Hi New and Stupid!

Question:
 Hi to all! Our family has been making trips to the shelter for months and yesterday we fell in love. So we brought home this dog who is about a year old and of mixed breeds, lab, sharpei or st. bernard. He is darling and we love him already but we have never owned any animal other than a turtle. So we made a quick trip to walmart. I didn't have any dog shampoo so I used people shampoo. We put the flea and worm drops on him. He does have fleas. We brushed him. Fed him some Pedigree. Bought him a great big dog pillow. Now for the problem. He smells like DOG very bad. My house smells very bad. I have vacuumed and sprayed. I want this large dog in my home. My family does not want an outside dog. But he smells so bad. I don't know what to do. Should I bathe him again? Will it affect the medication I put on him yesterday? Also, he pooped last night while we slept and we left him alone for one hour and he broke my blinds. Is it crazy to want this big dog indoors?
Sorry this is so long. I am worried about doing the right things. We go to the vet tomorrow to get fixed and get shots.
Thanks for reading.

Answer:
You've had the dog ONE day.
It will probably take a couple of WEEKS before the dog settles down, and adjusts.
It is very scary and stressful moving to a new home.
Before you got a dog, did you plan out how you were going to cope and look after one when it came into your home?
I would not bathe the dog again. Let him adjust and settle in.
Do you know about house training, basic obedience etc etc etc?
If not - don't be afraid to ask questions - even silly ones!!

Answer:
I sounds to me like you need to invest in a dog kennel, and kennel him at night or when you aren't available to be with him, or bring him with you :)
Did you get any history on the dog when you got him at all from the shelter??
Firstly, I'd get him to the vet to get him checked over as well. Find a good vet in your area and make an appointment for a general check up. 100% health is what you want from him firstly.
Then deal with his behavioural issues.
Do you know how long he was at the shelter for?
If you bath him, the meds that you get at walmart wont be as effective. Honestly, if you go to your vet, get them to prescribe something for the fleas.
The walmart brand flea medications dont work as effectively and have a chance of reaccurance. If you get your pup on something like Frontline or Revolution - you shouldn't have any problems.
LOTS of people have larger dogs then yours that are kept indoors so no worries ;)
I also suggest taking your pup to an obedience class so you can begin starting a bond together. Dont forget, everything is new to you and your puppy and learning from a professional is the best way to go.
Welcome to the board!

Answer:
First of all, congratulations and welcome! You're on the road to a WONDERFUL experience in the new addition to your family! And I applaud you for rescuing! With the breeds you mentioned, your puppydog could have a LOT of hair? Is that the case? If so, brushing will be very important to keep the undercoat and skin conditioned by the brushings. And a good diet will also help whatever the oil glands excrete, which may smell bad right now. It's still very early and just give it time! I was going to suggest a good ole professional grooming to get you started, but your dog is going into MANY new and scary things right now... going to the vet and getting fixed, etc. Again, I commend you! :)
You'll get lots of good advice, here. I would not put a "people's" shampoo on your dog, though. I would definitely bathe with a dog shampoo... their PH is different and one better matched will help the smell factor. I look forward to hearing more about your new addition!

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I sounds to me like you need to invest in a dog kennel, and kennel him at night or when you aren't available to be with him, or bring him with you :)
Did you get any history on the dog when you got him at all from the shelter??
Firstly, I'd get him to the vet to get him checked over as well. Find a good vet in your area and make an appointment for a general check up. 100% health is what you want from him firstly.
Then deal with his behavioural issues.
Do you know how long he was at the shelter for?
If you bath him, the meds that you get at walmart wont be as effective. Honestly, if you go to your vet, get them to prescribe something for the fleas.
The walmart brand flea medications dont work as effectively and have a chance of reaccurance. If you get your pup on something like Frontline or Revolution - you shouldn't have any problems.
LOTS of people have larger dogs then yours that are kept indoors so no worries ;)
I also suggest taking your pup to an obedience class so you can begin starting a bond together. Dont forget, everything is new to you and your puppy and learning from a professional is the best way to go.
Welcome to the board!
Ditto Jenn! :D

