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Our Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (Adolescent Support Group)

912 replies

MonCoubousMonTourmalet · 14/08/2025 11:32

Okay folks, let's head into late summer/autumn.

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73
Bupster · 04/09/2025 21:02

Nella68 · 04/09/2025 12:51

Midge has not been castrated yet. The plan was to do it at 18 months, and this has now been extended to 2 years. But… I had an interesting conversation with a vet nurse friend (her dog is a month younger than M). She said she had been reading some recent research that said the risk of cruciate ligament rupture remains elevated until the dog is 3 years old (we didn’t discuss the size of dog and if that made a difference).
M is generally a confident dog, doesn’t hump, doesn’t seem to be bothered by other males etc, so I’m hoping this will be the same post castration. If he didn’t need to go to kennels/ home boarders, I probably wouldn’t see the need to get him done, but I need my holidays and it’s pretty challenging to find somewhere that will take intact males.

Interestingly, one of the bitches at agility was in season this week. She was wearing a nappy and M didn’t seem at all bothered

I'm planning to wait until at least two years with Bill, as I want to know what kind of an adult dog he is, and working line dogs can (apparently) take that bit longer to mature.

He's also confident (the nobhead), and doesn't really hump very much unless wildly over-excited, but is appalling with other entire males (hence the behaviourist). So there's quite a lot suggesting neutering might help him, but as well as wanting to see how the end of adolescence affects him, I didn't want to do it just in case there was an element of fear in his reactions to other males, as it can be terrible for a nervous dog - he might actually be worse with entire males once neutered.

The behaviourist agreed he's probably not fearful (I think he was raiding her desk looking for trouble at the time) but also that neutering may not help, so leaving it for a bit was probably the best move.

LandSharksAnonymous · 05/09/2025 07:27

Speaking of castration and humping…twatdog had ‘sex’ this morning.

He met one of his girlfriends and she wouldn’t leave him alone, kept trying to mount him and got all fruity - nipping him then backing away and barking. So the poor little dear did what he was told. Thankfully, she is spayed and he fell off after a few seconds, so it wasn’t even the real thing.

In a really weird way I am slightly proud of him, as I didn’t think he had it in him as he usually just lets them mount him and is typically very submissive.

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 07:38

Assuming that she wasn't wearing an elephant onesie, your baby boy is clearly growing up 😉
Is he ever going to be used at stud @LandSharksAnonymous ? I know you show him and you've said he's very good type and sound in hips, elbows etc...

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 08:20

Brie really surprised us on yesterday's walk on the moor - she barked! It was her first ever bark away from home/territory. She just gave one big deep woof - possibly in protest at the fact that we were heading back to the car.

Her undercoat is finally starting to come through and the badger/wolf grey is growing back in. We thought she might end up white with coloured ears and just very pale body patches, because most of the colour moulted out, but the body patches are coming back quite strong and dark.

LandSharksAnonymous · 05/09/2025 09:04

@Aubrielle I know! It did make me a bit proud...

Definitely not. His genetics are great, he is beautiful to look at and v. healthy, but Xanthos (his 'sire' was from that kennel, and Eris' sire is also from that kennel) have several studs out at the moment with very similar family trees to Twatdog (one of my first bitches was bred with a Xanthos dog and I gave them one of the puppies and they bred her to form part of that current line as 'payment') so I don't want to 'oversaturate' the market. Twatdog's COI is slightly higher than average as well, because his many-times grandma was used as part of the 'Xanthos' line - which is another reason not to stud him. Eris' COI is that bit lower, and under breed average, because it's another generation removed.

I'd make a fortune if I did stud him tbh (and as I always say, high 5 figures if I 'oodled' his sperm). But genetic diversity is important and I didn't breed him to be 'oodled.'

Oh bless Brie with her big-girl woof! Do you recon her coming into season might have had something to do with it or was it, as you say, just a protest woof? I always wonder how much shedding she does...do you groom her or let it just 'happen'? I know some people don't bother grooming their high shedding dogs and instead just pull out the tufty bits when they get big enough...

