Simply Grand

I didn't know about the band Saxon, just googled and see they were pretty big! I'm a bit young for them tho, born in 1979. I think my Saxon would like to think he was named after a heavy metal band, he doesnt really see himself as the small, blonde poodle he is, in his head he's totally a rocker. Funnily enough, my youngest dog is named Quinn, which I see was the surname of one of the Saxon guitarists. Totally off topic, sorry, but interesting for me to learn!

:) Penumbra, Saxon is the oldest of my three dogs (at 3 yrs old), my little 5kg Poodle x who introduced me to the amazing world of dog ownership!

I don't want to get involved in this debate, which is about such a personal and emotive topic for everyone (losing a loved one and money, both massive issues) - I just wanted to say Penumbra, based on what you've said through this thread I think it's clear you did care a lot about this dog and did everything you could to help her. I can understand what it could be like to literally not have the money for a vet bill should one arise - not having to choose between paying another bill, buying food etc instead but actually not have any money at all for any of those things - and how much pressure that can be. You obviously did find the money, good on you, and I don't blame you for trying to find out if you were overcharged or not. Also, hugs to everyone who has had to go through losing loved animals, especially when they've had to deal with treatment and decision making complications at such an emotional time

This!! You just wish you could explain to them that we're not just being party poppers when we tell them they can't have things, it's actually for a reason! Very glad to hear they're ok, no doubt you'll be loving having them back home to cuddle :) Based on my very limited understanding of what certain pain meds can do in humans, they can dehydrate you which then damages your kidneys and in large doses causes them to shut down, which can still happen after a few days. Keeping them on fluids would have kept the kidneys hydrated while their bodies processed whatever they absorbed. Like you said LMSW, the food in their tummies would have helped reduce the risk of stomach damage too. Feel free to correct me of any of that is totally wrong Fingers crossed they'll have no other problems!

Really!?! It never occurred to me to train him out of it! It should have, you know how you miss the obvious sometimes. I've just been talking in another thread about the "look at that" game and getting my girl to look to me rather than do her bad habits, training Sax not to bark at tv would be similar... Question is, can I be bothered when I'm sitting in front of the tv at night? ;)

I know, why is this on a dog forum? Because ITP has an ad that keeps playing which has these beeps while they tick things off on a list that set Saxon off barking EVERY time! Then of course the other two start barking as well When Saxon hears a dog on tv he'll usually calm down when I tell him "TV dog" but "TV noise" doesn't seem to work, even though he must have heard the ad 100 times now. Maybe he thinks the only thing saving us all from the beeps is his scary barking (eye roll) Sigh, just a vent about my hugely useful watch dogs...

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the advice :) jumabaar, the training thread you linked is really interesting and relevant to me too, funnily enough I just yesterday bought a front attach harness for Quinn coz she's a puller too and it was getting too hard for me to walk all 3 dogs at once with her pulling me all over the place. She settled straight into it and it's really good for getting her next to me so I can then reward her. Megan I think she'll be really good at the LAT game! I realise she actually did it herself yesterday - I put the harness on her and just walked her a few houses down the street and back to test it. One front yard had some food container in it and she tried to get over to it, first time we passed it I called/pulled her away then treated; second time we passed it she went to pull over to it, called her back and treated; then went and got the other 2 dogs for the proper walk, passed the spot again and she looked at the container then looked straight to me for a treat!!! Took me a second to realise what she'd done but then I was excited. Now I realise she was teaching me LAT :)

Hey TCM, I hope you don't mind me butting in but I'm finding the advice in this thread really interesting and and would love some advice as well... Quinn, my Aussie Shepherd girl is approaching 9 months old, her training and bond with me is going pretty well and she will come to me, sit and pay attention against most distractions now (other dogs, other adults) BUT kids, the younger the better, are still her highest value thing! I leash her at the dog park when anyone under about 14 comes in otherwise she'll run and jump on them no matter what I do. If I'm not quick enough she's across the park and knocking toddlers over before I even get close I understand that she does it because kids are the ultimate reward for a people-loving puppy, she can reach their faces, they run and scream and wrestle with her, in her head it's super fun! But actually they're scared and possibly getting hurt. So I've been trying to desensitize her by walking her on leash near kids, telling her firmly to stay "Down" (she knows the command), physically restraining her from reaching the kids if she jumps, and giving praise and pats when she stays down. After reading this thread I'm thinking maybe every time there's a kid nearby I should have some super high value rewards (she's very food motivated), get her focussed on me (on leash) then take her over to the kids and reward reward reward while she ignores the kids, then take her away again before she has any interaction with the kid... huski and others what do you think, if you don't mind advising?

Sooo hoping they're ok, silly doggies Fingers crossed being at the vet on fluids is enough to get them through with no bad effects!!

Riley (Sheltie) does it too! Seems to be when he's excited about getting a particularly yummy treat :) He has lots of weird "excited" habits (spinning in circles, crouching, weird noises), it's like he's just TOO excited and he doesn't know how to get it out, cracks me up!

