Two Best Dogs!

Thyme’s great uncle got reserve dog challenge I think that’s neat! So gorgeous! Imagine caring for that coat!

How is everybody? Hoping rahbet can join us! due to thyme getting involved in science I have enrolled thistle into a new dog school. We are edging in carefully. Some might think we are too cautious but better safe and sorry as I want her neither bolting or chasing after a small fluff. she is in their advanced class but very different exercises. things like sitting in a heel while another dog recalled past (at the comfortable distance of challenge, but not react without thinking) The past month has been great. She has been mostly calm and I haven’t even needed rescue remedy for the vet. She wagged at the vet! Looked miserable but not cowering. Soon I hope to introduce her carefully to dididogs pointer pup via a side by side walk. Interestingly, thyme seems to be going through a stranger danger phase. People that have previously not bothered him, he is suddenly scared of and barks at. We are doing a bit of people watching but I think it might be teenage hormones. He has also suddenly started mounting, marking and in general - being a bit of a brat. He even postured at a pair of GSDs having a go at him and a week later at a large gsd x husky (who was approaching us much too fast). Insecurity + boy hormones? Amused but not impressed, took a breath and reminded myself he is a teenage shit right now. Ask him to sit. Give treats. Do some BAT and the following week had him laying calmly next to that cross. (Barring a moment where he wanted to play). I expect he will train and grow out of it. Interestingly, Thistle ignores his upsets unless it is stranger dangery. So a few front yard chilling sessions. Reminding them both to watch calmly no bark. Chat with neighbours and the like. Overall enjoying the two dog life. Pic: Early morning city walk.

Show lines can be fun ;)

Can you elaborate? As in the steps of what you would do when so he realises banging = I’m alone on a pen I have added a... idk what it is actually. A tomato trainer thing. To the door to see if it makes hitting uncomfortable. He has hit once then silen ce but could just be tired. Will report back!

Wtf at that flight attendant making them put the dog in the overhead luggage ?! :’( that poor family warning. One of the photos is of the dog dead in its carrier. 10 month old frenchie

I take a deep breath and then play a game instead. Fetch. Tug. A cuddle. Do some silly tricks I know they’ll get right so I can reward and build motivation (if I am frustrated no doubt they are even more frustrated with me!). Something we both enjoy to distract our minds and build up our engagement without worrying too much how her rear end is positioned or if she dropped forward instead of back for the 10th time or thyme forgot no zigzag on lead and tripped me. Hell even just jog to the next road if walking. Something to shake us all up. Then after the break, think about what about the approach I can change to help the dog get it right so I can let them know it was right and reward them. Maybe I need to stand differently. Maybe we need to go back a couple of steps to the basics. Maybe we need some remedial training. Or more breaks to just enjoy each other. If after the break I am still feeling frustrated. It is time to stop. To go home and chill out. It is not fair to expect my dogs to read my mind, especially if frustrated. Maybe even have some space from the dogs and read a book or go hang out with friends. Get your own motivation and fresh mind back. I have a reactive dog too. When she is about to explode, I redirect her attention to me with a queue (her name = look at me). I might even turn her in a heel to have her back to the other dog to make it "easier" to focus on me. If she keeps turning to look at the dog...we have gone too close, she is fixating and will not be able to focus on me. Her brain has stopped working and is stuck in a loop. I will add space by moving away from the dog until we are at the correct distance where we can get some learning going on without fixating on the other dog. Distance varies dependening on dog. Could ignore an old golden walking right by, a bouncy barky frantic small fluffy is much harder challenge so more space. With practice we are quite close to other dogs now, and she can remain calm even while in a drop, with other dogs heeling around her and another running over some jumps Lots of impulse control games at home, with food and toys, to help her with her self control. Lately, I've gotten her up to sitting (impatiently) while my other dog and I swing the flirt pole around her very fast. She is sight driven so very hard for her, but she manages to contain herself! This translates to also containing herself if she see's another dog chasing a ball etc.

Thanks Jac, I appreciate it might work for some dogs but we need to be mindful of my other dog - she is very timid and sensitive to surprises such as sudden movement, loud noises, Thyme freaking out overly etc. I've spent a lot of time building up her confidence and recovery, I wouldn't want to set her back just because I'm annoyed at some banging. Anything I do to deter or train Thyme to stop banging, I need to make sure doesn't frighten or alarm Thistle. It is why I am thinking more passive things to break him of the habit such as barriers. I promised a photo and never delivered: the top left window is positioned right above a sink and the other doesn't open. As can see, it's on raised steps? I tried putting the old barriers up but he just knocked them down into the water bowls. I've put some kids puzzled pieces up purely to protect the security door. i've yet to find something I can attach to stick out a bit and force him some space away from the door. Troublesome young man. I do suspect he just outright enjoys the behaviour.

