Beyond Adolescence - part 4

[SpanielsGalore]

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

@YorkshireFelix Exactly. It's about what works for both you and the dog. As long as they aren't a nuisance in public, no one else's opinion matters.
Fortunately mine are all fairly chilled at home. It maybe helps that they have each other to play with, so I'm not their only source of entertainment. I do think K would be harder work if she was an only dog. She's more like her Uncle V than her Great Aunt P.

And I think V has a wonderful home with you and your family. He has owners that are dedicated to giving him the best life possible. What more could a boy want? In a working home, he'd have an hour or two of entertainment a day and 22 or more hours being bored shitless stuck in a kennel.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I'm glad my lack of help was some help. 😁

Don't know if you're put off essentials completely, but they do a fish based large breed puppy recipe now. I seem to recall you didn't want chicken which the other large breed puppy food had but I think perhaps yours weren't keen on fish either?

In 4 years I've gone from paying £4.60 a kg to £5.60 a kg which considering the rising costs of everything else seemed not too bad. Relieved we didn't go with Eden which is ££££ now

If they'd kept the same recipe I wouldn't begrudge the cost at all @tizwozliz , especially as the bag size has increased. It's excellent food. But it was already at the absolute max for protein level for a giant, plus none of ours have been great with turkey. I did have a discussion with the Essential team's nutritionist and we have sourced a few bags of the old formula with one of their stockists, so those are on the way. There isn't really an alternative, unfortunately. A strange LGD anomaly is that the dogs from French working lines often have a noted aversion to fish. We had to switch from salmon oil to flax oil with both Algy & Brie because of this, they just walk away from anything fishy smelling. Very strange but not an urban myth.

I vanish for a few days and the thread blows up! So, just going to say I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend, they're having amazing walks & the sun is shining for them.

@YorkshireFelix just to say, I agree with @SpanielsGalore that V is much happier with you than in a working kennel. Also to say I hope you're still enjoying the new job!!!

Someone told me to 'control my dogs' yesterday which made me chuckle. Babies were running down Holkham beach and this miserable git (because it would be a man) told me I shouldn't let them get so far away as I had no control over them and didn't I know there were birds nesting?

Did I immediately call Twatdog? Yes. Did he, and the other 4 misfits immediately swing around in a loop and race toward me at top speed? Yes. Did they skid to a stop in front of me, grinning at me like the brainless idiots they are? Yes. Did I grin broadly at the man? Also yes. Am I a petty cow? Definitely yes.

I was particularly petty because I thought if I had been a man he wouldn't have said anything. It's always men offering unsolicited dog training advice.

But today all I've done is walk into the village and back. My legs ache, my bum ache and my back aches after so much walking the last week. And my bank balance aches as DWS has an ear infection and the emergency vet cost £150. 😫But the vet did say she was the most beautiful, healthy, example of a Golden she had seen before. Which I am sure the vet says about every Golden, but I am very smug.

On the plus side to yesterday, I found the most AMAZING shortbread two days ago😍Chocolate Orange flavour - sharing a link for anyone who fancies really nice shortbread or wants to treat someone ahead of Christmas https://harrisandjames.com/collections/our-hand-crafted-chocolate?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23949050799&gbraid=0AAAAA-GjrubfAwQGaPwWxek6_xN9A_EOF&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2t3VBhD8ARIsAK0F6qxLb_DWRyqbjGwv71bXRXTUKy7N3LBwgiFTQ5axKnyiy8UrN5G8NEUaAkIbEALw_wcB

I guess you can blame the return of Chatty Cathy for the thread going a bit off @TheHungryHungryLandsharks 😕

Anyway, holiday sounds lovely and chocolate orange heavenly. I hope DWS's ear problem has put too much of a dampener on things. Always a good feeling to get praise from the vet, (we tell people ad nauseam that Brie's weight is "perfect") and I'm positive they meant what they said about DWS.

Sympathies on the beach encounter with Mr Dog Expert 🙄I received a lecture from a male walker last weekend. Usual "is she friendly/can I pet her/oh it's fine, I'm used to dogs" claptrap. I warned him she was young and a bit boisterous then got a stern lecture about how she could knock over a child. Well yes, so could a Lab or an enthusiastic Cockerpoo etc but I didn't bother saying anything. I can guarantee he wouldn't have given a lecture to my DP though.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Oh well done for putting the mansplainer in his place! Wish I could have been around to see it. What an utter twat. I wouldn’t have dared try that, because Merry would most likely have ignored me. Also, what kind of birds are nesting in September??
So nice to be told that your dog is a perfect specimen, though of course we already knew that. And it cost you £££, but still nice to hear.

We have had some lovely sunny walks. I re-seeded my lawn, but had no rain since so it doesn’t seem to be doing much and the pup has churned some of it up already. She is very cute though..

