Dog advice

[Maid22]

I feel that ay about the boy I am looking after. It's like he thinks he's the boss of me.
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I've always had two at a time too. I decided after my last girl went no more for me. I look after this little dog a lot and that's enough for me. I'm older but live at home and all pets seem to gravitate towards my dad. Cat's, dogs.

I really miss having 2 dogs, i miss having a jrt, they're such characters, I feel like my boy I've got now is ruling me if that makes sense? I'll never be without a dog,but I'm getting on in years, but still have enough time for a puppy, my boy will have to put up with it. That's if I can afford one, wow the prices are horrendous!

 

[aidil]

Thanks for the sweeping generalisation.

 

[Pesky Tarian]

I get that, it's so nerve wracking. Maybe the vet could advise on whether it might be doable when he's a wee big bigger if he still has some growing to do? They need to give you a bit more detail on why it dropped I think as that'll no doubt help guide you. If you feel like you're not getting the answers, change vets. It's much like us changing GP surgeries really if we're not keen on things.

He is 18 months so I think he's just naturally a little boy. Thank you I feel like I will go in Monday now and ask the right questions. I've stuck with the vets as they're a small village vet, 5 min walk from me, always busy and don't get me wrong I'm very thankful that they bought him around but I do think I may look for a more modern practice.

 

[ChiRie]

Oh gosh, definitely stop the treats for no reason, he can have them when he earns them. A lot of people don’t feed out of a bowl they use all their dogs food for training.

The heller won't even eat his food out a dog bowl! I could easily use that to give him that during training. It's my dad, he did it with my girls and they were overweight. Treats all the time! I've told him for years and years and he swears he will cut down but doesn't. Now this one is really his and his partners he has more say than I do. I'll tell him when he gets in from walking him. He once gave one of my girls a handful of salted peanuts that made her ill and cost me a trip to the vet. He means well treating him but it's too much.

 

[ChiRie]

Have you tried something stinky? You can get tripe mini treats like these, the strong smell and flavour mya attract his attention.
https://friendsandcanines.co.uk/product/tripe-mini-treats/

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Just found this thread and am hoping for some advice please. I'm desperate for a dog, I've always wanted one but have never been able to until now. We have a kitten so I feel the time is right whilst the cat is young, firstly before they get 'set in their ways' and also to get any kitten/dog/puppy madness all over at once. My 18 year old daughter is scared of a family dog that isn't properly trained/exercised or neutered and behaves appallingly because of this, despite not being scared of any other dogs. I have tried to explain that not all dogs are like this crazy dog, that I research the right breed for us, that the dog will be neutered, it will be trained both at home & at classes plus exercised daily to avoid all the things our family have done wrong with their dog. I do not want a dog that I cannot control & properly care for. I am struggling to ask her to try & understand that not all dogs behave that way (though she's been around other dogs all her life & us aware of this) Has anyone experienced similar? Any ideas on how we can move forward from this? The kitten was brought for her as she very much missed our old cat we lost, I feel like I've done that for her, yet she won't even try to meet me halfway? Sorry for the long post, thank you.

Do you know anyone with a well trained dog you could borrow for a weekend? Or whilst they go away? Then you can tell her it's only staying a few days/a week and will be going home. Then she may see it's not bad and if she still finds it bad then the dog is going back anyway so it's not like a long term thing. Or what about fostering? I know someone who had their guide dog looked after by a carer as they were unable to care for it whilst it was ill. I just googled as well hearing dogs look for volunteers that will do short term care for their dogs which involves you helping keep up their training and going to classes so that may be helpful in showing her what you'd do with your dog? I'm sure other charities will do similar

 

[GinBunny18]

Just found this thread and am hoping for some advice please. I'm desperate for a dog, I've always wanted one but have never been able to until now. We have a kitten so I feel the time is right whilst the cat is young, firstly before they get 'set in their ways' and also to get any kitten/dog/puppy madness all over at once. My 18 year old daughter is scared of a family dog that isn't properly trained/exercised or neutered and behaves appallingly because of this, despite not being scared of any other dogs. I have tried to explain that not all dogs are like this crazy dog, that I research the right breed for us, that the dog will be neutered, it will be trained both at home & at classes plus exercised daily to avoid all the things our family have done wrong with their dog. I do not want a dog that I cannot control & properly care for. I am struggling to ask her to try & understand that not all dogs behave that way (though she's been around other dogs all her life & us aware of this) Has anyone experienced similar? Any ideas on how we can move forward from this? The kitten was brought for her as she very much missed our old cat we lost, I feel like I've done that for her, yet she won't even try to meet me halfway? Sorry for the long post, thank you.

