Beyond Adolescence - part 4

[SpanielsGalore]

Didn't realise we were that close to the end of part 3. 😂

@SpanielsGalore fingers crossed it gets put out soon! Do they think it was deliberately started? I know the ones in France they've arrested something like 150+ people over...insane behaviour.

How did it go with P at the vets? Fingers crossed all is okay!

31 here at 13:00. Dogs are all hiding inside and I am sat in the garden, alone, reading job applications again. 😫I dream of the day I don't have to read another job application! And no lunch time walk as it's just too hot for them and probably not evening walk, but hopefully it'll start cooling down a bit more soon...

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks They don't know what started the fire. It's on day 16 now, with no end in sight. Hopefully the rain will help.

The vet thinks P has soft tissue damage, so she's on rest and pain relief for a week. If no improvement, we x-ray. But he was a locum and a bit of a prat, so I have no faith in his opinion. I couldn't get him to understand her apparant 'mild discomfort' is actually a high level of pain. She walked with a dislocated hip for three days, FFS.
I'm going to look into getting a referral to a vet behaviourist. Someone who can assess her pain levels and medicate for that and her anxiety too. I'm seriously questioning her quality of life if this continues.

N went to the pain specialist yesterday. She had an adverse reaction to the ketamin injection and was staggering all over the place when we left. I thought she was having a stroke! Fortunately, it wore off after an hour or two and she's now back to normal. I'm going to take her for a potter around the block later to see how she copes with short walks again. She hasn't been on one for over a month, as she limped really badly after the last one.

K is fine, but missing having someone to play with.
I found out the other day, her sister has had a litter. I know it's allowed by KC standards, but it made me a bit sad. They're still babies themselves.

@SpanielsGalore Oh no! When is the proper vet back? I do sometimes think vet's really need to take owners more seriously - we know our dogs better than you ever will from a 10 minute consult.

Fingers crossed for you than N's walk goes well. Her reaction to the kettamine injection sounds terrifying - i'd have been beside myself if that had been me! Hope you're okay.

Agreed on them just still. being babies part😞I always get quite upset if I see bitches being bred before they are even close to 3. I know that's partly because Golden's really aren't emotionally mature before then (and how can a 'baby' have babies) and it influences how I feel about even smaller breeds that mature quicker. But there's just something so unnecessary about it? You can breed a dog at 3 and again at 5, if you want...and two litters is more than enough so no real need to breed before or after those ages.

There's a KC Golden litter up at the moment. Bitch is six, had her third litter in June and only had a litter last November and absolutely no health tests - not even hips. Sounds a bit mental, but I always make a note of the stud used in these sorts of cases so I know not to use them for my girls - any stud owner who studs a dog in those circumstances should be ashamed.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks They are having real staffing issues. One vet has just left, so I'm hoping this locum isn't filling in until they get a replacement. I need to be more specific about who I want to see when asking for an appointment in future.

I didn't walk N in the end. She's a bit stiff today and it's been raining. At times I tell myself N is 'just' a foster dog and not like the other two. And then something like yesterday happens and I'm in full panic mode. She's unsteady on her hind legs at the best of times. My friend said her dog reacted badly like that after being on ketamin for a while, so can't have it anymore. We'll have to see how N gets on next time.

As regards breeding - the more I look into it, the more depressing it becomes.

I just typed a very long rant and then deleted it all incase it was too outing. 🙈
In summary - it's all very well health testing, but surely COI should be taken into account too?
21 month old bitch. Sire is well regarded from an award winning kennels, but has an exceptionally high COI. Sire and dam share a GP, who is a very prolific stud dog. I tried to find out the COI for the litter, but the KC site wouldn't play ball.

That poor GR. That's a very short time in-between litters. I know what you mean about not using the stud dog. I thought someone was a good breeder- their website certainly spouted all the right things. Then I found out they'd sell a puppy to anyone, no questions asked. And the price went up when the litter was smaller than expected.

P is in hiding, because I have the hiccups.

