SHOW US YOUR DOGS!

[Boghead ranter]

4 hours ago, stevieKTID said:

Perfectly acceptable dog walking attire

Yup, plenty pockets for hunners of poo bags, tennis balls, spare/emergency leash, treats for them, snacks for me, massive bunch of house keys, van keys, etc etc.

[Shandon Par]

17 minutes ago, wellfan09 said:

 

 

Harris has started being a bit funny/aggressive towards some other entire males. Its really pissing me off as he has been well socialised since we got him and has always been great with other dogs but now he seems to be hitting a teenage phase he seems to be acting the big man.

I ended up in A+E for a tetanus last week after having to break up a scuffle between him and a Pitbull/Staffy cross that bit me in the hand when I tried to grab it mid fight. They had played a couple of times before and been ok but Harris growled at it when it came over to him in the park and it all kicked off.

Hes about 15 months now so we are just discussing whether to get his baws chopped off or not. Theres so much conflicting info out there as to whether it will actually change anything or not.

As I said its just entire males so obviously has something to do with hormones/testosterone but I have read some people saying that its just a phase at this age which should pass but then the vet says if we leave it too long it could become a learned behaviour.

Anyone had any experience of anything similar and able to offer any advice?

 

 

Renton has only ever got in scrapes when defending himself from dogs having a go at him and I'd never had the slightest worry about his behaviour with other dogs or people. He was mean to get "done" as a pup but always had stomach bugs that meant the vets couldn't anaesthetise him. Apart from having to remove all furry cushions from the house (no bad thing), and Mungo, my daughter's favourite soft to (a chimp) to stop him raping them, having his knackers has never been a problem before. I'm hoping he just misread the situation. He's usually quite aloof with other dogs unless he fancies them or if they are fast ones like him and never shows much interest in young male pups - just blanks them mostly. 

 

[stevieKTID]

1 hour ago, wellfan09 said:

 

 

Harris has started being a bit funny/aggressive towards some other entire males. Its really pissing me off as he has been well socialised since we got him and has always been great with other dogs but now he seems to be hitting a teenage phase he seems to be acting the big man.

I ended up in A+E for a tetanus last week after having to break up a scuffle between him and a Pitbull/Staffy cross that bit me in the hand when I tried to grab it mid fight. They had played a couple of times before and been ok but Harris growled at it when it came over to him in the park and it all kicked off.

Hes about 15 months now so we are just discussing whether to get his baws chopped off or not. Theres so much conflicting info out there as to whether it will actually change anything or not.

As I said its just entire males so obviously has something to do with hormones/testosterone but I have read some people saying that its just a phase at this age which should pass but then the vet says if we leave it too long it could become a learned behaviour.

Anyone had any experience of anything similar and able to offer any advice?

 

 

I walk two French Bulldogs who were not aggressive but were really hyper when they were around that age, they could be very stubborn and wouldn't listen, both of them were chemically castrated and It worked, they were a lot calmer and more responsive.

I suppose it depends on the dog and depends on if they are acting out because of hormones or a deeper behavioural problem

[Brummie Clyde]

Had our dog dine and he was calmer afterwards. Takes a while for the testosterone levels to go completely down about 6 months.

[mathematics]

A wee walk up Mugdock castle.

[mathematics]

(Balls intact)

[J_Stewart]

Renton ready for his bed after a hard afternoon sleeping on the sofa.

Wife tried to take a selfie with Rosie the dog yesterday, not realising that Rosie the dog was equally as sleepy as the bold Renton.

The result:

[Rizzo]

I threw Skye's toy sheep over my shoulder and wondered why she didn't immediately bring it back.

The SSPCA are probably on their way.

[Guest Moomintroll]

Perfectly acceptable dog walking attire

Haw ya lazy bamstom, move.

[AyrTroopMajor]

Looking for a bit of advice. Those of you who have had their dogs since they were puppies and used a pen (for sleeping in and/or for when they are alone in the house), when did you get rid of the pen and how did you do it? Was it gradual or did you just get rid?

