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.

Just dropped dog off at my daughters for her 'holiday' . She stood at the window watching us leave
Ready and packed for our journey to hell. Don't think we are staying the full 11 days. Just see what is left of the house, pay the bills for a house we can't live in and board it up.

drinkswine poor you.

I am close to tears with DartyPup. She proper nipped me earlier but what’s worse is that she came up behind me when I wasn’t touching her and did it on my back. We had just been ‘playing’- where she jumps around like a loon and tries to bite my fingers and I try and evade this. But this was a completely unprovoked nip. And she’s become so vocal and opinionated.

Just had a report that the dog is snuggled in bed listening to bedtime stories! Didn't miss that we had left as she's too busy exploring ~and trying to sniff at the hamster~

Duchess I suspect both over stimulation and over tiredness in the case of nipping like that after the 'playing'. We used to have a witching hour when we knew that any interaction from us would result in BiteyDog becoming this crazed bitey monster in the evening.

drinkswine its nice that they are settled and don't miss us but then you think 'but I'm missing you and you don't care whaaaahhhhh'

Sorry to hear about your holiday home @drinkswine

I find it very comforting that PestDog is equally happy with his family dog sitter as he is with me. It means I don't have to worry or feel guilty when I go away as I know he's happy and settled.

I have tied the laundry basket shut.
SquirrelDog is really cross.

Bitey that’s exactly it, a witching hour!

Squirrel

Awww poor SquirellDog, he will have to find his entertainment elsewhere

Hi all.

Sorry about your holiday home, drinkswine.

They really are land sharks at that age, Darty. GrouchyPup ruined many of my clothes. It should settle down soon, if that helps. Getting her settled with a licky or chewy treat after play might help with the horrible nipping.

How are you getting on, Bitey? Hope the recovery is going well.

My arm is slowly getting more movement so I can now play tug of war with the pup, as long as I don't jump or move too quickly. DH is still taking her out for walks as I'm worried about her pulling me over while I've got less balance (the perils of having a giant puppy).

Do you know how long it will take for your arm to fully heal Grouchy? BiteyDog is strong when he wants to be so I hate to think how strong a much bigger dog would be.

I am getting better but worried about my surgical wound in my belly button as it's a bit weepy but I don't have a temperature so hoping it's just still healing and not an infection. Still avoiding playing with BiteyDog and he's off to daycare all this week from tomorrow so I can rest.

It will take about 6 weeks, which isn't too bad, though a week after I did it the swelling is still spectacular.

As long as there aren't red lines around your wound it should be OK. Did they give you a number to call the surgical follow up team if you're worried? Doggie daycare is such a good idea.

Ouch 6 weeks is a long time . I have never touch wood broken anything.

I do have a number to call but it hasn't got any worse so holding off at the moment as it is pink not red and I wonder if the moisture is just sweat (TMI) as it's clear and none smelly.

This has put me off getting another dog in the future as without daycare we would be screwed and by the time we would get another one I am hoping I will be retired so daycare would be too expensive.

Do closely monitor the surgical site Bitey. I had an infection in mine last time I had keyhole surgery. If it’s sore, itchy or inflamed I’d get it looked at.

How big is your puppy Grouchy?

Yes to land sharks. We do give her licky and chewy treats - she has a pig’s ear and a teething Kong and yesterday had fun puncturing a kitchen towel roll. But she often prefers human flesh . Hasn’t broken the skin yet but the nips are getting more frequent and sharper.

On the plus side, after finally getting her harness and lead on yesterday, DartyPup and I did a lot of ‘walks’ around our garden and I proudly demonstrated to DH her walking with me when I said “walk” and sitting when I said “sit”. Am about to try again today ...

I have also taught her how to play pat-a-cake. An important life skill I think you’ll all agree.

DartyPup is very clever!

GrouchyPuppy is a 10-month-old Newfoundland. She's just over 40kg now (and pulled me over down a hill a couple of months ago).

Oh don't tell me that Duchess as that's my fear. DH has looked at it and says it's ok and keeps telling me off for trying to contort myself to have a good look . Sounds like DartyPup is getting the hang of walking in the garden BiteyDog used to chew his lead

Grouchy I can't imagine the strength of GrouchyPup. At 15kg BiteyDog is as strong as I can manage.

