General dog chat

[BiteyShark]

Anyone fancy a general dog chat thread?

BiteyDog is now almost 15 months old and it's about time we ditched the puppy survival thread for general chit chat but it's still nice to chat about our doggie dilemmas and days so if anyone wants to join me in wittering on saves BiteyDog having the listen to my incessant talking at him then welcome aboard.

How's all the dogs coping with the snow in the northern parts? I am sick of the rain and I guess fortunate enough that BiteyDog doesn't like it much either so apart from a 20 min ball run we are snuggled up in the house today.

[applesareredandgreen]

Appledog is really strange about the different weather. He hates the rain and will quite often sit under a bush and cry if you try to walk him in the rain- however he was fascinated by the snow when we had heavy snow in December- he was bounding around the garden in it and trying to eat it. We live in the midlands and haven't seen much snow since we had him as a puppy Summer 2016.

[BiteyShark]

apples we are so south that when we do get the snow it's just a sprinkling on the ground so I have no idea how BiteyDog would react. With the rain he just stands and refuses to walk if we are on the lead and if we approach a large puddle he jumps over or tiptoes around it

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

@BiteyShark We’re in NYC and the dogs have been miserable with the snow and ice and sun zero weather. Every time we go out we have to bundle up in a million layers and it takes forever to get everyone dressed and undressed.

It’s finally crept above zero today and they’re frisking about like they’re at the Club Tropicana.

Can’t wait for winter to be over

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

Sun zero? I meant sub zero. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[BiteyShark]

Oh my allfurcoat I cant imagine it being that cold. I was in NYC briefly in October which is just about the right weather for me. DH wanted to go in winter but I had to point out your winters are usually much more extreme than ours. Love your dogs coats but BiteyDog refuses to walk when I put one on him

[wheelwarrior]

Fed up of the rain and the mud seem to be constantly mopping floor.Mine still wants out no matter the weather

[wheelwarrior]

Fed up of the rain and the mud seem to be constantly mopping floor.Mine still wants out no matter the weather

[BiteyShark]

wheel I try and avoid looking at my kitchen floor

[Cocobananas]

Hi bitey, Cocopup and I think this is a great idea!
Weather doesn’t appear to make a jot of difference to her routine, Saturday special in local country park with other stalwarts, walk two around local woods and fields. Mud central...two paddles in the utility room sink to get mud off, one reluctant 20 mins encased in ruff and tumble dog robe. Whatever the weather I will fiddle around in greenhouse and polytunnels and DH will be cutting logs for wood burners so she is used to being outside quite a lot in all weathers. Currently stretched out in front of fire.

[BiteyShark]

Coco I really thought having a spaniel would mean out in all weathers. The cold yes but heavy rain no. Your day sounds lovely and busy even with the mud but I do enjoy sitting near the fire with the dog in the evenings.

We have training booked tomorrow but it's outside and looking at the weather I think if we went BiteyDog would never forgive me

[applesareredandgreen]

All fur coat love your picture- particularly your dogs' little hooded coats

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

@applesareredandgreen @BiteyShark the coats are absurdly warm - filled with down and lined in real shearling they need to be though so they don’t freeze to death. Both dogs HATE going out in the cold/bad weather, but having them climbing the walls is no fun either. Boydog (JRT we think) does laps around the living room without touching the floor .

Went to the dog park without coats today though! It was very crowded. Boydog hated it. Girldog had the time of her life and didn’t want to leave. They’re both sleeping it off now, so the flat is blissfully quiet!

[Kurkku]

Hey, great idea for a thread! I've been dying to join in in the puppy thread, but our youngest just turned 1 so we kinda don't qualify any more ;).

We live in southern Italy and the little one is a smooth coat jrt, who has always been super chilly in or out. Her favourite thing is to sun herself in the middle of the day in August at 40+ degrees... she spends her days under the duvet, the fleece throw on the sofa or in front of the heater or fire. Hates rain and wind with a passion.

