Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I don't have an issue letting her go. I am ready I want her to be ready not just because she is now inconvenient.

OP, you are missing the signs that she IS ready. It's not like she is going to whisper in your ear, "I'm ready. Take me to the light." These physiological signs plus her age ARE how she tells you.

This is OP. I don't have an issue letting her go. I am ready I want her to be ready not just because she is now inconvenient.

Throw the dog off the balcony it will feel liberating

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, put her down. She's the equivalent of 110 years old. She's had a good run, now key her go out with some dignity.

Small dogs live a lot longer than big dogs. I think the 7 year equivalent is meant for large dogs like labs. Most of my small dogs have lived for 18+ years.

As long as the dog is happy I see no reason to kill it.

A dog who cannot manage stairs or its bladder probably isn't happy. Dogs are super adept at hiding their pain; it is a survival instinct. People hold onto their pets way too long. I know; I was one of them with my first dog, who I did have to carry up and down stairs to get her to pee. But she had the opposite problem--she was withholding. She was 17 and I couldn't see it.

The OP is alienating her husband and making herself and her dog miserable. Someone in that household needs to step up and be a responsible, loving pet owner/parent and let the dog rest, which is not the same as killing it, thankyouverymuch.

Why not hire a dog walker? That way you could do 1/2 the "walks" (letting a dog down the stairs to pee isn't really a walk) and the dog walker could do the rest? Your DH could do before work and after his work.

Anonymous wrote:?? You don't even walk your own dog and you don't have kids. Quit trying to give me pointless advice.

I'm not the PP, but you posted here for advice. Your dog is not destroying your marriage. You're doing that. I can see why your husband is frustrated. I know you think that your balcony solution is perfect, but clearly it's not because your husband, AKA the other adult who lives in the house, does not find the solution to work.

Your remark about how needs change as situations mature. This situation is not working anymore. Your solution is not acceptable. Your hostility when people point that out pretty much demonstrates why your husband is upset.

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, put her down. She's the equivalent of 110 years old. She's had a good run, now key her go out with some dignity.

Small dogs live a lot longer than big dogs. I think the 7 year equivalent is meant for large dogs like labs. Most of my small dogs have lived for 18+ years.

As long as the dog is happy I see no reason to kill it.

If OP's problem is real, I really hate her. I understand the stress of having an older, sick dog and young kids, but your attitude OP is so annoying. Like really, really annoying.

Your dog is not healthy or happy. I have been there twice, recently, and your dog has zero quality of life.

I think it is fine to let her pee on the balcony, but once a dog is messing herself and can't get up and down stairs, you need to be realistic.

And try not to be such an overwhelming ass to the people trying to give you advice.

Seriously, put her down. She's the equivalent of 110 years old. She's had a good run, now key her go out with some dignity.

Anonymous wrote:Ok as noted I will NOT be lugging the dog and the kids up and down the stairs. Why is this so difficult for you to understand? Do you have young kids?

The kids will be OK alone upstairs by themselves for 2 minutes. Take the dog out.

?? You don't even walk your own dog and you don't have kids. Quit trying to give me pointless advice.

Anonymous wrote:Ok as noted I will NOT be lugging the dog and the kids up and down the stairs. Why is this so difficult for you to understand? Do you have young kids?

Our dog walker has two kids. She manages to walk numerous dogs +stroller 5-6x a day. She goes .5 miles each time.

I don't see the issue.

Ok as noted I will NOT be lugging the dog and the kids up and down the stairs. Why is this so difficult for you to understand? Do you have young kids?

OP, this has been going on too long, with too many excuses.

For those who may have missed the initial thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/436145.page

Your dog is incontinent, or has the implications that come along with being incontinent, meaning she is urinating in the house. There may be medications that will assist with her having a little better ability to hold it.

That being said, out of eight times a day, I suspect you could take her out for at least 5- first thing in morning, lunch, after work, mid evening, before bed.

In my mind, inconvenience doesn't trump hygiene. If you're not ready to let her go, then you need to find a solution that works for everyone in the home, without destroying your house in the process.

Ok let's not derail the thread by discussing how much each of us pees per day. That's my bad, should not have opened that door.