They love a bit of him (Podlife)

[HangingOver]

Hello my fabulous Podsquad, here is Podcast Thread III.

For anyone that is new to this thread, it's about my rescue dog, known as Pod.

Here is thread No. 2 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/5197068-the-pod-cast?page=39&reply=141216881

And thread No 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/5177112-oh-my-giddy-god?page=1

for if anyone would like to go back and see how astonishingly naïve and traumatised I was by taking on a fully grown, teenaged pointy dog who seemed determined to destroy me and everything I love.

Theatrics over, here is the Pod in question (obviously I've edited the lead out - I'm not mental).

If anyone doesn't have is Insta handle and wants it, just DM me. A video of me and Pod doing yoga together will appear at some point soon.

Ooh yes, dresses please!

Okay I'll upload them all shortly.

I'm seriously stressing about next weekend now. SIL has just text me saying that we all need to wear dresses. This is madness. Pod doesn't even sit nicely when we eat at home and the longest he's done in the car is 90 mins. This place is two hours away. DP thinks it's fine to bring Pod because all of his family have said it's ok. But they haven't met Pod! They're mostly not dog people and are probably imagining a normal dog. DP thinks he will "surprise us". But Pod spends 90% of his time with me and I don't think that at all. My friend has offered to take him for the day but I don't really want that either.

I know I'm being awkward but I want to be Pod's advocate here. You can't put a dog in a new and stressful situation then get annoyed when he acts out.

And most of all I don't want everyone to be on edge for the whole of MILs party because he keeps barking/whining/trying to get on the table etc.

Surely it's more important that MIL has a great time than me being there?? I'm a peripheral family member.

@HangingOver why don’t you want your friend to have Pod for the day?

She has three dogs of her own, they all play nicely out and about but untested in their own house
... Also she has a small child and Pod is WAY bigger than her dogs. Lastly when he's stressed he gets destructive and I don't want him destroying her sofa and shoes etc

I understand your reservations.

I have a feeling Pod would surprise you with his adaptability but it’s stressful not knowing… in that case I agree with you that the least stressful thing all round would probably be for you to just miss the meal on this occasion.

Thanks, I'm glad you see my point of view. DP is over optimistic when it comes to Pod and I'm over pessimistic. I wanted to introduce him to restaurants gradually over the summer, first trying places with outdoor seating and only have drinks etc. and have an exit strategy.

I'm fully open to being surprised and delighted but this feels like too important and occasion to trial it.

Oh and two of the kids coming and scared of dogs.

Yes it’s best to build up gradually and start with low key/low stress options which hopefully this summer will provide plenty of opportunities to sit outside and build up to inside seating.

Kids that are scared of dogs will likely screech & upset poor Pod so that’s not good either.

What about a short playdate at your friend’s place to see how Pod might go? It will also give your friend a chance to work out if she’s definitely willing to dogsit or if he’s too much for her.

I think it would be risky to take Pod to MIL’s party with so much stimulation and excitement, and two children scared of dogs. You wouldn’t be able to relax would you?

Is he still not allowed to go to the daycare/kennels that you've used?

A party might be too much for him?

Bill is a fraction of Pod's height and adores kids and I wouldn't try to take him to this, he wouldn't cope. Over Christmas he got so over-stimulated by all the people coming and going he couldn't nap or settle and one day I took him out for a poo so many times we did 27,000 steps. I shit you not, as it were.

If it were closer, I'd say go and try it and if it's all too much, you've not lost anything if you have to leave early because he's not coping. But two hours away means to do that you'd have to take two separate cars and if he's never managed more than 90 minutes in a car, and you'd have to do four hours, that's a pile of stress for both of you on top of everything else.

Can you get an in-home puppy sitter to stay with him? or is it an overnight? I have a bank of them to call on for Bill because my nearest family is further than he is happy to be driven and my friends here who would take him have young children, so it's a big ask. If it's an overnight it's trickier all round anyway.

No it has to be a vets official negative test and they take two weeks to come back ATM 😔

I think my friends judgement is a bit clouded by a) her being the most wonderful person on earth and always wanting to help and b) I minded her dogs for a few days during an incredibly traumatic family emergency last year and maybe she feels like she owes me? (She doesn't, I was delighted to be able to help).

Yeah I think in your shoes I'd be mysteriously unwell that day... I think Pod might well be better than you think in a social situation, but... there are too many variables you will not be able to control, AND you're very likely to be discouraged from simply removing him from teh room to calm him down because folks are often 'helpful' like that....

Can I roll back...is there a brand of pumpkin puree? Where do you get it?
If I was having a special birthday I'd love a certain dog as guest of honour...but it may be better to take him on a 2 hour trip on a quiet day and trial an outdoor pub lunch followed by a walk with new smells?
Wedding dress shopping is very odd, and so many styles are overwhelming.

Ooohhh...look on the royal fashion thread on style and beauty...the gold wedding dress from 1920s is fantastic.

Cleaning video was very funny! The look on Pod’s face!

God help us but me and DF are taking Pod to a dog show today (same people who didn't like his shagging photo, so his goose may be cooked). It's massively informal and just for fun so if it's too much we'll just leave and take him for a walk instead.

My aim is to get him entered and judged in one class, whether we win anything or not. But not a handling class obviously. Just one where he has to stand there and look heartbreakingly gorgeous.

Good luck, Hanging and Pod!

I'm sure he'll be the handsomest hound there 😎

Good Luck Pod!

We took ours to a dog show for fun, I thought he might win a prize in the musical chairs game because he does sit on command. But apparently he sat down too slowly🙄

Was good fun anyway.

Good luck Pod! Even if you don’t win we know that you’re a very handsome boi and deserve to win.

There might be a best Rescue class where you tell his story :)

Speechless 😭

Wow!! What classes did the clever handsome boy win?

I'm having trouble with my glasses and I thought your post said something like Pod caught DP and I shagging.

Well done on all the rosettes 🏵️ ⭐

1st in Smooth Coat, 2nd in appealing eyes, 2nd large dog (there were LOADS in that category), 4th in best resuce and 4th in crossbreed junior. He was so so so good. So patient and focused well. Had a couple of moments but refocused quickly and even said hello to a horse.