General Dog Chat 5

[BiteyShark]

A thread for general chit chat about our wonderful but sometimes pain in the arse dogs.

New or old, feel free to join. Everyone's welcome.

Awww very cute

They are sods aren't they, but very funny too

This is her about a month ago, I am working on this

she's saying 'nope, not going to move for anything'

Reminds me of this video

My elbow still hasn't fully recovered since I ended up helping to catch a man's lab and got yanked so hard by the dog I ended up flat on my face a fortnight ago

That video is brilliant, I can see her being just like it

Oh no Avocado, hope you weren't too badly hurt.

She’s gorgeous Mrsoh. Can’t believe she solved the treat bottle puzzle so fast! MuppetPup is now 13 weeks and can’t believe how fast they grow and learn. He’s also now getting his treats out of his puzzle ball far too fast! I think there’s a Facebook pooch enrichment group I’m going to join for more ideas to keep him occupied and calm so I can maybe have a shower in peace.

I thought something may have happened to him last night as he was quiet all night from 10.30pm to 7am when I got up and got him up! That was even with MuppetCat scratching on his crate and peering in at him trying to wake him up to play at 6am!

Having said his recall was going really well, he ignored me yesterday morning deciding to stay and play with all the other dogs on our morning walk even when I was walking away and half way across the field. He’s obviously getting more confident! This morning I just put him back in his lead before leaving everyone so didn’t give him the option to ignore. Being a sighthound, recall I know will be the hardest but also the most important to get solid. We had puppy training tonight and he managed not to disgrace himself and we got a free sample of Butternut Box food!

I’m working at home tomorrow and planning on moving my office to the kitchen so I can have the back door open and he can mooch in and out and only have about 3 hours of work to do so hoping it goes ok. I used to take my beloved previous hound into work on Fridays but think it will be some months/years possibly never but not thinking about thatbefore MuppetPup will be well behaved enough for that. My work aren’t really dog people and only tolerate a dog in the office if he’s quiet, calm and stays on his bed so I did a long walk before work, walk at lunch and then another walk after work and he’d then sleep under my desk. I loved having him there though especially after a stressy client and I could give him a stroke and a fuss and he’d look lovingly like he understood. I’m starting to smile rather than cry at my memories of him. Also it’s my memories of him that are getting me through the Puppy Blues when they hit as I know he’ll get there in the end...

That video is fantastic avocados - so so funny. I love that pooch!

So now MuppetCat is now being a total arse and will not leave MuppetPup alone resulting in a whiney overtired pup. The pair of them are like toddlers on a cocktail of steroids and speed!

Ha ha merry, our cat does his best to stay away from mrspup, he warns her all the time but she still insists on jumping around him, he'll get her one day.

That video is so funny

I know this is the doghouse but Muppetcat is very cute

Had a very interesting outing with Bluepuppy today. It was a cool and windy day and Bluepuppy was VERY full of himself. On the way to my table he nearly got airborne chasing after a pigeon. Then on the way to the table he tried to steal food off a stranger’s plate Then he just wouldn’t sit still and refused to gently take treats instead preferring to try and eat my fingers with them. Sigh. I guess they’re all work in progress. At least he provided some entertainment to my fellow diners Then to top it all off I decided to let him off lead on the beach and after sprinting around me in circles he legged into the sand dunes and towards the road. He got put back on the lead after that.

I'm on the train with PestDog. He can't understand why I'm not throwing his ball down the carriage for him

Have you seen the twitter and instagram posts #dogsontrains Avocados? www.instagram.com/explore/tags/dogsontrains/ - so adorable!

It also reminds me that I need to do a train trip with MuppetPup as part of his socialisation - we've only gone to the train station so far but not actually got on a train...

Bluepuppy sounds like he's had a fantastic time and glad he didn't actually get to the road bluetongue. I am NOT looking forward to the teenage years with MuppetPup who is also a whippet. I had a lurcher before who had pretty good recall although definitely had the typical lurcher thing of having a last zoomie circle before coming back or a last sniff. It's like you can see their little brains working as you see their ears twitch towards you and you know they've heard you but they just decide to ignore although he would hear the anxiety in my voice if I was really worried about something and needed him to come immediately and he did always come straight away then - once was when he'd seen a cat and he ran towards a road chasing it.

MuppetPup had his first sort of zoomie over the park the other night. He loves the evening walk over the field and he started sniffing, running, sniffing and leaping and spooking and spinning and then took off in a circle - he's not very fast yet but so cute to see puppy zoomies. He's currently flaked out next to me while I'm working - I gave him a tripe chew and a raw bone earlier to keep him occupied while I work and am thinking it may have been a mistake from the sound of his tummy and the smells he's making

Welcome to the wonderful world of young, crazy whippets Merry Bluepuppy actually has pretty good recall, until he doesn’t. Think I’ll be sticking to beaches where he can’t reach the road in the future. Whippets are often sold as an easy dog and in some ways they are. Not much barking, shedding, smell or mud. Plus my boy lazes around like a cat at home. Out and about however it’s like having a miniature racehorse. It would help to have eyes at the back of my head sometimes.

The puppy zoomies sound adorable.

Very jealous of your train trip Avacados No dogs allowed on any public transport here.

Awww blue sometimes they have those days when you think wtf is wrong with you .

Avocados I wish my dog would sit on a train and behave. The fact that you can take PestDog with you is great even if he wants you to roll the ball . Hope you have fun wherever you are going.

Stamps foot and wishes for a lottery win as staying at home with BiteyDog has been great fun this week.

I love that with sighthounds bluetongue as they’re so energetic and up for anything outside but calm, sleepy and cuddly in the house. MuppetPup is still crazy in the house as well as outside but I love it when he snoozes by me. They’re so calming with their gentle loving souls just being there.

