General dog chat

[BiteyShark]

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.

Ha! PestDog is definitely at the other end of the spectrum. Even strangers on the tube who really want to say hello and try to engage him are blanked. I think he's left a few people feeling a bit offended, but it's far easier to deal with than joyful flinging!

I don't want to say he's a one (wo)man sort of dog, but he has a small tight knit circle of people he knows and likes.

Lovely walk yesterday (we didn't have the ice, just lots of powdery snow and freezing wind.

Today I have sent dh out with the dog. we will see how they get on!

I am shattered, it's so hard walking in snow and even worse when it's slushy .

We didn't get any results back yet from vets but I am wondering if the snow hasn't helped as most businesses are running a skeleton staff and I expect pathology labs would be the same.

BiteyDog is like cocodog, wants to say hello to everyone. However, he then gets all nervous and runs away again

Hoping you get results soon.
I'm glad you said that about being shattered. My legs ache! But madam was thrilled to get out and find a lab friend to play with!

SquirrelDog is a Brittany, thegirlsallgrowedupnow (probably. He looks like a Brittany and he was picked up off the side of the road somewhere where there are a lot of unwanted Brittanys.)

One of my friends maintains that he looks most like the hyenas from the Lion King. Which is just rude .

No, he is lovely. Thought he was a Brittany but didn’t want to presume ( look stupid if wrong😬) Does he share general spaniel characteristics, keenness , agility, friendly, bit bonkers, intelligent, bit bonkers!

Avocados, I think over friendliness tends to lurk in gundog genes. Our last dog was a Lancashire Heeler, pastoral breed...we lived in and ran a village shop and PO, he often spent a lot of time snoozing under the counter. Growled quietly at anyone new, second time in never a sound, most customers never knew he was there but he had his few favourites that he always trotted round to see. Had problems in mid years with his eyes and was grumpy, after both eyes removed had a new lease of life free from pain and enjoyed his later years on the sofa and popular with local dog walkers who saw him as the real trooper he was, totally loved him.

Love the photo of your girl Wolfiefan. Right in her element

Bluepuppy is overfriendly. He love running up to random people for pats. Not too bad at the dog park but not ideal on the beach where not everyone appreciates being accosted by a crazy whippet. I’ve become the ‘don’t worry, he’s friendly person’. More training needed I think.

I’m away on holidays and Bluepuppy is with a pet sitter, staying at her house. I have an anxiety disorder and have decided to take the ‘no news is good news’ approach and not contact her for updates. As much as he’s a lovely dog I’m actually enjoying having a break from him. It also means my parents get a break and they’ve helped me so much.

Can we have a meet up of all over friendly dogs?! Madam was desperate for a friend after one day of not being walked!
She isn't really in her element. She's not keen on cold. Or rain!
Soft isn't the word!

@thegirlsallgrowedupnow By funny coincidence PestDog looks somewhat similar - and a dog trainer did once suggest he had some Lancashire Heeler in him, but I was told he was JRT x dachshund, and when we bumped into someone with a near identical dog it was the same cross.

PestDog has finally had enough of short walks and his behaviour has deteriorated awfully (reactivity). It's probably also exacerbated by not understanding why the everything in the house is moving around. Thank God the snow is melting. He's going to have an extra long game of fetch tomorrow whether he likes it or not - he's got to be exhausted by the end of it. He can have icicles instead of legs for all I care. He's got to be exercised to the point of collapse!

Might have to self exclude from the MN over friendly dog meet!

@BlueTongue this will probably be me on Monday and Tuesday! No judgement from me

Nah! Come. Wolfie can't be reached by tiny teeth and hides behind my legs if it all gets too scary.
Shhhh. Don't tell. She's been beaten up by a Pom puppy and the tiniest Yorkshire terrier you ever did see!
Perhaps we should let PestDog chase Wolfie girl to tire them both out?!

We couldn't He's beside himself when he sees the local wolfhound, even from 200 yards away. Complete meltdown, lunging, snapping, barking, and if my hands-or legs get in the way they're in danger as the red mist has descended.

There's no good reason for this. He used to do it intermittently with some other dogs when he was on lead, but that's all but stopped following a lot of exercise, training, socialising and routine. The perfectly lovely wolfhound is, however, his bette noire

We are the bette noire of a few little dogs round here. She just hides behind me.
Since when did any dog have to have a good reason for anything? Mine is off her food but was desperate to eat the manure in the field today.
Oh to understand a dog's brain? Not sure I want to!

