The dog musing/vent thread
- Thread starter Laurelin
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Abrams was driving me BATTY in the house because it's raining outside and he can't go out to burn off steam. So i said, "**** it" and let him out anyway. All was well and good...until he decided digging in a mud puddle and eating the muddy water was the Best Thing Ever. I now have a very muddy, wet dog in the garage and I'm not planning on letting him out, ever. Ugh.
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Isn't that lovely? Gimmick found the mud puddle at the dog park once and came out looking like the tar baby. Don't think I didn't notice all the other owners subtly pulling their dogs away from him. Yep, I have that kid.
An update on Glitch in the crate. Its going better, but we still have a way to go. I'll bet I've fostered 20 pups, and he is by far the worst one I've ever had. Last night we did a water buffalo horn stuffed with PB, and had minimal whining. Hooray! However, when he gets up for the 3 am potty, he is pretty much inconsolable and that's when the wailing begins again. It's hard to let hi cry it out when the neighbors are all sleeping and he wails like an Irish banshee.
I had to grocery shop today, and my neighbor said it sounded like a puppy mill the entire time I was gone.
.
I've got him in it right now while I type and he's quiet and sleeping. He cried for maybe 2 minutes and gave up (all neighbors are gone), so I'm hopeful for tonight. The buffalo horn and a stuffed Kong are waiting for him.
Other then the crate, though, he's been perfect. Tough, outgoing, and extremely snuggly. I'm more in love with him by the day.
And Ms. Haley has a horrendous bacterial thing going on with her gut, as well as a protozoa that the both vets say they've never seen before. Another round of metro for all! Of course, if she wasn't a rampaging poop eater, she might have a better tummy. She goes home this Saturday provided it clears up
An update on Glitch in the crate. Its going better, but we still have a way to go. I'll bet I've fostered 20 pups, and he is by far the worst one I've ever had. Last night we did a water buffalo horn stuffed with PB, and had minimal whining. Hooray! However, when he gets up for the 3 am potty, he is pretty much inconsolable and that's when the wailing begins again. It's hard to let hi cry it out when the neighbors are all sleeping and he wails like an Irish banshee.
I had to grocery shop today, and my neighbor said it sounded like a puppy mill the entire time I was gone.
. I've got him in it right now while I type and he's quiet and sleeping. He cried for maybe 2 minutes and gave up (all neighbors are gone), so I'm hopeful for tonight. The buffalo horn and a stuffed Kong are waiting for him.
Other then the crate, though, he's been perfect. Tough, outgoing, and extremely snuggly. I'm more in love with him by the day.
And Ms. Haley has a horrendous bacterial thing going on with her gut, as well as a protozoa that the both vets say they've never seen before. Another round of metro for all! Of course, if she wasn't a rampaging poop eater, she might have a better tummy. She goes home this Saturday provided it clears up
Squash is SUCH a good guy. I took Toast out for a really long walk and socialization at a busy park today, and introduced him to swimming while we were there. When we got home he was so tired and overstimulated that he just absolutely lost his mind with excitement when I let Squash out of his kennel and decided he needed to try to get right in Squash's face to scream at him.
Before I got a good hold on Toast, Squash gave him a couple of snarly faces and air snaps, just enough to make him back off a little, then once I got hold of the little bugger just stood there watching while I held on to Toast until he calmed down. Then all was well. Just really kept his cool in the face of a very, very obnoxious little brother meltdown.
Before I got a good hold on Toast, Squash gave him a couple of snarly faces and air snaps, just enough to make him back off a little, then once I got hold of the little bugger just stood there watching while I held on to Toast until he calmed down. Then all was well. Just really kept his cool in the face of a very, very obnoxious little brother meltdown.
Poor Rook finally had a GOOD experience with small boys. They are the worst for her. Not getting any socialization for eight months is bad enough, but children - they're just so weird! Especially small boys.
It's really hard to find opportunities to get her used to them that don't send her over the edge. I need access to some small children with better training. The saddest thing is that she doesn't bark when upset. She tries to run/hide. So sad.
We're getting there.
It's really hard to find opportunities to get her used to them that don't send her over the edge. I need access to some small children with better training. The saddest thing is that she doesn't bark when upset. She tries to run/hide. So sad.
We're getting there.
A random guy just walked into the clinic where I work, and asked if I was Danielle, and if I had a disc dog. I said yes to both, and he asked me to perform a disc demo at a giant car show that he organizes every year.
Well, that's cool!
No idea how he found out who I was, but that's beside the point.
Well, that's cool!
No idea how he found out who I was, but that's beside the point.
So last year I was a little concerned about Juno because she was starting to lag a lot on walks, and I couldn't take her for bike rides anymore because she just couldn't/wouldn't keep pace, even if all I did was coast I was practically dragging her. This was a change from a dog who normally was going 110mph.
We don't do many leashed walks, but I've noticed for a while that she's not slow during them anymore. I decided to try taking her for a bike ride for the first time since last year. She wanted to sprint and pull me the whole time. I had to keep telling her to slow down because I felt unsafe staying at her preferred pace lol.
