Adolescent Dog Survival Thread - welcome to the teenage wasteland

[Bupster]

Buckled (under instruction 😄)

That is some rapid growth @Nella68!

Just got back from our 1-1 and it was fantastic. You are all right that you get so much more out of it, and I was able to ask more specific questions and we tailored some of it to what suits Vinny best.

There is a woman on the course who at the first session came without her dog as it had just come into season. The trainer said she spoke with that lady last night at the session I missed, and she said she found it so interesting seeing the difference between Vinny and the labs/retriever as it turns out her dog is also a spaniel and she has similar issues to us. It made me feel SO much better about how much of a shit he was, as he was just being a normal pain in the arse spaniel really. She also said one of the labs there was 4, and the other two labs and Goldie were about 18 months so a bit older than Vinny and she knows the other labs had already done a bit of gundog training elsewhere. So I feel much better about the whole thing.

Anyway he aced everything today and I got some great advice and things to keep working on. I happened to mention about how much of a thief he is and how he is very reluctant to give anything up, and she said we should work on retrieving in a backwards way. I think she called it ‘backchaining,’ so you’re teaching them the end goal first, which is to give up the retrieve rather than teaching them to go out and fetch it first. She had this fab dummy made locally by the lady who owns Field and Fireside, where it has a little Velcro pouch at one end to put treats in. So we showed Vinny putting the treats in and then rewarded him every time he put his mouth on there. The aim is to build up to him eventually holding it in his mouth, and making the dummy a really rewarding thing for him to hold and give back to me. So I am just about to order one right now.

We met at a place really close to me which I didn’t even know existed so I’ve unlocked a new walk we can do too!

That’s brilliant news @YorkshireFelix Im so pleased for you both! Sounds like the class was perfect!

@YorkshireFelix that’s a great update. 1-1s are more expensive but for us they have been so beneficial as we can work on the problem areas.

I’ve been tempted to try with the dummies that can hold treats. I will need to try the back chaining method as there’s not a cat’s chance in hell he would give it back! I do really need to work on it as he has given a couple of growls at agility when I’m trying to get him to give me the tug toy back. I don’t want that to escalate. He’s so fickle with the things he finds high value. He’ll often ignore the tuggies and won’t engage, and other times he won’t give them back.

I felt really miffed on my morning walk. I had M on the longline and had just called him back to put him into a sit so I could swap leads. I was asked by a lady with a frenchie and daschund (both going apeshit at M- he ignored them) why was he on a longline and had I ever done any training with him. I really had to bite my tongue.

@YorkshireFelix That all sounds really positive. So glad you enjoyed it and that you now feel better about last week too. Hopefully next week's group session will be better too and you won't put so much pressure on yourself.
The trainer I go to changes £80 for a block of 4 group sessions or £90 for 4 1- to-1s. It's a no brainer for me.

@Nella68 The irony! I don't think I would have managed to be so restrained.
Do you mind me asking what breed is M? I think I have seen a photo, but I can't remember.

I've got that dummy - Bill picks it up by the treato end so he's carrying it like a pipe, and only brings it back because he's not worked out the velcro yet. Given he worked out how to unzip cool bags at three months old, it won't be long 😄

@SpanielsGalore he’s a mixed breed with more poodle than anything.

I have had a totally exasperating day today for human and work reasons, so it's fair to say that I was quite upset to pick pupsy up from 'nursery' this evening to be told that she was very scared and therefore barked a lot at the new Great Dane that's moved in next door to her nursery.

Absolutely awful and mortifying – though I wasn't there so obviously it's not my error per se. But now I've got that to worry about too: the best nursery in this area, by far, now potentially having an issue because someone has moved next door with an absolutely giant dog. And I do need nursery from time to time – she only goes if I actually really need her to because of work, not just for fun.

Nursery have sensibly suggested that we go out for a walk with pupsy and said Great Dane on neutral ground and get them to meet each other properly, when I'm there, which we are going to do. But I just feel really sad, for me and for her.

@brushingboots It sounds like the nursery have given really good advice. Have you had a chance to talk to the owners of the Great Dane to see if they're up for it? Or will you do that another time? I'm sure they'll be understanding tbh - they probably don't want to be next door to do nursery with dogs that are scared of theirs!

It's horrible when that happens though, and absolutely not a reflection on you as an owner (although it does often feel like that when you're dogs done something like this, or shown fear) and not a reflection on her as a dog either. All dogs have that one dog, or sometimes dogs, that they are a bit scared of. It just so happens that pupsys' has decided to live next to her nursery! I'm sorry about your rotten day though❤

If it makes you feel any better, Satan made twatdog pee himself in fright earlier and then one of the puppies did a two-sie on DD1! Rotten day all around for everyone!

@brushingboots I’m sorry you’ve had a bad day and I hope you can solve this for you both 😊
@LandSharksAnonymous and I’m sorry to hear about all the errant wees and poos 😂

Hope you both have a better one tomorrow!

@LandSharksAnonymous Thank you <3

Nursery also walk the Great Dane so they’re going to handle the meet up that way, which seems fair. They’re fantastic and have done exactly what I’d want them to do: she had a little time out during the day after the incident, so I know she’s in the best hands when I’m not there. I’m just upset that it happened at all.

I know it’s no reflection on me and it’s no reflection on her, it’s just sad to think of her being scared and it’s very sad to think of her not being the star pupil at nursery because she usually comes out with a glowing report. In fact this is the first time she’s ever not come out with 10/10 from nursery, in 18 months of going there. I don’t know what time of day it happened but it could have been that she was a bit overtired too – she can definitely be a bit ratty with other bitches when she’s tired. (Can’t we all etc.)

