The dog musing/vent thread
- Thread starter Laurelin
- Start date
Just a little brag... So its been years, litterally, since I got to do agility seriously. There are new handling things I haven't seen before. So I am feeling a bit like a beginner again. Dekka however was a super star last night. She is just so in tune. As long as I can manage the new handling technique she responses flawlessly even though we haven't done it much.
She stuck all her contacts and even listened when I pulled a new move 'in' with the new 'dig' cue (ie a collection cue similar too, but not, a reverse flow pivot) This is significant as we were headed toward the dog walk with the tunnel right beside. Normally once she looks at a tunnel she is locked on. But I got her attention AFTER she looked at the tunnel and she flew up the dog walk. The instructor said my face was hilarious.
Schen also made me look like a much better student than I am. We introduced target plates last week. I didn't practice them at all. (we practiced other things, and things from his obed class.. just never touched the targets) Last night we were to start on the contact trainer. He flew over the trainer and plunked his little nose right on the plate. Repeatedly.
They are so awesome!
She stuck all her contacts and even listened when I pulled a new move 'in' with the new 'dig' cue (ie a collection cue similar too, but not, a reverse flow pivot) This is significant as we were headed toward the dog walk with the tunnel right beside. Normally once she looks at a tunnel she is locked on. But I got her attention AFTER she looked at the tunnel and she flew up the dog walk. The instructor said my face was hilarious.
Schen also made me look like a much better student than I am. We introduced target plates last week. I didn't practice them at all. (we practiced other things, and things from his obed class.. just never touched the targets) Last night we were to start on the contact trainer. He flew over the trainer and plunked his little nose right on the plate. Repeatedly.
They are so awesome!
I don't. The short version of the story is her co-owner and I decided as much as we have tried, I am not the best home for her. She has gone off to be happier in a home without me and my boys. I know it's the right decision but I hate it all the same. My heart is broken without her. It's the right decision for Pepper, not for me, because I wanted her forever. Everybody tells me it will get easier with time. It has been a few months now and I still miss her every day.
I want a dog here, and then I remember again that this apartment is so inconvenient and unsafe + terribly loud traffic to have a herding breed in...
I guess to anyone who remembers Signal the border collie, she returned to the border collie rescue a week after I adopted her, and was adopted again very quickly... hopefully to another good sport/working home.
She was extremely anxious and very territorial (honestly flat out aggressive, but probably still based on fear) inside the apartment. And she ended up being a HUGE car chaser/reactive towards traffic and noise, and I happen to live right above a very heavy traffic street with ambulances, buses, and trucks allll day long. Other than that, her intense playfulness, working drive, natural athleticism (she can jump ~5 feet into the air), self-motivation to just learn/play for the sake of it was exactly what I was looking for. Obviously incredibly intelligent, learned brand new commands after the 2nd or 3rd time that I repeated it with the clicker.
Normally, these fear/reactivity/aggression issues would've been insignificant if I lived in my own house (or just a quiet apartment) somewhere more remote. The issues probably would not even prop up to begin with. But this apartment SUCKED REALLY BAD FOR HER.
And now I am still wanting a sport dog. But for the breeds I enjoy, this apartment/area is just a risk. If I adopt a greyhound or even golden retriever, then it would be fine... But I always need to remind myself that I'd rather finally start with the breed(s) of my dreams, rather than settle for "less"- which are a few herding breeds, and German Shepherds aren't allowed in these apartments, so...
... life sucks sometimes and I'll just have to wait it out.
(also posted this gigantic rant on facebook, which I never do. I thought some of my friends might be wondering whatever happened to Signal, so there it is.)
Also sad that I can't bring Lancer to this apartment, literally only because my dad is too attached to him. The last time I brought Lancer here for a day, it was by force, and my dad was raging at home. LOL
I guess to anyone who remembers Signal the border collie, she returned to the border collie rescue a week after I adopted her, and was adopted again very quickly... hopefully to another good sport/working home.
She was extremely anxious and very territorial (honestly flat out aggressive, but probably still based on fear) inside the apartment. And she ended up being a HUGE car chaser/reactive towards traffic and noise, and I happen to live right above a very heavy traffic street with ambulances, buses, and trucks allll day long. Other than that, her intense playfulness, working drive, natural athleticism (she can jump ~5 feet into the air), self-motivation to just learn/play for the sake of it was exactly what I was looking for. Obviously incredibly intelligent, learned brand new commands after the 2nd or 3rd time that I repeated it with the clicker.