I took MuppetPup to another puppy class today. I was inspired by Bitey trying out a few. My first is lovely and calm and very positive and the second was v slightly less calm, more pragmatic but we’ve picked up useful tips from both and both have had calm controlled socialisation. The first insists all dogs wear harnesses and learn loose lead through making the choice. Today’s class prefers all dogs to wear wide padded collars as thinks harnesses encourage pulling. - I did canicross with my old hound and it’s true he learnt to pull in his harness but he knew not to pull on his walking harness although I mostly walked him off lead as he was a pain to walk on lead always wanting to sniff all over and yanking your arm in the process so not the best really on lead. It’s one of the things I wanted to address getting right with MuppetPup.

One thing I did like was the trainer saying to get the pups off lead in dog free areas to practise recall and getting a good walk of up to an hour which I had been doing and feeling slightly guilty but think it’s better he gets chance to sniff and run about freely in a field than around the living room up and down off the sofa. I figure the field is less likely to cause him harm. Obviously she said don’t do running or long hikes but use common sense with it all. We live quite rurally so there’s lots of opportunities for this. I also remember I think Bitey or someone on the puppy survival threads saying they were doing decent off lead walks with older well behaved dogs. I guess it depends on the breed etc but it seems natural to me for whippets to run freely off lead for a short while every day.

The class today also does agility for older dogs and I’d quite like to give it a go at some point to help our human/pooch relationship.

Hoping everyone’s dogs aren’t too freaked out by the wind and are enjoying themselves.

merry training classes vary so much don't they. Just shows you that even trainers have personal views on training a pup let alone everyone else. We mostly did off lead walking as a puppy as he hated the road and loved bouncing about in the forest undergrowth.

I liked the agility but since giving it up in favour of scentwork I can see that it suits BiteyDog much more as he's so excited to do it and doesn't seem to get bored or distracted, like he did at agility, even if he doesn't find the scent. Both though helped with that owner/dog bond so I am sure you will love agility.

The wind didn't bother BiteyDog yesterday as he just ran around us like a loon trying to get us to throw the ball. The ball though went in random directions with the gusts which made it very unpredictable for him which he loved

Morning all, mind of I join you?

We have just had Week 1 of our new pup, a beagle called Toby. I rehomed him from a friend who was struggling to manage the boisterous "mad half hour" and needle like teeth. He's 12 weeks now, and when i came down this morning at 6 there were no pees or poos!

He has been sleeping in the utility room with training pads down. DH insists that he needs a water bowl overnight, I'm not sure that he does.

Welcome MelanieCheeks he's so lovely. Sounds like he has found his feet with you.

As for water you will get very mixed views. My dog doesn't have a water bowl in our bedroom but he knows how to ask to be let out which he frequently does and often passes by his water bowl with no drink as he just wants a pee.

On other threads when this has been discussed you would think I was a dog abuser because we don't have an actual water bowl in the room even though we get up and open the door if he stands by it.

Maybe compromise and put a small bowl down and see if he drinks anything from it??

Oh and I find dogs only drink if they are thirsty.

So a water bowl down doesn't mean he will drink lots just because it is there but only if he needs to.

Welcome Melaniecheeks - Your pup is gorgeous and pretty much the same age as MuppetPup who is 13 weeks now and seems to be sleeping through now from 11pm to 6/7am which has been a life changer as I feel so much more resilient when I have slept.

I’m not usually an anxious person but occasionally have serious moments of anxiety with the new pup. I hadn’t bargained in him being quite so bad about being left and thought he’d be ok for 30 mins or so by now which he is but just not at the time I need him to be left! I have uni open days to go to this summer and wondering how on earth we will cope. Thinking of trying to find a dog sitter...

He is gorgeous but am having odd moments of ‘what have I done?’ I know it’s all phases and will pass and a lot faster than it did with kids. The doghouse and the puppy survival threads have been really helpful in getting a grip and not feeling so alone.

It’s been great getting out and about with MuppetPup and everything feels better. He’s already gaining confidence and am definitely falling in love with him a bit more each day.

Pressed ‘post too soon!’

I’ve always just had water in the kitchen and MuppetPup cries to go out for a wee now or if he wants a drink. I also have water outside for him. When he was waking at night it was sometimes for a drink and I just took him downstairs and he’d drink and then I’d take him out for a wee but now he’s sleeping through it’s not an issue. My previous dog used to sleep on my bed and occasionally want a drink in the night in the summer and he’d just take himself off to get a drink.

Weirdly both my hounds have been fussy about their water and will only drink fresh water or filthy puddle or pond water and never from the bowls outside cafes or shops. They sniff and turn their snouts up at it.

Oh god yes what is it with stagnant muddy puddles. BiteyDog loves them.

He also stands in them drinking and peeing at the same time

Well today I discovered the downside of offlead walking Took Bella early today as the nice weather usually brings out the cyclists on the trail which isn't a problem as such it just gets on my nerves when they make me jump ringing their bell (don't see them with poor eyesight)
So mooching along on farmer's land making our way to the trail, it's lovely and peaceful, Bella was out of sight but not worried because she comes when I call so did just that.
She appeared and came running but I couldn't work out what was wrong until she got close. My little brown dog was mostly black as she had found where the farmer had dumped the last of the slurry after spraying the fields and bathed in it
She was absolutely delighted with herself, dancing round me. Carried on the walk as I figured I'd not meet anyone and it wouldn't make any difference and I'd walk home over the fields so I didn't have to walk her on the lead.
Got home and bathed her (It washed off surprisingly easily) but will be altering the route for the next few days to avoid a repeat performance. Bloody dog!