Answer:
Thanks to all for the replies. I know that I sound a tad bit unprepared and to be honest we were. I know that Lokey was at the pound for about three weeks and that he was picked up by the dog catcher so any past info was unavailable. We could have bought a registered anything for what we paid for him and all his "stuff" but he is beautiful and sad and smelly! HA! The vet visit is tomorrow.
The kennel is an idea but won't that make him sad? I know that sounds stupid but he did not pee anywhere or wake us up last night, just the big diarrhea poop on the floor. I did show it to him and put him out for awhile after. Eventually we won't have to use a kennel right?
Also, we are gone up to ten hours a day. Is that okay to leave a dog alone that long?
Silly questions

Answer:
Also, we are gone up to ten hours a day. Is that okay to leave a dog alone that long?
Silly questions
Personally - I think that is a LONG time to leave a dog alone...
10 hours gone, 8 sleeping, 2 living, washing, cleaning etc...
That leave 4 hours in the day to give to your dog.. What can you offer him in that time?

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Not ten hours everyday. I guess that I did not word that correctly. I only work three days a week. Good grief. Not to get defensive, but I know plenty of people who have one or more dogs in their back yard that hardly get any attention at all. My family doesn't want to be like that. And yes we were unprepared to meet Lokey yesterday and get him that day. But we did meet him and we all fell in love with him. I wasn't about to leave him there. Dogs either get gassed or taken everyday. It truly is a sad place. Anyways, that was one of the reasons we wanted an indoor dog. We are all proud of him already and he travels in the car well.
I honestly just was wondering if it was okay to leave them alone for that amount of time some OF THE TIME>

Answer:
Not ten hours everyday. I guess that I did not word that correctly. I only work three days a week. Good grief. Not to get defensive, but I know plenty of people who have one or more dogs in their back yard that hardly get any attention at all. My family doesn't want to be like that. And yes we were unprepared to meet Lokey yesterday and get him that day. But we did meet him and we all fell in love with him. I wasn't about to leave him there. Dogs either get gassed or taken everyday. It truly is a sad place. Anyways, that was one of the reasons we wanted an indoor dog. We are all proud of him already and he travels in the car well.
I honestly just was wondering if it was okay to leave them alone for that amount of time some OF THE TIME>
You said you are away 10 hours, I assumed you meant full time. And I did say personally.
Trust me - I wasn't having "a go" - just seemed a loooong time to be ledt everyday! But it's not everyday - you have cleared that up ;)
I used to work full time till sept, and have a dog (obviously), but was never away 10 hours!!
If it is just some of the time, I suppose there are ways around it.
Could you get someone to come to see him on the 3 days you work - it's an AWFULLY long time to hold your bladder!! Maybe someone could pop in and walk him at lunch time?

Answer:
Congrats on your new pup! You need to give at least 2 weeks for the adjustment period, for your family and the puppy. This is a very new experience for both of you.
As far as bathing the dog goes, don't use human shampoo in the future, but the one time is no big deal. I think it's important to point out that when dogs are wet, they smell very "doggy", once they dry completley, the smell goes away usually.
I do have to say, dump all the stuff you bought at Walmart, starting with the Pedigree food. It's important to put your pup on a quality, healthy dog food which he can benefit from and thrive. Pedigree is equivalent to us eating junk food 24/7. You may want to check out Mordy's site for information on why Pedigree is not great. There you will also learn the skills to choose a healthy dog food for your pup. www.dogfoodproject.com. Keep in mind, dogs that are fed a poor quality diet usually smell worse than dogs that eat a healthy food.
The flea stuff you bought at Walmart wont work either. You should look into Advantage or Frontline if you want a safe, effective flea product for your dog. Products like Biospot and Hearts don't spread and the ingredients don't work very well at all.
Good luck, and you came to the right forum if you want answers and help with your new puppy.:)

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I think getting a crate is a really good idea. My dogs have been crate trained and now they've moved up to an exercise pen rather than two individual crates... but they love their crates. It's like their special space. It helps a ton with housebreaking.

