Beyond Adolescence - V

[SpanielsGalore]

New topic for a new thread, inspired by a post about poo bags.

Does your dog's poo smell?

I was under the impression that dog poo only smells bad if the food doesn't suit the dog. Same goes for flatulence.

The only time my dogs' poo smells or they have windy bottoms is if they've eaten something rotten they've found on a walk.

Ah, I just read that in breeds that are bred with double dew claws they're more firmly attached to the bone, like front ones. The ones I've seen are where the breeds wouldn't normally have them and they're just held on by skin, not linked to the bone

Maybe you've seen them on sporting dogs @tizwozliz , I know vets routinely advise removal in many gundog or hound breeds, because the claws sometimes look like they're on a stalk and seem to hang away from the foot, thus risking damage. With the LGD and herders, they're actually not flopping loose, in fact they aren't even particularly noticeable. Mostly people just comment on the size of their paws without realising they almost have two extra toes on the inner foot.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet gosh you must be exhausted! Fingers crossed he calms down soon. Why do you think he's barking at night? Doesn't want to be alone?

As you say though, only a week left before he can go out. And that's got to help, right!?

@tizwozliz sorry to hear about Big pup! Hope she is okay now and not feeling too sorry for herself! But great news that you weren't charged! Do you ever walk big and little pup separately or is it always together usually?

@SpanielsGalore puppy should be ready (earlyish) December assuming all goes well with the birth. Mums due any day now. But it's a bit of a trek - near Snowdonia! 12 hour round trip once you include breaks etc. She's clearly been plotting it for a while though as she was planning to take my dad there for his birthday about 4 months ago and asked me if I could have Satan for a week as she limits what they can do a bit...which means the tricking me into doing the house training was also planned a while ago! We know the breeder reasonably well, and her girls are lovely dogs.

It is not a polite greeting, you're right about that! Lucky that your girls are so lovely, lots of dogs really would not be pleased. Mine would probably run away though, if I am honest.

N&P sleeping in the crate together!? Do you have photos? 😍

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks - they do get walked separately sometimes, but mostly separately at the same time. So OH will walk big pup whilst I'm at Hoopers, or I'll walk little pup whilst big one is doing park run but it's rare I'll leave one at home whilst walking the other now that they're grown (when little pup was younger they each had a separate walk and one walk together most days)

@Ylvamoon Re agility, I change how I watch Agilty’s at Crufts and online. I used to watch the dogs but now I watch the handlers and how they handle the course, although some dogs are so fast you can hardly see what’s happening.

Have you see the video of a German (?) lady who stands almost on one spot and directs her dog around the course? It’s amazing to watch.

Went to an outlet centre today and found myself buying a new training top ‘for agility’!

@SpanielsGalore we weren’t as far south/west as Looe but love that area and Fowey. If you need a fix, watch Beyond Paradise which was filmed there.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks it was odd eating breakfast without a begging dog at your feet and nice to go out without having to get back, or someone stay behind. It’s like having kids, it’s nice to have a break from them every so often.

However, what’s happened to the weather. A week ago, we were in summer clothes. Now it’s pouring with rain, I’m wearing a jumper and dh has put the heating on!

He's a funny one @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , it's definitely not a classic separation anxiety because he can see Brie and hear me, but takes no comfort from it. He is a very affectionate and tactile puppy. Hopefully he'll eventually settle and stop the nighttime noise but meanwhile yes, we're both exhausted.

It's nerve wracking when you're waiting for a litter to be born, we went through that in July/August. Your parents trip for the pup is even longer than ours down to SW was! But for the right puppy it is definitely worth it. Sounds as if Fortuna was a long time in the planning, as Odilon was for us.

@Silverbirchleaf Yes, cold here too! Our heating is on and I confess that I've had a hot water bottle to snuggle up with since I'm sofa sleeping in a vain attempt to keep the boy quiet.

@tizwozliz It is so much easier when they can handle the same exercise! I sometimes try and give one of mine a solo walk just to give them some 1-2-1 time, but I always feel like they're waiting to get back to the others.

@Silverbirchleaf 100% agree with you about having a break from kids being nice. 😳Has DDog been sticking by your side since you got back, or has he been fairly chill?