@SpanielsGalore I've read in a few places that there's a shortage of vets, and honestly it wouldn't surprise me if it's true! There's definitely been an uptick in recent years in aggression towards doctors/dentists/vets...I know on the vet side it's driven by the frustration over rising costs, but I can't imagine it's persuading people to stay in the roles.

Ohh! I think we all know N isn't 'just' a foster. She's part of the family 😍It's funny how they worm their way in, isn't it?

I agree on COI! I'm sure you/me and @YorkshireFelix and @VanGoSunflowers had this conversation before. It's just absolutely shocking. Sometimes the higher COI is okay, particularly if health scores are amazing, but some of the COIs these days are becoming insane. Shared grandparent must make the COI bonkers (it's about 12% for a shared grandparent alone) but I'd have thought once you factor in the wider inbreeding...it's much higher.

It really is a minefield. Part of it is 'greeder' 'puppy farmer' driven but part of it is people driven - people just aren't willing to wait or don't understand. One of my friends who breeds recently discovered one of the puppies she had sold is now being used to churn out Goldendoodles. She's utterly devastated. She only found out by accident. Poor bitch is only 4 and has had two litters already with another planned...

Hope P didn't hide for too long!❤

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping okay in the weather! I am so very ready for the weekend.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks The vet, who qualified last year, has quit already. She said the job was too stressful. The one I was seeing with N is on long term sick. A few of the others only work a couple of days a week. So they now have a locum who qualified in the dark ages and should have retired then too.

I know we've discussed COI before. People just don't seem to care. Or at least don't think it's important. And while you have popular studs siring over 100 litters, I can't see anything changing. The dog in this mating has a COI of 26.8! I think that must mean his mother inseminated herself.

That poor GR. I would be devastated too. And there's nothing can be done about it presumably. Endorsing the registration would only affect pedigree puppies, so they can breed as many crosses as they like.

It started off sunny here today, so I washed two of the dog beds. It's now raining. 🙄 But at least two out of three morning walks were dry.

Is anyone else spending ten minutes after every walk picking those little green sticky balls off their dogs?

@SpanielsGalore I know it's not funny, but your description of the locum made me laugh.

It's really sad though how many vets are just quitting - and particularly worrying when they're experienced ones or those who are 'expert' in their fields. I've heard rumours the orthopedic specialist near me is considering retiring early which would be a disaster if true as they are one of the best in their field.

26.8 is bloody awful. It really is. What I really don't understand is why the kennel club allow it. I've been in meetings/events before where people have been discussing all the right changes they want to make...but they never make them! 🤔

Yep! Nothing she can do at all because as you say, the endorsement only effects pedigrees and these aren't. She feels utterly awful about it though as she's one of those that really check each home thoroughly so she's now obviously worrying about what's happened to other puppies 😞

I'd give anything for a bit of rain. Not sure what it's like for @Silverbirchleaf but it hit 32 yesterday for me...and it's been over a month, perhaps more, since we had any rain. Even the grass hurts to walk on! Assuming it's similar though as we're so near each other

It's been suspiciously quiet on this thread the last week or so...

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks On Wednesday we hit 33 but ‘only’ 28 yesterday and as I type, it’s 25 now. We had a brief shower on Saturday but nothing for a month before, but rain is forecast next week, although still above 25 for most of the week. Everywhere, the grass is yellow.

What has everyone got planned for the weekend? I’m planning to watch an agility dog show (not competing due to car issue, but have a behaviourist assessment for that next week ).

I’ve been away for the week. Only down the road in Devon, but we have DD with us and it’s been nice to be away. We did get sunburned on the beach on Wednesday, which was really silly of us. Merry had a great time playing in the sea and getting strangers children to play with her. (She did not get sunburned, only me and my daughter, who has skin like porcelain).

It’s been pretty hot with a few spots of drizzle on some mornings, but like @TheHungryHungryLandsharks says, the grass is crispy and horrible to walk on. I hope ds, who stayed at home has remembered to water the pots, the rest of the garden has gone to wrack and ruin (or is it rack and ruin??) and what used to be the lawn is just soil now. It never properly recovered from the puppy digging. I was going to lay turf but I’m very glad I didn’t because no way would it have survived!

