toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Aug 12, 2016 1:35:16 GMT -5
honeybbq, Are there any areas upstairs where they could be safely restricted to with a babygate? Before our pup was relaibly house trained, when we wanted to leave her, we'dput a babygate up limiting her to the kitchen/laundry area. We'd put down pee pads, water & toys... Dog #3 can be crated; Chihuahua is small and doesn't need a lot of space (and if vision is limited probably is better off confined to a smaller area). Have you considered doggie daycare for dog#2? Dogs 1 and 3 are crated daily. Dog 2 .... she used to do doggie day care when she was a young and energetic thing. Haven't done it for years though. Doggie day care rates are like 40- 50 bucks a day here. I could probably find something 1-2x a week. Argh. It's a good idea. The only place I could think of would be the laundry room. But it's pretty small. It might work though I think she would hate it. The kitchen is an open area and couldn't really be partitioned off. At this point mentally the basement is sort of a lost cause for us... DD1 used to take her 2 dogs to doggie day care. I think it was $55 per day, if they were picked up by 5:30pm. If she was going to be late, I'd go pick them up and take them home (their house, not mine), to avoid additional cost. She did this for a few years. Then she found someone around 18 yrs old, that was willing to stay at her house. A dog sitter. It has worked out really well. The dogs get to stay home, but aren't left alone, she doesn't have to constantly drop them off, or pick them up, the sitter just shows up when she's supposed to and it only costs $25 per day. Maybe dogs wouldn't bark so much, if they had access to outside? Or if they had a way to drain their energy, instead of holding it in, then barking at every little thing, to release it. I really don't know. I don't have a dog, just grand-dogs. But I watch The Dog Whisperer a LOT. hehehe (Seriously, I don't know.) I'm sorry for what you and others are going through, or have been through. And I wish you all the best. And I'm sorry you have a neighbor who finds it necessary to call the police, or animal control, or whoever, when they hear dogs barking. That's got to be frustrating too. BTW- Good thread! I have enjoyed reading through it. I like how people have responded, voicing their thoughts and opinions, as well as telling of their own similar situation / experiences, without finding a lot of fault. It feels supportive, to me. I hope it has helped you, in some way, even if it is just to vent. -My 1 BR, 1Bath, apt is hard to keep clean because it is so small. It's hard to find a place for everything to live. But at least it's just me and my ferret. I don't have to clean up after anyone else. And it's getting easier, as I get rid of things I don't need, or use. Good luck!
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Spellbound454
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"In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends"
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Post by Spellbound454 on Aug 12, 2016 2:49:49 GMT -5
Yes, I have some fleecy hygiene pants for my dog when she is in season. (you change the pad) Many people are using the same pants for old dogs. Just means they can have all the usual cuddles and you are not worried about your furniture.
Some good advice from debthaven. Go for one room at a time. Main areas first .. Plan colours and schemes (its fun) Start looking for furniture you like ...internet is good. Doesn't have to cost a fortune if you are savvy. and get a bit of pride in the place.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 2:59:17 GMT -5
Heh. I tried diapers on one of my guinea pigs. Bastard walked right out of them, turned around and walked in so he could eat the poop he left. Little shit. (Literally and figuratively) He was a colossal shitter which is why I tried them. Pee pads it was!
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ginpin
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Post by ginpin on Aug 12, 2016 7:18:51 GMT -5
I haven't read the entire thread, but can you crate the problem dog? I understand not wanting to crate the old dog. Last year I put my 17 year old Siamese down. After lots of anguish, and as many UTIs in as many months, I made the decision because it wasn't fair for her to be in pain, and it was getting tough on me cleaning it up all the time.
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on Aug 12, 2016 10:07:23 GMT -5
I JUST HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT MOST ORGANIZED PERSON BUT this OP made me want to throw up! HAVING money and stink like a dog Are you a woman or what? Cheap to the point to make your living arrangement unfixed hell?
I used to deliver pizza and Chinese food and I have never ever seen houses in your price range less than sparkle and gorgeous.
I now can smell a dog...and I don't have any. YUCK!