My dog is coming up on 2 years old this November and he's still got his pen which he associates as his space, but it is absolutely huge and ideally we'd like to get rid of it soon and just have his bed in its usual place without the pen around it. I'm a bit wary as I'm not sure how he'd respond to his new found freedom when I'm out (whether he'd destroy the place etc..)

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Shandon Par]

23 minutes ago, AyrTroopMajor said:

Looking for a bit of advice. Those of you who have had their dogs since they were puppies and used a pen (for sleeping in and/or for when they are alone in the house), when did you get rid of the pen and how did you do it? Was it gradual or did you just get rid?

My dog is coming up on 2 years old this November and he's still got his pen which he associates as his space, but it is absolutely huge and ideally we'd like to get rid of it soon and just have his bed in its usual place without the pen around it. I'm a bit wary as I'm not sure how he'd respond to his new found freedom when I'm out (whether he'd destroy the place etc..)

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Ours just lost interest in his crate over time and didn't like going in it. As well as having one at home and work we'd take it with us on holiday etc. It was his quiet/safe place as a young pup but once he could be trusted not to chew stuff etc there didn't seem any point, plus he wasn't happy going in them any more. He's an unbelievable lazy dog/breed so will happily crash out and do nothing all day anyway so it could be different if it's a breed that needs more stimulation/might go a bit haywire if not put in a crate when you're out or at night. There was a worry about chewing so at first we'd confine him to the kitchen but when it was clear he was quite content and wasn't chewing/scrabbling etc we just started giving him free reign to go where he wanted. He gets shut in the kitchen at night. 

 

[Swarley]

We stopped using our pen when the wee bitch started climbing/jumping out of it. I started trying to increase the height of the panelso but it ended up like a bloody extra room. By that stage she'd become very good at not pooping or weeing in the house and she was still sleeping at night in her cage.

She stopped sleeping in her cage when she was 6mths old, after she'd been desexed. When she came back from the vets she refused to go in the cage and when she did she just whined all night. We think she associated the cage with the vets and the operation. So we just let her sleep wherever she likes. We're lucky in that she's not scratched or destroyed anything.

[AyrTroopMajor]

2 hours ago, Shandon Par said:

Ours just lost interest in his crate over time and didn't like going in it. As well as having one at home and work we'd take it with us on holiday etc. It was his quiet/safe place as a young pup but once he could be trusted not to chew stuff etc there didn't seem any point, plus he wasn't happy going in them any more. He's an unbelievable lazy dog/breed so will happily crash out and do nothing all day anyway so it could be different if it's a breed that needs more stimulation/might go a bit haywire if not put in a crate when you're out or at night. There was a worry about chewing so at first we'd confine him to the kitchen but when it was clear he was quite content and wasn't chewing/scrabbling etc we just started giving him free reign to go where he wanted. He gets shut in the kitchen at night. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Swarley said:

We stopped using our pen when the wee bitch started climbing/jumping out of it. I started trying to increase the height of the panelso but it ended up like a bloody extra room. By that stage she'd become very good at not pooping or weeing in the house and she was still sleeping at night in her cage.

She stopped sleeping in her cage when she was 6mths old, after she'd been desexed. When she came back from the vets she refused to go in the cage and when she did she just whined all night. We think she associated the cage with the vets and the operation. So we just let her sleep wherever she likes. We're lucky in that she's not scratched or destroyed anything.

Cheers for that. Ours isn't particularly destructive aside from chewing on his bed occasionally out of boredom, I'm just a bit concerned about the fact he's almost 2, we've probably waited too long to make this decision.

The pen is an absolute monstrosity though, honestly takes up half the living room, so the decision will be made regardless of my concerns!

 

[Boghead ranter]

1 hour ago, AyrTroopMajor said:

 

Cheers for that. Ours isn't particularly destructive aside from chewing on his bed occasionally out of boredom, I'm just a bit concerned about the fact he's almost 2, we've probably waited too long to make this decision.

The pen is an absolute monstrosity though, honestly takes up half the living room, so the decision will be made regardless of my concerns!

 

Try putting the bed separate from the pen, and see which the dog chooses? It will choose the one it feels most comfortable with.

