Beyond Adolescence and General Chit Chat - part 3

[SpanielsGalore]

Not tagging anyone. I'm sure you'll all find your way here if you want to join in. 😁

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Yes his behaviour has improved tenfold! I think maturing a bit goes a long way. We are having to start, not completely from scratch, but go back to basics with his training since he’s been out of action for so long. I’ve just bought a 15m biothane longline in preparation and tomorrow will be day 1. I’ve just booked a 1-1 with our trainer for next month too.

There’s a lady I follow on socials who has two WCS and the older one was her first ever dog and she didn’t really know what she was doing with him (her words not mine!). She started properly training him when he was 2 and a half, and now takes him beating and has just done a field trial with him. So it gives me hope that I can turn things around and I haven’t ruined him forever 🤣 I am particularly mean about him though, he’s not actually that bad.

I took him out with a friend earlier who has a 5yo cocker and he absolutely loved it. I was worried as he’s always been so nervous around other dogs but he’s not had much interaction with any for the past few months. I’m hoping this is a positive change for him and we can build his confidence a bit. It was so nice to see him playing and being curious and having a big run about with another dog instead of constantly trying to jump up at me howling because he’s scared. Almost makes me want to get a second one…

Are you feeling any better?

@YorkshireFelix Oh that's great news ❤It is so lovely when they begin to settle down and grow up a bit. Let us know how Day 1 does and fingers crossed he doesn't run rings around you and get you tangled up in the lead 😀

Tbh Vinny sounds like a bit of a dream, so I don't think you've ruined him at all! But I get it - I always felt that way about Twatdog when he was younger and it was part of the reason I ended up working him as I felt I wasn't quite giving him what he needed. Now whenever I try and take him out, he just lights up.

Perhaps a bit of a break in seeing other dogs was good for him? He forgot what he was scared of, if you see what I mean! Plus an older, slightly calmer, dog is always doing to be a hit isn't it? The younger ones are so horribly boisterous, even when they're not trying to be, it can be intimidating and Vinny is very small which may be part of his worry? Ohh imagine two Vinny's😍

Feeling a bit better thank you! Mostly just tired. I'm off today (pre-planned) to go and see an owner who is considering re-homing her girl but thankfully we're meeting out in public first so probably less chance I infect her! If I manage to do a second walk with her and her dog, I'll know I'm almost back to normal as I've not managed two walks since last week😩

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks he seems to like other spaniels which I find weird, because how does he know?! He must just get a vibe from them 😂

I definitely wouldn’t get a second maybe until next year when we close the restaurant then DH will be able to help out. I shudder at the thought of trying to toilet train again, and V was such a big chewer which was a nightmare. But there was a time where I said I would never ever have a puppy again, so he must have improved a lot since then to make me reconsider!!

I hope your visit goes well. It must be a really difficult job to have to meet with owners who have to rehome. I assume a lot of the time they don’t really want to but haven’t got much of a choice for various reasons. It must be sad.

Well training was a disaster!! We went down to the playing field where we used to go (and where he ran off a couple of weeks ago) and I just couldn’t get him to engage with me at all. I tried every trick I know. I think because he’s been on boring lead walks for so long it’s just too much for him. But I can’t think of an ‘in between’ place which is more exciting than pavements but not as exciting as the field. We used the longline but it just confirmed how much I bloody hate them. He kept getting his legs tangled (and I am conscious of him pulling his back leg accidentally) and now my hands hurt from trying to grab and being yanked around. He did walk to heel lovely on the way home though 🥴

@YorkshireFelix I think @CoubousAndTourmaIet and I have said before that we've found our dogs love Spaniels. Cocker Spaniels in particular. I think they must just give off happy energy to everyone?

You could always rescue if you want to avoid the puppy stage. I always forget how awful house training is by the time I'm having a new litter 😂And then I swear 'never again' and three years or so later I am back to it again. Tbh once they get to adulthood it is all worth it - just count yourself lucky that in cockers that appears to be a lot younger than retrievers 😀Twatdog definitely only grew up once he turned 3. It was like on his 3rd birthday he said 'i'm a good dog now.'