What a good thread! Niki8, good on you for doing your research and seriously considering the feedback you get. I think it will result in you finding the right pup for you! I was also thinking an Aussie Shepherd could be a good option, mine (7 months old) is full of energy when she's awake and always happy for a walk/run/play but also quite happy to lie around or entertain herself at home (well, entertain herself by destroying things...), more interested in other people and dogs than most BCs I've seen, very affectionate and she does have the Lab-type tendency to run up to everyone with exuberance and throw herself at them! Long hair though, and probably smaller than many labs. Sounds to me like a lab from the right breeder who you keep nice and fit would actually be a good fit from what you've said :)

That's exactly it CW, some dogs, obviously including Charlie, just have that true confidence that is obvious to other dogs. I reckon Charlie conveys in dog language "Dude, I deal with tougher stuff than you every day before breakfast so don't even bother" in a calm, matter of fact tone and the other dogs are like "cool man, all good!" :D

That's so awesome. It sounds like the dog didn't even know the baby, just found it and knew it needed protection. Nice that the people went to search for the dog too, and very lucky for the poor baby.

Such a funny pic! It actually looks like the spotty one gets half the couch and everyone else has to cram onto the rest :D

Oh alkhe, I've had a couple of bathroom bin raids too! Clean up is not fun Maggie is such a cutie, I love the clip you keep her in, I'm trying to emulate it with Saxon but with his x-breed coat and my limited skills he doesn't end up looking quite as nice!

Lovely photos and such stunning dogs! That second photo in the first post of Ivy is beautiful :) What are their Belgian breed names again? Is Ivy the "Terv" one?

It's easy at my house, it's always Quinn! Always.

Saxon has gotten more cuddly as he's gotten older too. He started sleeping on the bed at 7 months but used to sleep off to the side not touching me. Now, at nearly 3 he seems to always want the rest at least his head, if not all of him, on some part of me. It's cute :) although I do feel bad if I move and disturb him Oh and I leave them blankets and things to burrow into during cold weather too, like you said they may get too hot in a coat.

Oh poor Barney! Very lucky you heard and got to him in time. He sounds like quite a little character :)

Saxon turns 3 in a month, Riley is 13 months and Quinn is 6 months. The gap between Sax and Riley was perfect, I decided I wanted another dog when Saxon was about 6 months but patiently waited until Sax was approaching 2 years before actively looking for a puppy (so unlike me, I'm very impatient!!). By that age Saxon and I had our communication and routines down, he'd gone quite a way through obedience and was easy to manage so I knew I'd have the time to focus on Riley. I still desperately wanted an Aussie Shep though and although I had every intention of waiting until Riley was at least 1 before getting another pup, I happened to find the perfect pup already aged 5 weeks in my first week of looking... So I decided to go for it. I don't regret it for a minute but having 2 working dog puppies has been quite full on and I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like noise and mess :) I haven't made plans for another one any time soon, I have my dream breed for now and plenty to keep my hands full, although I suspect there will be another one before I lose one of the current 3...

That's so cute teekay! I clearly remember watching baby Quinn running up and down the yard trailing behind Saxon amd Riley while they raced and played, she looked exactly like she was thinking "play with meeee" too :D Glad to hear he's settling down for you!

j, if the burglars left them Buster probably thought it was an excelled trade!

I wonder how many cases there have actually been of owners debarking dogs in a cruel or harmful way (ie not done properly by a vet) who otherwise care about and treat their dogs well. I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of people who have or are considering debarking are actually caring owners who don't want to risk losing their dogs or having them harmed, and who are also considerate of their neighbours. As Steve suggested, I doubt people who don't really care about their dogs would bother debarking properly through a vet, they'd just ignore the problem or dump the dog. Note: JMO, not evidence based.

God Luka's gorgeous!! Re the barking, whatever you do, do it NOW! After my troubles with Riley's (Sheltie) barking I made sure to be on Quinn (Aussie) about it from day one. And an Aussie bark is much bigger than a Sheltie one, Quinn is six months now and has just started to change from a puppy "arf" to a loud "woof". Thankfully she doesn't do it often. I found a firm, deep, growly "ugh" type noise worked quite well with her. It probably did scare her a bit but I was so determined not to have two barkers, and it seems to have worked. She'll still bark now and then at other dogs and at things out of the ordinary but not just out of excitement all the time like Riley does. Also, like wuffles, when she was a baby she was penned at one end of the house with access to the hallway and bathroom with bed, toys, food etc while the boys were on the other side of the barrier. I also let her mix with them pretty early, maybe about 11 weeks, once she could get up and down the back stairs safely. I've found food is quite good for keeping her busy for a short time but things to figure out like boxes or plastic bottles with treats in, or even empty or with a chewy toy in, that she has to destroy to get into keep her occupied. Those and the rest of the ornaments etc in my house...(rolly eye man)

Oooh I haven't seen Simi pics since a baby photo you posted, she's (?) gorgeous! Acheron too, what a nice pair :)