The dog musing/vent thread

[*blackrose]

If walks are causing most of this stress I'd stop walking her if you can. I've never considered walks to be the best exercise honestly, running around after a ball or playing a rousing game of tug (with some fetch and chase thrown in) can do more to tire a dog out physically. You'd have to find new ways of mentally working her, since walks do provide a lot of sensory stimulation, something like hide and seek (either finding you or finding a treat, or even doing your own nose work...you can even buy duck scent). Management/avoidance isn't the worst thing in the world, especially if it makes both of your lives less stressful.

You could also consider taking a reactive dog class.

I second the stop walking, if you have a yard (or other secure place) you can exercise her in. Chloe had horrible reactivity issues towards other dogs, and due to living in the country every dog we passed was loose, so they could charge us barking, which made things 10x worse. By the time we got back, I'd be frustrated and Chloe would be an anxious mess. I just stopped going for walks. Instant relief for both of us. We biked for a bit, which she loved, but her hip bothered her so we stopped. Then she just got her exercise through playing. (Now she's older and doesn't care.) Abrams doesn't get walked because I'm lazy and don't feel like picking up his poop and worrying about him barking at people, so we just exercise in the yard and go on hikes/swims on the weekends.

If walks stop, you may also be able to gradually work with her on her reactivity as she's not being bombarded with things daily. Chloe was much easier to work with around other dogs when it wasn't constantly being reinforced that she should be barking at them like when we would go on walks and get charged at.

 

[straw]

I third the stop walking. I would also second the recommendation of taking a group class for reactive dogs. Obviously look with caution and steer clear of kind of physical or verbal corrections or instructors suggesting this is an issue of dominance. Because both are bullcrap and I'm sure you know that.

Having another set (or two, or three) of experienced eyes watching you and your dog can be so helpful, even if you already have a good idea of what you should be doing. Plus it gives you and Nina a CONTROLLED environment to practice all your skills.

We've been offering 'Reactive Rover' classes at my work for almost two years now and they are super unbelievably cool, and we have a lot of success as long as the owners buy in and do their homework.

http://rollinwithrubi.blogspot.ca/ is another nicely-written blog about living with reactivity that can help inspire you and give you ideas for getting a handle on Nina's frustration.

 

[Laurelin]

Mia is so much smarter than the other 3 dogs. It's really unreal. I had locked them out of the house yesterday with a baby gate to keep the door open (it was gorgeous out!). I didn't even make it out the front door to get the groceries before Mia had already gotten inside.

Of the other 3 after Mia was sneaking in 3 or 4 times, Rose and Summer finally followed her in. But they would have never found the way in by themselves. Poor Beau was derping and whining that it was unfair that he was stuck outside unlike the others.

Also, Summer is such a follower! This morning I took her to pick Jo up and she was trying to ride on the head rest like Mia does.

 

[JazzyTheSibe]

This video just really ticks me off.
[YOUTUBE]pymI2F2EXn0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Melle]

Thanks for the recommendations guys.

I've thought about rehoming and then recognizing how much I love her for the little things so many times (I'm also indecisive as a person about EVERYTHING) that my parents probably can't even count it on their fingers. About a week or two ago we actually drove to the PSPCA with her because that day I felt the most stable about being pretty sure it wouldn't work out, but not out of dislike for her, just depression, anxiety, and social pressure, and being a sad and sorry teenager in general. We ended up signing up for group classes, and a trainer is supposed to call us but we still have yet to hear anything about it.

I'm not sure whether it is more or less frustrating that her reactivity is neither fear or aggression based. She just gets excited to meet another dog and romp around and thus gets frustrated she can't and decides to run-hop and warble like some weird little finch bird. So I'd think it'd be easier to resolve than if it were real, hardcore reactivity. It doesn't help that we live in a quiet suburb where almost every dog walking is perfect at ignoring and then here she goes, the only bull breed setting up a little circus across the street :X And depending on if my anxiety is up that day, I certainly feel like it represents me as an owner and aspiring animal trainer.

We have a pretty nice-sized yard, not fenced but she has a long line, and now she's halfway learned fetch so we spend a lot of time out there just doing flirtpole and sniffing and training and ball chasing.

Being in public is pretty much the only stressor right now. When all is quiet and we're just doing our thing on our turf, she's happy and I'm calm and no anxiety flairs for me. We play balancing games and I teach her little tasks to help my depression and we tug and have a riot of a time. She's gotten a lot better honestly, from the 10 month old puppy who slammed me into a telephone pole once because she couldn't accept that the dog across the street would not come and greet her. We actually passed a total of 4 dogs in the past month, once without treats and another time with a minimal reaction.

Part of it is also probably her reaching full maturity. Although seeing as when I get an apartment and move out I'll be living back in the urban inner city, I kind of dread what will be the process of navigating busy Philly to find a park with her, if I don't have a yard.

 

[straw]

I'm not sure whether it is more or less frustrating that her reactivity is neither fear or aggression based. She just gets excited to meet another dog and romp around and thus gets frustrated she can't and decides to run-hop and warble like some weird little finch bird.

If it makes you feel any better, roughly a quarter of the dogs that take our classes are like this. You can use this to your advantage, if you know that once she gets up close and personal she won't get into a dust-up. If goofing around with other dogs is her biggest reward, use that. If she learns the quickest way to get what she wants (saying hi) is to act mostly sane, you should make a lot of progress.

But I know reactivity is so frustrating and sometimes you just need to vent and scream and cry because you didn't get the dog you wanted. And I get that. Best of luck.

