Why is this an either/or? Why not both?
I'm just saying I think she'd rather be my dog than me shipping her off to go live with her cousin that is an agility trainer. At least I hope so!
The More Laidback Chazzer
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Ideally it would be both, it's just I'm having a HARD time finding classes that will fit with the work schedule. My trainer only has hers at 6 pm which is too early for me to drive home and grab the dog then drive back to class. So right now we're on an indefinite hiatus.
I'm just saying I think she'd rather be my dog than me shipping her off to go live with her cousin that is an agility trainer. At least I hope so!
I'm just saying I think she'd rather be my dog than me shipping her off to go live with her cousin that is an agility trainer. At least I hope so!
Wow I thought I was being pretty laid back... apparently not so much. In my defense I do feel it would cruel for Lily to not get her daily 3+ mile run. She would totally destroy my house and be chasing her tail obsessively if she didnt' get at least minumum exercise. She can handle extreme heat or cold so thats not an issue, though I try to stick to the river when its really hot out. I don't really want to be woken up with severe upset tummy at three am so I take the time feed biologically appropriate prey model raw food. I toss her meat, veggie, etc scraps while I eat... as long as she's politely laying down and doesn't get anything with any sort of grain in it we're all good.
We do some OB every day (I have not worried about doing super formal stuff because I have no intention of trialing, its about functionality for us) and she gets worked in PP a couple times a week. We were doing herding too, but I didn't have $$ to keep doing lessons and I don't want to screw up my dog by fooling around on my own with my parent's flighty sheep.
Scout the foster gets the same living with me. Given how much she's changed for the better since being with me, I'd say thats a good thing.
I wouldn't own the type of dog I do if I couldn't give her what she needs daily. I love her dearly but oh boy would she be a train wreck in the average pet home.
And of course no one would overexercise a retired dog... that is just common sense. I'm sure when Lily can't go as hardcore anymore I'll have saved up for a cracked out pup/young adult for her to raise as her successor.
We do some OB every day (I have not worried about doing super formal stuff because I have no intention of trialing, its about functionality for us) and she gets worked in PP a couple times a week. We were doing herding too, but I didn't have $$ to keep doing lessons and I don't want to screw up my dog by fooling around on my own with my parent's flighty sheep.
Scout the foster gets the same living with me. Given how much she's changed for the better since being with me, I'd say thats a good thing.
I wouldn't own the type of dog I do if I couldn't give her what she needs daily. I love her dearly but oh boy would she be a train wreck in the average pet home.
And of course no one would overexercise a retired dog... that is just common sense. I'm sure when Lily can't go as hardcore anymore I'll have saved up for a cracked out pup/young adult for her to raise as her successor.
I don't think I am very laid back, though Frodo probably wishes I was.
For food, well...I work at a pet food outlet and I have more great quality food samples than I can shake a stick at. I would never buy crap because I can just open my top dresser drawer (aka: Frodo's goodies drawer) and take my pick if I haven't thawed out any meat. I also have about a dozen cans of dog food (including canned beaver and canned venison tripe) for kong stuffing and 5 pounds of Honest Kitchen.
I love taking Frodo out and about too. We go on "field trips" before I go to work most mornings, either to walk around one of the 10,000 lakes or to a Chuck and Don's to just do some intense sniffing.
Add in there daily tracking practice and nosework practice.
The other 23 hours of the day he sleeps under my bed.
When I had multiple dogs I feel like I did about the same, though walks were shorter and less field trips. Frodo would be more than content with 1/2 of what we do now, not that he minds doing a bunch of stuff, but he doesn't miss it if we don't.
This is why I want a dog that does need this stuff, because I LIKE being super active and scheduled with my dogs.
For food, well...I work at a pet food outlet and I have more great quality food samples than I can shake a stick at. I would never buy crap because I can just open my top dresser drawer (aka: Frodo's goodies drawer) and take my pick if I haven't thawed out any meat. I also have about a dozen cans of dog food (including canned beaver and canned venison tripe
) for kong stuffing and 5 pounds of Honest Kitchen.I love taking Frodo out and about too. We go on "field trips" before I go to work most mornings, either to walk around one of the 10,000 lakes or to a Chuck and Don's to just do some intense sniffing.
Add in there daily tracking practice and nosework practice.
The other 23 hours of the day he sleeps under my bed.
When I had multiple dogs I feel like I did about the same, though walks were shorter and less field trips. Frodo would be more than content with 1/2 of what we do now, not that he minds doing a bunch of stuff, but he doesn't miss it if we don't.
