General Dog Chat 4

[geekone]

Apologies I just noticed the thread was running out so I am going to repost.

Gave in an took SquirrelDog out. We went to the local animal feed shop on the way back, where he was intimidated by the shop cat who didn’t bother to move from her spot by the heater while she hissed at him.

Avocados I really hope PestDog has that bladder of steel

Squirrel sounds like the cats near us as they sit and torment BiteyDog all the time .

We are still inside although I did force him to do 10 mins of tricks for some food . He is kind of looking like he would like a ball play outside but is definitely on the sleepy side today. I think we may choose today as 'rest' day and go for our long walk tomorrow. That is the beauty of daycare in that I know he gets well exercised in the week

Thanks for all the budget dog suggestions - really appreciated and will definitely be put to use! I suppose like a tiny child who is just as happy with the packaging as the actual toy, we could definitely be more budget on the toy front with Ddog. Frankly she would still be happy to chew up all our old socks, shoes and slippers, which I was tempted to let her do, but DH sensibly pointed out that she can't tell the difference between old-and-ready-for-the-rag-recycling and new-and-needed-and-definitely-not-a-toy so I mustn't indulge her.

Cold and snowy here and frankly I've not been in the mood to shift off the sofa so made DH brave the elements alone all in the name of them "bonding"... in fact - despite still being clingy to me - she is much happier to go for walks on her own with him now, particularly when the weather is like this as she adores the snow, but it got me a 'rest day' and DH watching two football matches on tv today so knew not to argue

I have spent way too much money on toys in the past. However the only ones I need now are the hard chuckit balls. Anything else is boooring

I blame amazon for easy next day ordering

Amazon is absolutely my downfall Bitey - we don't have any local shops here so I do a lot online and that one-click option is dangerous (next day ordering has certainly not reached these parts though)!!

The Thundershirt, a very trendy (from a human perspective) collar that was too big, a couple of harnesses that didn't fit quite right, numerous large and high-quality tug toys etc. etc. all totally ignored and neglected after a mere sniff or a single ineffective use... plus all the treats we buy when really she's most happy stealing and chewing on rock hard baguette ends that I've put aside to make breadcrumbs with (we get fresh no-preservative bread every day that turns into a brick within 24 hours... she loves it)!

The things that we have bought that have been really most useful are the kong feeders and the snuffle mat, so thanks again for posters here explaining "scatter feeding" to me. She's still a greedy pig but we have at least slowed her down a bit and made her work a little for her dinner.

Oh and the separation anxiety book, training manual and brain games books that all started off by saying you need to implement it all from day one or else you're screwed... I need to switch off the one-click option

I had one clear out of things we don't use but I really could do with another. The hard part will be not to fill the empty cupboards again

For some reason BiteyDog can't stand kongs anymore but the licky mat is still a hit.

You are lucky you don't have next day delivery distant as that I find really hard to resist

I gave SquirrelDog a venison sausage earlier because he is the most spoilt dog in all the world. He went off and hid it. He's just appeared at the top of the stairs with it hanging out of his mouth like a cigar.

SquirrelDog must think his numbers have come up to get a venison sausage .

I think our usual sausages have too much pepper in them as they give BiteyDog a bad stomach. Talking of which, his anal glands are an issue again [boak]

I remember when an old flatmate moved out and left the contents of his freezer behind. In there was a Waitrose One venison steak. I don't eat meat. Let's just say that PestDog thought it was Christmas

Amazon is one of my downfalls too. The two areas I definitely overspend on are toys and training treats. The only local pet shop exclusively sells tat and was had up for animal welfare offences a couple of years ago and was found selling dying 4 week old kittens a few years before that. Oddly enough, I don't shop there. On the other hand I struggle to walk past TK Maxx without sticking my head into the dog toy section...

Ah I love that image of SquirrelDog and his venison cigar.

