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The doghouse

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

General Dog Chat Part II

990 replies

BiteyShark · 28/03/2018 05:40

A place for nattering about our canine friends.

Old or new, feel free to come and chat any time Grin

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24
TheBogWitchIsBack · 29/05/2018 16:45

Can I join? Not picked up my pup yet but I'm soaking up all the info I can get.
I reckon other dog owners are a better source than websites!

BiteyShark · 29/05/2018 16:50

Oh course TheBogWitchIsBack, anyone and everyone is welcome. Have you seen the puppy survival thread on here for hints and tips? I sometime pop on there as well Grin.

What type of puppy are you getting?

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TheBogWitchIsBack · 29/05/2018 16:55

I've been reading that other thread for potty training tips!
He's a Shih Tzu, we collect him in 2 weeks! Currently puppy proofing the house making sure there's nothing he can chew and creating a puppy safe area!

Wolfiefan · 29/05/2018 17:08

Safe?
Chew proof?
Mine chewed through a wall! Grin
Good luck Bog.
I've got some great help and support on here.

TheBogWitchIsBack · 29/05/2018 17:31

Ha well as chew proof as I can possibly make it!
I'm stupidly excited! Ive never owned a Shih Tzu and I'm a bit apprehensive but I've never met one I didn't like Smile

BiteyShark · 29/05/2018 19:23

Get all the sleep now TheBogWitchIsBack while you can Grin

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Wolfiefan · 29/05/2018 19:49

And batch cook. Like you would for a newborn. And stock up on kitchen roll and enzyme cleaner!

RadioDorothy · 29/05/2018 21:01

Aw they are lovely dogs Bog - I've never met one I didn't like either!

Don't read my posts, my dog is "special needs" and not considered normal. Don't be afraid. Wink

WheelyCote · 29/05/2018 21:11

What's the best enzyme cleaner?

TheBogWitchIsBack · 29/05/2018 21:42

Oh good tips! Enzyme cleaner ..I'm assuming a good pet shop would have quality stuff. I intend to get a puppy starter kit online for the basics and then head to the pet shop with a list.
The owner/breeder has been sending me updates I'm besotted with him...the puppy not the owner 😬

Wolfiefan · 29/05/2018 22:47

Ha. Mine is far from normal!
Amazon prime saved us when we got pup!
Highly recommend vet fleece bedding.
Will breeder supply some food so you're not switching brands?

bluetongue · 29/05/2018 23:12

I’ve just read your updates Soubriquet Sad Such a hard situation when you have young children. Bluepuppy has had his issues but he’s always been the most loving, soft dog when it comes to people. I’ve always said that if he had an aggression or biting problem then persevering with him would have been more difficult. No judgement if you put your children first and don’t keep her.

Sad because I know she’s such a dear thing otherwise and she always looks so cute in her photos Flowers

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 30/05/2018 16:28

So sorry to hear you're having these issues @Soubriquet. As others have said, a vet visit to check for underlying pain should be a priority - followed by a behaviourist that is (crucially) accredited - CCAB and APBC are two ones to look for
www.asab.org/ccab-register
www.apbc.org.uk/help/regions
Note that this is a behaviour issue not a training issue, so a trainer would not be appropriate. Some insurers will pay out for behavioural matters; I think PetPlan do for instance.

Depending on what the vet and behaviourist say, this may very well be a dog that does very well in a home that is - for instance - child free. Unless the dog has an underlying painful condition that's affecting welfare I don't think you should be considering PTS at this point in time.

However - when rehoming you would need to do so very, very carefully. My first port of call would be Dogs Trust - they have a selective intake policy so it's not guaranteed that they will take your dog, but once they take a dog, they will throw a great deal of resources at it from a behavioural and training point of view, and they really don't put a dog down unless it's seriously physically or mentally unwell - to the point that it's miserable and even skilled behaviour staff can't handle the dog safely using precautions. If they don't take a dog, at least you know where you stand before the dog is signed over. If Dogs Trust wouldn't take your dog, there are other rescues of course, but be aware that some will take dogs, assess them, and depending on the outcome of that assessment will PTS (e.g. Battersea, RSPCA). Don't dismiss rehoming kennels until you've been to visit - some of them are really very nice.

I certainly wouldn't be rehoming privately unless you personally know a behaviourist who wants a new pet dog (and challenge) or children are identified as a specific trigger and you have friends / relatives who are experienced dog owners and childfree, and who agree to return the dog to you if it doesn't work out - you'd be passing the buck onto someone else, and that tends to be the way that dogs get passed around, as there's no back up support.