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Hi!
They didn't come any dog dumber than me when I joined here. I was strictly a cat person and hadn't had a dog in decades. I'm still barely smart but I learned a lot from these folks so listen to them and hang in there. They will give you absolutely stellar advice and all you will need to do is follow it and you will have a happy dog and be happy with him besides. But like with anything else, he has to adapt and so do you, so it will take a little time. But I think you already know that.
Also, ditch the Pedigree dog food and the people on this board will give you the names of outstanding foods that will not only be healthier for the big guy but probably improve his ..um...scent.

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My husband comes home for lunch at noon everyday. That is not what I am concerned about. I just don't know about a kennel for that long

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My husband comes home for lunch at noon everyday. That is not what I am concerned about. I just don't know about a kennel for that long
Aahh right ok.
People all have varying views on that.
Personally (again) I do not have a crate. I think it is pretty much akin to sticking a dog in a cupboard and only getting it out to play with (when you are home).
If people want to keep their dog in a cage, they should get a hamster.
I DID use a crate when Bodhi was a small puppy, to aid house training - it can be useful when used correctly - but NOT as a means to "store" your dog when you are out...
Imagine being confined to that tiny space all day :(
I think it is far more healthy to allow your dog access to move about if you can. With toys, and games left, and possibly the chance to see out of a window to watch the world go by.
Obviously - some dogs cannot be given this luxury - so a dog proofed room should be considered.

Answer:
IT just takes time for a rescue to settle down. It might have taken more then one soaping to remove the kennel odor, it can be quite intense. You can mix up some baking soda and sprinkle it through the coat and comb it out to help remove some of the odor, same for the bedding. First night sounds like a stress reaction. I would suggestion asking lots of questions, reading some training books, and being patient with your new dog. Do you know a friend that is good with dogs that can help you?

Answer:
Congrats on the new dog! Double kudos from adopting an adult from the shelter! An adult dog definately seems to be the best fit for your lifestyle.
First of all, I think there is nothing wrong with leaving a well-adjusted adult dog alone for that length of time. My dogs are alone for about 10 hours a day on weekdays (we come home for lunch). They are quite happy. All they usually do during the day is sleep anyway, LOL.
And good for you for making Lokey an indoor dog! There is nothing wrong with a large dog in your home. Right now you're just going through an adjustment period. Give him time to settle in.
As for the smell, that sounds like kennel odor to me. Feed your pup a good-quality food and it should go away. I don't see a problem in bathing your dog fairly often as long as you use a good doggie shampoo and conditioner.
Go to the library and read some good books on raising/training a dog. I'd enroll in a training class as soon as possible, too. It's very important that a large dog be well-behaved: unlike a toy dog, you can't just pick them up when they start getting out of line!
And please post any questions you have. There are a lot of great resources on this forum.
Now...are you going to post pictures soon? :D

Answer:
All good posts and I agree. Give him time and lots of loving. I had never crated a dog before Ollie , but his 1st adopted family turned him back as he was destructive when alone . If he can't go with me , he's happy in his crate . Your poor baby is just anxious at this point . Good luck, welcome and kudos for rescuing !

Answer:
Thanks everyone for your replies. We already love Lokey so much. He is such a great, calm dog. I am so proud to have him in our family. Just a few more questions
The baking soda sounds like a good idea. What do I mix it with?
THe dog food, what kind is best?
Tomorrow he goes to the vet and I am a little nervous for him. I have a list of questions for the vet for my husband to ask (he probably thinks I am crazy)
Does that spray that is supposed to keep dogs off of furniture really work?
ANd, is it true that dogs won't potty where they sleep? I figured that might be why he poopood in my son's bedroom. It was the farthest open place away from his bed.
Again, thanks. We are having so much fun. My kids are learning some responsibility as am I.

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I've never had any housebreaking aid or spray work for me. I sprayed a non chew solution on all my cabinets fairly consistently for months and I still have a few chew marks from little puppy teeth. I'm not sure about the spray you're talking about though :).

