Can we have a dog thread?

Posted by: BadlyWiredDog

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So, just over two weeks of Sprocket, now a 10-week-old wire haired pointer pup, and he's ace. Pretty much as nuts as you'd expect from a pointer and no 'off-switch' whatsoever. He's getting the basics of manners now - loves his crate, toilet training has been (mostly) really good and is getting the idea of paws on the floor and no biting please, though obviously he's a pup, so there's occasional accidental contact when playing. Even next door's mutt has mostly STF up, though I can't wait for Sprock's second jabs so we can go explore more of the world together.

He's big into his snuffle mat too, which is ace and doing recall foundation stuff in the garden. It's all a learning experience, but he's a brilliant little dude, getting bigger everyday and starting to grow whiskers too. He's going to be an awesome dog.

Anyway, I wonder if anyone has suggestions for reasonably healthy high value treats. He'll do pretty much anything for air-fried chicken breast or bits of fish-skin twist, but it would be good to have some alternatives that aren't the doggy equivalent of UPF - sausages  for example - or  bit fatty as per most cheese? Does anyone use biltong type stuff? Fish? I appreciate that it's down the the individual dog, but any suggestions welcome.

Here's the Prince of Daftness safely crated, but plotting his next comedy exploit. Don't be taken in by his chilled demeanour, cogs are whirring...

Pointers are great dogs, intelligent, great characters and love to please you. Watch that he doesn't do too much exercise, they will run all day long to the point of exhaustion. Probably just because they can, that's Pointer Logic.

You will have a great time with him and I suspect him with you, I am more than a little envious of the fun you'll both have.

Ours is 15 now, we took him on from a refuge 8 years ago and have never had anything but fun and laughter with him. A good soul, he has brought us so much happiness.

Enjoy.

Posted by: BadlyWiredDog

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Anyway, I wonder if anyone has suggestions for reasonably healthy high value treats. He'll do pretty much anything for air-fried chicken breast or bits of fish-skin twist, but it would be good to have some alternatives that aren't the doggy equivalent of UPF - sausages  for example - or  bit fatty as per most cheese? Does anyone use biltong type stuff? Fish? I appreciate that it's down the the individual dog, but any suggestions welcome.

I try to avoid anything processed so normally just roast a chicken breast then chop it into small chunks. If I need something that will last a long time then I have bought dried chicken strips and chopped bits off. I'm not a dog nutritionist but I figure small amounts of plain chicken can't be too harmful and they definitely motivate a dog. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the graceful and poised Greyhound.  

Is the graceful greyhound in the cropped area?

All class https://imgur.com/a/QjmUSji

Posted by: bikesandboats

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I try to avoid anything processed so normally just roast a chicken breast then chop it into small chunks. If I need something that will last a long time then I have bought dried chicken strips and chopped bits off. I'm not a dog nutritionist but I figure small amounts of plain chicken can't be too harmful and they definitely motivate a dog. 

Thanks, in honesty, that's pretty much the conclusion I've reached. I'm going to try the liver suggestion for variety, but small chunks of chicken seem to be the absolute badger for the pup and, as you say, a pretty healthy option. 

Posted by: mercuryrev

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Pointers are great dogs, intelligent, great characters and love to please you. Watch that he doesn't do too much exercise, they will run all day long to the point of exhaustion. Probably just because they can, that's Pointer Logic.

You will have a great time with him and I suspect him with you, I am more than a little envious of the fun you'll both have.

Ours is 15 now, we took him on from a refuge 8 years ago and have never had anything but fun and laughter with him. A good soul, he has brought us so much happiness.

Enjoy.

Thanks! I've always loved them, was set on a short haired, but the missus likes scruffy dogs and here we are. It's already clear that he doesn't have an off switch, but he's a fab little character, bright and affectionate and with a spark of utter madness that I suspect will never go. We're on the edge of the Peak District, big hills out of the door, and I can't wait for him to be out there with us in a year or so's time 🙂

Just chilling at the bar. 

It's already clear that he doesn't have an off switch

More brain work and less physical work. At that age getting heel walking sorted, constant correction and insistance on what you want will fry their little mind. It's a bit like raptor training but without the sleep deprivation a similar battle of wills. (My vet tells me that I have the calmest Dalmatian they have ever met).

Oscar with this older siblings from another father.  

New shoes!

No idea how she found the only bit of mud in existence, but she did. Persuaded her into a burn to get hew white spats back.

She has picked up a strain or something. Every so often her leg flicks inwards and she limps a few steps.

A fat fingered moment from me led to a funny 'selfie' from the hound. 

Posted by: relapsed_mandalorian

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A fat fingered moment from me led to a funny 'selfie' from the hound. 

That is excellent!

Dog has melted

Oh dear god. Sprocket seems to be in the early stages of teething - any advances on split antler, the current fave  and reigning champ - frozen Kong, currently with plain Greek yoghurt and apple, an olive wood stick, the dining table chair legs, rabbit's ears (without fur). Trying to avoid nylon and plastic stuff, but he doesn't seem into the one someone gave us anyway. Oh, also a Kong teething 'thing' and someone gave us a yak cheese chew, which he doesn't seem too bothered about.

