BP and new pets. poss trig.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
BP and new pets. poss trig.
6
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 2:52pm

Im a regular chatterbox today? i have another ?. i've always wanted a doggie. i haven't had one since i was a child and mom and pop took care of his basic needs like training him etc. all i really had to do was walk him. i spoke to my pdoc about wanting a dog and she was totally against it, thought is was a really bad idea and that i should stick to cats for a while. mind you, at the time i wasn't dealing very well. but you know how we get, oh did i tell you guys im obessive compulsive? so i was locked in to this dog and in order to shut me up DH finally gave in.

for the last 21 years ive had a cat. yes he was 21 yrs old when we had to put him down. i gave myself a proper grieving period and my DH gave me a dog for my 44th bday. Well lo' and behold it helped!! DH and pdoc thought i was setting myself up for failure and i proved them wrong! Yes, at times it is difficult but while im with him, i feel very calm and having someone else to care about besides the pity party for one, gave me something else to concentrate on.

Now im not saying this will work for everyone, after all, pdoc was pretty much against it. what i want to know is, has anyone had any possitive results from getting, or owning, a pet?

Avatar for schitz
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 5:35pm

I can't believe your pdoc was against it. He must be old fashioned. Pet therapy (along with art therapy, music therapy etc) is quite popular now. I had 2 cats when I was living at my girlfriends' but they got rid of them, so in the end it was hard (that's a long story and we'll leave it at that). My other friend had cats when I moved in there so it was a bit different in that they weren't mine. My dad's girlfriend has a dog (a maltese) and I love him so much. He just gives so much unconditional love. He loves to cuddle on my bed and gives great hugs. Anyone who thinks pets are a bad idea for those with mental health problems is the one who is nuts!

Amanda (BD, BPD, OCD, PD, GAD)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 9:24pm

Maybe your pdoc had a bad experience with a puppy or a dog; then again maybe he is just concerned how well you would tolerate the STRESS trying to housebreak a puppy can bring.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 10:37pm

Marci:

My mom breeds Shih Tzus, so we have had to deal with a LOT of housebreaking (she currently has 17 females and 2 studs but no puppy mill comments lol! - she also has 10 acres, and a 5800 sq ft house with 4 rooms devoted entirely to the dogs! She even has INDOOR invisible fencing)

ANYWAY! Unless the dog has a physical problem causing them to go indoors, the BEST way (and hardest for the owner unfortunately) to break a potty problem is this:

Secure the dog on a lead only long enough for them to sit and lie down - not to walk around. You may leave food and drink within reach if you would like or give at specific times if you prefer. Then, at the SAME TIME every day, tell the dog whatever "potty phrase" you use "let's go potty" or "do you need to go outside" etc etc and take them - still on the lead outside and let them go to the bathroom and to run and play for a bit. After they have gone and you are ready to bring them in, put them immediately back on the lead. The ONLY time they should be off the lead is outside in a secure yard/park when they are going "potty". From experience this usually takes 3-4 days.

We had an old cockapoo that we trained this way and she lived to be 22 years old. She went to the bathroom EVERY day at 8 am, noon, 5 pm, and 9 pm until the day she died. The only time I have seen this method NOT work (when it was followed completely) was when the dog had a kidney or bladder disease which causes them to be unable to control their bladder, but that is a separate issue.

No matter what you end up doing - Good Luck!!! :)
Tracey

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 11:20pm

Marci,


Tracey is absolutely correct in the method.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2004
Tue, 01-25-2005 - 11:46pm

Hi,

I have 3 dogs and 3 cats. There is no way my life would be the same with out them. All mine except for one cat are special needs babies and the one is just special. They have a wonderful calming influance on me. Some times I bring them in from playing just for that reason. One of my dogs (the Lasha Apsa)sleeps in bed with me and 2 of my cats. My other dog (a chocolate Lab)has arthitis and he's big so he can't get into the bed so he sleeps beside the bed. My other dog (a border collie) is deaf and has seperation anxiety so she sleeps in her night-night because she feels safe there. We keep her night-night in the living room so she can go in it anytime she wants and still be around us.

I could go on and on. You did a smart thing by getting a dog.

Love,

Jamie

Love,

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
Wed, 01-26-2005 - 2:15pm

your absolutely correct about the stress part. i was a wreck when i talked to her about getting a puppy. i knew that it would help stabilize me. it is a challenge but have gotten patience from where i don't know! all i know is i love him!

as for housebreaking, believe me i know where youre coming from! had the same problem with Gifford. we tried using that puppy no! stuff, that was a joke! Do you crate your dog? does he have limited access to your home? well we were crating Giff and he figured out if he poo's in the house or crate, he can go outside. (clever little dickens..) we began giving him limited access in the house and that solved the problem. we also started letting him sleep (on his own pillow on the floor) in our bedroom. this is to let him know that he is part of the family (pack) and it shows him he is not being isolated from his family by being crated or locked in a separate room in the house.

Remember, doggies are very smart and are reading us when think he's asleep! they figure out ways to get attention be it positive or negative that says "hey look at me! love me, love me love me!!)

i hope this helps!

valerie