Our Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (Adolescent Support Group)

[MonCoubousMonTourmalet]

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

@Aubrielle that sounds like quite a large leap for the behaviourist to make about how Brie might change post-second season?! It's so hard not to worry about their behaviour when they are so young, isn't it? You see progress but you still worry they might take a step back.

No new elephants for Twatdog! He gets one a month and once it's gone, it's gone. He can entertain himself, by filling in the holes in my lawn which he has been encouraging Eris to dig! Little git.

I can't see it myself @LandSharksAnonymous , I don't think she'll change much. She's similar to Sylvie, who loved home and family but was fairly disinterested in people and dogs. S was also a slightly anxious, submissive pup but became a very calm adult.

Brie surprised me this morning by retrieving the ball three times in succession. Normally she'll bring it back once then either dance around the garden with it in her mouth or dump it by the bottom gate and expect me to retrieve it. They're not natural retrievers or carriers of things, but purple spiny ball is a favourite and she will ask for a play session by nudging the toy box.

Sounds as if Twatdog has a partner in crime now - you're going to have your work cut out once Miss Eris reaches adolescence. Double trouble 🙄

@Aubrielle I can just imagine her dancing around looking pleased with herself 😄Does she do it to try and get you to engage with her, or is it more a 'this is my ball, come get it if you want it' type way?

I'm hoping by the time she reaches 18 months or so, he'll have grown up as he'll be nearly four...but then his one braincell might mean his mental growth is even more stunted 😂They are awful though. He was laying in front of her this morning, hiding her from view whilst she dug the hole! I'm wondering how long it'll take before they do it in reverse and she lays in front whilst he digs...

@LandSharksAnonymous
With Brie, play is always trying to engage me, she'll dance around with ball or tug rope then stand and wait for me to try to take it. She's not possessive at all but likes interaction. She will ask for play; we do purple spiny ball in the mornings, tug ropes in the evenings, sometimes chasing games in between.
That is her reward thing, it's what she values, interaction of any sort. she teases if we're doing garden chores or pegging out the washing, she'll sneak up and grab sleeve or trouser leg to get our attention. But other times, yes, she'll just skip around happily with the big spiny ball or a rope.

I still don't know if she needs another dog or not - but seeing this about Twatdog & Eris makes me thinks it would be nice...

@Aubrielle Oh that's really lovely, to know that her 'reward' is just wanting you. I guess it must be quite rewarding for you as well, having a dog who just wants you as opposed to food etc. Harder to train, I guess, but all the more rewarding when it goes right!

It is so lovely having multiple dogs, as you know - but then you also have the risk of them not getting on. Twatdog just loves having a playmate around who has the same mental age as he does. I think the ages work well as well - he's nearly 3 and she's still only a baby. So he's got that young dog energy, but is also that bit older so does settle down nicely which encourages her.

Separately - morning made! Golden Girlie who bit the toddler has found a foster home. She'll be there by this weekend 🙂

@SpanielsGalore is it just me, or do you feel a bit like you're yelling into the void on the 'rehoming a breeding bitch' thread? My diplomacy skills went a bit splat in that thread 😁

I think we'll review things next spring when she turns two as to whether to actively look for a pup @LandSharksAnonymous In the meantime we'll work on confidence building. We both have a very strong bond with her so it all feels good at the moment.

That's really great news about a foster home being found for that young bitch, I hope all goes well for her.

@LandSharksAnonymous That's good news. I meant to ask you if you had found a foster home.
And yes. We all know she'll get the dog and probably pay a princely sum for it too. Feel the same way about the other thread too. Ask for advice. Pay the vet for the same advice. Ignore it all.
Didn't know you had diplomacy skills. 🤷‍♀️😂

Did either of you see the Vizsla thread yet? OMG. The mind boggles.

Edited to add: I am learning to walk away.

@SpanielsGalore @Aubrielle if I am honest, I imagine this might be a foster fail. Experienced owner of Goldies who currently doesn't have one.

I do often wish I could foster, but with so many dogs it's a bad idea...plus I would never let them go. I'd just hoard them all.

Quite re. the other threads! I will keep yelling into the void, in part because I am starting to really miss work and it's stopping me going completely mental, but it is very frustrating.

I've not seen the Vizsla thread yet...and cannot find it!? Once I'm done with this PMs training session I will go have a nosy (we're doing extended sit today - Eris managed 90 seconds yesterday before she decided it was time to chew her bum, so let's see if today is even better)

@LandSharksAnonymous
When you say 'foster fail' do you mean it could end up being her permanent home? That sounds hopeful.

