Dogsitting a whining adult dog

[Daisywillis]

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I'm currently looking after a friend's dog. I've had her for about a week and have another week to go. She is a very small yorkie and while she is very sweet, the last few days she has been whining more and more. When she first got here, she didn't whine at all so it's very new. I thought at first that she wanted more walks so I've been taking her for an evening stroll as well as her normal lunchtime long walk but the whining is getting later and later at night.

So I did some research and found the whining could be for attention. I have had a lot of work to do the last couple of days so haven't given her as much attention. Is she spoilt? She also stops dead in her tracks on every walk, dragging her feet etc so I end up carrying her home. I know this is a bad habit that she is now used to, but the local park is by a busy road and I don't want to cause a potentially bad scene (she will often do it slap bang in the middle of the road). Plus as she is little, I thought maybe she is just genuinely tired. My boyfriend came on a walk once and when she stopped, held the lead so I could walk away. Surely, she followed me.

I've tried playing with her in the garden to burn off energy but she doesn't want to play. She won't settle down on the sofa and she has eaten enough today. As far as I know she is healthy BUT since being here she hasn't had a long wee, just lots of short ones. I put this down to marking her territory, but she also licks herself down there quite a lot (a few times a day) and mad scratching herself. Could she be ill with a bladder infection or something? She does get very excited when she is near the front door. Does she really want another walk?

So, how do I know that this whining is for attention and not for walks? Is it common for a small dog to want a few short walks and get tired easily? (Currently 1 x 40 min walk in the morning and 1 x 20 min walk in the eve) Have I just given her a bad habit by spoiling her on the first walk? How do I stop her from refusing to walk so I don't have to carry her? I've tried stopping and sitting beside her until she walks but then she only goes a few steps before stopping again.

I have only ever had big dogs myself so this little one's crazy habits are new to me!

Help! Any advice would be much appreciated

Daisy

 

[chelynnah]

Do you know if she is spayed? Is it worth taking her to the vet for a check? It could be a bladder infection. If she's intact if could be a sign she's hormonal and coming into season, or possibly even has a pyometra which is something you cannot mess with. I would think if it was attention seeking it would have been there from the beginning. I think the fact it started later could mean something medical

 

[lurcherman]

Could be wrong but these dogs are patheticly stuborn so changing things in a week aint gunna be easy , some are weak and spoilt, got two next to me and are allowed to rule the roost, when i take them for walks they try this m that but i show them this is the way your walking with me then their fine, i hope the dog is healthy and ok