Dad and Brother had to make a tough call this weekend and put down the family dog Rosco. Poor guy seemed to have health problems constantly but never slowed him down. Beat cancer back in 2017. Unfortunately started having seizures last week caused by a tumor. Dad drove him to Starkville Animal Health center because a Vet there thought he may have a chance at saving him. Unfortunately it was a little too late and he was in too bad of shape and no matter what kind of treatment they were gonna try the quality of life was gonna be bad. Real hard to make the decision to put them down instead of being selfish and keeping them around for my pops/brother but I think Saturday he was struggling to even know who they were and his movement had gotten bad. Gotta let em go sometimes. He was a good boy for 10 years. So glad now that I went home for Easter and got to play with him one last time.
So wes tegg good news, bad news on his Amazon indestructible ball. Good news, he absolutely will run himself ragged chasing it and has not managed to destroy it, despite its $18 price tag. Bad news, it's almost the only thing he wants to play with when we are outside now lol. We have to put it up to play fetch and stuff. And the whole time he chases it, he barks at it which I'm sure the neighbors love. He still only really plays with it when someone is outside with him so at least it's not like he is barking 24/7.
Oh and I've got learn to tie better knots. The tire on a rope tied to a branch never lasts very long. He manages to start biting at where the knot is and doesnt stop till it comes undone. Then back to his ball.
I think my dog has bad separation anxiety. Every time I get home she goes absolutely bonkers. Scratches and jumps all of the place. Even if I’m gone for like 10 minutes. What’s the best way to train for that.
Ignore her when she's jumping all over you. Literally turn your back to her and dont acknowledge that behavior. As soon as she's sit down or calm down - calmly praise her, give her treats. Eventually she'll understand she gets rewarded for being calm, and no reaction for being hyper to greet you. That said - if it's separation anxiety - is that the only thing she does? Does she whine when you leave, or bark like crazy or anything? My guy has really bad separation anxiety, and it never really goes away. Ive tried a lot of things. Im trying to avoid medicating him (ive tried cbd ect) but I think i may get some doggy zanax or something.
Not give any attention until they settle down, if she jumps at you or scratches step into her and push her away every time. Stepping away or leaning back is an invitation to the dog ( or what my trainer said) they don't like being walked into Do not give affection until she sits or is going crazy
No. She doesn’t whine or bark. But it’s tough when getting home especially getting married with a kid. She scratches him a lot because she’s so excited. She’s only 8 months old so I’m hoping it subsides.
When we were looking at board and train programs one of the ones in Nashville that works with Belgians told me they use e-collars. I've always been wary of those. My best friend got great results using one on their dalmatian for things like recall but the dog is deaf so there aren't a ton of other options I don't think for them. Has anyone else used them?
Yes, i had great results w it. Although I feel like 5 months may be a bit young for it. Long story short - Truman figured out he could jump the fence in the dog park. He was about 5 months old the first time he did it. FFW 5 months or so, and he's about a year and being a defiant asshole. Everything is the "keep away game" Someone dumped a burrito just outside of the park and he jumped over to get it. First time he jumped OUT of the park since that first time w the car. He wouldnt come and it took half the people at the park to corral him in a parking lot across the street. I was terrified, went straight home, threw him in the crate and went to petco to get a collar. It was a rocky start. I put it on him, and only buzzed him if he got near the fence. He didnt know what was happening ect. Would hide under the benches. I almost gave up on it, then he figured it out. He was really rebellious, but after figuring out he'd get a buzz if he didnt come back to me when he was by the fence, everything clicked and he became the most obedient dog I could wish for. He'd listen to everything, not just staying away from the fence. Went from using it all the time, and over the course of the next year maybe once every couple of weeks when I felt he was slipping. And even at that point, I didnt even have to buzz him, he snapped back into. I dont think Ive used it in a couple years now. I dont even know where the thing is.
Thanks man. Blue is only 5 months, but he is over 50 pounds already, built like a brick shithouse and all energy lol. I'll start doing some reading on them and how to use them properly. I don't want to go this route without being knowledgeable.
And he does calm down eventually when greeting (we've been ignoring him until he does) but he's so big even jumping once can hurt someone.
