Topic: Rox's Dog Advice Thread

[Rox]

Do I need to bring my dog to the vet, Rox? She had a run-in with a fox about an hour and a half ago and the only thing visibly wrong is a scratch on her nose.  It's not deep, but not sure about diseases which the fox might be carrying. She's looking seriously sheepish though. Like as if she knows she's been up to no good. Also, keeps licking her rear right leg, but nothing visible.

As long as she's up to date with her vaccinations, you should be fine.  If she starts to get lethargic, get her to the vet right away.

Make sure you keep the wound clean, use an antiseptic.

It is unusual for a fox to pick a fight with a dog; what happened?

[ClaireW]

Hiya Rox

I wonder if you could give me any advice.  I have a mutt who will be ten this year.  He is a rescue dog and was about 5 months old when I got him.

He came with lots of 'issues'.  I'd always thought I was pretty good with dogs until I got one which wasn't so good so I eventually got BarkBusters out to help me with him.

Everything they taught me has worked wonders with him and he is now a very contented, secure,  obediant dog apart from one thing, his barking.

He apparently had 'dominance issues' so I always make sure I go through doors before him, discard treats on the floor etc but he has this need to protect.  When I am not around he is quiet as a mouse but when I am here he barks.  He had improved over the years, but he now he has to share me with a 4 month old baby things have got so much worse.

He has been fantastic with my boy, but I think he now feels even more protective about me and the baby, so his barking has increased.  He barks at the slightest noise and won't stop when someone comes to the door, which is far from ideal when you have a sleeping baby.  It's all made much worse as I am suffering from sleep deprivation so I am ashamed to say, not my most patient with him. 

I have worked so hard with him over the years to get rid of all his insecurities and just coped with his limited barking, but I am almost at breaking point with him.

I know from experience there is no quick fix but I wondered if you had any tips on things I could do.  There's only me here to try and sort it out, which makes it a bit simpler as at least there will be consistency, but more difficult as I have a a lot on my hands at the moment.

Thanks.

Claire

[Rox]

What sort of dog is he?  And earlier in the thread, you'll see I don't agree with the dominance theory anyway...    What dog food do you feed him on?

What we always do is replace the behaviour you don't want them to do with a behaviour you DO want them to do.  For example, if you have a dog who barks protectively, give him something else to be responsible for.  If you encourage him to grab a toy when he hears a noise, he has something in his mouth, and so won't bark.

However, there are some breeds that are naturally protective and have been bred to bark.  The only way you can really change that behaviour is to encourage them that there's something else you want them to do which is much more interesting.

[ClaireW]

Sorry, when I said Mutt I meant he's a bit of everything.     He's a handsome bugger;  definitely got some ridgeback, probably some sort of bull terrier and possibly some german shepherd.

They may have been wrong with the dominance theory, but as I said he is a different dog using the training and techniques they taught me.

He has chappie, (canned food), plain biscuits and vegetables.

I'll try the toy thing, but he destroys every toy he has on first play.  It's like he's on a mission.  I have bought so called indestructable toys and within 5 minutes he has found a weak point and destroyed it.  I'll have a think about what other interesting things I can offer him.

[Rox]

Well, that mix of breeds is certainly explaining his guarding streak!

Giving him the opportunity to be responsible for something else will help. 

[ClaireW]

He did so many naughty things when I got him I never gave his breed (s) a second thought, especially with him being such a mix, so that is really helpful thank you.

I'll find him something to make him feel like he's got a job to do.

He is such a great dog and I adore him - despite him getting me evicted from my home when he was a youngster!  I have been considering him going to live with a family member he knows well, but he's a big softy and I know it would make us both miserable, so I'll do whatever it takes to sort it out.

Thanks very much Rox.  I'll let you know how we go on in a few weeks.

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

As long as she's up to date with her vaccinations, you should be fine.  If she starts to get lethargic, get her to the vet right away.

Make sure you keep the wound clean, use an antiseptic.

It is unusual for a fox to pick a fight with a dog; what happened?

Thanks mate. Her boosters aren't due 'til next month. Hasn't been lethargic and has just polished off her dinner. I have noticed a few other nicks on her though, but they're all tiny, and scrapes rather than cuts.