If it chooses to dingy the pen, get rid. And so far as will it go mental when left alone while in the  house, you're back to puppy training tactics, like go out for a very short time, next time go out for longer etc. Or else, like a previous poster, restrict the dog to room(s) where you can tolerate damage the most.

Edited September 2, 2019 by Boghead ranter

[Priti priti priti Patel]

How long do you all leave your dogs for when you go out to work, etc?

My family had loads of dogs growing up (we had four, and all my aunts and uncles had 2 or 3 each) and it was normal to leave them at home while at work. Apparently the official advice now says don't leave a dog longer than four hours, but it never seemed to do ours any harm - they were happy, healthy, loving etc. Any thoughts?

[Robin.Hood]

How long do you all leave your dogs for when you go out to work, etc?
My family had loads of dogs growing up (we had four, and all my aunts and uncles had 2 or 3 each) and it was normal to leave them at home while at work. Apparently the official advice now says don't leave a dog longer than four hours, but it never seemed to do ours any harm - they were happy, healthy, loving etc. Any thoughts?

Surely 4 hours is way to long?
Why have a pet if you know you are going to leave them that long while at work?
Unless you got a dog Walker or something then I'd guess that be fine.
We had a dog growing up but there was always someone in the house unless went to shops or if we went for a meal but yer only talking a few hours max .

[Shandon Par]

2 hours ago, Margaret Thatcher said:

How long do you all leave your dogs for when you go out to work, etc?

My family had loads of dogs growing up (we had four, and all my aunts and uncles had 2 or 3 each) and it was normal to leave them at home while at work. Apparently the official advice now says don't leave a dog longer than four hours, but it never seemed to do ours any harm - they were happy, healthy, loving etc. Any thoughts?

I take mine to work a few days each week and then we're at home at the weekend. Stays home alone a couple of days but a dog walker takes him out from late morning-lunchtime. Hounds can be incredibly lazy. Some mornings if he can't be arsed coming to work with me or if it's raining he'll bury himself under some cushions so he can sleep instead. Being left in peace to sleep is perfect for him but dogs with a bit more of a brain could get really bored being left alone too much (I'd guess). 

[Qos91]

How long do you all leave your dogs for when you go out to work, etc?
My family had loads of dogs growing up (we had four, and all my aunts and uncles had 2 or 3 each) and it was normal to leave them at home while at work. Apparently the official advice now says don't leave a dog longer than four hours, but it never seemed to do ours any harm - they were happy, healthy, loving etc. Any thoughts?

I had a big argument with a friend over this recently. He would happily leave a dog for 8+ hours. I totally disagree and would only leave mine for a few hours max if I had to.
I only got my dog because my mum offered to look after him while me and my girlfriend work all day. My friend thinks I am too soft but I cant see a good reason for not letting a dog out for a piss for that long. Not to mention the lonliness.

[Brummie Clyde]

My parents and in laws both live nearby. Missus works 2 days a week, so on those days they each come round and walk the dog.

He is never really on his own for more than about 3 hours during the day.

Sleeps in the kitchen at night.

[Mallo_Madrid]

We had a change in circumstances. My wife only did two nightshifts a week so there would pretty much always be someone in house for him.

3 months ago she got a new job which matched the kids school hours so at the moment my dog is in the crate for 6 hours during the for 4 days of the week. Its far from ideal and is too long. He is however so laid back and lazy its unreal. He likes his crate and doesn't seem bothered in the slightest, plods in when we leave and plods back out when I get home, he doesn't rush to the door wanting out for a pee either. My kids (4 and 8 ) absolutely adore him so giving him up would prove pretty traumatic I think. I get up every morning and walk him for an hour and he gets a longer walk at night.

If I felt he hated being alone, or it was stressful for him I would certainly look at paying for a dog walker or day care. Or at worst look to give him up.

Dogs are like humans, they are all completely different and have completely different tolerance levels to certain things. To blanket all dogs saying they shouldn't alone for set amount of time isn't really right.

 

 

Here’s a photo of my young team at Waterloo Monument above New Abbey