The dog musing/vent thread

Dogdragoness

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I broke Abrams. :(

He holds completely still for every kind of medical procedure...but he submissively urinates. I've tried to make everything a positive experience for him, but he refuses treats and just shuts down. Ugh. I don't know where I went wrong or what I did, and now I have to figure out how to fix it, because being peed on by him when I clean out his ears is not fun.
the same dog mentioned below is a submissive urinator ... I HATE it ... hate hate HATE it to the point where I don't do anything medically to her unless we are outside & she is on dirt because her submissive urinating is so bad.

Kind of sad that I think my walks with all four dogs at once have to come to an end. :-( Unless I start getting up at the crack of dawn so that I know for sure nobody else will be at my park/field. Or just scope out whether my field is empty or not first, or just put a leash on him when I see another dog... I don't know.

Ripley's becoming increasingly not trustworthy with other dogs as of late. Mostly males, but some females too. And he won't instigate a fight, but if he hears any growling or anything he wants in on it and has attempted to 'attack' two dogs now. I knew this was a possibility with his breed, but I always hoped it would never happen. We don't go to real dog parks, but the field I do walk in does have a few other people and dogs in it, and the one and only dog we ran into on Friday he was not nice to. Granted, the other dog snarked at my girls first because it apparently didn't like being greeted (even politely) by multiple dogs, but Ripley came flying across the field from where he was and tried to aggressively grab the dog. He used to avoid confrontation at all costs... not anymore. I guess I should be happy that he didn't actually do any damage and I was able to call him off and put his leash on him, but still, not a reaction I ever really expected of him (based on personality and not breed) and I'm a little heartbroken that it's come to this. But I just feel like it's asking for trouble to continue to take him, and I don't want to be the moron at the park who takes a dog there known to not always be friendly with other dogs. He's still dog friendly most of the time, but there have been a couple of moments now that have concerned me.

And I don't know how to exercise him now, which makes me even sadder. I don't want his life to deteriorate, and he's still a young, active dog. If he was old and didn't care whether or not he got to run, I wouldn't care, but he loves to just run and frolic. And there isn't really anywhere to do that around here that allows dogs. So I'll have to do some searching and come up with a solution.

It's just so much easier too just to take everyone together after work. I only have two hours between the time I get home and bed time, so it'll be a bit challenging.

Also, I want to move out with my girls as soon as I can and I don't want to make my mom feel inept, but I do worry about her ability to have a mildly DA/SSA dog with mild leash reactivity to boot. She's not a bad dog owner, but she's not as good with body language as I am. I probably shouldn't worry and just let her live with him her way, but I can't help it. Ugh.
I have a dog like this ... my parents dog, when the other dogs play, she runs in the middle of them & starts biting the dogs who are playing. If she does it its an automatic time out & a firm "NO!" & the frequency of when she does this has diminished vastly.
 

casey82

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Got to assist with my first training class last night! Yep, love it as much as I thought I would. Also, training people to train dogs and training the dog yourself are two different skill sets! It went well I think! :)
 

Toller_08

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I'm starting to get worried about how the addition of Puppy is going to effect Wesley. This past summer when my sister lived away from home/him, he got really, really attached to me. Initially when she came home, he went back to being clingy with her, but it wore off and has now turned into following me everywhere, even when she is home and available. Like right now, he's asleep on top of me while she's accessible in another room. Once the puppy comes home, I won't be able to spend nearly as much time with him...I just worry because I think he's thinking I'm his primary care taker. Bleh.
It might take some adjusting, but I am sure everything will be ok. :)

I guess it's a little different with an only dog, but all of my dogs have adjusted just fine to a new dog taking up some of the time that used to be theirs. It just takes a little bit of time for everyone to find their groove and figure things out.





I have a dog like this ... my parents dog, when the other dogs play, she runs in the middle of them & starts biting the dogs who are playing. If she does it its an automatic time out & a firm "NO!" & the frequency of when she does this has diminished vastly.
Yeah, no, not quite. That to me would just be more of an extreme 'fun police' type situation. This is full out "I don't like that you growled first and now I want to really hurt you" aggression. Like seriously came flying from across the field, snarling, growling, barking, hackles raised, and I think he did grab the other dog for a split second before my very loud yell shocked him, and he would have gone after the dog again had I not been in the exact right place to block and grab him. Prior to that more extreme incident, signs were more subtle. Stiffening of his body, slightly lip curl, stuff like that. Which is still inappropriate, but when it first happened I thought it might have just been that particular dog as it was totally out of character for him. Now I know it likely was not a one off thing, and no amount of "time outs" or telling him to knock it off is going to help.
 