Normally, these fear/reactivity/aggression issues would've been insignificant if I lived in my own house (or just a quiet apartment) somewhere more remote. The issues probably would not even prop up to begin with. But this apartment SUCKED REALLY BAD FOR HER.
And now I am still wanting a sport dog. But for the breeds I enjoy, this apartment/area is just a risk. If I adopt a greyhound or even golden retriever, then it would be fine... But I always need to remind myself that I'd rather finally start with the breed(s) of my dreams, rather than settle for "less"- which are a few herding breeds, and German Shepherds aren't allowed in these apartments, so...
... life sucks sometimes and I'll just have to wait it out.
(also posted this gigantic rant on facebook, which I never do. I thought some of my friends might be wondering whatever happened to Signal, so there it is.)
Also sad that I can't bring Lancer to this apartment, literally only because my dad is too attached to him. The last time I brought Lancer here for a day, it was by force, and my dad was raging at home. LOL
Apologies for constantly posting paragraphs about getting/not getting a dog here...
Bah, even if my parents (mom is retired) are willing to get an Aussie puppy at home, I believe it's a huge risk growing up with Lancer and watching his behaviors.
Some dogs are huge copycats, and Lancer definitely influenced Rara in a bad way, ever since his fear period- even her being older than him by 2 years. She had ZERO fear issues with dogs before, and was actually extremely outgoing... completely unfazed by reactivity or aggression. Her true love for playing with other dogs was real. LOL
But now she has been incredibly influenced, acts in this weird neurotic way that's both outgoing and fearful at the same time, occasionally bursting into fear-reactivity. And then suddenly wanting to play again. And then remembering 2 seconds later that dogs are supposed to be scary. :\ I doubt it would be any different for a perfectly normal puppy growing up with these two.
And I don't trust raising any herding dog or puppy in this apartment, at this point, so...
I'll have to wait... wait... wait...
Bah, even if my parents (mom is retired) are willing to get an Aussie puppy at home, I believe it's a huge risk growing up with Lancer and watching his behaviors.
Some dogs are huge copycats, and Lancer definitely influenced Rara in a bad way, ever since his fear period- even her being older than him by 2 years. She had ZERO fear issues with dogs before, and was actually extremely outgoing... completely unfazed by reactivity or aggression. Her true love for playing with other dogs was real. LOL
But now she has been incredibly influenced, acts in this weird neurotic way that's both outgoing and fearful at the same time, occasionally bursting into fear-reactivity. And then suddenly wanting to play again. And then remembering 2 seconds later that dogs are supposed to be scary. :\ I doubt it would be any different for a perfectly normal puppy growing up with these two.
And I don't trust raising any herding dog or puppy in this apartment, at this point, so...
I'll have to wait... wait... wait...
Just letting you know I'm commiserating with your frustration. 
It sucks. And it's hard.
I'm in the same "I want puppy but can't have puppy" boat under different circumstances and it's still just bleh.
It sucks. And it's hard.I'm in the same "I want puppy but can't have puppy" boat under different circumstances and it's still just bleh.
When we brought Tucker to the vet for his allergic reaction the vet noticed a grade 2 heart murmur (which she missed during his wellness exam a couple of weeks before). This is exactly what the vet found when we brought one of our cats, Neko. Willie's up next for an exam and if they find a heart murmur I might have a bit of an outburst.
Vibes for Leo please!
He ate a half bag of chocolate chips
I called the vet and she thinks I don't have to bring him in to the emergency because the toxicity isn't too high, but he definitely has some symptoms (a bit hyper, rumbly tummy).
I only found the empty bag now, but he must have eaten it over 6 hours ago, because I have been with him since.
Even though my vet is not worried, I am still worried.
So just vibes please!
He ate a half bag of chocolate chips
I called the vet and she thinks I don't have to bring him in to the emergency because the toxicity isn't too high, but he definitely has some symptoms (a bit hyper, rumbly tummy).
I only found the empty bag now, but he must have eaten it over 6 hours ago, because I have been with him since.
Even though my vet is not worried, I am still worried.
So just vibes please!