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Congrats!! I think everyone on here would LOVE to see some pics, hehe :)
If it makes you feel any better, we got Oakley TOTALLY unprepared as well. Lucky for you, you got a calm dog, lol. Oakley was totally off the wall hyper/crazy, and we just did NOT know what to do with him!!!
He stays home alone while my brother is at school (I am away at college), and he is okay...he just gets lots of love when he gets home (As i am sure Lokey does :) )
As for food..do you have a costco? We get oakley Kirkland lamb (or chicken...i forget) and rice. He likes it, and it is pretty high quality food, and super cheap...like 15 bucks!!
Good luck with everything!!!

Answer:
Congrats! Let me assure you, you're not crazy. :) My family has two great danes and three miniature australian shepherds in our tiny three bedroom farmhouse, and we cope just fine!
Our miniature australian shepherds are also crate trained. They have been left in their crates for up to 10 hours a day - not regularly but occasionally, as we all work at least an hour from home. They do not resent their crates, they are their safe places, their sleeping holes, etc. My year old, Morrie is particularly destructive with his teeth at this point in time so if we did not crate him, we'd be suffering several thousand dollars in damage (seriously, the dog chews anything and everything, got into my younger sister's school supplies and ate a bag of PENS - no food motivation!). Who knows if he will grow out of his chewing stage? Even so, he will continue to live in his crate at night and while we are away. I don't feel I am being cruel to him or neglecting him in any way shape or form, rather feel like I am protecting him from things he could swallow if he was unsupervised and loose. Would hate to come home and find him with something lodged in his throat!!! He gets regular exercise - and I think that is key if your dog is living in a crate for a large part of the day -- you can't just bring him out and let him loaf around the house if he's going to be cooped up that long per day. Morrie has agility classes once a week and we "train" at home three-four times a week additionally, and he has full range of about 60 acres of land. A little excessive - don't think you need to move and find yourself a bigger spread in order to keep your dog in a crate!!!
Truthfully, I wish our danes were crate trained for safety and transportation purposes (not that they would sleep in them, my elder dane does well on the "other side" of my double bed!), but I didn't start them young and so I'd be afraid of them hurting themselves in a crate.
Anyhow, babbled on! Congrats on your new family member, stick around you can learn lots here!

Answer:
Thanks everyone for your replies. We already love Lokey so much. He is such a great, calm dog. I am so proud to have him in our family. Just a few more questions
The baking soda sounds like a good idea. What do I mix it with?
THe dog food, what kind is best?
Tomorrow he goes to the vet and I am a little nervous for him. I have a list of questions for the vet for my husband to ask (he probably thinks I am crazy)
Does that spray that is supposed to keep dogs off of furniture really work?
ANd, is it true that dogs won't potty where they sleep? I figured that might be why he poopood in my son's bedroom. It was the farthest open place away from his bed.
Again, thanks. We are having so much fun. My kids are learning some responsibility as am I.
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your new dog.
As far as the food goes, don't buy what your vet recommends!!! Vets are good at a lot of things, nutrition is generally not one of them. They are educated on nutrition by the company reps of the food they sell. They have incentives to sell certain foods and will probably recommend one to you.
Some good brands to check out are:
www.naturapet.com
www.eaglepack.com
www.naturesvariety.com
www.timberwolforganics.com
www.breederschoice.com
www.naturalbalanceinc.com
www.canidae.com
These foods will be more expensive, but you feed less, so in the end you actually save money and your dog benefits more from the food.
Dogs generally don't like to soil where they sleep, unless they have been forced to and are used to doing so.
I have never heard of a spray to keep pets off furniture. There are sprays to help prevent chewing, but the animal has to chew to taste it and some dogs are not bothered by it. Best thing to do is to train him to stay off the furniture.

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Large dogs in the house? :D I live with a German Shepherd - he's the small dog - and the Riot Grrrrls, a pair of Fila Brasilieros, a bit over 120 pounds each :D
You've already gotten excellent advice and believe me, it will keep coming. All you have to do is ask :)

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I have to tell you though, I find those Filas realllllly awesome dogs. I find myself looking at photos of them more than I care to admit. Unfortunately, there is no way on earth I could ever have one with my skill level.