 

[Kyllobernese]

Dog crates

I am going to have to have a sale on Dog crates. Every time I stop in at garage sales, it seems they have a crate for sale. This morning I picked up a great big airline crate 40 long, 30 wide and 27 high for $5.00. I have lots of other crates of various sizes that I bought for anywhere from $1.00 to $10.00, most of them smaller and mostly airline crates but a couple of wire crates too small for Kris.

Of course, the wire crate I just bought for Kris to go in the Van, I paid around $70.00 for but wanted a wire one, and over $100.00 for the big 42 inch wire crate she sleeps in at night.

Some people collect dog collars, I collect dog crates, never know when I might need one.

 

[Paviche]

Rowan's collar was shipped out today and the picture looks wonderful. I can't wait!

 

[Laurelin]

Mia jumped out my moving car window. I was going up my day's driveway which is long and I had to roll down the window to put in the gate code. I left the window down like usual and let her ride in my lap up the driveway. I didn't even see the squirrel before she was GONE. I was going probably 20 mph.

I guess I have good reflexes because I grabbed her tail before I registered what happened. So I'm driving up the driveway with Mia 100% out the window hanging updide down by her tail. It wasn't till after that I freaked out.

She seems fine now. That was terrifying.

 

[teacuptiger]

This video just really ticks me off.
[YOUTUBE]pymI2F2EXn0[/YOUTUBE]

Well that was a whole lotta stupid in just a minute. She must be trying to go for a world record.

 

[crazedACD]

Fiona got a herding group two today in an AKC confo match. Okay, it was only out of three dogs...but the third was a very well prepared and handled Sheltie. It gives me a little ray of hope .

 

[Southpaw]

"Spa day" at mi casa... dogs are bathed, nails are trimmed, ears are cleaned, beds are washed. We all hate this weekly routine but it feels great when it's done! lol.

I also got to confirm that Cajun is not shedding anywhere near as bad as she used to, which we had been suspecting. Her pre-bath brushing was pretty uneventful and hardly any hair came off. I used to brush like 100 tumbleweeds off her. Yay Cajun.

 

[Melle]

Balancing out the pros and the cons of the next few years and where it might take us.

Thinking about what will be best. My heart wants to make everything work and keep my girl by my side. Reality is suggesting I consider another home for her at some point in the future of this year, and that a cat would just be better for my ambitions right now.

I want what's best for her. Just taking my time thinking. God I love this dog. What really scares me is the thought of her one day falling into the hands of either a pit mommy, or a thug. If I can make this work, I will to every point I can. If I find that it's restricting her quality of life, I'll go the route of Good Home Insurance at my local rescue.

Of course for now she's staying right where she is giving me lots of kisses and throwing toys at my face.

 

[SaraB]

Mighty Mouse played flyball at the U-fli championships this weekend!! She had two great heats and tons of great warm ups. Best time was a 4.4 with a wide pass. She earned her first title too. Proud of my whippet girl, she tried so hard today.

 

[Ozfozz]

The dogs were at my parents house for a total of 2 nights. Came to pick them up today and Rigby is FAT, she also seems to have diarrhea.
"One scoop" of food does not mean one giant overfilling bucket dad. Thanks.

 

[Paviche]

I can't believe people are honestly arguing that pet stores and shelters are the same thing. They are apples and oranges.

Yes Kendall. I see the difference. One stocks up on dogs to display and sell to the general public while maintaing a profit based on reputation and the other...stocks up on...dogs...to display...

Is this real life?

 

[Picklepaige]

Is this real life?

"I Love Responsible Dog Breeders" is such a funny group. They talk about how rescue people are crazy and over the top, but then they do the exact. same. thing. Just replacing "shelter/rescue" with breeder.

 

[Oko]

Yeah, they lost me at 'we should support all responsible breeders, and USDA licensed kennels are responsible breeders!'...ummmm if you say so.

 

[Paviche]

"I Love Responsible Dog Breeders" is such a funny group. They talk about how rescue people are crazy and over the top, but then they do the exact. same. thing. Just replacing "shelter/rescue" with breeder.

Yeah, their page should really be "I Love Dog Breeders." Some of the admins seem fine, but certain ones really bug me. Sorry that I don't view dogs as livestock. Actually, I'm not sorry!

They're bad enough some times that I've repeatedly thought about leaving the group, but honestly, some of the discussions generated are interesting, so I've stayed for now.

 

[JazzyTheSibe]

"I Love Responsible Dog Breeders" is such a funny group. They talk about how rescue people are crazy and over the top, but then they do the exact. same. thing. Just replacing "shelter/rescue" with breeder.

It should be called... "I love irresponsible breeders". Because some of them see dogs as livestock. Nothing more.

Yeah, they lost me at 'we should support all responsible breeders, and USDA licensed kennels are responsible breeders!'...ummmm if you say so.

They act like there so full of knowledge, when, in reality, their full of BS. My definition of "responsible breeders" isn't what there definition of responsible breeders is.

I view USDA licensed kennels not as "responsible" breeders, but as "irresponsible". Their arguments are... flawed. The way I see it. I've seen some support commercial kennels, in way are stating that puppy mills don't exist,& even act like puppy mills aren't all that bad. It makes you wonder.


Comparing pet stores to shelters, just pisses me off. When you put them on the same pedestal. I have no words. How would one even think of comparing the two,& then go onto to say that shelters are basically the same as pet stores?