My Housemate's Dogs are trying to kill me...

[singerguy04]

I HATE dogs now! I'm usually fond of any animal, but my housemates 2 dogs are the most obnoxious dogs i've ever met. To add to my frustration is that I used to help train dogs at a local animal shelter. I've been trying to train these dogs better since i moved in 4 months ago and aside from sit and down they've retained nothing. One is a Pitbull/Boxer mix and the other is a Siberian/Alaskan Huskie mix. My 2 housemate's are off on business and wont be back for another week, so i'm all alone witht he monsters.

Here's a list of what I've had to put up with the past few days...

- I don't blame them for pooping or peeing in the house when i'm working between 3 jobs and am gone for 10 hours straight, but when I get home let them outside, watch them go again, then leave to the grocery store, come back in 40 mins and there's 2 fresh piles of poo on the floor with pee stains on a white wall I just can't be OK with it.

- I made lasangna for myself last night since I havn't cooked or really had anything much to eat the past few days. The only pan I could use was kinda big so I had to make more than just my share. That was fine with me because it would probably feed me for a few days and I could save a few bucks in the end eating left-overs. I left the house to go put air in my tires. I left the lasagna on my oven. I get back and it's all gone. Eating anything off the counter is something both hadn't done in a very long time. That was something that even their owner had trained them not to do, so they know it's wrong. On top of that I had given them food and a extra treat becaue they had been good all day so they had plenty to eat. In fact it was proven a bit later when the Huskie (the only one who could've jumped onto the counter to eat it) then puked it all out in the dining room.

- I had worked from 6am to about 2 pm and just gotten home. I felt bad for leaving the dogs so i spent about 2 hours downstairs with them playing around and petting them, basically giving them attention. Then I just had to take a nap because work was a bit exhausting and I had been up since 4:30am. So i head up stairs and naturally they follow me, but this time I guess going upstair got super exciting and one felt the need to try to run up behind me and through my legs. Which then led me to getting off balance and then to me falling down our hardwood stairs. I still have pretty bad bruising all over me.

- I had just gotten home from work again (this is the same day as above). I have 3-jobs so I worked again later that night. I went over to the back door to let them outside and while i was unlocking the glass storm door one of them in a fit of excitement jumped up at me from behind and basically shoved me through the glass door. From that i have a ton of cuts all over me to match my bruises. Not to mention the accicdent cut through my work outfit so i have to spend $30 on a new one and even more for a new door.

- My housemate have been recieving bills in the mail for their business and so on. I put all their mail in the center of the dining room table and I came home the other day to find that the dogs had gotten onto the table and ripped through/eaten the mail.

- They've gone through my laundry and succesfully in one day ruined all my socks.

- One puked all over my housemates bed

- they're jumping up and playing on all the furniture (which they know is bad)

I would say it's all for attention, but i'm serious when i say that aside from yelling at them and trying to show them what they did was wrong I am giving all my attention to them. I just can't be around all the time because I work all the time. On top of that my housemate who is their owner has taught them not to perform most of the things they are doing so they know it's wrong. I know i'm sure this could also be a protest by them because they miss him but what the hell am i supposed to do about it.

I'm literally beat up and tired as heck to be putting up with this all the time for another week. Their owner has already only been gone for 5 days.

I know there was a barking thread made a bit ago on here but this seemed to be a different problem. Is there anything that any of you might suggest?

[Siren]

You are hating the wrong end of the leash. Those dogs are obnoxious because their owners are morons. Sorry, I know they are your roomies but if the dogs are as bad as you say, then they are morons. Your housemate taught them jacks***. Maybe as puppies he did a little training, but he obviously has done nothing else.

Are they neutered? It sounds like they are marking.

Do they have crates for them? If not, they should be put into the crates when no one can supervise them.

Go to your local pet shops and vet offices and ask for any brochures/business cards on local dog trainers. Then get some scotch tape and tape them all over the house. On their bathroom mirror. On the bedroom door. On the refrigerator. Where ever you know they will look.

Being you are cleaning up after them and if they are destroying your property too, when rent time comes, deduct an amount from it that seems fair for the time and property you lost. Give them an ultimatum. Get the dogs obedience trained, get them in crates, and get them fixed or your leaving. I love dogs, I wouldn't put up with that s***. Suddenly losing their help with the rent and free dog sitter won't seem so good.

Understand when it comes to dog behavior, they WANT you to be alpha. They WANT to be told what to do. These dogs are lost. They are bored. They have no discipline. Its not natural for them. They need a leader. And if their owner doesn't step up, then you need to step out.

[singerguy04]

well they both have been neutered so it's not that. I was thinking this too at first, but i asked a while ago and found out they were.

On top of that, when their owner is here they are angles except for the occasional misshap which i think happens to any dog. It seriously is like now that he's gone all hell has broken lose and i'm back at square one.

For now, since i can't afford to go buy them crates i'm going to send them into the basement everytime i leave the house. It's heated and doesn't have any carpet or really nice things for them to ruin.

Also, their owner is paying for my rent through december already for watching them. I think he might've seen this coming...

[Siren]

If they are better when the owner is there then you are going to have to step up and work with them. Take them for a walk...one dog at a time. Correct pulling, with a leash jerk and harsh "no". You need to establish yourself as an alpha. Because once their owner leaves, so do the rules. So you need to teach them, you are as important as their owner in the hierarchy of the pack.