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So you got Lokey on one day and found this board the very next to ask your questions. With an attitude like that I reckon Lokey is going to be just fine. Kids too! I bet the big lug is in heaven. :)
Of course, you could have been better prepared but hey ... nobody ever thinks of everything. Did you try the baking soda thing? Here we call it Bicarbonate of Soda and it works for everyhting from human indigestion and nappy rash to cleaning stains of the bath. Just use it dry, sprinkle it on and brush it through.
The toilet training - it sounds like he may have had that down until he landed in the shelter. With living in the shelter for three weeks, a move to a new house, different food and all the excitement plus diarrhoea it would have been hard to contain himself all night. How's he been about that since?
How did you get on at the vet and where are the PICCIES?

Answer:
I would for SURE get a crate. That will insure the safety of your dog, as well as your home.
Also, it is VERY important that you take him to training. Training is key, especially with a shelter dog because who knows that bad habits they could have? (like breaking blindes and pooping in the house!)
It also heightens the bonding experience.
Please so NOT use human shampoo on a dog. Try www.sheapet.com
They have EXCELLENT shampoos that are great for the dogs skin, and smell good too! Labs and Shar Pei's are notorious for skin problems. I would be very careful frequently bathing. However, if you try the shampoo's I suggested, I think you should be ok. I bathe my dog 1-2 times a WEEK via my dogs Dermatologist!
IMO, Pedigree is AWFUL, poor quality, food. Try something more wholesome, like Innova, Innova EVO, Neutro, Natural Balance, etc.
Congrats on adopting a shelter dog!!!! :hail: I give you a BIG thumbs up. You, as well as any other adopter, deserve a medal! :D :lol-sign:

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HI and your not Stupid.. your learning :)
I own 2 big breeds.. a Irish Wolfhound and a Saint Bernard.
Both of my dogs are inside and outside dogs.
Binn my IW is an inside dog. Stella my Saint B is my inside/outside dog.
Stella spends her days outside in the backyard but comes in at night.
Crating would be a good idea and maybe obedience school for your new pup?
May I ask what breed it is?
Good Luck :)

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Crates are a wonderful thing... you have to look at it from the dog's POV - dogs are den animals, they like cozy, warm, enclosed spaces that htey can cuddle up in and feel *safe* - my dogs are happily crate trained, and they love their crates. Both of my dogs will voluntarily go to their crates if they want some "alone time", and my younger one actually chooses to sleep in his crate - I have big, sofy, cushy beds all over the house, and yet he chooses to go into his crate and burrow under his blankets.
I pile the blankets into their crates - IMO this gives the crate a more "den'like" feel. Both dogs will then arrange their blankets the way they like them, usually in a tiny "cocoon" that they burrow into - not the prettiest sight, but they love it.
I disagree that crates are "cupboards" to put dogs into when you're not palying with them. Dishes and brooms aren't animate, they don't have instincts and emotions. Dogs, however, do - they like to feel safe, and they like to have a space that is theirs and theirs alone... their natural instinct is to find a cozy, dark place and hunker down - either with a stuffie, or a bone, or simply just to take a nap... and the crate is the best place for this. The crate is a space that belongs to the dog, and no one else - it's their guaranteed "happy place" and safe haven...
... unless the owner teaches the dog that a crate is a bad place. I have found that most people who hate crates have misused one, or have seen one misused.

Answer:
I disagree that crates are "cupboards" to put dogs into when you're not palying with them. Dishes and brooms aren't animate, they don't have instincts and emotions. Dogs, however, do - they like to feel safe, and they like to have a space that is theirs and theirs alone... their natural instinct is to find a cozy, dark place and hunker down - either with a stuffie, or a bone, or simply just to take a nap... and the crate is the best place for this. The crate is a space that belongs to the dog, and no one else - it's their guaranteed "happy place" and safe haven...
That will be my comment.
Yes - crate can = happy place... but imagine being confined to your "happy place" for 8 or 10 hours a day... and then back again for another 8 hours overnight.
I'm sorry - but that is just awful.... If you want a caged animal - get a hamster, go to the zoo...
If you want a dog - make allowances for it's need to be able to MOVE around during the day...
I work full time. But there is NO way I would leave any dog in a crate all day. If I had issues with destruction, I would be thinking about solving the seperation anxiety... Confining a dog does not make the problem go away - it just stops the dog relieving the anxiety by destroying something...
I don't agree with crating for long periods.. I personally think it is cruel :(
Crating for short periods, or overnight, as a puppy as an aid to training is one thing. Crating for convinence, and a means to save your house is totally unnacceptable :(
*edit - I tell a lie - i don't work full time anymore. I DID work full time*

