Beyond Adolescence - part 2

[SpanielsGalore]

No point banning coffee, as it didn't work last time. 🙄
Haven't had any cake updates from a while. @VanGoSunflowers Have you stopped baking already? You still had 8 cakes to go to make it economical.

Hi @cashmerecardigans , glad your boy is doing well. He looks lovely.
I found a double ended training lead hooked onto both collar and harness helped enormously with the loose lead walking, and I seem to recall @Nella68 saying similar. It gives a lot more control.
You may have already tried that or your trainer might recommend differently, but I just thought it worth mentioning, because for me that was the turning point with the lead walking. She was around 12-15 months at that point.

I didn't like to ask about your DD and the school situation @YorkshireFelix , because I know it's hard. Also your work situation sounds stressful at the moment. I hope 2026 will be a much better year for all of you ❤
Amazingly, it's not raining here yet today, probably because Brie's waterproof coat is out for delivery.

@cashmerecardigans Lovely to hear your update. Glad everything is going well. They do say it takes three months for their true personality to emerge. What a beautiful little face. 💖

He's around K's age. She too has selective deafness on occasion. Sometimes I know I stand no chance, so don't even bother trying. IMO there's no point setting her up to fail. I find calling 'this way' and changing direction is often more effective.

Can't help with the lead pulling. I've never mastered it. To be honest, they're only on lead for 5 minutes max per day, so it's never been worth putting in the effort.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet If I put before and after pictures up of my kitchen, people might appreciate it more. 😂 It used to have brown windows, brown woodwork, brown wood clad ceiling and brown cupboards. The cupboard doors had key style handles that were forever catching on clothing.

My living room fireplace was 70s brick and the log burner was stuck out in the middle of the room. That's a slight exaggeration, but it wasn't set back in the fireplace. A massive York stone fireplace sounds nice to me. My friend has a massive inglenook fireplace, which I love.

Not sure I can get on board with a carpeted bathroom though. That's a step too far even for me. 😂 Although you never know. I might be converted after my kitchen is carpeted. I'm going to have to tape the door mat down though, as it keeps sliding across the room. 🙄

Love an emoji, me. DS2 and I often have whole conversations only using GIFs. 😂

Feels like a spring day here. Only needed a fleece and tshirt to walk in.

Had success in the park today. Normally, his recall fails completely in this particular field, or at least it does when it’s time to go home. Walked down the slippery, muddy slope to the gate, and he was there right beside me! No trying to sneak off for more fun. A win for me.

However, he did blot his copybook early when he tried to chase a cat and then a squirrel. We can usually walk straight pass cars and he doesn’t even notice them, but thus arched his/her back, and that can be a trigger. The kamikaze squirrel ran across the path, so Dog thought it was something to chase. Normally ignores them.

Your houses sound lovely and cosy. I used to love going to a friends house as a child as she had carpeted bathrooms. Thought it was very swish.

Now must go and clean my house instead of procrastinating on mn.

@cashmerecardigans Gorgeous dog. I love the defiant look he’s giving you ‘I’m in this muddy puddle whether you like it or not!’

@cashmerecardigans what a handsome fellow! He's at that age where they do test boundaries, so hopefully it'll just be a phase and he'll 'get over it' (for lack of a better phrase)! I'm so glad my advice was helpful - spaniels are different to Goldies, but re-homing always tends to follow the same issues.

On lead walking, it's so easy if they are treat motivated...but otherwise I would have no idea what to suggest! If they are treat motivated then I just do the crouch walk with them with treats in front of their nose until they learn. But that's with puppies, who are far more biddable and food obsessed.

@SpanielsGalore I read the bit about roughing Justin up as I was taking a sip of coffee. Now my laptop is covered in coffee - what a waste!

@YorkshireFelix I will keep my fingers crossed that the meeting in Jan goes well. From what you said before it sounds like the school are trying though, so hopefully it'll be good news and you'll be able to figure something out.

Really hope she's better by Monday, at the latest - it's rotten being sick on your birthday. Does she mind having a birthday so close to Christmas? Mine is really close to Christmas as well and when I was younger I used to hate it as all my presents came at once 😂 Now I'm really grateful as I have an entire year to pull together a list of what I want.