Thing is, she's very territorial. We've a big enough backgarden being a corner house (which backs on to wasteground), which she's been 'patrolling' for the 4 years since we got her. However, the foxes have been using the garden as a through-way for much longer than that (since our Lab died in '04 at least). There's also evidence that they've had tunnels for years under a big elm tree, but they're now closed up. When I let Molly out in the morning, she goes barrelling down to the end of the garden where the action would be during the night. Today though, she found one of them that wasn't quick enough. Anyway, my auld fella went out to find her having cornered one fox between a big wooden sheet/plank and the corner of the garden. Anyway, he dragged Molly back by the collar and the fox legged it and jumped the wall.

You could probably describe her as uptight, and I reckon it's 'cause she's a rescued dog and who knows what sort of abuse she went through. She was rescued by a bunch of people who found some c*nt trying to lob her in to a bonfire on Halloween '06. She then got parvo when she was only weeks old and my sister nursed her back to health. I reckon she thinks she's indestructible now and I also firmly believe that traumatic experiences on an animal, no matter how young, stay in their psyche.

I can't upload any photos right now, but this one I found on t'internet is the spit of her...

[ClaireW]

I can't upload any photos right now, but this one I found on t'internet is the spit of her...

Oh a ridgeback, much like mine (see above).  He's a handsome devil!

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

Oh a ridgeback, much like mine (see above).  He's a handsome devil!

D'ya know what Claire? For years we hadn't a clue what she was 'cos she didn't have a 'ridge'. We thought she was a mix and reading your post above, we used to describe her in the same way (ridgeback/staffy). Now I'm convinced she's just a straight-up ridgeback. Looking in to it, apparently up to 25% of them are born without the ridge. A neighbour told me too, that breeders sometimes want to get rid of the ridgeless ones outta the genepool because they're worth F.A. That might explain the fact that some prick was trying to throw her in to a bonfire?

Some of the behaviour you mentioned above sounds familiar too (apart from the barking, god help ya ). Still, where would we be without them?!

Any pics?

[ClaireW]

You cannot believe what some people will do to animals.  From some of the horrible stories I have heard about unscrupulous breeders I would not be at all surprised.

When I got him (at 5 months) he was horribly thin.  You could see every bone, sinew and muscle.  He was pitiful.  Thankfully he'd only been in the home for 48 hours, but heaven knows what had happened to him in his short life before that.

The only pic I could find on this computer was one from our holiday in Whitby two years ago so he would have been about 8;  having always had a slight fear of water and never progressing from paddling he had just discovered the delights of swimming in the sea so he'll be over the moon when I take him back in May!

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

Ah, he's lovely! How's he around other dogs? Mine's a bit jumpy so want to finally get round to finding a class to get her better socialised. She gets pretty nervous.

[ClaireW]

He does this whole aggressive posturing;  his head drops, hackles/ridge goes up and he stalks.  The amusing thing is once he gets to them he is nervous and if they bark once he runs off and will literally hide behind my legs.

I am always shouting 'he's fine' to other nervous looking owners as he looks really mean.

My main concern with him and my baby is his boisterous nature.  Despite being 10 this year, he still runs around like a big puppy and has no concept of personal space. He barges through anywhere and everywhere if he's in a rush (which he usually is!).

I have never left them alone together and doubt I ever will, mainly because he's such an oaf, plus no matter how well you know your dog, throw a child into the equation and you just never know what they may do to provoke the dog.

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

That's always good advice. No matter how well you know the animal, you can never really be 100% certain.

[Crazynumber9]

He does this whole aggressive posturing;  his head drops, hackles/ridge goes up and he stalks.  The amusing thing is once he gets to them he is nervous and if they bark once he runs off and will literally hide behind my legs.

I am always shouting 'he's fine' to other nervous looking owners as he looks really mean.

My main concern with him and my baby is his boisterous nature.  Despite being 10 this year, he still runs around like a big puppy and has no concept of personal space. He barges through anywhere and everywhere if he's in a rush (which he usually is!).

I have never left them alone together and doubt I ever will, mainly because he's such an oaf, plus no matter how well you know your dog, throw a child into the equation and you just never know what they may do to provoke the dog.

I've got a Ridgeback too, and I think them being overprotective really is part of the breed. I've got a 2 year old female and as soon as we get guests she attaches herself to my leg and stares sternly at them until they leave. She is a sweetheart but a bit too boisterous and terrifies my nephew because she gets so excited to see him.