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First, thanks SO much for adopting :)
Secondly, I promised myself although I volunteer at my local shelter I wouldnt adopt a dog. Well, I adopted a GSD pupper back in June, it took me 2weeks to get the smell off of him, so I understand where you are comming from. I had fosters from the shelter before but this guy stunk something awful. From my experience it just takes time to get the smell off of him. You might ask the vet if they can bathe him there with some sort of special shampoo (it might be too late now??) that makes him less stinky. Also, be mindful that you cant bathe him for a couple days after he gets fixed...
Pictures?

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Crating=safety.
Before I believed in crating, one of my dogs got into his phenobarbital (he is epileptic) not sure how/why he did it but he almost died & I ended up with a fat vet bill. (actually 3 of them)

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This is how much my dogs' hate their crates...;) Notice that there are two in the crate and THEY put themselves in there!
If crating is made to be positive, it is a very safe and useful training aid, not to mention your dog's own personal space.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a15/showpug/IMG_1640.jpg

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I am not saying dogs hate crates.
I am saying I think it is obscene to crate a dog for 16 hours PLUS a day.

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I am saying I think it is obscene to crate a dog for 16 hours PLUS a day.
Yea.. that would be harsh wouldn't it. I dont think a dog can hold it stuff for that long. Poor thing would explode.

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I am not saying dogs hate crates.
I am saying I think it is obscene to crate a dog for 16 hours PLUS a day.
You are SO right. I didn't realize they said the dog would be alone that long.
Personally, I think it's cruel. I take my dog to work with me, everywhere I can unless I'm going somewhere with a friend and can't bring her with me, that's the ONLY time she's crated. (Although, I KNOW not everyone can bring their dogs to work, I'm just making a point)
It's my opinion that if you get a new dog, whether a puppy or an adult, you should have the time to get them settled into their new home. It's your responsability to care for that dog as much as you can, and only being home a few hours a day isn't fair to the dog, and can cause a lot of peoblems later on down the road

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Congrats on your new family addition.
I find this website the best for learning about and comparing dog foods.
http://www.doberdogs.com/
I agree, those over-the-counter flea and tick meds not only do not work as well as prescribed medications but can be problematic.
Cole's Mom

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I am having so much fun looking at all your pics. I will post some later today I promise!!!!!!!!! I don't even have my baby. He is still at the vet until after lunch. I called to check on him yesterday and they said he is fine. I cannot wait to get him. I am off of work the next three days so I can watch him extra close.
I obviously caused some debate on crating or not. Everyone obviously loves their animals. I still am unsure of what to do. That is one of the questions for the vet that I have when I pick him up. Where to get a crate? I live in hick town texas and we have a walmart and agmart or a tractor supply. No petco or costco! Everyone thanks for the advice.
We have already looked into dog obedience classes for Lokey. He does need a little help, otherwise he is perfect! He did have a serious diarrhea poop sunday night and it still stinks, so I am off to Walmart for something and some baking soda!!!

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vivandmatt, I am sure you could find something suitable at Walmart.

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Walmart has crates..

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I bought some dog pads. I am going to try that first. I believe that if all else fails, Lokey can be indoor/outdoor. I am going to give us all a few weeks. I get to pick him up in a little over two hours!!!!

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I bought some dog pads
Dog pads are evil :p
How big is your dog?
Its best if he learns to go outdoors then indoors.
Once he gets accustomed to going on pads its hard to train him to go outdoors...

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I've never had good luck w/potty pads. My pups tear them to bits.

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Well, Lokey is on a special canned food for the next week. He has some antibiotics to take three times a day and another pill to slow his bowels down. The diarrhea continued at the vets and he gave him a rectal exam and a shot and then all this other meds. I got a $126 bill. Yay. But we are home. He took his pills well and is napping now. You can tell that his privates are irritating to him, poor baby. They bathed him and he smells better!!!!
Will send pics later. Just wanted to tell you all this.