Any suggestions welcome. I suspect it's going to get a lot worse, right now he's just mardy and chewy 🙂

Gratuitous pup meets snuffle mat pic.

A frozen carrot worked for our three. Also for a cheap  “chew thing” a coconut (with the hairs trimmed off) from aldi worked for months. At 59p it’s worth a punt. 

Posted by: bjj.andy.w

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A frozen carrot worked for our three. Also for a cheap  “chew thing” a coconut (with the hairs trimmed off) from aldi worked for months. At 59p it’s worth a punt.

Cheers, frozen carrot is already on the menu and going down well, in small, orange fragments. Ta for the coconut tip. It seems like there's a narrow window between stuff that's too hard and too soft atm. 

Buffalo horn is also a good one for teething, chewing.

Fame at last:

https://imgur.com/a/7IsIbJC

Oscar having a paddle to cool off.  

Sprocket meets Nigel Farage. He already has impeccable political credentials - surprise election day gift from a mate btw 😀 

I think Sprocket is in contention for being my new favourite STW dog.

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the crew 😍 

Looks like a canine rap crew. 😁

The original snoop dog 😆 

Posted by: multibikestu

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I think Sprocket is in contention for being my new favourite STW dog.

jesus, you can't make claims like that.

Lola met a dog the other.

After saying high etc the dog grabbed the lead at my end and tried removing it from my grasp.

Apparently the dog spends its walks trying to liberate dogs from their owner for better playing 🤣 

Big dog GSP is paying the price at 14 for a life spent doing a marathon a day for 14 years with wobbly legs and a need to be carried up and down the stairs for which she barks for her dog butler (me) when required. 

<

Little dog GSP who was a rescue at 6 is much more stable on her feet at 14 presumably because she just hasn't done the mileage. Also, if you tried any of this humiliating photo stuff with big dog you get short shrift.

I would definitely be more careful about running big dog so far next time.

Huey's had his daily walk, and has now decided its time to spark out for a bit. With his cuddly football thing

5 today the great big hairy div.

Apparently I have to plant some tennis ball plants 🌱

My daughter in law decided what her bathroom needed was some dog based wall art so took some appropriate photos of Tod and Buck. We loved the results: 

So today she did Willow as well😀

Mind you, the first Christmas after she and James  met she did this coloured pencil drawing of Willow for me. It takes pride of place on the dresser and is my screensaver.

The bathroom wall art pics are fantastic!

@Ambrose There's only a short window to get them in else they won't fruit before the first frost.

After 15 dogless years I can live up to my username again!

We've just adopted Skippy from Give A Greyhound A Home. Link as I can't post photos...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1088896706599966&id=100064389414285

Soft as a brush dopey big boy. Great in the house and overnight. He's quite anxious outside with loud noises, but excellent on the lead and has adopted me as the dog father straightaway.

Quickly settling down and true to form has already managed to steal a mouthful of my breakfast when my back was turned to tidy up a bit of a mess from his breakfast. 

Congratulations, gorgeous boy! 

Cheers 👍 

Just back from his furthest adventure across the Links to the sea with lots of sniffing around the rabbity areas and the rocks.

No issues with other dogs we met or people, and really good on the lead, just not so keen on loud noises where he tends to just push up to me and want to go back/away. Passed the nearby tennis court yesterday and he really didn't like the sound of them wacking the balls.

Sounds familiar @longdog. Ours had a significant issue with buses for quite a while. the hiss they produce used to really freak her out, she has got better with age and exposure though.  

The exhaustion is so short lived. Absolutely zonked lastnight and full of beans this am.

I miss lie ins.

@joshvegas OR you get "Quick it's breakfast time and I need to go out". Followed by (in 10 minutes) "I'm going to sleep now, amuse yourself for a couple of hours".

Currently looking after my mate's dog while he gets back on his feet after a trip to the hospital. She's a 10 year old Flatcoat and is adorable, but has woken me up at 3am three days in a row now because she wanted to sleep on the bed with me. 

The cat is not keen, but accepts this is a temporary thing, but the normal dog I look after (Bodil, three year old black lab) has just been introduced and is currently avoiding Lucy by staying in the hall. 

Needy dog continuing to be needy (wouldn’t have it any other way) 

King of sofa surfing still surfing

The old man (15) still olding.

Roksy has graced the thread a few times, and here she is with Rafa, our white schnauzer who left us too soon and too quickly about 18 months ago (I know many others on here have had the same loss). 

Roksy has been a little lonely, so we thought a friend would be a good idea.......and this is Bodhi, who is her cousin.

She's not yet quite sure what to make of him, though we are only on day 4 and no issues yet.

Mrs Epic and I finding the early morning whimpers and the sprint to the back door for his wee are hardwork......

We travelled from Ireland to London with Maple.  She got her first experience on a ferry (we paid for a dog friendly cabin), trains, tubes, buses, lifts, escalators (they proved scary at first), pubs, restaurants, garden centre (briefly as we were escorted out), Greenwich foot tunnel...  She handled it all like a champ.  London is so much more dog friendly than Ireland.

Did you shit in the candle section Theomen?

Training is going well. His calm demeanour surprises and delights everyone who meets him 😐 

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