I know it's her pet but she can no longer clean up after it and it's ruining my floors not to mention all the extra work having to mop 24/7. I am not a dog person. I've suggested putting the dog in our enclosed backyard but my mother thinks that unfair to the dog. I never wanted the dog at my house and she threw a fit about finding it a good home. I'm already dealing with my mother dementia and all that it entails I just can deal with the dog mess. Any suggestions?
What kind of dog is it and what kind of weather do you have. Could the dog have a dog house in the backyard for daytime and a kennel crate in the porch or laundry room at night?
Have you talked to any of the local dog rescues? Maybe they have another family or elder in need of a companion. It's worth a try.
It's not unfair to keep a dog outside if properly sheltered and brought in during inclement weather. It's also not unreasonable to expect the dog not to use the floor as its latrine.
Mother needs to accept that this is your house, and that to enjoy the dog's presence (and it can be a wonderful pet if it had been trained properly), Mother needs to accept that some changes absolutely need to be made: i.e., the dog spends some time either living outside, perhaps going through obedience or potty training, and Mother gets to keep her dog. It's a tradeoff, one she needs to understand and accept.
Scientifically, the dog pees out what they take in, so if they drink, take them out now!
Other dogs misbehave or pee submissively when they see you. This mostly happens to little dogs. That is the origin of "you and your little dog too!" (NOT)
My sis had a little miniature dog who peed right in front of me after just taking her out. This happened on the third day of babysitting the dog even though we were getting along before that.
If the dog is small, over 6 years old, pug on diapers. Make friends with the dog, it can tell that you don't like it.
And finally, start ripping up all your carpets and replace with wood, pergo, or even linoleum. Don't have a back porch? Put a dog crate somewhere, take the dog out often, but put it to bed each night.
Are you sorry you asked yet? This must be one of my longest posts yet!
Good luck with your new doggy! It is no longer mom's, because YOU are leader of the pack!
If that is not the cause, then I would try to find the dog a new home. Where did the dog come from? Some no kill adoption agencies require that the animal be returned to them if you can't keep them for any reason. That's what I did with my cousin's cat.
If you are the sole care giver for a dementia patient, I would consider if you have the time and energy to properly care for a dog. Some people do, but I think it depends on your priorities and the level of your responsibilities. Do what you feel is right for your family.
She's fairly reliable these days, especially since my old black lab came from rescue to live with us and they go outside together. I live in the country and have a huge backyard but I still put pee pads down for her at night and when I go out.
My cousin was so obsessed with her cat that it was not healthy for either of them. The cat is now happy and my cousin has no memory of the cat.
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