We saved our dog from a doberman rescue almost a year ago. He's a male that's be

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   annebratposted 14 years ago

   We saved our dog from a doberman rescue almost a year ago. He's a male that's been neutered for...
   
   about 6 months. We've never had problems with him before we found out about the pregnancy. He starting peeing, stredding things, clawing our band new leather sofa, and my list goes on. I'm at the end of the rope and I want to turn him back over to the rescue and my husband does not. Our dog is on anxiety meds and they aren't working. We crate him while we are at work or if we have errands to run. As soon as he gets out of the crate he starting peeing on the carpet. Our dog has even went as far as marking me when we had company. I don't know what to do. You have any suggestions?

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   MrsMoeposted 14 years ago

   He's exhibiting signs of stress.   He doesn't know about your pregnancy, but he DOES know that your behavior has changed somehow and his reaction to it is the stress.
   
   Are you taking him on structured walks every day?  By that I mean at LEAST 1/2 hour morning and evening with one or both of you with him as he marks outside.
   
   How is he when he goes into the crate?   Is he calm going in or is he struggling not to go in when you put him there?   If he's struggling, every time you crate him is hours of anxiety.  Consider how long you're at work and the fact he's crated.  He may view that time as a nightmare.
   
   Would it be possible, before you go to work, to take him for a nice long walk and then confine him to a small room with a bed, water bowl, and a food toy that provides him with something to do?

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   Moon Daisyposted 14 years ago

   That's a difficult situation you're in. 
   
   A dog's senses are a lot more finely tuned than our own, and it is believed that they can sense pregnancy (in humans, as well as other dogs!), both through their heightened sense of smell and their perception of behavioural changes in pregnancy.  I've also read theories on how they might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.
   
   This is all the more convincing when you consider that dogs (and other animals) have been known to sense natural disasters before they happen as well as detecting cancer.   
   
   I've talked about this subject in one of my hubs.  But as I'm not a dog expert, I'm not sure how much I can help you beyond this!  I'll just give you the impressions I get from what you have said.
   
   The situation seems to be that you dog is jealous.  Whereas some dogs become more loving and protective of their owner once they fall pregnant, others can get jealous and uncertain, much like a child.  Their position in the family is threatened!
   
   The answer for a child would be to give them lots of reassurance and attention.  As you both work and are busy people this might no be so easy.  It sounds as if he spends a lot of time in a crate (alone?), but that he needs you to spend more time with him.  Would that be possible?  MrsMoe's suggestions make a lot of sense.
   
   Taking him back to the rescue is obviously an option if it's putting an unresolvable strain on you, because your priority has to be you and your baby, and you want your pregnancy to be as calm as possible.
   
   The vet's already given you anxiety meds for him, but perhaps another option would be to talk to a trainer who is familiar with this kind of behaviour.

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