Give me the doggie low down

[drinkswineoutofamug]

New to keeping a dog. It's my daughters and both of them moved back in yesterday. That's fine (ish) we have a big garden for her to run about in. She's a whippet cross. The old owner apparently got her jabbed but we have no proof of this , so the following questions.

Should I get her re jabbed?
When to get her spayed?
Worming
Flea treatment
Registering her at the vets, how much should I get her insured?

She's a beautiful dog and I want to do what's right with her. She has company all day. The old owner just left her in a back yard. She loves to snuggle and have belly rubs and has a grin on her face like she's laughing. She follows me around the house, is this normal, it's like she doesn't want to miss out on doing the washing up! Sorry for all the questions.

[MsHomeSlice]

130 kilos! hahah !! She looks adorable and carries her weight well! :o

I wouldn't bother walking her in the rain tbh....some dogs do need walks many times a day no matter what, but we have had rain hating dogs, one actually backed his behind out the door and peed on the step once rather than actually get rain on his precious face. He was a burly GSD but he hated the wet.
We just made up for any missing walks on nice days.

I always feel so sad for dogs in the rain, trudging , heads down and ears down obviously not enjoying themselves.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Sounds like you've made great progress at the vets

Whippets aren't known for enjoying the rain Has she got a waterproof coat?

I have to say that days of awful rain (or worse as far as my dog is concerned, snow) are the worst. I walk as much as I can, but when we were really struggling during the snow I did as much walking as possible in short bursts, but I topped that up with mental exercise - for instance, teaching a new trick or enrichment activities - the Canine Enrichment group on facebook is fabulous.

Have you considered taking her to some training classes? They're a great way to learn about dog training, bond with them (you and your DD can go together) and help to futureproof things - I quite enjoy going to ours. Naturally not all training classes are equal and some are still peddling nonsense like dominance theory - have a look for one run by an APDT accredited trainer / the Dog's Trust classes / another similarly well researched and informed choice.

[JuneBalloon]

She's gorgeous!

Already loads of good advice... but I'd add:

Milbemax (worm tablet) and bravecto (flea/tick tablet) are by far the best medication (IMO). Administered (together - though maybe one in the morning and one in the evening) every 3 months. NEVER skip/scrimp on flea treatment. I've suffered an invasion and wouldn't wish it in my worst enemy!

Join your vet's health club (if they have one). You pay a monthly fee which covers you for your flea and worm treatment and your annual vaccinations (ours also covers us for 6 monthly health checks, not sure if that's the norm?)

Ask your local butcher for a dog bone. Cheap as chips and always available. Keeps them busy for ages and great for cleaning their teeth! If you don't want her hiding them indoors, don't let her bring them in! Our dog quickly learnt that it wasn't allowed.

As a whippet cross she will need a coat for any sort of 'adverse' weather conditions. In my experience the best ones are the ones with a zip up the back - Velcro always loses its stick! She'll also need a special collar, but you've probably already got that covered?

HTH? And may you all enjoy your beautiful new addition for many, many years...

[JuneBalloon]

(Forgot to say - The Health Club saves you money in the long run and avoids the need to pay out big lumps sums for vaccinations and flea/worm treatments!)

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Don't know why I put kgs 😂

We made up for yesterday's bad weather and went out 3 times today. Mastered recall and now every bloody dog on the park knows I have treats in my pocket. There's a huge greyhound that she has competitions with running up and down the fields. Beautiful to watch. Strange thing is I never liked dogs or wanted one. But now we have her , I've gone soft 😍

[drinkswineoutofamug]

I forgot to say the vet gave us some worm tablets as well.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Is it normal for her to be off her food the day after jabs? She came home didn't eat much of tea and slept. Hasn't eaten much today but is still bouncing about.

[PilarTernera]

I wouldn't worry about her being off her food. If it lasts for longer than a day or so, then you can start worrying

My dog is scared of the rain. She absolutely refuses to go out if it is raining. She will also refuse if it's about to rain and is 100% accurate in forecasting rain.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Thank you. I feel daft asking all these questions. I didn't expect to have a dog so didn't do my homework before hand. We are both learning together. She's fallen all 4 paws here. I was proud when the vet commented how healthy and happy she is. She's such a gentle soul.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Vet trip today. The silly girl broke her back tooth . Long story short she goes for tooth extraction on Friday.

