Adolescent Dog Survival Thread - get teenage licks right through the night!

[Bupster]

I've buckled and started the new thread - welcome to the horror of adolescence!

Oh that's super-helpful, @YorkshireFelix , thank you. Yes, we have a WhatsApp group and they send updates and pictures, and I get a report from daycare too telling me the names of all the dogs and people he's played with 😄

This is one of those times when I do wish I'd been more like @brushingboots and given myself some distance, and him (and me!) some practice at coping alone. Mostly I love how close we are, but right now it's very hard not to be a wreck. This is a dog that still tries to bite my nose off when I come back after leaving him with a sitter for an hour - he got so excited the other week he made it onto the dining table from a standing start, to be closer to my nose. And he's not a teeny dog any more.

More stories of dogs being absolutely completely fine please! But if anyone has stories of dogs pining that's fine too, I just want to give myself realistic parameters.

Little one has never been left with anyone else, because older one wasn't welcomed back after her trial night with our dog walker! Nothing majorly traumatic, just and unsettled shouty pain in the bum. Tbh, she can be like that at home some evenings!

We left Midge for 3 weeks last summer and he was absolutely fine. He was happy to see us but there were no signs of any lasting effects. I think he enjoyed having another dog to play with.
He does sleep in a crate, so I’m guessing that smelt of home. I’m not sure how he would have coped without the crate.

Milo needs serious intervention 🤣🤣🤣

Very comfortable 😂

@Bupster Ahhh don't worry, he WILL be fine! I haven't left pupsy overnight somewhere else as we haven't been away since we got her, but she has been at daycare all day and with my parents for 15 hours when we’ve been at a wedding or whatever, and she has always been absolutely fine! She always returns home knackered, having had a lovely time with people that love her, and Bill will have the same experience while you're away I'm sure.

@CaptainBeanThief Such a lovely weirdo!

I’ve strayed from the safety of this board to see that the retractable lead discussion is still ongoing. One thing I’ve noticed is how rarely the original post is read.

@CaptainBeanThief Milo has such an expressive face. He always looks like he’s about to get into mischief

I just got really cross on that. I never use them but I'm still pissed off with how sanctimonious it's got. So have now withdrawn and will let them parade their superior, impeccable flawlessness without me.

I know!! So many posts saying 'YOUR DOG WILL BOLT AND GET HIT BY A CAR ON A BUSY ROAD' and the original post says it's solely for use in the grounds of country houses so dog can have a bit more freedom to sniff. No bloody busy roads in sight.

And also lots saying teach your dog to walk properly on a lead and she's literally said she walks great on a short lead. Bizarre!

I forgot, older one did stay a couple of nights away with a different sitter as an only dog and that went fine. I suspect the problem with the dog walker was a much busier house and miss nosy wouldn't have wanted to settle in case she missed something and then she gets overtired and loses all control.

I'm one of the anti crowd. Sorry guys.

One of my boys sustained a nasty cut on his leg when a small dog on an extending lead ran around him and tangled him up.

We also have a vet in the family and she has a lot of horror stories about injuries to both dogs and owners from extending leads.

I'd love to see them banned.

I'll get my coat...

Oh, I don't use them either, @CoubousAndTourmalet , I just got really exasperated by the tone of the other posters and decided to stage an intervention. Then run away 😄

I know the feeling @Bupster I've been like that on the PAT dog thread, the lack of compassion shown there has been horrifying. I got very stressed over that one.

I wasn't going to open my big scouse gob on Brodie's thread though, so I stayed away.

I'm down in Dorset unfortunately but have just had a look as my DD is at Manchester uni, they want Otis to go somewhere that already has another dog and within 100 miles so no good but he is absolutely gorgeous

Does anyone else ever feel overwhelmed by having to interact with people and dogs all the time on a walk? I think that is the one aspect of having a puppy (or dog) that I find the hardest. I know she needs to be socialised still, but I hate it and right now it's making me stressed and miserable 😢

We ignore most people and dogs but do get the odd one who wants to talk. It doesn't happen very often though but I imagine Brie gets a lot of attention compared to a boring black spaniel that you see 100 of every week 😄 I've found it tends to be old men who talk to us - not sure why.

When I used to go out walking before I had Vinny, I would wear a pair of headphones but not actually have them turned on as I like to be aware of my surroundings especially on the canal as you get a lot of bikes etc. to stop people talking to me. I know a lot of people locally since we have a business on the high street and would always see a few who I know out and about. The headphones were a deterrent so I could just walk past briskly and give a little wave if I was feeling generous. Not sure if that's an option for you?

But I am autistic plus very resting bitch face which is a good combination to stop randomers wanting to talk to me...

Thanks @YorkshireFelix I'm autistic with resting bitch face too...well, more resting witch face in my case maybe... I've never worn headphones, I think I'd look silly in them, because I'm old and very witchy.

You could be right though, it's probably Brie, she seems to be like a magnet lately for people wanting to come and talk to her. I know I should think of it as a nice thing and she is friendly so it's good PR for big dogs but lately I'm finding it really hard. My chap deals with it better than I do, he seems to attract all the elderly ladies walking their tiny dogs. I just feel like I want to go and live somewhere very remote.

@CoubousAndTourmalet not the best suggestion but are there any times of day or areas you could walk which are generally quieter? It might help ease your anxiety a bit. I think it definitely must be because she's such a beauty!

Milo stays at my mum's from time to time - no lasting damage - he was born with a few screws loose anyhoo

@CoubousAndTourmalet I’ve been tempted to get one of these. I’m not sure if they do Brie size

Do they do human sized ones?! 😂

Now, there’s an idea!

I can make us some snazzy keep a wide berth, may bite
For us not our mutts 🤣🤣