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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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fleshmarketclose · 19/02/2018 13:31

Yes I know you are right and tbh I don't want a puppy Eric as he was a bloody nuisance, I want the dog he became. I maybe ought to start looking at rescues because if I have another I'd want a dog and not a puppy anyway.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 19/02/2018 13:33

Oh I understand regarding a puppy. Whilst I think it would be easier second time round as BiteyDog wasn't an easy puppy or adolescent, I am not sure I have the mental stength to do that again Grin

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fleshmarketclose · 19/02/2018 13:55

Yes me neither, I go all gooey over the pup pictures on here and then shudder at the memories Grin Eric still answers to bad boy because I swear I said that more than Eric some days Hmm

thegirlsallgrowedupnow · 19/02/2018 14:13

You need to find an Ernie😀
Bitey, I will talk to my trainer at agility about it. We haven’t been for ages with cocodogs stomach infection and one thing and another.
Another one with “never again” for puppy days. Overgrown puppy has currently got a chew and is dropping it onto the wood floor periodically just as DH dozes off over his newspaper, sure she is doing it on purpose🙄

fleshmarketclose · 19/02/2018 14:30

What do you think of Woody? Anyone rehomed from the RSPCA?

Original poster
BiteyShark · 19/02/2018 16:04

I haven't rehomed but I remember when I approached the RSPCA a few years ago and as soon as I said I worked then didn't want to know, unlike Dogs Trust that actually listened to what the setup would be (daycare/dog walkers and working at home).

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 19/02/2018 17:58

PestDog has been making excellent progress on his reactivity.

To the person that snuck up behind us at a pedestrian crossing and then had their enormous mastiff explode into a ball of reactive aggression two feet away, fuck you, fuck your dog, fuck your ancestors.

I had to yank him away as I feared for his safety. PestDog had his own reactive meltdown because he was scared (don't blame him tbh) and then had a pop at the next dog we saw (on lead, hasn't happened for weeks). If you know your dog is dog reactive, don't come that bloody close to other dogs.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 19/02/2018 18:22

Oh dear Avocados you are having a rough time of it over the last few days. I am lucky I can avoid most other people and in certain places we all seem to understand the unwritten rules and are all happy to keep to our space.

BiteyDog seems very tired today after daycare. I tried to do some training when I got home which involves me using a rope toy as a tug but he just couldn't be bothered to play. He is now out for the count on the sofa and I know I won't hear from him again tonight.

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willdoitinaminute · 19/02/2018 21:38

Cheese. My now just 2 yr old lab has made a breakthrough with retrieving her ball in a sock. It was cheese that did it. She retrieves everything but gets within a gnats tale of handing it over then runs off laughing manically ( well that’s how I interpret her wild eyes). I tried every yummy treat available then tried cheese. Now she loves to bring everything back.
She repeatedly throws whatever she has stolen on the tiled kitchen floor to get my attention then stands with her nose to the fridge door waiting for cheese.
The old cricket ball in a smelly sports sock is also working wonders for her recall. While I have it in my hand she is glued to my side. An old friend advised the ball in the sock, if she tries to play with it it bashes her around the head so she carries it carefully.
We had a real setback in training last year when she had severe gastroenteritis and it took nearly 4 months of limited exercise before she regained condition. She’s a working lab and they are always a bit lean but she lost so much muscle she looked more like a whippet. She’s back to her former self now.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 19/02/2018 22:53

Just a surfeit of idiots! I'm sure normal service will be resumed shortly (but until PestDog has managed to greet a few dogs in the required manner he's on lead)

The sheer amount of time I've spent trying to wrestle balls from his jaws is unreal - he sees it as a game of tug of war. Only real success I've had is when I've got another ball ready to throw he'll drop the first one in anticipation. Sadly I think a cricket ball in a sock would probably result in either cracked teeth or concussion; he has limited sense of self preservation.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 20/02/2018 05:17

he has limited sense of self preservation

Same here. The number of times he has slid into furniture, missed the landing of jumps outside and gone head first into a thorny bush because the ball has rolled in there is huge. Thank god for insurance Wink

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thegirlsallgrowedupnow · 20/02/2018 07:08

