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

Oh gosh bitey - I think I would turn into the nervous ninny if I drew blood!!

I am not sure about this. Never clipped previous dogs nails, Labrador and Lancashire Heeler, both were on and offlead on grass, woodland and village lanes. Cocodog apparently has her nails done whilst at the groomers every two months but she also does grass, woodland and tarmac and we have no problems. Give her a bit of tarmac walking and see where you go!

Anyone else have a scavanging dog and skanky neighbours who put leftovers out on the verges? I swear I have never appreciated having a picky eating dog before (Eric is so fussy) but getting off the estate without Bella finding something to eat is a nightmare not least because I'm partially sighted. So far she hasn't been ill but fear it's a matter of time if I don't sort this. Any ideas? She has a flat face so can't muzzle her and where I could get Eric to carry something Bella will drop it if there is a whiff of food. Seriously tempted to report the neighbours (three different sets at least so far) because surely it attracts vermin as well?

Reacher pooch has really been feeling so much better since starting the pain killer have to say I was pretty angry with DH today though as I've been at work and he's been out and about with the dog today get home and he's limping again doing his Old man sleeping sitting up- turns out DH took him on 5 mile walk I just hope he hasn't done any more damage. No more walks this weekend!

Oh no poor ReacherPooch. It's so hard to keep up with the enforced rest when they give you the 'sad eyes'. Maybe your DH fell for those sad eyes .

flesh we are fortunate that on the roads there isn't that much litter. It's in the forest when it's a buffet of deer/cow/horse poo

We have just been out before the heavy rains hit and because he was so happy to go for a ball throw still thinking he might be going back to the commercial daycare he was squeaking, running circles round us and hopping about like a kangaroo . You can certainly tell when a dog is happy.

Bluepuppy does loads of tarmac walking but still haslongnails Apparently it’spretty common in whippets.

He was very good at the beach today. With the help of cheese he recalled every time I asked, even if playing with another dog. Sometimes it took a few goes but I didn’t need to put him back on the lead once. Very proud.Then later on in the day he decided to jump on my parents’ car Silly whippet

We made it back before the rain today as well Always nice when there is a positive about getting up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning. We usually go out in the Peak District on Sunday afternoons but will be giving it a miss today as I think we are expecting rain all day. Might do some baking instead.

The heavens have truely opened here. Torrential rain all morning and don't think it's due to stop until the evening. flesh I used to live around the Peak District area but haven't been for many years. Lovely countryside there.

BiteyDog is currently loving the game of hide the ball under the sofa and bark until someone comes and recues it. DH and I are not loving that game as much .

Found another home daycare place near where I live so planning on seeing how he gets on there. As it's in someone home with her own dogs I am hoping he isn't as scared as it is just like his usual daycare setting. The commercial one was very different and probably reminded him of the vets as it was very clinical (segregated pens in a warehouse setting) and very very noisey as everytime I turned up lots of dogs were barking. I remember talking to my vet afterward hid admissions saying he was anxious being left and he mentioned that the vets was very noisey with lots of barking dogs, some of which won't have been friendly which he would have picked up on.

afterward hid = after his

I do find my typing goes to poo when using the phone

I headed out a bit later than usual just before the rain turned heavy to test out Cocodogs new raincoat. It is a bit too big around the neck so will have to move the button but otherwise fits well. It is unlined and very lightweight. I think the springer/lab part of her was horrified but the poodle secretly enjoys a bit of dressing up😁
Did the job though, just her head, ears, paws and tail sodden, her body and top of her legs nice and dry but most importantly clean! I still haven’t got over last winters mud fest.

Today is a bit of reminder of the winters mud and rain fest . I am sure Cocodog looked very smart in her coat.

Unfortunately BiteyDog won't tolerate any type of coat so it's in the shower for a hose down with the house smelling of wet dog

We had a beautiful sunny day here and decided to take DDog in the car to a walk as we have her booked into the vet tomorrow and didn't want her to associate getting in the car with going to the vet, given the only other time she's been in it she was terrified after a plane journey and moving to a new place with new people but having no idea that's what she was doing.

She clearly absolutely loved the walk - very obviously so - and then the sweetest thing was, when we got home (she was in the car for only 8 minutes each way), and she finally twigged we were going back into our home she literally bounced up and down in joy/relief that she wasn't being moved somewhere else.

The weather here gets very wet and cold in the autumn and snowy in the winter, so we are thinking about coats for her... any recommendations? We also looked at a stress-relieving "Thunder Coat" and are wondering if these are just total "snake oil" products??! She's fine with me, warming to DH bit still a bit wary, absolutely terrified of anyone else...

Bitey it is really lovely out in the Peak District, good for the soul I always think. Bella seems to really appreciate the trails and the field and woods around us as she lived in a much more urban area. Pretty sure she had never seen horses or cows and sheep as she has only just stopped growling at any she came across even if they were on the other side of the field and the first time a horse snorted she jumped a mile

I have heard good things about the Thundershirt but have never used one. I did use an adaptil plug in when Cocodog was a pup, in desperation because she was much more hyper than other pups we have had. A friend at agility has found a product called Yu Calm to be very good with her reactive dog. Equafleece coats and jumpers are very good quality and great for really wintry weather.
Really lovely to hear of Bella and distantdog settling down and enjoying their new homes.
Not sure about smart, Bitey , she did rather rustle along, think cagoule. She accepted the coat quite happily. Not sure how it would stand up to a vigorous game of chase with a doggy pal though. Perhaps I need the trouser suit for her😜 Although then DH will surely divorce me!