These particular dogs “base stock” were beagles, bloodhounds, Fox hounds etc. interestingly this area also has a couple of roaming domestic stray dogs (a terrier type, a beagle cross) and the ferals don’t seem to interact with them but the other domestic dogs will. The relatives of the watcher are keeping the little runt one and they are trying to catch the other puppies to hand to shelters or home to ppl Note: These dogs are in america

Hey all, that person I watch posted some updates on their local feral dogs. They found one of the current litter of puppies wandering in a storm and have taken it in. Will be interesting to see how it behaves, being a few generations removed from human handling: Here is a recent photo of Red, the dropeared feral I posted earlier: Here are some of the other puppies that they had stumbled across on a walk. Interesting they are still pretty drop eared: in this picture you can see the one who was found in the storm! I wonder how the white one up back will fare compared to its red and black/tan siblings? (as you can see, the pack had objections to human presence) the older pup up front has slightly raised drop ears, it is copying the adults barking at the people.

i really liked the fitness level of the boxer :D the rottie was pretty sweet too honestly wasn't expecting to like the dobie but she seemed a good dog last, i didn't realise german pinchers came in brown !

Probably Alaskan huskies. Type of dog not breed of dog. Fascinating variety when breeds are blended and mixed and remixed for a purpose still. What hard working dogs! 12 years!

I saw this one mention was a family member dog: https://www.goondiwindiargus.com.au/story/5263235/dog-destroyed-after-attacking-baby-in-inverell/?cs=1829 Inverell Sergeant Ross Chilcott confirmed the Rottweiler was owned by a family member. “The incident occurred within the rear yard of the family premises and the dog was tied up at the time,” he said. If if it was tied up. Poor management by owner and family to let them so close together. If if it was some random persons dog. Poor management to have a fence low enough to be scaled by the dog.

It’s near solid metal security door (then a normal wooden door) and I’m afraid sitting in the laundry sink to spray through the window is likely more aversive to me than to a water loving spaniel! When I get home I’ll take a photo so you can all see what I’m working with in terms of location. Hes not not as bad as he once was and ignoring it had worked last time but I don’t know why he’s started up again recently. If it wasn’t metal wouldn’t be so annoying. Goes BANG! Silence for 5 mins...BANG BANG silence for 10 mins....... relaxing....thinking of going out....BANG!!!!!

Haha people add plastic to the helmet to stick out and persuade magpies to leave it alone because no flat surface to hit. I do do still have a puppy pen I’ll see if I can set it up. Back door is on a raised set of steps so it might fall off I’ll let you know

Your DNA tests depends a lot on the quality of the company database. Dnamydog has a very small database and makes some dubious claims about discovering the dogs personality. One of the DNA tests you should slot under “for a laugh” versus those for “serious research”. Wisdom panel/ advance pet DNA test are another for a laugh with very small databases where you might get the breed groups your dog belongs to but any accuracy is limited because the databases (of DNA your dog gets compared to) are so small and out of date. And they lie about giving you the raw data if you ask for it! Doesnt mean there aren’t good DNA tests out there that are continually updating and adding new breeds. Just that lots of gimmick ones to wade through to find them. I like embark best *because* they continue to update your results as the data is advanced, so if there is not enough data to identify a breed one day then the next year might be different story! (+ all the disease tests which are much more valuable I think. ) dont take one gimmicky dna test test to be a representive of all.

I thought we had trained it out of him but he is back at it. Scratching us is the wrong word. More like he hits it with his foot then waits. Hits it again. I have have never opened the door for this. Both dogs are required to sit to request access and that’s what he will do if he thinks I’m approaching and then I’ll let him in. But im while I’m getting ready for work or cooking dinner. BANG..... .... BANG! Its a metal security door so quite loud. He is also starting to dent it! i was thinking maybe something similar to what people put on helmets for magpies? To stop him and break him of the habit?

Different ways of mourning. I’m sorry OP

oh no that poor poor family how heart breaking.

If you feel you are ready for one of these dogs, and that it will help both you and Teddy, then go for it You know Teddy best, and there's no one true way to heal your own heartache. Go with what you feel is right.

How terrifying It is good your breeder is supporting you. Best to try and keep the puppy as calm and comfortable as you can while waiting on results from your tests. Fingers crossed it's something the vets can help with.

good luck!