In fairness to V, if he's had a couple of months or not running he was probably over the moon excited! He might settle after a few more tries? Is there a dog walking field near you that you could try? Going there once a week might calm him a bit? Sniffs would be the same (sort of) each time etc? And tbf if he did a nice walk to heel home it was probably excitement like you say rather than just being a naughty turd 😳

Speaking to people about re-homing their dog is awful. If they're not really sad cases, they're ones that make your blood boil (people who got a dog and didn't realise the commitment). Today was a sad one as it was one of those situations where it's a change in circumstances and it's not fair on the dog. In many ways I'd rather the blood boil cases (which tbf I try to avoid as my temperament is not suited to it) because the sad ones always make me feel so sorry for the dog and owner. It takes a lot of strength to admit your dog deserves/needs more.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I haven't got the right temperament for rescue. I absolutely lost my shit in the group WhatsApp chat the other day. 🙈 It's the lying that annoys me. I don't care what your reason for rehoming is - just be fucking honest about it.

@YorkshireFelix Sounds like you've had a couple of roller coaster days with V. It's really good news that the physio thinks his knee can be managed by alternating treatments. Sorry he wasn't up for training today. I think it must be an exciting time of year, as mine are all running wild. 🙈 😂

Took the cockers out for a walk this morning. K ran like the wind and didn't stop to say hello to the dog who wanted to great her. They both recalled to the whistle though, so it's fine. Then just as we were nearly back to the car, K legged it up the beach to have a snack on a nice juicy sheep bone. I had to go and fetch her and drag her away. Again!

N went to Aberdeen for her ketamine injection and acupuncture treatment. Ashamed to say she'd put some weight on, so she's back on a diet. It's only 400gms, so it will soon come off. Probably down to her eating the cockers food with higher protein and fat levels, and not having been walked for a week because of the snow and ice.

Went to Pets at Home on the way back to get N some senior food. (DPD are still saying it's delayed.) Might have bought something else too.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks That’s so true about labs turning three and then settling down.

@SpanielsGalore He looks very happy there. It’s so easy to spend money in pet stores…. .

For the first time for ages, did some car training. Thought I’d keep it simple and just reward him for poking his head in the car, or front feet on the seat. However, he actually jumped in a few times , although then jumped straight out. His breathing was definitely a bit stressed at times but it went better than I expected.

@SpanielsGalore not sure I do either, but I'll help when I have to or it's a sad case! I absolutely refuse to do the 'my dog bit my child' ones as I'd probably end up being thumped 😂Tbh I've ended up doing more and more over the last few months and I really need to back away a bit, but when it's a charity it's hard to get people willing to help - lots of people would only do it for money, and they're not really the sort of people you want doing it!

Oh bless K! Although rather rude of her to ignore her friend. Very poor manners. To be fair to N, she's clearly quite a healthy girl and not too piggy if it's only 400g in a week and as you say she'll lose once she's back on her regular food and exercise.

What else did you buy? Was it another dog bed? 🤔

@Silverbirchleaf It really is! I can remember someone saying to me once they really wanted a lab retriever but the idea of having to wait until it was 2 for it to be an adult was too much. I had to stop making laugh! If only it was 2 and they were calm.

Sorry you and your boy are still having issues with the car 🙁But it's good that he's able to get in himself as it shows he wants to try and his fear isn't so great it's just a flat out no. I suppose the next thing is working on getting him to stay there for a few moments?

Twatdog's latest sex elephant turned up yesterday, and he's already ripped a hole in it. I've spent most of this morning watching DH run around after him gathering up bits of fluff 😂I'm still too ill to clean - terrible really.

Toys with stuffing are banned from our house apart from Christmas and birthdays! Also squeakers.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks It's been 7 weeks since N was last weighed, so it might have crept on over time. She'd been maintaining 17.2kg for ages and is now 17.6kg. Still miles better than the 19.4kg she was when she arrived.

The other dog wasn't a friend. We'd never met them before. So to K, chasing a pheasant scent was far more important than stopping to say hello. Someone tried to fuss her on a walk the other week, and she totally blanked him too. Actually swerved around him when he bent to fuss her. 😂

I may have bought another bed. 😳 The blue one wasn't as big as I was expecting it to be, despite me comparing sizes to the green ones we have in the living room. So it was a bit of a squash for N and K to share. Nothing to do with it not matching the kitchen. 🙈 😂

Keeping TD in sex toys is an expensive business. 😂

@Silverbirchleaf is that so you don't have to undertake the 'great stuffing gathering' every day? 😀I don't allow squeakers as the youngest would just swallow it...