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 10:11:44 GMT -5
Everyone has been great and supportive in the thread, even the tough love. I appreciate it. The cleaner came yesterday and did she she could for 3 hours. When she was leaving she said it might be better if she came for 5 next time. I was like, yeah, 5 is good next time. In other answers: The oldest dog is crated because he is lowwwww energy. Problem dog is still too high of energy. I think she barks at squirrels, people walking by, etc. You know, normal stuff. I guess my neighbor feels like it should be all silent all the time. Once I left her outside when I went to the grocery store or to get gas or something and the neighbor had called me after 15 minutes. Not a very patient person I hate barking dogs, too, but in some ways it's normal and there should be a balance. I think I'll start as debthaven suggested, start maybe with furniture and painting. I will probably be down to 1 dog in the next 2 years, I'm guessing (and down to 2 by the end of the year) so maybe I can stand the basement if the rest of the house makes me happy...! the garage, we have lots of shelves but it's definitely still disorganized. Need to work on the H on that one... stay tuned!
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on Aug 12, 2016 10:12:24 GMT -5
We have hardwood in most of the house. The dog promptly jumped onto the couch and before i could yell "NO!" barfed all over it. Then got off the couch and proceeded to barf her way around the living room. Couldn't just puke in ONE area .. nope when we got done I counted 11 individual piles of puke. At least the children have the decency to barf in the toilet. We just got a new couch and I am so paranoid about it. We got a two year service warranty they will come clean it for no charge. It was worth the extra money with two kids and two dogs. What is it? Contest on most disgusting living?
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 10:12:38 GMT -5
I JUST HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT MOST ORGANIZED PERSON BUT this OP made me want to throw up! HAVING money and stink like a dog Are you a woman or what? Cheap to the point to make your living arrangement unfixed hell?
I used to deliver pizza and Chinese food and I have never ever seen houses in your price range less than sparkle and gorgeous.
I now can smell a dog...and I don't have any. YUCK! Hey, thanks for the support! I'll try to incorporate some of your suggestions, they sound really practical and thoughtful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out!
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 10:13:42 GMT -5
My friend's pug used to poop in her crate and then hop around the house in the crate so it would smear for good measure. IMHO paying someone to paint is worth it for a larger space. The cost of materials and time has gotten pretty close to the cost of someone else doing it. My old dog poops in the crate and sleeps next to it. At least has hasn't taken to smearing, though I doubt his old hips would let him.
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on Aug 12, 2016 10:15:25 GMT -5
I JUST HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT MOST ORGANIZED PERSON BUT this OP made me want to throw up! HAVING money and stink like a dog Are you a woman or what? Cheap to the point to make your living arrangement unfixed hell?
I used to deliver pizza and Chinese food and I have never ever seen houses in your price range less than sparkle and gorgeous.
I now can smell a dog...and I don't have any. YUCK! Hey, thanks for the support! I'll try to incorporate some of your suggestions, they sound really practical and thoughtful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out! I am not helping you out! What are you 12? Grown up women living in $700K house smelling like a dog are beyond help IMO!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 12, 2016 10:17:13 GMT -5
Have you tried a wire crate with one of the drop pans at the bottom? The poop would fall to the bottom and then you just the pan. They don't look like the most comfortable thing I've ever seen but it would contain the mess. Sometimes you just do what you gotta do. Sabah managed to eat an ENTIRE rabbit once and got insanely sick because of it. We had no choice but to crate her. .. but then we had to clean out the crate.
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Pants
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Post by Pants on Aug 12, 2016 10:33:19 GMT -5
I JUST HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT MOST ORGANIZED PERSON BUT this OP made me want to throw up! HAVING money and stink like a dog Are you a woman or what? Cheap to the point to make your living arrangement unfixed hell?
I used to deliver pizza and Chinese food and I have never ever seen houses in your price range less than sparkle and gorgeous.
I now can smell a dog...and I don't have any. YUCK! Hey, thanks for the support! I'll try to incorporate some of your suggestions, they sound really practical and thoughtful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out!
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countrygirl
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Post by countrygirl on Aug 12, 2016 11:01:22 GMT -5
I said people were crazy for buying a bigger house when they got old. So what did we do? Bought a bigger house and a 4 acre yard as if 2 wasn't bad enough.
