RinnyRow

Hi all. Just thought I would give you all an update. I've had lots of success with Penny and my MIL. I decided to 'lock' her in with me and asked my MIL to not continue to feed her daily, supply her with treats and keep her inside with her whilst I am at work. Although I have NO objection to them being affectionate it would be appreciated if you could at least let the dog and I get to know each other before you step in. Much to my dissapointment, my MIL told my partner that I had upset her terribly and she'll just lock herself in the house and not come out which is just another hurdle for me to contend with later but at the moment, after Penny and I had a little run in, she finally came around. I think the dog was nothing but confused about where she belonged and who she belonged to so a lot of hard work and some magic little chicken bites I found have turned things around. My MIL is another story for another day but life's too short I say. I don't think my request was unrealistic and nasty, it really was just necessary. Thank you to each and every one of you for your support and advice, puppy school starts in 2 weeks and we are locked and loaded!

Thanks everyone. I agree my partner needs to step up but i feel as though he hasn't had to do this sort of thing with his Mother ever and gets so anxious to the point he then turns it around on me and says 'wouldn't i rather the pup be a better pup for it'... Its not that its just that it won't be MY pup. Even as we speak, Penny has removed herself from her bed and wandered next door to go to sleep despite me sitting there beside her for the past hour petting her to sleep. :-( Its so upsetting to physically see that she doesn't want to be with me. If I keep her inside I am afraid she'll make a mess when she needs the toilet and what do you do if its her will - she is miserable no matter what I try. I have told my partner my concerns and he has talked to his Mother but now she is telling him that she is upset because I am upset and my partner is trying to protect his mother - hence why we had a terrible fight on the weekend and he said he didn't know what to do and I am making his mother out to be a liar. This is why I am at the point of breaking and feel as though I want to just walk away from it all as its so heartbreaking. I know this sounds silly all this talk of heart break but we lost our black lab of 9 years about 4 months ago. My other half works away all week and Jack was my protector while he was gone. He would sleep on my back veranda and come and sit beside me while I ate dinner. I always felt safe with Jack and every day when I got home he would race out to see me then would not leave my side all night until it was bed time and I knew he would be at my back door sleeping until I woke. Part of this is why I was so very happy when I found Penny. It's really hard to explain but it was such an enormous love for her. Now, I don't have anything like that but a dog that doesn't want to be near me at all. Am I way out of line here?

Hello TLC and Bundyburger. Thank you very much for such quick responses. I have been getting so worked up about the situation its become near depressing - only because I love the little thing so much. I would love to put up a fence - however, my increasingly difficult situation is that the house belongs to my in-laws and Grandma lives downstairs...so that's near impossible and my other half would just think I am being awful to his parents. I cannot blame the inlaws altogether as of course the dog is going to go and wander around.... and I know they are just caring loving people also, but I also think that in particular my MIL being alone most of the day has taken to the company of a lovely little dog. However, I felt upset when my MIL left a message on my phone to stop by the vet clinic and pick up some shampoo she had put aside for Penny and thanks for doing that for her.. and thanking me for picking Penny up a new collar. As for Penny - today I came home early from work to spend time with her and it was wonderful until my MIL arrived home and I have never seen Penny so excited to see someone home that she ran off in excitement and it was if I never existed. It makes me really wonder what is happening during the day in my absence given my other half has asked my MIL not to have morning and afternoon tea with her.. Again... I really appreciate your support. I have enrolled Penny at obenience school and we'll start that in a fortnight. Do you think this will help us bond? I am also taking her for walks in the morning away from the house however, when we get home she just bolts next door :-( Is the damamge already done and should I just give up and take all of Penny's belongings next door? Oh... here is a picture of her.. you'll see why I fell in love with her.

Hello everyone. This is my first go at this so thanks all for giving me somewhere to go to with my problem. I have a situation with my new puppy - Penny. She is 19 weeks old and came to me after her family found out their children were allergic to dog hair. I am in my 3rd lovely week of being her 'mum' and really was so happy to get Penny. My issue is that I live next door to my in laws - there is no fence between us and its their house. They are very lovely people however, my partner's mother is home all day and I have to go to work. My father in law is a vet and they are very into animal discipline as am I. I wake up early everyday to play with Penny before I go to work and race home after work to do the same. I try my very best to teach her and am trying to make her new life into our new family very loving. Penny however is spending all day next door with my in laws. Although I appreciate the fact that they're there, I now have a dog who once listened to my commands but is now not. She is constantly trying to run away to next door and its breaking my heart. My mother in law told me she shares morning and afternoon tea with penny and is trying to teach her discipline by way of reward which is appreciated but I am also trying to do this. I cannot compete with 9 hours all day with the dog as I have to work and I really don't know what to do. My partner doesn't see it as I do and will not admit that there is an issue. I love my inlaws but I don't have a partner who can help me and is just 'leaving me hanging' all the while I am getting more and more upset at the fact that my little dog doesn't want to be mine. I certainly know its not the dog's fault but I don't have a solution to this and am begging anyone kind enough to offer me advice so that I can take it before I just give up altogether :-( I had never felt so happy in such a long time the way I did when I found out I was getting Penny, now its all being taken away. Please help. THank you so much. Rinnny