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*blackrose

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Yeah, no, not quite. That to me would just be more of an extreme 'fun police' type situation. This is full out "I don't like that you growled first and now I want to really hurt you" aggression. Like seriously came flying from across the field, snarling, growling, barking, hackles raised, and I think he did grab the other dog for a split second before my very loud yell shocked him, and he would have gone after the dog again had I not been in the exact right place to block and grab him. Prior to that more extreme incident, signs were more subtle. Stiffening of his body, slightly lip curl, stuff like that. Which is still inappropriate, but when it first happened I thought it might have just been that particular dog as it was totally out of character for him. Now I know it likely was not a one off thing, and no amount of "time outs" or telling him to knock it off is going to help.
That's how Blackie was. He got to the point where I could have him out in public/etc. on leash and he would ignore other dogs, but if another dog growled or acted aggressive in any way he would become aggressive. In 4H dog obedience he let a little Golden puppy climb over him after it broke its down stay (and before the owner could grab it), but when a cattle dog snarked two dogs ahead of me during a heeling exercise he was ready to kill it.

I've always had DA dogs in one regard or another, until now. It is definitely a management adjustment, but it isn't the end of the world. :) Would you be able to get him used to wearing a basket muzzle? Then maybe if/when your mom becomes his sole caretaker, you can worry less about her having to micromanage him if he's wearing the muzzle just as a precaution.
 

Southpaw

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There is a boxer that comes to my work named Niko. I ALWAYS call her Juno before I correct myself and call her Niko. You'd think that since she essentially has the same name as MY dog that that would be an easy one, but no, it's always Juno/Niko.
HA I love this. :p
 

*blackrose

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Abrams was barking and being annoying and I yelled, "Chloe, shut up!" :rofl1: You know your dog is annoying when you yell at it and say your other dogs' name whom you haven't lived with for the past year and a half.

Also...went out to mom's tonight for my sister's birthday dinner. Chloe has grey hairs. :( Around her eyes and down her muzzle, she's starting to get grey. She's only 6 1/2! She's not allowed to be old! I told her this evening our lives used to be a lot simpler, when it was just her and me, and that was all we had to worry about. Then life happened, and my life changes and her anxiety/aggression issues just couldn't mesh, so she's still at home and I'm going to be off who knows where next year. Kind of made me sad. She was supposed to be my Abrams, and life just had other plans. But, she's happy and I'm happy, and I guess that's the main thing.
 

Southpaw

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It's funny how oftentimes I consider Juno this annoying, ill-behaved beast. I think of all the mistakes I made with her, all the issues we still have, all the frustration she used to cause me. And yet... now that my mom is considering a puppy. I think of how awesome Juno is. And all the little things I take for granted, that maybe a new puppy wouldn't be as awesome at? What if the dog is impossible to crate train or hates having its nails clipped or doesn't get along with every other dog/creature it meets or is never reliable off leash or hell, never reliable ON leash...

Suddenly Juno becomes the best dog on the planet. At her core she is a REALLY GOOD dog. Makes me sad that I don't realize it until I start thinking of all the things that could have gone bad.
 

AgilityPup

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Today the negibour next door had is Akita out, and was letting him border our property line, on his flexi, of course. Simi often has verbal arguments with this puppy.

Simi and I had just been heading out to play in the backyard, so she was on her long line, toy in mouth and she saw him, raised her back hair but never lunged at him, didn't drop the toy, and right away came to me for tugging and playing. YAY SIMI MOSTER! :)
 

AgilityPup

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That's how Blackie was. He got to the point where I could have him out in public/etc. on leash and he would ignore other dogs, but if another dog growled or acted aggressive in any way he would become aggressive. In 4H dog obedience he let a little Golden puppy climb over him after it broke its down stay (and before the owner could grab it), but when a cattle dog snarked two dogs ahead of me during a heeling exercise he was ready to kill it.

I've always had DA dogs in one regard or another, until now. It is definitely a management adjustment, but it isn't the end of the world. :) Would you be able to get him used to wearing a basket muzzle? Then maybe if/when your mom becomes his sole caretaker, you can worry less about her having to micromanage him if he's wearing the muzzle just as a precaution.
Simi is trained to wear a muzzle, just because she can be a rude bitch sometimes. She loves it. She knows it means something fun is about to happen, and she will run and play with it on like normal, so this might be an option for you.

