We named him the WRONG name and a bath question

[Sara]

So Otis has been with us for 11 days. He is definitely mis-named. He should be named PIGPEN!

He only wants to be outside with Pete ( our outside/garage, older dog). So much so that he sits by the French doors and cries to be let out. Constantly. And I thought he was SO smart for telling me when he needed to potty! Nope--he wants to run with Pete and behave like, well, a BEAST.

So, sure, it's only 30-something degrees most days here. And sure, there's mud EVERYWHERE! And sure, he's FILTHY. (Insert my crying here). And I cannot understand why he prefers muddy, stinky, COLD Pete over us? Grrrr.

He's had two baths (including one last night). And he's a mud-ball again. And the leaves he rolls in stick into his muddy fur. And he stinks. And I just feel like my life of being proud of my very clean home is over. :(

So....can I wash him again tonight? I use doggy conditioner on him after the doggy shampoo....I'm hoping that helps with moisturizing his skin.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
The mama of the stinky, gross, muddy pig that used to be a cute snuggly puppy

[Lynda Kamrath]

Haha!  Reminds me of Harpo when he was a pup.  He used to dig in everything and actually tried to dig the big oak out of the yard.  I'll try to find the photo.  He was definitely pig pen.  Now he is fine and four years old but the younger dog is the digger.  He dug out two plants the other day looking for gophers.  My husband tries to trap them and a neighborhood cat caught a big ol' gopher and that just encourages Zeppo.   He will climb the tree in the yard to hop over the fence to dig for a gopher.

About frequent baths - I think that is fine with a dog who shares your house with you.  Just make sure to use a gentle shampoo and just wash his face with a washcloth, not pouring water on his head.  Sometimes my little guy has a bath every day (when he is at the dog park) because he sleeps in our bed and I will not have a dirty, stinky dog in my bed.  Conditioner just makes his coat sticky.  Maybe try a little apple cider vinegar if you want a rinse for him.  That is what I use instead of any conditioner.

So, this is my sweet snuggle pup and his oak tree.  It will pass, really it will.  Let him bond with his big brother.

[Sara]

Aw! That dirty nose looks very familiar! Why is it so cute when I'm not the one having it running through my house?! ? Lol. Thanks for the reply!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Why not bring old, cold, stinky Pete inside, give them both baths and let them play together/socialize inside where they can both stay warm and clean?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That sounds like a perfect solution to me, Ricki. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

:)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Me too but I didn't t have the oomph to say it.

[Sara]

Ricki! I shuddered at the thought! Lol. Pete is a ten-year old spaz! Lol. Picture a bull...in a china shop...literally. Lol.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Sara, all dogs can be trained to behave properly indoors. That is our job as pet owners. It's not too late for Pete to learn and since you will be training Otis it would be a good time to train Pete as well. It would really transform his life for the better to be allowed to be part of your family full time along with Otis.  And would be a wonderful gift you could give him in his older years.   DK has a training group that would be more than happy to help you with support and training ideas for both of your dogs. http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets

[Sara]

Thanks Ricki. I really do appreciate constructive advice. To make a long story short, Pete's problems are more than just training. If that makes any sense?! He was a rescue and we LOVE him. But he's got many issues. Many. There was a lot of abuse in his formative years (he's a pit bull mix that was bred to fight). He's truly, truly unhappy when he's inside the house. Our vet is a family friend and he's been Pete's vet through it all--the biting, the possessiveness, the eating through plasterboard and wood walls, and tears as I cried thinking we weren't strong enough to care for him and his needs. Our vet agrees that, at this point, we should just let Pete guide us as to what he wants/needs (barring any type of real danger to living things/people). Pete is very loved. And very happy with knowing that we are there for him...on his terms. I hope that makes sense! There's a lot of backstory to Pete that I sometimes leave-out (I forget that his uniqueness is, in fact, unique!). ;)


Now, having said that, he LOVES Otis. Lol. We never leave them completely alone and I just sigh as the running of the mud commences. Lol.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Ditto!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

It's a super muddy mess here so I sympathize with you. It was a frozen tundra that melted onto frozen ground. We've been in and out furiously wiping paws. Cleaning the floor and now our one entryway rug needs washed because Gracie just tinkled on it waiting for me to put my mud boots on.
I haven't had to give her a bath yet - but she does like to roll in the grass an I'm sure if she was off leash she would be rolling in lots more!

[Adina P]

You could just rinse him off without shampoo.  Or let him dry off and then brush off the big clumps of dirt.  I gave my two an under carriage, paw and beard wash the other day -- barely a week since their grooming.  Just because I have barely any grass left outside since Boca joined our family 4 years ago.