We have 5 dogs in our household, including Mom's little Maltese. Mom is understandably attached to her, but it goes way beyond that and Mom treats Mitzi like she is her little doll or baby. She continually feeds Mitzi from her her table, and I have been asking/telling Mom not to do that for the last 6 years or so. Even though Mom has mild dementia, she KNOES I don't like it when she does this, because when she doesn't know I'm there, she looks around to see if I am watching, then gives Mitzi food (usually from her fork). This has caused Mitzi to be overly territorial toward our other dogs when they so much as pass by on their way to get water, etc. I am beyond angry. I have lost any semblance of patience. I have tried explaining to Mom why it's a bad idea to feed Mitzi from her table. It is making Mitzi a spoiled little dog who attempts to rule the roost. Please advise.
Pincone~I am sorry if you feel slighted here, but this is RobertaCapeCod's thread.
Sue, a miniature pinscher x jack russell (and mother's cat) came to live with me when my mother went into a nursing home. I live out in the country on 2 acres and I'm home most of the time. Since being here Sue has lost the extra weight, turned into the sweetest little thing and become very attached to her big sis, Ash, a middle aged black lab that came from rescue last year. She'll be 5 soon and she's living the high life.
I somehow feel you are responding to RobertainCapeCod. I posted a concern as Pinecone. A bit of a different situation than hers. But thank you.
A dog can be every bit as important as a child to a person.
I am sorry a dog never grows up, you were supposed to have already.
How sad she has to "obey" someone she raised, and she still respects you as evidenced by her looking around first. This is very sad tom me.
That dog will make her happy and live longer and some day both will be gone and that sweet lady's funny acts will not seem so sinister, but rather will make tears flood from your eyes crying if she were here now I would let her feed a turkey to the doggy.
I need help in deciding what to do.My parents do love the dog, but they have passed the point of reason. It is very sad.
Any advice would be so appreciated.
Thank you.
Pinecone
I hope that you have now fully accepted that you don't "make" anyone do anything. Your mother's behavior in the past was what she decided to do, not what you made her do. (A mental illness may have made her do irrational things, but that was never your fault.)
A book I highly recommend is "Loving Someone Who Has Dementia" by Pauline Boss.
Mother has dementia. I doubt very much that her behavior is going to change.
It apparently works to be with Mother while she is eating. Could you possibly spend her entire mealtimes with her? Your presence seems to be a deterrent to feeding Mitzi from the table.
I would guess that if Mitzi is a spoiled dog and has been for 6 years, even a change in your mother's behavior isn't going to "unspoil" the dog.