Oh the weather has been fab. I've managed to miss all the rain whenever I've been walking (clearly this will not last), but its been lovely and crisp. Although the rain does mean that some of my favourite walks become impossible because I have no desire to skid down a hill on my bum.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Ohh bless him! It sounds a bit like Twatdog - being able to see/hear isn't enough. He wants physical proximity. He used to cry if he was in a play pen (to give the other dogs a break from his idiocy) and I was sat on the floor next to it 🙄

I'm really hoping DMum gets out of this 'Fortuna' funk because now whenever I read the name I just read 'Tuna' and nothing else!!! But yes, a very long drive. More manageable though as they'll be gone for a week so it breaks the drive up a bit. Worse to do it all in one day or in two days. How did you manage it with Brie? I guess there and back in a day or so?

@tizwozliz - sorry to here about your dogs dew claw. I my last Tibetan had them at the back and I had them removed by the vet. I kept her in full coat and I kept catching them with the comb. Best to get rid if they cause trouble.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet the ones at the back were dangely and easy to remove. You also asked about training without food or toy reward. With my boy it's relatively easy as he loves hanging out with me! He often tries to anticipate what I want him to do. In a group session, he watches the other dogs. But he learns best by watching my girl and copies the behaviour that gets my attention. (This doesn't happen instantly, but over a few sessions and I do have to coax him towards the right behavior.) However if I need a reward its a cuddle and "great" for short, quick reward. The word is basically clicker training- so you mark the correct behaviour. It gets 'charged' while giving him cuddles or scratch his favourite spot. It's difficult to explain how he learnes because he's my first dog like this. He's definitely in sync with me. But needs the other dog for guidance he can also be a stubborn old goat if something is beneath him

@Silverbirchleaf - I watch the handlers too! But I haven't seen the German lady. I do follow Hayley Laches, she does some amazing distance work. I have seen her at a few competitions with her young dog over the summer.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Any chance of another picture?

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks No, not sticking by our sides, although he’s never been a Velcro dog. Yesterday he just looked sad and/or under the weather. I think he seems a little more himself today.

Hopefully this link will work. Her name is Sabine Pfau.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DSJgjHYKp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Double dewclaws are a breed characteristic with some guarding and herding dogs @Ylvamoon and shouldn't be removed. I see that your breed can be with or without. In my breed they need to be kept.
Thank you, that's interesting about how you're training your Tibetan boy. I do similar; a lot of eye contact, praise or touch. I've trained all mine without food or toy rewards, simply because that is not what drives them, but I've never used conventional obedience "commands". I'd like to take it further with this boy puppy, which is why I was looking if there are any training videos for non food orientated dogs, but there isn't much.

@Silverbirchleaf ohh bless him! I suppose that's good for you though as it means you can leave him and do things such as go away for a week! Mine could never cope in kennels or with a pet sitter. is basically the theme tune of my life. When I went to the bathroom this morning, I had four little followers trotting along behind me who then all crowded around and watched me. It used to be off-putting but these days I find it a bit weird not to have a crowd of on-lookers when I'm in the bathroom.

That link didn't work (don't have facebook so that might be why) but I found a video on youtube! Absolutely incredible 😦

Mine would not cope with kennels/pet-sitters or daycare either @TheHungryHungryLandsharks , I'm afraid I'm a horribly overprotective dogmother.

How is your boy today @Silverbirchleaf ? Hopefully a bit more settled...?

So we were up all night with a sick puppy 💩 Terrible diarrhoea, but, to his credit, not a single splodge indoors. Last night he was whiny, windy and clearly in discomfort. Vets this morning for DHP, the conclusion regarding the tummy trouble was that he's had a reaction to a single Droncit worming tablet. Life is so fun with a primitive LGD, they react to absolutely everything, so as well as Brie no longer being allowed Metacam, Odo is not allowed Droncit again. And you all know about the Nobivac 4 incident😭 I swear I do not have Munchausens by Proxy or whatever dog equivalent would be.

Anyway, HDP vaccine is done for Odo and we have a tube of Promax for his poorly tummy. We're both going slightly loopy from sleep deprivation so let's hope the stuff works quickly.