I regularly put a couple of treats rolled up inside old holey socks sometimes tied up in an old tea towel for good measure so cocodog is an expert unpacker....the cricket ball would be out in a few seconds😁
Advocados, we often see a chap with a reactive collie out on our walks. He thinks he is training the dog by forcing it to walk by any dog they meet, I avoid them as much as possible for the sake of the poor dog.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 20/02/2018 07:46

Everyone who uses thing like cardboard boxes, tubes, socks etc to hide treats in. How do you stop them from eating the actual sock? Mine would ignore the treats and run of to try and pull apart and attempt to ingest the sock so I can't use those techniques for making him work for food for fear of a stomach obstruction Sad

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Squirrel26 · 20/02/2018 08:14

SquirrelDog likes to chew and shred things, but he won’t actually eat anything that’s not food - he’ll spit cardboard etc out all over the carpet. Which is nice Hmm. I’m not sure how you’d stop a determined sock-eater, using treats that are so amazing he’s not interested in anything else, maybe?

Original poster
BiteyShark · 20/02/2018 08:19

We have to dry socks and pants at the top of the clothes horse or someone looks over shoulder at dog sneaks in and grabs one to run off with and chew

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Squirrel26 · 20/02/2018 08:33

I know I shouldn’t, but I find it hilarious that SquirrelDog will eye up a pile of clothes, then casually help himself to whatever he feels like chewing today and run off with it. ‘Yoink! I’ll just be looking after these for you.’ Grin

thegirlsallgrowedupnow · 20/02/2018 09:27

Bitey, I think it depends on how food motivated dog is. Cocodog would never leave the treats...she will sniff a pile of laundry but never touch it. I tried to teach her to bring dirty socks to put in the washing machine but she kept dropping them in disgust...probably because there were no treats tucked inside🙄

steppemum · 20/02/2018 10:02

loving the clothes stealing dogs.
We often come down to find steppedog has taken a pair of balled up socks into his bed. Not to eat, just to cuddle. Usually ds as his are lying all over the floor.

Although if I leave a pile of dirty washing waiting to go into the machine, he does re- sort it for me...

fleshmarketclose · 20/02/2018 11:40

Eric used to be a devil for dirty pants but only mine or dd's, he was never interested in the clean stuff. It's a habit he grew out of thankfully as dd was always mortified as he'd take the pants onto the garden to chew.Now he has a pair of my trashed slippers to chew on, he's pretty clever though he only chews on the pair he is allowed and leaves all the others alone.

steppemum · 20/02/2018 11:56

I do love the way they know if it is theirs! Steppe will chew up his own toys, but just carry our clothes round and into his bed.
(quite sweet really)

massive breakthrough moment, came home from shopping to find cat and dog both in lounge together (not sure which one of them opened the door mind you....)
cat happily in his favourite place on windowsill, dog semi happily lying on floor, watching cat eagerly/warily. First time they have voluntarily been in the same room without the drive for food being involved. I have hope!

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 20/02/2018 12:30

Anyone else get the 'stare'? BiteyDog has this habit of sitting and staring intently at me and won't look away. I can feel his eyes burning into me shock
Coming late to this but just read this thread. Yes, JoyfulDog does this when wanting to go out for a wee. Usually, when I am deep in some crime serial on telly that I'm avidly following. It starts with the "stare" and then The Paw, then, if that fails too, she suddenly leaps onto my lap and blocks my view of the telly (it works).

fleshmarketclose · 20/02/2018 12:54

Yes Eric starts with the stare, then he whines, and then he yaps if he thinks you haven't noticed. If you ask "what do you want?" he leads you to either the back door for a wee, or to stare at the kitchen cupboards for a treat or at his lead because he wants a walk. He's got good communication skills for a dog tbh.

Squirrel26 · 20/02/2018 13:52

Hmm, SquirrelDog knows what’s his...unfortunately in his mind, everything is his.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 20/02/2018 13:57

BiteyDog is not amused. He smells lovely as he has just been to the groomers Grin

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fleshmarketclose · 20/02/2018 17:13

The first couple of days after a groom is danger time for Eric rolling in something.It's as though he is determined to rid himself of the nice smell. Hope bitey dog doesn't try the same trick.