 

[ChiRie]

Do any of you think being in tact contributes to his behaviour. The behaviourist is a new vet nurse at the practice I've always used. I think it's worth asking her about this. The going crazy barking and biting my feet and ankles when someone is at the door is bad and although I try and shoo him into the living room to answer the door there was a time he wouldn't listen and I had to say through the letterbox to leave the parcel on the step. He's also twice run out the door when my dad has answered it.

 

[Maid22]

What happened in the lead up to the dog snapping? What kind of temperament does the dog have normally?

Have there been any other behaviour changes?

If this is the first time, out of the blue for a laid back dog I always would recommend a vet visit to check for any health issues that may cause the dog pain or distress and this is their way of letting dyou know.

Nope came out of no where! But tbh, I've never trusted him fully, but he's been good as gold recently.
He's a collie, and I know they get issues, but this has really upset me.

 

[ChiRie]

Agree with the lead, I’d have a house lead on him at all times, until you can retrain the behaviour at the door simply put him away when you need to open it.
As for the firm no, I respectfully disagree, she needs to show him what good behaviour gets him and to redirect the bad behaviour to good. Have you trained him “touch”? Simply hold out a hand, palm facing him and say “touch”, as soon as he touches your hand reward with a treat. Dogs love this one and learn it really easily, it’s great for redirection, next time he’s going for your ankles simply start practicing touch and his mind will work with that instead of biting you.
Sounds like your behaviourist friend might be a great asset to you, personally I’d happily spend 70 quid to find out why my dog was doing something and what I could do to make him happier than be locked in an endless battle of wills that no one wins. You don’t need to dominate, just be calm and assertive. Good luck x

He knows sit and paw we taught him. Never tried the touch one or heard of it tbh but I'll give it a go. His lead is one I hate those retractable ones but I have old leads from my dogs I could use and keep on him in the house> I personally think and I thought this with my girls too that he has too many treats all the time. Dad's not long walked in the door with more treats and given him two chews already. He gave him one that will take him a while to get through and then while he was chewing on it went to get a pig ear! I said he's got a treat that's enough. They are scattered everywhere toys and treats. dad said I should give him more treats so he learns to like me and he won't attack my ankles and feet.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

My dog is the same, just not fussed by food at all! He has to have grain free though. I have recently discover freeze dried, and he does seem a bit more enthused for it than regular kibble. It is fed by number of pieces - the one we have each nugget is about the size of 4 stacked up pennies and he has 14, twice daily. He is 10kg for that quantity. Honestly it is the first time in his life that he has ever been even slightly excited for food!

Wainwright’s Adult Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food Beef | Pets

Buy Wainwright’s Adult Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food Beef | Available to order today & Free Delivery on orders over £40

www.petsathome.com

I'm decided I'm going to be strict lifting his food up after 15minutes for a bit see if it helps but if not maybe I'll try this thanks! The raw food also takes up too much room in the freezer
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I was just looking at the amount and it says my 5kg dog would need 48 nuggets a day?

 

[aidil]

Have you got Chi's too? I've had 4 before Barney

Not yet but my next dog is definitely going to be a Chi! I fell in love with them as soon as I started vet nursing, they’re such characters!

 

[KMAWeasel]

Some normal vets do chemo but a lot of people get referred. A lot of referral places will give vets free advice on cases as well if a case can't be referred for whatever reason. It'll probably be more expensive at a referral anyway especially the private ones whereas university referrals are (usually) cheaper.
When does your insurance renew for the year if it's a lifetime policy? Would it be part way through treatment as then you'd have the insurance budget renewed?

Typically, we renewed it a month ago. I'm devastated, I don't know what to do

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Has anyone done the bronze Kennel club good citizen training? My puppy classes finish this week so trying to decide whether it's worth to do the bronze award.
I've signed up for recall classes because at the time there wasn't any bronze awards I could make it to due to work, but now they've released more dates which will perfectly line up with when I'd finish recall class.

 

[Bleurghgram]

I’m hoping we’re using this for general dog advice now…?