@Struckbylightning Have you any Devon tips - places to visit? Places to stay etc? Anything not worth visiting or over-hyped? We plan to go later this year.

Hi everyone! Sorry for being quiet. That virus totally floored me from Saturday afternoon, started feeling normal again come Wednesday and had a deadline for today! Poor me 😂

Interesting reading about the COI and how the KC don’t seem to put any limits on it?! I didn’t know enough about all of this when I got Pablo, his COI is 6% which apparently is lower than average for his breed but not sure if that’s still a fairly high number?! Sorry to be thick but assume zero would be best but is that common?!

We had a tiny bit of rain yesterday. First rain in a month! It wasn’t enough to return the grass to its former glory but it made me happy to see it at least. We desperately need a good down pour. Luckily it’s been a bit cooler the past two days here too (I’m in the midlands)

I plan on having a relaxing weekend. I’ve had DS with me all week, which I love, but involves lots of running about and he goes away with his dad for two weeks tomorrow. I will miss him but I admit I am looking forward to lounging about tomorrow and reading my current book.

@SpanielsGalore no sticky green balls here. The hiccups thing made me smile. I can recall Pablo with a sneeze.

@Silverbirchleaf we have had some lovely outings! Buckfastleigh is really beautiful and the Abbey is fascinating. Totnes is worth a visit, quite a quirky little town with lots of independent shops, market day is Friday and Saturday I think. Very dog friendly, Merry was stuffed with treats from various shop owners.

The beach we went to was South Milton. There are only a few beaches where dogs are allowed in the summer and most of them are quite tricky to access. (DH is not very athletic and I would be terrified to watch Merry bounding down one of those cliff paths!) South Milton is National Trust, parking is free for NT members but only £6 if not, the car park is very close to the beach, there is a loo and a cafe and a place to hire kayaks. When the tide is out there are amazing rock pools but you can also swim, it’s pretty perfect.

DO NOT go to Torquay!! We went, kind of by accident. We were passing by and thought we would check it out. My god it’s one of the most depressing towns I’ve ever seen. All pound shops and people with tattoos on their necks. God it was grim! English Riviera my arse.

@SpanielsGalore yes Merry picks up those sticky balls! I think they come off goose grass. I am also picking them out of my socks.

@VanGoSunflowers poor you, sounds like a horrible virus you’ve had. Enjoy your alone time!!

@Struckbylightning Thank you. All very useful information. We’re not going until autumn, so not sure swimming will be on the cards, but I do love a beach walk. Torquay is off the agenda! I do love Salcombe and the area around there. Had a few caravan holidays there when the kids were small.

Hi everyone, just checking in 🙂. Rory has started flyball! He’s only 2 weeks in but he’s loving it and being so well behaved (of course 🤣).

He had his injections this week and is 25kg, which I think is a little on the small side now.

He is definitely hormonal and taking a keen interest in the ladies 🙈🙈. He’s got quite a few girlfriends now, all fox red labs too!

@Silverbirchleaf let us know how you get on with the behaviourist/car? Twatdog has reverted back to not jumping in mine, so I have to haul him up by his front legs and then walk him like I would a toddler into the car, place his paws on the backseat and heave him in.

@Struckbylightning glad you enjoyed yourself, but sorry about the sunburn!

I'm going to sound way older than my age now, but there is nothing worse than a beach that doesn't have a toilet nearby!!!! I find beach walks really exhausting because of the sand and then if I have to march another 3000 miles to find a toilet it's the death of me. Holkham is awful for it. If the tide is out it can take 20 minutes to get back to the toilet and it's soft sand as well so you just sink in so South Milton sounds great 😁

I've been to Torquay and have to agree with your assessment! It reminded me slightly of Wells-Next-The-Sea...although Wells is slightly better. Tbh the worst part about the coastal tourist towns is the way all the tourists just bumble into the road as though cars suddenly don't exist 😂

@VanGoSunflowers Sorry to hear you were wiped out so much. Sounds like you definitely had what I had!!