Can i ask what breeds of dog you all have? :) our dog is 100% mongrel ❤️ how do I work out what breed to get as a second dog? I hope a second dog will give us all a new lease of life, ddog is very slow and doddery now. I'm shocked if I'm honest at how slow he is at only 9, but I can't help but think he might have not have much left 😢 it's devastating.

Hugo mcwooferton

JackReacher BiteyDog is a working cocker spaniel. I can honestly say as a puppy and teenager he was a total pain in the arse because of his hunting instincts. Outside the house he is a typical spaniel of pulling on the lead and thinking everyone we meet loves him. However, apart from him ball obsession where he would play ball 24/7 if we engaged with him he is lovely around the house.

As a breed I would definitely get one again but it has been a big learning journey understanding his hunting traits.

Eric is a poodle/shih tsu cross. I'd say he has the intelligence and energy levels and coat of a poodle and the stubborness (in fact I'd say bloody mindedness) of a shih tsu. He was an awful puppy, needed a lot of mental stimulation or else he'd be into mischief but lovely now although if he suspects he can get away with stuff he will so he behaves much better for me than exh.
Bella is 100% Lhasa Apso, no idea what she was like as a puppy as we got her as a rescue and she is almost 9 now. She is gentle and timid, she didn't come knowing any commands but she is learning them slowly where Eric picks things up like a sponge. She barks a lot, at any sound and it's a work in progress to teach her to be quiet.
Together they are like a cocky male and a disapproving middle aged woman so Eric performs to impress and Bella looks at him with an air of distaste and disinterest.

thanks for the coat info thegirls - I think we might give the Thundershirt a go too.

Jack - we've always had rescue mongrels who've been some sort of mix of black lab and/or border collie.

The border collie/unknown mix was by far the best behaved as she picked up training so quickly (just trained at home by my 10 year-old sister!!) - by the time the family got a border collie/black lab mix puppy we were much older and off at uni etc. and my mum didn't do any training with her so she was very naughty and a terrible food thief but lovely. They had a similar before I was born and who died when I was little but apparently very similar - i.e. naughty but easy to train if you bother.

We've now got a black lab mix with we think an Ariegeois (scent-hunting dog)... we are yet to discover her true personality traits but she is a lovely dog to walk, into everything (though nose is permanently on the ground!!) and energetic and therefore makes walking her a joy even when you are knackered/the weather is bad etc. and frankly can't be bothered. She's a chewer so lots of chew toys to keep her distracted from our shoes and chair legs and has just started to show signs of wanting to play ball indoors with us, which is fun.

All our dogs have lived to 14 despite us being terrible owners we now realise (we used to feed them lots of human chocolate all the time as a treat ) so these sort of mixes seem to be quite hardy and keep you exercising every day.

BastardPup is a Smooth Collie. Lovely temperament and everyone comments that he is a calm pup.

Supposed to be intelligent but he is currently trying to eat his own foot...

Bluepuppy is a whippet. Complete whirlwind as a pup and teen but now at 18 months old is finally settling down. They are pretty quirky in lots of ways and not for everyone. Also very much a dog that needs to be inside with their humans.

Cocodog is a mongrel, half springer, lab, collie cross and half poodle. Her poodle side won out in the looks department and so she looks like a largish cockapoo and is always mistaken for one. Difference was we didn’t pay very much for her at all.
She has inherited both a high prey drive and a need for mental stimulation which has meant I have spent loads of time on training and I do agility with her.Initially, she was a shock to the system but is now very playful but also calm and affectionate.
First dog was a black lab, she was diagnosed with arthritis aged around nine, she did slow down but lived to the grand old age of 16. Lovely good all round dog. Second dog was a Lancashire Heeler, a herding dog. Small with a big personality, tendency to be grumpy, busy and energetic until he went blind and then he proved how clever he was by learning commands at quite an advanced age to go up steps, jump over something like a puddle, left and right so he could still walk off lead with us on familiar walks.

Oh thegirls... 16 is a wonderful age!!

We are just back from the vets. Poor thing was petrified but the vet was so lovely, as was her assistant, and ddog eventually calmed down. Had to have a vaccination (we weren't clear what but she'd had her rabies one already), were told to wait and see on any anxiety treatment as her anxiety was relatively normal given the circumstances, nails can wait to be clipped so we can see now she is walking more if they wear down naturally, and... the vet called her "a little fatty"! Vet said she was ok but at the absolute max of her healthy weight.

We have only just started taking her on proper walks this week (we just took her into the field for the first couple of weeks until she settled in a bit) but DH (with my full support) has clearly been a little too generous with the treats!!

Maybe when you get into the swing of the walks and cutting the treats down a bit will be all that's required to get her weight down distantdog.

Yes, bitey I think so - I don't even think DH needs to cut down with the frequency of the treats... just the quantity!! And because we have her on the lead (albeit now moved onto an extendable one) she's not getting as much exercise as she could. But we live in place that is perfect for exercising (it's mountainous)... and also a country where the idea of "a little fatty" is a bit different from the UK (excuses, excuses )