This is why I want a dog that does need this stuff, because I LIKE being super active and scheduled with my dogs.
Did I miss what this is about? I admit, I kind of read fast through it. When I refer to myself as laid back, I mean, I don't worry about everything being perfect. I do take my dogs for walks and hikes almost every day. If I don't for one reason or another, it's not the end of the world. I feed them top notch food, keep their nails trimmed and their ears cleaned and give them the best veterinary care when something goes wrong. I don't skimp on them in any way. They have me home with them all day most days and get lots of attention just because I like them. They know their manners and have had ample training but not particularly advanced...not my current dogs.
I'm simply not overly worried if something in their training misfires or they back slide a little. I don't get too worried about things like that. We fix what we must and get to that other thing later. I am not a perfectionist and am not interested in competition so I'm not looking for a perfect heal or a perfectly straight sit. We do some of that for fun and mental stimulation and do fun tricks. But I can't understand people who have dogs for competition where the dog doesn't do well, doesn't much like it and they get all bent out of shape. I've seen this. If the dog loves it, great and a lot of them do. But I think a lot of people take some things so seriously that they miss out and sometimes their dogs do too.
My Doberman needed a lot more involvement than the Chi's. He also needed tons of exercise and training....much more to be a well balanced dog. But it was fun. I didn't feel like it was too serious.
Maybe I'm missing the point of this thread. (?) Sorry...I shouldn't have written anything. Maybe that's not what you mean. I'm tired and pre-occupied with Chulita. This health issue she's having definitely has me feeling serious and worried.
I'm simply not overly worried if something in their training misfires or they back slide a little. I don't get too worried about things like that. We fix what we must and get to that other thing later. I am not a perfectionist and am not interested in competition so I'm not looking for a perfect heal or a perfectly straight sit. We do some of that for fun and mental stimulation and do fun tricks. But I can't understand people who have dogs for competition where the dog doesn't do well, doesn't much like it and they get all bent out of shape. I've seen this. If the dog loves it, great and a lot of them do. But I think a lot of people take some things so seriously that they miss out and sometimes their dogs do too.
My Doberman needed a lot more involvement than the Chi's. He also needed tons of exercise and training....much more to be a well balanced dog. But it was fun. I didn't feel like it was too serious.
Maybe I'm missing the point of this thread. (?) Sorry...I shouldn't have written anything. Maybe that's not what you mean. I'm tired and pre-occupied with Chulita. This health issue she's having definitely has me feeling serious and worried.
If that is what this thread is about then I am definitely laid back! Especially compared to what I used to be like in regards to Frodo's reactivity training.
Now if a dog runs up to us and Frodo has a reaction I brush it off and keep working. I know he'll bounce back and that it will, at some point, happen again. I used to try and control every part of his environment to keep these threats away.
Now if a dog runs up to us and Frodo has a reaction I brush it off and keep working. I know he'll bounce back and that it will, at some point, happen again. I used to try and control every part of his environment to keep these threats away.
*I* think I'm pretty laid back but most everyone I know IRL doesn't think so....lol. I feed good food and both of the girls are in obedience classes but I'm incredibly lazy about every day exercise. We don't walk every day and most of the time we're lucky if we walk once a week (but we do go hiking!). But we do some form of training almost every day and we run the energy off Tipper in the backyard. Actually, if she wasn't so good at doing laps we would have to do daily walks....but she is so I don't worry about it. Murphy's like the easiest dog ever. He doesn't want to walk (it's too hot) and he likes getting treats but isn't very motivated for training. He's pretty content to hang out downstairs all day, where it's nice and cool. We're all happy and that's what matters.
Off topic - I was thinking about this the other day and if I hadn't gotten Mu, I would have NEVER gotten into training. I would've never started thinking about doing agility. I wouldn't be on Chaz. I wouldn't have gotten Tipper. Mu started an avalanche of awesome things for me. I'm so grateful Matt allowed himself to be talked into a puppy. LOL
Off topic - I was thinking about this the other day and if I hadn't gotten Mu, I would have NEVER gotten into training. I would've never started thinking about doing agility. I wouldn't be on Chaz. I wouldn't have gotten Tipper. Mu started an avalanche of awesome things for me. I'm so grateful Matt allowed himself to be talked into a puppy. LOL
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I'm very laid back with Argon, except when it comes to food. Because of his epilepsy and grain sensitivities, I have to watch him like a hawk. Especially because he loves to open cabinets and eat Doritos. But walks? A lot of days they are for potty only. Training? He'd rather sleep. Lots of attention and love? Doesn't care for it. There is a reason he's earned the nickname 'the Sock'.