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 09:56

All credit to you @LandSharksAnonymous for not cashing in by using Twatdog to create Goldendoodles. Clearly that is fairly lucrative for many these days.
Brie's COI is below 1%, we would also expect hip and elbow scores to be low, but we won't breed her.

I think the woof was just excitement because some young cows had come to the gate to greet her and were mooing as we walked away. Maybe she was just saying "bye" to her new friends. She is a strange one because we encountered two barking Bolognese at the bottom of the hill and she ignored them. I don't think Brie identifies as a dog 😂

With the moult, we pull out the clumps. Most of it comes loose with plucking, we have a long toothed rake for any stubborn bits of undercoat, then we go over the top coat with a slicker. I imagine it's much the same as grooming a Golden just on a slightly larger scale. When they're in moult we groom every day, the rest of the time it's only a quick brush with the slicker once or twice a week. PMD are very clean so it's not as hard as people imagine. I'd find it more faffy to have to go to the groomers every few weeks. We never bath them, we might occasionally spot clean with warm water and a vegetable soap but that's about it.

LandSharksAnonymous · 05/09/2025 11:28

@Aubrielle it's insanely lucrative. £2.5K - £3.5K for a 'Golden-Doodle.' They charge more for them than in many cases than I do for my dogs! Some of the 'studs' are making £20K a year off their dogs (cost of a stud is often the price of a puppy) - it's why I am so careful about who I sell my dogs to as people are so sodding greedy!

To be fair, cows are probably about the right size playmate for Brie (and Twatdog)! And, of course, Brie is very majestic so she doesn't need to concern herself with the yapping of the peasants 😂I can imagine her just walking past, paying them no attention at all....

That sounds about the same as what I do with mine; pull out the clumps, rake the undercoat and then run around picking up and hoovering the fly away hairs 😁It's interesting they are so clean though...if you do ever fancy a swap I'd happily take a clean Brie over the dirty bunch I have. In winter I always find slugs in their fur

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 13:01

Oh it's crazy what people are paying for crossbreeds. @LandSharksAnonymous It makes no sense to me that were we to breed Brie, there would be more demand for a Pyriedoodle than for a purebred PMD. That would be my biggest concern if we had a purebred litter; as you've said, people can use them to cross even if you place endorsements. It is a worrying thought. I would not want to be responsible for someone creating a potentially dangerous crossbreed.

Brie really does need a playmate of her own size but we don't know of any PMD local to us and the only dog people we do know have little ones that she wouldn't be able to keep up with. We really could do with a pup.

They honestly are exceptionally clean. They do pick up sticky bobs and burrs in the coat of course but they hte being dirty and will daintily walk around mud or puddles. It sort of compensates for having a layer of white fuzz coating everything in the house 🙄 At least it's clean fuzz. They don't really have a strong odour except when they're in season or they get very wet but compared to little dogs they don't smell. The house stinks of cat, but nobody would notice a dog smell.

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 13:39

She's in disgrace. She took a linen cushion off one of the dining chairs and chewed two of the corners off. It's not as if I ever go out and leave her; I'd gone upstairs with a bundle of washing to put away. So, I'm ignoring her because that is the ultimate punishment for a Pyrie.

Not sure if the chewing of things (floor mat, sofa throw, now cushion) is linked to coming into season, or down to me offering her more "therapy" and play as per instructions of trainer/behaviourist. She never chewed things. I've always interacted with her a lot but it was all very calm and she was always good at just settling. Since I started to do more training type play, she seems to be more demanding. I do wonder if the constant need for stimulus and use of food treats is counter productive.

Might trust my instincts on this one.

LandSharksAnonymous · 05/09/2025 13:49

@Aubrielle I love that being ignored is the ultimate punishment. I'd be too weak to do that to mine - I'd cave in after about 2 seconds and give them tummy rubs.

Would you be tempted by a breed that wasn't a PMD? Just thinking about how big Twatdog is... but I do hope you manage to find a puppy ❤

I have to say one of my big issues with stimulus and food treats (kongs etc) is that it does seem to make dogs needier in terms of attention/engagement. I never used them on mine and they have never really required anything more than the occasional game and head scratch which given their nature is to be intelligent and annoying is pretty good!

