Dog Owner Chat V. 5

[bloodredsheep]

most of the shops I get collars from are off etsy
Martingales I get them from RoyalHounds or TheHoundHaberdashery
for my LGDs they have leather collars or martingales from WalkTheDog

[Imzadi83]

Alright, we’ve had it with Oppie chewing up shoes!

We’ve tried the Apple Bitter spray and Nature’s Miracle “No Chew”

Is there anything else we can do? We keep the shoes up but he manages to get them while we’re sleeping.

We’ve tried crating him overnight and all he does is whine and bark.

He’s crate trained, he just hates being in there.

Any and I mean ANY other option would help please suggest some?

I’ve caught him chewing on my fiancées purse strap... she ultimately had to get a new purse.

I’ve also woken up on morning to my phone charger chewed.

It’s like he doesn’t care. And with our sons arrival on April 10th, we have to somehow put a end to this.

How is managing to get to these things? Find out and take steps to correct it. Put the shoes in a plastic shoe box with a closed top he can't get into and put them up high. Not coffee table high but entertainment center high, top shelf in a closet with a closed door high. Same goes for your charger cable You and your fiancée really need to practice at that because if you think some chewed items are bad wait till the baby comes. They will put anything in their mouths they can get their hands on and many children (and dogs for that matter) have died as a result. Consider Oppie a lifesaver, he's teaching you how to baby proof. That purse strap he chewed on? Children have died from getting a hold of medications in purses. Hang in on a hook out of reach. While we're talking baby proofing go out and get some cabinet locks and try putting things behind locked cabinet doors.

While you're saying "No" with the bitter apple and other sprays make sure your also saying "Yes" by giving him things he can chew on. It needs to be something he likes, a bully stick, antler, stuffed Kong, cow hoof, pig ear, trachea, Himalayan chew? Check out http://www.BestBullySticks.com to get an idea of what's out there. And don't hesitate to smear on a little peanut butter or yogurt to get him interested in it. Don't look past toys either, soft toys with and without squeakers, ones without stuffing, harder chew toys, balls, rope toys, ones that you put a water bottle inside, others that crinkle, etc.

If he has time to chew or whine at night he is not getting enough exercise during the day. Take him for longer walks, up the number of training sessions, feed meals only in puzzle toys, etc. There's no short cut on this. You (or your fiancée, dog walker, etc.) have to wear out his energy during the day. Again, this is prep for parenthood, so try to stay calm and take it as a life lesson.

If he hates being in his crate he isn't properly crate trained so you need to work on making it a good place to be. If you want to continue with crate training (you could also use a dog safe room with a baby gate) give him high value things (treats, chews, toys) only in his crate, feed him meals in his crate. Also slowly lengthen the amount of time he spends in his crate. Also consider where his crate is. If it is in another room from where you and your fiancée sleep the whining could just be a matter of isolation distress (the chewing can come from that as well) putting his crate in your bedroom could solve this problem.

One thing isn't going to be a solution, you have to employ all the strategies above to keep your home (and stuff) safe. Remember it's not that Oppie "doesn't care", he's a dog and doesn't understand what is and is not acceptable to chew on, you have to teach him and manage what he has access too, just like you will have to with your son. Dog and babies/toddlers do not understand that some things are off limits and dangerous, that is why management is vital. And look on the bright side, once you've successfully dog proofed, you'll have good practice at baby proofing as well.

[Cardinal]

Dog proofing is so much easier than baby proofing... ahhh the memories of my kiddo as a tot.

If you have the classic slidey closet doors go to a hardwear store and pick up a chain latch for pennies, install with a screw driver. Boom, all the troubles melt away. Baby latch cabinates. Top of the fridge becomes your best friend. Babygate literally everywhere.

We've had to be a bit more careful because Sens a goober with mile long legs and if he cant jump to get it (he jumps to nose punch my 6'3 husbands face) he'll rearrange stuff to climb. LUCKILY hes not very destructive.... any more... and prefers to horde and hide stuff. We keep plenty of high value stuff out for him.

[Marley.&.Me]

Dog proofing is so much easier than baby proofing... ahhh the memories of my kiddo as a tot.

If you have the classic slidey closet doors go to a hardwear store and pick up a chain latch for pennies, install with a screw driver. Boom, all the troubles melt away. Baby latch cabinates. Top of the fridge becomes your best friend. Babygate literally everywhere.

We've had to be a bit more careful because Sens a goober with mile long legs and if he cant jump to get it (he jumps to nose punch my 6'3 husbands face) he'll rearrange stuff to climb. LUCKILY hes not very destructive.... any more... and prefers to horde and hide stuff. We keep plenty of high value stuff out for him.

oppie takes things from the trash can when we’re sleeping and hoards them under our bed to chew on them.

sometimes i actually wonder if he has a brain or if he sits on it half the time. 😂

[liv :)]

Please meet my family’s newest addition, Bluebelle! But we just call her Blue.

(Below: An image of Blue in her foster home)


We were in contact with a local rescue recently. We spent around 2 months waiting for a dog that would be suitable for us. When we met Blue, it was love at first sight basically lol. She’s such a sweetheart, hypersmart, and she’s super energetic. We were told that Blue is 7 months old and is a husky x lab. Personally, I don’t see the lab in her but she might grow into it more.

She’s definitely not perfect... she’s still learning how to walk nicely on a leash, to not jump up on people, and other basic manners. But she’s a quick learner! Already very good at sitting and lying down on cue, and she’s catching on quickly that she should greet someone by sitting at their feet and that walking is much more enjoyable on a loose leash.

She’s also good in her crate and absolutely exceptional with our cat. Blue has no interest in bothering or chasing her whatsoever, which is helping our cat adjust slowly but surely. She’s also house trained. She did have a little accident yesterday, but it was totally our fault. We overestimated how long she could go holding her bladder. Since then, we’ve been making sure she’s getting plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom and has so far had no more accidents.

Here’s some photos of her in her crate! It’s hard to get good photos of her anywhere else because she’s so full of energy haha.

https://i.imgur.com/1vWzsWw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XPZPSNa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/d4QESlv.jpg

[Keriae]

Congrats on your new addition! She's adorable <3 I know what it's like to fall in love with a dog as soon as you meet them, that's what happened to my family and Mary c:

[Imzadi83]

Please meet my family’s newest addition, Bluebelle! But we just call her Blue.

(Below: An image of Blue in her foster home)

We were in contact with a local rescue recently. We spent around 2 months waiting for a dog that would be suitable for us. When we met Blue, it was love at first sight basically lol. She’s such a sweetheart, hypersmart, and she’s super energetic. We were told that Blue is 7 months old and is a husky x lab. Personally, I don’t see the lab in her but she might grow into it more.

She’s definitely not perfect... she’s still learning how to walk nicely on a leash, to not jump up on people, and other basic manners. But she’s a quick learner! Already very good at sitting and lying down on cue, and she’s catching on quickly that she should greet someone by sitting at their feet and that walking is much more enjoyable on a loose leash.

She’s also good in her crate and absolutely exceptional with our cat. Blue has no interest in bothering or chasing her whatsoever, which is helping our cat adjust slowly but surely. She’s also house trained. She did have a little accident yesterday, but it was totally our fault. We overestimated how long she could go holding her bladder. Since then, we’ve been making sure she’s getting plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom and has so far had no more accidents.

Here’s some photos of her in her crate! It’s hard to get good photos of her anywhere else because she’s so full of energy haha.

https://i.imgur.com/1vWzsWw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XPZPSNa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/d4QESlv.jpg

She's beautiful! Congratulations on your new addition. And kudos to you for rescuing.

[Mothmanofficial]

We found a stash of canned dog food we have had sitting around for a month without it being touched. We put a spoonful on Cricket's dry food. Now, she will not touch the dry food without that spoonful of canned stuff on top. She just cocks her head and looks at us like "You call that a meal?" This has made the cat jealous. So to keep things even, we give kitty some cooked rice. She loves that stuff too.

[Mothmanofficial]

Please meet my family’s newest addition, Bluebelle! But we just call her Blue.

(Below: An image of Blue in her foster home)


We were in contact with a local rescue recently. We spent around 2 months waiting for a dog that would be suitable for us. When we met Blue, it was love at first sight basically lol. She’s such a sweetheart, hypersmart, and she’s super energetic. We were told that Blue is 7 months old and is a husky x lab. Personally, I don’t see the lab in her but she might grow into it more.

She’s definitely not perfect... she’s still learning how to walk nicely on a leash, to not jump up on people, and other basic manners. But she’s a quick learner! Already very good at sitting and lying down on cue, and she’s catching on quickly that she should greet someone by sitting at their feet and that walking is much more enjoyable on a loose leash.

She’s also good in her crate and absolutely exceptional with our cat. Blue has no interest in bothering or chasing her whatsoever, which is helping our cat adjust slowly but surely. She’s also house trained. She did have a little accident yesterday, but it was totally our fault. We overestimated how long she could go holding her bladder. Since then, we’ve been making sure she’s getting plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom and has so far had no more accidents.

Here’s some photos of her in her crate! It’s hard to get good photos of her anywhere else because she’s so full of energy haha.

https://i.imgur.com/1vWzsWw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XPZPSNa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/d4QESlv.jpg

She is gorgeous! Congrats on your furry kid!

[oddball1234]

I actually just bought my first item off of Esty about a week ago. Killian needed a new collar because the one he has is a cheap one I bought at a dollar store and the other pups broke it. They were playing and always lept grabbing his collar and pulling till it got stretched out and now it won't stay the size it needs to be.

got him this though and I'm super happy about it






and here is a pic of a very spoiled Killian sitting in his new bed with all his toys