I wish I could be more laid back with Gambit, but his needs are higher then Argons, and he takes up more of my time. He must be walked at leat twice a day, he needs to be trained and he needs help with his very defunct social skills. Currently we're working on why you don't pull tiny tufts of hair out of the persian cats tail every time she walks by you. This would be easier if said cat wasn't all but braindead, and actually likes having her hair plucked out.
I wish I could be more laid back with Gambit, but his needs are higher then Argons, and he takes up more of my time. He must be walked at leat twice a day, he needs to be trained and he needs help with his very defunct social skills. Currently we're working on why you don't pull tiny tufts of hair out of the persian cats tail every time she walks by you. This would be easier if said cat wasn't all but braindead, and actually likes having her hair plucked out.
For my sanity, I'm not laid back.
If I was lackadaisical about her exercise, she would make my evenings miserable. (Speaking from experience...she needs at least an hour at the park or on a good walk to be bearable in the evenings).
We go to agility religiously, but that's less about competition and more about making her a good pet--one who's focused on me, can behave in stimulating environments, etc.
We feed only one specific food, but that's because she's had horrible problems on every other thing we've ever fed her.
So...I'm pretty uptight about making sure we fit in solid amounts of exercise each day, training each week, and good food. But not because I think I have to be "perfect"--because it's the only way to make her a dog I want to be around!
If I was lackadaisical about her exercise, she would make my evenings miserable. (Speaking from experience...she needs at least an hour at the park or on a good walk to be bearable in the evenings).
We go to agility religiously, but that's less about competition and more about making her a good pet--one who's focused on me, can behave in stimulating environments, etc.
We feed only one specific food, but that's because she's had horrible problems on every other thing we've ever fed her.
So...I'm pretty uptight about making sure we fit in solid amounts of exercise each day, training each week, and good food. But not because I think I have to be "perfect"--because it's the only way to make her a dog I want to be around!
I posted in this thread once but thought that I should add... compared to most dog owners I know, I am far from lazy. Most people I know that have dogs just let them in the backyard a few times a day and that's that. They are simply just family pets, don't get paid a whole lot of attention to, they are just kind of "there" which I'm not saying is a BAD thing. Many of these dogs lead perfectly happy and content lives. But I really enjoy doing other stuff with my dog, it's kind of why I got one. He's a part of this family and really my best friend. I enjoy taking him to places like new parks and trails, sight seeing, new cities and vacations, etc. It's something I thoroughly enjoy, however most people I know wouldn't even really consider taking their dogs anywhere except a walk around the neighborhood and the vet. That will just never be me. One of the reasons I prefer a smaller dog is so that it's easier to take him places with me.
Also, I don't think I could ever get myself to feed anything lower than TOTW. I don't really see a reason to. I'm only paying $11 for a 5lb bag of TOTW right now and I've seen terrible kibbles being sold for even more than that price, so I see no reason for me to slack on that. Now if I was like completely flat broke and homeless or something, that's a different story, but I will not get lazy with his food.
I really can read and communicate with Jackson very well. I can tell when he's about to bark, or if he's going to get scared, or whatever. I care a lot about his well-being. I would never just drop him off at a kennel when I go on vacation because I know it would stress him out. I feel like a lot of dog owners don't really think about that kind of stuff with their dog... like, I have a friend who just doesn't understand... one day I brought him over with me (she said we were just going to be at her house) but then she decided she wanted to go to a store. She's like "oh just leave him here at my house!" and she thought I was insane that I wouldn't just leave him there. He had NEVER been to her house before, her family is super loud (nice, but obnoxious), they always leave doors open, I would have been a nervous wreck and I know Jackson would have been really freaked out so I would NOT do that to him.
So basically yeah, I definitely think I'd be considered a more "extreme" dog owner than most (I suppose all of here at chaz technically are, or we wouldn't be chatting about this on a forum now) but I also realize he is okay if he has to be left alone for 8hrs on occasion (I used to NEVER leave him for that long), or if we have to stay inside all day one day, he will survive. But he does need a good amount of exercise every week to not drive me bonkers so I do HAVE to provide him a certain amount, plus I want him to stay active and fit, as well as me. I'm not involved in sports, we had fun in our agility class but I can't see myself ever competing or getting serious. So yeah.... if that's what a more laidback owner is, then I'm it, LOL.
