What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

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Nettle
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Nettle »

and in such environment sometimes getting in the first punch is necessary...something to keep in mind as our dogs sometimes follow this strategy.


Are you a Jack Reacher fan, Jacksdad? "Get your retaliation in first"
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

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JudyN
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by JudyN »

That's Jasper's approach with cocky young upstarts - 'I'm telling you off now just so we know where we stand.' Though he won't try it on with Big Bubba...

New Year' Eve has been cancelled, thanks to DS2 having come down with flu. Oh well, at least I won't have to worry about managing Jasper. And I won't need to stay up till midnight either. It's just a shame OH didn't pick up my message to him before he'd bought up Asda. Nibbles anyone?
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
Shalista
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Shalista »

really trying to love and appreciate bax for the dog he is not some perfect ideal dog he isnt. just had a fb post show up on my feed from TWO YEARS ago where he was spazzing cause a roll of paper towels fell.

there never was a time when he WASNT a neurotic nut case and the prolly never will be a time when he isnt.

looking back with rose tinted glasses there may have been times where he was calmER or LESS neurotic... but he's always been a nut case.....

sigh.... you do you bax, I'm just along for the ride.
Baxter (AKA Bax, Chuckles, Chuckster) Rat Terrier, born 01/16/13
MPbandmom
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by MPbandmom »

Happy New Year's Day everyone.

Sirius is resting today after having a stressful night last night in spite of being given her situational medication. OH reported that as long as he was petting her, she was not trembling, but if he stopped petting her she would start trembling again.

I heard Sky jump at the first loud boom, but then she seemed fine after that. Fortunately the noise was fairly short lived.

I will be going to DC today for the Annual Samoyed Flash Mob. The high to day is projected to be 23 F with cloudy conditions and a breeze. It is currently 10 F here at home. The breeze is starting to pick up, but the skys are very sunny. I have spent the last two days collecting appropriate clothing and testing on walks with my own dogs. Temperatures were in the mid 20s and overcast or twilight. There wasn't really any breeze though and I think that makes a big difference. I have been out a couple of times briefly this morning and while it is indeed quite cold, it isn't that take your breath away cold. I figure if there is a samoyed in my future, I need to get myself geared up with the proper clothing so that I can be comfortable in temperatures that the dog thinks are aweseome.

I won't be taking either of mine this year. DC just isn't a good place for Sirius, and there are usually so may samoyeds that come that Sky doesn't know, that she gets rather freaked out. I was told to bring my walkabelt as there may be an extra sammy that somene would let me handle.

Sky asked to go outside while I was writing this. after a minute or two, she started barking. Her greeting bark, that I think she also uses to get the human's attention to bring her back inside. Since my dogs aren't as cold tolerant as the samoyeds, I went to check on her. She was lying in the middle of the yard, perfectly content, apparently talking to someone/thing across the street. Sirius has now joined her outside.

Hopefully I won't be too frozen to take my two for a walk this evening.
Grammy to Sky and Sirius, who came to live with me, stole my heart, and changed my life forever as I took over their care and learned how to be a dog owner.
Ari_RR
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Ari_RR »

Saw this in the news this morning.

"In Illinois , pets will be treated more like kids than property in divorce cases. Pets could be subject to partial or joint custody after their owners divorce. The law only applies to "companion animals" -- not service animals."

Is this progress? I think so.....
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by JudyN »

I guess it's good that it recognises the grief that some people will feel on losing contact with their pet - and putting it on a legal basis removes one more thing for the couple to fight over.

ON the other hand, custody battles for children seem to get pretty ugly and not all parents get the access to their children that the courts say they should, so maybe they should be focusing mainly on that. (Having said that, maybe Illinois is ahead of the game there.)
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
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Nettle
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Nettle »

It's good that the value of pets is being recognised, but from a dog (cat, parrot) point of view, they are IMO better being with one person in one household with one set of rules and commands than constantly having to shuttle back and forth between two environments, and very likely being used as weapons between warring ex-couples. And when either takes up with a new partner, the situation has potential to get even worse because the pet represents the ex and the old life as far as the new partner is concerned. Not for everybody, obviously, but IME there are more people who are less evolved and emotionally intelligent than there are those who can handle the situation for what it is. It's bad enough with children, but at least they can speak up for themselves, and have the option of leaving when they get older.