@tizwozliz I fed my sprocker on Eden in 2021. I think it's increased in price by 50% since then.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Hellloooo. Did the miserable git have the grace to apologise or at least look abashed when your little angels recalled perfectly?

Sorry you are achy and DWS has a poorly ear. Hope you're both feeling better today.

I looked at the Shortbread. Purely as a stocking filler for DS. Not for me. Unfortunately I'm going to have to buy two boxes, so I get free postage. Looks like I shall have to take one for the team. Sometimes life really sucks. 😂

@CoubousAndTourmaIet It is impossible for this thread to go a bit off. Even the banned topics get discussed at length.

I can concur that a just about full grown adult can be knocked over by a cocker spaniel sized dog.

@Struckbylightning I looked at my garden yesterday and decided it could do with rotavating, raking level and reseeding or turfing. But then thought 'What's the point?'

Merry is very pretty. Her ears look huge, but that may be because I am used to floppy ones.

I'm sure when we were first looking in 2021 Eden and Millie's Wolfheart were around the same price. I saw Eden in the pet shop for £103 pounds a bag!!

I buy small bags of their semi moist sometimes to use for training treats. Expensive kibble is still cheaper than dog treats. I mean, often steak is cheaper than dog treats!

Merry looks in fine fettle @Struckbylightning 💖

@Struckbylightning it's not even nesting season anymore as it ends at the end of August!!! That was the most infuriating part (that and even if it was, I was on the part of the beach that is dogs off lead even in nesting season).😑He was lecturing me over something that wasn't even an issue.

I'm sure Merry would come! But also, if one of mine comes the rest usually do...which helps.

Oh she is very very cute. Look at that face. And those big brown eyes 😍Fingers crossed that it rains for you soon. It's been so dry in Norfolk that even the local 'flood' (not really a flood, but this field is always flooded whenever I come here) has dried up and the ground is completely solid.

@SpanielsGalore there was a little tut, but he didn't say anything else.

Ohhhhh that's awful. I can't believe you have to suffer through buying two boxes. Terrible. Let me know what you think! The shortbread comes individually wrapped, which isn't great from an environmental perspective but should (I guess) help manage portion control as you don't need to worry about it going stale...unless you're me. I ate six yesterday and finished off the remainder today. At this rate I will turn into a shortbread 😂

@CoubousAndTourmaIet well I am very glad chatty cathy is back!❤

I know it might sound a bit grim...but I quite like having to clean out her ears. There's something very pleasurable and enjoyably about cleaning a dogs ear and extracting a tonne of wax and dirt. I always volunteer to do Satan's ears (yes, she's still kicking around...being crusty and evil).

You know, Twatdog still gets confused for a PyreX sometimes! Happened only a few days ago on holiday. The woman was so embarrassed after, but it made me smile!

Satan has knocked over adults before, and she's tiny. So it really does make no difference - but we've said before, people have differing standards when dogs are larger.

@tizwozliz I think i've said before, but when I am training mine I buy beef joints from Ocado and cook them up! Way cheaper than dog treats (and healthier)! 😅

Brie had a very stubborn ear infection a few months back @TheHungryHungryLandsharks that needed Cortotic spray on prescription. Since then she's been awful about having the left one cleaned. But I know what you mean about it being satisfying to get the gunk out on a cotton pad.

TD really must be massive for a GR, whereas our Sylvie was a dainty Pyr that was frequently mistaken for a Golden. And we'd regularly be asked how old is the puppy, when she was a geriatric. She was weeny for a PMD at 25", but was very cute. Big Bertha is 29" 😄

Thankfully Little Miss Hooligan aka Big Bertha hasn't knocked anyone over (yet), but it slightly irked me to have it pointed out that she could, as if I was blissfully oblivious of the fact. I'm acutely conscious of it, but somehow, she is instinctively gentle around children and the elderly. DP was the proud dogparent recently when Brie stood calmly being petted by a 94 year old neighbour on her mobility scooter. She can be good when she chooses to but she still embarrasses us pretty regularly, however DP never gets the disparaging comments whereas I do 🙄Boy is going to have to be super well trained.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I'm glad it's not just me that finds getting ear wax out of dogs so satisfying. DWS ear is so manky. She's having 5 drops inside, and 2 around the rim, twice a day. But apparently it's not even a 'serious' infection. If this isn't serious i'd hate to see a serious one! How long did it take to shift Brie's in the end?

So Twatdog is about 39kg at the moment, so 5kg over standard, but he's also about 4 inches taller. He's still pretty skinny though. I am not sure he will ever 'fill out' properly. Not that I am complaining as it's good for his joints.

Dogs are funny about being gently around the elderly, I've found! They're typically really good at it, particularly larger breeds.

How large/heavy do boy Pyrs get? Do you think Brie will enjoy having a friend or do you imagine there might be a bit of work required for the introductions?

