The dog musing/vent thread

Maxy24

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Mom emailed me today to let me know Tucker made a new dog friend! My step cousin came to visit and brought her Lab/Mastiff puppy Mud along. Tucker has become increasingly dog aggressive on walks so I wasn't really sure how hard he'd be to introduce to a new dog. Those dogs he does know he adores, all wiggles and whining and PLAY WITH ME PLEASE, but strange dogs make him super uncomfortable and he gets aggressive with them, so he hasn't made any new dog friends in a year or so. I knew at some point my step cousin would come to visit with her pup and I told my mom not to let Tucker meet Mud without me there. But they had a big cook out yesterday so Tucker was probably very upset being kept inside and I guess they decided to try and introduce the dogs. Mom said she used lots of treats and praise, that it was iffy at first (not sure how iffy exactly) but eventually they were having a blast playing and were best friends. I'm so glad because Tucker doesn't get to play with other dogs at all really. Phoebe who he sees every day doesn't play and Tucker always tries super hard to get her to. So I'm happy he got to have so much fun (and happy he didn't traumatize the puppy...though I'm pretty sure Mud is a lot bigger than Tucker at this point, I've heard he's a nervous puppy). If only they didn't live in Maine!
 

*blackrose

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Okay, I know weird coats are normal for puppies...but I'm still worried. *sigh* His haircoat is super brittle and thin in places. It's like his top coat is completely gone and just weird, inconsistent undercoat is left I took a picture of him tonight with my flash on and I could see skin reflecting back. Normal?
I'm a worrywart, I know...:eek:

ETA: Yes, I'm pretty sure I'm just a worrywart...I'm just going to keep any eye on it and if it gets worse then I'll worry. Until then...he'll just be a ratty, scraggly, ugly dog. ROFL
 
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*blackrose

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Have you asked the breeder?
No. Haven't thought it really pertinent. If it doesn't clear up and/or gets worse I'll ask. As of right now, I'm pretty sure I'm just going crazy. People see him and don't notice anything, I just do because I'm up close and personal with him. I honestly first noticed it after he had a bath last week (maybe...can't remember when it was). Wonder if the shampoo did something to it.

ETA: On the off chance it was the shampoo, I gave him a bath with just water, to see if there was any residue left over weighing it down or something. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow! It did seem a bit "fuller" after I was done toweling him off. Still not the right texture, though, but that may just be his coat changing...

I think some of the skin I'm seeing is from just his waves sitting weird? I'm not used to having a dog with this kind of haircoat, I don't think.
 
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DenoLo

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I have a sneaky, eerily smart little dog. I left Lola's bag of leftover treats after agility in my pocketbook on the kitchen table. I was home putting around doing errands for about 3 hours afterwards and Lola did not once so much as GLANCE towards the table or show the slightest bit of interest to tip me off.

I leave the room for 2 whole minutes, and I come back and she's already up on the table, opened the bag and had eaten every last drop. Totally convinced she pretended all night that she didn't know they were there so that the instant I turned my back she could strike LOL.
 

Sit Stay

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Ned weighs in at 12 pounds, at 1 day short of 11 weeks. I'm curious to know how he compares to the other Koolies here at that age! He was so itty bitty when we got him, he seems more normal now LOL.
 

Oko

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Wesley curled up in Cleo's tiny dog bed LOL, I love his lack of spatial awareness.
 

SaraB

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Ned weighs in at 12 pounds, at 1 day short of 11 weeks. I'm curious to know how he compares to the other Koolies here at that age! He was so itty bitty when we got him, he seems more normal now LOL.
Zinga was 10.7lbs at 1 day shy of 11 weeks. The closest weight I have for Zip Tie is at 12 weeks and 4 days, he was 13lbs.
 

Picklepaige

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...is it normal for a dog to smell sweet? Haha. Ever since I put Finn on CORE, he's just smelled really GOOD. A sweet, fresh smell. He hasn't had a bathe recently, so it's not that. He seriously smells like shampoo. It's awesome.
 

Muttkip

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**** it Beau you're not allowed to be getting old :(

Why must your hearing be going of all things!!!? :cry:

Any thoughts on how to train an older dog that is used to voice commands to hand signals? He's used to a clicker but with his hearing going that isn't much help. He has no toy drive anymore and works well for food.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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**** it Beau you're not allowed to be getting old :(

Why must your hearing be going of all things!!!? :cry:

Any thoughts on how to train an older dog that is used to voice commands to hand signals? He's used to a clicker but with his hearing going that isn't much help. He has no toy drive anymore and works well for food.
Start adding a hand signal with the word now, hand signal-word-behavior-reward.

:(
 

Muttkip

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Start adding a hand signal with the word now, hand signal-word-behavior-reward.

:(
So basically before he loses all his hearing, start adding hand signals as I do voice commands?

How should I mark the behaviors once he does lose his hearing? I can piece together all his tricks with hand signals, but should I phase out the clicker?
 

*blackrose

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Client came in today with a stray Lab she had found. He was a senior boy, intact. Stiff hips. Harsh breathing. Bad skin. Goopy eyes. Thin. Either an anal gland infection or possible cancer. (But, surprisingly, nothing seriously wrong that a physical could find! Still need to run bloodwork, though.) When he wandered into her yard he was pale, weak, and could barely move. She's tried for a week to find his owner's, doing everything she could, and nothing. In all likelihood, someone doesn't want him back because he's old and has health issues.

He looked just like Blackie, only chocolate, and was an awesome boy, just like Blackie. Even had a little lipoma on his side in the same place Blackie did. Same coat, same build, same head structure. So much like Blackie. The lady who found him is a saint and is going to give him the care he needs and give him a retirement home, and thank God for that, otherwise he would have been coming home with me even though it is impossible for me to have a third dog. Oh, it just makes me sick and infuriates me that someone could betray their dog, their Labrador, like that. But he is in good hands now, and that's what counts.
 

Dagwall

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So basically before he loses all his hearing, start adding hand signals as I do voice commands?

How should I mark the behaviors once he does lose his hearing? I can piece together all his tricks with hand signals, but should I phase out the clicker?
A lot of people train their deaf dogs with a flashing light in place of a clicker. Kinda like one of those key chain flashlights, blink it on/off once or twice in place of a click.
 
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I want a puppy. I've found a puppy who I really like. The rational part of me is saying that I don't need another dog. The irrational part is saying why not? What to do? Hmmm....
 

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