The dog musing/vent thread

Thank you! I spent a lot of time talking with my hubby about it yesterday and he said the same things you said. He thought that it could only benefit us and if we tried it, didn't like it, that was okay too, because at least we tried. My IL's thought obedience classes were pretty much 'the norm' and didn't bat an eye when hubby said he was taking her this weekend. They even know someone with agility equipment in their backyard.

And that is pretty awesome that dog sports got you a great job and hubby

Just came across a Miniature Boxer on Instagram...what an awkward looking dog, obvious mix - but just not well put together looking for people to be breeding for.

I know someone with a "mini boxer" and the dog literally does not even have boxer in it. She's like a pug/boston terrier/french bulldog type thing. It kind of makes me laugh because the reason he was interested in boxers was because of the ones I've had... so he gets a dog that has no boxer in its pedigree And probably paid more than he would have for a purebred boxer from a reputable breeder Im sure too!

This one does resemble a Boxer a good bit, but then you see other breed(s) coming through - which I assume to also be one of the ones you mentioned. If you're interested it's @rugbytheminiboxer. Didn't know if I should post it or not, as not trying to be crappy towards them dog, as I do think it's one of those oddball cute dogs, which I always want seeing them at the shelters, but just found it interesting. No doubt I shouldn't since there's Miniature everything, haha.

This is the part where I personally got hung up LOL I stuck with several different sports just because I said I was going to do them, not because I enjoyed them. Only in the last couple of years have I really narrowed down/prioritized what I actually want to be doing

This dog is SO CUTE.

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/31755796/

Omg. so cute.

Cautious optimism here ... but I think I might have Lincoln's issue with loose poop cleared up (finally!!!) It is still soft, and he still has a loose one every ONCE and a while, but hell, I will take that over "cow pie" poop any day!

American Herding Breed Association will accept him, but there's a lot fewer opportunities to trial and the first class is a lot more advanced than the first AKC class. With AKC we had a shot at getting his first title in a weekend. With AHBA I'm looking at more like a year before we get there.

My instructor wants me to ILP him as whatever he looks most like, and suggested English shephard, but those aren't recognized by the AKC. I need to find a breed that fits and is on their list of eligible herders. Any suggestions?

Shave him then, then ACD!

I realized today that I'm just super happy/content with my dogs right now - my relationship with each of them, their relationships with each other, where they're all at in their training... really just everything. They're such good dogs.

Glue ears to head, MAS!

Soooo happy with Juno today. I always know she's a GOOD dog, but every once in a while I just have these moments where I'm like... Gawd, she's just the perfect companion dog. I took her to work with me today, long story short we were having a "restraint lab" and using her as a demo dog to practice various techniques. The fact that I even felt comfortable volunteering her for this is amazing because a couple years ago, this sort of thing would have completely freaked her out and I never would have put her through having a bunch of strangers handle her. She did so great and had no problem being passed from person to person and having her body manipulated lol. She just showered them with kisses anytime they released her.

And then she just quietly laid in her kennel the rest of the afternoon, even with other dogs near her whining and with us moving back and forth in front of her. And on the way home she just lays down and sleeps in the car.

It was just all these little things added up to where I was like, she's just so easy and so good. And perfect.

Set camera to maximum cuteness:

AKC coursing, here we come!

Rhys loves lure coursing so I am pumped we found an event close by.

Way to go, Juno : ) She seems like an awesome dog.

I felt the same way today. Hugo has had to go to the vet 3 times in 3 months for digestive issues we're still trying to figure out. Because it's digestive stuff, I can't even give him treats while there, or have the vet give him any and he has had to have a rectal exam each time. Every time all he does is love on the tech while the vet does whatever. I have done quite a bit of handling training with him, but really, that's just his temperament. I got so lucky with this kid.

Ugh, STAHP!

Our apartment building is settling a bit due to the recent thaw, and the ****ING INSIGNIFICANT little creaks and pops we are hearing is making Eve an absolute sound-sensitive MORON.

I lost my temper with her today, when I came home and she was wild-eyed and stress panting and would settle down for absolutely nothing except to eat her breakfast, then right back to panicking and demanding I pay attention to her. Once upon a time, this dog could self-soothe and deal with noises, but since my stupid boyfriend has catered to her stupid noise sensitivity it's turned her into a stupid attention ***** drama queen.

It's seriously driving me batshit. Never has this dog refused to crate up quietly, but a couple times a week now I get a complete frantic freakout from her when I crate her and go to bed. Not just a little bit of freaking, I'm talking the last time I tried to wait it out before freeing her, she'd thoroughly bloodied her paws and damaged the door to her crate.

I know I could get her back to stable with regards to extremely common noise, if only I could get the rest of the house on board with it... The more attention she receives for her reactions to sounds, the more she overreacts. The men I live with don't seem to recognize the simple concept of attention as a reinforcer, that any time they even GLANCE at her it's encouragement to her. I try to explain this to them and they look at me like I'm speaking in ****ing tongues.

It's such a delicate balance keeping a high drive dog as an apartment pet and with me working full time and not having the hours in the day to devote to being awake and around her, I feel like this is ruining my dog. :'(

^ would a white noise machine or app help? I played one on high when Truman was a puppy and crated. Every little noise would worry him first couple of weeks. Still use one for the human baby lol!

I finally took the leap and made an appointment with a chiropractor for Rigby. Her persistent limp just kept getting worse, and certain people in my household didn't listen when I requested that they leave her behind on the big hikes.
I, and other people close to her can do just about anything to her physically without any argument. But until this point, a stranger has never been able to touch handle her. Vets have a hard time getting a pulse on her because she's so flighty with new people.

I teared up a bit last night when the chiro was able to do a full-body work up on her! Near the end I was barely holding her as she was getting her adjustment.
So proud of my crazy little mutt letting someone help her like that.

That's awesome to hear.

Venice is also super flighty and spends vet appointments sulking behind me. It's so heartwarming to see little breakthroughs. Way to go Rig!