We initially had drops for Brie's ear @TheHungryHungryLandsharks but we couldn't really get on top of it. When my cousin's daughter (H) came over a couple of weeks later, she managed to have a proper look (which our own vet had struggled to do because B was a PITA and wouldn't keep still for him), and she prescribed the Cortotic spray. That was easier to administer and seemed to sort it out within a few days. So all in all probably 3 or 4 weeks of it not being quite right, but H was at pains to say that it honestly wasn't in a terrible state. We also discovered Brie hates the smell of Cleanaural ear cleaner so we're now using Buggaluggs probiotic ones that don't have an alcohol smell.

She's currently quite lean at around 48kg, but they are pretty dormant and take on less food in summer. We have started increasing her food and exercise again so her winter weight will be closer to 50kg. She is from French lines on one side, which tend to be taller and longer bodied than the US show type Great Pyrenees. Pup is 100% French lines so he'll probably also be tall and elegant rather than chunky. He's 8.3kg currently at 7 weeks.

It'll be our third M/F pairing, but honestly no idea how it'll go. Brie isn't particularly territorial and is generally good with other dogs but it doesn't always mean much. Puppy gates are up and she will have her own space to retreat to away from baby shark teeth. The litter has been reared in a home with another adult female in addition to pup's mum, so he's already learning to respect the matriarch. Toilet training apparently going quite well, chipping done, eye and ear tests this coming week and we get him on Saturday. So I'll let you know then how the intro went. But any thoughts or advice welcome from you, spaniels, tizwoz and any other multi dog folk here, because it is a bit nerve wracking after 15 years of being a single dog household and we want to get it right...

Yeah, Chatty Cathy has definitely returned. Sorry Folks 🙄

Oh and boys can be up to 70kg and 32" shoulder height @TheHungryHungryLandsharks .

Magnus was over that weight but way too heavily boned, more like a Newfie or St Bernard with an enormous jowly head.

Algy had French breeding and was our tallest at just under 32" shoulder height but leaner, longer and leggier than Mag. Well over 6 foot standing on hind legs. They're giants but they don't look it really if they're in working condition, well balanced and lean.

Sorry for the essay 😬

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Raphael (Pierre, Marcel, Gabriel, Louis) is as big as K already.
I have no advice, that you don't know already. You've added more puppies than me. I've ony done it twice. First time was a disaster and they had to be separated by stair gates for three months. Second time was fine. P had access to upstairs to escape the demon puppy (K) when she'd had enough of her.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I hope DWS' ears clear up soon. My sprocker had awful ear infections. He had to have medication syringed into them twice a day, followed by a squirt of cleaner. It was a two man job. He also had to have a low dose of steroids to keep the infections at bay. Everytime we tried to wean him off the steroids, his ears became infected again.

I have to wait until next month to order Shortbread. And no. Individual wrappers does not help portion control. The only thing that helps that is not buying it in the first place.

We were the opposite @SpanielsGalore - first pairing of older quiet boy with young confident bitch pup was amazing from day one. They shared a room from the start and never had a single disagreement. Second pair of quiet older girl with quiet young male was a disaster and it took months of dog gate in between them before she tolerated him.

Try again on the name... 😆

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Oh poor Brie! She just didn't want to be touched 😕It is interesting at 8(ish)Kg at that age isn't that different to what Twatdog was, but then PMDs seem to put on the weigh so much faster from about 5-6 months. 50KG sounds like a lot...but then what Twatdog is at his usual weight he's low 40's and honestly it's hard to see where all the weight is.

Only a few days to go until he comes home then! I'm sure it'll go well given what you've said about Brie not being territorial and also boy being raised with another female adult in the home - helps install manners in a young puppy. I've often found that mum installs manners, but puppies don't necessarily take notice in the way they will if another older female gives them the same warning.

@SpanielsGalore oh your poor boy!!! I have to say DWS is pretty good, but she tilts her head to the opposite side so that the ear drops slide out of her ear...naughty. But she's very obliging when I gently adjust her head.

My legs have now completely fallen off. 5 miles this morning during which we only saw one couple who had to little older dogs in a buggy - completely adorable as they were taking them to the beach for an off-lead run and using the buggy to take them there so they still had enough energy when they arrived 😍I suppose that's the benefit of a smaller dog - no way could I fit my misfits in a buggy and still be able to push it.

I do wonder sometimes if people (including me) make rods for their own backs. The longer the walks the dogs have had on this holiday, and the more exciting the walk, the more manic they are the next day...high expectations, perhaps?

Yes, I think when you had your litter last year we concluded that a GR pup at 8 weeks isn't very much smaller than an 8 week PMD @TheHungryHungryLandsharks
I can show you a pic of adult Brie at 50kg and you'll see the same as with TD; it doesn't look like a heavy dog by comparison with other large or giant breeds.

