I wish I hadn't volunteered now

Watermeadow I agree with. No wonder you feel overworked!

Even when I was young and fit I'd not have liked to take on two dogs especially someone else's dogs unless I had a secure garden for them, especially for a bitch on heat!

Nappies for dogs........oh my word I have never heard of the like, poor dogs no wonder they chew them off I have had females in heat you need to put things down on the floor old sheets if you have carpeted areas or just wipe up elsewhere they only leave drips not puddles ..,,do people put nappies on cats too nowadays what next... tampons

I think alimas idea is a good one move into daughters house with the garden
Gosh that is a huge load you have taken on I d be just like you ‘yes of course I ll help’
This is going to sound judgemental but why oh why has your daughter in law taken on a boisterous puppy if she has MS Surely one dog is as much as she should manage

Can you roll up the carpet in one of the rooms for the remaining ten days? I have hard floors and no problem if the dog has the occasional accident. These Wham brushes with short hard bristles can be used to grip an old bath towel, push it around with a skoosh of water and a dash of floor cleaner, then the washing machine does the work.

You poor soul! The pup should be completely house-trained at 7 months but going out 4 times a day is nowhere near enough and she shouldn't be taken anywhere she will meet other dogs while she's in season. How will you cope when every male dog within smelling distance leaps on top of her? She must not get pregnant at such a young age. Ditch the extending leads, they're dangerous and give you no control.
You'd manage best by staying in DiL's home with the dogs, keeping the pup securely in her own garden, away from all other dogs. Her season will last 3 weeks at least and male dogs will get at her if they possibly can.

I yes, I definitely agree. Save you a lot of work later.
All the very best of luck.

Yes the male has had the snip thank goodness. The nappies are working well, catching the menstrual flow. I take them off for walkies of course.
I have an update. I have arranged to collect DILs keys to the house from her dad later on today. Hooray..there will be a garden and the fur kids will have their familiar home territory. Oh and they have laminate flooring too!!

They do need to be fed then walked- but they also need to go as soon as they get up and without easy outdoor space that a walk before breakfast and a walk after.

This is going to sound very harsh Smurf but I have had dogs all my life so am speaking with years of experience behind me - that pup needs training - despite your DD health problems and if she is not up to it then she truly should not have got the pup.

House training is not difficult, most dogs get it really quickly and you are doing the dog a grave disservice not to train it properly.

Who will want to look after the pup going forward ? It has caused you immense stress, not because of looking after it but because it is not properly trained.

I too have never used nappies for bitches in season , I must either be less house-proud or less stressed than you :-)

Good luck with the rest of the time you have them.

I use plastic shower curtains on the floor,if necessary...Wilkinsons are the best value....make sure they're plastic,though as I naively presumed all shower curtains were.

Smurf Just be careful the days after menstrals stop as she will be very firtile after that time so needs really to be kept away from any male dogs,has the older dog had the "doggy snip" I certainly hope so.

Things are settling down a bit more. My DIL is trying to arrange for someone to have the pup but I'm not holding my breath. The pup is now doing her business out on walks. Apart from first and last walks, i am taking them out separately. The pup still has a nappy indoors for the menstruals (and happily that's all that's in the nappy now). I have managed to see to my own hygiene now, showering and changing my clothes as well as some housework and laundry, so feeling a lot more positive.

This depression i have had is a similar feeling as to when i first brought home my twin baby boys 38 years ago from the hospital. Hubby had to go back to work (no paternity leave then) and suddenly i had to cope on my own with two newborns after help from nurses. I got over it then and i will now!!

been doing similar as 2 v old dogs left at my sons (they back tomorrow) have to go down every 2 hours except at night but always wet patches yes put puppy pads down and incontinence sheets on settee etc fed up but pleased they are back soon (although he has informed me aleady booded next year!)

Smurf

Nanaandgrampy mentioned a crate. I would purchase a large crate (she can sleep and eat in and move around freely). You can send them the bill later) and place the puppy inside at night with a blanket and some toys (both dogs if she cries a lot). Dogs will rarely soil where they sleep so she'll likely hold it in.

Perhaps other dog experts can weigh in. I haven't had a dog in years but crating them is a good way to get them 'housebroken'.

Put the crate as close to the exit as you can. Line the path with doggie pads. As soon as you get up in the a.m., let her out of the crate and be sure to give her plenty of praise whenever she does outdoors. If she comes back without success, crate her again and wait an hour or two (she'll likely be ready then) and then outside again. Whenever she does her business outside give her plenty of praise and scold her if she soils inside your house. Once she picks a place outside, take her to the same place going forward.

