The Pod-cast

[HangingOver]

Hello PodSquad,

Thank you for being on this crazy ride with us.

Here's the OG thread if anyone wants to go back and laugh at how staggeringly naive I was adopting my first rescue pup: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/5177112-oh-my-giddy-god?page=1

Could someone please explain who this dog is in my house and what they've done with Pod? Because he's been absolutely angelic today. Truly a wonderful, wonderful dog and even coped with my DF and DPs pal coming over for Sunday dinner and sitting up getting merry on red wine.

Or perhaps the collective will on MN have given me a SERIOUSLY needed good day. What a star. 🥹

Ohhhhhh thank FUCK for that! :D (Jeez I've never been so relieved over a blood test result for someone elses dog before! And I spend more time than most thinking about and worrying about other peoples dogs!).

Give him a snuggle from meeee!

That is good news.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tomato-bruschetta

Either he doesn't steal your snacks (yay!) or it's also a word for something that's bad in a doggy world. In which case it's a double yay! from me if he doesn't have it.

He was being tested for a zoonotic disease some rescues from abroad have as my vets can't treat him without knowing he'a negative. If they have it, the advise is PTS for safety. It sounds a bit like a certain delicious Italian snack 😋

Cute! My Lab puppy is slightly boss eyed and sometimes his tongue doesn’t stick out straight but to the side. It’s odd things that make them perfect ❤️

Pod had a fantastic morning. I could actually lean on the wind at one point. Thank god some other people turned up or id still be there trying to shut the field gate. Now we snuggle. Stay safe everyone!

I’m so happy that he tested negative. As I’ve said before I don’t have a dog ( my cat would move out if I got one) but I’m completely invested in Pod and his progress. I live at the other end of the country to you but if I didn’t I would definitely ask if I could say hello to him if I met him on a walk. Your photos of him always make me smile.
Your belgian hare was a beauty too and I’ve now fallen down a google hole of rabbit breeds as I didn’t know this one existed!

Amazing that he's doing well! You really are a star for what you're doing for him.

Just wanted to mention I recognised Pod on a training page elsewhere so your name etc is public there (I'd want to know if it was me) but appreciate you may not mind being identified!

Thanks, I don't mind that much, I've given his Instagram to virtually everyone on this thread anyway 😁 The only person that knowingly stalks me online is an ex who turned out to be weird (Hi, prick).

Me and Pod accidentally had an almost three hour walk today. I didn't realise the tide was surging because of the wind and we got cut off so had a LONG walk to get back. He had a fantastic time.

I also did some bloody brilliant counter conditioning with him today. His Amazon delivery came with two more of his all time favourite toy in, the rubber squeaky ball. His old one has been played with so enthusiastically it no longer squeaks. His little face when he saw there were two in there!!! Anyway, I had the door open and was sweeping with the dustpan and brush, and he was running in with the ball for me to throw. It took bloody ages but he definitely tolerates the dustpan and brush if the game is happening too! Clever Pod.

Pic from last night's 308th bed deconstruction of the evening.

What a gorgeous creature he is and according to that last pic he has a comedy length tail to match his (delightful) comedy ears! My rescue boy, lurcher x something or other is 2 and a half years in with us, it's been hard work, his prey drive is extreme but he's settled so well and it's been a joy to watch his trust in men slowly emerge.
I love your Pod updates, thank you

Brilliant job with the counter conditioning!

I'll just add that if the toy has survived, you can get replacement squeakys on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dog-squeaker/s?k=dog+squeaker.

If he's getting through loads of expensive toys and you have basic sewing skills you can whip up loads of toys from a charity shop jacket or fleece blanket and a pack of these.

Aaah thank you but he's chomped all.around it. Happily they're only a few pounds on Amazon and they're his very very best toy ever and last a decent amount of time. I regularly sew up Mr dolphin and Mr crab but I fear beheaded duck is beyond repair!

Mr Hippo is a firm fave with my Lunatic Long Legged Labradoodle. The only one he's never managed to destroy (except for chewing off his ears and toes!) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09N7PJ77K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Oh that is brilliant counter conditioning, fun game AND something to do with his whole self so he can cope more easily! Winner, you'll be a dog behaviour geek sooon... beckons you over to the dark side...

I think one thing I truly didn't appreciate before getting a teenage rescue pup was the sheer amount of time they dominate all of your attention. For example, this morning Pod is feeling a but whiny and needy; we got back from his walk at 9am and he's still consuming 99% of my attention needing playing with or chewies or licky stuff, if I ignore it he's pacing, whining, biting the fridge, wanting to go out, wanting to come in, barking and, of course, laying into the sofa.

I think the quickest he's ever settled after a walk is about 30 - 40 mins and that was a red letter day!

My seven month old is like that and he's not a rescue so I have the utmost sympathy! God knows when the little bugger will calm down but I'm not holding my breath...

Dominate your time?

Hell... I hate to tell ya but they never grow out of that!

My Dprick is the biggest waste of my time going! Got to get ready for work? Ahh Bruce needs a cuddle. Trying to prep dinner? Ahh Bruce wants to play ball! Trying to do housework? Ahhh Bruce needs a walk!

Best waste of time ever though ❤️

I'm hoping it'll end up a bit more intermittent than full on HELLOINEEDSOMETHINGORIWILLSHOOOOOUT!!!!!! for hours on end.

I've just come down with COVID so really not looking forward to trying to work, manage him and be sick all at once.

Oh it does... well its a combination of a lot of things becoming second nature to you so you don't actively think about them..

And they get a bit less needy, bit better at entertaining themselves without doing something fucking dire...

You have unfortunately been hurtled into dog-ownership at the absolutely horriblest part of a growing dogs life without the benefit of the cute puppy weeks and seeing lots of progress and growth that other owners get to look back on, and think 'well he was SO cute and so sweet and so easy... and he will be again'... so they have that light at the end of the tunnel, that wee carrot dangling there that they've seen glimpses of in the early weeks.

Fingers x your COVID passes quickly, ugh!

You're dead right Widdlin! I keep saying to DP were very very much in the trenches atm without all the lovely tiny puppy bonding.

BUT... I do have his extraordinary good looks to fall back on when he's being a giant arse. He's SO MUCH CUTE.

Oh I'm SO GLAD I spend all of my time, energy and money trying to make this beast happy when he comes and wakes me up from my COVID nap by attacking my Oodie. Little shitbag.

Remember the cuteness and the goodlooking and those ears from 16:13... focus... focus on the ears... not on the Oodie... (5 Pound Stuff, online store... Oodies for around £14 as long as you know how to spot genuine from off-brand, we have one just for the Stick Dog as it is the key to getting her to lie the fuck down and stop tantrumming at us that she can't possibly get comfy anywhere at all.)

Sadly I was wearing it at the time.

Pod is coping with my lying face down on the sofa remarkably well (if a bit noisily).

We were supposed to have a 1 on 1 trainer session Wednesday but I'm light of Covid trainer is taking him for a walk/session alone. Ha! I bet he behaves angelically. Trainer is some sort of wizard and Pod adores him and does everything he says.

Will have a zoom session Wednesday where I'll tell him all about what Pod has actually been like.

Really really don't recommend this flavour of Covid btw.

Get well soon. If it's the same strain that was floating about at the end of the summer, it completely floored my 17-year-old for days, and his big strapping uncle who's never ill was in bed for a fortnight :(

If it's any consolation re the Oodie, my FB memories tell me that ten years ago today, our late beloved weirdo Springer chewed a hole in my DH's slipper while he was still wearing it 😆

Hope you feel better soon