@SpanielsGalore that's not too bad for N, considering she is an older lady!

Ah in which case, good on K! Pheasants > random dogs. 😂I can't believe she swerved someone!! Was he alright about it or a bit offended? Whenever my lot ignore someone the person always seems to take serious offence at it...

Well, I think we need photos of the latest bed (complete with dogs in it). We have caught Twatdog and Satan in bed together a few times recently whenever the dogs have been left together. Personally I think he's snuggling up to her to stop DWS getting up to her old tricks. DWS seems to be rather scared of Satan (possibly because she keeps being told off), and Twatdog - despite being a total idiot - is quite savvy.

Tbh I am just horrified that twice you have chosen dog beds over fish and chips 😳

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Yep! I also think squeakers are a risk to dogs, in case they choke on them, and always get them out as soon as Dog has punctured the toy (T minus five seconds).

Just had parcel arrive with paw prints all over the box. Was puzzled, trying to work out what I’d ordered, dog related. Did the sensible thing and opened the box to discover it was the welcome pack from the dog charity I sponsored over Christmas, complete with cute fluffy toy dog.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks He was a bit offended. He'd bent down to greet her as she ran towards him and then she ran straight past. Perhaps telling him he was less interesting than a pheasant didn't help. 😂

I posted a photo of K in the new bed when I said I had bought something else. Here's N in it. They haven't shared yet, but I am sure they will.

Poor TD still being sexually harassed by his little sister. You'll be able to stop buying elephants soon.

Chip shop reopens today after their holiday. Shame I can't afford to go now. 😂

@Silverbirchleaf if someone could make a soft toy that was tough enough to stand up to a retriever, but still soft and squishy, they’d make a killing. How long did the cute fluffy toy from the charity last? 😂

@SpanielsGalore to be fair, Doghouse company and friends and family excluded, I find most people less interesting than pheasants! That being said, I would be offended if I was ignored by a dog even if I mock others for being offended

N really is lovely 😍admittedly all your girls are…but N has particularly soulful eyes

Oh no!! Don’t say that. The last thing I need is those two getting worse 😩 I’m hoping once DWS has her first season she’ll stop being so creepy. I’ve left them with my mum for the day as I’ve gone back to the office, and I’m just waiting for the texts of ‘she’s doing it again!!!’ To start!

I warn people beforehand to not get offended. Often get people ask if they say hello but if we're out and about on a walk they're not often interested, especially if there's a ball or dummy about. Some people get especially upset if they've asked if they can offer a treat and I say they can but mine might reject it 😂

Different story if we're at the pet shop or in a pub or similar. They'll happily say hello to everyone then and take all treats offered.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Its a kids toy rather than dog toy so I’ll probably pass it to the visiting grandchild next door (in my bid not to add clutter to the house).

@tizwozliz P will greet everyone, as she believes people were put on this planet to fuss her. K will greet them, as long as there isn't something better on offer.

I find people also get offended if you say they can't give your dog a treat. I had a dog with IBD and multiple allergies, so "It's just a gravy bone" would have given him v and d for days.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I hoped K would grow out of eating shit, but she hasn't. Although it is restricted to the garden now, so perhaps DWS will stop embarrassing you in public.

I'm really glad I am fostering N. She is such a sweetheart; a really easy dog to have around. She only stayed because of her health issues, but she is so good for K and vice versa.

Tell me this isn't better than a bag of chips.

@Silverbirchleaf children's toys are good for dogs 😁Twatdog's sexy-elephant is a child's toy technically...

@tizwozliz the treat thing is interesting as mine won't take treats from other people at all (although that's a training thing rather than being uninterested), but I have noticed people do get particularly upset if a dog rejects food!

@SpanielsGalore I'd rather she stopped altogether 😁But yes, if she could stop approaching boy dogs in public that would be a good start...her favourite subject is a little black cocker spaniel. She sees him and it's game-over. I've had to physically drag her away before now.