Her new collar arrived today and she looks lovely in it.

My daughters fallen out with another girl who is very spiteful and has threatened to call the rspca on us. Saying we are neglecting Dog. It's upset me . Everyone comments on how lovely she is, how well she looks. Christ she even has a folder of records to prove insurance, chip , jabs and vet receipts. The other dog walkers in the park have seen the improvement in Dog since we've had her. I'm worried in case they turn up

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Poor DDog with the broken tooth. Not fun!

I wouldn't be worried about the RSPCA - they're notorious for not doing anything if an animal has food, water and shelter, even if it's being kept outside 24/7 and is never walked. However, do read up on their actual powers (very little - they're not the police or anything similar despite the quasi police uniforms and police esque job titles) and how to deal with them

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Thank you . I just worried that someone would come and try and take her from us. She's part of the family now and very loved and loves us in return. She's snoring on the sofa , head on pillow , under her fleece as I type

[Earthmover]

I wouldn't totally discount walks in bad weather. My whippet hates water and will walk round puddles when possible but deny her the daily trudge, regardless of rain, hail, wind or snow and she paces the house.
Even during the heavy snow she was still at her happiest out amongst it.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Well Dog went to have her tooth removed. Vet said she had made a right mess of it. Not allowed a run this weekend, so being a whippet X , it's going to be interesting. She's flat out on the sofa. Absolutely off her tits earlier sat on my head!
Next investment is a harness and a long lead so I can take her out in the fields behind the house and to our friends farm.
Also found out this evening she can get onto the kitchen work top 😒
Ask the vet about getting her spayed. He said to wait until she's had a season. Her doggie friends in the park have all been done.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Right 14kg ( got it right this time) tooth healed fine, 2nd jab done. Clean bill of health

[BlueJava]

Re not liking the rain, perhaps she has been left out in it and is therefore anxious. If she likes balls/toys take one with you when you go for a walk in the rain and she if she'll play. Other than that perhaps be patient for a time and she could just get over it as she learns she can come in whenever she wants.

[Elphame]

Please research any flea treatments carefully.

I almost lost Elfpup a week after a dose of Bravecto. He's still not entirely out of the woods now ( 2 months later) but is at last symptomless. I'm also now stuck with my insurance company as any more liver or kidney problems will be excluded by a new insurer.

[poochuspoochus]

She's beautiful. Do you know what she broke her tooth on? My friends lurcher broke both of her pre-molars on an antler chew. The dental vet said if you can't dent a chew with your thumb nail then it's too hard too for a dogs teeth.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

It involved 2 kids teasing her with biscuits. A plastic bottle. Skidding in mud and going face first into a concrete ramp at a skate park

[poochuspoochus]

Ouch! glad she healed up okay. Sorry for derailing with unsolicited dog chew advice.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

No problems . She's just been running with a grey hound again and has gone very protective of me. Another dog jumped up and was licking my face and she pulled the other dog down woofing , then had her time hugging me and licking my face.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

Don't know where I stand on this one. I need to back story abit.
Dog was abandoned in a garden. Owner said for my daughter to take the dog. He couldn't look after her.

We get dog, as you know, vets , sorted chip, jabs , wormed, flea treatment etc etc.

Old owner gets in touch. That's my dog I want her back and takes her. He took her off my other daughter who was looking after her while we were away.

I want my dog back basically, but apart from a chip saying she lived her , we had nothing but a verbal agreement that he no loner waned her. I'm so angry. She's not a toy. She has feelings and is anxious anyway. She was settled here in a loving home.

What can I do ? Can I do anything ? I'm lost . Her toys, food, bed is still here.

[BiteyShark]

Do you have money to get advice from a solicitor who specialises in dog disputes?

[drinkswineoutofamug]

No 😔

[Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname]

Give the police a ring. Chip is in your name.