Jasper (12 yr old Mini Schnauzer) is now at peace

Hi Tina,

HAPPY EASTER!:)

Now for the business at hand…… I have a brilliant, little escape artist. Rosie can jump over baby gates and climb out of just about any enclosure. It took me several attempts before I found something that has worked so far. I have built a escape proof (so far)area to contain Rosie. I use three pressure gates, bungee cords, Broom handle pieces, a section from a plastic x-pen, a large wire pet crate, smooth boards, plastic pool cover pieces and three plastic floor mats (kind for under desk chairs). Rosies enclosure is approximately 12 x 10 feet. I put her in there when I have to go to work and no one is going to be home to watch her. I put washable pee pads down, but she doesn't use them anymore. She holds it until someone comes home.

A few tips.....

The pressure gates have to be anchored tightly into something. You might need to permanently attach them if Jasper is able to move them in a panic.

I attach a smooth board to the pressure gates with Bungee cords. That way she is unable to climb them. The boards need to face the inside of the enclosure. This could help Jasper from injuring himself. He would have nothing to grip to paw at.

The Broom-handle' pieces are used to go through the holes in the gates to anchor them against some kind of furniture. This makes the gates immovable.

The plastic pool cover pieces go under the large wire crate. The three large plastic desk chair mats (which I rescued from the refuge pile at work) cover the rest of the carpeting enclosed area. That way if Rosie did have an accident, it wouldn't go through onto the carpeting and is easily wiped up.

So sorry that you and Jasper having these problems. I feel bad for both of you. Xxxxx

OMG Kathy, sounds like you would need a building degree for that effort... you could have a new career :D:D I would put Jasper in the bedroom, maybe with the door open so he can see Shelby but with a baby gate. Don't think he could jump over that?? Or do you have an internal room that would be more insulated from weather noises??

I use a big Bissell, wish I had a little one but luckily no accidents for us. But is was handy when the cats were here and had the odd mess when they aged.

My other though, maybe a melatonin before you leave in the morning if you know it is going to be a dodgy weather day?

xx

Awwww, poor Jasper. Being afraid is no fun. Daisy isn't able to clear gates with her stubby doxie legs but she'll do her best to bulldozed them with her head.

Do you keep Shelby penned in the room with him? Does he get a speiail treat when he gets put in the room? That was the only way we could teach Koko to be contained anywhere without freaking out. He busted gates, jumped gates, I even did double gates on top of each other.

I felt bad having to lock Zoe up in the kitchen with him but he needed her with him and then they were both happy to get their special treats. A few times they knocked down the gate but I think that happened from playing.

Dear Tina,

I am so sorry to read about your worries over Jasper. I wish I had a brilliant suggestion to offer, but I'm afraid I do not, and am so hopeful that one of these other good ideas will end up helping.

Mainly, though, I want to thank you so much for stopping by to post on my threads for Barkis and Peg. When you are in the midst of your own worries, it means so much to me to read your kind words. I really, really appreciate it!!!! And I will be keeping my fingers crossed that you'll find an easily workable solution for Jasper.

With love and my warm wishes,
Marianne

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for all of your suggestions and feedback. I will comment a bit later on all of that since it is so late now and I need to get bed!

I just wanted to update that on Monday morning while I was in the shower getting ready for work, Jasper had an accident on the carpet outside the bathroom. He had been outside less than an hour before. :eek: This has happened a few times before when he has had a UTI.

I called and talked to my vet and she agreed that it sounded like a UTI based on his pattern in the past. We also talked about how he has been having accidents all over the house while I am at work now since I can't keep him in the kitchen anymore. I am wondering and hoping that maybe that is related to him having a UTI. I feel so bad, it didn't even occur to me until he had the accident while I was getting ready for work. :o

So she started him on zeniquin for 7 days and if he shows improvement, we will get a refill. She opted to go ahead and treat without checking a UA since his urine is always so dilute and often a culture doesn't show anything even though he has some symptoms. I am hoping that is all it is, and once it is treated his other peeing issues will also improve. So I guess we will see. He got his second dose last night.

I have ordered 4 new pooch pads from Amazon, the ones I have are worn out and leak sometimes. They have lasted over a year with daily washing. Amazing, I don't know what I would do without them. The new ones should be here any day now. As soon as I get those, I may try him in the spare bedroom.

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

I hope Jasper feels better with the antibiotic and that it indeed is a UTI, Tina.

Always something to worry about, I know. I find myself looking at every hair on Koko's head since losing Zoe. Then I tell myself, stop, he is fine.

It is indeed hard not to worry.

EEEK another UTI possibility! :(

Hope that is all it is, as that can be fixed and may be your answer to why the accidents all over the house.

Hope the meds help
hugs
sharlene and molly muffin

Oh dear....I hope the prescription knocks out that UTI quickly. It's always something isn't it?? Any luck building the fort yet?? :D
Kathy's list of materials cracked me up...all that for teeny little Rosie the escape artist..that is too funny.
Hope something will work out so that you can keep Jasper safely confined. :D

Barbara

Speaking of forts....I had a thought that will entail some lumber and screws but should work. You will need some narrow but strong strips to form a channel on each side of the doorway,probably 1 1/2 - 2" thick. Then a piece of plywood cut to fit the width of the opening that will slide down into the channel you made with the strips. The strips and plywood need to be strong enough Jasper can't push through. I would think 1/2" should work fine. You could paint it all up with butterflies and flowery crap to make it purdy. :p