Oddly enough, I considered a pushchair for pup, for early socialisation but then realised he'd only fit in it for about 2 weeks so I think we'll have to rely on car boot socialisation for that period between vaccines.

Sounds as if your lot are loving a change of scene and some new exciting walks with all the different sniffs to find. It's no wonder they're excited really.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Yes, poor boy had a shit life, health wise. It was one thing after another. I tried for almost three years to get him healthy and happy. But when it got to the stage that he hadn't had a good day for 7 months, I made the decision to let him go.

I firmly believe the more exercise you give a dog, the more it needs. So yes, you have made a rod for your own back, with your three speed walks a day. Mine thrive on healthy neglect and no routine, so are grateful for whatever slow meanders they get. 😂

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I think I exhausted my knowledge of male French names.

The InnoPet Hercules is suitable for dogs up to 50kg. It's very pricey though. You can sometimes find them advertised second hand on FB market.

It's K's 2nd birthday today. She was a tiny 2.5kg at 8 weeks and is only 8.5kg now. Mean Mummy hasn't bought her any presents. She can have a tripe stick later as a birthday treat. I'm sure she'll be just as happy.

Thanks @SpanielsGalore , I've checked out the Inno Pet Hercules and it looks pretty amazing, but £450 is a lot to spend for 3 weeks use. I suppose if I'd started looking months ago I may have found one at an affordable price, but I've left it a bit late. Not sure how much I'll be able to carry him about locally but we'll find out on Saturday...

Happy Birthday, K and we hope you enjoy your tripe stick.

You couldn't make it up @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , a little kid has just asked me if Brie is a Golden Retriever 😆 Maybe if we swap her and TD someone will get the breed right 😉

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I certainly wouldn't say no to a Brie photo!

I wonder if you could get one on facebook market-place for super cheap (as Spaniels suggests?). Obviously you wouldn't want to get a decent one/new one if it'll only last that long! I know you said it's a bit late, but there's still some time...Ebay is also a good shout!

Norfolk (particularly the coastal walks from Brancaster - Cley/Salthouse) is their happy place. When DH is with me he'll usually drop me and the dogs one end and then meet us the other end, but as its just me this week I've been driving the car empty to the finish spot and then getting the bus back and taking the dogs out on foot to the car. Bit more complicated, but it gives them some nice walks.

Ohhh! I hope Brie wasn't too offended! Imagine being as majestic as Brie and being compared to a Golden Plonker 😫Poor girl!

@SpanielsGalore That sounds incredibly hard ❤

I guess the thing is my lot are relatively high energy in that even after an exhausting day, like today, they'll still be ready to go. DSis always says the only reason she'd never get another Golden from me again is because they're too 'manic'...and I gave her the quietest/calmest girl of the bunch!

I probably could walk them less, but I fear what mischief they would get up to when I'm working (for example) and not paying them attention. There's just so many of them it is impossible to keep an eye on them all...so exhaustion is rather the best solution!

Happy birthday to K! She's utterly beautiful (as all your girls are). I hope she enjoys her tripe stick and has some lovely games with the others! K's face in that photo seems very determined...

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks It's funny, isn't it? You never read on MN that GR are high energy, manic nutters. It's always the cockers. My lot pretty much have two speeds - go or stop. They'll laze around the house, waiting for me to move. Then they'll switch to high alert.

I do love that photo of K. She looks very serious.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Would you not use a buggy for longer than 3 weeks? P went in hers for months. I used to take her out with my sprocker. She'd do her allotted time and then go in the buggy.
I don't know the exercise requirements and restrictions for giant breeds. How long is it advised to walk puppies for? Will you have to walk them separately for a while to meet their different needs?
Fortunately for me, P was on restricted walks when I got K, so I could take them out together.

There's a snow white GR in the village. I'm beginning to wonder if I have mis - breeded her. 🤔 😂

I did suggest to DP that I could use a buggy for longer so pup could go a walk with Brie. I could let him have a few minutes in the pram, a few minutes walking, like you did with P @SpanielsGalore . It is very tempting to look for one, but I suspect he's going to be too tall and too wriggly even at 8 or 10 weeks.

Yes, you do have to go gently with the exercise for giants, we'll do some solo walks, some with both together, just make it as varied as we can for him, same as with any young pup.

I envy you those long walks @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , our two little girls (R&S) could walk all day but Brie doesn't need as much brisk walking, she likes to take her time a bit more. When we had R&S I was only mid-late thirties and I could keep up with them and do multiple walks because we also had Mr M, who was oldish and couldn't go so far. We'll wait and see what sort of energy levels new pup has.

I can't really offer any words of wisdom on the multiple dogs, little pup just slotted in so easily. This was the day after we brought her home. The only time they got separated was when they had separate mealtimes, as little pup would have eaten all big pups food (and big one would have let her)