Loving my Oldies

@Little Gifts do you follow Chihuahua Rescue on FB, because they are always showing pix of the dogs and snuffle mats? The only thing that worries me about them as they are made from those black mats that you buy in places like Bunnings. The smell of them is terrible and I can only think of the toxins that must be in them. If someone could allay my fears about that I would really like it. I don’t have any need for them now, but seriously thought of getting one for Orla as she spent most of her waking day “snuffling” around looking for food. Something I have also been thinking about in relation to you and Tempeh, if you do following CRQ they have someone who makes a garment similar to thunder shirts for anxious dogs and these seem to work a treat as well. Gone a bit OT, @animallover99 , but the CRQ is worth looking at in any case LOL.

He is a little dog, not some malevolent creature plotting and planning ways in which to make you unhappy. Time to stop googling and time to start training with a live person. Good luck.

Our thoughts are with you and with Rosie. Such a sad sad time. Rosie sounds wonderful and, yes, they can be so stoic as to make us second guess what we know is the right decision for them.

This is a very generalised and overstatement, I feel RP, and not the sort of advice I like to see given to a prospective dog owner. “Rarely safe with unknown dogs” is completely out of my experience, admittedly many years ago, of walking pound dogs and, more recently, of having rescued and fostered them.

My Finnish Spitz cross, Danny, died last year at the age of 17 and a half. In his youth, he would have been ideal for you . I have also rescued, fostered and rehomed a couple of German Sptiz and another Spitz cross who always made me think that somewhere in his heritage was Shiba Inu. The latter and one of the German Spitz were two of the nicest dogs I have ever known: happy, lively, good natured, shared the house with several other dogs, loved their walks, etc etc. A family across the road from me has a Malamute cross who must be one of the most laid back easy going dogs ever. Mind you, she has had a terrific life with them, always out and about, or just strolling around the neighbourhood as the little boy was being walked. If the Spitz breed appeals, don’t limit yourself to one country. Good luck.

More like a horror story

I agree. As for the “nature/nurture” debate, both are considerations, both will be in evidence at various times, probably neither will be predominant, what you will most likely get is a beautiful dog whom you love and who will love you in return. What more could you or the dog want

Talk to your daughter, tell her your dog really need to see the vet, promise her no decisions about his care will be made without her input and go to the vet with her. Good luck. To me 12 doesn’t seem old, but of course it is. I seem to have forgotten that my first two dogs died young (heart disease with one and cancer with the other) but since them I’ve had several dogs who’ve lived until well into extreme old age. My thoughts are with you all.

I phoned his rescuer today to ask if she’d had an update. It turns out that the barking when out walking was actually the other little dog (also a rescue)!!!! which I was not aware of, but that they are back to walking together and all is going well. I should not have mentioned my little pack as I have well and truly jinxed myself. Tamar has started weeing in the house . As she is one of those strange little dogs who stand on their front legs and pee while teetering around, she lives anything from a metre to two metres of a trail of wee. She’d done this a couple of times when Orla was here and I thought it would stop because she’d done it only once or twice. It did stop after Orla was gone, but in the past couple of days has started again and today she has pee’d four times in the house. Obviously a trip to the vet is in the diary, but I sincerely hope it is something easily controlled.

He started to show issues that in the six months he was with me were never in evidence. His new family called in a trainer and they are working on these and the last I heard was that things were improving. One that is such a shock to me is that he shows aggression towards male tradies. During Stevie’s time with me, I had several tradies and a regular guy who helps with mowing and heavier gardening work. I have a video of Stevie jumping all over this guy in joyful acceptance and recall him just loving everyone who visited. Stevie loved everyone and, frankly, I used to get jealous (not really LOL) when we were out walking because Stevie would love and accept attention from people (men, women and children) we met and/or stopped to talk with. The other issue that has emerged is barking at other dogs while out walking. I haven’t had an update for a while, but will try to get one, because I loved that little guy and want only what makes him happy. His new family wants that too, so I am sure progress has been made. Jeune, Tamar and Bunter seem to be relishing the fact they have me to themselves these days and as much as I would like an older little boy to play with Tamar, it is very easy just having these three: four oldies together. Tamar and Bunter used to play quite a bit, but Bunter is now 16 or 17 (if the pound assessment was correct) and spends most of the day snoozing. I did witness a first last night though --- Tamar and Bunter cleaning each others’ eyes. Tamar and Jeune do this regularly, but I have never seen B and T doing it. They then had a 10 second little play before Bunter decided he needed a snooze to get over it all .

