Digital Mom

Help!

I have a big, big, HUGE problem. It's about Rascal. I have not really elaborated before on any of this, I've only just made comments here and there about him being "bad" and "driving me crazy." Now, I am going to elaborate, because... well, I just don't know what to do.

I can not have anyone over at my house, because Rascal will jump on them and bite them and bark at them and will not leave them alone. Maya can no longer have friends come over and play. I can't let him near any kids because he has bitten a neighbor kid. He has a bad reputation in our neighborhood. He has never broken skin, but he has bitten Maya, too. I can't tolerate this at all!! the other problems, I'll get to them in a minute, I could deal with... I can NOT deal with the biting and being crazy.

What else... he refuses to learn to go pee and poop outside. I am constantly cleaning his messes up off our floor. It's ruining our carpet. He chews our stuff, he chews Maya's toys. Maya can't even play in her play room anymore, or anywhere in the house, or on the floor.

I could go on and on...

We have tried so many things. We listened to the vet's advice, we've bought books on training dogs, we've done research online about the problems and what to do, we've even talked to professional dog trainer.  Nothing is working! We've tried crate training and everything.  My whole life revolves around this dog now. I am so, so, so stressed out. I can not take a shower without putting him in his crate or he will go after Maya and her toys. I can't do anything... I can't play with her when he is around because I have to chase him away from her toys or clean up his mess, I can't clean with him around because he chases the broom or tries to eat the dust rag. We can't leave him in the house without the crate because, well, if we did the whole house would be trashed when we got back.

I KNEW getting a dog would be hard, I knew a young dog even harder. I have had dogs all my life, I knew what I was getting into, I know how much responsibility they are. I have never, ever had a dog like this. It's taken over my life, and I want my life back. I want to be able to have people over again, I want my daughter to be able to play on the floor again, I want her to be able to have her friends over to play. I don't want to have to worry about people getting bit.

We have thought long and hard on this, and we've been considering taking Rascal back to the shelter. My husband is fed up with him, and Maya actually WANTS Rascal to go back. I am having a harder time with this. I have gotten attached to Rascal. I know if we do this, I am going to cry my eyes out. Wondering what will happen to him, etc.

I just don't know what to do. I feel like a failure as a pet owner. You have no idea how hard we have tried, though. We've tried so, so hard. He just keeps getting WORSE and not better. I am way more stressed than I need to be.

What would YOU do????

This And That

If having two dogs has taught me anything, it has taught me how to be less anal about the house being clean. No matter how often I sweep, there will always be dog hair and who knows what else they track into the house on the entry way floor. And the carpet. And the kitchen floor. And the furniture.

Does it drive me crazy? Yes. But I'm dealing.

Life is crazy, CRAZY with two dogs and a kid. But truth be told, I kind of like crazy. Rascal, though he is still a bundle of energy, seems to be learning a thing or two from Fred. He has actually been behaving better!! Fred, well, he is no trouble at all. He goes to the Vet on Friday, and I'm not worried because he loves car rides and he is so calm. Although they both loooove their walks, and they also love to play together. It's all working out rather nicely!

There's a lot to do around the house, but I am happy because over the past 2 days we have gotten 2 major things out of the way for now: laundry and yard work. I HATE laundry. It is my least favorite thing to do. I helped hubby with yard work and he helped me with laundry so it's all good.

Time for this tired mama to get to bed so I'm not dragging tomorrow morning!!

Fred. AKA Fast Freddy and Freddy The Flash.

OMG This dog kicks major butt. He is awesome. I will post more about him later, for now I just wanted to show some pics... and let you know that things are going pretty smoothly having him here with Rascal. They even PLAYED!!! I did a whole bunch of research on introducing new dogs, and it all seems to be going well. Click here for pics!!!!

We've been calling him fast freddy and freddy the flash because this dog is SO lazy and slow LOL. Typical Basset for ya, I guess!! He DOES like going for a walk and riding in the car, though! Alrighty, more later!

Fred

So there's going to be an addition to our family. No, I am not pregnant. We're getting another dog. I know, we are crazy. He is a 5 year old pure basset, as gentle and well behaved as can be. Trained, house broken, tolerant, friendly. Friends of Brian's are moving and can not take him with them, so... we'll be his new family. His name is Fred. This is going to be very hectic at first, because Rascal is not exactly well behaved yet... but... we have signed Rascal up for obedience classes. He starts on September 12th, and I am just hoping and hoping that they do him some good. Has anyone ever done this, ever had any luck? Also... anyone have any advice on introducing a new dog??

We are picking Fred up tomorrow.. don't worry, I will have pictures!

Time To Chill Out

Finally, a day to get things done, get caught up, and relax a little! Things have been way, way too hectic. I have been stretching myself way too thin lately, helping people, and it's been rough. I need to start concentrating on what is best for my family and myself. That's another post altogether, though.

I got most of the house pretty much clean, except our room. Our room is the biggest pig sty on the planet. At least the rest of the house is clean.

Spent some time relaxing and coloring with Maya. About to give her a bath, which she needs BIG time. Then I can chill out a little more, get dinner started, maybe play a board game or two with hubby and Maya before he has to go to work. Then I can read Maya's books and go take a very long bubble bath. Try to find something good to read. Chill out online a bit, then off to bed.

I don't know how my life got so crazy. Today was nice, but I am having major problems with certain things. One of them being the dog. I don't know what we are going to do. He is so bad. We have tried everything... crate training, read books, I mean everything. I was holding onto hope for a long time, but honestly, I think he is just a bad dog and I just don't know what to do. I know dog's are a huge responsibility, and I know they require a lot of care and work, but this is insane. I love him but... things better change, ya know? I can not even have people over without him getting.. crazy. Not excited and friendly crazy, either. Mean crazy. I do not want a mean dog. I have my daughter's safety to consider, and she comes first.

Well I am off to give her a bath, I will be back with more... there are so many things I want to elaborate on I will probably have about a million posts coming up!!!

"The Dog"

Heh. In case you don't get it, this is Rascal's impression of The Dog.

Is it Friday yet?

Not much going on around lately, other than I SUCK at Flylady routines. Maybe I can still get myself back into it, I mean, I'm really not that far behind... and yes, I am trying to convince myself more than you.

In honor of trying to see the glass as half full: the good thing about finding out I am indeed not pregnant, is that I was able to suck down the hugest most caffeinated Latte ever. Oh, and because I was feeling sorry for myself, I got my hair done. A PERM! And it actually turned out the way I wanted! How exciting. It's so, so cute. I swear I will post a pic soon. It's shorter and messy and curly and funky and so me. I also dropped some serious cash on corresponding styling products. Gotta have the shampoo specifically for curly/permed hair, as well as the conditioner and then there's the curl enhancer stuff... oy.

My dog? He. Is. So. Bad. I am so sick of cleaning up dog poop and my house always smells like some sick mixture of poop and febreeze citrus stuff that I've already been through 2 bottles of in 3 weeks because if there's one thing I can not stand it's a smelly house. He is still a puppy and I know things will get better. I just don't know when. Sigh.

The good news is, it's almost friday... stay at home moms value weekends just as much as working moms do, you know!! :)