Hi Everyone!!

I am having some issues and thought maybe you had some advice for me and mom. I will let mom talk since I am kind of well not myself...

Hi I am Tiffany Tanks mom. Tank is not himself the past 5 days or so. He doesn't seen sick or sad, just different. He started spot marking in the house. Not alot, but if I bring something new in the house (ie. 15 pack of paper towel) he marks it. the coat rack if I hang a different then usual coat on it. He has also wagged his tail raw against the walls and cabinet in his feeding room. I looked that up and it says it could be something called "Happy Tail" I wrapped it in a paper towel roll with firstaid tape and it is staying quite nicely. I am able to take care of the symptoms, but I want to help the cause(s) of these things. I pulled Tank on my bed last night and gave him a massage until he feel asleep and just cried. Is he so sad cause he misses his family?? Are we not giving him the attention he needs??? He is the sweetest kindest boy you will ever meet and someting seems to be making him upset all of a sudden. We have had two changes in our home over that last month but I am not sure if issues like that can upset him. Is anyone can help or has advise please let me know. I put some young living ointment on the tip of his tail and wrapped it with the paper towel roll so it will be protected and it can still get some air to heal. and as for the peeing that is not what I am concerned with but why all of a sudden.

Thank you in advance
Tiffany Hupp
414-303-3108

Was Tank recently neutured? ...or is that "coming up".... I can't remember.

I think these big guys are extremely tuned in to their families and surroundings,... any changes in the home can affect them. Maybe he just needs time to adjust to whatever changes have happened.

Maybe the "marking" is his way of telling you that he has "claimed" you as his

I am not real familiar with happy tail.... ??? I've heard about it - but none of mine have had it before.

Maybe a trip to the vet would be good... just to make sure there isn't a UTI or something going on.

I hope Tank feels better soon.... please keep us posted.

I wish I had some advice ... I wanted to say THANK YOU for what you have done and are doing for this sweet boy.

I am sure you will get some great advice here ... everyone here is awesome!

You are doing a great job for Tank I doubt he is upset because of that. If he is crying and looking un-like himself, it could possibly be something medical. Has he had a full blood work-up done and had the vet go over him thoroughly? I would go to the vet just to be safe

A lot of times the marking is fixed by neutering.

Thank you for taking him in and doing such a great job!!!

As far as I know Happy Tail isn't a bad thing.. just a messy nasty one.
If you can teach him to not wag his tail so hard it might help.. with Bubba we taught him to sit in certain situations (like us coming in the door, which was a huge moment for him) and that way he couldn't bang his tail so much
Otherwise, just keeping it padded is my only solution
The marking. Check for a UTI or any prostate or urinary problems. Once the medical is ruled out, go back to potty training 101, teeter him too you on a leash, high praise and tons of high value treats for going outside. I threw a major drama queen hissy fit when I caught Bubba marking in my house.. 2 fits and he has never done it again But if that doesn't work quickly it probably won't work
Poor guy. I think that he is VERY happy to be with you guys and is just settling in better.
Missy

I'm lost when it comes to boys since mine are girls. You may want to drop a PM to member "simplifyit". She's what I would call a training guru/expert and may have some thoughts for you. Depending on what the home changes were they could have an impact, especially considering that Tank's world was turned upside down not that long ago.

Oh,.... I forgot about the "drama queen fit".... that is what I did with my boys.... when they reached "that age" and decided to mark my house, I just threw a MAJOR drama queen fit and boy did that get their attention. I think with Big Ben I only had to do it once.... with Gus maybe two or three times.... but neither marked inside again. Big Ben is now neutured, but Gus isn't yet.

You really need to rule out medical issues before doing that, though. You NEVER act like you are going to hit them (of course) but you "rant and rave" and just make sure they KNOW without a doubt that you are upset about it. Also ---this only works if you catch him in the act.

BigBensMom wrote (View Post): › Oh,.... I forgot about the "drama queen fit".... that is what I did with my boys.... when they reached "that age" and decided to mark my house, I just threw a MAJOR drama queen fit and boy did that get their attention. I think with Big Ben I only had to do it once.... with Gus maybe two or three times.... but neither marked inside again. Big Ben is now neutured, but Gus isn't yet. You really need to rule out medical issues before doing that, though. You NEVER act like you are going to hit them (of course) but you "rant and rave" and just make sure they KNOW without a doubt that you are upset about it. Also ---this only works if you catch him in the act.

it scared russell to death...to this day he still goes outside..... sorry just to lighten the mood....sounds like some good advice....and missy do you have a you tube drama queen video???

I forgot to mention about the happy tail....

Apollo has recently broken open the end of his tail for the first time. It looked like a murder scene on my white walls I usually wrap it for a day or two afterwards and then it's fine. We are working with him to sit down when we come home so he doesn't hit the walls, like Missy

Happy tail is quite comon. It's not a medical issue really, it's just really messy! One day I came home and my entire apartment had blood all over EVERYTHING about 3ft up on walls, cabinets, doors, fridge, dishwasher and all! It looks like a masacre happened in my apartment. But luckily Winston only did it twice and that was it. His mom (birth mother that is!) had an on going problem with it and they finally docked her tail to stop it from happening. Just make sure it doesn't get infected, and if it's really deep or not healing then he may need a vet.

If there were changes at home this most definatley will affect him and he is probably just showing that. It will take time to adjust, but without know what the changes were it's hard to say how long or how to help him adjust.

I got lucky with Winston and he never marked. In fact he didnt even hike his leg for the first time until he was almost 4 yrs old! and he wasn't neutered either. I don't have any advice on 'fixing' that problem but make sure you are using a good enzyme cleaner and cleaning thouroughly. The marking may or may not be a result of the recent changes and he could be claming something as his or stating his dislike of something.

You are doing a great job and THANK YOU for helping this big boy.

Happy tail is a common thing with these guys, Harly has had it to. What kind of changes have been in your home? This might seem dumb, but i am confused, who cried, you or was it Tank? If it was Tank... What kind of crying is it? Are you talking to him and he lay there and whine? Does he lay there and whine when he is alone? Is he acting really shy and not looking at you when he whines? Is he whining at you and giving kisses? Does he only do it at night or all the time?

One trick I've heard of to help happy tail heal up (and not keep breaking that tip open) is to put either bitch britches (for heats) on them upside down (the hole for the tail is under the body, you put the tail in that way and the britches keep the tail under him so its not whacking against walls and hard surfaces so it can heal) I would imagine using human males' "tightie whities" would work as well (far less expensive)

As for the marking, the only thing I can think of is what everyone else has mentioned (ie- neutering him)

Please give Tank a big hug and kiss from us!!!

Tiffany - any changes in the home will effect them. They can't communicate like we can, but they feel changes and emotions. If you're upset, they know it. If it isn't a UTI, then he's just marking his territory due to the change.

As for the Happy tail, wrapping it helps to let it heal, but the tail wagging and hitting things that's only fixed by training them to sit in situations (like greeting) that they would normally wiggle around. Sometimes the wounds won't heal properly and the tail has to be docked.

The marking and not acting himself really sounds like an anxiety thing to me. All changes will affect these guys, they do feel the difference. Time, and love will help. I agree that neutering would be the best solution for the marking, and I haven't had a problem yet with the tail thing but "bag balm" heals wounds wonderfully. Wish you all the best with him and good luck, it will all be worth while!