The dog musing/vent thread

[Beanie]

I'd say go for it. Who knows if you're going to have the chance again from that sire? Pay is young, and while I don't know the co-owning situation... you could always breed him later and space the puppies, yeah?

I might have another chance, I'm not sure. At the time we bought Payton, we bought him knowing this sire is aging all the time and might not be bred much. She tried to breed him several times but the timing was never quite right and it never took. The one time it took was Georgie's litter, and of course that was two girls. And she wasn't sure if she was going to breed him again. At this point he is almost ten years old so his best breeding days might be behind him, just all depends on the dog.

It's not really a question of when we'll be breeding Payton, it's just if I want five dogs or not... if we decided to breed Payton soon-ish, I wouldn't want a puppy now, because I don't want two that close in age, so I would pass on this litter and stick to the four. Otherwise if we don't breed Payton soon-ish, I'll be quite tempted because then I can have this puppy and raise it and be ready for another later... hence five.
The other option is to get this one, then wait until I lose one of my current ones to get one from a Payton breeding, but who knows when that will be - hopefully not for a really long time - and I definitely don't want to wait until I lose somebody (probably Auggie...) to have my PaytonBaby. Because who knows how old Payton would even be then, and if he'll still be a breeding option or not..?

Five wasn't hard as just pets. I wouldn't want 5 where I was trying to do much with all of them though. Money mainly. I can only (responsibly) afford to really trial one dog, mayyyybe 2. Plus vet expense and all that...

Yeah, the trialing thing is a consideration. I don't trial a lot and I did just get a nice raise that will make trialing more dogs/more often much easier, but the question really is more one of how am I going to train everybody and be happy with the time I'm devoting to them? I have a lot to do with Payton still, and if I get a puppy soon, that's fine - but then a few years later get another one? What exactly will I be juggling from a training standpoint? I mean, we can assume Payton will be further along and not such a PITA but what if he IS still a PITA??
Of course it's all stuff I know I would make work, but I'm just not sure if it's something I really want to get into, definitely something I'm weighing in the decision. =/


I keep going back and forth on it. I'm really hoping either the breeding won't take (again) or there will be only girls (again) and I won't have to make the decision. Because it will just be REALLY hard for me to say no if there is a little boy puppy on the ground. I could pass on it if I knew a PaytonBaby was coming, but if that's still a "oh someday we'll do this" it will be soooo hard to not get one...

 

[FG167]

I know this is horribly enabling, and maybe just completely terrible advice, but honestly, 5 Shelties doesn't sound unreasonable to me. They're portable little fluffballs, and since several of them are well-established, easy-going adults, that makes it seem even less insane.

Agree

Five is easy, six is hard.

I find six to not be bad (either pairs or in threes), but 7-9 starts getting trickier...

And Rigby was so good with him! Okay not great because she did steal a cookie out of his hand, but she was GENTLE about it!! I'll take all the wins with her that I can get.

This made me LOL, I would give her huge points for gentle

Beanie - I think the primary thing to consider is not so much whether you can handle 5 dogs...but whether you can train/trial and be happy doing it with that many. I have experimented a LOT with that number for myself and it really depends on the sports/dogs involved...

ETA: I would also just go for the now puppy (if there is a boy, and if there isn't, I believe in meant to be), and then plan the other puppy for a later Payton litter. Because you know you like this sire and you have been waiting.

 

[Elrohwen]

*VENT* Watson apparently hates GSDs. He's never growled at a dog in his life, or been anything other than wiggly, and now he's growled and snarked at two GSDs over one weekend. Both were being perfectly friendly, though they were big and adolescents. I don't care if he barks at a dog who is being reactive, or overtly pushy/aggressive, but he's never acted this way with friendly dogs.

I just don't know. I worry that it's a sign he is maturing and won't be ok with other dogs anymore, and I'll constantly be managing him. I know some dogs just don't like face to face greetings on leash, but it's troubling to see a dog shift so rapidly from one end of the spectrum to the other. Going to shows and classes is so stressful with a dog who isn't ok casually running into other dogs.

 

[Sekah]

*VENT* Watson apparently hates GSDs. He's never growled at a dog in his life, or been anything other than wiggly, and now he's growled and snarked at two GSDs over one weekend. Both were being perfectly friendly, though they were big and adolescents. I don't care if he barks at a dog who is being reactive, or overtly pushy/aggressive, but he's never acted this way with friendly dogs.

I just don't know. I worry that it's a sign he is maturing and won't be ok with other dogs anymore, and I'll constantly be managing him. I know some dogs just don't like face to face greetings on leash, but it's troubling to see a dog shift so rapidly from one end of the spectrum to the other. Going to shows and classes is so stressful with a dog who isn't ok casually running into other dogs.

It's really not so bad. It can occasionally be a bit of a pain to make sure your dog has a sufficiently large bubble around him or her, but you get used to it and it's really not a big deal.

My bubble dog rolled in fox poo yesterday. I dumped her in the lake to try and de-stink her. One very smelly car ride home plus one very unhappy, cold dog getting bathed outside and she STILL stinks.

