mumsy

Thanks Dogsfevr. I’ll take your advice regarding the term.

Thanks Barb!

Hello all! My family and I are looking to add a fur baby. Our last dog was a boxer, but he has recently passed away. Previously we had a golden but we adopted her from a family going overseas and didn’t go through a breeder. What is the average cost for a golden puppy these days? Anyone have breeders in Vic that they recommend highly? We are not in a hurry, just want to get a healthy happy dog, thanks!

Here is our beautiful white boxer. Bought from a reputable breeder in Vic. Yes we have to watch him in the sun, but every morning in the warmer months, we put some sunscreen on him. Never been burned. He is no different to any other coloured boxer. When we went to look at the litter he was a gorgeous chunky monkey. The breeder call him Mr. Happy. Colour made no difference to us. I wouldn't trade him for the world. He certainly didn't deserve to be euthenised just because he was white.

huh?

She has been taken to the vet. She can run and play anywhere for hours no problem. If she follows the other dog no problem. Alone...problem.

Do you know what training they are doing with her? If she isn't getting any kind of mental stimulation she might be restless and behaving like you have described. How much exercise does she get? She plays alot with their other dog, but she is very hard to walk. Not sure why, but she will walk for a short period and just lie down. They have tried bringing BBQ chicken with them etc. Once she is down she is very hard to get back up. There is not physical issue that is causing this. If they can walk both dogs together, she generally follows the other dog quite well but that isn't always possible. They did consult a behaviorist who suggested that perhaps she was never walked in the first home so she doesn't know what to do? Their daughter has taken her for walks and had to phone home to be picked up because she is around the block and cannot get the dog walking again. They play alot of tug of war and that sort of thing in their yard.

She is very people focussed. From my view, she is very scatterbrained for lack of a better word. She's up,down, up again. Sits then is up again. It is almost like she is going in three directions at once but can't figure out which direction to go!If I walk in their door, she is all over you, sniffing butts etc, licking. They have done crate training with both there dogs and so they now go in their crates when someone arrives. The term "high strung"comes to mind, but yet not a stressy dog at all! Perhaps it is just learning some techniques to settle her down. I have talked to my girlfriend this morning and I don't think they will rehome. She really is a lovely dog, it is just perhaps learning how to handle her better. Sometimes I think things just get a little too much, and she didn't know how to handle it very well. Any advice would be great!

and "LIKE" button pressed for this as well!! I think this is really her line of thought. They have also said that there will not be another dog to replace, if they did rehome her.

Sorry, I missed this, First dog is a mix. Second dog is a lab. Not sure if it is purebread or not.

Wow

Thanks for all the input. I do have to say that this dog is not neglected, ignored etc. She is not the only one putting effort in. These are really good people. They got the dog with the right intentions, and intend to go on with the right intentions. The dog will not be dropped at a shelter (if they decided to rehome, which is a decision that has not been made). This was a conversation between myself and my friend in which she was discussing her feelings. I am the one asking people for an opinion. Another 12 or so years with an animal that you don't have a good connection with is a long time, and alot of money. My friend spent alot of time looking for another dog, it was not an impulse, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee success. Unfortunately she got her from a shelter, and besides bringing her dog to the shelter for a "meet and greet", was not given a trial period, which may, or may not have shown her whether they were a great match. They do care for her and it is for that reason that she is questioning whether they are the right family for her. As I said, I will show her this forum and hopefully some good advice may help.

Thanks everyone. Lots to think about and I will show her this forum.I think one of the problems is dog 2 is very needy. If she is sleeping near you and you get up she bounds up and follows you. She is very licky and they have worked alot on that. She has the lovliest nature but is a bit of an airhead which I think they are probably struggling a bit with. Maybe just some better training could solve those problems. They got the dog to keep their dog company but very much also because they wanted a second dog. They do like this dog and as I have said, it is well cared for I think she is just worried cause they don't feel that devotion.

Thanks guys. Okay to answer a few questions. The dog is inside alot. Free access to anywhere and its humans. The dogs needs are definitely being met and it is treated no differently than their first dog, that I know of. She gets brushed, she curles up on the couch with the kids etc. I don't think she thinks there is a problem with the dog, it is just that neither her or her husband feel a connection. Even her kids don't really feel they have a bond. I don't think that when they got this dog they could ever forsee themselves feeling like this. They are good people, and if she didn't give a damn, she wouldn't be looking for help.

I was worried about how the separation would affect either or both of the dogs? They have obviously been great company for each other. How would that affect them if they are possibly separated?

I suppose not alot of 1 : 1 time. They do some basic training but I think they mostly work with both together. She was quite upset when she mentioned this to me but she is worried that since the dog is only around 2 years old, there is alot of years left with her. I suppose at least she is worried about doing the right thing for both of the dogs involved.

I was recently at a friends house. We have both recently adopted a second dog. My girlfriend started quizzing me about how well we had bonded with our newest dog. To make a long story short, she is having second thoughts. They are lovely people and have provided equally for both of their dogs. No one in the family has made a connection with the newest dog, which they have had for about 8 months. She is a lovely dog but they aren't feeling much connection emotionally with her, if that makes sense. They are wondering if A - It would be fair on either dog to rehome the newest dog. or B - If there is something else they can do to feel differently or C - If it is fair to the newest dog to find him a home where he will be loved a bit more. I have been thinking alot about what she said to me and I just didn't really have any great advice. Any thoughts?

My teenage daughter was walking our dog a few doors down when a dog came out of a yard and attacked them. Daughter was fine, dog scratched up alot. He was only 8-9 months old at the time. A neighbour came out and helped her cause she was screaming. She headed home and was almost there when she looked back and the dog was heading for them again. The owner apparently heard the commotion and got the dog who was lunging over our fence. Never came and asked if anyone was okay My daughter and our dog had jumped the fence to get away. From that day on our dog was never the same. Got a behaviorist involved and making progress. Head out our gate one day to put our dog in the car. Two dogs off leash across the street came straight for him!!! They weren't going to attack but he didn't know that. Scared the crap out of him again. Well more behaviorist help and another large lump of cash ( which I don't mind spending on him except those idiots should foot the bill cause they caused this). Poor love stresses so much going for walks that it almost isn't worth it. Too many people with off leash dogs. I'm sick of hearing "oh he's friendly!" This has changed our dog for life. Stressful for us when taking him out and very stressful for him.

Thanks everyone!

The reason I was asking was when we went to adopt our second dog not too long ago, because he was a male and so was our first dog, every time I asked about a male dog, the first thing I was asked was whether our male was desexed.When I answered yes, almost everyone of them said "oh that's okay then".We will definitely bring the crates down with us so we can separate if necessary or just get them out of our hair!!

We have 2 desexed males, and we are going to a cousins farm for Christmas. We were told our dogs were more than welcome, but I found out the other day that he has a 8 month old British Bulldog who is still not desexed. Having never been in the situation before, I am looking for advice as to whether this could end in disaster. Apparently he is a lovely dog with a great nature and both or ours are good. Any advice would be great.

I was thinking of starting this same thread. Mine do alot of tug or war. Play fighting too. I was trying to think of something else so they don't get bored. If I put two balls in they always both go for the same one. No matter which one Wilson has, Rhys just wants that one, so to avoid a fight, we are back to the good old rope!

so special!

Thanks everyone. Maybe a family dinner discussion for tonight. I will keep you posted if 6 of us can agree on anything!

Here are the boys in a couple of their quieter moments. Wilson on the left is our 2 year old boxer and Rhys is the newbie!!