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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Um, is it just me or have the experts disappeared?

27 replies

gymmummy64 · 14/02/2013 23:13

I've been away for a week and a half and it's all changed! Pack leader comments not picked up on, a thread with a shock collar in it and no reaction, lots of subjects just meandering without a brilliant expert intervention setting it right... I could go on

Cuebill, Redwing, DOoing and others, where have you gone?

Was it a mass walkout over the Bastard Dog thread? I hope not. Common causes can be really positive!

I'm really missing the guiding hands to be honest!

OP posts:
TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 15/02/2013 09:10

I noticed they were missing too. Please come back - I always read the advice you give to others and use it myself!

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2013 09:53

I've seen DOoin and Redwing on threads this week. No Cuebill, though :(

I started the Bastard Dog Club, and I genuinely didn't think it was going to cause any kind of offence. I saw it as a supportive thread for those of us dealing with dogs with ishoos, and a way of us all pooling knowledge and sharing successes as well as commiserating over failures. If I somehow missed the mark, or created the wrong tone, I am sorry.

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 15/02/2013 10:13

Surely you didn't cause offence, Chickens ? Confused I've been reading the thread and I think it is supportive and useful. I wish ArseDog was badly behaved so I could join, but (un)fortunately he's a bit of a star. I keep telling people I'll never get another dog because he's so obedient and any other hound would seem like hard work! Grin

Disclaimer: Obviously I'd rather have a well-behaved mutt, but the BD Dog Gang seems so friendly that I want to be a part of it!

Floralnomad · 15/02/2013 10:17

chickens you can't be held responsible for people having no sense of humour .

Original poster
gymmummy64 · 15/02/2013 10:18

Well thanks to their and others' collective wisdom (and I really mean this) I have a dog who now regularly does up to 30 minutes off lead without legging it and who this morning sat zen-like eating sausage as three mad doodle types zoomed around him. I have lurked on so many Doghouse threads and acted on so much of the advice in them. I often quote bits of Doghouse wisdom to myself when we're out trying something new, most frequently Cuebill's cry to sloooow down!

I was telling my DM how well Gymdog was doing last night and she said 'ah, well he knows you're the leader now'. No mum, I said. I am showing him that I am the best option and reinforcing that belief constantly. So I'm spreading the word too!

OP posts:
Original poster
gymmummy64 · 15/02/2013 10:20

And no chickens, not down to you at all. The number of posts on the BD thread shows how relevant and helpful its been

OP posts:
TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 15/02/2013 11:24

ArseDog is only so well behaved because I've listened to what the MN experts say!

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2013 12:04

I'm gutted that Cuebill has gone, because she helped me so much when I was panickign over Jasper's fear aggression. She really calmed me down, and explained what was happening and why and also what I could start to do about it. If anyone's in touch with her, could you maybe nudge her this way?

UterusUterusGhali · 15/02/2013 14:20

I was wondering that. I haven't seen much of the bastard dog thread, but was going to post about my dog shitting everywhere!
I thought it was a lighthearted thread.

Scuttlebutter · 15/02/2013 16:07

Something that really used to piss me off when the wonderful Valhalla used to be on here - so often, people would say things like "Oh, just wait till Val sees that - she is going to get medieval on your arse" if people wanted to buy a pup from Preloved, spouted bollox about CM etc, but never called it themselves. Hmm Part of what got her finally evicted was that everyone seemed to rely on her to be the voice for rescues, etc but wouldn't step up themselves.

If you see people advocating shock collars, then you don't have to be an "expert" to challenge them - it's perfectly possible to remind people that they're now illegal in parts of the UK (and prosecutions HAVE happened, I'm glad to say) and that most reputable dog trainers or owners won't have anything to do with them. Similarly with pack theory - you don't have to be an expert to say politely that dog training theory has now moved on.

I've no idea why or where Cuebill has gone - she'll be missed even though I think she had a major sense of humour failure over the Bastard Dog Thread - really don't understand why.

Original poster
gymmummy64 · 15/02/2013 17:41

Very much take your point Scuttle and actually I did think several times I could challenge some of the things I read recently, but it's hard to step up when (in my case) you know your 4.5 months of doggy experience is being read by people with years and years! I would worry about being called myself!

However, the suggestions you give are great. I will definitely remember them and try to apply

OP posts:
cuebilljustvisiting · 15/02/2013 17:52

Been pushed over here to explain myself tbh not sure why that is necessary Confused.

I work with rescue dogs 24/7. I have my own rescue and hear on a daily basis why "the bastard dog" has to go....... seeing a thread stating all the issues that I hear regularly for reasons to rehome dogs and which blame the dog whilst the owners are not willing to take responsibility or try to understand the dogs issues were not amusing. I am not saying that the thread was wrong and I am glad that people have gain support from it but it was not for me.

MN for me as for the rest of you is a bit of rest and relaxation - when threads begin to encroach in to the emotional work area it was time for me to take a break.

I feel that despite Scuttle not seeing or understanding why I had a major sense of humour fail over a thread is non of her business and again maybe highlights why I wanted to take a break.

Enjoy your dogs and keep seeing the benefits of positive training - it works for all dogs.

I am glad that BAT is being thrown around in the dog house by several posters and they are seeing the benefit of it. Smile

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2013 18:09

But Cuebill, I very much take responsibility for my dog's issues. I spend time and money working on them. There is no way on earth I would rehome him; he's family. It was lighthearted in the way that you might moan about your children to let off steam. I'm really sorry if that didn't come across as it was meant.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2013 18:14

And of course you don't have to explain yourself. I just wanted to apologise for any offence caused.

RedwingWinter · 15/02/2013 18:21

Hi gymmummy, I've been around I just haven't been very well this week so I've spent more time snuggled under a duvet watching old films than doing anything else. It's nice to be missed though :)

Chickens, that was a very supportive thread. BD was definitely being used as a term of endearment. There's nothing to apologize for.

Cuebill, there's a world of difference between the people on the BD thread and the ones who end up dropping dogs off. I hope you'll come back properly when you feel like it because I've seen you be lovely and supportive to so many people. You can handle any dog so it wasn't a thread for you, but sometimes a bit of gallows humour can help people get through a tricky situation.

Scuttlebutter · 15/02/2013 18:29

Cuebill, I'm sorry you are going. Your expertise is valued here - it would be a pity to lose it.

cuebilljustvisiting · 15/02/2013 18:47

RedwingWinter there is a hairs width of difference between people who home their dogs and those who don't - I wish I had your faith in mankind but it has been knocked out of me through the people I have come in contact with.

Chickenshavenoeyebrows no need to apologise the thread is helping many people so that is fab no hard feelings from me - just highlighted time to get involved in RL more Smile

Those of you interested in BAT Grisha Stewart is in the UK in May/June Grisha Stewarts UK seminars

Any MN at Crufts I will be doing a clicker training demo there pop along and say hello. Also behavioural advice sessions

D0oinMeCleanin · 15/02/2013 19:03

i'm hear but not posting as much atm because of my broken arm. my lack of capital letters annoys me and toying with one hand is not easy Sad

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2013 19:06

Ooer

RedwingWinter · 15/02/2013 19:09

Ouch, Dooin, sorry to hear about that. I hope it heals up soon and in the meantime I hope you've got good pain killers!

Cuebill, I know what you mean but there's a different tone of voice in that thread :). I volunteer at a rescue and the Nth time someone has left a dog tied up outside or a matted cat in a box I find it very depressing. But I look at all the people who are there to help - the volunteers and the staff - i.e. people like you - and it cheers me up. So I try to focus on that.

Wish I could go to Crufts. Would love to meet you (and others) irl.

mum47 · 15/02/2013 19:10

Chickens, I thought it was a great thread - people weren without fear divulging their dogs' bad habits in a light hearted way but were actually giving and getting advice as the same time. Also thinking thank god it's not just me.

It was actually a very supportive thread, and god knows you need a sense of humour when you have a dog!

D0oinMeCleanin · 15/02/2013 19:24

i have tramadol which is not helping with the typing Grin

Original poster
gymmummy64 · 15/02/2013 20:19

hopefully-back-soon-cuebill thanks so much for updating us. I do hope you come back after a break. I suspect for every poster you have helped directly, you have helped many more lurkers and that your advice will have had a very wide reach. It would be great if that could continue.

Redwing get well soon! I hope your duvet continues to be snuggly, mine is muddy and has holes in it as Gymdog just loves the feel of a mouth full of soft fabric.

DOoin OH NO!! How on earth are you walking dogs with a broken arm? How did you break it? Have you told us? The Doghouse needs to know!

chickens the BD thread continues to grow... now how to harness all that BD energy & community?

OP posts:
saintmerryweather · 15/02/2013 20:35

cuebill do you know where your demo will be?

D0oinMeCleanin · 15/02/2013 22:07

i fell over something that was on the floor that shouldn't have been on the floor at work Blush and if one more person mentions the words 'get a claim in' to me i will bop them on the head with my cast Grin

i'm getting help with the dogs but they're not getting out for as long as they should be because they're having to be taken separately.

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