You can keep her crated for two or three hour intervals and then outside right away, followed by plenty of praise or treat if she goes in 'her' outdoor place.

You can let her out of the crate for short intervals, but only if you can keep a close eye on her.

Try the crate. Worse case, she'll be confined instead of destroying your floors and best case, she should be completely house broken in a very short time.

I would put down a good layer of old newspapers on my carpets, if I were you. I know it looks dreadful, but soiled or wet newspaper can just be thrown out and is easier to deal with than having to shampoo carpets.

Phoenix, the dog nappies are to stop the blood from the pups first season dripping on the carpets, not for wee or poo!
The OP doesn't own these dogs she's just looking after them while owner is on holiday.

No dog sitter worth their salt would take on a 7 month old female pup who had not gone in heat because they always do when the owner is away . They cause havoc.
Try white vinegar anywhere you done want them weeing.

Thanks all. The male has stopped humping. I have the crates which i am using. I am taking onboard all your advice and hopefully there will be light st the
Phoenix - don't forget i am not the dogs owner, its 2 weeks only, i am trying to save my carpet as I'm in rented and i have no garden. I never had nappies for my pup years ago. I am just trying to save my sanity so please don't be so quick to judge. I am trying to do someone a favour and making the best of things.

I they've only been with you a couple of days AND one of them is in season the dogs are probably more stressed than you are right now. You don't say when you're feeding them but consider the feeding times and time the walks to correspond with their natural urges to pee & poo. Remember they shouldn't be walked directly after a meal. Crating them, if they've never been in a crate before will only heighten their stress. They need time to adjust, same as you do, their world has just been turned inside out.. And as for extendable leads - they're a menace! Keep them on short leads - walk them separately if necessary, that way they get on with the job in hand and don't distract one another. You've only got another 10 days or so, it's not the end of the world, even though it may feel like it from time to time. Hope things settle down.

Hi Smurf
It may help to cut down the food the pup is eating, what they can't digest goes straight through them. Pups are very inclined to toilet where they are familiar, try to do the same walk same tree etc, get her to know her area then she will be more confident.

Not much use this time round but, for the future, why not suggest an organisation that specialises in putting together pet owners with pet sitters. I belong to one....Won't give the name in case it's seen as advertising...but can provide details via a PM if of interest. I'm currently on a flat and cat sit in Switzerland. All based on altruism. No money involved. Sitters all police checked. Hope this helps.

There is stuff that you can get for bitches on season that is supposed to stop the dogs getting interested. I remember my mum having to rub some on our bitch although I think the dog was still keen. That was a long time ago so there may be something better now.
I've just looked it up and apparently there is something called 'Lust Buster'. There seem to be quite a few websites with advice about this. Google 'bitch in heat keeping dogs away.

Poor you. Can you get a crate just borrow one? It would help.

Will the pet owner come and shampoo your carpets for you when she gets home. Those dogs are a real handful for you.

My 'friend' just gave me her door key and expected me to feed her cats daily for over 2 weeks and I have to drive there and back, not that far for her but my mobility is poor. I know how you must feel because your home is invaded and all this on heat stuff is just horrid to be coping with.

The road to hell and all that..........

Bless you for being so kind.

I said I would look after my nieces dog several years ago I was in rented accommodation the dog ruined the bedroom carpet which I had to replace I was really fedup with the whole situation but unfortunately my niece was suffering from a back operation so like you i offered to help sometimes we are too kind for our own good

Just a thought, could you stay in your former DiL's place for the duration? Access to the garden and will save your home from the "issues".

Ignore the whining and say No to them very firmly. If you let them out of the crates because they are whining you are rewarding bad behavior and they will whine even more. Use the crates to give you some peace and they will get to like them.. I am surprised you let them sleep on your bed, especially when one is in season. I would put them to sleep in the crates Remember your rules, your house, not your dil's rules, who with a garden has a completely different situation.

Your sanity is important.

Have had dogs all my life, some from pups, some rescue dogs, but have never used dog "nappies" !

To be honest, I can't imagine anything more ridiculous, if you have a dog, then surely there is a responsibility to train it?

Yes, babies have to wear nappies, as there is quite a long gap before they can walk, or have control over bowel or bladder, but Dogs !

For goodness sake, (and that's the polite version) get a grip!