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

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Pete's part of this post just breaks my heart. Why is it ok for Pete to be outside in the cold? Why should Pete be cold, filthy dirty, stinky and muddy? Dogs are such social creatures and I have never understood why people get them and keep them outside away from the family. Your post hit a nerve because I have to drive by my neighbor's house every single day and see his poor dog chained up in the freezing weather. He is filthy and looks miserable most of the time. I would really love to have someone explain this to me. What makes one dog ok to be inside and one dog relegated to outside? I really hope Pete gets to come in along side Otis. Seems like an old dog might like to be warm and clean. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen, Laurie. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Amen!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

:)

[Donna K & Quincy]

This is why I love you guys! I read the post and it was really bothering me. I was trying to come up with a nice way of saying this but hadn't gotten there yet, I'm so glad you did. I  couldn't get past the picture invmy head of a nice clean puppy all snug and warm inside and an old dog left out in the dirt and cold and it's not a pretty picture. He should be inside curled up warm and safe the way he deserves to be. I expect the exit button will get hit any second now but so be it. Sometimes the truth is hard to take.

[Sara]

Nope. No exit button. I can take criticism. Even when it's misplaced. ;)

I also have to say that the only "truth" that you commented on was one that you assumed. And that was incorrect. Asking before judging might have been a courteous place to start.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I don't know if this is in response to Donna or me, but there were no assumptions made on my part. I was responding to your post and your words where you described Pete as muddy, stinky, and cold. I feel the same way I did when I walked down to my neighbor's house and tried to get him to bring his cold dog inside last winter when the temperatures were freezing and they were advising people not to leave their dogs outside. I just felt then and I feel now that someone needs to speak for these "outside" dogs. I can see from your posts that we are going to have to agree to disagree, but no one will ever convince me that dogs want to live separately from their people. Good luck with your dogs!

[Sara]

I obviously gave the wrong impression of Pete!

Pete is an outside dog. He has been in our home for stretches of time...and he's miserable. He was a rescue that was found on the city streets and we adopted him. He loves being outside. When he chooses to be inside, he has a doggy door to our heated/air conditioned garage. He sleeps on a memory-foam dog bed and goes to the groomer once a month. Which he HATES, and always comes straight home and rolls and rolls and rolls. :)

I said cold because when Otis is outside with him (huge fenced yard), he stands in front of his doggy door and growls so Otis can't go in the garage. Pete prefers Otis to be outside, playing with him I guess? Probably more that Pete is super territorial about his things! But whatever the reason, Otis loves it!

I understand where the confusion came from. And I appreciate the concern. But, I'll be honest, we live on a farm. There are plenty of animals outside here. And they are all loved, cared for, provided for according to their needs and the weather. No reason to be concerned. And God forbid an animal would be CHAINED at our home?! I I don't know where that idea could have come from.

I guess I'm sorry I brought it up? Sheesh. I just wondered if anyone had a Doodle who wanted to be outside more than inside and if bathing a lot was a bad idea. For those of you who offered similar stories of their dirty Doodles, THANKS! :)

[Sara]

Lol! I hear ya! I told my husband that I feel sometimes like we are fighting the "natural" urges of Otis! Lol. He wants to be outside, rolling in mud....we want him inside, smelling all pretty and snuggling with us! Ha!

He's TOTALLY winning right now. Lol.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"I'll be honest, we live on a farm. There are plenty of animals outside here. And they are all loved, cared for, provided for according to their needs and the weather."

A dog is not a "farm animal". Their relationships with humans are, and have been for centuries, a little different than that of sheep or chickens. A dog's "needs" are a little different from theirs, too. We have animals outside here, too. Squirrels, rabbits, skunks. Dogs aren't like those, either.

As to Pete being an outside dog because he's a rescue, Doodle Rescue (and every other breed rescue) takes in dozens of dogs every year who have spent their lives outside and never lived in a home. Every single one of them adapts beautifully to living indoors with a family. They thrive on it. Yes, it takes a little time, patience and love, but bringing "outside" dogs inside is part of what "rescue" means. It's not simply about feeding them, it's about making them part of your family. Why have the dog at all? 

 

 

[Sara]

I understand that dogs aren't farm animals. I was simply stating that I am more than aware--and more than capable--of caring for ALL types of animals and that all of our animals are loved and well cared for. And, sorry, but do you have relationships with the squirrels, rabbits, and skunks outside of your home? If so, that's really cool! If not, it's off-putting to know that you think our relationship with our beloved animals is the same relationship you have with a skunk?!

As far as making an animal part of our family, all of our animals are part of our family. Whether they live in our home or in the barn.

Pete has not "adapted beautifully to living indoors with a family ". He has, however, adapted beautifully to "showing" us what he needs...and us providing that for him. I tried to explain more about Pete in a reply to Ricki on page one of this thread. It explains more about that old boy and what he's been through to get to his happy place with us today. :)

Why have him at all? Because we love him. And he loves us (he really made us work for it though!). He's happy. So are we. And our relationship may not be one that you agree with, but that's ok. We know what's best for him. Because we rescued him and he rescued us by showing us that not every dog/person relationship looks like it does for everyone else. And that's ok because it's what works for Pete, God bless him and his stinky butt. :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

This does sound a whole lot better than your original post that indeed give a thoroughly different impression. Good for you for not hitting the exit button. We see so many doodles that have been rescued from bad situations that any post that evens hints at a dog not being treated well really hits a nerve. I have a neighbour that has a GS dog that lives outside all the time and in the middle of the night you can hear him barking and doing the "I want to come in whine". There is nothing we can do, he's not chained and he has a dog house so they're not breaking any laws. They do walk him and play with him but I just know he wants to be inside with his people and it makes me sad that he's not.

I do have some bad news for you, doodles are dirt magnets and it doesn't get any better as they get older so be prepared for lots of cleaning.