I don't know what was up with her last year but it's nice to see her back to her usual self and able to enjoy these activities again.
We don't do many leashed walks, but I've noticed for a while that she's not slow during them anymore. I decided to try taking her for a bike ride for the first time since last year. She wanted to sprint and pull me the whole time. I had to keep telling her to slow down because I felt unsafe staying at her preferred pace lol.
I don't know what was up with her last year but it's nice to see her back to her usual self and able to enjoy these activities again.
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Good God.
So now that I've got things set in motion to move out soon-ish, my mom has decided Cajun is staying here (which is what SHOULD happen because my mom is the one who wanted her. But you guys know my involvement with this dog, and in the past my mom has mentioned that Cajun would probably be happier staying with me).
Somehow it came up today that once I move out I'd like to get another dog. My mom suggested I wait until next spring/summer and I kind of just went, well, I'll get the dog whenever the right one pops up. I'm a responsible adult lol I can decide if I want 2 dogs or not. THEN she voices the real concern. "Don't jump into it too soon because what happens if I can't keep Cajun." There. And I know the concern is not if she can't keep Cajun - the concern is if she doesn't want to. So the deciding factor for my mom is, how much of a pain will Cajun be if I'm not here to exercise and train her.
It's frustrating. It probably wouldn't matter because I wouldn't expect I'm going to run out and get a dog immediately after moving out, BUT I don't want to feel like I have to put my plans on hold because maybe I'll need to adopt Cajun. And as much work as I've done with her and as much as I like her... I don't want to take her with me.
So now that I've got things set in motion to move out soon-ish, my mom has decided Cajun is staying here (which is what SHOULD happen because my mom is the one who wanted her. But you guys know my involvement with this dog, and in the past my mom has mentioned that Cajun would probably be happier staying with me).
Somehow it came up today that once I move out I'd like to get another dog. My mom suggested I wait until next spring/summer and I kind of just went, well, I'll get the dog whenever the right one pops up. I'm a responsible adult lol I can decide if I want 2 dogs or not. THEN she voices the real concern. "Don't jump into it too soon because what happens if I can't keep Cajun." There. And I know the concern is not if she can't keep Cajun - the concern is if she doesn't want to. So the deciding factor for my mom is, how much of a pain will Cajun be if I'm not here to exercise and train her.
It's frustrating. It probably wouldn't matter because I wouldn't expect I'm going to run out and get a dog immediately after moving out, BUT I don't want to feel like I have to put my plans on hold because maybe I'll need to adopt Cajun.
And as much work as I've done with her and as much as I like her... I don't want to take her with me.
Just kind of a brag thing I guess.
Some of you might know a little bit about Wilson and his extreme fear of everything. Part of this I'm guessing is just the way his brain is wired, but he also wasn't socialized very much up until about 5 months of age. When he came to me he was terrified. Of everything. As time went on, despite all the desensitizing and socializing I was trying to give him, he just seemed to get worse. He got to a point where he would hide behind me and tremble at our training center which he used to enjoy at first.
I pulled him from all classes and for a while I was seriously considering rehoming him. I just felt like it wasn't fair to him living in a fairly busy area where he was living constantly in fear. But then I thought better of it and decided that avoiding the problem ultimately wasn't fixing it. I started him on prozac about two months ago and for a long time I didn't know if it would have any effect.
I'm really glad now that I decided to stick it out with him and work through his issues because he is starting to turn into such a nice little dude. He's still extremely fearful but slowly and surely he's bouncing back more and more quickly from his reactions and looking to me for assurance rather than working himself into a panic. Granted I haven't taken him to a store in a few weeks and I won't be until he's more comfortable in quieter places like just out in the neighborhood or at the lake or at the park. But I'm still proud of the progress he's made.
And he's so so smart. I've been teaching him some more complicated tricks that take steps to learn and I'm always blown away seeing him actually thinking about what I'm saying and making seemingly deliberate choices.
I don't know. This was long but this dog has just managed to sneak his way into my heart with his goofy antics and I just wanted to talk about the progress he's made and how proud it makes me and how I've become a better trainer for it, but most people I know in real life just don't seem to get why I don't just make him a "house dog" and never take him out in public or why I didn't just rehome him to a farm where he wouldn't need to be exposed to the things he's scared of.
Some of you might know a little bit about Wilson and his extreme fear of everything. Part of this I'm guessing is just the way his brain is wired, but he also wasn't socialized very much up until about 5 months of age. When he came to me he was terrified. Of everything. As time went on, despite all the desensitizing and socializing I was trying to give him, he just seemed to get worse. He got to a point where he would hide behind me and tremble at our training center which he used to enjoy at first.
I pulled him from all classes and for a while I was seriously considering rehoming him. I just felt like it wasn't fair to him living in a fairly busy area where he was living constantly in fear. But then I thought better of it and decided that avoiding the problem ultimately wasn't fixing it. I started him on prozac about two months ago and for a long time I didn't know if it would have any effect.
