The dog musing/vent thread

[Finkie_Mom]

That sounds like Frodo when I drop him off at his special needs boarding place. We walk in, he says hello to the women who run it, then heads straight to their expansive, fenced in play-yard and never looks back. It's half awesome because I love that he loves it there, and half heartbreaking because I WANT HIM TO LOVE ME AND BE SAD THAT I'M LEAVING, DAMMIT!

I know. How rude these dogs are!

Though apparently he's been counter surfing and whining whenever she goes out of sight. He doesn't do those things here. So I don't even know how I would work on them? That might mean he has nowhere to go when we're on vacation. The whining is a deal breaker because obviously she can't be in his sight all of the time, and it is triggering the other dogs to also whine. And he's not eating at all. I.... Don't even know where he is going to stay

But he was totally quiet in his crate overnight and leash walking like a pro so he's got that going for him? :/

 

[Laurelin]

Summer has the farts this morning. She is the most pathetic thing you have ever seen when she gets the farts. She gets very worried and then wants you to comfort her and she will pace and look generally sad. Its very sad.

 

[Paige]

I finally got around to bringing out the clicker with Arya and she is so cute. She offers really amazing eye contact in just our first session and she is so much fun. She picked up on it right away. After two clicks she was like OMG CLICK MEANS TREATS? I got this.

 

[Red.Apricot]

I got to snuggle with shelties today. I need that in my life more often.

 

[Southpaw]

There is nothing worse than having a BULLY STICK EMERGENCY when the pet store with the best bully sticks is closed.

Marrow bones from the butcher, it is! I guess that's just as good. And cheaper. It results in a couple hours of quiet, at least! Gosh, before Cajun we raaaaaarely had chews for the dogs... and now, we usually have an assortment of bones, bully sticks, tracheas, and hooves floating about.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I know. How rude these dogs are!

Though apparently he's been counter surfing and whining whenever she goes out of sight. He doesn't do those things here. So I don't even know how I would work on them? That might mean he has nowhere to go when we're on vacation. The whining is a deal breaker because obviously she can't be in his sight all of the time, and it is triggering the other dogs to also whine. And he's not eating at all. I.... Don't even know where he is going to stay

But he was totally quiet in his crate overnight and leash walking like a pro so he's got that going for him? :/

Buddy has decided that he is no longer my dog and that he likes my parents better (whether they know it , like it or not lol) :wall: . Oh well, at least I still have Josefina xD

 

[Laurelin]

People were looking at me funny while Mia and I were splashing through mud puddles at the park. Lol we had fun so they can shut it. What's the point in goin to a park right after a big rain if you don't splash in the mud?

 

[Dogdragoness]

ARGH! The old dog snuck off his bed last night and pooped on the carpet!!! Luckily it wasn't funny so I was able to easily pick it up and natures miracle took care of the rest.

Then the Shoer came today to shoe my morher's horse. She brings her dogs so I put mine in the house while I was outside helping her and I hear all this noise (our windows are open so I can hear stuff happening inside the house) so I go back inside to see buddy tryin to escape through the kennel door (I forgot to lock the bottom latch) and my parents other dog thinking about rummaging through the trash ... WTH dogs! I guess all of you will have to be on tie down ANY time I leave and go outside for any length of time :wall:

 

[AllieMackie]

Vent...

Rotating cats and dog is annoying. Really annoying. And more so because Fiora has taken to stalking Finn whenever he's leashed around them, following him anywhere he goes, growling. If he gets too close for her liking she attacks, which makes him lunge because leash, negative feedback loop ugh.

Very careful, small LAT sessions from now on. And we're going to have to do something about that stalking behaviour.

Finn was fine with June Bug (some minor fixating and chasing but both parties were content with it), but his obsessive fixation on these two cats is nuts. Stan is content keeping his distance, but both cats really dislike him. Between unpacking, finishing up at the old house, trying to keep a routine work schedule at home and adjusting to our new home life, I'm finding the entire mess to be extremely challenging. We're only three days in so I'm trying to keep positive, but it's really hard.

I get scared of the possibility of having to rehome if it doesn't work out. And then anxiety.

 

[SpringerLover]

Vent...