So I have 1800 sq ft upstairs and 1800 in the heated and cooled basement. Our dog stays in the basement when he isn't outside. He doesn't smell bad though and doesn't have accidents even though he is 12. I found a spray for odor and spray the area rug and couch down there he sleeps on. I took the cushions off and got covers for the couch and wash them about once a month. I mop with that fabulosa cleaner, it smells wonderful.
My kitty upstairs is 20, she still uses the litter box and also is not going outside it. She does occasionally vomit though. Half my upstairs is tile, half is carpet. But its 2 of us and I'm not working and I still can't keep up.
We work hard on rentals and try to make them easy to keep clean also, there is carpet but as time goes on when we replace its going to be the vinyl that looks like wood, its in boards like laminate.
If you could afford it I would have someone come in and clean, that will make you feel batter. Limit the dogs to the basement. I hate barking dogs too and thankfully mine doesn't. But he has a big yard to run in when we are home so works off his energy.
When my dear pets pass on I'm not getting more, they are a lot of work and expense. Love them dearly but this is the last hurrah.
I would contain the dogs in the basement, I hate crates.
Get the house cleaned thoroughly
Hire a painter to paint all the walls.
Take one room at a time and completely refurnish it, might be one or two a year.
Let your significant other have one area with a door to trash.
Teach your young one to pick up after themselves
We have 3 garages and a lawn shed and they are not organized, I try to keep the one at the house in order, but not always so.
Yep, we are all crazy.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 12:11:31 GMT -5
Hey, thanks for the support! I'll try to incorporate some of your suggestions, they sound really practical and thoughtful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out! I am not helping you out! What are you 12? Grown up women living in $700K house smelling like a dog are beyond help IMO! According to Zillow my house is worth 1.5 million. But thanks for playing. If I'm beyond help, then stop helping!
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 12:14:22 GMT -5
Pat?? Did I miss a name change? Am I crazy?
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Aug 12, 2016 12:19:15 GMT -5
I JUST HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT MOST ORGANIZED PERSON BUT this OP made me want to throw up! HAVING money and stink like a dog Are you a woman or what? Cheap to the point to make your living arrangement unfixed hell?
I used to deliver pizza and Chinese food and I have never ever seen houses in your price range less than sparkle and gorgeous.
I now can smell a dog...and I don't have any. YUCK! Hey, thanks for the support! I'll try to incorporate some of your suggestions, they sound really practical and thoughtful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out! I you.
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kittensaver
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We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
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Post by kittensaver on Aug 12, 2016 12:32:30 GMT -5
Everyone has been great and supportive in the thread, even the tough love. I appreciate it. The cleaner came yesterday and did she she could for 3 hours. When she was leaving she said it might be better if she came for 5 next time. I was like, yeah, 5 is good next time. In other answers: The oldest dog is crated because he is lowwwww energy. Problem dog is still too high of energy. I think she barks at squirrels, people walking by, etc. You know, normal stuff. I guess my neighbor feels like it should be all silent all the time. Once I left her outside when I went to the grocery store or to get gas or something and the neighbor had called me after 15 minutes. Not a very patient person I hate barking dogs, too, but in some ways it's normal and there should be a balance. I think I'll start as debthaven suggested, start maybe with furniture and painting. I will probably be down to 1 dog in the next 2 years, I'm guessing (and down to 2 by the end of the year) so maybe I can stand the basement if the rest of the house makes me happy...! the garage, we have lots of shelves but it's definitely still disorganized. Need to work on the H on that one... stay tuned! Honey - remember the old adage (a little crude but very apt) about how to eat an elephant?
One bite at a time - - -
Good luck and I'll be cheering for you. My house is far from perfect too, and it's in the same price range as yours (at the beach in La La Land). Contrary to what loony may think, price is not some indicator of perfection . . . .
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 12:44:42 GMT -5
Honey - remember the old adage (a little crude but very apt) about how to eat an elephant?
One bite at a time - - -
Good luck and I'll be cheering for you. My house if far from perfect too, and it's in the same price range as yours (at the beach in La La Land). Contrary to what loony may think, price is not some indicator of perfection . . . .