BiteyShark · 30/05/2018 16:36

Anyone else battling a pee burnt lawn. We must have about 30 patches and I started to try and repair them a few weeks ago and it's going ok but it's a slow process. DH has been following BiteyDog with a watering can after he's peed to dilute the area but obviously we miss a few so the odd new one keeps appearing. Think I am going to lose this battle Sad

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 30/05/2018 16:38

I was thinking only yesterday that we were overdue for an Irish Wolfhound related incident - PestDog's bete noire, and we hadn't seen one for a couple of months. (@WolfieFan please close your ears)

Just my luck that I turned around in the woods to find not one but two ponies sodding Irish Wolfhounds approaching. Cue 6kg PestDog running up to them growling, me trying to retrieve him as he goes in, Wolfhound owner doing the classic "but my dogs are friendly" and me going "mine's not", Wolfhounds looking bemused and me catching him a short distance away and having to apologise profusely to a very understanding wolfhound owner. FML. Gin

First time he's ever seen one when he's been off lead - he normally goes to pieces when he sees the one in our local park (I've never seen Mrs Two Wolfhounds before) but tbh it went better than it would have on a lead and I'm fairly certain that without intervention he would just have ended up barking at them from a distance of a metre or so away. For the record he's never bitten another dog - even when another dog has started a scrap with him. But he does like to give me a scare every so often Gin Gin

SlothMama · 30/05/2018 17:58

@BiteyShark you can buy dog rocks that you put in their water to stop the grass being burnt by wee!

BiteyShark · 30/05/2018 20:12

SlothMama I have seen them but they only work if your dog drinks from that water source. Unfortunately his water bowl sits mostly untouched as he drinks out of the watering can, the hose pipe, puddles or his favourite the muddy stagnant stream Grin

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Wolfiefan · 30/05/2018 22:55

Avocado. Happy to supply a safe stunt wolfhound if you want one. I've known chihuahuas go for her and she cowers behind my legs!!
Bitey going to cost a bit to fill the stream with the special rocks! Grin

BiteyShark · 31/05/2018 06:47

Oh yes I would need a tipper lorry of rocks. I just remembered his other favourite drinking place which is the bath/shower water. Honestly I do wonder why I bother replacing the water in his bowl each day Hmm

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steppemum · 31/05/2018 07:19

steppedogs pee doesn't burn the lawn at all. But when he was on antibiotics for his ear it did. Is biteydog still on any medication?

I have heard about rocks in water for pee burn too.

thegirlsallgrowedupnow · 31/05/2018 07:26

I think we are having a bad doggy week. Cocodogs groomers cancelled her appointment on tues and so she has had a few more days feeling hot and bothered. I left ordering her food too late last week and then thought it was a good idea to feed her exclusively on her wet food all weekend with spectacular rear end explosions all Tuesday night☹️ And now, after checking with my agility trainer and DH that I am not being unreasonable....am screwing up courage to ask our neighbour to please put her very boisterous yellow lab on a lead when she meets us out walking. He is a lovely lad but has been bouncing all over cocodog regardless of whether she is on lead or off for months now. I have been trying to avoid them but neighbour is very friendly and seems to desperately want the dogs to be friends. She doesn’t seem to notice that my dog is uncomfortable and since cocodog has now started being wary of othe young yellow dogs, not older retrievers/labs or any black or brown dogs, I do have to do something!

BiteyShark · 31/05/2018 07:46

steppe he's on no medication at the moment but he does pee like a girl so concentrated in one area each time which I think is just too much for the grass. There are times when I do wish he had learnt to cock his leg.

thegirl things tend to come in threes Sad. BiteyDog is so submissive and is often bullied by strange dogs that I just developed a thick skin and tell them to grab their dog whilst I walk off. Much harder when it's a neighbour especially when they just don't get it and think it's great and just dogs being dogs. At our agility all the dogs are around similar ages, sizes and temperaments and they interact and play so nicely with each other whilst we wait to start that it makes me even more determined to stop other dogs from upsetting him. You might just have to be blunt and say it's obvious your dog is not enjoying it so you don't want them to interact.

BiteyDog has several swollen lumps all around his eye this morning. I think some insect has bit him Sad

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BiteyShark · 31/05/2018 19:15

Oh dear BiteyDog clearly has bad wind today. Think I will need to keep the windows open tonight [boak]

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Wolfiefan · 31/05/2018 20:28

WOOHOO!
Wolfie pup and I passed Bronze Good Citizen award tonight. I'm stupidly proud of her. We've come along way from the puppy that was deemed "uncontrollable" by a member of the public. Grin

BiteyShark · 31/05/2018 20:30

Well done Wolfie and WolfieDog 🏆Grin

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