 

[LostAndConfused]

*VENT* Watson apparently hates GSDs. He's never growled at a dog in his life, or been anything other than wiggly, and now he's growled and snarked at two GSDs over one weekend. Both were being perfectly friendly, though they were big and adolescents. I don't care if he barks at a dog who is being reactive, or overtly pushy/aggressive, but he's never acted this way with friendly dogs.

I just don't know. I worry that it's a sign he is maturing and won't be ok with other dogs anymore, and I'll constantly be managing him. I know some dogs just don't like face to face greetings on leash, but it's troubling to see a dog shift so rapidly from one end of the spectrum to the other. Going to shows and classes is so stressful with a dog who isn't ok casually running into other dogs.

Want to test that on Hudson sometime? He's pretty resilient to being snarked at. If you're around on Saturday for a few hours, we can take 'em out for a walk and play dress up with Hudson's collars

 

[*blackrose]

I was so excited because a client was coming in with a Chesapeake. I haven't met met single one outside of Abrams and another older pup the breeder had in the house when we picked him up.

In walks what is clearly a Lab mix (it had hair like like a cocker spaniel) that just happened to be brown.

Sad face.

 

[JazzyTheSibe]

Why? Just why?

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The way the word it sounds like there trying to sell a product, not a living creature.

They also claim there hypoallergenic

 

[teacuptiger]

Why? Just why?



The way the word it sounds like there trying to sell a product, not a living creature.

They also claim there hypoallergenic

x100000000000000000000000000

The insane things people come up with for a quick buck.

 

[CrystalGSD]

Why? Just why?



The way the word it sounds like there trying to sell a product, not a living creature.

They also claim there hypoallergenic

Ugh, that sounds terrible.

 

[RD]

I need a break from my dog. I work full time and all I see in her when I am home is how bad she's become, spending most of her time with my non-dig savvy boyfriend and our other roommate.

The inconsistency in her life is ruining her and it's breaking my heart and destroying our bond. I don't even know what to do anymore.

 

[BostonBanker]

It's really not so bad. It can occasionally be a bit of a pain to make sure your dog has a sufficiently large bubble around him or her, but you get used to it and it's really not a big deal.

This. How old is Watson? Gusto turned 3 this spring, and I'm just starting to see him be a little less than thrilled by overly friendly dogs, especially when he's on leash. He was unbelievably bomb proof with ALL dogs until the last few months, but now he's not above throwing his tail up over his back and head whipping if a big dog comes plowing into his space.

I'm really, really not worried about it. Granted, I come to him from Meg, who has needed serious management for as long as I've had her. But both my dogs go to classes and crowded indoor trials and have zero issues handling the dog aspect of it.

 

[DogKisses]

RD I have the same problem, bf is not consistent with them and it drives me up the wall. Begging, jumping up, demand barking, racing thru the house all doesn't bother him slightly. Drives me nuts and makes me feel like I'm not enjoying my dogs the way I use too. Now they are pretty obnoxious.

 

[Elrohwen]

It's really not so bad. It can occasionally be a bit of a pain to make sure your dog has a sufficiently large bubble around him or her, but you get used to it and it's really not a big deal.

My bubble dog rolled in fox poo yesterday. I dumped her in the lake to try and de-stink her. One very smelly car ride home plus one very unhappy, cold dog getting bathed outside and she STILL stinks.

Eww! Fox poop!

I just tried so hard to not have a bubble dog. Both of my dogs growing up were like that and I wanted a dog who was easy going with other dogs. He doesn't have to love every dog, and I don't expect him to go to dog parks or anything, but his reaction to these dogs was over the top for the situation. Maybe he just got freaked out and it's not a big deal, but it was very out of character.

Want to test that on Hudson sometime? He's pretty resilient to being snarked at. If you're around on Saturday for a few hours, we can take 'em out for a walk and play dress up with Hudson's collars

Yes! My Saturday is a little busy bit I could do earlier morning or late afternoon. Or any time Sunday. Just let me know what works for you. I think he'll be fine and that will at least make me feel better.

This. How old is Watson? Gusto turned 3 this spring, and I'm just starting to see him be a little less than thrilled by overly friendly dogs, especially when he's on leash. He was unbelievably bomb proof with ALL dogs until the last few months, but now he's not above throwing his tail up over his back and head whipping if a big dog comes plowing into his space.

I'm really, really not worried about it. Granted, I come to him from Meg, who has needed serious management for as long as I've had her. But both my dogs go to classes and crowded indoor trials and have zero issues handling the dog aspect of it.

He'll be two next month. He's always been the type of dog to barge into everyone else's personal space obnoxiously, so it's weird for him be touchy. Recently I have noticed him bark at reactive dogs, or dogs staring him down, but that doesn't bother me since I figure he has a reason. Growling and flipping out at perfectly friendly dogs just trying to greet him politely is super weird. He's literally never growled ever, and he was like a snarling beast. More than a little snark.

Honestly it's bothering me more than it should because I work out of town now and only come home on weekends. It's weird to have things happen and then have to drive 2 hours away and not get to work with him or see if he's still weird or back to normal. I trust my husband to try and work with him, but it's not the same. There's also the guilt that me coming and going is part of the reason he's being weird.