Thanks. Yeah, I already spend too much money on my house, I don't have an extra $1000/month for sparkles. And honestly, I don't need sparkles. I'm not that kind of person. But if I were, I'd need full live time live-in help I think. I was actually thinking about the Brady bunch the other day. I need my own Alice!!! I probably make it sound worse than it actually is. Everyone would probably think my house looks like a nice normal place, with a couple crazy dogs in it.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 12:45:10 GMT -5
Hey, thanks for the support! I'll try to incorporate some of your suggestions, they sound really practical and thoughtful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out! I you. Feeling is mutual. I needed a new signature anyways.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 12, 2016 12:46:18 GMT -5
I probably make it sound worse than it actually is. Everyone would probably think my house looks like a nice normal place, with a couple crazy dogs in it.
I don't know .. do you clean the top of your fridge? I remember several YM threads where everyone was obsessed with this as a mark of being a proper housekeeper.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Aug 12, 2016 12:47:02 GMT -5
I probably make it sound worse than it actually is. Everyone would probably think my house looks like a nice normal place, with a couple crazy dogs in it.
I don't know .. do you clean the top of your fridge? I remember several YM threads where everyone was obsessed with this as a mark of being a proper housekeeper. LMAO! No. No, I don't. Actually, H stores stuff up there, and I can't even see up there, so it's all on him as far as I'm concerned.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Aug 12, 2016 12:47:22 GMT -5
I probably make it sound worse than it actually is. Everyone would probably think my house looks like a nice normal place, with a couple crazy dogs in it.
I don't know .. do you clean the top of your fridge? I remember several YM threads where everyone was obsessed with this as a mark of being a proper housekeeper. If I can't see it or reach it, it doesn't get cleaned.
My ceiling fans get cleaned when my 6' tall friend visits.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 13:03:55 GMT -5
I'm so sorry you hate your house. It's so hard when pets get old and sick and crazy to keep on top of it all. So many good suggestions here and I hope knowing others have similar issues helps a little. Can you maybe just start with one room? One room that is new, clean and not yellow and just keep everyone out? It sounds like you need at least one space to feel good about and be able to relax in. That's all I got. Good luck.
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on Aug 12, 2016 13:06:50 GMT -5
I am not helping you out! What are you 12? Grown up women living in $700K house smelling like a dog are beyond help IMO! According to Zillow my house is worth 1.5 million. But thanks for playing. If I'm beyond help, then stop helping! Who said I am helping? Simply stating my opinion
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 12, 2016 13:14:48 GMT -5
I don't clean the top of my fridge either. One advantage of being short. Can't see it, don't need to clean it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 13:18:34 GMT -5
I don't clean the top of my fridge either. One advantage of being short. Can't see it, don't need to clean it. I just toss things on top of it.
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kittensaver
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We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
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Post by kittensaver on Aug 12, 2016 13:24:49 GMT -5
I probably make it sound worse than it actually is. Everyone would probably think my house looks like a nice normal place, with a couple crazy dogs in it.
I don't know .. do you clean the top of your fridge? I remember several YM threads where everyone was obsessed with this as a mark of being a proper housekeeper. If I can't see it or reach it, it doesn't get cleaned.
My ceiling fans get cleaned when my 6' tall friend visits.
LOL! You're waaaaaaay better than me, girl! My ceiling fans get cleaned when we finally turn them off for the season (usually some time around Halloween) and notice how dirty the edges of the blades are!
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Aug 12, 2016 13:27:01 GMT -5
If I can't see it or reach it, it doesn't get cleaned.
My ceiling fans get cleaned when my 6' tall friend visits.
LOL! You're waaaaaaay better than me, girl! My ceiling fans get cleaned when we finally turn them off for the season (usually some time around Halloween) and notice how dirty the edges of the blades are! You mean you don't just wait for the build up to be enough that you can let it blow off and vacuum it up from the floor?
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Pants
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Post by Pants on Aug 12, 2016 13:44:18 GMT -5
I you. Feeling is mutual. I needed a new signature anyways. Just read the new signature and snorted out loud, lol.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Aug 12, 2016 14:36:25 GMT -5
If I can't see it or reach it, it doesn't get cleaned.
My ceiling fans get cleaned when my 6' tall friend visits.
LOL! You're waaaaaaay better than me, girl! My ceiling fans get cleaned when we finally turn them off for the season (usually some time around Halloween) and notice how dirty the edges of the blades are! Woo Hoo! That's one thing I do clean. I cleaned my ceiling fan just 2 days ago. Gosh. I am feeling all kinds of special now!
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