One of our dogs got hit by a car a couple weeks ago. He came home on Friday, but is recovering from major surgery (one broken front leg, and pelvis broken in a few places, plated back together...he can use his front leg, but can't put any weight on back legs...so he pretty much eats, sleeps, and pees at this point).
We've noticed that our "healthy" dog seems to be unhappy with the changes. I anticipated this, but am not sure how to handle it. He growled at our recovering dog once, and I'm pretty sure he has started urinating on him, too. We have a new rule in the house that if a dog is outside, he MUST be on a leash, period. Our healthy dog has never had to be put on a leash to go out in the back yard, because he usually doesn't try to jump the fence...well, he's jumping the fence all the time now, so he is on a leash every time he goes out. He refuses to pee outside if he's on a leash, though, and I think he sort of blames our hurt dog...so, he saves up his pee and urinates on him.
How can we deal with these issues? It has only been a few days, and in my experience with our dogs, I'm sure more will come out in the days to come, so I'm worried that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks so much in advance for all your help.
We've noticed that our "healthy" dog seems to be unhappy with the changes. I anticipated this, but am not sure how to handle it. He growled at our recovering dog once, and I'm pretty sure he has started urinating on him, too. We have a new rule in the house that if a dog is outside, he MUST be on a leash, period. Our healthy dog has never had to be put on a leash to go out in the back yard, because he usually doesn't try to jump the fence...well, he's jumping the fence all the time now, so he is on a leash every time he goes out. He refuses to pee outside if he's on a leash, though, and I think he sort of blames our hurt dog...so, he saves up his pee and urinates on him.
How can we deal with these issues? It has only been a few days, and in my experience with our dogs, I'm sure more will come out in the days to come, so I'm worried that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks so much in advance for all your help.
You need to spend a little more time with the healthy dog and take him for several long walks a day to get some of that pent up energy out of him. His urinating on the sick dog is just a behavior problem that you can fix by punishing him when he does this. If this were my dog, I would not let the healthy dog near the other dog until he is better and able to get up and defend himself. You allowing the dog to urinate on him too is showing the dog who is in charge and is sure isn't the humans. I think if you just spend a little more time with him and keep him away from the other dog, his attitude may change. He probably feels you are spending and giving too much of your time to the sick dog and not enough to him. You really must stop him from urinating in the house and on the other dog too.
It sounds like a "pack dominance issue". The injured dog is vulnerable and the healthy dog is forcing the other to submit. Try keeping them separate for safety sae and only allow them to be together when you are able to keep close tabs on them.
I had two Shi Tzu's who grew up together and the smaller of the two had a serious heart problem that later in life caused her to be laid to rest. My healthy one was either way to protective or was too rough her her and the only way to keep Sandie safe was to keep them apart when I wasn't babysitting them.
Ask your vet for more suggestions but it could be that the healthy one senses the illness of the other and wants to do what the pack would do. Maybe he is also trying to "re-scent" the injured one to smell like he used to and not the vet or an injured animal.
Good luck, its a long road ahead.
I had two Shi Tzu's who grew up together and the smaller of the two had a serious heart problem that later in life caused her to be laid to rest. My healthy one was either way to protective or was too rough her her and the only way to keep Sandie safe was to keep them apart when I wasn't babysitting them.
Ask your vet for more suggestions but it could be that the healthy one senses the illness of the other and wants to do what the pack would do. Maybe he is also trying to "re-scent" the injured one to smell like he used to and not the vet or an injured animal.
Good luck, its a long road ahead.
My girls!
Wow!
Well, one thing you can say for dogs: they don't harbor deep secrets or engage in deep deception. There feelings are right there on the surface.
Clearly your healthy dog isn't happy with the changes.
I suspect that he is upset that the injured dog won't play with him. That is probably why he growled at him. "Come on! Get up!" I've had dogs do this; I had one dog barking and growling at the other dog who was dying, encouraging him to get up and play.
I expect you are going to need to make the fence higher, or add an "electric fence" wire to keep the dogs from going over it. BTW you might not need to do the whole fence, just the part the dogs usually jump over. It depends on the dogs, of course.
Meanwhile, you may have to put the healthy dog on a leash indoors too; or crate him when he's in the house for a while, until he is finally willing to pee outside. Don't let him pee in the house; eventually he'll have to go outside.
Does the injured dog pee in the house? Does he pee in his bed? This of course would tend to stimulate the other to pee on or near him. Dumb dogs.
Well, one thing you can say for dogs: they don't harbor deep secrets or engage in deep deception. There feelings are right there on the surface.
Clearly your healthy dog isn't happy with the changes.
I suspect that he is upset that the injured dog won't play with him. That is probably why he growled at him. "Come on! Get up!" I've had dogs do this; I had one dog barking and growling at the other dog who was dying, encouraging him to get up and play.
I expect you are going to need to make the fence higher, or add an "electric fence" wire to keep the dogs from going over it. BTW you might not need to do the whole fence, just the part the dogs usually jump over. It depends on the dogs, of course.
Meanwhile, you may have to put the healthy dog on a leash indoors too; or crate him when he's in the house for a while, until he is finally willing to pee outside. Don't let him pee in the house; eventually he'll have to go outside.
Does the injured dog pee in the house? Does he pee in his bed? This of course would tend to stimulate the other to pee on or near him. Dumb dogs.