General Dog Chat Part III

[BiteyShark]

A new shiny thread for general chat.

Old or new, big or small, everyone is welcome to pop in and chat

Bitey, so sorry it hasn’t worked out. Sounds like a good idea to try to find another home environment for him. We have been lucky, other than the kennels affair, cocodog has gone to her dog sitter or has been looked after for one or two days with adult DC . However, this wouldn’t cut it if we needed to leave her regularly for work or for fortnight holidays, I don’t know what we would do then.

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Yes Bitey, it is hard on DH... but actually I'm also finding it really hard too. I really love dogs but it was DH who has been desperate to get one for years and me saying no because they are so much responsibility (we both view dogs as very much family members rather than accessories)! So when I relented it was on the understanding that the dog was entirely his responsibility and just before she came I was joking about making the most of him before I was replaced in his affections... and now we have the dog and she is ALL about me (the one who didn't want the responsibility) and is turning her nose up at DH (who wants it all)! And I thought cats were supposed to be the contrary ones!!

Thanks for your supportive words too thegirls - I'm on my second glass of wine and it's helping give a bit of perspective

I have a couple of leads to chase up next week. He isn't quite himself at the moment. Got up three times in the night. I just hope I haven't caused any long term behavioural issues and he will settle if we try a home type daycare setting. My primary daycare isn't back for another week so I am going to have to work from home until then.

distant there must be something about you that she just latched on to. BiteyDog was meant to be all my responsibility but DH fell in love with him and the feeling is mutual as BiteyDog literally becomes a kangaroo running down the drive to greet him everyday. I just get a quick tail flick when I get back . However, if I leave the house he just looks sad at the back door whereas he just accepts that DH leaves the house without him.

Cocodog arranges herself very exaggeratedly by the back door when she considers that she has snoozed long enough and surely it must be time to go outside and have a play. She looks sadder and sadder and then the heavy sighs start. If she gets ignored she will go back to snoozing or off for a mooch around. But the front door is a very important place to go. We have a large heavy door knocker which people seem to delight in hammering the door down with, so I did a lot of work with her as a pup getting used to me going out, knocking and coming back in without her barking. We usually leave via the back door for walks but sometimes leave via the front door with her, where she looks so pleased and proud of herself. If we are putting things in the car she will trot in and out between the hall and porch and then sit on the steps rather than racing off up the garden bunny hunting!

Aw, was really hoping your dog was able to relax a little more yesterday Bitey. Good luck with the new care leads next week.

Haha BiteyDog does that ridiculous over the top heavy sigh as well to let me know he isn't impressed

Thanks ealingwest. Just taken him out in the car for a ball throw as he clearly thought we were going back there this morning so I wanted to break that association. He looked so relieved and happy when he saw we had stopped at a field and not the daycare.

Well to think I was worried that Bell would never accept Eric and would make it difficult to have them both here. Slow introductions and plenty of walks together they can now share their favourite spot. I can feed them both together and I don't have to hide the toys. I wouldn't say they are best of friends but they are happy to play together for a while and ignore each other when they aren't in the mood but that's good enough for me anyway.

Awww they look so cute flesh

BiteyDog has slept a lot today, far more than usual and has had sloppy poo . Feel terribly guilty and keep telling him I won't make him go back there again.

Ooh biteydog☹️ Given that you seem able to work from home on occasion, would it be possible to do that when your daycare is on holiday or even synchronise some of your annual leave so you are on holiday when she is. I appreciate I work for myself and have lost complete touch with reality with the real working world!

aww poor bitey dog hope he settles down soon.

I work from home on a regular basis each week so feel it's asking too much to keep doing it full time when she is on holiday. I have also worked at home a lot already due to his numerous accidents and illnesses so don't want to push my luck iykwim.

I dread to think how people juggle childcare as that must be ten times harder as at least BiteyDog doesn't impact me working at home other than occasionally dropping the ball on my computer if I haven't paid him any attention for hours

I know it has its downsides but rather jealous that you work for yourself

Well, consider this. Yes we have lifestyle a plenty if you like the simple life! We are mortgage free and happy but do lack hard cash. But, I suppose, that depends on what you want to do, travel etc. In terms of dog care it is great though, for her anyway😬

Awww bet Cocodog doesn't realise how lucky she is

BastardPup visited the beach for the first time today - he bloody loved it. Went with a friend and her cocker spaniel who lives by the beach and so he showed BastardPup around. Had him off the lead for about 20 minutes and he was fabulous. Wish we could go every day but it's a 45 minute drive

Did Bastardpup go in the sea? Cocodog has water loving genes but so far only paddles😁

He got his paws wet but wasn't keen on the waves! His mate is a full on swimmer but he didn't follow

BiteyDog used to only paddle but went walking with a couple of labs at daycare who encouraged him to go swimming and now he happily wades in and has a swim.

I’d like SquirrelDog to swim, because it might tire him out! He’s not that keen though, even when I’m in the water with him.

He’s also just casually trampled me, and spilt my coffee.

Bluepuppy has a beach whippet meetup tomorrow. I’ll be taking lots of treats to try and improve his recall. If he’s just wandering around alone he comes back to me but once he’s spotted another dog his recall goes out that window. So embarrassing when you become ‘that’ owner running after their dog yelling ‘don’t worry he’s friendly’ while my over excited Whippet jumps all over another dog

He still doesn’t like having his nails clipped. When I hold his feet he flinches and cries. Don’t think he’s in pain just doesn’t like the loss of control. I really should have done more work with him when he was young but he had other, more pressing issues to deal with.

blue there are lots of things I wish I had done with BiteyDog as well when younger but life got in the way

BiteyDog has been entertained by DH today as I needed to get on with some chores. He's now flat out sleeping

Blue - I was just talking to DH about getting the dog's nails clipped. She's such a nervous ninny at the moment and I'm the only person she expresses joy at seeing by jumping up (she literally lies flat on the floor in fear when we are out for a walk and other people walk past), so I don't want to discourage her too much but I've got tiny little bruises on my thighs and a scratch on my arm now, which don't hurt but are telling me we need to work out a way of getting those nails clipped! We have booked her in for a general check over at the vet next week so was going to ask her about it then - I didn't realise it was something you could do yourself... I'd be so worried about hurting her!

distantdog are your dogs nails clear so you can see the quick or black?

BiteyDogs are black so I am too nervous to clip them incase I get the quick. I ask my groomer to do them and use a nail grinder at home if needed. As the grinder only takes a few mm off at a time there is far less chance of getting the quick and ending up with a blood bath

Bitey - she has multicolored nails! Literally alternate pink (with clear bits at the end) and black nails! So I suppose we could guess with the black ones and assume they are the same length as the pink ones... might see if the vet could help us this first time though!!

If you cut them at home I would get a silver nitrate pen in case you do cut the quick which will stop any bleeding