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The doghouse

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

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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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Original poster

BiteyShark · 08/02/2018 16:14

tafftum fortunately he has never caught a bird but he keeps trying .

Tips for doscover dogs at crufts. Get there early and go straight to it so you can get up close to the dogs and owners before the crowds. Select a few breeds you definitely want to see first but then go round the rest and keep an open mind. Most owners will tell you the good points but what you really want to know are the 'worst points' of the breed so ask nice but leading questions such as 'what was the hardest aspect of training you found', 'what things are these breeds known for', 'what should I look for as an owner if I view a puppy/dog' etc.

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Original poster

BiteyShark · 08/02/2018 16:16

averylongtimeago I am not sure I have the energy for another dog let alone another puppy. Sorry you lost your big dog

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 08/02/2018 16:49

And I'm not sure about a rescue- could I be certain of it's temperament?

You've got more idea than you do with a puppy because the personality has had time to emerge and develop. A puppy could turn out any way within the confines of the breed.

Go for a foster based rescue - that way you'll get an honest report from someone who's had the dog 24/7 in a home environment

averylongtimeago · 08/02/2018 17:00

Have to convince DH first....
It's so quiet with just one dog! Less fur, but still..

DDog is a bit picky over which other dogs are ok to play with too, not labs, not collies, not black, not spaniels - retrievers and some poodle crosses are ok, as are some larger terrier types. No idea why she is like this, we went to dog club and training every week for two years till we moved!

SleightOfMind · 08/02/2018 19:04

When we lost our old lady, our big boy was just desolate for ages.
Wouldn’t play or even say hello to his dog friends on walks, just plodded along at my left heel with his head down.

She wasn’t even that nice to him most of the time, I was so unprepared for the depth of his grief.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 09/02/2018 01:03

@BlueTongue Short version of PestDog's backstory is I moved in with friend, who had recently accidentally acquired PestDog. PestDog was untrained, underexercised and developing behavioural problems. Friend means well but lacks time and experience.

I stepped in, walked daily, training classes, toys etc. etc. etc. Behaviour improves enormously. We both get attached to each other - perhaps unwise, but inevitable.

Friend announces he's moving several thousand miles away and taking the dog. I have concerns about this and am upset to be losing him as we've come a long way together. Several days later, friend realises the expense practicalities of transporting dog across an ocean and decides to let me adopt him.

I'm now his fourth owner in 8 or 9 months, fifth in total and really quite happy about being his forever mum - he's a lovely little thing really!

NoSquirrels · 09/02/2018 02:09

Oh Avocados that is AWESOME news about you and PestDog.

Original poster

BiteyShark · 09/02/2018 07:25

averylongtimeago what a lovely picture.

I have a busy day working at home and trying to decide whether to take BiteyDog out now which is better for me except he's snoozing happily away on the sofa

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thegirlsallgrowedupnow · 09/02/2018 08:03

@tafftum, hi, we have a mongrel who everybody assumes is a cockapoo. Her mum was a springer/lab/collie cross and dad was a pedigree miniature poodle at stud (owners were friends and it was a one off breeding). Her temperament, brain, agility and looks are pure poodle and factor in the cost of a regular haircut that will cost probably more than yours! She has the prey drive and flushing instincts of a springer, loves mud, is very agile and is as greedy as a Labrador. She definetly has been more work to train than either of my previous two pedigree dogs. She is gorgeous and calming down nicely now at 20 months old. She doesn’t shed which I find a big bonus but her prey drive needs constant work so on balance a pedigree poodle would have equally suited us but sometimes she turns and looks at me in the middle of a muddy field and the joy on her face is pure spaniel. I believe there are breeders of F1 cockapoos out there but I think it is a bit of a minefieldfor all the reasons previously stated. Another time I would go for a poodle or a show cocker.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 09/02/2018 09:19

Bit of a random one, does anyone know if you can find out who previously owned / originally bred a dog via their microchip? I know who owners three and four were, but the owner before that is a mystery and I'd be curious to know where he was born!

bluetongue · 09/02/2018 14:40

Thanks for the back story Avocado. Sounds like it was a win win outcome for everyone

