We had a lovely time yesterday - we visited friends that we haven't seen for years, who have now got a beautiful Labradoodle, and so we went in the afternoon with Pongo so we could all take both dogs on a nice long walk and then come back for dinner. Well, that's what the story should have been. What actually happened was that Pongo came into their house, explored excitedly, and then while I was talking to my friend in her BRAND NEW REFURBISHED KITCHEN I glance round and see Pongo lifting his leg on her doorframe. Aaaaaargh. I go into a flat spin of embarrassment and apologies, and while I'm faffing about finding kitchen roll I see that he has wandered off and is now marking right up her newly painted wall. (He stops when I yell, and I take him outside to put his lead on and go for walk round the garden, he has several big wees and then we come back in still on lead; and that seems to the be the end of the problem). But what the @?!**@!!!? Friend of course was lovely about it but I was truly, truly mortified. He has never done anything even vaguely similar before. It is not the first time he has visited other dogs' houses (although admittedly it isn't a frequent experience for him); including other entire male dogs (the Labradoodle is an entire male). I'm trying to think of what the learning points are here.... so far I've only come up with (a) always have him on lead when first visiting a new house; (b) always take him round garden before going into house after long car journey; (c) always carry clean-up materials. Any other advice / explanations would be very welcome! Red-faced Rosie and Pee-machine Pongo. xxx
Sorry. I know you’re mortified. But this is too funny! I need to remember your learning points! Although even when the tank is empty, they’ll always find a drop to squeeze out if they want to.
My worst nightmare is that when we first arrived he went wandering off on his own all round their house and I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE DONE WHERE....
I might wonder if their entire male labradoodle had done the same thing and Pongo was just reacting to that? would she have said? I know that isn't going to make you feel much better. Is the labradoodle by any chance a breeding boy?
Oh boy, been there... Snowie loves to visit the neighbors up the road. They have two dogs. Snowie tears into their garden at top speed in great excitement and, if a door is open, he’s in their house and inspecting the kitchen counters. They adore his crazy clownish behavior so at least no hard feelings, and always reassure me that there is no food left out. But the last time, he went upstairs and who knows what he did up there!!!!!!!! I didn’t dare mention it!!!!!! I think that might make me bad, but I couldn’t face it if it was true!! As far as I know, all he’s ever done is marked my aunt’s curtains about five years ago. But as you say, what about the times you don’t know about!!!!! I do usually have him on lead when we go anywhere inside that’s not our house or my mom’s flat (his two homes) cos he’s not to be trusted!
Oh dear, I do understand you feeling mortified though. Years ago, our previous lab BJ did the same thing and more. Walked happily into my daughter's new home and proceeded to widdle over her prized aspidistra in its posh antique plant pot. Then to add insult to injury, rushed into her lovely little garden, jumped in the pond and stuck his front paws clean through the lining and wrecked it ! Unbelievably we were invited back - though I left BJ at home next time.
Apparently quite the opposite, his (hooman) dad says that they introduced to an in-season bitch and he didn't pay any attention at all. He does have anxiety issues - they have done a fantastic job of rehabilitating him over the last three years, when he came to them he was six years old and had never been allowed off-lead in his entire life. (Loving but over-anxious owner, my friend's dad). He is still a bit unsure of other dogs (some nervous growls at Pongo, but mainly waggy tails and mutual ignoring), but relaxed and laid-back around all humans. A saved dog, marvellous.
My thoughts exactly Sorry @Rosie, I don't have any advice, just here goes Pongo making me smile again!
Possible. But I think unlikely....it really is a very very beautiful house, newly done-up, no dog hair, perfect paint and colour coordination, ought to feature in Homes and Gardens Weekly.... oh god I'm feeling mortified again...
The intact dogs that Sophie works with (intact cos they are breeding dogs) are just awful at weeing in the house at work. Absolutely fine in their own homes and here if they visit, but wee at any opportunity at work - can't be kept in the kitchen even, as the younger puppies do wee on the floor. And that is with being swabbed floor to ceiling with simple solution about 4 times a day. Pongo was just maybe expressing his dislike of "perfection".
When I fostered Spero (3 years ago!), the first 3 hours he done the exact same thing everywhere he tried to go in the house. I ended up only allowing him the living room for the first 24 hours as it backs onto the garden. He was neutered. I thought a5 the time ‘OMG, what have I let myself into’. The next morning and every day thereafter, he didn’t try and mark anywhere. I don’t understand why he did it, maybe he was scared or worried, or......I just don’t know why. Pongo has never done that in my house, so must be something about that particular house? Hope you feel less mortified soon Rosie xx
Homer once marked on the new shoe of the newly elected president of hubbys sports club. He now takes a step back whenever Homer approaches. Hubby took Homer to a friends new house, while they were all merrily chatting away Homer disappeared, Hubby found him two flights of stairs in a nest of bedding on their bed.