Really glad you're also feeling a bit better. It's so hard sometimes when there's just so much to weigh you down❤

Yep! It's the whole rabble - all my dogs, DH & DDs, PIL, my parents, Satan, DSis and BIL their children and their Goldie! The only ones not coming are BIL parents. It'll be six Goldies, Satan, four children and eight adults to feed on Christmas day. I can't wait...but I'm sure I'll be here on Boxing Day whining and saying how annoying my entire family is 😁

Love myself an emoji and a gif. I think the one I've attached is an accurate representation of what I will look like on Christmas Day trying to cook for everyone

@CoubousAndTourmaIet thanks so much for the tip. I’ll definitely try that, at the moment what I am trying isn’t working terribly well. It’s not a huge thing as he’s off lead a lot but when it was icy last week I did worry that he might pull me over. He also weaves across the pavement in front of me, very spaniel, but makes life more difficult.
@SpanielsGalore good to hear I’m not alone with the deafness. It only happens when he suddenly gets a whiff of something very interesting. He’s not gone too far, just in and out of bushes, but there’s no doubt I’m not entirely in control at that point. I’m doing a lot of games with him, lots of finding, so working on the theory the more interesting I am the better.
He’s improved massively on going up to other dogs, thank goodness. He’s friendly but less proactive

It's terrifying when you think you're going to be pulled over or tripped up, I know. @cashmerecardigans Mine's a giant and she hasn't pulled me over yet, I'm glad to say. Have faith in yourself. A double ended lead seems to give a lot more control with regard to the weaving/veering off behind to sniff something. It's all trial and error though. You'll get there.

My god @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , that's a lot of Christmas dinners if you include feeding the dogs as well 😮 You'll need to run that kitchen with military precision! But it sounds as if it'll be a magical time for you.
Happy Birthday to you for whenever the big day is or was 🍰

Happy Birthday and Get Well Soon to your lovely S @YorkshireFelix 🎂

@CoubousAndTourmaIet It will be run with military precision! No one is going to be allowed in the kitchen but me and the dogs. All the humans can be elsewhere. Possibly not even on the property. They can wait in the road until it's ready...perhaps even wait in a different village 😂To be fair, I really love cooking and I'm not a bad cook. I just don't like people watching me or being near me when I cook!

It's arrived @SpanielsGalore , it's nicely made and a good design. She didn't seem to object to having it on, so it'll be a good investment. It looks greyish brown on the photo but it's really a proper fusty green Barbour jacket colour, which is lovely.
Thank you for posting a link to the shop, I don't think I would have found it without your help 😊

Think I need to find some sort of enormous snood for her ridiculous mane now 🙄

Very smart. Beautiful dog.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks One of the best things about cooking a roast is that glass of wine (or two) you sip whilst preparing it. I don’t do it with any other meals, just a roast, although adult dc usually cooks Christmas dinner

@cashmerecardigans the weaving drives me insane. Every so often we will have a rubbish walk where he’s got his nose down the whole time and i spend the whole walk trying not to trip over him! I’d recommend the ladder lead from Bully Billows as it has loops all the way down so you can hold the lead as long or as short as you need. Really handy for grabbing quickly if you need to. I feel like I have much more control with that.

Our trainer told me that a lot of dogs struggle with loose lead walking as it’s such a grey area. Heel walking is ‘easier’ to teach as the expectations are very clear - stay in this one spot. Whereas loose lead is a bit more ‘well I want you to walk kind of in this area and be able to sniff but don’t go too far away’ so it’s harder for them to grasp, if that makes sense!

I do also use a slip lead but only when we’re training and I’m asking him to walk to heel for a very short period of time, which he is pretty good at now. But I have been trying to teach that since we got him as a pup so it’s been a looooong process. I also think a bit of maturity helps. I’ve noticed an improvement recently and I think it’s simply because V is getting older.

Oh she looks fab!!! 😍

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Brie looks glorious in her coat! It also shows just how sleek she is in terms of weight - not a chunky girl at all! 😍She really does have the most expressive, beautiful, face.