Also, I don't think I could ever get myself to feed anything lower than TOTW. I don't really see a reason to. I'm only paying $11 for a 5lb bag of TOTW right now and I've seen terrible kibbles being sold for even more than that price, so I see no reason for me to slack on that. Now if I was like completely flat broke and homeless or something, that's a different story, but I will not get lazy with his food.
I really can read and communicate with Jackson very well. I can tell when he's about to bark, or if he's going to get scared, or whatever. I care a lot about his well-being. I would never just drop him off at a kennel when I go on vacation because I know it would stress him out. I feel like a lot of dog owners don't really think about that kind of stuff with their dog... like, I have a friend who just doesn't understand... one day I brought him over with me (she said we were just going to be at her house) but then she decided she wanted to go to a store. She's like "oh just leave him here at my house!" and she thought I was insane that I wouldn't just leave him there. He had NEVER been to her house before, her family is super loud (nice, but obnoxious), they always leave doors open, I would have been a nervous wreck and I know Jackson would have been really freaked out so I would NOT do that to him.
So basically yeah, I definitely think I'd be considered a more "extreme" dog owner than most (I suppose all of here at chaz technically are, or we wouldn't be chatting about this on a forum now) but I also realize he is okay if he has to be left alone for 8hrs on occasion (I used to NEVER leave him for that long), or if we have to stay inside all day one day, he will survive. But he does need a good amount of exercise every week to not drive me bonkers so I do HAVE to provide him a certain amount, plus I want him to stay active and fit, as well as me. I'm not involved in sports, we had fun in our agility class but I can't see myself ever competing or getting serious. So yeah.... if that's what a more laidback owner is, then I'm it, LOL.
I can relate to that. It hasn't been too hot here yet, but when summer really gets going, it can be VERY hot and the dogs and I don't feel like walking. I've had a heat stroke once and do not want a repeat. lol. So, they would prefer to spend a short amount of time lounging on the deck, then come into the AC'd house. And then there's winter. When it's too severe or cold, again...not much in the way of walks on those days where temps are near zero F. They don't like it and they can get frost bite. It can get dangerously cold in other words and they'd be miserable. So, we just play around inside on those days. But there are also days that are not so terribly cold and it is enjoyable if they have their coats on. They're Chi's and don't require a lot of exercise, just some. My Doberman, on the other hand really needed a lot and it was hard to work around the excessive heat. It gets so hot here almost first thing in the morning in later summer. You're right...the main thing is that they're happy. Some dogs really need to burn off that energy to be relaxed and happy and others aren't that particular.
That is so cool how that chain reaction of positive things happened after getting Mu. You are one lucky dog Mom! And your dogs are very lucky too!
That is so cool how that chain reaction of positive things happened after getting Mu. You are one lucky dog Mom! And your dogs are very lucky too!
I'm eternally grateful that Tips will exercise herself in the backyard. The other day I was out there with her and she did laps (our yard is gigantic) until I made her stop and cool down. If she wasn't willing to do that....I'd get a lot more exercise I guess. :lol-sign:
Oh man, it's been in the upper 90's for what feels like forever (I know not THAT hot but this is Colorado dammit) and it's just miserable. We've been getting a lot of rain in the last week or so though so it's cooling off a little. And last winter it was between -6 and -30 for-ev-er!! The dogs would run outside, do their business, and in that 2 or so minutes their paws would start sticking to the ground. It was awful. Tipper was a holy terror because we couldn't exercise her very well....the other two weren't bad.
I know, I love looking at the events in life and what led up to them! I think it's so cool how things work out. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't got Mu....things would be so different (and they look very blah from this side LOL).
Oh man, it's been in the upper 90's for what feels like forever (I know not THAT hot but this is Colorado dammit
) and it's just miserable. We've been getting a lot of rain in the last week or so though so it's cooling off a little. And last winter it was between -6 and -30 for-ev-er!! The dogs would run outside, do their business, and in that 2 or so minutes their paws would start sticking to the ground. It was awful. Tipper was a holy terror because we couldn't exercise her very well....the other two weren't bad.
That is so cool how that chain reaction of positive things happened after getting Mu. You are one lucky dog Mom! And your dogs are very lucky too!
I think I am pretty laid back, when it come to training Teagan. I have been slacking lately and have not upped her trick number. Teagan though is pretty well trained and I am proud of what I have accomplished with her.
I also hardly ever walk Teagan. We go out a lot, but never for like you know just a walk. I do jog with her as often as I can though.
I am starting to become a little more H-core when it comes to her food. Right now she is only getting raw, which she loves.