Tonight DH needed to pop out for 15 minutes whilst I was in the bath so I said I'd keep an ear out... all suspiciously quiet so I stopped relaxing pretty quickly and grabbed a towel... poked my head out to find out why she wasn't whining and scrabbling at the bathroom door within minutes of him leaving... nowhere to be seen and then found in her living room bed with today's whole FRESH baguette that was deliberately set aside to mop up the sauce with our dinner tonight - DH had actively put it out of what he thought was "harm's way"! So I guess tomorrow I'll be one-click ordering a bread bin from Amazon... on top of the toys, treats, gear, vets bills, insurance etc. there are also all the unexpected costs we don't budget for (e.g. repair of any item of clothing that has anything vaguely fluffy on it like my (fake) fur trims on jackets and bobble hats etc. of which we have quite a lot due to living where we do).

I love this thread! Testdog is regularly stocked up with cuddly toys from the charity shop. He will love his toy for several weeks and then randomly kill it. He also buries his prized possessions (sanitary towel anyone?) under my pillow. Fortunately he is very cute.

I buy most of Bluepuppy’s toys from Kmart (not sure what the UK equivalent would be).

Think I’m going to have to stop going to big whippet meet ups with Bluepuppy It’s a really big group of dogs off lead and he just gets over excited and starts jumping on other dogs His recall is pretty good but it’s not very relaxing having to have eyes in the back of my head and recalling him all the time. Sigh, he’s a lovely dog in so many ways but I guess not all dogs will be suitable for all situations.

Avocados I never thought to look in tkmaxx for dog things. Although if it isn't a ball now he isn't interested which has stopped a lot of my purchases.

distant I am so lucky with BiteyDog in that he can't reach the kitchen surfaces and isn't a food stealer generally. He does do a good sad dog face though when we are eating chicken for dinner.

tester ewww I would be checking my pillow every night before bed.

blue I think most of us have something that's a real pain. BiteyDogs is in close proximity to people when he pulls on the lead as he wants to love everyone. It looks like I have the most out of control badly trained dog in the world. Now if you saw us off lead in a field you would think the opposite. So I try to remember that we all have our battles in one area or another and I simply don't take him to crowded places as it's too stressful

I fell asleep very early last night which was a good thing as BiteyDog disturbed my sleep lots as he is clearly uncomfy with his bottom. I think if it doesn't clear up next week we will have to ask the vet to clear his anal glands -- not envy

Tk Maxx is vastly under rated for toys I find. It's the usual jumble sale approach but I've found toys from good brands inc Kong, Outward Hound, Zippy Paws etc. You definitely do find balls there!

Ball obsessive PestDog is in love with these at the moment - they squeak really easily (he's often surprisingly delicate with his toys and just can't squeak some of the harder ones), last several weeks and have an unpredictable bounce Kong Squeezz Jels, Medium, 7 x 5 x 6 cm (colors will vary) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F1MLHLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_myL-Bb66VKEVQ?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Not sure if it was in Home Bargains or B&M now but yesterday I found him what looks like a giant stuffed ball - a sprout wearing a santa hat

I definitely agree all dogs have their strengths and weaknesses, and few are suitable for all situations. DDog loves a dog meet up, but would be the world's worst therapy dog as he's no interest in unfamiliar humans. I frequently find myself apologising to people who have tried to say hello to him in the park in the most polite way possible and have been completely blanked! And on the flip side being indignant with people who start touching him without asking first...

I have the opposite problem with strangers and Bluepuppy. He instantly loves everyone and begs randoms for pats He’s even been known to try and climb on their lap!

SquirrelDog is usually fairly indifferent to other dogs, although he’s very tolerant of them approaching him. He loves a new human though, and will probably stand up on his hind legs, wrap his front legs round your waist and nibble lovingly on your sleeve/hand/arm. We are working on ‘greeting people appropriately’.