I'm really glad now that I decided to stick it out with him and work through his issues because he is starting to turn into such a nice little dude. He's still extremely fearful but slowly and surely he's bouncing back more and more quickly from his reactions and looking to me for assurance rather than working himself into a panic. Granted I haven't taken him to a store in a few weeks and I won't be until he's more comfortable in quieter places like just out in the neighborhood or at the lake or at the park. But I'm still proud of the progress he's made.
And he's so so smart. I've been teaching him some more complicated tricks that take steps to learn and I'm always blown away seeing him actually thinking about what I'm saying and making seemingly deliberate choices.
I don't know. This was long but this dog has just managed to sneak his way into my heart with his goofy antics and I just wanted to talk about the progress he's made and how proud it makes me and how I've become a better trainer for it, but most people I know in real life just don't seem to get why I don't just make him a "house dog" and never take him out in public or why I didn't just rehome him to a farm where he wouldn't need to be exposed to the things he's scared of.
A brag on stable dogs.
Patton came with me last night to a staff meeting, hung out in the play room with a few dogs he had never met while we chatted for a few hours, a few co-workers/bosses handled him pretty weird, in his face, ears, mouth, etc. for different things training related, and he worked some training theory with a boss for instructional purposes.
I love having stable dogs that are not weirded out by, afraid of, or aggressive towards things like this when I am supervising and obviously totally fine with it all. It is a relief. And obviously so helpful for work.
Patton came with me last night to a staff meeting, hung out in the play room with a few dogs he had never met while we chatted for a few hours, a few co-workers/bosses handled him pretty weird, in his face, ears, mouth, etc. for different things training related, and he worked some training theory with a boss for instructional purposes.
I love having stable dogs that are not weirded out by, afraid of, or aggressive towards things like this when I am supervising and obviously totally fine with it all. It is a relief. And obviously so helpful for work.
That's awesome. Sometimes I actually feel guilty about how stable Hugo is turning out to be because a lot of it is just luck. I'm not a very experienced trainer, and he does have behavioral issues, but honestly I can take him anywhere without issue. That's just how he is.
However, I actually came here to say that he is having such bad gas right now that it is honestly affecting my quality of life.
However, I actually came here to say that he is having such bad gas right now that it is honestly affecting my quality of life.
I had a misunderstanding with my landlord.
I thought he was coming during the day with a repairman next Wednesday instead of this Wednesday, so Leo was loose when they came in with noone else home. Leo had never met either before.
So, I got to learn (by asking afterwards) what Leo would do if someone broke into our house.
He apparently would slink behind them from room to room growling quietly, run away when approached, and in general stay out of their way but vocally share his displeasure.
I'm glad he didn't bite anyone or appear super threatening to my landlord, but sounds like if someone breaks into my house with Leo inside, I'm losing my stuff :rofl1:
I thought he was coming during the day with a repairman next Wednesday instead of this Wednesday, so Leo was loose when they came in with noone else home. Leo had never met either before.
So, I got to learn (by asking afterwards) what Leo would do if someone broke into our house.
He apparently would slink behind them from room to room growling quietly, run away when approached, and in general stay out of their way but vocally share his displeasure.
I'm glad he didn't bite anyone or appear super threatening to my landlord, but sounds like if someone breaks into my house with Leo inside, I'm losing my stuff :rofl1:
Just some frustrated musings on my search for nextdog...
I emailed a breeder asking a couple questions about health testing and titles (since neither were listed on their website) and didn't get a response after close to a week. So I sent another email. No response after several days. So I called and left a voicemail. It's been over a month - no contact.
I know they are still active because they recently updated their page with a few details about a spring litter they're expecting. I totally fell for this breeder's dogs after meeting one that my friend owns. Chihuahua breeders (either BYB or confo breeders, neither of which I'm interested in) are a dime a dozen around here so it's not like there's a shortage, but I really like THESE particular dogs. I like their size and looks and attitude - I really don't care for the look of conformation chis and don't want to risk it with a BYB dog. But I'm not getting a response and at this point doubt I will, unless I get my friend involved as a middle-man.
Whomp whomp.
I emailed a breeder asking a couple questions about health testing and titles (since neither were listed on their website) and didn't get a response after close to a week. So I sent another email. No response after several days. So I called and left a voicemail. It's been over a month - no contact.
I know they are still active because they recently updated their page with a few details about a spring litter they're expecting. I totally fell for this breeder's dogs after meeting one that my friend owns. Chihuahua breeders (either BYB or confo breeders, neither of which I'm interested in) are a dime a dozen around here so it's not like there's a shortage, but I really like THESE particular dogs. I like their size and looks and attitude - I really don't care for the look of conformation chis and don't want to risk it with a BYB dog. But I'm not getting a response and at this point doubt I will, unless I get my friend involved as a middle-man.
Whomp whomp.
DH's pup Preacher is 9, almost 10 weeks and has just reached the stage of RAGE IN THE CRATE. It's sort of amusing (I don't do anything with him, all DH's thing), he sounds like an angry gremlin. BUT, human babe is due end of June and DH's other puppy is coming home the week before that. I bet I'm going to go insane with alllllll of the crying!