On COI, I don't think I've ever seen 0% tbh! 6% is good though 😊DWS is about 8% and Twatdog is 11% (no shared grandparents, but his 'shared' ancestors 5 generations back are similar on both sides which generates the higher COI). Interestingly I have a feeling Twatdog's hip scores will be better than DWS when I finally get her done, despite the higher COI...

I completely understand how you feel about running around after children! I have to say whenever my parents of PIL offer to take DDs I always say yes...they're a bit better now they're older but still exhausting. Is Pablo still spending the odd day here and there with DS Dad? I think you mentioned he had when he was younger, just wondering if Pablo is going to be without his best little pal for two weeks! You better have lots of nice Pablo plans planned if so...

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding oh Rory is looking so healthy and happy! Sounds like he's definitely got a type! 😍Does he do the 'high tail' thing when he see's his girlfriends? Twatdog does that! He gets a little prance on, perks his ears up and his tail lifts into the air.

Are you planning on competing with him, or is it just for fun?

I shuffled DDs off with PIL and DH today - they're off to Rye (for those nice ice creams I've mentioned before!!). Pen has started her heat so poor girl is restricted to very early walks at the moment, which meant DH was up at 4 today to take her out. I plan on spending my free day doing important things...like snoozing in the garden. If I'm feel more energetic I'll go and pick up the stuffing from the latest destroyed toy from the flower beds.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Will do. I just want it resolved now, once and for all. I’ve tried various things, and feel I’ve made some progress, but can’t get beyond a certain point.

I did come across this plan, which I thought was good, but I can’t get past ‘dog settled in park car’. Dog just jumps straight out!

https://captaincalm.co.uk/guides/car-anxiety-dogs

i guess this is the sort of plan that the behaviourist will suggest, but I just need someone to look at him, and suss what’s causing the problems, so we can process to the next stage.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks That's the highest COI I have seen. Breed average is 10, but I don't know where all of those dogs are hiding. Perhaps the show strain are bringing the average down. That can be a rabbit hole for another day.

Sorry TD's fear of the car has increased again. P is awful too, so I'll also be interested in any tips @Silverbirchleaf has to share. Although to be honest, I don't think things will improve for us until her pain is sorted out.

@VanGoSunflowers 6 is very good. Especially since it's below the breed average. I can't remember P's and K's, but they're around 16, I think. I was wondering earlier how many generations of breeding it would take to get a 0 score. P and K have a GGGGP featuring twice in their pedigree, so it would take a while to cancel that out.

Sorry you have been poorly. Hopefully you feel well enough to enjoy your peaceful weeks.

K sneezed yesterday and P shot out of the room. Nice to know it's not just me she doesn't like. 😂

I have finally finished stripping the wallpaper in the hallway and up the stairs. It took a lot longer than anticipated, as I had to stop using the steamer as it set the smoke alarms off.

K and I met two beautiful working cockers this morning. One was a 4 month old solid liver pup. He was already bigger than K. 😂

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks no he just pees on anything he can (including, twice, my leg 😵😵). He’s basically just, look at me, I have a willy 🤣. The ladies seem to like it though as they always roll on to their backs for him to sniff their bits 🙈. Dogs are gross!

I don’t think we will compete, my parents do at a high level with their dogs but they’re travelling most weekends and we’ve already done that with DS when he was younger (not flyball obs) and it gets too much. We’d do local competitions if asked. Mind you if he gets good, my parents are welcome to take him with them!

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding Rory looks quite small in that photo. I'm sure it's the angle and he's not really spaniel sized. Glad he's enjoying flyball. Not so good that he keeps peeing on you though. 😂

How is your DB? Have you heard from him? Is he back from wherever he went?

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I went down another rabbit hole last night. I looked up someone who is regarded as an excellent breeder. People feel honoured to be allowed one of her puppies. Her stud dog has been mated with a bitch with a grade 3 luxating patella. What is the point of testing and recording the scores if you are still going to breed from the affected dogs? The stud is a level 1, so there's probably not much hope for the puppies.
P is a level 3. Look how much trouble she's had over the last 3 years.
I need to stay off the KC website. 🙈

I took this photo of K yesterday. How ridiculously long do her legs look? 😂

@Silverbirchleaf the problem I have is Twatdog doesn't want to get in...but once he's in and on the back seat he's fine! Curls up and just goes to sleep the entire time. Do you have any idea what might have triggered your boy?