YorkshireFelix · 05/09/2025 14:08

Must be the day for it @Aubrielle because Vinny barked outside the house for the first time ever today too! Randomly at a girl who was down in the nature reserve. He growled and then barked a few times. Very strange as he has never done that before. She was wearing a white hijab so maybe he was unsure because of that - although he’s seen many people wearing hijabs before!

My new jacket arrived and I love it! The quality is excellent and it’s the perfect length for me. Plenty of big pockets and good coverage for when it pees it down. I’m sure it will keep me very dry. I am going to keep the bigger size as it has more room for layers in the winter. I think I’ve got a good deal as it was half price.

We had a good walk down the river and back up through the woods and V was an angel the whole time for a change! 😇

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 14:49

Are you trying to tempt me into waiting for your next litter @LandSharksAnonymous ?😉Brie actually came from down your way, assuming that you're South East....? I do keep pondering what the options for a second dog would be, but everything I suggest to my partner gets a flat no, so I suspect it'll be a Pyrie or nothing!

As you know, I have never been one for Kongs, licki mats, scatter feeding. Never even knew about these things until I came here. They've all had a few robust toys for garden play as pups, but even that was random rather than habitual. I suppose I've instinctively reared them as if they are working LGD first and foremost, even though they're house pets. I've said before that her dam, older sister and litter brother are all working farm dogs.
The trainers say they need a job to do, but really, their job is guarding - irrespective of whether you have livestock - they just lie around waiting for something to happen. And they've always been content with that.

Interesting, stimulating walks are vital for us, they've always had those, but home was just chilling out, not running around chasing bits of food. Because they're not that sort of dog. So I'm kind of at odds with it.

It might not be connected, but my instincts are telling me it could be this new routine of more play and more training that's made her more unsettled and less willing to settle quietly on her own.

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 14:59

That is odd about the barking @YorkshireFelix , especially as Brie, Bill & Vinny are all pretty close in age - to within a couple of months I think...? Brie has been near cows before and not barked, so similar situation in that it is not something totally new to them. Very odd.

Glad that Vinny had his Good Boy head on for you today. We'll be getting out in a bit so we shall see whether Miss Breezy is angel or demon this aternoon.

I'm so pleased that you love your new jacket! It sounds like a great choice. You'll have to report back as to how it performs on its first torrential rain outing - and later still, when we get snow.

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 15:02

Oh by the way @LandSharksAnonymous , I'm tougher than you because the cold shoulder/silent treatment lasted a good 30 minutes before she got a piece of cheese and a kiss on the head.

YorkshireFelix · 05/09/2025 15:09

@Aubriellei am sure it will be forecast to be dry and gloriously sunny for the next few weeks now 😂

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 15:13

Yup. Sod's Law @YorkshireFelix . I could also be partly to blame because I've just got some new wellies.

SpanielsGalore · 05/09/2025 15:19

@YorkshireFelix My pair only bark out of the house if they are scared of something. Unless they are chasing a deer and then they shriek their heads off.
Which coat did you go for? I was looking at the longer length ones and wondering if I could get away without waterproof trousers if I wore one of those and wellies.

@Aubrielle I hope you have a good walk. I find the more you do, the more they want. My were conditioned to have a chew at 6 pm and would start hassling me for one. So now they only get them randomly.

@LandSharksAnonymous Way to go, Twatdog. 😂

YorkshireFelix · 05/09/2025 15:29

SpanielsGalore · 05/09/2025 15:19

@YorkshireFelix My pair only bark out of the house if they are scared of something. Unless they are chasing a deer and then they shriek their heads off.
Which coat did you go for? I was looking at the longer length ones and wondering if I could get away without waterproof trousers if I wore one of those and wellies.

@Aubrielle I hope you have a good walk. I find the more you do, the more they want. My were conditioned to have a chew at 6 pm and would start hassling me for one. So now they only get them randomly.

