We've had AnnaBelle since a pup - she is 12yrs now and still acts like a pup, runs and does 360s as she is excited every morning for the new day to begin, grumbles when the water dish is low or just when she wants more attention and is just a joy to have.
2 years ago after watching an "Oprah" special about abused dogs/puppy mills, etc. my wife decided AnnaBelle needed a buddy. 2 days later we adopted Sophia from a Maltese rescue org. She was 3 yrs old and while she was kept groomed and generally well cared for she had never stepped on grass or walked or treated like a pet, no name just a tattoo in the ear. She lived in a concrete floored cage with one part indoors and the other open to the outside and made puppies (evidently not real good ones as they were going to put her down at 3yrs).
Well that's the background now for the present. Sophia has never enjoyed walking on grass and now that we have just moved to FL it is worse as the grass is not the fine bladed grass she was getting used to in KS.
We have a dog door and while she knows how to go through it she won't use it on her own to go out when she needs to go. I take her out 4-5 times a day and generally she'll just sit down while AnnaBelle runs out, explores and does her business. After encouraging her to go, carrying her out into the grass and waiting (and waiting) Sophia may urinate 2-3 times a day and she'll generally only poop once.
She just hates going outside and would rather just sleep inside all day. She is the ultimate lap dog as all she wants is to be held, petted or to lay next to one of us. She seems to have no desire to play with AnnaBelle, although even after 2 years of failed attempts AnnaBelle still tries to initiate play. Annabelle will give Sophia "kisses" several times a day only to be greeted with snarls.
I am getting quite frustrated with her not wanting to go outside or when I do take her out it takes so long for her to go.
Thanks for listening to my rambling and any help would be appreciated.
2 years ago after watching an "Oprah" special about abused dogs/puppy mills, etc. my wife decided AnnaBelle needed a buddy. 2 days later we adopted Sophia from a Maltese rescue org. She was 3 yrs old and while she was kept groomed and generally well cared for she had never stepped on grass or walked or treated like a pet, no name just a tattoo in the ear. She lived in a concrete floored cage with one part indoors and the other open to the outside and made puppies (evidently not real good ones as they were going to put her down at 3yrs).
Well that's the background now for the present. Sophia has never enjoyed walking on grass and now that we have just moved to FL it is worse as the grass is not the fine bladed grass she was getting used to in KS.
We have a dog door and while she knows how to go through it she won't use it on her own to go out when she needs to go. I take her out 4-5 times a day and generally she'll just sit down while AnnaBelle runs out, explores and does her business. After encouraging her to go, carrying her out into the grass and waiting (and waiting) Sophia may urinate 2-3 times a day and she'll generally only poop once.
She just hates going outside and would rather just sleep inside all day. She is the ultimate lap dog as all she wants is to be held, petted or to lay next to one of us. She seems to have no desire to play with AnnaBelle, although even after 2 years of failed attempts AnnaBelle still tries to initiate play. Annabelle will give Sophia "kisses" several times a day only to be greeted with snarls.
I am getting quite frustrated with her not wanting to go outside or when I do take her out it takes so long for her to go.
Thanks for listening to my rambling and any help would be appreciated.