my husband and his dog.

**TaraLynn** · 12-09-2011 03:56 AM

tell me if this would be animal cruelty or not:
My husbands dog spends the whole day in his crate and only gets out when husband gets home from work. only eats one meal a day, doesn't get out to go for walks or to run. husband whines and grouches when the dog wants to go out to potty and the later in the night it gets, the more likely husband will refuse to take him out.

because he cannot go out for runs or for walks he has become extremely hyper and usually ends up hurting the kids or me. if i yell at the dog for running over the boys, husband gets mad at me and tells me that the dog doesn't know any better and the boys should know to stay out of his way. the dog will also steal the kids toys and if i yell at him about it, husband gets mad at me and tells me that the kids shouldn't be shoving the toys in his face. most times the kids are nowhere near him when he steals the toys. my boys tell my husband no or avoid him when he tells them to let the dog out. my 3 year old just spent quite a while yelling into my armpit "no want the doggy out! mommy i no want doggy out!" "mommy doggy ooowwwwwwiiiiiieeeeee me" the dog also has a bad habit of eating the kids snacks and food off of their table or if he cannot find what he wants off of the kids table he gets into the garbage. i am very very tired of all of this . oh and i just noticed that if the dog doesn't get out of his crate when he wants to, he eats or chews up anything he can grab with his paws. he has chewed a chunk out of the carpet near his crate and has chewed the heck out of his bedding and blanket. if i talk to husband about it, he brings up loki, the other dog i made him get rid of, and he grouches about how i made him give up something that he loved and that if i want this animal to go that he will never forgive me. well, if he keeps bringing up loki and shoving in my face that we got rid of him, i will slap him. or sometimes he will tell me that if the dog goes then the cats have to go. i am already trying to find homes for the cats or one of the cats, but he doesn't know that yet. we are way better off with only 1 or no animals. the counselor is no help at all with the dog situation. he just keeps lecturing me on how my kitchen should be spotless and that a womens place is in the kitchen. i am tired of it. i want to stop seeing this counselor, but we cannot because of the military saying we have to go to counseling. i donno what to do anymore.

**Claret** · 12-09-2011 05:29 AM

This is no life for any animal. They are interactive and require stimulation just as a child will. They need playtime (at every age), walks, petting, grooming, food once a day is OK an animal will get used to that but they must have water available at all time. My dog needs to go out to poop at least twice a day, that is just how his tummy works. He gets walked and pees when he's on his walk, but he also will go out three or sometimes 4 times a day for a pee. I'm at home all day so I can accommodate this. At the very least your dog needs to pee first thing in the morning then again when you or your husband gets home from work.

He is chewing and eating things out of boredom and frustration. I think you owe it to this dog to surrender it to a no-kill shelter so that another family can adopt it and provide the environment for it that it deserves.

**TaraLynn** · 12-09-2011 05:39 AM

If I could surrender the dog to a no kill shelter i would, but due to his breed, he would be put down instantly. He really is a great dog, he just needs a family that has the time for him.

**KMonte85** · 12-09-2011 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by TaraLynn

he just needs a family that has the time for him.

You are so right on with this statement.

Do what you must and find him a new home where his needs can be met. He can't do it for himself, so it is up to his owners (ie YOU, since your husband probably won't) to give this great dog a family who can give him the time, love, and attention he deserves.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 12-09-2011 06:34 AM

If you surrender the dog to a no kill shelter, he won't be put down. The only way a dog gets put down in a no kill shelter is if he/she is highly aggressive.

This is not a bad dog. This is a good dog in a home with people who do not know how to care for it. Sure he will eat off the tables. Sure he will bounce around and knock your kids down. He's getting NO exercise. He's getting NO discipline. He has NO self confidence. However miserable it is for you and your children, multiply that by 100 and that's how miserable your dog is. He deserves a home with someone that cares enough to give him the care he needs. Your husband is being selfish and childish.

My dog eats once a day. 2 1/2 cups of dog food with broccoli. She also gets 1 rawhide a day to chew on and a few treats here and there. Eating once a day isn't an issue as long as he's being fed enough. It's the lack of walks, the lack of exercise and discipline, the lack of affection that is neglectful.

Aside from the dog, it sounds like a very unhappy home you all are living in. I hope that you can figure out a solution as how you and your husband behave directly affects who your children will become and how happy their lives will be.

**Claret** · 12-09-2011 08:17 AM

Most, if not all shelters, put all dogs through vigorous testing to determine their suitability for adoption and to which type of family it should be adopted into. If you have, say a pitbull, there are pitbull rescue centres that would do this if a shelter is not an option. If it's a Greyhound, there are Greyhouse rescue centres that cater to Greyhounds. There are options.
If your dog is an aggressive dog then it needs training. Unless it's been trained to attack there are training options.
What you don't want is to keep a good dog in what will become intolerable conditions to him. He will then revert to dog behaviour and find any type of unwanted attention as being aggressive towards him, and he will act accordingly. If its one of your children that gets the result, I'm sure you won't want that to happen.
If your husband loves the dog, he'll do what is right. If he is concerned for your safety and the safety of your children he will do the right thing.

**sungoddesschelsy** · 12-09-2011 03:03 PM

The dog is just your husbands dog from what I understand?? Why not try to make this the family's dog? Give the boys a chance to understand why the dog is so hyper, why it steals their toys and the general responsiblities that come along with having an animal? Just My opinion but I feel if you have any animals in your home with children they need to understand that animal has needs just as they do. They may never understand how rewarding having a loving pet can be if they are not taught the proper way to care for them.

Since your husband isn't taking proper care of the animal, in a last effort to keep the animal I would turn it around and let him watch the children do what he did not.

**rosekitten** · 12-09-2011 03:07 PM

I'm curious as to why it's just your husbands responsibility to walk and care for the dog. How old are your kids? Why not go on family walks? If your kids are old enough, they can take him out on a lead themselves. Why is the dog in a crate all day? If a dog is crated most of the time, it will cause huge behavioral problems. Dogs need love, exercise, and affection.

**BabyGirl** · 12-09-2011 07:42 PM

I Guess we are a Curious Bunch here

I also am curious, why the Dog is in a Crate (kennel ) all day ? Does no one let him out in the Morning or for Potty breaks in the Daytime ?

I'm also curious why you got rid of the Other/ before Dog . Loki ? Is there a Reason " You Made Him Get " Rid " of it, a Dog he " Loved " ?

If a Valid reason , like it Biting or things, then why did Hubby get another Dog, especially one of the " breeds " that would be put to sleep if it ever Bit someone, even in Protection of it's owner or home.

It sounds like his dog is Pitt or Pitt Cross, America has gone to the " Dogs" with that breed. Not all Pitts will Bite or Harm, But since they are or have been Cross bred and used as " I'm a Manly Man with a Lock Jaw Dog" that can tear your arm or Face off in a Second. Pitts have a bad reputation..

But as with any Dog, Pitt's and Pitt crosses can be some of the Best Family dogs ever .Dog's of any breed.
With Proper Raising, Proper Training and Lots of Love and Discipline .

My other Concern, is your mentioning " Military Counseling " ? Is that You & Hubby, You and Family ? And even in the Military, you can request a Different Counselor, if progress is not being made. This is a different issue of course, but one part of the Puzzle.