[ClaireW]

I've got a Ridgeback too, and I think them being overprotective really is part of the breed. I've got a 2 year old female and as soon as we get guests she attaches herself to my leg and stares sternly at them until they leave. She is a sweetheart but a bit too boisterous and terrifies my nephew because she gets so excited to see him.

Yeah, Rox said as much.  Barney is a mixed breed, but ridgeback seems to be his primary breed.  Because he is a real mix I hadn't even considered his breed being a factor.  Stupid really.

He is so boisterous, even though he is almost ten and can be quite intimidating.  Over the years he has got much better with visitors, but he used to be a bugger if someone new came round.  As you said, that stern stare!  I can read him very well and he makes no secret about how he is feeling about imposters, so there has never been a problem as I have always kept an eye on him if there's someone new here.  I also ask guests to send him out of the room if he is getting a bit bolshy.  He is so obediant he will go, but grumbling all the way!

All that said, once you are in his gang, it's for life and the giddiness kicks in.  He's definitely one of those dogs you have to get to know, but once you do, he's fantastic.

Oh, and she's is beautiful!  That really are a magnificent breed. 

I need to get a better photo as he really does have strong similarities with a ridgeback, but you can't really see them in the picture I posted.

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

Just looking more in to Rhodesian Ridgebacks. In South Africa they're known as 'Simba Ninjas' as they were used to hunt lions in packs. In swahili, their name also means 'Lion Hunter'. That honestly explains a few things for me.

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

By the way Crazynumber 9, she's beautiful!

[Aristotle]

Think my dog might have an eye infection or something. Her eye is always half closed and there's something green, not puss per se but it's like green tears or something. It doesn't seem to bother her that much, she still chases everything that moves, wants to play catch, I even took her for a run today and there was no problem.

Should I still get it checked out or should I wait and see?

[El Denzel Pepito]

Think my dog might have an eye infection or something. Her eye is always half closed and there's something green, not puss per se but it's like green tears or something. It doesn't seem to bother her that much, she still chases everything that moves, wants to play catch, I even took her for a run today and there was no problem.

Should I still get it checked out or should I wait and see?

Just get it checked I reckon, it's always better to be on the safe side.

[Cragsi]

Random i know but i seen this on twitter n had to post coz i thought it was awesome...

[Billy1561]

Can anyone advise on giving bones from the butchers? My dads terrier had to have a stomach op from a bone splintering and consequentially the vet advised that it was russian roulette giving bones to dogs. Since then i haven't given my Westies any natural bones but feel really mean. Any thoughts on this?

[Rox]

Usually bones only splinter if they are COOKED.

If you get a nice big meaty marrowbone, it's so big it won't splinter. 

[JP-65]

Can anyone advise on giving bones from the butchers? My dads terrier had to have a stomach op from a bone splintering and consequentially the vet advised that it was russian roulette giving bones to dogs. Since then i haven't given my Westies any natural bones but feel really mean. Any thoughts on this?

I occasionally give my Westies (3 of them right now), knuckle bones from the butcher.  I only let them have a cooked bone supervised (ie I hold it and they chew on it, it's amazing how they know to chew the bone and not my fingers!)

[Lawnmowerman]

The neighbours dog is a little scottish terrier and it doesnt shut the fuck up barking at night. Im having to take sleeping pills to keep some semblence of sleep. Ive contemplated filling sausages with rat poison and fucking them over the wall but im an animal lover at heart. can they be muzzled or something?

[Billy1561]

Usually bones only splinter if they are COOKED.

If you get a nice big meaty marrowbone, it's so big it won't splinter. 

I occasionally give my Westies (3 of them right now), knuckle bones from the butcher.  I only let them have a cooked bone supervised (ie I hold it and they chew on it, it's amazing how they know to chew the bone and not my fingers!)

Thanks will try that 

[Rox]

The neighbours dog is a little scottish terrier and it doesnt shut the fuck up barking at night. Im having to take sleeping pills to keep some semblence of sleep. Ive contemplated filling sausages with rat poison and fucking them over the wall but im an animal lover at heart. can they be muzzled or something?

Usually I'd ignore someone saying something stupid like that, but the advice is for the dog rather than you.  It isn't the dog's fault if the owners don't do something about it.

If the dog isn't sleeping at night, then maybe they are being fed the wrong food, or being fed at the wrong time (feed them just before bed, and they've got energy to burn).

There is such a thing as a 'husher' muzzle, but I would always want to get to the root of the problem, instead of doing that.

Are you friendly with your neighbour?   Ask what they feed their dog.  A good diet and plenty of mental stimulation would tire him out.

Or, perhaps he's lonely.

[Lawnmowerman]

Usually I'd ignore someone saying something stupid like that, but the advice is for the dog rather than you.  It isn't the dog's fault if the owners don't do something about it.

If the dog isn't sleeping at night, then maybe they are being fed the wrong food, or being fed at the wrong time (feed them just before bed, and they've got energy to burn).

There is such a thing as a 'husher' muzzle, but I would always want to get to the root of the problem, instead of doing that.

Are you friendly with your neighbour?   Ask what they feed their dog.  A good diet and plenty of mental stimulation would tire him out.

Or, perhaps he's lonely.

I did say i was an animal lover at the end of the sentence.I did say i contemplated it but i wouldnt go through with it, lack of sleep can make ya think in extreme ways.

Ive talked to the neighbour before about the dog, she actually said it to me about it barking. Im sure she heard me roaring at it in the middle of the night. Maybe she does feed it late. I know the dog doesnt get out for walks either. So it could be energetic and bored. Whats amazing though is that it doesnt bark during the day. Its almost as soon as the witching hour starts, it starts

[shravan.satya]

Hey Rox,

We have a 75 day old Labrador retriever. We live in an appartment. Problem is that my missus got a job and she will be reporting soon. What is the right age for a puppy to be left at home when we are at work? or is there a better way to deal with it? The pet day care fella is charging an awful lot. Appreciate any suggestions.

Also, how long will it take for the puppy to get used to the leash? It's been one week now and he hates being tied to the leash.

[Roady]

ok so how do i get this new addition to my family house trained? Just when i think he has cracked it he has a few bad days of pooping and pissing everywhere. He is just on 8 weeks old and gets his first injection tomorrow. I leave a puppy pad by the back door and he seems to pee on it ok but wont do a poo on it?? any advice, or is it just a case of perseverence? i know he is really young and will have mistakes.Every time i catch him weeing or pooing i always pick him up and lead him to where he should be going? Is that what i should be doing?

His names Frankie by the way.

cheers for any advice

[jason42]

ok so how do i get this new addition to my family house trained? Just when i think he has cracked it he has a few bad days of pooping and pissing everywhere. He is just on 8 weeks old and gets his first injection tomorrow. I leave a puppy pad by the back door and he seems to pee on it ok but wont do a poo on it?? any advice, or is it just a case of perseverence? i know he is really young and will have mistakes.Every time i catch him weeing or pooing i always pick him up and lead him to where he should be going? Is that what i should be doing?

His names Frankie by the way.

cheers for any advice

Take him out every hour; take him out after he has played; take him out if he starts to sniff and look like he wants to go; take him out after he has eaten and drunk - basically keep taking him out regularly and he will get the hang of it in a few days or so....

[Roady]

Take him out every hour; take him out after he has played; take him out if he starts to sniff and look like he wants to go; take him out after he has eaten and drunk - basically keep taking him out regularly and he will get the hang of it in a few days or so....

cheers mate, i am trying that, there are occasions when i miss him doing something etc.in fairness to him he does go on his own, mainly at night on the pad/mat but thats maybe coz he is near to it in the kitchen area.He is a good chap though,First two nights he was crying on his own, but now he is good as gold...I maybe put it down to him sleeping with his brothers and sisters at night.But 3rd night in he was good as gold and has been ever since. Big day for him tomorrow!

[Rox]

Yup, good advice.

He is only a baby, so he's bound to have accidents for a good while get.

Looks like a cheeky little scamp!

[Roady]

Yup, good advice.

He is only a baby, so he's bound to have accidents for a good while get.

Looks like a cheeky little scamp!

haha mate he is adorable.Cheeky chap,he knows it too.Tell him off and he sulks but thats a face you cant stay angry at.SO happy to have a dog again. HEs already got a personality its great : )

[rafa_thebosphorus]

haha mate he is adorable.Cheeky chap,he knows it too.Tell him off and he sulks but thats a face you cant stay angry at.SO happy to have a dog again. HEs already got a personality its great : )

I wouldnt recommend telling him off  when he goes in the wrong place mate  (if thats what you mean above)

It can be useful to get them to go to order, so if you catch him about to go in the right place say something like 'go wee'  but dont use too many words
Give him praise when he goes in the right place too mate, and maybe a treat.

he looks lovely

[rafa_thebosphorus]

Hey Rox,

We have a 75 day old Labrador retriever. We live in an appartment. Problem is that my missus got a job and she will be reporting soon. What is the right age for a puppy to be left at home when we are at work? or is there a better way to deal with it? The pet day care fella is charging an awful lot. Appreciate any suggestions.

Also, how long will it take for the puppy to get used to the leash? It's been one week now and he hates being tied to the leash.

Hope youve got the time mate, cos you need to build it up gradually

I personally would say he's too young to be left for much more than an hour or so at the moment, so maybe daycare is a good  / the only option if youre both at work
You can start little by little now, get him used to you not being there by leaving him in another room for a little while, no more than 10 -15 mins. to start with.  A toy or a stuffed kong would help keep him occupied.
And when you do leave him when youre at work, dont leave him for too long, some trainers/ rescue centres etc say no more than 4hrs from about six months of age . Give him a good run / walk before you leave him, not too long whilst he's young but maybe an hour when he's a bit older, (dont forget water). Like i said, i hope you got the time. Day care can be really useful in terms of his socialisation etc. as well

He will get used to the lead in his own time, but a bit of praise or a little treat when youre putting it on might help if he really doesnt like it. Its a fine balance though between making him pleased to have the lead on and too much excitement with him going bonkers before a walk.  Ask him to sit before you put it on and dont put it on if he's too excited, let him calm down. I would recommend a simple clip lead (not a choker) and  getting him to focus on you when youre walking will make him more comfortable more quickly. Most of all he needs to associate his lead with something he enjoys.

Lab puppies are normally eager to please, specially if theres a chance of a treat. make the training fun and enjoy it yourself.
There are loads of different training methods , but i would only recommend positive reinforcement methods.
heres a link to a trainer/ vet in the states who's methods i quite like with some videos ,  but ignore the gadgets etc that she sells   

http://drsophiayin.com/resources

[cathy-lfc-taff]

Hi Rox! My Airedale, George, is 7 months now, and while he's grown out of his incessant puppy biting/mouthing phase, he does get carried away when he's excited. When I greet him I don't do so until he's calmed down a bit and isn't jumping all over me, but when he starts biting a bare foot its hard to ignore him! The vet suggested I try whimpering and that definitely works especially if I then offer him a toy instead, but I've been doing it for a while now and although he eventually stops he hasn't cut out starting it. He's a boisterous boy and I was wondering if maybe it has something to do with him sexually maturing and he'll grow out of it? Any tips?

He's not aggressive at all and only wants to play with other dogs, but he is a bossy boots and is starting to try and assert his dominance now, (especially with other dogs, he mounted an intact adult Weimeranar the other day..) but hoping it will calm down a bit when he has a little op in a few months

[Rox]

Ask him to go and get a toy for you - if he has something in his mouth, he can't bite your feet... 

[mattsant]

Looking to get a pug soon, where are the best places to get them?

[Corkboy]

Picked up a good book about dogs recently, Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz.

It isn't about training or feeding or any of those things although it does encompass them. It's more about how dogs perceive things and how they interact with us and each other. Quote from the blurb...

"What's it like to be able to smell not just every bit of open food in the house but also to be able to smell sadness in humans, or even the passage of time? What's it like to hear the bodily vibrations of insects or the hum of a fluorescent light?How does a tiny dog manage to play successfully with a Great Dane?"

[Roady]

Picked up a good book about dogs recently, Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz.

It isn't about training or feeding or any of those things although it does encompass them. It's more about how dogs perceive things and how they interact with us and each other. Quote from the blurb...

"What's it like to be able to smell not just every bit of open food in the house but also to be able to smell sadness in humans, or even the passage of time? What's it like to hear the bodily vibrations of insects or the hum of a fluorescent light?How does a tiny dog manage to play successfully with a Great Dane?"

 i bet that is a good read.Dont tend to think of things that way.Im off to amazon