Sorry Bitey I'm sure yours is ok. Tbh it wasn't as bad as you may think - antibiotics sorted it out quickly because it was spotted quickly. That's the key I think.

Grouchy 40kg!!!!! DartyPup is a mere 3kg. And thank you, yes she is quite clever

I took her for a walk outside the house today just up and down our very short street once or twice, not letting her stop to lick anything. I was relieved at how instantly she got it and walked properly, rather than chewing her lead as she tries to do in the garden. I guess she associates the garden with play. I'd read that it's ok to take them out for a short walk before the time vaccinations fully kick in provided you avoid dog parks and lampposts and trees.

DartyPup had her 2nd vaccination last Thursday and the vet said she's free to go out properly a week later. Can. Not. Wait.

It's ok Duchess I am just paranoid about getting one to avoid going back to the hospital as it's a long way and DH would have to take me so hoping it just heals with no issues . Who the bloody hell thought that a belly button would be a good place for an incision? I would rather have had another scar elsewhere.

You are doing well the with lead walking . Roll on Thursday when you can walk where you like.

Oh well I have antibiotics and they have sent a swob off incase they don't work. The wound isn't too bad but it's gunky in the morning and I need to be fit and well for next week to be able to drive again.

Waved BiteyDog off again. He definitely loves daycare as he goes crackers when she arrives. It's like he is thinking 'thank god I am not staying as it's sooo boring'

Hope your wound is better soon Bitey.

This weekend we had to cut off Ddog's tick collar as we could see a red raw patch of skin on the front of her neck which was clearly from the collar. Feel so bad (she'd given us no indication it was bothering her) but it said to make sure you could fit two fingers inside the collar so it wasn't too tight, which we could, so not sure why it rubbed her so much. So we've switched to the medication and will see how she gets on with that. She also got her first (and hopefully - but unlikely to be - the last) shock of the season as the electric fences are going up as the farm animals are moving up to the high pastures this weekend so she has to learn she can't roam as freely as she's been able to since the autumn. She had her tail between her legs for a few minutes afterwards and then forgot all about it and got up to all sorts of mischief in the forest.

Spent 65 euros on a new bed for her which seemed like bloody madness... but she absolutely LOVES it - even went and rolled around/lay in it whilst we were on the sofa which never happens (it is really cosy and frankly I wanted to curl up in it myself!) After the collar and electric shock she deserves a little pampering though...

I have to say I never liked the tick collar as it just seemed to get in the way.

I also find you can never buy enough new beds for them

Bitey sorry to hear you do have an infection, hope it clears up soon. Rest up

In DartyPup developmental news:

We’ve signed up for puppy classes which start in a few weeks. Have had an info pack from the trainer via email, which is helpful.

Yesterday I took her to meet my friend’s dog at their house for a bit of socialisation. Friend’s dog is a massive, gorgeous British 6 yo bulldog who I’ve known since he was a pup. Considering he is a panting 38kg and DartyPup is 3kg, she did extremely well not to totally freak out She did try and climb on to my head at first, but she quickly got fairly comfortable at being in the same space as him, if not right beside him, and he had a good sniff.

Tomorrow we are OUT.

PurplecatDog training update - we are continuing with the clicker training and its going really well. Really chuffed, he's a star boy! He is now an ideal weight too (he was a skinny rescue). Hope everyone and their dogs are well today

DartyPup must be very small as I am sure BiteyDog was around 4kg ish when we got him. Your friends dog must have seemed massive to her

Glad the training is going well with PurplecatDog.

We started using clicker training for scentwork as it seemed to help BiteyDog understand more what I wanted.

Bitey just for you, here is a photo of DartyPup meeting Big Bulldog Boy. Look at her expression

I wanted to introduce her to bigger dogs in a safe environment before we brave the dog park. Although meeting friend’s dog was jumping into the deep end

She is little although is growing fast and not as little as she was - she was 2.2kg at 7 weeks (a week before we brought her home).

Awww she is like 'what is that big thing coming towards me'