@SpanielsGalore I had wondered with Twatdog is whether it's actually the fact when he jumps onto the backseat he skids a bit as I have a protector on the car seats and it's hurting his joints? Hard to know though as he's not a particularly good communicator, even by dog standards!

Poor P! She really is in the wars a bit isn't she? At least you live close enough to walk to lots of nice places like the beach - would be far worse for her if she lived in the city and only had road walks etc.😟

I always forget how small K is! Her legs make her look bigger than she is, I think.

Oh I know! I think it's because they know people will buy from them and they can make money - and it really is only once you get into the detail on health scores and various issues that people really understand.

I wouldn't normally shame a breeder...but Here. I think that warrants lots of shaming. Four litters, dog is now 8 and is still being bred from. No proper health scores. AND the breeder has two litters up at once. I really shouldn't look either, but I just can't help myself...

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding Oh goodness! For all my quibbles with Twatdog, he has never peed on me although he likes to pee on puppies.

He’s basically just, look at me, I have a willy 🤣.

Typical man, really!!!😂

Dogs really are gross though. The amount of times they lick their privates and then try and lick my face...

I know what you mean about weekends being taken up with competitions and events! I remain ever grateful that DDs just like to do the sports, not the competition bit. DNephew does a sport to a high level and Dsis and BIL are always out and about at weekends dragging him around the countryside to various events. Dog showing is a bit like that, but you only need to do a few a year which makes it more manageable!

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I have a hammock liner on my car back seat. I've then lined that with vet bed to stop the dogs slipping. It doesn't help P, but it might help TD.

K is almost as tall as P to the shoulder, but not to the head. 😂

Well that was another rabbit hole. It's interesting that she's been mated with the same stud each time, but the litters have different kennel names. Presumably that means someone had two litters, then sold her on to someone else who also bred her. And continues to do so, despite not being able to register the litters anymore. Poor girl.

As long as people are willing to pay, they'll keep breeding. I was talking to someone who recently bought a puppy. They said when they turned up at the house, the person was obviously a druggy and was high at the time. Living in squalor. They knocked the price down a couple of hundred pounds and feel like they rescued the puppy. 🤦‍♀️
It's a breed notorious for health issues, so good luck to them.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Dog car problems have happened twice.

Firstly after he stayed at a house boarders when we were away. The dogs were put in a van to go to a secure field to run around, possible coupled with missing us, but we managed to resolve that and get him in the car again.

However, the second time was when we signed up for flyball. We were given a What-three-word code for the location which took us to a country lane, no obvious venue around and we were driving around, with dh, who was driving, getting stressed and cross (he didn’t want to go). I think the organisers turned up with minutes to spare. Then the class was held inside a hall, there was a lot of waiting around, and dogs barking (it wasn’t well organised despite the club being a top club). He refused to go after that and what we did before didn’t work.

@SpanielsGalore he’s defo not spaniel sized, my parents have 4 cockers and I think all of them combined would make up one Rory 🤣. I think it’s just how he has his legs tucked up for jumping.

My brother seems to have had a fab summer TBH!! He is due back on 5th August but we will see if that actually happens…

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks yup, typical man! We went to a county show yesterday and he was still cocking his leg even after he’d long run out of pee 🙈🙈.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks definitely lots of nice outings planned and Pablo will definitely miss his partner in crime! He (Pablo) hasn’t stayed with DS’ dad for a while but will be at some point after they’re back as DS wants to go the Harry Potter tour again during the summer. It’s a 2 hour journey for us, 2 hours back and a few hours there so definitely too long to leave Pablo alone so DS’ dad will have him then I think. As long as I can get tickets!

Took Pablo to Cannock Chase yesterday which was glorious. It was very busy when we got there but it never ceases to amaze me that you only have to walk slightly off the beaten track and you get the place to yourself! We had a gorgeous walk with only a bit of effort required to hike somewhere more remote!