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Usually the ag stores have better products at better prices than WalMart

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Congrats on your new addition! I think the crating issue depends on the dog. Is he high energy? Does he run around constantly and like wandering throughout the house (on his own when not playing with you or following you)? Or is he more happy just laying there chewing a bone or toy? Wrigley is not very active unless we are playing with him or walking him--he is happy laying under our coffee table and chewing on a toy or just laying there. For him he likes his crate. Then again his crate is large dogged size and he is only 13 lbs so he has room to move around quite a bit. We have used the crate training method and have never had anything destroyed or anything pooped or peed on (since he has overcome the puppyhood stage). You can find crates at Walmart or probably your farm store too.
A good food and good shampoo will help with the smell. Dogs that eat alpo or pedigree and the like tend to be more 'doggy' smelling than a dog on Innova, Eagle Pack ect.. Your farm store may have some higher quality foods than Walmart ect. Personally Wrigley eats Eagle Pack. When I bathe Wrigley I clean his ears out (there's stuff for that), also he gets lathered up twice and brushed completely each time while the soap is on and also has to have the soap on for at least a minute or two and then rinse and repeat. He then also gets conditioned so he doesn't get dry skin and it makes his coat nice looking.
Originally we bought some generic puppy shampoo and it didn't really help with the smell--it was only when I bought the good stuff, and the ear cleaner, and the conditioner that he smells wonderful enough to rub on my face (LOL)!
Congrats again and I can't wait to see more pics!

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Congratulations! And welcome to Chaz, where everyone has a very strong opinion :) You've already heard the start of the crate debate, and a contribution from the foodies. It's all valuable advice. Just don't worry too much if you do something different. It is possible and perfectly fine to go without a crate, feed Pedigree food and never go to obedience class. Whatever works for you. The important stuff you clearly already have a handle on - clean them, feed them, have them live inside with you, and take them to the vet regularly. And, of course, keep them from being a pest.
One question - the name. Lokey? I'm thinking of Loki, the god of mischief in Norse mythology. Not to be all silly, but I tend to think that people act on pretty accurate instinct when they name their dogs. Whoever named Lokey might have had a good insight into his personality. A St. Bernard mix with a sense of mischief? Your blinds might just be the first thing to go:)