Rotating cats and dog is annoying. Really annoying. And more so because Fiora has taken to stalking Finn whenever he's leashed around them, following him anywhere he goes, growling. If he gets too close for her liking she attacks, which makes him lunge because leash, negative feedback loop ugh.

Very careful, small LAT sessions from now on. And we're going to have to do something about that stalking behaviour.

Finn was fine with June Bug (some minor fixating and chasing but both parties were content with it), but his obsessive fixation on these two cats is nuts. Stan is content keeping his distance, but both cats really dislike him. Between unpacking, finishing up at the old house, trying to keep a routine work schedule at home and adjusting to our new home life, I'm finding the entire mess to be extremely challenging. We're only three days in so I'm trying to keep positive, but it's really hard.

I get scared of the possibility of having to rehome if it doesn't work out. And then anxiety.

My boyfriend's cat is similar. She has cornered my dogs before. Granted, we don't live there, but she goes in a safe place when my dogs are there and out. {{hugs}} Is there any way you can do separate areas of the house for now? Just... no contact for a couple weeks until everyone settles in?

 

[sassafras]

Cats are kung fu masters of stress displacement behaviors. Personally I would get a couple Feliway diffusers, completely separate everyone until the move is done, and then slowly re-introduce.

 

[*blackrose]

I am SO HAPPY I have dogs that don't care about storms. Earth rumbling, ear shattering storm at 2am this morning, that was freaking ME out? NO PROBLEM. They both slept through it.

<3 dogs that don't care. <3 <3 <3

 

[Dagwall]

I am SO HAPPY I have dogs that don't care about storms. Earth rumbling, ear shattering storm at 2am this morning, that was freaking ME out? NO PROBLEM. They both slept through it.

<3 dogs that don't care. <3 <3 <3

Emphatically agree! I have a dog who seems to enjoy the storms. On a few occasions he's gone downstairs to watch the storm out the window. Usually he'll just stay put and keep sleeping. Occasionally a loud crash of thunder close by might get a head raise but that's about it.

 

[AllieMackie]

My boyfriend's cat is similar. She has cornered my dogs before. Granted, we don't live there, but she goes in a safe place when my dogs are there and out. {{hugs}} Is there any way you can do separate areas of the house for now? Just... no contact for a couple weeks until everyone settles in?

Thankfully Marshall's house is full of doors, haha. A 50's bungalow. So we can close off the entire hallway of bedrooms, the kitchen, and/or the bathroom. The cats/dog can push open the kitchen and basement doors if we aren't careful, so I've been making use of barriers and gates.

It's easy to be frustrated and easy to forget that this is all new to everyone involved. But anxiety, sigh. Makes it hard to be calm about it.

Cats are kung fu masters of stress displacement behaviors. Personally I would get a couple Feliway diffusers, completely separate everyone until the move is done, and then slowly re-introduce.

Got the diffusers today actually! Had to get them back from someone who had borrowed them. Hopefully they will help. And yeah, separation for the next week or three will probably be best. Finn keeps fixating at the doors he knows the cats are behind. Have to work strongly on LAT and really re-establish his Leave It.

 

[SpaceMutt]

Hell just froze over: Astro cares about something more than food. I was working him in the giant lobby of my apartment building, with a tug toy and food, and he was so much more interested in the tug that he actively refused the treats. Got him to do perfect down-stays and sit-stays from across the lobby (I'm terrible at guessing dimensions, but it's a very big space) for upwards of two minutes, absolute dynamite recalls (he tried to take me out at the shins actually), and even some heeling off-leash with his eyes boring holes in mine. All for the tug! He has NEVER offered that much eye contact or been that excited about learning, EVER.

Now, if anyone has any advice about getting an overexcited 11-month-old puppy not to graze and scrape your fingers with his teeth when he's leaping for a tug, that'd be grand :hail:

 

[Laurelin]

Yay some potentially happy news. Well, at least something I'm pretty excited about!

 

[casey82]

Yay some potentially happy news. Well, at least something I'm pretty excited about!

And you don't share?

 

[meepitsmeagan]

I have Border Staffy want.

 

[Ozfozz]

I have Border Staffy want.

I'll send you Ruby...she can totally pretend to be a Border Staffy..just a weird long legged one.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

I'll send you Ruby...she can totally pretend to be a Border Staffy..just a weird long legged one.

Lol! Sounds good!