Does anyone have any tips for bonfire night? I rescued my girl just after Christmas, she barked loads at the fireworks that went off for New Year. She’s reactive and very territorial so just a car door banging outside can send her over threshold, she’s improved a lot but sometimes there’s nothing I can do to comfort her and I suspect this will be one of them

 

[Bleurghgram]

Just found this thread and am hoping for some advice please. I'm desperate for a dog, I've always wanted one but have never been able to until now. We have a kitten so I feel the time is right whilst the cat is young, firstly before they get 'set in their ways' and also to get any kitten/dog/puppy madness all over at once. My 18 year old daughter is scared of a family dog that isn't properly trained/exercised or neutered and behaves appallingly because of this, despite not being scared of any other dogs. I have tried to explain that not all dogs are like this crazy dog, that I research the right breed for us, that the dog will be neutered, it will be trained both at home & at classes plus exercised daily to avoid all the things our family have done wrong with their dog. I do not want a dog that I cannot control & properly care for. I am struggling to ask her to try & understand that not all dogs behave that way (though she's been around other dogs all her life & us aware of this) Has anyone experienced similar? Any ideas on how we can move forward from this? The kitten was brought for her as she very much missed our old cat we lost, I feel like I've done that for her, yet she won't even try to meet me halfway? Sorry for the long post, thank you.

Rather than buying a puppy, you could start looking at rescue centres so you know what temperament you’re getting, and involve your daughter in any meet and greets with the dog.

If that still doesn’t get you anywhere… at 18 she may not wish to live with you for that much longer, I’d wait rather than risk her feeling afraid in the family home. If she wants to take the kitten with her eventually that eliminates that issue too - although my rescue dog was advertised as no cats, we’ve now got her living with two older rescue cats, so it is doable.

 

[Maid22]

@Former_Antelopee do your research on the yearly booster, I've never done it with my dogs, and they've never died because of not having it. Blimey, this thread has taken a turn, oh well, you all obviously know better then me, but I know my dogs, and am a fuckin good animal owner

Imagine working so hard and studying for so many years, accumulating lots of debt and a pitiful wage (yes I don’t earn a nice wage no matter what anyone says), only to have someone besmirching your whole profession based on their experience.

I would never laugh at your PTS experience and I’m
so sorry you were made to feel that way during such a horrible moment. But that experience can’t then be used to paint the whole profession in a poor light. There are good and bad people in every profession. Mechanics, teachers, doctors, hairdressers. It’s so disheartening to work yourself to the bone, absolutely adoring all of your patients, to then read stuff like this. Your replies suggest you can be just as petty here.

And plenty have left the profession, we’re currently in a staffing crisis. Many have left to go work in other forms of animal care, work abroad, in education etc.

Sorry for being petty about my experience how I lost my boy.

 

[daffodilgirl]

I’ve booked a vet appointment but they’ve been backlogged until this week, I’ve also been emailing the vet and she said it could be a variety of things.

but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced their dog (1year old male) suddenly peeing on their beds? The patches smells like burning rubber.
There has been no stressful changes to his routine or anything like that, but I don’t know why he’s been doing it.
The last week my dog has peed on my daughters bed, he done 3 pees in one but different places on her bed and twice on mine, (I cleaned the beds with the carpet cleaner vac and sprayed the beds with the dog urine and odour spray)

A new mattresses have been ordered.

 

[KMAWeasel]

I am so sorry to hear this. Losing our furry friends is so difficult.

Im personally a fact person, before you decide to go down the chemo route can they give you the % of dogs with your dogs cancer at his age and recovery stats who get the chemotherapy? Whats the long term prognosis. Is it an 80-90% change be will be cured or is it that it will prolong his life but not clear the cancer.

I dont say any of this lightly but I think you need to know the ins and outs before parting with 20 grand particularly because of his age there is no way of knowing what is around the corner. Even if you put the other 13k on credit after the insurance is exhausted. What would you do if he broke his leg for example in 6 months and needed an op that could be £8k +

Hiya, we've been told that it will give him an extra 6-9 months as apparently cancer is very rarely cured in dogs. It's hard as otherwise, we only have weeks left with him

 

[CinnamonSwirl]

Ok, we got our puppy and we’re in love with him but please can someone tell me if it’s normal or not to be anxious about EVERY TINY LITTLE THING that might be wrong with him or is that just me……