We are not in any dog sports right now, but when i get the chance I would love to start agility with her. Its just finding the time that's the problem
Once I get the mastiff I will probably start being more H-core about things. Like training and stuff.
I also hardly ever walk Teagan. We go out a lot, but never for like you know just a walk. I do jog with her as often as I can though.
I am starting to become a little more H-core when it comes to her food. Right now she is only getting raw, which she loves.
We are not in any dog sports right now, but when i get the chance I would love to start agility with her. Its just finding the time that's the problem
Once I get the mastiff I will probably start being more H-core about things. Like training and stuff.
Nope, i'm terribly uptight about my dog.
Her weight is always a concern, people feeding her things willy nilly WILL make her gain fast. So no one can feed her meals except me unless i tell them to. She only gets raw too and things with no bad ingredients. The other dogs get so many treats for nothing. Just for snacks according to mum, they must have several cookies before bed or someone will apparently die. Which is why Izzie's often put up in my room with me away from other people/dogs.
Training is very important to me. Especially with our first trial coming up soon. I'm fairly strict in my house regarding how she's treated or even touched. My brother used to push her into mattresses and bounce her like a basketball. It hurt her so she was very shy about having her sides touched or being petted while laying on her side. People aren't allowed to ask her for tricks because she won't do them for anyone else but me and a select few others and i know people will just be like "ah hell she's just cute, here's a cookie anyways" and she'll start to try to not do her stuff and still get cookies.
Exercise is the only place that I'm more lenient. I don't particularly like walking around my city's parks alone so we don't go for a ton of walks. However she does get lots of backyard running and chasing either with me or the other dogs, plus she gets work where she gets to play with other dogs most of the time or play fetch, an she gets at least once a week agility class and backyard practise at least every 2nd day. We do go on walks with other folks too and to "unofficial" of leash areas as well as hiking in the mountains occasionally.
Her weight is always a concern, people feeding her things willy nilly WILL make her gain fast. So no one can feed her meals except me unless i tell them to. She only gets raw too and things with no bad ingredients. The other dogs get so many treats for nothing. Just for snacks according to mum, they must have several cookies before bed or someone will apparently die. Which is why Izzie's often put up in my room with me away from other people/dogs.
Training is very important to me. Especially with our first trial coming up soon. I'm fairly strict in my house regarding how she's treated or even touched. My brother used to push her into mattresses and bounce her like a basketball. It hurt her so she was very shy about having her sides touched or being petted while laying on her side. People aren't allowed to ask her for tricks because she won't do them for anyone else but me and a select few others and i know people will just be like "ah hell she's just cute, here's a cookie anyways" and she'll start to try to not do her stuff and still get cookies.
Exercise is the only place that I'm more lenient. I don't particularly like walking around my city's parks alone so we don't go for a ton of walks. However she does get lots of backyard running and chasing either with me or the other dogs, plus she gets work where she gets to play with other dogs most of the time or play fetch, an she gets at least once a week agility class and backyard practise at least every 2nd day. We do go on walks with other folks too and to "unofficial" of leash areas as well as hiking in the mountains occasionally.
I'm a weird mix -- a total nutter butter about some things, and fairly lax about others.
Anything health-related, I'm very, very careful about. B eats raw and gets healthy, grain free treats (though I do give him some of my not-so-healthy food, he he). I'm careful about his physical activity -- daycare, walks, and his exercises. (He has physical rehab weekly and we do exercises at home.) He's never been overweight, but I've slimmed him down some more since we started addressing his structural issues, and I'm careful to keep him that way. He has a bazillion veterinary specialists and gets a bunch of supplements.
Training is where I'm not so great, lol. We have weekly classes, and we train at home. He loves it. But I'm not good enough about being consistent by requiring good behavior at all times. So he'll backslide, and then we'll work on it again, and then I'll get lax. Ah well.
Anything health-related, I'm very, very careful about. B eats raw and gets healthy, grain free treats (though I do give him some of my not-so-healthy food, he he). I'm careful about his physical activity -- daycare, walks, and his exercises. (He has physical rehab weekly and we do exercises at home.) He's never been overweight, but I've slimmed him down some more since we started addressing his structural issues, and I'm careful to keep him that way. He has a bazillion veterinary specialists and gets a bunch of supplements.
Training is where I'm not so great, lol. We have weekly classes, and we train at home. He loves it. But I'm not good enough about being consistent by requiring good behavior at all times. So he'll backslide, and then we'll work on it again, and then I'll get lax. Ah well.