friend with a mini dox he rescued from a puppy mill..He's litter box trained this dog, as well as getting her used to going outside when he's home to take her..Have you considered litter box training? They have special litter for dogs now..

Hi PolarExpress. I've heard of a coupld people who do that. From what I've read, it's okay to do that. It's mainly being diligent about taking them out at certain times every day.

At this point, I have to take Bruna out very first thing in the morning and before I go to work, at lunch, right after work, and again before bed. It seems to be working pretty well.

Hey Dottie! Thanks for that doxie link! They look great! :hug: