New Puppy Mummies No. 4

[SallyBear]

Have we really got to a fourth thread already?! Wow.

Please feel free to join in.

I have Toby, who is a 7 month old foxy coloured Labrador.

Windy rainy walk for us today not that she minded much as her best friend was there to play with, they found a deers leg and ran off with it but I managed to get her to drop it (eventually).

nigella - you could try running away in the other direction, using a high pitched voice, waving a toy/treat looking like an idiot In other words, you are the most exciting thing to your dog. He should be curious enough to follow you, treat profusely, do not tell him off etc.

I have heard that if you sit down and wait, that will gain their curiosity, but I know this wouldn't work with Harry.

Harry often stops at the end of the walk, as he knows it's over and will not come to the car, although he doesn't run off. I just calmly walk over, treat, praise and clip on the lead, bundle him in the car.

thank you needa! Will try the running away, looking like an idiot exciting, etc.

it's one of those days - more advice needed - pup's tongue is noticeably red! could it be an allergic reaction to that nutella?

i've been googling and the only suggestion is heatstroke. No chance of that! Iv'e been washing the sides of his mouth with hibiscrub as suggested by vet (slight lip fold infection) - if some got on his tongue could it make it red??

Heard from moose. She's been really unwell. Proper nasty bedridden, unable to eat, walk type flu.
Get well soon!

Thanks Sally for letting us know about Moose.

Really sorry to hear that Moose -what a lousy winter you've had there with various illnesses. I do hope that by the time you read this you're feeling a bit better and the rain has stopped. Hopefully if all the kids are well enough for scho you can take some time at home to recuperate and not worry too much about jobs around the house. Just look after yourself.

Sorry Nigella no idea about a red tongue. Hope better in morning

Sorry to hear about moose hope she's on the mend really soon xxx

Hope you feel better soon Moose

Take care Moose. Hope things look up soon.

red tongue better, thank you mint - I think it could have been the hibiscrub getting into his mouth but I will keep an eye on it. Best wishes to Moose again.

poor moose, I hope you are recovering soon and that nothing else happens in 2014, or 2015 for that matter.

Took Nala out for a lovely walk yesterday and yes you guessed it another cut foot, only a small nick this time doesn't require stitches as it's across the top of her toe didn't bleed but still.

DP was really annoyed saying the dog has cost more money than he thought I think he was just angry as he's ok now.

Might have to think about a new dog walking route

Poor Nala - she has really been in the wars in terms of her paw. Hope she's not worried about running about. Is there lots of broken glass where you walk?

Hope everyone ok in this awful weather. Trees are down tonight around us and masses of water about but no flooding where we are in Yorkshire - hope you all ok. Our puppy is going mad in this wind - hyped up and skittish.

sorry to hear that, sweetkitty -how did it happen, was it glass? I've seen glass a couple of times where we walk. I just don't understand some people!

Fine in the weather here, being in Herts. My heart goes out to those more unfortunate people in other areas. We went out for a walk today in the wind - then it started sleeting. I was the only one out but at least pup and I had the woods to ourselves. He seemed pretty grateful to get back in the car at the end though - but it did pay off because he had a good long sleep when we got back home!

I think it must have been glass that's 3 out of her 4 paws have been cut now. Yes where I walk is notorious for teenagers drinking at weekends and smashing their bottles. It's such a shame as it's a lovely walk along the river with a waterfall and loads of wildlife but to get to it there's a path full of glass I try to avoid it as much as I can.

Weather wise we are fine (central Scotland) but at all the photos from down South. Poor people.

Sweetkitty. Can you pop Nala in the car and drive somewhere that's glass free?
DH is forever picking up cans and bottles abandoned by teenagers, from our local park if the weather has been good. Not sure why anyone would want to drink in a park really.
Poor puppy.

Sallybear - I am on the lookout for such a place, I took her a different route this morning and we did some road walking on a very busy road to get her used to traffic.

I'm very lucky where I live as its a modern city, so walkways are away from roads and generally are glass free. We have access to so many different parks, woods, river, canal and lake walks. Toby certainly gets a great variety. I don't think he'd be too good along a busy high street. He's a bit of a Jessie when it comes to lorries etc.

How's your girl's paw this morning?

We are right next to a large country park but to get to the wooded areas you have to go through the glass strewn paths it's just feels ridiculous to put her in the car when there's a park 5 mins away.

Her paw is looking fine, it's more her toe this time so she's not actually walking on it.

That's a shame.
I take mine to Kelling heath most days and it's lovely. Except for the people who think the rule about being allowed to leave shit in the scrub applies to the paths too

Could you keep her on the lead for the paths and use that to practise loose lead walking with lots of treats?

I say that as someone who is desperate to get free from the lead at the first possible opportunity as my shoulder and hip are not coping well with pulling!

Ouch - poor Nala - hope this is the last injury for a food long while ...

Hello everyone. I'm finally upright and able to spend a bit of time mnetting.

Sorry to hear about Nala getting another cut foot. I get so angry about smashed glass. The idiot teenagers around here favour the childrens' play area for their nocturnal get-togethers, so not a problem for dogs, but really dangerous for toddlers. It's the rubbish collections that seem to leave glass smashed on the pavements in our area, which is something I get really irate about, as the recycling isn't smashed until they get hold of it.

I think I'd definitely be investing in some dog-boots if I were you sweetkitty.

My two have been really bored while I've been ill. Dh tends to do fairly short lead walks with them and not much, if any training. First week I was too ill to do anything, but have been doing a bit of clicker training and chucking toys from the sofa for them this week. Got dressed for the first time in two weeks yesterday and they ran to the back porch and started snouting their harnesses enthusiastically. Unfortunately I am still very wobbly on my legs, so it will be a few more days until I can take them out, so they're going to be very disappointed.

Poor you Moose. How tough on you to only be bit better now - you must be SO frustrated with it.

Take it gradually now and don't feel guilty if it takes a while to get back to decent dog walking. They know you love them dearly!

Thanks mint.

I haven't got much choice really. Tried to get up and do the school run, but ended up nearly fainting and being sent back to bed this morning.

I'm extremely lucky to have had my Mum, Sister and dh covering the school runs for me. Don't know what I'd have done without them.

I haven't actually felt well enough to be frustrated with it yet, which is how I know I must have been pretty poorly. Dh said he knew I was starting to get better when I got cross with him for not doing something right!

Dh has his best mate coming this weekend for his birthday. So hopefully they can take the dogs somewhere like a country park to give them some extra stimulation.

Bit worried about Pip. He's barely seen another dog for the last couple of weeks, as dh can only walk them before and after work and doesn't meet many other dog walkers. He said he's been ok with the odd dog they've seen at a distance, but hasn't had any actual interaction at all. Really hope it hasn't set his socialisation back.

poor Moose, I do hope things improve soon. Don't worry about the socialisation, I'm sure all the very early socialisation has been absorbed and he will be just fine x