Avocados you aren't helping my internet habit posting a link

BiteyDog is a pain today. First on our walk he decided to jump across a massive ditch and missed. Really hope I don't see him limping later . Now he is playing hide his ball under the side board and bark until his humans come and get it

Hmm... Hope BiteyDog is doing ok. Ddog is limping a bit. We've noticed over the last couple of days and it's a problem at the front but it's quite difficult to work out which leg is the problem. She is absolutely fine when out on her walks/going for a wee in the field - running round like a mad thing up and down hills, tail wagging, enjoying herself completely, no pain. And no signs of pain if you apply gentle pressure anywhere on either of the front legs. No swelling, no inflammation, nothing visible...

It's when she gets up from her bed or the sofa - if she were older I would wonder if it were the start of arthritis as it looks like a bit of stiffness but she's only ~ 18 months (possibly nearer 2 now) and it seems to have come on over a matter of days. She seems happy enough but we've definitely noticed it since Friday, so I guess we should call the vet tomorrow... anyone had anything similar?

I am hoping that we can avoid the vets because (tmi) I think from the smell BiteyDog might have finally emptied his glands the blanket is in the washer . No obvious signs from his stupid ditch jumping incident.

distant I think if it's a front leg when their head drops it's the side they were walking on if I remember correctly. As it's just certain times could you video it on your phone to show the vets. I did that once to show the vet the type of weird cough/vomiting he was doing once.

That's a good idea Bitey - we will maybe do that and then give the vet a call and hope for a quick bit of chat advice... not just the vet's fees we'd prefer to avoid (although of course would not scrimp for her well-being) but also Ddog hates the windy roads to and from the vet and is always sick on the way home.

I'm even thinking it's potentially some slightly delayed "growing pains" - although she's 18-24 months, she has grown for sure in the last 3 months we've had her and has gone from zero exercise for the first part of her life to slowly but surely building up to regular and lengthy mountain hikes. It's just odd as it definitely doesn't seem to be causing her upset or slowing her down or holding her back at all when she's out and about... just when she gets up from lying on the sofa or in her bed. DH said he sometimes gets it too when he first gets up and I did have to point out that, as much as everything seems to have been pushed back a decade or so in the 21st century, we might have to accept that we are technically "middle-aged" now

I frequently find myself apologising to people who have tried to say hello to him in the park in the most polite way possible and have been completely blanked! And on the flip side being indignant with people who start touching him without asking first...

Avocados - I am really struggling with this too. We meet lovely people who adore dogs and think they are a bit of a natural "dog whisperer" and I get that (probably did it in the past myself... dogs LOVE me etc.) and I feel so awkward because I just want to say "look, BACK OFF and she'll be fine" but I know they are just being lovely and are touched when they can see she's scared and I explain she's a rescue dog - I have a little speech that I roll out instantly when we meet strangers and her tail goes between her legs, but doesn't matter how politely I tell them there's no point, I know they think I'm being a little neurotic/PFB and they will have the magic touch that will instantly transform her (which of course never happens)... she's getting so much better little by little, but it's not going to be helped along by random people rushing her.

Amazingly, I totally prepped my ASD DN - who can be a little clumsy around animals - to give her space and not be upset that she would be scared and not want to play with him... well of course he was an absolute instant hit with her... she has literally never been excited to see anyone (other than me and DH) but she actually bounded up to him when she would see him, actively indicate she wanted him to chase her, and was obviously looking for him once he'd gone home at the end of the week. That made me very happy for both of them

Maybe we should all start a 'no fussing my dog' stance. I am trying to work on him being calm and not trying to jump and lick everyone he sees when on lead. But because he still looks like a puppy even though he isn't lots of people simply come up and make a fuss which just sets the training back to zero again.

Well I think I might have to phone the vets tomorrow. BiteyDog still won't stop biting his bottom and is crying . Was really hoping to avoid it. I must fund a lot of their wages we are there so often

Aw poor little Biteydog (and BiteyShark bank balance)!! What is the long-term solution for this problem - surgery?