Okay,I will admit it is better than a bag of chips! It just bought a smile to my face

Just got back from dog agility. All the others sat nicely. Mine was the one with ants in his pants.

@Silverbirchleaf , that would definitely be Merry!

I have a question… what are dogs supposed to DO all day?? Merry isn’t even my first dog, but I just can’t think. She seems to have only 2 settings; fast asleep or playwithmeplaywithmeplaywithme. She has literally no chill 😂. She still seems incapable of amusing herself. I feel a bit mean complaining, because she has a good nap routine and sleeps a good 11 hours at night, but once she’s awake she is so full of beans. So hard because I am really not a morning person and need several cups of tea to fully come round, while she is bouncing around and fetching me toys to throw or play tug with. (I know, I know, I chose a border collie!)

Which leads me to my next question. How do you all feel about chase/ fetch/ retrieve type games? I was lazily chucking a toy for her this morning while I tried to wake up, and the first thing I saw when I opened tick-tock was some dog trainer talking about how bad chasing games are for dogs; not just their joints etc, but she was saying it’s bad for their brains, makes them more hyper and addictive. To be honest, it kind of made sense, but on the other hand, I have never known a collie which didn’t love chasing a toy/ stick/ ball, and they were all very happy, balanced dogs. I definitely need to step away from the internet, as I was told
on the puppy thread, but do any of you have strong opinions about this?

@Struckbylightning My lot wake up sometime between 8 and 9. They go outside for the toilet, come in and eat breakfast. And then go back to sleep for 2 hours. 😂

Mine are pretty much 100mph on walks and chilled in the house. They'll go outside for the odd potter around the garden. And they have 5 minutes bouts of play fighting. But the rest of the time, they are resting or sleeping.
K is nearly 16 months and she'll play with the toys a bit. Either throwing them around or squeaking them.

I have gundogs, so we have done retrieves. But I use dummies rather than balls, so they don't bounce. And we only do short sessions.

I absolutely hate chuckitts and people who just constantly lob a ball on walks for their dogs to chase. My foster dog is crippled with arthritis and has knackered joints, because that's all she did. Even now after a year, she can spot a chuckitt a mile off and will mug the person for the ball.
I think if you throw the ball into long grass or undergrowth and send the dog in to sniff it out, it's much better.

Some dogs cannot cope with ball play. My rescue sprocker became totally hyper and manic if he was allowed one. He wouldn't play fetch, but would chase a ball and stress dig a massive hole next to it.

That’s the trouble with the internet, you can find trainer A saying xyz, and then trainer B will say the opposite, with arguments that make sense as well.

Collies are working dogs, so need ‘a job’ to do. I think fetch and retrieve games are fine. However, add some added mental stimulus in it as well. Ie. Get him to sit and wait before sending him to retrieve the ball. At the beach today, we saw a collie who was being asked to ‘stop’ midway on the return part.

The precursor I have is to moderate the activity. Some dogs will keep going as long as you’re throwing the ball. They just won’t stop, and this is bad for their limbs. Maybe this is what the video was on about. So after a time, stop the activity, even if they still seem to be enjoying it.

Another thing is that mental exercise tires them out and quite often I do half an hour mental stimulus at lunch time. It can be done thing simple - sit/stand/lie/through legs etc. Send him to different points in the house and then sit or lay down - dog mat, kitchen mat, door mat (front door mat) etc .

I also purchased these cones, and even before I started doing dog agility proper I set up little courses in the lounge or outside.

www.amazon.co.uk/PawHut-Equipment-Four-Piece-Adjustable-Obstacles/dp/B0DV46YT5C/ref=asc_df_B0DV46YT5C?mcid=b3a6a684aeae3330880ab98560936871&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=729793731984&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3955112172055478933&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007056&hvtargid=pla-2398838668525&psc=1&hvocijid=3955112172055478933-B0DV46YT5C-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

I got this book as well for ideas.

www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Games-Dogs-provide-stimulation/dp/1842862774/ref=asc_df_1842862774?mcid=d0474125bbc638cc87ac72a51d50ad8b&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697228774776&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=351125343132859765&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007056&hvtargid=pla-333413342043&psc=1&hvocijid=351125343132859765-1842862774-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Other ideas -
hide and seek
hide treats for him to find