General Dog Chat 4

[geekone]

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

BiteyDog isn't fond of dried liver. I also got some fish and seaweed biscuits once and he couldn't spit them out quick enough.

Oh well Bella's loss Eric's gain

Yes it was Eric's gain for a change as usually Bella snaffles Eric's treat as he has this silly habit of admiring them first before he eats them

Little shit can do that to madam.

Take food right from her mouth. Madam is so soft with her. She honestly sees little shit as her puppy because she’s constantly washing her and making sure she’s ok.

When we give out treats, we have to make sure madam gets hers away from little shit or she won’t get a chance to eat it

BiteyDog went for a groom earlier today. I think he has finally forgiven me as he is now lying on me after giving me the evil eyes and cold shoulder since we got back.

He’s lulling you into a false sense of security Bitey!

Well he's still not eating but he has cheered up a lot. Drinking water with a lot of coercion. He's no worse by any stretch

He's very good at letting me know when he is annoyed at me. I tried to grind his nails a bit more last night and he definitely gave me 'the look' so decided to leave that one for a bit

Queen my vets gave me (and you can buy it online) a chicken flavoured drink that helps hydrate them and adds back some nutrients. Might be something to consider if he's drinking but still feeling rubbish.

We have a new problem with Ddog and her scavenging ways... having been very happy that all the cow/deer/fox etc. poo is now covered in a blanket of snow, she has turned her attention to berries. On today's walk she was eating wild rosehips and there are also trees that have dropped red berries that she keeps eating. Anyone got any ideas what these might be? They seemed to have red berries from autumn (which was was very dry and sunny) through til now (very cold and snowy). I'm a bit concerned about it because I went for a walk in our first summer here with a local woman who was pointing out all the natural mint, thyme, meadowsweet etc. that grows in the mountain meadows and she specifically pointed out some red berries to me and told me they were toxic and not to pick them... Ddog seems to be ok but if they are toxic for humans, can't imagine they are great for dogs? I had to chase her away from the rosehips today and inevitably fell over as was wearing big tennis racket-sized snowshoes which are not conducive to running.... she obviously thought that was great fun Am I panicking unnecessarily? As I've said before she's managed to wolf down entire banana skins she's pinched from a compost heat without obvious ill-effect...

distant no idea I am afraid. I know we have plants in our garden that are toxic to dogs but fortunately BiteyDog tends to just eat the grass growing between them.

I’ve just done nails. Clipped and dremel too. She’s not happy.
Mine ate some orange berries the other day. Today she manages about 1/3 of a bloody broken tennis ball. Let’s hope it works its way through.

Can you come and do BiteyDogs nails ? Seems to be an endless task for trying to grind enough off. They grow so quickly

I’ve learnt through trial and error. My first attempt saw us at the emergency vet after she snatched her foot away and I clipped anyway. She bled for hours.
There’s a great FB group and we worked with the vet on desensitisation. TBH when her nails get long I need to do them every three days to work the quick back. I use the alternate cut line.

I can't clip them as he freaks if you hold his paw too tightly which I would need to do to get a good cut. So it's just the grinder which does the job but it's such a long process by the time I have had a few days off I can hear him clip clopping about again.

Very occasionally he lies on his back and is so tired I get a really good go at all of them

Tried a scratch board? Madam’s claws are so big I don’t need to hold the paw. Just the claw!
I think I’m a little far from you to do nail trims for you! Shame as I think our dogs would get on.
Trying to type. She’s hungry. Shoving her head under my arm. It’s difficult.

Awww WolfiePup wants her dinner . BiteyDog is lying on me waiting for DH to get home as he demands ball play as soon as DH gets in the door.

Depending on which vet we see tomorrow for his vaccinations I might ask them to take a look and give them a bit of a clip whilst I am there. The problem is I have a list as long as my arm of things I need to ask. Really could have done with a double appointment

We supposedly get free trims as part of the pay monthly plan we’re on. Had to delay vaccinations as she wasn’t well last year so now due Jan. hope appt goes well.

Ah wolfie - happy to hear you are so relaxed about the random berries and the tennis ball. My natural inclination is to be quite laissez-faire about this sort of thing but then get in a panic that I'm actually being cruelly negligent by not dashing her off to the vet with a sample of the berries in hand because we were so lax with our dogs growing up (they ate human chocolate virtually every day for example)... that said they all lived a long life so hopefully we've got another one with a cast iron stomach!!

I am beginning to think Cocodog is peculiar, she loves fish and the seaweed biscuits are her favourite bedtime biscuit! She also rarely barks indoors or outdoors and enthusiastically waits by the front door to see who is coming in. I think she would defend me outside from a threatening encounter but so far she has only met friendly humans and the odd one who ignores her so not sure. Never have even looked at her nails, groomer clips them if needed and I make sure we do a bit of tarmac walking during the week. Her worst vice is still being obsessive with the ball😬

I think I am a bit obsessed with BiteyDogs nails as we have hard floors so all I can hear is him clip clopping up and down them all the time .

He is so scared of things though. I need to get fit so bought a mini stepper and was trying it out and he is terrified of it. Ran away and hid in the corridor barking at it

The ginger bastard broke his hunger strike for Cheerios!! Won't touch the fish I bought though! He is much better but not himself in any way.
I've ordered the citronella collar for barking I feel a bit mean now!

thegirls - I don't look at steppedog's nails, but that is because one our walks there are a few tarmac paths, so they get worn down.

steppedog has calmed down so much since he finished his steroids. I am very relieved that so much of it was the drugs.
He still dives after any food, but I don't get the feeling he would be doing the mad dash over fields and across roads. Mind you we have walked him much more on the lead to stop it.

Just sorted the Christmas stockings, and he appears to have quite a full one
and I haven't even bought him a new rope yet.
and I did a Christmas letter which was our year in photos and he appeared in quite a few!

I have bought madam a new bed for Christmas. Perhaps tempting fate but thinking of ditching the pen pre puppy arrival. (Way in the future but I like to plan!)
Distant I’m medicated for anxiety (and depression) so my default setting is PANIC!!!! I’m learning to try and be logical. Shall keep an eye on her and I’ve saved the bit of ball she didn’t eat in case I need to discuss with a vet.
Madam’s nails are far to thick to be worn down by tarmac etc. And if I don’t clip them her feet splay out. She doesn’t go to a groomer. I try and DIY. You have to hand strip them and are supposed to roll the coat regularly. I have very little of a clue. Slightly more than when we brought her home though.

Good news on the food front Queen let's hope he starts eating his normal food soon

thegirl it must be the spaniel in Cocodog for the ball obsession. BiteyDog runs off now in the garden if he thinks ball time is over so we have to get more sneaky when we want to take it off him .

distant hopefully distantDog is ok after the berry eating.

steppe steroids really affect BiteyDog as well. But they are so bloody good at treating inflammation as well that I just live with the side effects.

Wolfie it's so hard to not panic though isn't it with them even if you look at it logically. DH is the worst whereas I am more pragmatic but even so I still see how scared he is after all his vet treatments it breaks my heart

BiteyDog is all vaccinated for another year. Poor boy is flat out from the stress but got a good bill of health so just need to keep him like that.

SquirrelDog has chewed a hole in a merino wool baselayer top this morning. He’s getting coal in his Christmas stocking. He also sniffed out what looked like a bit of bread roll stuck in a hedge above his head height on this morning’s walk. So I’m no longer accepting any excuses at Scentwork about the scent being ‘too high’...