I'm sure the owners of the Irish Wolfhound think I'm some irresponsible owner of a sort of bonsaied Hound of the Baskervilles. Not true, but I've never managed to get close enough to explain! If there's one thing they don't tell you about dog ownership, it's the frequent public embarrassment and having to learn to not give a fuck that people are giving you filthy looks because your dog has seen a moped (bette noire 2, thankfully there are only 2) and is having a meltdown at the bus stop.

No idea what's going on in his mind, but I like to think he's been reading the local newspaper and has picked up on the moped enabled crime spree and is really keen to help me avoid being mugged for my mobile phone. If I could I'd explain to him that it's a company issue phone, so really not a disaster if it does get stolen!

Still doesn't explain the Irish Wolfhound as he's been perfectly polite with great danes, leonbergers and all manner of other giants.

He's not off his food but I did catch him eating soiled hamster bedding earlier Sometimes I catch him licking pavements. No idea what's meant to be there, but apparently it tastes delicious. Anyone would think he isn't fed!

Mine eats garden plants. Moss and something growing out of the grass!
Most wolfhound owners are used to smaller dogs kicking off. I normally laugh and ask the dog to pick on something their own size! Think how intimidating a bit hairy wolfhound must be to a tiny terrier.
And my mum has a border terrier. AKA the terrorist. We have managed to walk side by side. This is massive progress.
Happy to provide a stunt wolfhound! Anytime.

Avocados, same colouring but looks like a JRT. Am with Pestdog, snow has got to go! Cocodog has learnt how to run pretty fast in it now but I fumble along slipping and sliding behind.
@bluetongue, we all need a break now and then, bluepup will be fine.
Bitey, Wolfie, my legs ache too...this is probably my last pup so will make it a good one and train (the ass off) of her!

Bluepuppy would love you hound Wolfiefan He has no idea that he’s only 13 kilos and wants to hang out with the big dogs.

One good thing about my trip is that I’ve spent hours some days walking. I’ve put on some weight in the last 12 months (comfort eating due to problem puppy stress) which is slightly ironic given that one of the reasons for getting a dog was to get healthier and lose weight. Anyway, all this walking on holiday has got me inspired to do more
walking with Bluepuppy when I get back home.

Pestdog is adorable Avacados

Yep, definite spaniel - friendly (one of the over-friendly brigade), clever, nuts, always has his nose in something, nuts, needy, obsessive, never still, nuts...

Apparently you are not supposed to call them Spaniels any more though, which I find a bit confusing, given they look like Spaniels and behave like Spaniels...

It's ironic isn't it blue, I too have put on weight with comfort eating due to BiteyDogs issues. Enjoy your break and expect lots of licks from bluepup when you return.

Squirrel you can call them spaniels here as spaniels are lovely totally biased

Avocados, thegirl It's been raining here so hoping most of the snow will have gone as I am sick of it too shops were so crazy yesterday I left with just a bottle of wine and an Easter egg. The snow was so deep in the forest at one point BiteyDog gave me that look of 'help me' so I had to carry him. He's only 13kg but bloody heavy to carry in thick snow whilst trying to keep my balance. I think the people playing on the sleighs and skies thought I was nuts carrying the dog.

Wolfie just seen the crufts thread. Good luck for that and hope you love every minute of it.

Happy 1st Birthday Madam!!

Happy birthday madam, doesn't time fly 🎉🎁

Happy birthday. Hope she gets some special Doggy treats

I’m a bit embarrassed about the weight gain Bitey. My mum even mentioned avoiding comfort eating in an email to me while I’ve been away. Thanks mum, I had no idea I’d put on weight. I’ve even had to hire ski boots on my trip because mine are causing me too much pain at the moment. Not 100% sure it’s because of the weight gain but they were fine last trip when I was skinnier so I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

Happy first birthday!!

Not much sense of celebration here ... the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off and I think he’s getting used to the painkillers so he’s more alert than he has been but definitely Fed Up ...

I’m taking him to the first half of his scent work class later as I think it will cheer him up to get out of the house and it’s mental rather than physical exercise. The infection can weaken the vertebrae so we have to be very careful he doesn’t hurt himself during treatment and end up with long term problems

Oh and I too have put on weight since getting a dog and (usually) walking miles a day plus cycling to work... I’m not eating any more so I suspect it’s the menopause, yay

Not especially pleased with SquirrelDog this morning. Took him to local enclosed (ha!) park which is the only place he gets off-lead time because he has zero recall. He found a hole in the fence and took off on a tour of the allotments next door.

Since we've been home he has bounced between the front window and the back door, whining and yipping and barking and frantically scrabbling, trying to get to the Abominable Snowman or Godzilla or next door's cat or whatever it is out there. Won't calm down. I find him really stressful when he's like this. Bloody dog.