Genabee

I make no promises.... but will see what I can muster up! I should have got her while she was on the dining room table! Cheeky dog.

You could get hit by a car.... or you could get cancer. My Mum won't have anything plastic in the house.... all the appliances, storage containers, sinks, baths, crockery etc - none of it is plastic. She is convinced that plastic causes cancer. She purposely buys things that come in glass containers and if it does come in plastic, it doesn't stay in it! I also once heard that cheezles weren't allowed into the UK as they are said to be cancer causing... I'm pretty sure all the make up, skin products, smoking, drinking etc that we do is going to be more harmful than polar fleece. I use polar fleece blankets for the pooch, because they are easy to wash and fast drying. As for her clothes, cotton all the way.... I don't like her getting all sweaty!

I Am so not computer savvy!!! How do I put things on youtube? I couldn't even work out how to put a picture of her on here!!

You're a good doggy Mum!!! I know what you mean about hearing the good stories as well as the bad! We were worried about leaving Genevieve at home to start with, but now I don't think about it too much. Although I did take her to work with me on Saturday.... :p

I think the reality is: 1) that most dog owners have to go to work... The length of time that dog owners work for may vary, but regardless, they leave the home for a period of time. By comparison, I am a bad doggy parent, as Genevieve had alone time from the second day she was home with us! I don't think it has harmed her in any major way. If anything it is good, because I can ignore her long enough to get things done and she is fine with it. When she has our attention, she is generally well behaved. When my husband is not away, he works from home. When he does conference calls, he often puts her in the laundry for the duration of the call, as she is when no one is home. 2) dogs like being outside. Even the predominantly indoor dogs like spending time outside. If I had a 'big' dog, they would be outside too. When I am home in the mornings before going to work, Genevieve spends more time outside by choice. I now leave the back door open when I am home so she can come in and out. 3) We do not spend every waking minute with our human babies. Why? Because they have to learn that they are their own person and not attached to their parents. Yes they are supervised, but it is possible to supervise from a distance. So, why would you pay more attention to your dog than to your child? I wouldn't worry too much koalathebear, Elbie would have to be one of the most well trained, well behaved dogs I've known of. You are doing a fantastic job with him and I couldn't imagine you leaving him outside if it wasn't working or if he regressed in anyway. Trust your instincts and try not to take too much of it personally.

I hope your dogs aren't anything like my little menace!!! I was in the garden for half an hour today and left Genevieve asleep in her house on the dining room floor. I came inside to find her standing on the dining room table!!! :rolleyes: While I was cooking dinner in the kitchen, I saw her push the chairs out, jump up on the chair (I yelled at her to stop at this point)... I gather from there is how she then jumped on to the table... so, move your furniture out of their way!!! When I leave for work, she goes in to the laundry. I have come home once to find her standing on top of her crate (lesson to be learned here was to not set the washing machine to come on while she is in there!), from which she could have jumped up on to the bench and who knows what trouble she would get herself into there! She has only done it the once and I do not put the washing machine on while I am out. I am hoping she doesn't do it again. If you have blinds, make sure they are pulled all the way up and cords tied. Do not leave ANYTHING on the benches. Shut all closets, cupboards etc. Shower power (for showers, not carpet, citrus scent) works really well to get urine stains out of carpet (if you get it straight away)... they also don't like the smell of it, so they tend to avoid going back to the spot if they can smell it. I don't want to question your dog parenting (as I know how that feels myself) but, have you considered the possibility that allowing them so much space while you are not there, will create and/or contribute to any existing anxiety they may have? Dogs feel safer when 'confined' to small areas, hence the whole crate training philosophy... It might cause you anxiety to lock him in one room, but maybe you will be reducing his anxiety if you do so. Be prepared for him to be really wound up when you come home... ignore him for the first 5 or 10 minutes otherwise he will think he is top dog, not to mention be confused as you have been out all day. I once read that we should spend no more than 10 minutes of any given hour paying attention to our dogs, as they are more likely to suffer with separation anxiety when we leave. Which I guess makes sense; they go from being at our sides constantly to nothing at all... this is emotionally taxing for a little pooch! It is healthy for them to have alone time (as it is for us!). Good luck! I hope it works out for you.

You don't want a hyperactive dog ready to go when you want to go to bed!!! (Unless you do night shift and want to sleep during the day!). You could do lunch!

We are in a similar boat, no children of our own yet, but is super important to us for her to be kid friendly, as we are working on having our own!!. There is a skate park near us, so I walk her there. Often we sit there and just watch. Also helps to try and teach her to accept bikes, soccer balls, prams, people (big and small), other dogs, cars.... and everything else that happens in public places, as normal. Often kids will want to pat her because they can't resist cute puppies!!! What a fabulous idea freundhund!!!! I wish people had done that when I was a kid, as I was so scared of dogs (especially big ones like German Shephards!).

That was priceless!

Sounds like she is being a normal pooch! I will have to try the vicks! Does it stay sticky?