So yes - great theory, great progress- if it can only stand contact with reality.
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Lotsaquestions
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Happy New Year everyone!

Isn't it just amazing when you come across a weeks old rotting, wet bird carcass that even the maggots have abandoned? Merlin certainly does! He thinks they have the best perfume and also taste nice and chewy! Shame that they are also a bit sticky and get stuck to your face though... Luckily there was some fox poo nearby to help get it off!

Whats the grossest thing your dogs have ever done? :lol:
JudyN
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by JudyN »

Lotsaquestions wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2018 8:35 amWhats the grossest thing your dogs have ever done? :lol:
Ew, Merlin! :lol:

Jasper once found some cat poo right by the front door as we came in from a walk. I tried to drag him quickly past it, he snatched a mouthful and tried to swallow it so quickly he half choked on it, so then coughed and spluttered up cat poo and saliva over everything within a three-foot radius.

You know when you're feeling you need some attention and are hard-done-by but you don't want to tell your partner this - you want them to notice all on their own - so you just sigh, quietly enough so it sounds as if they're not meant to hear it but loudly enough that they can? (This is getting tricky now OH is going deaf...) I'm convinced Jasper does exactly this. He doesn't look at me as he comes out with these heartfelt sighs and grumbles, they don't feel like a communication, but he's not fooling me one little bit :mrgreen:

(BTW... If you notice your partner doing this, ask them if they're OK and they reply 'Fine,' then 'Oh, that's good then' is almost certainly NOT the right response :lol:)
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
Shalista
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Shalista »

def worm rolls for bax. for some reason dead worms on the road after a rain are the BEST to roll in... like.... ALL dow nthe road. found a worm? drop and give me twenty. drag him up and down the road. found another worm? drop.

there is some kind of herb bax finds occasionally at home that he digs and chews and then rolls in. it smells like something rotting but with a distinctly green note to it. ive never been able to find anything distinguishing except some roots near where he digs it up. whatever it is it REEKS!
Baxter (AKA Bax, Chuckles, Chuckster) Rat Terrier, born 01/16/13
Lotsaquestions
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Wish Merlin luck... This neuter wound has been no end of grief. You all know he had an infection so had to rest an extra week, well the friday before xmas they gave him the all clear to be a lunatic again saying the scab will fall off naturally. The scab did fall off naturally, and revealed his wound still isn't healed because one of his internal stitches is poking through. I assume this was the cause of the infection in the first place. Poor boy :( He's been swimming in filthy lakes and the lot which has me very concerned, and he's been trying to pull the stitch through the wound himself!

Vets this morning.

Edit: He chewed the stitch out himself, apparently he had a reaction to the stitches which meant they didn't dissolve quick enough so he needs different ones in future. Cone on his head again, and topical cream. At least he's still allowed his full exercise!
Lotsaquestions
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Is it wrong I actively dislike my dog when he's on bed rest? Probably... Can I help it? Nope!

He damaged his cruxiate ligament by being a nutcase when he was able to run free after his last bed rest incident so he's on bed rest for three days and painkillers for five... Though I am begining to think he might need longer bed rest as he was still skipping on his morning walk today (his last bed rest day).

As many of you know I have been working really hard since he was 6 months to stop his lead reactivity. With Jacksdad recent advice we made exceptional progress, and I mean exceptional. He was even able to watch me next to dogs standing just a pace away before saying hello AND ignore them without my input if he saw them before me. So then today we came across a little dog neutral jack russell. He'd already seen one dog across the street and he was very hyper focussed on it so I knew I was going to have to work hard. Merlin sat down and refused to move, the Jack Russell was coming towards us. Looking back I should have just pulled Merlin away across the street, but I didn't because I know that lead tension increases tension and he wasn't responding to my 'let's go!'. Well, Merlin was a star, he wagged his little tail, he watched me, he got his treats, he was Mr Happy...

Then just as I was going to ask the woman if they could greet (the dog still a bit away) Merlin launched into the most frustrated snarling 'WHY CAN'T I SAY HI??!' tirade he's ever gone onto. Three really growly barks that he did to an earlier squirrel who had the ordasity to climb a tree above him so I knew it was pure frustration. The woman looked at me with a look of disgust. The builders nearby stared. Embaressed and frustrated myself, I had to wrangle an out of control knobhead of a dog back into calmness whilst pretending to be Mrs Calm myself, which to his credit was as soon as he saw the dogs bum. He snapped down into a sit, watched me, and acted like he hadn't just undone the months of work! We sneakily followed the dog a bit (they were going the same way) and he got lots and lots of treats for it.