Also, and since I don't know much about the situation this might be crazy, have you had him to see a vet about this sudden change in attitude thing?
 

Dizzy

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Free to good home: one brown dog who has been trying to invade my bed and jump on my head since the early hours, who got me out of bed and dressed to take him for a wee in the rain, and who is now persistently whining for food and/or to sniff cats and doesn't seem to realise I'm not going to move!! Who jumped in my bed and spread eagled in it when I went for a wee in the night and point blank refused to get out till I pushed him out, and who is a general lump!!

And if he's whining to go for a poo I will actually kill him, because he refused to go last night in the dark thinking it was more fun to try and chase night bunnies, and didn't go again JUST NOW when I got out of my nice warm bed to take him out in the RAIN! He better just stick a cork in it!!!!

I have no idea how people without back gardens or yards cope with dogs... Having to get dressed and go out every time your dog needs the toilet is INSANE!
 

Sit Stay

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Devan I am so sorry about your problems with Ripley. I remember feeling the same way when Quinn's reactivity was at its worst. I still have anxiety sometimes. I wish we lived closer! I know of some good walking spots (or you could just use our hayfield!).

I'm just really in love with my dog right now. To the people who ever said Quinn had a bad disposition (because she didn't like dogs, but is bombproof in every other way?) - SUCK IT. She is turning out to be the best babysitter ever for Ned. My mom and I joke that Ned was the guinea pig to see how she'd be when I eventually get my next ES - I have no worries! If she can deal with wild man Ned without going insane, an ES should be a breeze!

Ned is doing great. He's not quite the whirlwind of teeth and badassery he was LOL. He's doing great at being more gentle, and sticks mostly to his toys now. And he's awesome at asking to go out - he sits right in front of the door and stares at the edge of it until someone notices.
 

Laurelin

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I have no idea what was going on with Mia last night. She would. Not. Sleep. She paced up and down the bed then would sit and growl a bit the get up and pace again until I told her to knock it off. She'd settle a moment then was back at it.

No idea at all
 

Fran101

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In less than 10 days my baby Merlin boy will be a year old (Journey too!) isn't it hard to believe?

Feels like it was only yesterday..
 

Sit Stay

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Merlin was the CUTEST. I remember reading those updates and sooo hoping you'd end up with him (because he was totally my type too!).
 

Dogdragoness

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Free to good home: one brown dog who has been trying to invade my bed and jump on my head since the early hours, who got me out of bed and dressed to take him for a wee in the rain, and who is now persistently whining for food and/or to sniff cats and doesn't seem to realise I'm not going to move!! Who jumped in my bed and spread eagled in it when I went for a wee in the night and point blank refused to get out till I pushed him out, and who is a general lump!!

And if he's whining to go for a poo I will actually kill him, because he refused to go last night in the dark thinking it was more fun to try and chase night bunnies, and didn't go again JUST NOW when I got out of my nice warm bed to take him out in the RAIN! He better just stick a cork in it!!!!

I have no idea how people without back gardens or yards cope with dogs... Having to get dressed and go out every time your dog needs the toilet is INSANE!
I had a dog in an apartment, BUT I took her to the stables every day where I kept my horses, they had trails & I would take her on a minimum two hour trail ride every day unless the weather wasn't cooperating. The trails were super shady & there was a creek she could cool off in if she got too hot.
 

Oko

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I love Wesley. He snuggled with me all morning, and then my mum just texted that he slept on my bed all day while I was gone. Re: the worried about Wesley thing, the problem I'm having is I don't want 2 dogs, I want to go from 0 to 1. But I guess it'll just fall into place. Just don't really have time to raise a puppy and be Wesley's #1 too.

Oh and there is a super adorable pitty mix on this subway. I want him too.
 
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Tonight at nosework we were working outside in the parking lot. To alleviate his boredom at waiting in the car for his turn, Squash pulled a 5 gallon bottle of water off the floor onto the back seat and chewed the nozzle off.

I mean, I'm pretty good at not leaving tempting things laying around for the dogs to get into but COME ON. A plastic 5 gallon bottle of water?! *facepalm*
 

meepitsmeagan

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Getting the dogs new tags since their tag collars don't hold the Boomerangs. I've got Rider's picked out.. but I just can't nail one down for Harlow.

She's just so sassy and diva like, but so awesome all at the same time. I'd like something feminine, but edgy and I just can't figure it out. They have a daisy one, which would look good with her new yellow collar... but I feel like Daisies are so staple.

Rider's future tag:



If anyone has recommendations for Harlow, PLEASE HALP with my first world problems.
 

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