Fantastic!!! We don't have any friends with dogs so the only interaction Genevieve gets with other dogs is when I go walking. I was scared she would be anti social with other dogs, so I try hard to walk in dog friendly zones and am all for her meeting other dogs - all shapes and sizes (bigger the better, she needs to know who is boss!!). My sister lives in Perth and has a Westi pup who is a very well socialised, well mannered dog. They live across the road from a park where lots of dogs meet (they have regular play dates). Perhaps if you would like, I could put you in touch with her and Marley could have a play date with Lily! If you are able to walk him (maybe take it in turns in taking the kids with you), he can see and sniff more dogs around! Might help him with school (less distracted by other dogs) and maybe help his 'hierarchy' issue with the girls!

Did you expect the speying to settle a pup down? I have never known it to - It's not just female hormones that determine behaviour genetics/environment/training are what does this , IMO. tattoos are done, AFAIK as a quick/easy way to determine if a bitch has been speyed , as there are no external signs . Glad genevieve hasn't let the op cramp her style! I didn't spey Genevieve with the hope of calming her down! She would have been speyed regardless of any possible personality changes! I don't think I would want her personality to change really, yes she gets excited from time to time, but she is a puppy. All puppies do that. If she turns out anything like her dog parents, she will be a pretty placid, laid back dog. As we speak, she is asleep on the couch... after a big day at work with me! She may be a little dog, but she has BIG personality!!! I am pretty sure this dog has lived on this planet before! :D Thank you for answering my question about the tattoo! We joked for a couple of days that we had a wayward child, getting a tat without her parents permission!!

I know I might be a bit late in replying to this, but I have just looked this up in a few of my books I have on dog first aid. Basically, you did the correct thing in removing the sting. It suggests to put antihistamine cream on it. Dogs are rarely allergic and generally only need to worry if they are bitten by several at once. They will go into shock pretty quickly if they are indeed allergic. If this should happen, treat for shock (keep warm, ensure airways are open) and get VET attention ASAP as adrenaline and antihistamine shots will need to be administered.

I purchased a two pack of dog friendly tennis balls from the pet section in coles (of all places!). They are harder than normal tennis balls, designed to last longer and what have you. I use them in stockings - have one suspended from the clothes line (don't worry, we don't ever use it to dry our clothes!), and one that is tied to the dinning room table. She loves them!

I had Genevieve spayed last week (16 weeks) - she is still mental! Probably too early to know. We had Aurora, our family dog spayed at about the same age and we notice a huge difference with her almost straight away. We also noticed when she got to about five, she went through a bit of a metamorphesis and is now a MUCH calmer dog. She was (and still is for an aging dog) always on the hyperactive side. Could someone please explain to me, why are dogs ears tattooed when they are spayed? Is this just a Victorian thing? I was most surprised and a little upset when Genevieve came home branded. I was not expecting that, as Aurora was never tattooed.

Thank you for the detailed explanation koalathebear!!! Genevieve has jut mastered 'touch' (I make her touch her nose to me fist, but not allowed to lick!) and high five!!!! She already shakes hands! I took a leaf out of your book and have been making her do lots and lots of tricks before her food - and half her food was eaten as a reward for doing things. Our biggest challenge is getting her to stay in the 'down' position, but she is improving every day! I also make her look at me before she hears the magic word 'OK'. She looks funny as she starts out with her head staring at the bowl then all of her sudden her little eyes look up... Thank you for sharing all your advice and updates. You have a beautiful dog and you are obviously a fantastic dog parent! If only all dogs could be so lucky.

When Genevieve wants her hot water bottle to be warm, she drags it out of her house to where ever I am. It used to be cute. Now she does it way too often!!!

We went through a phase similar to this... I now always take treats with me, and she gets rewards for walking properly and sitting at corners when we stop! I also found walking to new places helped, as she was anticipating where we were going and she would try to lead the way! I sprayed her lead with bitter bite. Whenever they try to charge ahead, turn to your right (assuming Link is on your left) and go back the way you came. Believe me when I say the get sick of walking around in circles!!! I also find now too, that the first stint of the walk she is difficult, then she gets into a rhythm. I also notice that on the way home, she gets a bit excited and tries to race ahead. I think she knows we are approaching home! I find I have to allow her a few minutes of excitedness and then she is much calmer and generally easy to walk. I guess you just have to keep working on desensitising her to everything around her, until such time as she thinks it is all normal and takes it in her stride. I hope that helps a bit!

For yourself or on the pooch?

Everytime I see pictures of your pooch, I melt... He is just beautiful! He looks like a giant teddy bear!!!!

I love your pictures of Elbie! He is so photogenic! I'm going to try the shy command.... If I can get her to stay on the ground long enough!

So bloody true!

Well based on that, I have a very dominant dog! And I would have never thought so.... I'm not much help to you Aussielover... I have to ask, how much of those behaviors listed is more a reflection of the training (or perhaps lack of it in some cases) that they have had? And don't puppies test the boundaries anyway (like a toddler does)? A lot of puppies just want attention and to be loved, so they will do what they have to, to get that attention. But once they have your attention, they don't necessarily try to dominate you.... do they?

Not surprised she wanted to protect you from Timmy He was freaky.. And Tabatha!!!! Those two together and she would go bazerk!

I wish it was Friday! That is so funny!