Viszla think was in Talk, other subjects, not The Doghouse. Titled Brought a puppy today covered in fleas... (brought, not bought 🙄) Bonkers. I'm 🤐

@Aubrielle oh glad I missed that one - and cannot find it! I bet it was a nightmare.

And yes! Foster fail into that being her permanent home. 😊Of course it means we lose a potential fosterer for other dogs but ultimately if that's what the fosterer wants to do, and the club secretary agrees it's in the best interests of the dog, then it will happen

The poodle one was equally nuts and I'm still in the dark as to what Crufts Breeders actually are given that apparently nobody uses The Kennel Club any more...🤔 But I'm keeping quiet.

Goodness knows how we'll ever manage to locate another puppy when the time comes. I may well pack DH off to Argeles Gazost to find one.

We're suddenly making a lot of progress with our training/confidence building stuff. If I'm honest, it's surprised me.
Today was our first ever walk on the meadow without any lead biting antics! She was on an 8 foot lead so lots of sniffing and mooching. On the way back, she walked straight past three on lead dogs, one being the reactive Dachshund from opposite us. Then as we were waiting to cross the road, two vans passed by, one with a rattly trailer, I was ready for her to spook and back off and I was talking to her with my hand on the harness, but she just stood calmly waiting. She walked beautifully the whole time we were out.

It may be that normal service will be resumed tomorrow, and we'll have arsey lead biting and being spooked by stuff, but today was a triumph and I'm very proud of her.

Oh and she has a new nickname today - The Dire Wolf - because we realised she's now tall enough to rest her chin on the kitchen worktops 😨Now nothing will ever be safe! It's also given me a Grateful Dead earworm but I doubt anyone else on this thread is old enough to remember that one.

Happy anniversary, a lovely one at that @Aubrielle

@VanGoSunflowers sadly I'm not a breed expert at all- I have never had a puppy or looked into health scores, I have only ever had fully grown rescues, virtually all have had strong GSD traits but all mixed with something (even if that mix is GSD but poor quality examples)

It is traits that I look for when getting a new rescue dog- I can deal with most behaviours but I want the GSD traits of bonding with the family, because then I feel more confident training the rest. My current one I knew from the rescue video that I would suit the dog- in the video he is watching his main kennel person all the time, even when playing he checked back on her- that checking in is difficult in my experience to train I to a dog, I knew that if we bonded a lot of the work would be easier.

I don't think they are a good first breed as you need to be sure of yourself - I know there is a lot against the idea of 'pack leader' and for much I agree that it is rubbish, but equally a GSD needs a strong leader that is going to make decisions for them. That doesn't mean you have to be aggressive just that you have to be willing to manage all situations - for example I couldn't take a phone call whilst walking him, I really avoid narrow paths, I put him to heel if my view is obscured by a corner or hedge etc.

The biggest issue is people's perception - which leads back to why I'm always hyper aware on walks. Owing one certainly isn't relaxing!

@SpanielsGalore I thought you had given some really useful advice 🤷😆

@LandSharksAnonymous so glad to hear the Goldie has a home, for now at least.
I have often thought I should foster, I have what is needed to foster, but truth is selfishly I don't want to. I want the bond and to see the work pay off- maybe in the future, when I'm older and I can't make the longer term commitment, but even then I suspect I shall just start taking on old dogs. I do admire those that do foster though.

@Aubrielle it is so lovely when it all goes to plan- I've started writing the good things on a whiteboard at home, so I can be reminded of them when he is an absolute dick.

Today I have had issues with people because he is aloof @Aubrielle I know you understand this...

He just isn't interested in strangers, and it doesn't matter if they see him once a week for five minutes, to him they are strangers. I've had two people take offence this week, and one today keeping going on about him being grumpy and not liking her as if it was personal. He wouldn't get out of his bed when called, and I am not going to make him be petted if he isn't interested.

Thank you @IchLiebeDeutscheSchaferhunde 😊

With regard to what you say to Van Go, my breed is not a good first breed either. While I don't adhere to pack theory as such, the more stubborn and independent minded dogs do need an owner with the mental strength not to pussyfoot around. I think with a first dog you lack the confidence to get the balance of firm but gentle handling that strong willed breeds need.

There are so many misunderstandings around aloof dogs, people think they're stressed or frightened when they really just can't be bothered. It's completely ridiculous that people get huffy as you describe here, just because your dog isn't fawning all over them. Folk think all dogs should be friendly because they're pack animals, but don't seem to understand that it only applies to their own pack and they have no interest in anyone outside that family group.

Something else I've seen you mention is meeting other dogs. It crops up on threads here time and time again, how cruel it is to not allow your dog to have friends or run off the lead to play with other dogs. Not all of them want or need that, but it really seems to irritate some people if you prefer that your dog doesn't interact. They think it's not natural, but for some breeds or individual dogs it is.

Brie refuses to acknowledge any dog that barks or grumbles. She just will not engage or even look their way. She will sometimes approach very quiet dogs. I should make a separate post about the non barking issue because it's really quite odd.

@IchLiebeDeutscheSchaferhunde Thank you! I know what you mean about fostering and I don't think it's selfish to want to keep that bond to yourself and watch it develop. It really takes a particular type of person to foster.

I can't believe people called your do grumpy because it didn't want to say hi. Honestly, it's impossible to win! If your dog says hi then it's out of control and if it doesn't say hi, it's 'grumpy.'

@Aubrielle how is Brie doing today? Did she manage another non-lead biting walk?

I'm inches away from re-homing his Royal Twatness. I love him, I do. But he's being particularly difficult ATM which give his age is a bit unexpected. To be honest, I wonder if he's a bit jealous of Eris - it was his first 'litter' so he may have thought when they started going that she would as well...but she's still here. Whenever I train her, he tries to insert himself and whenever I block him away (i.e. inside whilst i'm outside with her) he barks and cries. So, tomorrow is going to be a 'mummy and twatdog' day once the dogs are walked in the morning. Hopefully that'll perk him up. Although it might finish me off.

Nope. Back to lead biting with a vengeance today @LandSharksAnonymous and so very pleased with herself afterwards, giving wicked side eye and visibly laughing at me. She is a funny one, just so cheeky ❤

Awww, poor Twatdog. It does sound as if he's struggling just a little with not being your baby any more. I'm sure he'll be a happy bunny tomorrow though.

I'm enjoying your current ethical breeding "debate" and am trying to bite my tongue 😬

@Aubrielle Oh Brie really is such a character. I bet she was thinking 'haha I tricked you!' It's the problem with adolescents really, isn't it? You just don't know what you're getting day to day - which is part of the fun but also so frustrating.

He's managed to wrangle his way onto the love-seat with me, and he's curled up into the smallest ball looking so content. It's the most relaxed he'd been in a week or so if I am honest, so yes I think he probably is struggling with not being the baby!

Oh don't bite your tongue! I'm having great fun😃Although I think I scared everyone else off the thread...but this is all helping me rebuild my arguing skills ahead of my return to work!

She is very eccentric @LandSharksAnonymous , she has the funniest habits. Almost totally silent, which is very odd for a LGD, she'll sit and listen to things very intently as if she's having an inner dialogue. She has a deep bark but only uses it to converse with us, never in response to dogs or external noise. She really is the oddest creature, but she suits our life so well.

I'm glad he is getting his cuddle time with you. Poor lad. Boys are so babyish compared to the busy, independent girls. Same with cats. Boy cats are just needy; mine used to go to the loo with me, one would even get in the shower with me. I miss my boys. Hope I'll have more male cats at some point, even if I don't get my boy dog...

I'll have to have another look in at that thread. I also need to check a book thread I started earlier on today.

@Aubrielle I can only imagine how loud her bark is 😁

Boy's are definitely far needer from what I am seeing with Twatdog! Why not a boy cat and a boy dog? Aim high!

Thankfully, nowhere near as loud as Algy @LandSharksAnonymous . His bark was a wall of noise. Unbelievably loud! With Brie it's more talking and funny noises Awa Awa Awa or Awoo usually.

We got 4 boy kittens when we had Finn, then subsequently they were adult cats with puppy Algy. I absolutely loved having a houseful of boys, because the cuddle factor was just off the scale.

Today he was going his best fallow deer impersonation, the whole walk had a autumnal feel despite the fact is was still warm.

We have had no issues with prey drive which is unusual, We've met sheep, and rabbits and cats all fine.
Today he discovered squirrels.

What is it about tree rats (I do like them really) that drive dogs demented? He managed to split his eyebrow running into a tree after one.

Was *doing ! Sorry too late to edit.

Beautiful photo @IchLiebeDeutscheSchaferhunde
He really does look oddly like a deer here... but how wonderful for him to have this space. I hope his eye is okay.
I agree it feels quite autumnal already.

No such issues with squirrels for us, but helped, I suspect by our pups having grown up with bushy-tailed long-haired grey (well, blue) cats - they probably imagine that if they dared react to a squirrel the result would likely be a smack in the eye.