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Stressmagnet

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Everything posted by Stressmagnet

  1. Sending you love and hugs for the long road ahead.
  2. So I yap about Ernie all the time and I'm sure those of you who bother to read my nonsense have a mental pic of what he looks like. But I reckon I should dignify my boy by giving you a real look at him -- and all he puts up with. So... This thread is for my sweet uncomplaining heart bursting with love boy. He deserves a thread to himself. Waiting for the 'Okay' to leave his mat: Dressed up by Miss 12 in her toddler fairy bath towel: Wearing a silly Happy Birthday hat (in Public!! At the pet store!! because girls are mean but he's uncomplaining: And finally, the head tilt that I cannot resist: if anyone can tell me how to get these to resize so they aren't enormous, I'd feel less embarrassed about posting photos. Thanks.
  3. Interesting. Ernie's best friend is a cocker of the same age - 1 year. He's recently taken to growling and snapping at any other dog that happens to play with Ernie. His owner stops him immediately with a No but then cuddles him, saying he's insecure. I think she's rewarding him for the behaviour. And of course sweet Ernie is no help. When the play escalates to where Ollie (the cocker) is snapping and growling at the other dog. Ernie just ends the play and comes and sits by me, bemused. Ollie NEVER growls and snaps at Ernie - no matter how silly the play gets. How should I bring the subject up with my friend? She's a really good mate and I don't want to offend her but if Ollie keeps this up - one day the other dog is going to turn around and give him a good seeing to.
  4. Following on from poor Molly the dog that ate kinetic sand... I found the remnants of a long discarded Bratz doll yesterday afternoon. You all KNOW how I found it. I'm pleased to say the hair and head remained intact thank Maude as I'm sure that would have been one interesting intestinal blockage. Her body (with platform ho heels still attached) was found carefully hidden under the pillow in Ernie's crate (I presume for later noms). My daughters haven't had Bratz dolls in 6 years. I have no idea where he's finding this stuff. So that makes one Bratz doll head (makeup washed off with digestive juices); one plastic hair detangler brush (human); a pink Polly Pocket shoe and a little Lego Star Wars dude minus his light sword . Ernie's anus must be made of steel. So what's the oddest thing your dog has ever ingested?
  5. See? I knew someone smart would chime in with great advice!
  6. Well I know to bring my trusty six pack of wine and Northanger Abbey when I arrive on your doorstep then. Of course you're glad I live so very far away, ain't cha?
  7. This is what I would do: 1. Buy a puppy pen and let your little one get used to spending some time alone on it. Unless you want him/her toileting on your deck - set it up on a grassy area. Then stick a bunch of toys and a big bone in there and let the puppy realise that you will go and come back so hopefully you avoid it calling out in distress. Then, when you have to leave for 3-4 hours, hopefully there will be no dramas. But see #3 first before you leave pup alone. 2. The furminator is great but don't over use I. I have a lab who sheds like mad and I go over him once a fortnight so as not to ruin his coat. Some folks on here who are familiar with Spitz breeds can tell you the optimum usage. Definitely buy a coat rake and a slicker brush tho - and brush every day, gently. I also bribe with treats. Another thing you need is good nail clippers - get the scissor kind, they don't squish the nail. Get your pup completely comfortable with handling its feet - even if you won't be clipping its nails yet. 3. Buy a crate!! Use it for nighttime sleeping indoors and you can crate the pup while you are gone if it's not ready to be left outside in the puppy pen yet. Buy a crate big enough for a full grown dog and partition it (many good crates come with a puppy partition) until he's grown. You may have the odd mess to clean up but with judicious timing of toilet breaks and feeding - it's probably the best place for puppy when you're not home. And stick the crate in your bedroom for a while - until pup is toilet trained -/ you will gain so much more sleep and it helps bond the pup with you as part of the pack. Some non squeaky toys and a blanket will make it inviting. My 1 year old Labrador loves his crate. I cover the back half with a blanket so it's more den like. Right. Time for some more experienced DOLers to step in!
  8. He's such a cutie pie WM. I'm so happy to see he's still chugging along with us.
  9. I believe you. I'll gladly explain JavaScript or the nuances of Jane Austen or why William Blake was a genius and watch your eyes glaze over in return. I 've got a visual learning style - draw me a Diagram and I'll be just fine. Nonetheless, I will NOT be breeding Labradors. Especially not chocolate ones which are, of course the result of a recessive gene. Edited because my eyes glazed over.
  10. I clicked. I got brain freeze. I think I should be banned from these threads. Carrry on, all you smarty pants.
  11. I do nap during the day. He's outside at this time - should I bring him in and start teaching him during nap time? I hadn't thought of this since he's usual cheerfully destroying a marrow bone, chasing birdies and discovering all the Kongs I hide.
  12. I will confess I am letting my personal argument with a friend get in my way. I get very tired of her constantly telling me my Fauves are dumb and how much better her Border Collies are. It has led to me feeling a distinct lack of love for Border Collies. It is incredibly rude. If she is a neighbour and friend then I guess you are limited but I would be thinking about saying something like: "you talk a lot about how much better your dogs are than mine, do you realise how rude that is?" Id just laugh in her face. Rudely. Unless you really want her to be your BFF. Life's too short to get wound up by idiots. The Fauve of my acquaintance may not be as biddable as Ernie but he's got his mum wrapped round his front paw. That's smart, not stupid. I'm amazed folks actually do this sort of shite. Who cares where your dog stacks up on a mythical intelligence scale as long as he/she loves you and fits your needs? Is there an HSC for dogs in this country of which I am unaware?? OMG you know a Fauve???? What is his name??? I'm sorry but with only around 100 in the country I know most of them and he may be bred by me OR related to mine... Yes I am excited lol. He's owned by a friend of a friend, and I see him infrequently at my off leash area where he has managed to teach Ernie that all short dogs are the boss of the world. Quite funny to watch really. He's a lovely dog - when I next see his owner, I'll claim you as a friend and dig into his parentage. I know he's a Fauve because me, being the ignoramus that I am - asked what he was crossed with, Basset and..? And got corrected. He is an absolute winner as far as personality goes, and 28kg Ernie treats him like King of the Park.