@Silverbirchleaf Oh yes, the glass of wine is very important!! As is the 'testing' of various foods as you cook. I have been known to scoff more than my fair share of pigs in blankets whilst plating up - naturally that has never been admitted to the family. Last Christmas it was the dogs fault that everyone only had two pigs each instead of three each😳

Plus the added benefit is that I cook and everyone else cleans up! I hate cleaning and washing up when you've had a huge meal is not my idea of a good time...but I absolutely refuse to have it left on the side as I hate mess.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet thank you - sorry missed your message there with the get well and birthday wishes! She is a lot better today and probably could have gone into school but they weren’t doing the normal timetable since it’s the last day and that was stressing her out so I just kept her home. We’re looking forward to a break 😃

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I kept reading Satan as Santa, which is very apt 🤣 It sounds chaotic but great at the same time. We’re going to my DM’s on Boxing Day and it will be a similar set up but squeezed into a tiny council house… Hopefully V will be on his best behaviour, and hopefully dsis will leave her two mad Jack Russell’s at home for a few hours.

Yes she’s not a fan of having it so close to Christmas, and neither am I really. She was due on 8th Jan so we weren’t expecting a pre-Christmas baby at all! It would have been nice to have a summer baby and spread out the cost and onslaught of ‘stuff’ a bit 😄

Thanks @Silverbirchleaf @TheHungryHungryLandsharks @YorkshireFelix 😊

She's a big girl @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , tall and leggy like her sire. The profuse undercoat can make them look more chunky than they really are, so I'm relieved that you think she looks in good shape.

Aww my DM just messaged to say they are having their beloved greyhound PTS this evening. My dad will be absolutely devastated as they are obsessed with each other. She had been ill with a gastro issue recently, but thankfully recovered ok before parents went away on a cruise. She has been staying with DM’s friend who looks after her a lot whilst they were on holiday, and a massive growth appeared on her leg which then started bleeding. Vets did a biopsy and she has cancer, which I think can be quite common in greyhounds. Thankfully my parents were able to get home from hols a couple of days ago, and said she seemed well otherwise. But DM said the growth now won’t stop bleeding and she’s found another wound on her leg today so they think it’s time. So sad 😢

Hi @YorkshireFelix - lovely to hear your updates about Vinny and hope your DS feels better soon!

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I have read a bit more of Quicksilver now and it’s very, er, graphic in places! It’s a great book though, not too much spice and it’s well written but probably for an older reader I would say!

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Brie looks amazing in her coat! And right on cue, we have had no rain today so thank you for that 😀

@SpanielsGalore did you manage to figure out what supplements you could cut down on? Hope yours are all doing well and I for one would love to see the kitchen pictures!

@cashmerecardigans I struggled with the lead walking for a while. Attaching his lead to the front of the hardness made a huge difference though and weirdly, since I started doing reps of ‘recall, heel, release’ when he is offlead, he had started walking better on lead! But as Landsharks says, I have a very biddable and food orientated breed so he’s quite easy to train thank god! (Especially with me being a first time owner)

Just bumped in to another Lab owner on the field so we decided to let them both off around each other. I asked if I could try and do a little training with P while around the distraction and be happily obliged and P surprised me and listened to about half of what I asked him to do! Way bigger success rate than I thought!

I always say that my kitchen looks like a dental surgery because it is super modern, all white granite and light blue cupboards (and the guy that we built the house from was a dentist). It’s an extension and looks totally at odds with the rest of the rest of the (old, crumbling) house – and the opposite of what people expect my kitchen to look like. V much hoping to rip it out in lieu of a nice, free-standing wooden kitchen at some point but I also want to extend it (again) at the same time so it’s done once and properly.

Have had bright sun here all day so I’ve done two loads of washing! Pupsy more or less walked herself this morning in the bog which was helpful. Not excited about the upcoming dark evening walk. The dark is killing me. Don’t mind the cold (though it’s still quite mild) but the dark can get in the bin.

It’s my birthday on Tuesday so I feel S’s pain @YorkshireFelix and also yours @TheHungryHungryLandsharks.

And so sorry @YorkshireFelix about your mum’s greyhound! Who will V stare solidly at while being consistently and professionally ignored now?! Bless them all.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet What a nice coat! She looks almost medium-sized there somehow!

@YorkshireFelix I was due in November and was born in mid-December, so almost the same as your DD but just the wrong way around! It is so hard with the onslaught of gifts as you say, but also when trying to organise things such as gatherings or having friends over as everyone is always so busy around Christmas. I do hope she has a lovely day!

Ohhhh I'm ridiculously excited by the fact V is going with you for Christmas celebrations on Boxing Day! Will he get his own gifts etc?

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Definitely doesn't look fat to me! I think Brie and PMDs more broadly probably suffer with a similar affliction to Goldies - the amount of fur they have can sometimes make them look a bit chunky when they're not.

Speaking of chunky, I keep catching his royal Twattyness lurking near his bag of food in the kitchen looking sad. Every time I walk past he glances up and stares at me and then goes back to watching the foodbag! I don't bother to close it and just leave it on the floor in the utility room as I know he won't ever steal food from it, and neither will any of the others - it's actually the thing I am proudest of (that they can have their food left on the floor, bag open to the air, and not touch it).

@VanGoSunflowers I may try that, he is way better off the lead than on it. Often stays close as he knows I have treats and THE BALL, so he hovers nicely.
@YorkshireFelix thanks for the lead recommendation. That sounds handy, I have a ruff and tumble standard lead so one that enables grabbing would be good. I do have the slip lead that he came with, but I can’t bring myself to try that.
@CoubousAndTourmaIet what a gorgeous girl! She is stunning and looks very smart in her coat.

That's very sad about your parents greyhound @YorkshireFelix , I'm so sorry. How awful to lose your beloved dog so close to Christmas. I really feel for them.

Thanks @VanGoSunflowers . That's amazing about P still listening to you with an off lead dog in the vicinity. Sounds like a useful training exercise for him.

@brushingboots It's funny you should say that, because when I posted the photo I thought she looked Labrador size. It's very difficult to show how enormous she actually is. Happy Birthday for Tuesday.

That's pretty impressive about the food bags @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , given that you have a food orientated breed. It just goes to show that good manners can be taught if you start them off the right way.

Thank you @cashmerecardigans , she's a very sweet girl. We didn't have a coat for any of our previous dogs, but it's been such a soggy few weeks here (East Lancashire), that she's been persistently damp and is clearly not too happy about it.

Oh no @YorkshireFelix your message missed mine as I was typing for so long and didn'tc heck for updates (as evidenced by the fact I also didn't see @VanGoSunflowers). I'm so sorry❤

@VanGoSunflowers perhaps not one for DD1 then...no matter how much she tells me that Matt Smith is 'sexy', I am not going to be inadvertently encouraging her! So pleased to hear that Pablo was such a good boy. Isn't it so lovely when it comes together and you know all that effort is paying off?

Happy birthday for Tuesday @brushingboots! I hope Pupsy gets you something special and stays clean on her walk that day😀

@CoubousAndTourmaIet the food aggression/resource guarding issue is the one thing I couldn't cope with, in part because of having so many dogs, so it's always the first thing I try to ensure won't be an issue.

Poor Twatdog gobbled his food down tonight and he stayed at his bowl after looking sadly at it. So he got another mug of biscuits, as did the others, and he looks a bit happier now. I'm so weak. Now it's chilli for dinner on the sofa like the heathen I secretly am.

You know my thoughts on resource guarding @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , I couldn't tolerate it. It's why I feel I would never be able to take on a rescue. I need to feel that my cats are safe, so it's one of the first things I work on when we get a pup. We used to feed our PMD trio side by side and Brie will now eat alongside Freija. I've been very lucky.

Can you believe someone has suggested an Irish Wolfhound on one of those two family dog threads? I mean FFS. They are Gentle Giants, like PMD are, but really, it's a lot of work trying to control a giant as an older pup/young adolescent so I think it's a daft suggestion as a first family dog.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I absolutely can believe people have suggested that as the idiocy of people knows no bounds. There was a thread ages ago where someone suggested a Border Collie as a first time dog. They'll be suggesting a Mali next...

I hear you on resource guarding! When Satan struggled when DMum first got her, it was nearly the thing that broke DMum and almost got Satan returned - all the other issues were managable, but resource guarding can escalate so quickly if you don't know what you're doing (and so few do...)

Alas, poor Olaf 😄