Sadly, @DogsAndTheMob, it is for real:

I didn’t see this thread until today. So damned sad for owner of mother dog, mother dog and her puppies. No response from OP. I hate to think what may have happened in the weeks since this thread started.

Which is hardly the dogs’ fault and this situation cannot be compared with dogs who are being walked by their owners. If you felt you couldn’t control two dogs, you are not doing yourself, the dogs or others you might meet during your walk any favours. Shelter dogs are generally kept in confined conditioners and given very little chance for enjoying themselves.

Sad to say, you could not be more spot on. Extender leads should be banned. No doubt a lot of people would jump on me from a great height, but I make no apologies for saying this. I’ve seen too much of what Dogsfevr describes and also had heart in mouth when I’ve seen people incapable of using them and their dogs on the road in danger.

Over the years, there have been hundreds of these sorts of photographs on social media showing many dogs being walked together in NYC. Totally different situation as these dogs being walked are, as Dogsfevr says, apartment dogs. Comparing this practice to dog walkers in Australia is akin to comparing chalk and cheese ...... sadly.

LOL. I’ll bet I can pick the local. Shouldn’t LOL, actually. Quite sad.

I might sound like a cracked record on this topic, but when I think back to all the years I’ve had my dogs groomed and the MONEY I’VE SPENT when all along I could have been using Dermaveen Conditioner, I could cry. BTW, I checked with my vet yesterday and she said it was fine. I commented that it was probably the same as the dog conditioner Aloveen and she agreed. Anyway, a week after I used this on Bunter and Tamar, their coats are still so soft and manageable and look so much better for it; still so easy to brush and they feel gorgeous.

3.5 hours is too long for a little dog who is drinking more water than usual to hold on. I doubt you have gone 10 steps backwards, but you will need to have a re-think about how long you leave him in his crate.

She is already part of a match made in heaven, I thinnk, Persephone Is that the Murray River ?

Well done. He is a lucky boy, but then they all should be As for your last para, there are some pretty experienced trainers and dog owners here, so hopefully they will come onto this thread to help you. Perhaps add something to the title so people will know you are looking for some help. Walking a dog like your little guy can be very challenging and one of things to remember is that “one size does not fit all” and, with help from a professional, you will work out what fits him and you.

These sorts of meds generally require trial and error. Definitely a case for having an understanding, interested and sympathetic vet.

And a lot of that will depend on you and how he is trained, treated and integrated into the family.

As Dogsfevr says. You have a dog who is a puppy still who has never been given any proper training, boundaries and probably chastised every time he wanted to play with the 7 year old, chastised from both the owner and the other dog. As for not letting the kids a look in, are you home throughout the day? If so, you are it as Dogsfevr says and probably one of the things you need to do as well is to get the kids more involved with his care and play when they come home from school (I am assuming their ages here ). He is probably terrified that if he lets you out of his sight, he will have another enormous change in his little life. Poor little fellow - he hasn’t had a happy start and it is good that you are here looking for ways to help him and help yourself. As for not having papers, he does need to be microchipped and registered with the Council. Good luck.

Poor boy. Lucky he has a devoted human. My dog, Bunter (a fraction of the size of your boy) went on Prednisolone recently and I was giving this to him in the middle of the day as he was having other meds in the morning. One morning, I went to pick him up to carry him downstairs only to find he was lying in a puddle of urine. When I talked to the vet he said to give him the Pred first thing in the morning and we have not had another episode. I note your boy is on it twice a day, but maybe changing the time of this med might help a bit. Good luck with the adult diapers - there are also belly bands you could try. Drinking excess water can become a habit, so I will be interested to hear what your vet has to say.

Very handsome.