The dog musing/vent thread
- Thread starter Laurelin
- Start date
Honestly, I'd put him to sleep. Why would you risk adopting out/ keeping a dog who gave you nerve damage? That just seems so bizarre to me.
Especially when you all seem completely unable to tell when he's just chilling and when he's ready to snap. It isn't fair to the owner or the dog to live in a chronic state of stress from not knowing triggers. That's a ridiculous asterisk to have on a dog *can never ever interact with another animal* when you have him living daily with two others. Most adoptive homes would see that and be like 'okay we can do that' while secretly thinking you're overreacting and he's just going to end up biting more people.
Save the rescues resources and put the dog down. It's a sad reality that not all dogs have happy endings and some, like ones who bite hard enough to induce nerve damage with no triggers, probably aren't likely to. I feel badly for him but really? Come on. You keep stressing how crazy the bites were than saying but maybe I could adopt him out to the right person. What are the chances you'll find at person? Are you willing to risk him biting wrong people to find them? Are you willing to live with a dog who has pretty severely bitten you while looking?
Especially when you all seem completely unable to tell when he's just chilling and when he's ready to snap. It isn't fair to the owner or the dog to live in a chronic state of stress from not knowing triggers. That's a ridiculous asterisk to have on a dog *can never ever interact with another animal* when you have him living daily with two others. Most adoptive homes would see that and be like 'okay we can do that' while secretly thinking you're overreacting and he's just going to end up biting more people.
Save the rescues resources and put the dog down. It's a sad reality that not all dogs have happy endings and some, like ones who bite hard enough to induce nerve damage with no triggers, probably aren't likely to. I feel badly for him but really? Come on. You keep stressing how crazy the bites were than saying but maybe I could adopt him out to the right person. What are the chances you'll find at person? Are you willing to risk him biting wrong people to find them? Are you willing to live with a dog who has pretty severely bitten you while looking?
Simba is looking so old lately, and it makes me sad because he's been mine since he was 2 days old! He's 11 now, and the age is finally getting to him. He's still spunky and has energy, so that's good at least, but he just looks....old. 
Switching modes from "foster" to "spoiled rotten" while we wait out Uly's quarantine period. I'm housesitting for a friend so I've brought him along to enjoy him as an only-dog. High value chews and toys all over the floor, sleeping on the bed with me, jumping up instead of sitting politely for greetings. There's a lot I can allow when I'm no longer trying to prepare him for an adoptive home.
I met a woman with a 5 month old Aussie pup yesterday. The pup reminds me a lot of Cohen at that age - spunky, energetic and really, really reactive. Unfortunately the woman doesn't do much beyond yell at the puppy. We chatted training and she told me that she's really more of a cat person and didn't want to put in the time to actually train the dog.
I fear for what that dog is going to be like when she grows up.
I fear for what that dog is going to be like when she grows up.
This is mostly dog related?
I met this couple yesterday and while wrapping their books they told me about their daughter's friend who worked as a dog groomer until she had enough money for a show-quality puppy, and through going to the puppy shows was able to get in contact with more breeders and became a handler, which is pretty much the path I've been looking at.
Maybe I should look at collies the first time around? But the roughs have so much coat and a lot of the smooths I see are a little, idk how to describe it. I always feel like I should see more tuck but I don't know. The standard doesn't really mention a tuck.
I want to handle eventually but I'm also really into dog behavior but that means more intense schooling again...
I met this couple yesterday and while wrapping their books they told me about their daughter's friend who worked as a dog groomer until she had enough money for a show-quality puppy, and through going to the puppy shows was able to get in contact with more breeders and became a handler, which is pretty much the path I've been looking at.
Maybe I should look at collies the first time around? But the roughs have so much coat and a lot of the smooths I see are a little, idk how to describe it. I always feel like I should see more tuck but I don't know. The standard doesn't really mention a tuck.
I want to handle eventually but I'm also really into dog behavior but that means more intense schooling again...
Your end goal is to be a professional handler and trainer? You don't necessarily need your own dog to learn. I would audit a few clinics and get in touch with some confo people to see if they will let you try. Kennel clubs often have classes as well. Much easier to start with trained dogs than a puppy imo.
My shepherd puppy is finally growing up.
Two alerts to the front window while he was loose alone with me the last few nights, growling and hackles. I think it's one of the first times he's ever seriously growled at anything. Checked the window, saw nothing, gave him the ok and he went to lay down.
FIRST DOG I'VE HAD THAT DIDN'T CONTINUE BEING A JERK WHEN I TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING THERE, BUT THANKS!
Whooohooo.
And I forced him to sleep in bed with me two nights ago, because I was too lazy to go put him in his kennel. Then last night he did it on his own. OMG best cuddle puppy. I missed sleeping with a dog in my bed! Nice little space heater, too.
He's calming down a lot, starting to fill out, and becoming a real shepherd without all that crazy! Whew. I love GSDs, but the first year or two is just a little intense.
Two alerts to the front window while he was loose alone with me the last few nights, growling and hackles. I think it's one of the first times he's ever seriously growled at anything. Checked the window, saw nothing, gave him the ok and he went to lay down.
FIRST DOG I'VE HAD THAT DIDN'T CONTINUE BEING A JERK WHEN I TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING THERE, BUT THANKS!
Whooohooo.
And I forced him to sleep in bed with me two nights ago, because I was too lazy to go put him in his kennel. Then last night he did it on his own. OMG best cuddle puppy. I missed sleeping with a dog in my bed! Nice little space heater, too.
He's calming down a lot, starting to fill out, and becoming a real shepherd without all that crazy! Whew. I love GSDs, but the first year or two is just a little intense.
Ditto what meepitsmeagan said.
Getting in touch with a pro handler that will let you assist them at shows is a huge help. You might be doing more bathing/pottying/holding dogs at ringside at first, but eventually you will probably be asked to get in the ring. I was only able to assist a pro at a few shows but I learned so much in the process. Then I got an already finished dog (Pentti) to help me along before trying to start with a younger, still finished dog (Bubbles), and finally a puppy (Jari).
Getting in touch with a pro handler that will let you assist them at shows is a huge help. You might be doing more bathing/pottying/holding dogs at ringside at first, but eventually you will probably be asked to get in the ring. I was only able to assist a pro at a few shows but I learned so much in the process. Then I got an already finished dog (Pentti) to help me along before trying to start with a younger, still finished dog (Bubbles), and finally a puppy (Jari).
UGH we've had like 2 days of cold weather and I'm already set to ship Cajun away to someone. She is just wired and wants to GO and DO SOMETHING but I haven't figured out how to tire her out without being able to set her loose at the park... so instead she spends the day pacing the house, and doesn't ever stop to sit, and honestly it wouldn't really be that big of a deal HOWEVER when she gets this way it also turns into her pestering Juno a lot. Which is the annoying part.
Training and fetch and hide and seek in the house are not doing anything.
I don't mind bundling up to take her out, but SHE doesn't like the cold. And when I tried taking her to the park this weekend, she just kept running back to the car.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN SHE GETS SPAYED and has to be restricted for 2 weeks!! The plan is to have that done this month. I could cry just thinking of it.
Training and fetch and hide and seek in the house are not doing anything.
I don't mind bundling up to take her out, but SHE doesn't like the cold. And when I tried taking her to the park this weekend, she just kept running back to the car.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN SHE GETS SPAYED and has to be restricted for 2 weeks!!
The plan is to have that done this month. I could cry just thinking of it.