Adolescent Dog Survival Thread - Bark the Herald, furry angels sing!

[YorkshireFelix]

New thread to get us through the festive season! Angelic and naughty teenage pups all welcome

Hahah @YorkshireFelix @PyreneanAubrie I seem to attract them! My obsession with making sure pupsy gets maximum spaniel time on every walk tends to lead me off piste and thus into bogland. At least, it being pitch black, no one could see how revolting I looked when I'd got myself out of it. Pupsy went for a quick unplanned swim and then barked at a swan that surprised her, so overall a 2/10 walk haha.

Have signed up to this walking app called Biscuit as if you log your walks you can earn points for M&S (and various other) vouchers, and as I'm on the compulsory death march twice a day anyway I thought why not.

@PyreneanAubrie maybe it was a one-day dear! Hopefully, anyway, if she didn't react to the boot being opened.

I was out with my dog walking friend and his big, young goldie the other day and at the end he put her back on a headcollar and the lovely, jolly, happy dog I know turned in an instant into a shell of herself. She walks perfectly on it but that doesn't seem worth it to me for how it evidently made her feel. So I agree with you entirely. The double-ended lead sounds like a much better, kinder solution.

@brushingboots
The walking app sounds like a great idea!

I totally understand about your friend's GR and the headcollar. My chap sometimes puts the Dogmatic on Brie now but I can't stand the way it squishes her little fat puppy muzzle. It makes me sad. Yes, it might make my life easier as it would stop her lead-biting, which she did again today, but I just can't do it. Her happy, bouncy, playful nature is such a joy.

I keep seeing Biscuit around the internet but I can't get my head around how it works. What's in it for them?! Why would they give me free money?!!

I've just been looking at it too and wondering what the catch is...

@YorkshireFelix @PyreneanAubrie I presume it's about data capture and where you go on your walks and advertising opportunities that way, maybe? You have to log various details – what breed your dog is, how much does it weigh, how old etc – so I guess there might be some kind of research element there too. It tracks where you are and how far you've walked, but seeing as my phone records all of that anyway I don't see the harm. It's not as if I go anywhere very thrilling in the search for a good bog to fall into (lol).

On my phone so can't edit – so far I haven't seen a catch and I'm all about a 'free' M&S voucher so provided I remember I'm going to keep logging my walks and see how it goes.

Nice, I think I might give it a go. I thought it may be some sort of data collection thing but my data is being collected everywhere else too so I'm not arsed 🤣

I'll download it!

Ah I should have asked for your referral link @brushingboots but I think it's too late now!

Libi went through a sudden fear period with the car @PyreneanAubrie - very odd, refusing to get in etc. I live alone so really couldn't do anything about having someone in the back with her, she was actually sick a few times too - but then it seemed to go as quickly as it came 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I only actually need to use the car for dogs to take them to the vet and Libi to training (as I live next to fields, bliss, wish I'd moved years ago now!) but I've stopped the training for the time being as it's quite a distance away and was becoming a stress, rather than a pleasure, to fit it in - especially as there's a lot going on, family wise, atm. I plan to pick up again in January.

Thanks @LibisMum , that's helpful. Sorry you've had the same issue with Libi.
I'm now wondering about the carsickness factor. We normally do very short local trips up to the moor, just a couple of miles, but the drive to the dog field last week was a bit further than normal, heading towards the town, and we got stuck in traffic because of roadworks. Maybe she has felt a bit sick and that's causing her anxiety.

We do have fields nearby, within a 10 minute walk so we'll keep it local for a week or two and see how things go. Hopefully it is just a fear period and will pass - it's good to know that has been the case with Libi and I hope you can pick up your training again in the new year.

I'm still considering it but the problem is, I don't generally take my phone when I'm walking Brie...

Bill actually managed the entire journey to daycare today without whining once - the first time he's ever managed it. He was alert, interested, had a couple of treats at the beginning but didn't whine for more, looked out the window, rested his chin on my shoulder at one point. I know this must all sound terribly normal but it's game-changing for me. Or it would be had my car not overheated and needed to go back to the garage again 😭

ANYWAY - there's hope!

That is fabulous news. I know how much trouble you've had with car journeys so I'm genuinely so pleased for you. Not pleased about the car overheating though!! What a pain.

This cold isn't shifting and it feels like I've had it forever! But I got Vinny out on a decent walk today so feel better for it.

He was so excited to be in the woods and had some crazy zoomies. I got him to sit and wait for a boxer dog to pass and his owner said he was 'a well trained dog.' I was just about to start polishing my halo then he spotted a squirrel later on and wouldn't come back for ages!! But then another lady said he was a good boy on our way home, so I'll take that as a win 😄

That is great news about Bill settling in the car @Bupster , really good. Not so great about the overheating car, obviously, but still progress as regards Bill's travel anxiety.

Awww, he is a good boy @YorkshireFelix
Hopefully all that fresh air will help to kill off the remnants of your cold and you'll start to feel better x

I thought it had all gone quiet on here and then realised I had forgotten to follow the new thread!
Have loved the throwback pictures. What a gorgeous bunch of dogs are on here.
Has anyone put up their Christmas tree yet? (I think it is too early, but looking around I am in a minority.) If you have, how have the pups reacted?
Our little Bear continues with the total ignoring us and mayhem on walks. I am fairly relaxed/philosophical as long as we're not near a cliff or a road, but my DH is finding it very stressful so is keeping her on the lead when he's on his own (he hardly ever walks her on his own, so it doesn't really matter). He has been reassured by the internet that it's a fairly normal phase for her age/breed - she had a pretty good recall until quite recently so we are hoping that it'll come back eventually.

@thewalrus we've not attempted the tree yet but going to try soon. I saw a tip that said put the tree up on its own first for a few days, then decorate it. I don't know if it actually works or not but may be worth a try! I suggested it to dd but she got upset as it's not the way we usually do it (she's autistic so not worth the battle!). So I think we are just going to do it and hope for the best...

Hooray for both of you, @Bupster and @YorkshireFelix. What progress, B, with Bill. Just fab. Agreed, less fab about the car, but you’re one step closer to freedom!

We are scrooges here and our tree won’t go up until about the 20th. Will be interested to see how pupsy reacts to it this time as last year she was still quite puppyish and quite ‘enjoyed’ the tree, and drinking its water (yuck). We don't use the room it goes in much and last year she would have regarded it very much as a treat to be in there. Now we've got rid of the gates she's in there more and I think will be less stimulated by the general goings-on. Though I will still be wrapping her presents so she can shred paper to her heart's content.

Ahh @thewalrus she will get there, and all the more if you work with her on it. I think relaxed is a good strategy as she’ll pick up on how you’re feeling. Provided it’s safe when she’s bush-diving, I’d be inclined to let her carry on, as long as she’s not being defiant.

Re: Christmas trees

With our older one, the first year we went away and there was a Christmas tree and presents under it and pup paid it no attention.

Second year, pup chewed through the Christmas lights on one occasion and got herself tangled up in them on another occasion. She had a chew of a wooden decoration too I think.

Younger one wasn't overly interested last year, there's no way we could risk presents under the tree though, she loves opening boxes.

All our decorations are paper or crochet generally though, so even if they do get stolen there's not too much risk.

We never buy our trees until a couple of days before when they're all reduced or being given away :-)

Our tree went up at the weekend, Max has had a sniff and that's about it, not shown much interest in it thankfully.

Morning guys.
How are we all doing?

Is he permanently in this position 24/7? 😂 I think Vinny is most of the day!

Ahh I am desperate to put mine up and this gives me a little glimmer of hope...