Where the Wild Things Are

[barbarianoftheuniverse]

I have an eight month old Border Collie called Meg. She is far from perfect (and so am I).
Today she has been about 60/40 good. The 40 included chewing up my camera memory card which DH is sure he put safely on the mantelpiece. Every time I look down at this screen she takes a quick munch of the coffee table with her eyes on mine. This despite a 2 hour walk which included much in and out of streams.

Sorry your NT trip was stressful basil.

We've been out to a local country park today. Had a lovely time except for a couple of loose dogs that were allowed to hurl themselves into my two when I was holding them on my own.

Pip said a decent hello, but then one of them just kept coming back and getting right in his face, so he air snapped at them and they squealed and ran off. (Whilst his owners were telling me that it's just because he loves everyone and wants all dogs to be his friend - after I had already told them that he's a young rescue that's scared of other dogs, especially little ones. ) Not great, because then the next dog that came up also got an air snap, as obviously it had worked the first time. Fortunately the owner of the second dog was lovely and had asked if her dog could say hello to mine - also her dog was pretty laid back and just looked at Pip as if to say "Whaddya do that for? Crazy pup"

To be fair, he wasn't aggressive, just told them to back off and his reaction was appropriate given then behaviour of the other dog. He also said hello to a couple of other dogs nicely afterwards, so hopefully if was just a blip. He does seem to be getting a bit more assertive in his rejection of interactions though, so we need to handle things carefully.

I don't think it helped that he's on a slip lead at the moment, because he can't wear his harness, due to the location of his wound. I think the tension on his neck when he's stretching out to meet other dogs is an issue. Normally he's on a totally slack line, but with a slip lead there's always a little tension there, as if it loosens up completely he can slip out of it. I can't have him on a normal collar as, being a sighthound, he can just slip them over his head, even if they're tightened right up.

The good thing that came out of it was that dh has agreed that we need to take him to more dog-dense places, so that he can meet lots and lots of other dogs until he starts to relax and think it's nothing to worry about. Need to schedule at least one busy place per weekend, more if we can fit it in.

Both dogs are absolutely shattered and sleeping peacefully though and overall we had a lovely day.

We had a lovely walk today too on the old pit top, now landscaped with various walks. A real little sun trap too, it was lovely and warm.

It was quite busy up there but we managed Maz well and managed to get him onlead when needed so he managed some good ofg lead time too.

He had a meet up with his BT twinnie the other day too. They just love each other and it is just a joy to watch them border boxing and leaping over each other. Once they have skipped off other the field you can't tell them apart. Maz barely notices anyone else whilst they are together.

Lovely walks you're all having!

We are having a fab holiday in Scotland, all a bit sad about minty in kennels, but we keep meeting lovely dogs while out and about and I've realised we are stopping to chat/stroke dogs more than we ever used to pre-minty. DS2 particularly will go up to owners and ask if he can say hello to the dog and we often have to gently extricate him as he's so busy chatting to the owner about dog issues and getting a good cuddle with the dog!

BB what a lovely photo! I realised I have none from walks as I'm always so busy juggling the lead, sausage, whistle etc. but those two are concentrating beautifully. Funny you say that BB, we're planning our favourite woodland walk after collecting minty but of course it happens to be a big favourite with loads of dog owners so I'm worried mintys recall training will have gone to pot and he might not come back to us.

Toby (lab) at 10mos has hit the teens this weekend. Honestly he's bed very naughty and destructive. Where did my lovely behaved boy go?!

Hi Sally,

I was just thinking about you yesterday and pondering sending a pm as we hadn't heard from you for so long.

Don't panic, it might not be the teens, it could be a touch of spring madness. Lots of dogs go a bit fruit loop for a couple of weeks when spring has sprung, so it may settle down again yet.

Did I see you post a thread considering a second dog? Now thinking I may have dreamed it.

We are attempting to teach Pip that we don't have to get up every morning at 6.30 when he starts whingeing and he's not impressed. We can only do it when the neighbours are away, as we worry about him bothering them the rest of the time, but of course every time we get up when he whines it reinforces to him that if he makes a racket someone comes back - which messes up all the training we do re leaving him at home when we go out. I was hoping the neighbours would be away for both weeks this Easter to really help us reinforce the message, but they ended up only going for the second week this time.

Bought him a martingale collar last night. We're going to need it to see us through the next few weeks, as I don't think he'll be able to wear his harness even once the staples are out. Went for the VW theme as we have a couple of shows to attend over the next few weeks, so thought he may as well look the part. Have also ordered him a pac-a-mac. They're great actually, ripstop raincoat material, lined in very thin babycord that fold up into their own little bag. Pip hates going out in the rain as despite being a scruffy boy he actually has very little fur and what he does have is really fine, so something we can take out with us and only put on if he needs it is perfect.

He's going for a walk around the kennels next Saturday morning and then probably going in for a couple of hours, without an overnight stay, sometime next week. I can't decide whether it will do him good or make him worse. I do know he hates hearing other dogs bark and gets all stressy, so I guess it will either desensitise him to it or totally freak him out. Dreading it to be honest. Has to be done though, as we have to leave him for a weekend towards the end of May and anyway he needs to be able to cope without us occasionally or what would we do with him in an emergency?

So glad we're coming to the end of lead walking for Finn post op. A 9 month old border collie needs off lead walking for it's owners to remain sane.

We're off to Venice this weekend to see DS1 so Finn will be left to the tender mercies of DD.

Not looking forward to the end of May when DH is away right in the middle of my longest run of 12 hour shifts on the rota. DD will have left home and DS2 can't drive and, as he has ASD I don't like him lead walking if one of us is not at home to rush to the rescue.
This means that I will be walking Finn at 4.00am and then again at 7.00pm when I get home. I'm going to be shattered. Might have to look into a dog walker for a few days.

Hi moose! I've been living under a rock for the last few weeks. All good here apart from Toby being a brat. He ate two Easter eggs on Sunday, plus whatever bars were in them. Apart from being a destructive pita, the chocolate didn't seem to affect him in a 'seek a vet ASAP' way. I think that the chocolate thing MUST be linked to cocoa solid content. Higher the content the worse it is for the pooch. Thankful that it was just kids milk chocolate.

NCIS what op did Finn have?? Poor boy.

We are still umming and ahhing about a second dog. Part of me thinks it would be great for Toby, but then I worry that the bond he has with ds3 would lessen. I'd love another, but it's extra work. Bearing in mind that Toby is being a total muppet at the moment, we aren't rushing into it until he's matured.

He was neutered, stitches out tomorrow, he's been really good and has not even needed the cone of shame but you can tell he really needs a decent walk. We're now walking him off lead once a day but he really needs twice daily.

NCIS, that does sound like it's going to be rough. Dog walker might be a good idea. Have you time to do a trial run beforehand?

Sally, if it was British milk chocolate the cocoa content was probably low enough not to do any damage to a solid good-sized dog - they don't even call it chocolate in Europe. It would still be dangerous for a something like a Chihuahua, but it's dark chocolate or top quality milk chocolate that's the biggest worry for larger dogs. That said, I believe even cheap chocolate can be really bad news for dogs like Pip that don't have much body fat. S ame with grapes. I've heard of a Greyhound dying after eating just two grapes, whereas my old GSD used to beg for them and would eat quite a few at a time, before we knew they were poisonous to dogs- mind you, she was mahoosive!

Pip doesn't seem all that interested in the Easter eggs, but the little so and so stole a quarter of my cheese sandwich off the kitchen table yesterday. He's never done that to me before - usually only attempts counter surfing if dh is in there because he knows who the soft-touch is. I was so surprised that I shouted 'Oi!' really loudly and he brought it all back up - still intact. 'Orrible dog.

In my experience, getting another dog doesn't lessen the bond the existing has with it's humans, it just gives them another relationship to enjoy in a different way.

Trial run is going to be a bit difficult as we're moving house the weekend before, everything always comes at once. At least the new house has a much more secure garden and is not on a main road which will mean I'm more relaxed.

Good to hear from you Sally even if Toby is being a PITA ...

One Easter our old fox-red lab conspired with the cat to get at the Easter eggs my mum had put on top of the dresser. The cat knocked them all onto the floor and Topaz ate the lot, cardboard, foil and all - amazingly it didn't seem to do her any harm at all but she did have a cast-iron digestive system (looked like a dog but was actually a gannet disguised as a lab )

Fitz is being so lovely at the moment that I was v tempted when his breeder emailed her puppy people to let us all know she had one boy puppy left from her current litter as the family who'd reserved him had pulled out at the last minute. Then I remembered how broody I'd felt when dd was about 1 and gorgeously easy - and how glad I was 9 months later that I wasn't dealing with spectacular toddler tantrums with a newborn in tow ...

NCIS - that schedule sounds really tough - I'd definitely look into getting a dogwalker for those few days

Dd's not back to school until tomorrow and has spent the morning trying to teach Fitz to 'sing' along with the harmonica - oh joy

I agree with basil, NCIS, a dogwalker sounds like it would be a wise investment to get you through such a stressful time.

basil, I'm puppy broody too. Keep looking at rescues and would have fostered a pup for the Lurcher rescue Lurcherboy came from if dh hadn't said no. Fortunately dh is my voice of reason and always stops me doing something totally impractical.

Hope Fitz's singing voice is coming along nicely!

Found for anyone that's interested. Love the way she weaves her line to keep it neat.

Angus is just over 8 months now - and seems to have forgotten everything he has learnt! At training last night he refused even to sit unless dd used a treat - and then tried to snap it from her fingers. As for stay and recall - you would think he had never learnt them at all! Going to go back to basics I think.
We were away on holiday last week - staying in a house with tiled floors. Like many rough collies Angus is very wary of hard floors in case he slips - we had to carry him in and make him an island using his bed and a few blankets! Took him 2 days before he felt confident enough to walk around.
It was a good holiday - dh & ds were very impressed by a dog they met cycling who could do a down and stay at long range when they went past! Angus enjoyed new walks. Unfortunately we came back to find one of our cats missing - then found his body on the golf course on Sunday. Will miss him a lot - he and Angus had become friends and they were quite cute together.

So sorry to hear about your cat haggis.

Sounds like lots of our pups are trying it on a bit at the moment.

Iirc didn't you have a broken foot/ankle last time we crossed paths? Is it better now?

Eric is only four months but he seems to have mischief in his blood just now. He climbs everywhere, windowsills, tables, chests of drawers etc and today the stairs.
I've been out with dd's today and left dh in charge, Eric runs rings around him anyway but today his new game has been running up the stairs and then barking for dh to rescue him. I came home at 4pm and dh had been up and downstairs about 50 times
Eric went upstairs, I coaxed him down with a treat and then put the baby gate across. Eric is not impressed and has barked at the gate instead and dh feels pretty foolish .

Blimey insanity, sounds like you've got your hands full. He sounds super norty but bags of fun!

Had to laugh at your dh though, just like a man to not think of stopping the pup getting access to the stairs.

Pip's staples have got to the itchy-healing stage, so he keeps trying to surreptitiously rub his side on things - mainly me and the sofa. Staples are due to be removed on Friday evening.

This is Finn doing his down and stay at a distance, he's not yet 100% reliable though and certain bikes /joggers distract him too much and I haven't yet worked out what it is about them.
I will be researching dog walkers for a few weeks time I think, 4am walks do not appeal even though at least it will be light!

He is a little devil Moose but so much fun. He sees me as in charge (just like the kids ) so he behaves far better for me and he checks if I'm about before he does all the stuff he shouldn't be doing.
But for all his naughtiness he's quite endearing. Ds3 has autism (as does dd2) and likes him when he is calm and quiet, Eric never grabs his shoes or trousers but instead waits at his feet for him to stroke him, it's as if he senses ds's needs.
He's clever, refuses to use the garden to toilet so instead brings his harness so that we'll walk him for a pee not sure whether he is training us or vice versa tbh.

Very impressive NCIS.

I used to love my 5.00 am walks way back when I was working. We used to fall out of bed, pull on scruffy clothes and big coats, pile into the car and head to the meadows for an hour. We always had the place to ourselves and the dogs had an absolute blast. It was particularly beautiful when it snowed and we were the first ones to see it all unspoiled with not a footprint in sight - until my two got their paws into it!

That's interesting about Eric sensing he needs to behave differently with your ds3 insanity, because Pip is totally different with ds1 than he is with my other two. Very similar actually, he sits/lies quietly for ds to stroke him and does things like put his head in ds's lap and just stand there quietly. Whereas with ds2 it's all about toy throwing and rough and tumble and dd he clearly thinks is another puppy, albeit one he doesn't get to mouth or jump on.

Eric sounds like such a clever little lad. Lurcherboy always runs to his harness and snouts it if I ask him if he wants to go out. He knows 'out' means in the garden not for a walk, but he still tries it every single time.

This is devil dog looking sheepish because he'd needed a bath after a roll in horse muck less than 24 hours after I'd paid the groomer twenty odd quid to tidy him up.

Aw, how can you call him devil dog - he's ridiculously cute!

We had a disastrous walk this afternoon (well hilarious in retrospect ...) 30 seconds after this photo was taken I was covered in mud from head to foot - I was trying to cross a stream and stepped on what I thought was solid ground under about 2" of water .... Instead it was about a foot of mud so it was a bit like missing the last stair ... I lost my footing and went down splat . Dd collapsed into giggles (harrumph) and Fitz obviously thought I'd decided to join him in his new habit of wallowing in mud - I swear he's half hippo ...

On the plus side today and completely off-topic but I think quite a few of you will understand ... After 10 years of treatment, ds2 has finally been discharged from the paediatric incontinence clinic - yay

Oh Basildon, muddy dog and muddy dog 'mummy'!

Good news about your daughter, hooray

I haven't read back as it's been manic lately (the pony club stuff has started again), but we are all fine.

Harry is being an absolute git at the minute, a late adolescence I think, selective hearing, going further than I would like him to go from me off lead (always comes back, but in his own time sometimes).

Trying to reinforce the training and remain positive, but used a stern voice a bit recently, rather than my 'singsong' voice, always treating for the good behaviour, but honestly!!

Hector remains a quiet, timid, gentle little soul, who spends his time creeping around looking for cuddles and loving everybody, desperate to please.

Will keep up now

I feel for you basildon, by 9am this morning Eric had been walked and ended up in the bath again! If there is mud he will find it, it doesn't help that he is ridiculously short too so even a shallow dip means he's half coated.To think dh's concern was that he would be somewhat prissy being part poodle (ridiculous misconception) he's never happier than when he's charging round like a lunatic and rolling in dirt.
Great news on the ds front

Just 'chilling