I have so much to do tonight that I need another 12 hours in the day but equally I am just wishing today away so it can become yesterday, if you know what I mean. Sigh.

Jesus that is quite something – how sobering!

@brushingboots Oh it is tough. I know it won't make it any better, but at least the only time she's not got a 10/10 is because she was a bit worried not because she's a bad dog! I strongly recommend chocolate strawberries or a good quality chocolate brownie/icecream to the stuff you do still have to do feel a bit easier (or just do a me and sack it off...if that's possible)!

I've got my summer holidays starting next week so have 6 weeks off, yay! I want to really focus on training the daft dog. Has anyone used absolute dog? I was wondering if itight be worth subscribing to.

In fairness, @brushingboots , the Great Dane must look like a woolly mammoth to Pupsy. When Bill met a Great Dane cross he had a bark at him too - one of his conflicted barking sessions, where he wants to approach but he's scared of doing so as well.

One of my friends has a Great Dane and I house-sat for her once. She was desperate to play with other dogs, God love her, but nearly all of them looked at her like 'what the bloody hell is that?' - apart from the dogs who were walked by the same dog walker in the village. So it sounds like your nursery are doing exactly the right thing; but it also sounds like Pupsy's response was completely normal, bless her.

@SpanielsGalore that is so cheap! I paid £155 for the 6 week course or it’s £45 per 1-1, although I think I’d get more out of just 3 sessions than the longer course. There’s a next level which I don’t think I’ll sign up to and just do more 1-1 sessions!

@brushingboots oh nooo poor puppy being scared. That is sad. Vinny would be the same but I would totally expect it from him because he’s scared of everything. It sounds like they are dealing with it correctly and it’s very handy that they walk the Great Dane anyway! Hopefully that will make a big difference. Maybe they will be besties after that 😄

@brushingboots -Sorry you and pupsy have had bad days. I hope pupsy is able to make friends with the Great Dane soon, or at least lose her fear of it.

@Hemskis The only thing I know about Absolute Dogs is that it is run by a woman who was outed as running a huge puppy farm business behind the scenes. I am sure there are more ethical trainers out there.

@Hemskis, I think PP is right. Fairly sure they have a terrible reputation. You’d be better off using someone like Will Atherton’s videos - things like his heel work videos are very good - or using someone local with a good reputation.

I’m hoping today goes better than yesterday. Although watching tiny Satan growl at twatdog until he peed was mildly amusing (he was on full ‘wank’ mode and wouldn’t listen to anyone - including Pen - and nearly trampled the puppies in his quest to be a massive bellend), I have a massive bruise on my leg from where he smashed into me and it’s already going purple so I know in a day or so it’s going to be awful enough I’ll struggle to walk. He reminds me every day why I don’t usually keep a puppy from a girl’s first litter. God I love him. So much. But god I hate the little twat.

Hello 😊

I know what I said the other day made no sense, Sorry.
I know prey drive is not linked to aggression in any way, but I was having a panic attack and trying to emphasise how gentle the giants can be.

I know I come across as loopy, but yesterday I did some thinking and I have posted a calm, measured response to one of the big dog hate comments. I'll probably still get a kicking for it though.

Tired from being in a migraine flare, 10 days in the last 14. I've hardly eaten for the past 6 days, but my darling girl is looking after me and giving me loads of cuddles. Brie, like Rosie, knows when I'm headachy. She licks the middle of my forehead when I have a migraine. R would nuzzle my left eye and sometimes alerted me before the symptoms even started. I have hemiplegic migraine which is classified as severe and disabling.

Anyway, sorry about the other day and I'll catch up x

Annual vaccinations yesterday for us. Managed to get them aligned as older one accompanies us to the vets as emotional support dog for the younger where possible.

It helps a bit having her big sister there, as she'll actually walk in, although still insists on sitting on my lap in the waiting room! Cheers up everyone there if nothing else, fortunately she's just a shade over 21kg so just about manageable.

It does go to show though that different dogs are well, different dogs. From young they've both had the same experience of the vets, taken once a month for weighing, flea treatment, worming. Yet, one loves the vets and one is terrified (and the one who loves it has had vomit injections twice and it still hasn't put her off)

WA uses a lot of aversive stuff like prong collars and is full of the Alpha/pack order rules. I regularly have a snipe at his vids. Maybe that's just me being Bolshie though...🤔

Sorry @brushingboots
If the Dane is anything like our giants it probably thinks of itself as Chihuahua size. It's likely terrified of Pupsy. Hopefully if they can meet a few times she'll calm down.

Glad 1-1 training was good @YorkshireFelix

@CoubousAndTourmalet Good morning. Nice to see you back. I don't think anyone thought you were linking prey drive to aggression. Us spaniel owners were just admiring your girl's restraint around baby birds. 😊
Sorry to hear you have been suffering with migraines. Glad you have Brie to look after you.

Thank you @SpanielsGalore 😊

Aww that is sweet re the forehead licking @CoubousAndTourmalet, I hope you’re feeling better soon and Nurse Brie keeps looking after you!

@brushingboots I hope you have a better day. How often does pupsy go to nursery? As in how frequently will the staff be able to work on her fear of the big dog. Will they be able to do something like ‘click the trigger’?

It’s worked with M- we’ve had very scary roofers, scaffolders and window installers over the last couple of months. M was terrified to start but he’ll give a grumble now and does settle down.