@LandSharksAnonymous Way to go, Twatdog. 😂

I went for this one - https://www.newforestclothing.co.uk/products/didriksons-lana-womens-parka-2?syclid=d7742f17-f580-4b8a-bc49-d0ab2735f794&utm_campaign=shipping-confirmation-email&utm_content=product&utm_medium=email&utm_source=OrderlyEmails

I am 5ft 3 and it comes to mid thigh on me. My old jacket I loved was quite a bit longer, but it did used to get absolutely filthy because of that. Although V doesn’t jump up at me much any more so maybe he was the problem rather than the length of the jacket 😄

Didriksons Lana Womens Parka 2

Lana parka has a sporty look with many functional details. Perfect for everyday use. It is fully windproof and waterproof with taped seams, and has a relaxed fit with a straight silhouette.

https://www.newforestclothing.co.uk/products/didriksons-lana-womens-parka-2?syclid=d7742f17-f580-4b8a-bc49-d0ab2735f794&utm_campaign=shipping-confirmation-email&utm_content=product&utm_medium=email&utm_source=OrderlyEmails

LandSharksAnonymous · 05/09/2025 16:25

@Aubrielle Gods no! I wouldn't want to torture you by giving you one of my Goldies - no one on this thread deserves that amount of suffering 😁

they just lie around waiting for something to happen. And they've always been content with that.
I love that description of PMDs. If you replace 'waiting for something to happen' with 'waiting for food' it sounds slightly like me...

30 minutes of ignoring though? I couldn't do that. You're definitely tougher than me. I'd crack within a few seconds.

@YorkshireFelix thanks for linking that jacket! I had a look at the other ones and wasn't sure...so will take a look at this one as well. I hate buying new coats as it's so hard to get the right one.

@SpanielsGalore I was genuinely so proud of him. He's spent all day sitting next to me looking pleased with himself. 😂When we went on our afternoon walk he was very alert and looking around - I think he was hoping she'd be back. So I'm going to keep an eye on him tomorrow, as proud as I was today I don't want him to start getting ideas...

brushingboots · 05/09/2025 17:56

The single time that pupsy has ever destroyed anything – save the first night she came home when she chewed a fabric doorstep that I stupidly left in the room with her overnight – was one of her toys the week before her season.

In other news – my book came out yesterday! I am now officially a published author and not just a hack or a person with a book that is ‘available to pre-order in all good bookshops!’ It is now actually available to BUY in all good bookshops!

Pupsy came to the launch party last night and was doted on by all of the 120 guests! She was very much the resident dog and the centre of attention. Had my best friend there to be on duty if she got a bit overwhelmed but she did most of the party with just a nap in the middle when there was suddenly a rush of guests. What a good dog she is.

YorkshireFelix · 05/09/2025 17:58

brushingboots · 05/09/2025 17:56

The single time that pupsy has ever destroyed anything – save the first night she came home when she chewed a fabric doorstep that I stupidly left in the room with her overnight – was one of her toys the week before her season.

In other news – my book came out yesterday! I am now officially a published author and not just a hack or a person with a book that is ‘available to pre-order in all good bookshops!’ It is now actually available to BUY in all good bookshops!

Pupsy came to the launch party last night and was doted on by all of the 120 guests! She was very much the resident dog and the centre of attention. Had my best friend there to be on duty if she got a bit overwhelmed but she did most of the party with just a nap in the middle when there was suddenly a rush of guests. What a good dog she is.

She is the ultimate angel baby! Im so glad your launch party went well 👏🏻

Aubrielle · 05/09/2025 18:29

Congratulations @brushingboots ! And well done to your darling girl for taking everything in her stride.

Thank you for the confirmation that there could be a hormonal aspect to this morning's cushion destruction. All cushions and mats will be temporarily relocated until her season finishes.

LandSharksAnonymous · 05/09/2025 18:39

Congrats @brushingboots and big congrats to pupsy for being such a god girl ❤

Nella68 · 05/09/2025 18:48

Congratulations @brushingboots that’s great news! And well done pupsy for taking it in her stride.

I think you’ve said that she’s used to train travel and the busyness of London, so that must have stood her in good stead for the launch.

SpanielsGalore · 06/09/2025 08:41

@YorkshireFelix That's good to know, thank you. I'm only just over 5 feet tall, so it should be knee length on me. 😁

@brushingboots Congratulations on your book launch. Glad it all went well and that pupsy was a star.