Poor Bluepuppy hasn’t been able to go for a proper walk for most of the week. We’re in the middle of a hideous heatwave and it’s been 40 degrees for the last three days. I’m awake right now because it’s still 30 degrees at midnight. There’s meant to be a cool change coming in today. Can’t wait to take him out for a nice, long walk. If someone can please recommend somewhere to live in the UK, not too expensive but also within an hour drive of a sandy beach I’m moving

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 09/02/2018 15:04

Wales has some lovely beaches and housing is relatively cheap!

tafftum · 09/02/2018 15:11

@thegirlsallgrowedupnow hi, can I first just say she is absolutely gorgeous I love her 😍
Wow she has quite the personality too, a real mixed bag! Has she became easier to train as she got older or is it still consistently difficult. I know labradors / springers are intelligent dogs.. so are poodles quite stubborn?
Thanks for your advice, it seem like it's gonna be difficult to get a cockapoo pup that has favourable traits that would suit us and our lifestyle!

tafftum · 09/02/2018 15:18

@bluetongue hi I'm gonna second what @AvocadosBeforeMortgages said. Although I'm welsh so I might be biased but some parts of the country have some of the best views and coastlines in the country (aberystwyth especially which is a coastal town in west wales). We live in South Wales, just outside of Swansea and there are some lovely beaches and peninsulas not far from our home. Then theres further out west which is even more rural and coastal. There are plenty of places to go walking and relax here though and the property in most areas can be relatively cheap but some areas are more on the expensive side. If you drive its also better since a lot of the places are a bit "out of the way" of public transport, but if you're ever near Swansea, the Mumbles is a lovely place to go walking and stop off for a bite to eat

Original poster

BiteyShark · 09/02/2018 15:37

I have a holiday booked later in the year when DH, BiteyDog and I plan to spend a nice week in a caravan in Wales. Can't wait

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bluetongue · 09/02/2018 15:49

Wales sounds lovely. The UK is out of the question for various reasons but I am seriously considering Tasmania as a realistic option and maybe the South Island of New Zealand to retire to The funny thing is when I mention these ideas to people they say ‘oh, but it’s so cold there’. That’s exactly what I want!

tafftum · 09/02/2018 16:16

@bluetongue I love New Zealand I was last there this past summer.. well their winter Absolutely stunning place and this history is amazing especially the maori tribes and their national pride despite being such a small nation. I loveeee it there! Never been to the South Island though, have you been?

tafftum · 09/02/2018 16:17

@BiteyShark where about are you visiting? North or South?

Original poster

BiteyShark · 09/02/2018 16:26

tafftum South near the Pembrokeshire coast.

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Original poster

BiteyShark · 09/02/2018 16:28

Well I guess more south west

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2pups · 09/02/2018 17:07

@tafftum

Part of the reason I love cross breeds is because I can't decide on any one breed.

Next dogs I get will be a Newfypoo (Newfoundland x Poodle) and a Bug (Boston x Pug).

Wolfiefan · 09/02/2018 17:33

2 pups. Please tell me you're joking.

Original poster

BiteyShark · 09/02/2018 18:10

Omg blue I missed that you said 40degrees. I would be permanently submersed in a cold bath. That's way too hot to do anything

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tafftum · 09/02/2018 20:37

@BiteyShark
Ah I'm guessing you're staying near the national park there? Absolutely gorgeous area!😍 enjoy!!

@2pups
i've never heard of either of those breeds what made you decide on them! Arent newfoundlands huuuge

bluetongue · 09/02/2018 22:07

Taftum I have been to the South Island of New Zealand and I adored the scenery and mountains. As an Australian I could move without needing a visa but things get tricky when it comes to superannuation (our pension plans) which is why it’s more of a retirement move. More money would make everything so much easier

Yes Bitey 40 degrees for three days and hot overnight. Bluepuppy can go to air conditioned day care but I had to cancel on Thursday because of his dodgy tum. Apart from that visiting the dog park at around 8pm at night is about the only other thing I can do with him. At least being a whippet he is pretty good at doing nothing but some dogs would be bouncing off the walls.

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