Which one of us is not learning?

[ellipses]

Is it my roommate's small dog, who, unlike the other hh dogs has not learned that she is not allowed in my room? Or is it me, who has not learned that I cannot trust an empty hallway or who thinks 'I'm only going to be gone a minute or two, no worries...'? so, no need to close the door...

I cannot leave my room for any length of time without coming back to find that small dog has inched her way into my room. I don't understand it. That damn dog is determined to establish a degree of ownership to my room. At first I thought it was just because no one else was at home and she just craved companionship. But then I noticed that even when there were other people at home, she would still try to bully her way into my room. So, I thought - it's just because her 'mom' (my niece, her owner) whose room is right next to mine - wasn't home - and her room is right next to mine. That's why. Until my niece was home and downstairs...and yet that damn dog didn't care and just wanted to be in my room!

This is ridiculous. I am at war with a small old dog that is just as stubborn as I am! I now can't leave my br door open ever...for any reason. Not even if I am just going across the hall to the bathroom. I used to like this dog - not any more - I have grown to despise her. Maybe 'hate' would be too strong a word...but maybe not.

This is war! Obviously for this dog, it doesn't matter that there are other people in the house, it doesn't even matter if one of those people is her 'mom'! She has just decided that she should be able to make herself at home in my room, no matter what. And I am equally determined that she will not.

In the overall scheme of things...this whole controversy seems a little metaphorical.

whatever, I'm just always pissed off...'this dog' has become my old age equivalent to 'get off my lawn!'

(heavy sigh)

[wring]

This is a small dog? Have you tried a baby gate?

[wring]

Being a cat person, I’m staying mum on the whole who’s unteachable in this equation

[ellipses]

Originally Posted by wring

This is a small dog? Have you tried a baby gate?

lol - we do have a baby gate in this h/h. It was originally designed to keep the obnoxious young boxer out of certain areas - but it was inadequate for that and he is usually just kenneled when his owners are out. But lately, it has come into use because the old dog has become a bit incontinent on occasion. So it is used to keep her in the downstairs bathroom when deemed appropriate.

I am not going to use my limited funds to buy another baby gate. I am just going to keep my door closed. And, get angry when I forget! Who am I angry at? Well, you can guess...

[stormie]

I'm afraid it's you. Dogs learn very bad habits easily. It seems crazy, but rewarding the dog when she is Not in your room might help - a little fuss and pet for example.

And keep your door closed.

PS Craigslist or Freecycle may have baby gate on offer free.

[Kat]

Or Buy Nothing.

[SmartAleq]

Old dogs get hung up on behaviors because they're a little demented and they fixate a bit. So yeah, you're gonna have to get in the habit of closing the door every time you go through it if you don't want the old doggo in there.

Also, I might suggest getting some reusable doggy didees for the leaky creature--my boy dog is leaky and rather than pay 30-40 bucks a month for meds that don't really work I find it much more sensible to pay 20 bucks once to get him some washable diapers to wear at night when he tends to dribble the most. Yeah, it means I wash out a peepee undie every morning but it's not a big deal.

[ellipses]

Well, I'd like to say that this issue has been resolved. I'd like to say that but it wouldn't be true. Who has who trained? I have certainly been trained to close my door whenever I leave my room. Old small dog has not been trained for anything, because no matter how many times she is pushed out of my room, no matter how many times the door is closed in her face, no matter how many times she is discouraged, disrupted, pushed away, scolded, and generally made to feel unwelcome - she persists!

It's not that I don't like dogs. I do, I've had many dogs myself in past years. It's not even that I don't like this dog in particular (although, tbf - I don't!) I like dogs. I am only mildly annoyed by the other dogs in the h/h - and to that degree, it's only because I can't do anything in the kitchen w/o dogs underfoot, begging. I like dogs - but these are not my dogs. I like dogs, but they should be more devoted to their owners, not me.

I like dogs - I just don't like this dog. And part of me feels bad, 'cuz it's not really her fault that she's obnoxious and needy and apparently not getting the kind of attention that she's mostly had in her life. Niece's life got disrupted. Which meant her old small dog's life got disrupted too. And although niece is by no means ignoring or neglecting her old dog - well, she's going about her life in a different way. And her old dog is apparently just having trouble adjusting.

But I am not a fucking dog psychologist! I am old and cranky and having enough trouble adjusting to my own life. And this is not a lifetime movie - we are not going to 'save' each other. I don't like this dog and I am having trouble just dismissing her as a minor annoyance (which is really all she is). To me, she is just one more minor annoyance, of which I already have too many. And maybe that's just a 'me' thing.

My niece has been home all afternoon. She is downstairs in the living room, surfing her phone and watching TV. Her dog has been camped outside my room, just waiting for the door to open - and for what? She won't be allowed in, she won't be petted or coddled or given any encouragement. What's wrong with this picture?

(heavy sigh)

[stormie]

Dogs are weird.

She learned she can get in your room if she waits enough or is sneaky enough or other weird dog idea.