Vet said we have to watch Odo's weight. He's gained 4kg in 2 weeks 😳

Need to get back to work after a coffee break but how can I disturb this?

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Hope pup is feeling better and you all get a decent night’s sleep tonight.

Dog seems better today and has lost that wary look in his eyes. Guess he’s settling back into home life again. I do wonder what he thinks though. Does he prefer the slightly chaotic home boarders where’s there other dogs to play with, or a more chilled environment? Hope he’s not too bored here!

@tizwozliz How adorable. Obviously you can’t disturb them. Dogs trump work.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Glad you enjoyed the video. That handler is amazing!

Thanks @Silverbirchleaf , he's definitely less agitated this evening so hopefully the probiotic is working.

Oh I'm sure your boy isn't bored at home at all. It's probably a bit like us enjoying a lovely holiday but then being glad to be back home and sleeping in our own bed.

Brie is finally looking more relaxed and behaving more like herself. She was cuddly with me this evening, for the first time since Odo arrived. I think for the first week she must have felt that every time she saw me I had babydog in my arms. Now he's a lot more independent and too big to carry, so she probably feels she has her mum back.

Speaking of toes (I’m a bit behind!), Merry has those freaky flappy thumbs on her back legs. I’m used to them now, but did find them very weird at first. The worst thing about them is that because they don’t touch the ground, the nails need trimming and I have been extremely lax about desensitising her to having her nails cut. They are pretty long now! I’m also worried about her catching them on something so I think I will ask them to snip them off when we get around to her spay. @tizwozliz I hope Big Pup is healing up ok.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet sorry to hear about the Odo’s upset tummy. Really hope you start getting some sleep very soon!

Autumn has finally arrived, I have dug out my woolly hat and the Big Coat. Also had the heating on, not least because I’m fed up of the towels not getting properly dry.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet How was Odo last night, any better? Bless him though for his sensitive tummy!

Hopefully when he is able to go out he’ll be so exhausted he’ll just snooze all evening?! Or is that wishful thinking?

Tbh I was thinking last night how frustrating it must be to be a puppy. Instincts telling you to explore the world and your pesky humans keep you trapped in a room or two for your own good but you don’t know that. I’d be doing crackers too.

@tizwozliz I hope you stayed on that sofa as long as the girls were there! Dog comfort > work.

I was on a work call yesterday about working overseas and one of the speakers said she picked the places she would apply for jobs for based on ability to drive her dogs there (made me think of you and your trips). Everyone looked a bit bemused, but I totally got it - can’t imagine sticking mine in a plane for 10+ hrs 😩

@Struckbylightning i have to say I am terrible at trimming dog nails. Think I do it (outside of shows) perhaps pnce every few years?

I had to go into the office today, so 4am start. Dogs walked by 5. Train by 6. Left DH to wake DDs…think I had the better deal tbh. Give me a thousand puppies, or a hundred Twatdogs going through adolescence, over two grumpy teenagers.

Twatdog gave me such a sad look when I left. The others had all gone back upstairs to bed, but he was sat by the front door looking sad and making me feel guilty.

Last year, my poor girls were left at home with a pet sitter. They also went to someone else's house to be looked after. P had met hers and visited a few times. She was a bit stressed to begin with, but soon settled. K's was a complete stranger and she couldn't have given less of a shit. Waltzed in like she owned the place and didn't notice I'd gone.
Next year I plan to meet up with DD and GC for a holiday. As P doesn't travel well, she'll be left behind. K might come or be left at home too. I haven't decided yet. If N is still with us, she'll definitely be left behind.
If you haven't got friends or family to step in and you need/want to go away, what choices do you have? Rarely Sometimes human children come before canine ones.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Oh no. Not only have you got the job of toilet training the puppy, but it's during the worst weather too. K came home late November during snow blizzards. She was so cold, she just stood there shivering. As did I! I was so tempted to just let her wee on the carpet.

Sorry. P and N didn't share the cage. They used it on alternate nights.

4a.m. start! I hadn't long been in bed by then. I wasn't happy when K tapped me to wake up at 8:15.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I hope Odo had a better night and is over his tummy troubles. P had a reaction to one of the flea or wormer tablets. It took me two doses to make the connection.
I'm surprised the vets went ahead with the vaccine. Mine won't do it if there's even a whiff of a slightly soft poo.

