Safety vs Companionship: Seniors and Dogs - Page 1

Well I'm staring down the barrel of a rather unfortunate situation and I'm a little stuck.

Over the past week and a half my father has experienced a collapsed lung, twice and had to undergo thoracic surgery to address the collapses.  His chest is vulnerable, his lung is recovering and the other lung currently doing double duty is at risk of collapse as well.

In a couple of days I'll be bringing him home to further recover at my house, since all this happened while he was up here on a visit.  He's 70 years old, isn't frail per say but right now his torso is vulnerable.

My father has two dogs.  A four year old altered lab bitch who is a good 75lbs but who was obedience trained and is also by nature calm and sedate.  Then there is his other dog.  A 2 year old lab/beagle mix who he adopted from the shelter over a year ago.  This dog is a complete headcase, altered female about 50lbs.

My father has put NO obedience on this second dog -I'll called her Labrabeagle- and she is completely out of control.  She runs and jumps in his lap all the time, jumps up on the bed and walks all over him, careens and knocks into him like a lunatic.  For the past year plus, he's found this behavior adorable and done nothing to discourage it and any time I've brought up the fact that she's out of control and needs boundaries, he always says 'She was abandoned at the shelter and just has separation issues.'

His dogs, not mine so beyond saying my piece about her behavior, nothing I could do.

Well now we're in a pickle.  She can NOT be allowed to jump on him at least not for a good 4 to 6 weeks.  He's going to be feeling sorry for her and doesn't want to scold her or make her upset.

I've effectively had the dog in my solo care for over a week.  She's learned very quickly the law of the land BUT the moment he comes home, she gives any commands I give the middle finger because she knows 'Daddy' is going to let her do what she wants.

I want him to have access to his dogs so that they will keep him wanting to get up and moving around.  The 4 year old lab is PERFECT for this, she'll stick with him obediently, is content to lay quietly on the bed beside him for hours and just walk with him too and fro, no problem there.  It's the Labrabeagle that is the risk factor.  If I try to crate her when I can't be on top of things to keep her from slamming about on him, she'll whine and he'll let her out and you get the picture.  I'm considering boarding her for at least a week after he gets out of the hospital but I honestly hate to do that but she has no obedience, any obedience I put on her is useless because my father undoes all the work done but I don't need to be rushing him back to the hospital with another collapsed lung.

I support pets for seniors, I really do but this is just a mess with no real happy ending in sight.

how about putting labrabeagle onto a leash with the lab (4-5 feet max)?
Obviously one will influence the other and when a heavier lab will lie down where she pleases this one will not be able to move her ...and will have to learn to be content laying or sitting next to the lab....I had done this with all of my dogs and even thought my 1st girl and the one to whom all pups and unruly dogs been tied to does not appreciate it, she does influence them...she wont be driving anyone crazy being inside the cage, she wont be able to run and jump as she pleases....you will have to pay attention to the tangling part...like chairs and tables but even than they learn pretty quickly how to walk around w/o getting stuck...just a suggestion...

A good suggestion, though I might actually have to make the connector a bit shorter.

Now if I can just get as good a plan on how to deal with my father's bull headedness!

Can you board her out just while he is delicate?  He will still have one companion and won't be lonely.  Would hate to see him get hurt.  The connector idea is great but may become annoying to the good girl. Saftey first when it comes to healing and the elderly. 

Board one or get a friend to take her. The tied together thing is an accident waiting to happen, picture your father getting clotheslined between the two.
Ang

Ladyfrost, I did that with two cats.... I'll tell you about it sometime on another thread...... let's just say, don't leave them alone if there is a jumpable fence.

Even though I'm an animal lover and even if they were my dogs I would put my fathers safety as paramount. No ifs and or buts. Don't want to have anything happene that would "haunt" you till your last days. The bigger picture first! I would think even if the 2nd dog was there and crated/kenneled that that would cause a strain/load on your father also.....even if he said differently. There will be plenty of time after recoup for the "wild" one. JMO.

I SAY BOARD THE DOG UNTIL YOUR FATHER IS RECOVERED. AT THIS TIME HE IS OF THE UTMOST PRIORITY. 

beetree...can't wait....i say it would be a good post..LOL..