  13. Well done Spotted Devil. My head hurt after your second sentence. :D
  14. Whoops! Works with Ernie. Uh uh is for when he's being naughty - but whoops is for when he's just not getting it.
  15. Bazza's Pet Shack on the Central Coast NSW sells 12 kilos for $28 for anyone interested.
  16. Sounds like your problem is not actually your dog - it's the creek that he swims in. Still or stagnant water is notorious for making dogs stink. Only real solution is to ban the swim in the creek. Well that's not going to work. He'll sit in a stagnant puddle if there's one around. And the creek is fairly fast flowing - it's likely damp dog rolling in the odd dead bird and getting covered in friendly dog slobber plus mud. The trifecta!!!
  17. Yup. I totally dropped the ball that first night. My only weak justification is that I simply cannot resist him - and I know that spells trouble. I need to treat him like I did my children as toddlers. Firm but fair. A spoiled dog is a pain in the butt not only for his owners but for everyone he meets. If he just didn't do that "tilted to one side bug eyed soft ears look at me" that turns my resolve to mush. I must be getting senile in my old age. So the NEW me. Hardened to his soft face and woeful eyes. Back into bed you naughty boy!
  18. I want him to sleep at night - I don't care where. But I think the idea of putting him back into a locked crate if he abuses the freedom is a good one. Also not making the bed a play area. I'll give him another go this weekend, with the suggestions you've made. Eventually, I DO want to give him free range as long as he is quiet and sleeping. If that means he settles better in his crate - fine. If it means he sleeps at the foot of Miss 12's bed - fine. But nighttime is not for cold noses and wet licks at 3an or I will get seriously cranky, I too take forever to get back to sleep so cannot be having Mr. Wiggle Bum deciding it's time for some loving. That's why I got divorced :D
  19. I will confess I am letting my personal argument with a friend get in my way. I get very tired of her constantly telling me my Fauves are dumb and how much better her Border Collies are. It has led to me feeling a distinct lack of love for Border Collies. It is incredibly rude. If she is a neighbour and friend then I guess you are limited but I would be thinking about saying something like: "you talk a lot about how much better your dogs are than mine, do you realise how rude that is?" Id just laugh in her face. Rudely. Unless you really want her to be your BFF. Life's too short to get wound up by idiots. The Fauve of my acquaintance may not be as biddable as Ernie but he's got his mum wrapped round his front paw. That's smart, not stupid. I'm amazed folks actually do this sort of shite. Who cares where your dog stacks up on a mythical intelligence scale as long as he/she loves you and fits your needs? Is there an HSC for dogs in this country of which I am unaware??
  20. Roova - you're a gem. But Ernie leaps into the boot of my car with ease. I'd need a 4meter high mattress and he'd just get more determined. He's a snuggle ho my boy. I think I may just keep the crate door shut for the rest of the week and see if he's grown up a little by the weekend. Failing that, I may have to start giving him a talking to when his cold nose hits my cheek at 4:14am and THEN recrate him. I think I'm a bit of a pushover when he's just so happy to see me. If he was a child, I'd have given him a stern talking to. I remember the days of transitioning my daughters back to bed like 'big girls' and I'm pretty sure I wasn't always sweetness and light. So far, they appear to be undamaged by the experience. Or not.
  21. Why did I not think of Scotchguard??? Ok, I just found my Mothers Day Present - a thorough car cleaning and Scotchguard. Would a wet or a dry shampoo work best in the upholstery? And a decent fabric odour killer - those you've mentioned sound better than the Febreeze that I've been blasting. I'll report back next week.
  22. I cannot do offal for any reason. I cannot do liver without gagging. But the Tuna Cat treats sound like a go - I always thought cat food was bad for dogs. So I've learned something. I have been giving Ol' Fart Boy tiny cheese cubes and I can attest that there has been no discernible difference in the gas emissions.
  23. I could definitely move the crate into the lounge room but there's SO much he could get into and while he's pretty good - he's still a bit of a naughty teenager. I'd move him into my 12 year old DAUGHTERS room (:D) but a) he room is tiny and b) I think she needs her sleep more than I do. Eventually, I'd like him to choose where he's happiest sleeping - but I wanted to start him off in a room where he could be trusted. I've never unbabyproofed my bedroom so all breakables are up high. So not shooting down your suggestions - I just think they are a bit farther down the training route than we are now. If he cannot be trusted not to wake us up every hour for a cuddle, I can't see putting him his best buddy's room (Miss 12), is going to help. She also has less of a leadership role with him - he and she are more playmates, so I think the nighttime waking would get rewarded not stopped. Do I sound mean? I just want him to get that just because he's free to sniff around my room at night if he feels the urge to stretch his legs, that does NOT mean I want him jumping on me for a cuddle. He's well aware he's not allowed on the bed during the day - knows what 'up' and 'off' mean - he's just a kissing bandit.
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