Not only that, but when we got back after an hour long on lead walk I tried to sit down. BIG MISTAKE. He jumped up and nipped my arm. I ignored him, he finally calmed down and put his head on my lap where he got strokes. Then I set up a puzzle, he did it in 30 seconds then ran up to me barking. I just set up his full hard mode buster mat... In the time it took me to type half this post he finished it. It included two knots he had to undo. Then he came over to my computer and threatened to turn it off (yes, he knows putting his paw on the off switch gets my attention).

I need a good glass of wine and some choccys... Only I can't have nice things because he'll just pester me. If I put him in his play pen he gets angry. If I try to leave the house without him he gets angry. He doesn't bite, but boy he sounds like a hellhound and I don't like making him feel that way.

Vent over, thanks for listening! I do love him, but by god having a smart high energy 11 month old with no concept of frustration tolerance on bed rest is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. I can't even play with him in the garden, because he immediately goes into zoomies and would hurt his leg all over again. :cry:
Last edited by Lotsaquestions on Mon Jan 08, 2018 7:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
Shalista
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Shalista »

oh my god never had a dog on bed rest but i can feel your frustration!!!!! I've been their with bax before when it seems like he (literally) knows all your buttons to push, no toy can keep him occupied for long, and he just wants to watch the world burn. I feel your pain =(

but it gets better! like you said hes made amazing progress! he wont be on bed rest forever!
Baxter (AKA Bax, Chuckles, Chuckster) Rat Terrier, born 01/16/13
Lotsaquestions
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Shalista wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 6:55 am oh my god never had a dog on bed rest but i can feel your frustration!!!!! I've been their with bax before when it seems like he (literally) knows all your buttons to push, no toy can keep him occupied for long, and he just wants to watch the world burn. I feel your pain =(

but it gets better! like you said hes made amazing progress! he wont be on bed rest forever!
Judging by your posts with Bax you know exactly how it feels! I appreciate the support!

Right now Merlin is chewing a plastic box inbetween looking at me to see if I've noticed. If I stand up, he'll know his destruction worked to get my attention. If I stay seated, the box gets destroyed. Decisions decisions.

I bought some foam interlocking play mats for our hard floors yesterday to help with his leg. First thing he did was steal one, run away, and rip it to shreds. :roll: On a side note, foam interlocking mats are amazing for dogs (if they don't destroy them) and I can thoroughly recommend them. Lovely to do tricks on if you have wooden floors.
JudyN
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Re: What are you and your dogs up to today? Part 2

Post by JudyN »

Rest assured, this won't undo all that you have achieved - it's just two steps back after many, many steps forward. And I do know just how you feel - as you can imagine, a tantruming Jasper at the end of the lead it quite a proposition, particularly as he's taller than me when he jumps up!

Sticking to lead walks would be manageable these days, but the words 'crate rest' still send fear into my heart :shock: I'm still in the process of setting up my dog activity library, hoping it'll help others in your position. Merlin would probably crack all my puzzles within minutes - but at least people will be able to try them out this way without having to spend a ton. I'm waiting to get an insurance quote - I went through a company who specialise in child toy libraries, but they're taking their time over getting back to me, presumably because, as far as I know, no one's ever done this before. I'm a trailblazer, an innovator!!! :lol:

I hadn't even thought about insurance until the vet mentioned it, as destroyed toys will be covered by a deposit, but they pointed out I could need it if a dog injured itself on a toy or reacted to the cleaning solution, or fell ill and the owner decided they'd caught it from one of the toys.

BTW, LoQ, I don't know if you've seen it, but this is the hardest toy I've got: https://www.petsexpert.co.uk/products/7 ... gJErPD_BwE Jasper knows he has to push the blocks along the tracks with his nose, but struggles to move them in the right direction, particularly if it's positioned so he has to start by moving a block towards him. Being wooden it is chewable, which might be a problem for you or not - Jasper only chews the wooden blocks if he manages to remove them, so I have to pick them up while he's eating the treat.
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
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