In the beginning of the month we had a short holiday in Finland, and funnily enough she loved it. Sub zero temperatures (-3 to about -8), ice, snow (first time she'd seen any) and all. Crazy pup! Totally surprised us all.
(She did have a ton of clothes, boots and snoods ready, but basically happily went nude for walks under half an hour, and her Hurtta jacket for longer ones.)

[BiteyShark]

allfurcoat when I see dog parks in the US I always wonder how my dog would like them as he likes his usually crowd of doggie friends at the dog walkers but is very timid with strangers.

Kurkku sounds like she had a really good holiday in Finland . Must have been such an exciting experience for her. I used to live in the North of the UK and have experienced lots of snow but where I am now I doubt BiteyDog will ever see it deep enough to bounce about in it which is such a shame.

[RedHelenB]

So funny today when my 18 week puppy was sliding on the ice. He looked so puzzled. Had a lovely muddy walk and met lots of dogs which he lives!

[RedHelenB]

Loves I mean,

[BiteyShark]

Red was it a bit like he was thinking 'why are my legs moving but I'm not going forward?' quickly followed by 'I thought I had stopped but I am still moving'

[NoSquirrels]

Oh this is a nice idea for a thread. We’ve rehomed a 2 year old (ish. Not really sure!) and obviously puppy thread is no good to me but a general chat & dilemmas & training would be ace.

For instance - dog treats & attention on walks. OMG, am I doomed to a pocket of chicken forever?

Also - how close should you let your dog get to the wood-burner? Presumably even Idiot Dogs don’t voluntarily roast themselves?!

And how do you entertain a not-interested-in-toys dog if there’s a limit on food-based toys because of rubbish recall = less running around?

Questions, questions...

[BiteyShark]

NoSquirrels we bought a play pen when BiteyDog was a puppy which we now use as a massive fire guard (it opens up into one length) around our log burner as I am terrified he hasn't got sense to not put his nose up against it.

Until my dog developed his obsession with balls on walks I have to admit that my pocket was always full of cheese on walks

[RedHelenB]

Definitely Biteyshark,! He used to avoid the mud but he's getting more messy as he's getting older. I was so proud of him today as he met some other pups and was really gentle with them rather than jumping up at them like he does with older bigger dogs.

[thegirlsallgrowedupnow]

Have name changed in honour of new young adult thread😁
Had a guard around wood burner last winter but not this one, she’s fine. Have taught her to pick up kindling sticks and hand them to me to start fire, she gets bits of her tea in reward and then the rest when the fire is going strong. She is large part poodle though and needs Things To Do.
Recall training still DAILY, pockets full of all sorts. Mostly ok but walks are a constant calculation of on and off lead!

[BiteyShark]

thegirlsallgrowed we have to keep the kindling behind the fire guard otherwise he thinks it's a very tasty chew. No way would he be prepared to pass it to us for a treat

[thegirlsallgrowedupnow]

Kindling is kept in a lidded copper pot, any wood she can snaffle from the woodshed is fair game. Been trying to teach her to bring my slippers to me but no success, she just looks doleful and confused 😕

[BiteyShark]

Oh poo, looks like training is out the question today. Went for a ball play in the park in drizzle but now it's torrential and set to stay like that all day. There is lots of sits and stays at training and I have done it before in that type of rain and we both end up soaked and shivering and bloody miserable. Such a shame as we have missed lots of training last year due to illness and injuries .

Never mind, will just chill in front of the fire

thegirlsallgrowed mine has a thing for carrying shoes around so I am always missing a slipper and have to go hunting for it.

[rightsaidfrederickII]

PestDog survived his first house party yesterday. He was like an exhausted toddler with a strong fear of missing out - I tried to put him to bed but he wouldn't stay there unless I was coming to bed with him at 7pm. Clearly exhausted as he had 2 hour walkies and then he only managed about 2/3 power naps in 15 hours. He's not a social butterfly and was clearly baffled by the addition of large numbers of people in his house. He's now unconscious on my bed and catching up on his beauty sleep

Words I thought I'd never say: "stop trying to feed the dog champagne from the measuring jug you're drinking out of" We have classy friends.