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Hi to all! Our family has been making trips to the shelter for months and yesterday we fell in love. So we brought home this dog who is about a year old and of mixed breeds, lab, sharpei or st. bernard. He is darling and we love him already but we have never owned any animal other than a turtle. So we made a quick trip to walmart. I didn't have any dog shampoo so I used people shampoo. We put the flea and worm drops on him. He does have fleas. We brushed him. Fed him some Pedigree. Bought him a great big dog pillow. Now for the problem. He smells like DOG very bad. My house smells very bad. I have vacuumed and sprayed. I want this large dog in my home. My family does not want an outside dog. But he smells so bad. I don't know what to do. Should I bathe him again? Will it affect the medication I put on him yesterday? Also, he pooped last night while we slept and we left him alone for one hour and he broke my blinds. Is it crazy to want this big dog indoors?
Sorry this is so long. I am worried about doing the right things. We go to the vet tomorrow to get fixed and get shots.
Thanks for reading.
Congrats on adopting a dog and forgoing the puppy stage......smart move.
Especially since the dog seems to have a good temperment.
Like the others have said, the doggie odor is from being in the kennels at the shelter.....and it takes a long while for it to dissappear. And when the dog gets wet it probably will come back until he drys completely.
I would also like to repeat what some of the others have said.......
hartz is junk...not only ineffective but also not very safe. (imho)
A much better flea/tick alternative is frontline plus. (My personal favorite.)
You don't have to purchase it from your vet either, you can order it on line according to your dogs weight. It is usually much cheaper. My latest favorite online place is.... EntirelyPets.com (http://www.EntirelyPets.com) . If you spend a certain amount shipping is free.
Crate training is a great "tool"........ If the dog needs it. If it were me I would wait a week or two, and see how the dog does. You could also use a small room such as a bathroom or a laundry room to confine him if he is wrecking your house. Just make sure there is nothing he can get into within his reach. Like put the trash can up... Remove hanging towels, Flip the shower curtain over the rod so he can't reach it, Put the lid down on the toilet.....etc.
As for housebreaking.... don't get overwhelmed yet. Lol Since he is having Diarrehea and now on medicine it might get worse before it gets better. Just take him out very often when you are home.....Like every hour, so he gets the hang of it. The last thing you should do before going to sleep is take him out. And it also should be the first thing you do in the morning.....I mean as soon as your feet hit the floor, take him out. ;)
I did use crate training for housebreaking issues with two of my three dogs.
Charlie only used his crate until he was five months old.
Shiloh needed hers until she was a year.
And I usually only used them at night.
Rocket has not been crated at all.
To answer your question..... It is definately not crazy to want to keep your big dog indoors....It is a great thing to actually make him a part of your family.... and with determination and help from us:D , I am sure you can succeed in doing just that.
I have succeeded in helping my dogs become polite, four legged members of our family. (Well Shiloh has some dog agression issues, which causes more work and responsibility for me, but she is still a great house dog.)
And I have a 95# Lab, a 65# Lab, and a 70# German Shepherd.
Charlie and Rocket are in the house most of the time....they do go outside when the want, but come right back in when they want. Rocket has even learned to open our back door she started scratching the door knob, but has progressed to actually grabbing it with her two front paws and turning it.:yikes: So now if I want her to stay outside, like when my son has his bird out, then I have to make sure the door is locked.
Shiloh has the run of the basement, and her own kennel space outside...and we also alternate being upstairs. Charlie and Rocket are always together though.
And obedience classes (with the right teacher) would be a great idea......Although my Labs have never been to one, and they turned out just fine. But I have been reading and practicing with dogs all my life.
Rocket was already trained when we got her.
About food.... Mordy's site which someone already listed is outstanding.
There is a page on there about "things to avoid" in dog food. Just print it out and compare the list to the ingredients in the food your feeding.
And someone else posted some great foods....
I just cannot afford to feed my 3 large dogs this food and I can't find it near me anyway.
So I feed Kirkland Signature Chicken and Rice. It is not the best food, but it is better than anything you can buy at walmart or the grocery stores.
If you have a Costco Store near you, that would be a reasonable food to consider. My dogs do great on it, and it is inexpensive. But the only place that sells it is costcos.
I wish you the best of luck.....stay determined to succeed!
And keep asking questions, I am sure someone here knows an answer.....Lol
Man, I wish I had internet when I got my first dog........31 years ago.:yikes:

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Everyone has been great on here! I love reading all the posts and seeing all the pics. This is day six and we are doing well. Lokey(should of been spelled lowkey because he is low key, he is way calm, we still have heard the dog bark only twice)is feeling better this am. He went out back and chased the dog next door along the fence line. He is still licking his privates, they look horrible. The diarrhea is better. No poops in the house. He did pee twice though. I think it is nerves. I am going to wait several weeks before I worry about the pee/poop issue. He is not used to us and he needs to get to know us. Just like everyone has said. He doesn't like to be alone either. He will follow me around the house and lay down. He is a sweet baby. I think I am going to have a problem getting him to eat dry dog food after he has eaten this canned food. I don't think I can afford the canned stuff and he really likes it. I LOVE HIM. MY FAMILY IS IN LOVE

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late to the conversation as always, but I just wanted to say Congrats and thank you for adopting a shelter dog! :D
After reading through the replies, you have received some excellent advice, especially from Showpug. You are well on your way!
I have two "big dog" Buddy is over a year and weighs in at about 90lbs anad Banzai is 8 months and weighs in at about 70ish pounds now. They get along fine in the house (just make sure you move any valuables! :eek: ).
We also have crate-trained our boys. They rarely see the inside of their crates now as my husband works from home, but it is a great tool in helping with potty training and keeping your dogs safe while you are gone. But please do not crate for an extensive amount of time. :)
Again, congrats and welcome to Chazhoud! :D