Dr. Phil- Move the dogs out!

[GreenleafGreyhound]

I am speechless. Utterly speechless. I was watching Dr. Phil and he was "helping" (BARELY) a couple (female was pregnant) with three small dogs who were NOT potty trained and undersocialized. Heck, they don't even know basic obedience. So they're defecating and urinating everywhere...What's the best answer? POTTY TRAIN THEM! Go to an obedience class for crying out loud!

But you will not believe Dr. Phil's answer. He compromised to the couple that he would get Lowe's to build a fence and replace the carpenting. However, the couple would need to move the dogs out because it's not sanitary for the future child. If that isn't a band-aid, I don't know what is. These dogs are not trained, undersocialized, and have owners who obviously care about them, but don't know squat about potty training. What use is a companion dog if you band-aid the problem by moving the dog out and into your backyard? How does that aid potty training? Does that not create MORE problems for obviously undersocialized dogs? All he needed to do was ask a dog behaviorist to go onto the show and help the couple train their dogs. That would have fixed most, if not all, the problems. I never thought the media would be so ignorant as to promote neglecting the old dog due to the new baby. Such a shame...

[Pugdawg1]

Oh gee how nice of him. I've never watched his show, and after hearing that, I never will. Grrr

[linnie]

He has some radical ideas.... A much more effective advice would have been to get them to go to some training course to socialise and train their dogs.

Lets face it just because he has a loud voice and a big ego doesnt mean he knows squat about dogs ar about human attachment to them.

[Ritz459]

OMG! Kicking the dogs out will just cause more problems! Now, they'll most likely have to deal with bordoem behaviors like: digging, barking, escaping, etc. And you also said three small dogs didn't you? You do NOT keep small dogs outside. (Unless they are the hunting Beagles or whatever.....) Well, ok, some small dogs (Corgis, etc) might be ok outside, but....man....let's hope one of them wasn't a Chi or something!

(And, who in the heck would think a dog would be unsanitary for the baby? As long as the dogs are clean, who cares?)

Did the couple take his advice or were they smart enough to not listen to him?

[gaddylovesdogs]

He may be good with marriage and money, but with dogs he knows zip . I saw the ending, and made me happy he loves his new puppy, and is training her, but his ideas sure are crazy from what you've said.

[bigdoglover]

Ok, so they move the dogs outside, where they are away from the baby...what happens when they take the kid outside to play? Undersocialized dog attacks baby!! Then what? Euthanasia because the dog bit their kid...not the dogs fault he (they) weren't exposed to this in the beginning!! Unbelievable. That's all I can say.

[Owned by Lucy]

First, the dogs were not small, they were medium sized. This does not change the fact that the advice was wrong but lets not make it worse than it is. I also believe that the dogs being put outside as a temporary solution until they could be properly trained. He also recommended that the husband spend time training the dogs before and after the baby was born. This training should have happened from the beginning but Dr. Phil was right that they shouldn't have a baby crawling around on carpet that has pee and poo on it. And as much as I love my dogs (and most dogs in general) the human children must come first.

[dollface]

I also think if this is how they looked after their dogs, which I may add is like having a child how are they going to look after their newborn baby..... I would be worried on how these dogs are going to be around the child if they have not had the proper socialization they need to function, and sometimes that is how babies/children ger hurt by dogs.... If they do not have the time, money ect to properly train these dogs then maybe they should be placed into another home but just putting them in the back yard does not solve anything but make the problem worse. These dogs have to get use to alot and should be in training when she found out she was pregnant. To have them messing in the house is not sanitary for a child or an adult, I too would not want that. Trying to house train 3 dogs no matter the size at once is alot of work, they should if not all ready invest in some kennel and take one out each at a time on a leash and every where they go so does the dog and work on basic obedience and go out with them, treat them like puppies if they really want to keep them....Patience and time, hopefully things work out for them

[nor'eastr]

That guy is a moron anyway.

[DnD]

I have only watched his show two or three time. I always thought that man was an idiot. His advice is so ridiculous and he obviously only does the show for fame. I hope he gets alot of angry e-mails for that. You can go on his web-site and send in complaints. He obviously isn't a dog lover and you know what I always say? If a person doesn't like dogs there is some serious phsycological (sp?) issues going on in there! lol

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by dollface

I also think if this is how they looked after their dogs, which I may add is like having a child how are they going to look after their newborn baby.....

No, having a dog is not like having a child. Sure, there is a level of care that both need that is similar (feeding, training/teaching etc), but it is not the same. People who are terrible with dogs can be great with children, and people who are fantastic with dogs can be horrible with children. The level of care they show towards their dogs is not an idication of how good a parent they'll be.

Cass.

[Pugdawg1]

My pugs get the absolute best care, the best nutrition, are clean and active and happy.. BUT. I can say.. I'd stink as a parent. My clock is not ticking. LOL So yah.. as much as I dote on my pugs, I think it IS different... kids and dogs that is.

[GreenleafGreyhound]

They were not tiny, but they weren't a BC size, either (BC, imo, would be considered medium). They were about the size of my BYB Peke (20 lbs). According to most people, 10-20 is considered a big, small dog or a really small medium dog. At any rate, the size of the dog doesn't matter much. It's the fact that he chose to move the dogs out and literally band-aid the problem instead of talking about
1) why the dogs aren't trained?
2) won't they go to an obedience class?
3) possibly consider re-homing a pet if they refuse to train the dog?
4) go to a doggy class specifically for preparing for the new baby? Animal shelters often offer these special classes.

It's obvious they love their dogs and it's obvious that the house was certainly unsanitary for any living thing. But the most simple remedy is to go to puppy ob. classes which cover household manners and potty breaking to simple commands. That would have taken care of the pee and poo in the house. Then, he could have gotten Lowe's to build a fence and re-carpet the area, just like his ideal plan. He could have hired a dog behaviorist/trainer to go onto the show and tutor the couple. IMO, his advice was completely out of line and I don't think he gave the right advice at all.

[gaddylovesdogs]

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

No, having a dog is not like having a child. Sure, there is a level of care that both need that is similar (feeding, training/teaching etc), but it is not the same. People who are terrible with dogs can be great with children, and people who are fantastic with dogs can be horrible with children. The level of care they show towards their dogs is not an idication of how good a parent they'll be.

Cass.

I agree. I am good with dogs and animals in general, but after four hours of watching my nephew, I'm pooped and don't feel like moving .

[RedHotDobe]

I'll agree with Cassiepeia also. I absolutely hate kids and cannot tolerate them for more than 2 seconds, but I could be with dogs forever.

As for Dr. Phil, he's an idiot. I saw about 5 minutes once, and then changed the channel because his voice annoys me.