Loving my Oldies

My first vet used to tell me that the most dangerous times for dogs was when there were tradies in the house ...... because of open doors, gates, etc. You cannot rely on or expect tradies to keep your dogs safe. I am so lucky in this area - my groomers are just down the road and I take my dogs down there if tradies are going to be in the house for any length of time.

For sure, but I still feel the dog should have access to inside and outside most of the time. Pups trained early and kindly grow up to be the best dogs. Many humans have totally unrealistic ideas about dog ownership and expect dogs to pop out knowing how to switch off, speak English/home language, sit, stay, drop, etc etc etc. All of these things needs to be taught. The more uptight about rules and regulations a human is, the worse for the dog. As for the premise that a dog needs to wait for the person to go out first ..... what rubbish. I stand at the door and wave the dogs through, counting Editing to add regarding my post about crating. I didn’t teach my foster, Stevie, to go into his crate: he just started doing it because he new it meant goodies LOL. Just saying because it can be very easy and such a relief knowing the dog is safe for the short period of time you need him to be and you can’t watch him.

You have yourself one very smart little breed of dog . It is up to you to give him the mental and physical stimulation that he deserves. That said, he still have to live with you and vice versa. I confess, I don’t know why it is a problem for a dog to have access to the outside at all times . I have a doggy door which is propped open because mine a small and now elderly and pushing it open is a little bit too hard. A dog should be able to come and go as it pleases, so it can toilet immediately it needs to outside. And outside is where all the good smells are. One of the better things a dog owner can invest in is a crate. They can be a godsend if your dog isn’t well, you have another dog staying with you, you have a little dog you are worried will find a way out, etc etc. At the moment, I have a little foster dog (been her for less than a fortnight) and because he gulps down his food in three seconds flat, I crate him for meals so the others can have theirs in peace. They learn very very quickly and a few days ago, he started putting himself in the crate when I was getting their meals ready. Invest in a crate, make it a great place for him to hole up in, his little cave. Here is the photographic proof of my little foster dog waiting for his dinner:

She is a sweetie, but sooooooooooo timid, it breaks my heart. . She has been with me for nearly 13 years (puppy from pound) and still such a timid little bunny. She loves her walks, but because she is so pretty, everyone (especially children) wants a pat and cuddle. I have to always tell people that she is too scared and they have to adore from afar

There are a few DOLers whose names don’t indicate their gender

LOL. No, he bounds out racing around to check whether there is anything else in other bowls.

He looks like that a lot of the time. He is a funny boy: a mixture of timidity and demanding cuddles and kisses.

Just for you @Scottsmum . Stevie has to be fed in his crate as he wolfs down his food in seconds flat - despite my using a slow feeding bowl. He nows hops in a waits for his meals.

Is DOLER Steve still on this forum? She ran MDBA. Maybe try her.

don’t tell anyone.

What a beautiful spot. Is that the Swan River?

Oh No!!! Poor Tigger - such a beautiful dog. Dog parks are like social media: people think they are entitled to be nasty.

How absolutely wonderful to see Ronin and Tigger again, Yonjuro. Loved the sledding through the bush - just amazing. The dogs just wore themselves out trying to race. If the path had been wider, Ronin would have left the other two far behind LOL. The slo-mo in the last vid was so interesting. Thanks for giving us so much pleasure.

Well in the case of your Scottie and your blue bitch, they did find a home that was caring, understanding and committed. . The main point that needs making with the rehoming of “difficult" dogs though is the level of commitment an owner makes, wants to makes, thinks okay, etc etc and what is the right amount of commitment needed to make the dog happy and the owner and others safe. Each dog is an individual; it is a discussion that could go on forever and, if the dog is languishing in kennels while the discussion goes on, I think that is wrong. (Just speaking generally - I don’t know where or with whom the dog persephone posted about is.)

I missed this post, RuralPup, but so glad it is there. I have been thinking about you, Phyl. and your latest shopping list . Please don’t buy anything made in Asia - so much rubbish is imported from these countries. Buy only treats made in Australia from Australian products. I don’t know where you are in Melbourne, but there is a company called BM Animals which makes all its own jerky and meat treats. They are in Bayswater, but you can also buy online or telephone them to place an order. Please don’t buy any of those treats in supermarkets and never buy rawhide. The rawhide sold in shops is tantamount to poison from the ghastly processes it goes through (bleach, formaldehyde, colouring/flavour agents, etc). http://www.bmanimals.net.au

Blimey!! I was just about choking to death watching the video. I’ll probably have to take some anti-histamines today

(Part emphasised) This is true. When I was a volunteer at a pound and then involved in rescue, I used to say that there is a home for every animal -- it was finding that home. If you have unlimited resources and could advertise every dog/cat/other on the front page of every newspaper in the land, well that home could probably be found. Whether it should be or not is a whole different question. Remember there was the discussion once about taking dogs out of a pound and putting them into kennels where some were left to languish for not months, but years because the rescue person/group did not have a foster carer or could not find a home for the dog. That sort of thing is totally unethical in my book and so is rehoming people aggressive dogs. I don’t believe others should suffer because someone thinks all dogs should be saved. There are enough idiots in the world without deliberately putting into their control an aggressive dog.

Shock doesn’t come close. I haven’t moved at faster than a snail’s pace for a few years.

There was someone on DOL a while ago asking about walking a nervous stressed dog. I recall I was one suggesting no walks. There is more to life for a dog than going on walks that scare it to blazes. It depends what is going on in other areas of the dog’s life: play at home, activities it enjoys, etc etc.

It sounds as though the dog is uncontrollable, dog aggressive and people aggressive. Also sounds like one of those rescue groups which believe ALL dogs can and should be rehomed and bugger the emotional, physical or financial costs to anyone within its orbit.

Tell that to my legs LOL. Painkillers before bed tonight.

We had another long walk this afternoon. Toss up between this or this or this .

I was mean and horrible yesterday afternoon. It was a beautiful Autumn day, cool with brilliant sunshine, so I snuck out of the house with just Stevie, Benji and Tamar and went for the longest walk I’ve had in the years since Myrtie died. I went up streets I haven’t walked for years, just driven through. True to form, Tamar was wondering what the heck was going on, is she safe, has mum gone crazy, whereas the boys just loved it. Just about every post and every tree have been marked by Stevie, and Benji was just beside himself. Today is much the same and so we will be doing this again - it was so good to be walking at a normal pace instead of inching forward and then being pulled backwards as Jeune stopped to sniff or Bunter stopped to gaze at something only he can see . Heavens!! I might even lose some weight

We are here to help, Phyl. Anytime and with anything that worries you and, conversely as you share already, gives you joy.

Such a wonderful story. The passion and dedication of so many people who “work” in the world of animals is just so amazing and heartwarming.