Yes, have used them on two labs now Be very careful early on to not let the dog get "collar smart" and after a while you will hardly ever need the collar 13 month old lab only wears hers when we are going somewhere i know there are deer or something similar with way too many distractions for her puppy brain to get caught up on I think she was about 6 months old when she got her first buzz as a replacement for the chain collar correction, and that was only after she had been to puppy school where she got a solid foundation of the basics
wes tegg I can't remember if I asked but do your dogs bark the entire time they are playing with their indestructible ball?
Our doodle is heading off to a board and train in august. They use the collar too. I was a little hesitant at first but have come around. Will post results.
Yea I really shouldn't be so worried about using one when I've found multiple legit trainers that use them. But it's the perception I guess.
It's a long process to do it correctly and you have to be consistent. The dog should wear the collar for weeks while you train or do fun things, before you even turn it on.
Layla is the only one who actually plays with it, but not really. She’ll bark some, but not the whole time.
Weeks might be a bit extreme, but yea they should definitely be doing fun things with it on before ever buzzing Most recommend not leaving the collar on 24/7 as the little prongs, even though they are rounded on the ends, can rub sores on the dogs neck
Weeks was what the hunting training programs I followed said. They pretty consistently said 4 weeks of wearing it while training without turning it on to start
If a little shock here and there keeps them from barreling over old ladies and children, or from sprinting off into a busy street when the door gets left open... it’s probably a net benefit. I wish we were one of those families that could just praise and treat and roll around and cuddle all the time but... life is life. Board and train is going to be good for everyone I think.
My dog is not taking too well with me getting married. Can’t stand me sharing a bed with someone but her. Jealous little bitch. She will try and bury herself between me and my wife.
Thanks. He's getting better but it's definitely a constant battle when it comes to keeping him from rewarding himself for bad behaviors and stuff. He definitely learns limits and how to push them faster than any dog I've ever owned. But he loves his family and hes all in all a really good puppers.
I posted earlier ITT that we started using one on our pointer and it’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience. She gets so much more freedom with it and is eager to wear it. Like you, we were hesitant to try it, but by the time we did we were kicking ourselves for not using it sooner. Echoing others, I haven’t had to use the shock function in months, just a beep does the trick. I think some of those guidelines for long break-in periods were developed back when it was essentially an on/off device with no adjustability. On the newer one you can use the alternate prompts (beep and vibrate), and/or set the current so low that it’s less sensation than the vibration. I started training the first day I put it on her and we were off to the races. I wouldn’t recommend doing that but 4 weeks is a lot longer than you need. If you have somewhere to let him run, buy a collar to use when he’s done training and you’ll love the freedom it gives both you and him. It’s like dog walking in first class instead of coach, just a completely different experience.
The long break in periods have nothing to do with the devices functions. It's to keep your dog from being collar smart. If you out it on and immediately start using it, they can recognize that while wearing the collar they have to behave, but when they aren't they can do whatever the fuck they want
When my ex wife moved in with me, my dog at the time took a huge shit on her pillow after the first night she was there. if only i had taken the hint he was trying to leave.
Makes sense. Ours behaves better w/ it off than she did before we introduced it, and I’m never going to trust her on open range w/o it, but that’s good info to know.
So my dogs have radically different levels of intelligence. Our collie behaves amazing with minimal training: heels naturally, responds to my verbal cues w/o knowing specific commands, herds our pointer when she senses I’m getting impatient, stays in the yard all day long if I leave her alone...just an extremely smart pup. Here she is mimicking our cats after watching the kitten take a nap on an end table: On the other end of the spectrum we have this brainiac, who is exactly as smart as she looks in this pic: Dumbo is still a sweetheart though, and settling well after what must’ve been an awful upbringing. Here’s the progress we’ve made with her physically:
Got Tosu the de-shed treatment while he was boarding. So much better than the daily struggle of brushing.
paige has had the poops for the last 2 days and its super fun. she's gone in her crate and on my floor. goes like 4-5 times a day and its straight liquid no behavioral differences or any indication of being in pain/discomfort just lots of poop. should i be worried yes or no