 

[sassafras]

Oh god I was watching some video of Treibball and I kind of want to try it with Squash. Oh, the potential hilarity.

 

[Elrohwen]

Oh god I was watching some video of Treibball and I kind of want to try it with Squash. Oh, the potential hilarity.

Do it! I kind of feel like he would be perfect at it.

Or squash all of the balls.

 

[Southpaw]

I drew Cajun's blood all by myself today! I'm impressed with my skill (thanks for having a pipeline for a vein, dog) and happy that she sat there politely during it. Sending it out for a thyroid panel. Because I am convinced that EVERY problem is a result of thyroid disease lol. But no, she has a crappy thin coat and sheds a ludicrous amount, which is new over the last month maybe? Also some new behavior quirks make me curious.

Please have a broken thyroid! Would be such an easy answer.

 

[Julee]

Oh god I was watching some video of Treibball and I kind of want to try it with Squash. Oh, the potential hilarity.

Oh my gawd. Please.

 

[SpaceMutt]

*VENT* Watson apparently hates GSDs. He's never growled at a dog in his life, or been anything other than wiggly, and now he's growled and snarked at two GSDs over one weekend. Both were being perfectly friendly, though they were big and adolescents. I don't care if he barks at a dog who is being reactive, or overtly pushy/aggressive, but he's never acted this way with friendly dogs.

I just don't know. I worry that it's a sign he is maturing and won't be ok with other dogs anymore, and I'll constantly be managing him. I know some dogs just don't like face to face greetings on leash, but it's troubling to see a dog shift so rapidly from one end of the spectrum to the other. Going to shows and classes is so stressful with a dog who isn't ok casually running into other dogs.

I totally understand your reaction to his reaction. I have worked SO HARD to make sure that my little mix-between-at-least-two-often-DA-breeds will turn out non-reactive and completely dog-social. And he pretty much has so far; he's gotten rushed at, barked at, charged, and he just walks on by with a doofy look on his smushy face.

Except for this one time when we were in class and he saw an Afghan hound. The dog was just standing there paying attention to its owner and actually, you know, behaving (what a concept at an obedience class, Astro), and Astro actually growled. I was....well, not just surprised, I was so disappointed and shocked. Like, really really upset. I knew it was irrational, dogs can have preferences like people, but it still really unnerved me. Thankfully, in Astro's case it turned out that he just doesn't believe that Afghan hounds are really dogs or something (I don't blame him, that hair ain't right ), because he's loved every other dog since that one.

 

[LostAndConfused]

Yes! My Saturday is a little busy bit I could do earlier morning or late afternoon. Or any time Sunday. Just let me know what works for you. I think he'll be fine and that will at least make me feel better.

Let's do something in the morning, before it gets too hot. Sunday is out for me, we're leaving late morning/early afternoon for vacation.

 

[Elrohwen]

I totally understand your reaction to his reaction. I have worked SO HARD to make sure that my little mix-between-at-least-two-often-DA-breeds will turn out non-reactive and completely dog-social. And he pretty much has so far; he's gotten rushed at, barked at, charged, and he just walks on by with a doofy look on his smushy face.

Except for this one time when we were in class and he saw an Afghan hound. The dog was just standing there paying attention to its owner and actually, you know, behaving (what a concept at an obedience class, Astro), and Astro actually growled. I was....well, not just surprised, I was so disappointed and shocked. Like, really really upset. I knew it was irrational, dogs can have preferences like people, but it still really unnerved me. Thankfully, in Astro's case it turned out that he just doesn't believe that Afghan hounds are really dogs or something (I don't blame him, that hair ain't right ), because he's loved every other dog since that one.

I really really hope it's just a GSD thing, like Astro's dislike of Afghans. It's strange because he has terv friends and a mastiff friend, so it's not the dark face and large size. It must be something about the way they carry themselves or something, since he disliked the first one at a distance for a couple weeks.

I totally know how you felt though. It's pretty hard to see behavior like that from a dog who has never shown any signs before. Watson's good doggy friend is very reactive on leash (though fine with dogs off leash) so when he starts snarling and lunging it's just normal - we keep moving and get him back. But it was so hard to see that same behavior in my own dog who has never acted that way before. Even when reactive dogs are acting out he will bark at them, but he's never growled and snarled with teeth flashing or anything.

Let's do something in the morning, before it gets too hot. Sunday is out for me, we're leaving late morning/early afternoon for vacation.

Ok! Where do you want to meet? I have a hair appointment at 11:15 so I need time to drop Watson off at home by 11 or so.


My husband texted me this morning and said he took Watson for a walk and he was very well behaved when he saw the neighbor dogs, so husband let the dogs meet. Watson was all wiggles for Hank and Tank (a large mixed breed, and a mastiff) so that's good! I also talked to my friend who owns the GSD puppy and we are going to get together and see if we can introduce them properly. Hopefully if we let them interact outside off leash, and keep the GSD busy playing with his ball, Watson will get comfortable and chill out. And if he doesn't, then oh well, he doesn't like GSDs.