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. 🥹

Ooh love it!

The second he hopped out of the car, silence. Happy dog. However by that point most of the town had heard his brutal murder, people posted about it on a local group!!
That is when I stopped using a magnetic sign on the car advertising my dog training biz!!

LOL.

My crazy 'doodle was also VERY badly behaved the first couple of days I started working (from home) again after Xmas hol. Stole my favourite jeans and chewed them, the little sod. Hope Pod forgives you and calms down soon!

Thank you, that gave me a much needed laugh.

Honestly it's like being back with the dog of two months ago, he's been absolutely AWFUL all evening. He will not stop biting my arms and clothes and humping my leg.

Usually he's hyped up for a bit in the evenings then when he eventually does a poo he calms down but he's still going strong. Wah 😞

Urgh, I've already been bit this morning and he's dismembered a sofa cushion.

Oh, Pod.

Hopefully he starts calming down soon.

Just keep reminding yourself that there is a general improvement in his behaviour. This episode will pass.

Btw, you don't have to answer this here as it is a very personal question, but would you be about to/just started your period? My male dogs when they were young sometimes went a bit mad at that time of the month. I think it was the hormones/smell that got to them!

No I don't get my period at all so it's definitely not that. He's just completely lost his marbles recently.

Are you spotting any patterns with his behaviour?

From reading the thread it does seem clear that he struggles to regulate after exciting things and I wonder if there's some sort of bridging/transition activity you could figure out to help him shift from frenetic fun to calm and chilled. It probably doesn't help that he finds everything such fun though!

It definitely seems to have been triggered by us both going back to work... I guess he enjoyed being able to do exactly what he wanted all day and now he's finding it hard fitting back in with our routine, including getting up earlier.

The humping is really horrible I hate it, I can't bring him into the garden without him trying it over and over again, but if I don't go out with him he shouts the place down which isn't fair on the neighbours.

He's also doing his in-out-in-out routine where he immediately wants to go outside again straight after coming in and whines and cries til I give in and open the door, which makes it impossible to get anything done. I'm trying to ignore it and only let him out once an hour but the whining is getting under my skin!

I hope the little ratbag settles down soon, it's not as if he's being left alone without toys/treats etc.

You're still close by, he's just got the hump at having to share your attention instead of him getting 100% of it! I'm sure he'll adjust to the routine in a few days, but I feel sorry for you with a bitey, stroppy Pod to wrangle 😓

I would love to follow Pod on Instagram as well, if you can share the name!

Thank you 🥹

We went out for a 90 minute walk and he has gone to sleep. Kitchen is covered in ripped up cardboard and bits of dismembered toys but at least he's quiet.

I ordered this ADORABLE little book. It's all about body language and it's really beautifully illustrated.

Bill has also been whiny and insane today, and now cannot stop farting, if that makes you feel marginally better. I've got NOTHING done and now I'm being asphyxiated.

Is he due for his gentleman's procedure soon? That might help, but no guarantees!
He's so handsome, his puppies would be gorgeous...but if he scents a lady friend he will be difficult to restrain.
(I'm terribly polite today!)

I'm meeting with the vet about this soon.

He must be having a burst of hormones or something because he's been going at my leg and the sofa cushions like a horny horse all day.

He looks like he wants to eat the book.

Book eating wasn't in the book.

Me too

He’d already eaten that chapter 😀

Hum. Pod woke the whole neighbourhood up at 6.30 this morning. I've be DESPARATE to get back to my favourite yoga class (which only runs 7am on Weds) because walking Pod each day is wrecking my body. Attempted to sneak out while DP stroked him and he was half asleep - bad idea.

As I walked away from the house I realised for the first time just how LOUD Pod is from the street, even with all our doors shut. The block of flats opposite us is built in a U shape meaning noises echoes on our street like mad and dear Christ could I hear him making his feelings known.

Yoga was bliss though. The studio cat shuffled in a the end of savasana and did rollypollys next to me. Had brief and fleeting moment of appalling disloyalty to Pod by wishing I had a cat, instead as they're not deafening and humpy.

Pod had a rare walk just him and DP while I was yoga-ing, and DP said he was 'mostly good', which I think could be an exaggeration. He's been fast asleep ever since, since early morning are not his forté (I could be talking about either DP or DPod there but I actually mean Pod).

I have a training session in the paddock with DogWizard and Pod at lunchtime. DogWizard maintains we should at least have a crack at the regular longline so I've got a waterproof one to try out and he's going to show me good technique.

We also have scent class tonight so hopefully he won't be up partying all night tonight.

He was mostly good through his 'leaves' this morning, one woof at 20 seconds, but actually laid down and went to sleep for the last 20! Will post the week's tally at the end of the week.

Hope you're all having a nice week so far. May your doggos be calm, non-bitey and a little less stinky ❤️

Sounds like yoga is a good recharge for your whole self, the physical pain and mental stress of hound parenting! It just shows the mammoth effort you give to making Pod's life so happy 😊

Try not to worry about the neighbourhood hearing your boy, they probably need to get up and get to work anyway. He's providing a service, their friendly furry wake up call 😎

( and I'd love to see him on insta, if you can let me know how to find him. I just managed to join, just to see Pod! )

Feeling very fed up after a really terrible walk then I saw this and it made me laugh (internally)

Those hormones do some really fucking annoying shit... however for a long limbed breed it is important the keep the furry squeakers as long as possible(as long as you can stand) as it affects not just growth plate closure (and thus limb length which is important when its 'length of this bone vs that one it is paired with' as if one stops growing and the other carries on too long you get twisting of the limb and basically long story short, cruciate ligament surgery is fucking expensive, several grand each and if one goes, the other will!)...

it also affects bone density and that is important too. The later you can leave it, the lower the risk of osteosarcoma (unfortunately, not down to zero).

When you do do it.. expect a big drop in testosterone to be accompanied by fear/anxiety so plan that for a time when you have a few weeks to really take things easy.

The yodelling yowling of the enraged pointy dog reallllllly does carry :(

I would think his testosterone has peaked and will now generally be dropping but its not a neat linear thing (as I think you've realised, literally NOTHING about juvenile dogs is...) so there will be bumps and plateaus, that cause nobby behaviour and then drops that cause anxious needy-fuckery...

Keep noting the progress... even if its microscopic fraction of a second blinks... they are little indicators of what he will be capable of when he has adult levels of hormones.

Oh and I love Lili's art, she's a really lovely lady to, we've been friends a few years (I also do doggy illustration). Of the available books on body language, I do think hers are the best as the photographic ones tend to be much harder to decipher (oddly enough!).