The dog musing/vent thread

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
We ended up just doing the bronze level. I think we're going to end up doing an in person advanced nosework starting up next month (or at least there's talk of it). I wish I could've done the gold level but oh well. Have fun with your class!
 

Red Chrome

Active Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
1,568
Likes
0
Points
36
I think at that point you're saying the sport is more important than the dog. I get it (to some extent) for working dogs. LE specifically, but even SAR like I do. When it takes years and a ridiculous amount of money to certify, and you're doing that to serve the community and save lives (or, in my case, bring peace to families and help convict those responsible for the deaths), then I get having to give up a dog that didn't work out because you only have so much time, space, and money. And letting a companion live out their days with you can prevent you from doing your job. But, even then, it should be hard. It should be absolutely heartbreaking. Some people manage to do it. Others don't. But the thought of doing that for a sport, albeit one you're very invested in, just doesn't sit right with me. Because at the end of the day, unless your livelihood depends on it, no matter how competitive, driven or immersed you are, it's still a sport, it's still a game and one that you are picking over your dog.
I disagree. But...my dogs are also required to work as personal protection dogs, not every dog can do that and it's not a sport.

Fwiw, I've never rehomed a dog. Ever. I've always kept them, even when they have had health issues that mean no more sports for them. I truly hope a s pray my puppy works out like I'm hoping, but I'm also looking at him clearly not with Rose colored glasses. I know his faults and am learning his temperament and attitude everyday.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Doesn't make them right or wrong.
 

SpringerLover

Active Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
3,415
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
B-ville
Heck yeah!

And I don't find Siri hard to live with, just everybody else does apparently :p
To be fair, now that the housetraining has improved along with a decrease in leaky-balloning when in her crate... I think most of us like her more!

You were correct last night when you said she's a lot more fun to work with now!
 

Sekah

The Monster.
Joined
Feb 6, 2011
Messages
1,339
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Toronto
I don't know where this toy crazy dog has come from. There was a time where Cohen was only minimally interested in chasing balls and was rarely interested in tug. Lately she's been tug crazy and last night we had a hugely fun (and exhausting) session of the switch game. I was even able to get her to re-engage with the tug after switching to food for a repetition! Madness!

This was a dog who would flatly refuse to play if food was in the mix. She still clearly prefers food, but I've been really happy at the desire to play that seems to be emerging. I've not even really made a conscientious effort to work on it.

It's easy to forget just how far she's come in recent years. She's such a fun little trooper.
 

SaraB

New Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
5,798
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
St. Louis, MO
I don't know where this toy crazy dog has come from. There was a time where Cohen was only minimally interested in chasing balls and was rarely interested in tug. Lately she's been tug crazy and last night we had a hugely fun (and exhausting) session of the switch game. I was even able to get her to re-engage with the tug after switching to food for a repetition! Madness!

This was a dog who would flatly refuse to play if food was in the mix. She still clearly prefers food, but I've been really happy at the desire to play that seems to be emerging. I've not even really made a conscientious effort to work on it.

It's easy to forget just how far she's come in recent years. She's such a fun little trooper.
AWESOME!!! I always take Zuma's ability to switch back and forth for granted, especially when I work with a new dog. So convenient to be able to go back and forth!
 

Elrohwen

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Messages
1,797
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
Watson has earned back some of his off leash privileges. Yay! Last night we went out on our local walking trail and I let him drag the long line most of the time and he was fantastic (in addition to some other off leash stuff lately). I played a lot of games, running away from him, hiding behind things, etc and he never even tried to get too far away. He took off a bit when we got home, since those are "his woods" and there might be deer to smell, but I just ignored him and kept heading towards the house and he figured it was better to catch up with me. It will probably be too dark to try this again tonight, but with our likely snow day tomorrow we'll probably do some more work. He really isn't a horrible dog off leash, and I don't think he intends to run off - he just needs to work on leaving a hunt when he's called, and checking in with me instead of following his nose so much. The snow makes it easier to spot deer too so I can stay one step ahead of him (it's rare that I don't spot them first, but sometimes he catches a scent).

I've definitely seen a little more maturity from him lately, and a willingness to work with me instead of asserting his independence so much. Or maybe the world is becoming less exciting as he gets older.
 
Last edited:

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
Seven inches of snow + being home from work this evening and all day tomorrow = new chew toy for Abrams. LOL
 

teacuptiger

floor dancer
Joined
Jul 10, 2013
Messages
1,447
Likes
0
Points
36
Slowly, ever so slowly, Roxie is becoming confident enough to be more and more independent. Tonight, I hid a treat behind a baby gate that was against a wall. At first, Roxie was a bit confused, and then got frustrated and started grumbling, trying to get me to help her out. I just told her, "you got it", and turned away.

A few minutes later and she figured out of she squished just so, she could squeeze into the small space and retrieve her treat without knocking the gate to the floor.

This may seem like a really tiny step, and really slow since she just turned 5, but she's always deferred to me and never tried to be anything but my shadow- never tried thinking for herself or trying to be an individual who can do things separate from me... So this is pretty huge for us.

I'm sorta feeling like Ender today, lol. He had his fleet he could give instruction to and then send off, knowing that they could make their own decisions to improvise for the situation, and that's what Roxie is becoming. I always knew this quaking ball of fur had it in her :)

It just amazes me how far she has come. She used to be a limb to me, right next to me and never far enough to not be touching. Then she was a shadow, always doing only what I said and nothing else. She's still my shadow, but now she's a shadow who's also another being, if that makes any sense lol.

The only way Roxie could possibly get any more perfect is if she lived as long as me. I'm never gonna get a dog as awesome as she is, and I wish we could do more and have more time.
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2013
Messages
364
Likes
0
Points
16
Location
NYC
I was going to make a jab at you Laurelin for taking so long to get a puppy, but...I see Sass has already covered it :p

On this topic, Astro just. keeps. trying. to get a statue of a mountain lion that someone has in their yard to play with him. Playbows at it, barks at it, tags it and runs, the works. He's always so very hurt that it doesn't engage with him. He needs a playmate, BAD.
 

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
I also saw 2 border collie puppies, one mini aussie puppy, and one springer pup. The mini was freaking adorable like you wouldn't believe. Tricolor and fluffy and so precious and SO SOFT. I want it.
 

Finkie_Mom

It's A Red Dog Revolution
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
Messages
1,794
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Bensalem, PA
Just had such a fun late night walk with the Jari man. He was on a long line and we went to a few open field areas so that he could just sniff and walk at his own pace and I could recall him back and do heelwork randomly. It was awesome.

In other musing news, I kind of wish I had the space/time to do in home dog training/boarding. I've had people ask me about it, but I just can't bring another dog in to my home right now. And as much as I love teaching group classes, just being able to WORK a dog is so much better (I'm so spoiled at work LOL). Maybe one day I will have the space inside and out to accommodate such a thing....
 

Members online

Top