I was wincing recently over a pug breeder spending lots of time defending her tendency to inbreed as necessary. As if there couldn't possibly be a suitable pug out there who isn't a close immediate relative - then lists off all the health issues with pugs as if it's just the slightest risk and not bear guaranteed for most to experience at least one of the listed issues. They shouldn't have to have so many issues common enough to be listed in a casual disclaimer! sure you cannot guarantee good health the entire life of any dog but you should strive for it! Especially when new research comes out showing the negative effects a certain body alteration may have. A bit bit like it turns out the folded ears of a Scottish fold - tiny aesthetic change to cat ears - when homozygous is linked to a bone disorder that every single representive with homozygous folded ears has to a degree. When that new information comes out you would hope breeders would stop breeding fold to fold but as usual there is slow uptake. The push with folds being discouraged or outright banned has been faster than most but it's an example... of a breed trait has been found to be highly detrimental it should be reconsidered or discussed not ignored.

I see, yes thanks for the interpretation - I had read it as happening to someone she knew or a story she heard so was confused. Asal I'm very sorry that happened to you that puts a lot of your comments in a different light. I do agree with Maddi though. The health challenges need to be acknowledge and discussed, especially in the purebred context by purebred representatives

I've no idea what you're going on about asal. Edit Maddy has elaborated from me. I'm very sorry your experience has happened. Yes, it's a dog before it's a pug. It should be able to do basic dog things. This research came out recently, on the gait in pugs and it concerns me to. Yes to having the breed standards of defining a pug as pug, but no to those traits being interpreted to such an alteration of the dog that they are in pain or incapable of enjoying life comfortably :'( http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/182/6/167 (free to access article) There are some pugs out there doing sports (there's a particular little fly ball star who is a DELIGHT!), and while it's unrealistic to expect every pug to be running sports (especially at current) there should be a push towards ensuring they CAN be active safely. Open nares to breath for both activity and on hot days, a muzzle not so long for palates, space for the brain, eyes not so protruding as to suffer corneas and other assorted injuries, wrinkles not to be so excessive as to be prone to infection, a tail should not be essentially growing into the skin. It should be able to sit with proper body posture, trot neatly and be as healthy as humanly possible (shit luck excluded of course). They don't need to be running marathons or hunting down rabbits, but they shouldn't suffer so much in the heat, should be able to run and play. This shouldn't be a controversial thing to discuss, it helps build them towards a healthy pain free life where they can enjoy more and do more. Let them keep up with their family! I know there are some breeders working towards it, but so far it seems overall very few breeders in a very popular breed are working to improve their health, if the kind of dog we see in westminster is the one put in front of the public and the representative of the breed (that's on the judges who chose it to get there, then the one who decided it was best in group. But this is also what the public will then see, this is what is being shown to the world as the best pug). Dismay. *edit. Note I'm using pugs as example because I genuinely like the little buggers and track new research but same thoughts apply to Boston terriers, bulldogs, King Charles spaniels, extreme small variations of already small dogs etc etc

I would dearly love a pug one day. As it is, I would not buy any pug except as a cross. The current ones, how their faces, wrinkles and tight tails are... for all their endearing personalities I can not buy that. I watched Westminster. That dogs (named redacted) wrinkle over its nose was practically bigger than the length of its muzzle. At least not obscuring it but there's short and there's.... if a spaniel was born like that, it'd be deformed. Because it's an imagining of the standard, it's Westminster best in group. When articles like this pop up and then the reactions on a purebred dog forum, as a wannabe one day purchaser I'd much rather see people at least acknowledging and discussing fixes rather than "oh but look over there at the designer breeds and mixed breeds they're bad too". I have eyes. They're rarely that bad and even less on purpose except where we stray into byb purebred territory (the lines between dodgy and reputable are hard to tell. I very nearly bought a twice generation half sibling mating puppy but thankfully was warned off. Shows. Registered. Even does the odd sport. Terrifying to think for close I got to that potential generic disaster). pure breeders are about the improvement of their respective pure breeds. Perhaps if the topic was "responsible health breeding crisis in dogs" be good for discussions on how health checks for cross breeding should be more of a norm, that people should breed thoughtfully regardless of pure bred or cross bred. But if the topic is specifically raised about the pure bred crisis, better to focus on that. Other wise it's a bit like seeing a topic about the DCM crisis in Doberman, but the people discussing it go "German shepherds have health issues too" and go in circles on that. Can be concerned about both, but changing the topic in a themed discussion looks more like putting head in the sand than discussing potential improvements. Then someone comes along and will be "look Doberman breeders don't care about DCM, they always redirect to other breeds". Hope my gist gets across