My sister and I babysit each others dog when one of us are going out of town. We've done this for years. Well the last few times I've babysat "Princess", she's been peeing and pooping all over the house. My sister 'claims' she doesn't do it at her house. WELL..I'm babysitting this week and I swear she's a constant pee and poo factory. She's extremely overweight :whip: and starting to get old. This morning I locked her up in my sunroom before going to work, because we have hardwood floors and I'm afraid she will ruin them. When I lock her up though, she barks nonstop. NOW that I'm at work I'm worried (because of her age and weight) that she may bark herself into a heart attack! I can't imagine going home and finding her dead-much less having to tell my sister. :help: ...Do you think that could really happen?
I just don't know what to do! They won't be back to pick her up until Monday!

:cry: :cry: :wall:

Sounds like it could possibly be seperation anxiety to me. Does she do any chewing?

I haven't heard of a dog having a heart attack from barking. Usually they stop barking a half hour or so after you've left when they realize that the barking is futile. If they don't stop, usually they'll just end up hoarse.

But if it is anxiety, then she could bark herself into a panic attack, although I'd think that'd be highly unlikely. Being locked in a single room would make anxiety worse, if that's what's causing her to bark and go to the bathroom in the house. Do a quick search on seperation anxiety in dogs and see whether or not any of it rings with what Princess is doing. It's hard to tell without seeing or knowing the dog.

Do you live far from your sister? If not, maybe next time you could offer to dog sit at her house. The dog might not adapt well to the change of scenery, especially if it's older.

If leaving her at her own house isn't an option, maybe your sister could bring a blanket or something with her scent on it for Princess to lay on.

Thanks kpickell. I feel a little better. This was the first time I've locked her up. Thats why I was worried. I just don't know what else to do, because I couldn't chance her ruining my floor. Also, I worry that MY dog will decide its ok to go in the house.
She was barking like crazy when I left for work this morning.>> Off to take your advice and do a Google search!

Wolfie,
great suggestions, but the house sitting thing wouldn't work for me. I like the idea of a blanket, though. I wish I had thought of that. I'll try it next time.

If you have a dog crate, maybe you could try that. Of course if you had one, you probably would have tried it by now. :p But a lot of dogs like the closed-in "safe" feeling of a crate. All of mine do.

Of course, if she's never been crated in her life, that might freak her out. So I wouldn't just stick her in a crate and leave for the day w/o watching her reaction a while first.

^^^
I have one, but shes too dang fat for it! I really ought to post a picture... :brood:

:lol:

I wanted to add, when you clean up her messes, especially if it's on carpeting, use an enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle. It's expensive but works well. That way there will be no scent left for your dog to smell.

Thanks Wolfie. Good Idea. Can you get it at Walmart, or do you have to go to a pet store?
Theres no telling where shes relieved herself that I haven't found yet :mad:

I've bought it at Petco and drsfostersmith.com. I don't think Wal-Mart has it. It's cheaper on line than at Petco but unless you're ordering other things, the shipping probably cancels that out.

Discount stores sell other enzyme-based cleaners, but I like Nature's Miracle because I know it works, it's not tested on animals and I like the smell.

Another that really works is Smells-Be-Gone and it has no smell at all, but it's extremely hard to find, at least around here.

They don't sell Nature's Miracle at Wal-Mart, but Wal-Mart and K-Mart both sell a product called Out! that I like. It's another enzyme-based cleaner that seems to work just as well and is cheaper.

How was she when you returned from work? If nothing was chewed up, and she seemed relaxed and happy, then you're probably fine leaving her in the sunroom.

Thanks guys. I haven't bought the enzyme stuff yet. Probably today.
After worrying yesterday, she was fine when I got home. Nothing chewed up. So her fat fanny is back in there today.

This morning I went to take her outside AS SOON AS she woke up, and she tried to pee on the livingroom floor on her way to the door :evil: