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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

General dog chat

993 replies

BiteyShark · 20/01/2018 13:29

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.

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DeepfriedPizza · 05/02/2018 08:24

rightsaidfrederickII So sorry you are going through this with pestdog, it's just not fair.
We have a Romanian rescue, we had a tough couple of weeks at the start and now she is great. She behaves in very much the same way as the pp's Balkan dog.

We are going away for the weekend this weekend and Pizzapup is going to stay at a boarding place. It's ran by the same lady who runs the dog walking company that does her walks already but I am so scared about her being ok when we are gone.

rightsaidfrederickII · 05/02/2018 08:48

I'm (genuinely and unavoidably) going to be less available this week due to work, and the friend knows. Unfortunately he's routinely out of the house 8am - 10pm (work + hobby) and so I find myself trying to get out of work pronto so that PestDog is "only" left 8.30-6pm. It's unlikely that he will sacrifice his hobby to get back earlier, even when I can't be there to pick up the pieces, so ultimately the dog will suffer and I can't bring myself to do that to him when I can avoid it.

If he was my dog, I'd be paying for a walker, but I draw the line at paying for a dog walker for someone else's dog (I do a lot, but there are limits, and I don't think IABU on that one).

The irony is that at one point PestDog was with one of the big name rescues that would never have allowed this carry on, but he was subsequently dumped on privately rehomed to the friend.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 05/02/2018 10:19

rightsaid unfortunately the only time I suspect PestDogs owner will 'get it' is when poor PestDog has to pee or poo in the house and when he gets destructive or behaviour deteriorates when he hasn't been sufficient exercised.

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steppemum · 05/02/2018 10:28

wow 8:30 -6
does he have access to the garden? I can't believe he doesn't pee everywhere.
Poor pestdog Sad

rightsaidfrederickII · 05/02/2018 10:53

@Bitey, I suspect you're right. The first thing to go will be his reactivity; if he gets enough exercise (a walk around the block, oddly enough, doesn't cut it) it's very manageable, if he doesn't he's awful and more than deserving of his MN name. A tired dog is a good dog and all that.

No access to the garden; apparently he has a bladder of steel as he's only been caught short once or twice in the last 6 months.

Maybe he will become thoroughly Pesty after he leaves, and will be rehomed back to me. I can but hope Sad

snowy1982 · 05/02/2018 11:10

Trip to the vet needed today Sad snowydog2 has been scratching his snout so much he has cut it quite badly

Soubriquet · 05/02/2018 11:12

Poor pest dog

I hope he doesn't poorly from holding it too long or get punished for having accidents because he couldn't hold it

I've had to go the vets today. Found a bitey bug on madam

Original poster
BiteyShark · 05/02/2018 11:16

Oh no sounds like vet visits all round Sad

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Soubriquet · 05/02/2018 11:34

Dog was easy. In and out. I've got to take my half feral cat on weds... if I can catch her

Mustang27 · 05/02/2018 14:08

So my other dog now has a lump under his eye on his muzzle. I think it's likely linked to his teeth but he will be in at the vets tomorrow to get checked. Wish me luck I'm really not ready for more bad news after losing his sister just last month but he is 16 so I have to be realistic plus he also has a grade 4 heart murmur.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 05/02/2018 14:20

Mustang hoping its 'nothing serious'. It is causing him many issues?

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Mustang27 · 05/02/2018 14:21

Absolutely nothing but he is a bit daft tbh so may just be blissfully unaware lol.

snowy1982 · 05/02/2018 17:44

Back from vets, cuts are infected so cream and tablets for snowydog2

Original poster
BiteyShark · 05/02/2018 17:47

I hate it when BiteyDog is ill or injured as I just wish I could swop places with him.

Hope all the poorly dogs get better soon.

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snowy1982 · 05/02/2018 19:15

We’re not quite sure exactly what happened, whether he had a small cut that got infected which caused him to scratch or whether the scratching caused the infection

DeepfriedPizza · 06/02/2018 11:44

My neighbour is on holiday. They have been gone for at least 3 days. They have 3 chihuahuas and they have left the dogs home alone.

My neighbours mum comes once a day to feed them and let them out 😪

steppemum · 06/02/2018 12:03

Oh pizza, poor babies.

Once a day.....

Is my dog the only adult dog in the world without a bladder of steel?
Honstely if we are out for 4 hours and come home, we open the door and walk with him stright to the kitchen and out of the back door. Full bladder plus excitment/relief of us coming home and he can't contain himself.

DeepfriedPizza · 06/02/2018 13:07

They are alone overnight so must go for 24 hours without seeing anyone.
I hope I’ve got it wrong and the mum is popping in for other reasons but I doubt it.

I know they leave them in all day when at work.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 06/02/2018 13:27

steppemum my dog has a rubbish bladder as well and only lasts around 6 hours overnight let alone in the day.

I just can't imagine leaving BiteyDog alone whilst I am work let alone when I go on holiday.

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steppemum · 06/02/2018 15:27

I know from other threads that dogs left while owners are on holiday with dog walker coming in 2x per day is becoming quite common.
I find it truly shocking. My cat couldn't care less as long as he can get to the sofa and gets food (although he is always pleased to see us) but the dog?

Oh it makes me really sad, he sits and pines when we are out. Can't imagine how stressed they must get.

rightsaidfrederickII · 06/02/2018 18:00

That's shocking Steppemum.

I don't know what it is elsewhere, but surely that arrangement can't be much cheaper? PestDog's trainer charges £12 for a 1 hour walk, (so £24 for 2x 1 hour) or £30 for 24 hours of boarding.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 06/02/2018 18:14

Yes doesn't make sense when boarding kennels are really quite cheap. Here it's £15 per night at a boarding kennel and around £25 per night for home boarding.

I guess in this situation for three chihuahuas it probably is just down to cost if the mum is popping in. I think I would rather not have a holiday as it's bad enough leaving him knowing he is being well looked after and spoilt.

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DeepfriedPizza · 06/02/2018 19:26

I’m going away this weekend and ddog is going to board with her dog walker. I think it costs £22 a day.

The think is the person who is popping in doesn’t work and lives round the corner so I don’t know why she just doesn’t stay with the dogs or take them with her.

Cath2907 · 07/02/2018 10:02

Hi - can anyone help? Got a new puppy, he has been here 3 days. Has seen vet and is healthy and has had 1st vaccs. Vet gave us a BRAVECTO (Fluralaner) anti-flea tablet. Buddy is supposed to chew it. He spat it out. I put it in his dinner, he found it and spat it out. I mashed into the next dinner - he has eaten part of his dinner, presumably the part not contaminated with flea tablet. Any thoughts of something irresistable I can add to the leftovers? He is an 8 week old Bichon Frise.
Other than that he seems to be settling well with at least half his toileting happening outdoors (the other half is happening near the back door so I am sure he is trying - I am trying to never take my eyes off him but I have to wee sometimes!)

Original poster
BiteyShark · 07/02/2018 10:18

Squashed firmly in cheese always does the trick for me. What I do is have small chunks of cheese and feed him non tablet ones in succession fairly quickly then sneak the tablet one in, then give him a few more non tablet chunks so he continues to swallow them.

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