How much is a pyrie pup supposed to gain in a week? It doesn't sound a lot to me, given how big he'll grow to.

@Struckbylightning Talking of weigt gain, how's Merry doing? Is she at her ideal weight yet?

@tizwozliz I hope Big Pup is healing nicely and not too unhappy about having to stay on lead.

Raining here again. Think I will dig my wellies out this morning. My boots are no longer up to walks through long, wet grass.

I’m a dog sitter and the best poos come from raw fed dogs - small and inoffensive (even with the large dogs)

Thanks @Struckbylightning
It's interesting that you should mention Merry having double dewclaws. Our vet trimmed Odo's dewclaws as part of his check-up yesterday and mentioned that his friend has a collie with double dewclaws. It definitely seems to be a more prevalent feature in pastoral breeds.

He was unsettled again last night @TheHungryHungryLandsharks He just wants to be with us, I know, which would be fine if we lived in a bungalow, but is not so great in a tiny terraced house with steep stairs up the middle... He has far more space downstairs, which has been extended across the full width. But until Brie is ready to share space with him, there is no way around it and we will have disturbed nights. I have no idea how it's feasible to crate a giant LGD breed, to me it just feels like a recipe for disaster. They're semi nocturnal and move around a lot during the night, I don't understand how people manage to keep them in a crate without them going completely crazy. Probably the dog training "experts" would argue that Odo has too much space to himself, I don't know, but we've followed this litter from the day they were born and I think it's just who he is.

I was also surprised they did the vaccine @SpanielsGalore

The weight is perfectly fine. His breeder is updating me on the brother's weight and they are almost identical, as they have been from the beginning. I suspect the vet is just unused to giant breed puppies.

I think Landsharks and I have been lucky enough to have parents who could look after our dogs when needed, so we've never had that dilemma of kennelling or pet-sitter. For us, now, with my parents no longer around, it would not be easy to go anywhere without dogs. Our emergency contacts are now my cousins, but they all work full-time so they couldn't just drop everything to care for our dogs. So I appreciate that it's hard to find the right carer for any dog, let alone our giant guarding breed - and Odo is not being neutered so few doggy daycare set-ups or commercial kennels would accept him. I really can't think about it without panicking - especially given my age...

That does not surprise me in the least @pinkishtongue , because we used to raw feed our six Maine Coons and their poo was completely different from that of a cat fed on tinned or commercial dry food. I wish I wasn't so squeamish about raw feeding for dogs, because I can see that there are benefits.

If I'd have known that my older one wouldn't really get on with dog boarding I probably wouldn't have got a dog tbh. I'd always assumed we'd be able to have one winter sun holiday without the dogs every year.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet My DC always looked after the dogs if I went away. But since I moved to Scotland and DS joined the army, I no longer have that option available. I haven't been able to visit DD and GC in Ireland for two years.
If I don't use pet sitters now, I'm going to miss out on so much. Big things, like meeting my new GC next spring. But even little things become impossible. DS has entered to run a marathon next summer and I'd like to be able to go and cheer him on.

Being single, another worry is what will happen to the dogs if something happens to me. I've written information sheets on the dogs and left contact details for a rescue to take them. And I've given two neighbours door keys for emergencies. (I was thinking if my car broke down. One neighbour was thinking I'd died and the dogs were eating me to survive.😂)

@tizwozliz That was the agreement my friend had with her DH when they got a dog. He agreed to it as long as the dog was kennelled once a year, so they could still go abroad.

I love my dogs dearly. Some days they are the only 'people' I speak to. But at the minute, I think they will probably be my last. I'll stick to fostering and then I'll be able to have a bit of a life too.

A quick hello from me as I don’t seem to post much these days.
Thanks for tagging me, @TheHungryHungryLandsharks

Lavender dog is still a bit of a handful - mainly because of her unbridled enthusiasm for life - and everyone and everything in it!

But she’s pretty trainable (except for recall!) and a lot of fun, so it’s not every day now I question why I thought it was a good idea to get a puppy……
Still some biting and chewing, hope she grows out of that soon.