07/28/2007
They’re big. They’re hairy. They’re messy. Yet, to Old English Sheepdog fans, these lovable oafs are the best dogs on earth. Many people aren’t prepared for exactly how quickly their cuddly puppy turns into a boisterous teen. Nine or ten month old puppies are frequently dropped off at the pound or local shelter. This little (or should I say big?) guy got lucky - he was adopted by a couple who already have two older Old English Sheepdogs and knew exactly what they were in for when his overwhelmed first owner had to give him up.
If you think you want one of these dogs, just be aware that they are adorable puppies for only a few months and obnoxious teens for two to three long years. However, if you can just make it through that time of excess energy and boundary pushing, most Old English Sheepdogs are wonderful, loving family pets.
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07/27/2007
Stacy asks:
Help! My Border Collie is driving me crazy. I thought she’d be a good dog for my family, but she’s so hyper and bad. Do I have a bad puppy or are they all like this?
Stacy,
I don’t think you have a bad puppy. Unfortunately, a lot of people get Border Collies as pets and then discover, as you have, that these dogs are high energy. Border Collies are working dogs and they need a job to do or they get antsy. Here is what a Border Collie is bred to do:
Without a job, your smart, active dog is just bored stiff and acting up. Luckily, if you don’t want to add sheep to your family, there is another option - agility. Learning new things and competing in agility trials is as fun and exciting to most Border Collies as herding sheep. It is also a wonderful activity for you or your older children. You’ll meet other dog lovers, end up with a well socialized dog and possibly bring home a prize.
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The post on dog aggression is getting so long that comments are pages down the blog, so I thought I’d start answering them separately and see how that works. Todd asks:
We have a female lab/beagle mix who is a definite alpha-female. We tried to socialize her with other dogs but she wouldn’t really take to it. She is the sweetest thing with people. Most of the time she is indifferent with other dogs too. We are currently dog-sitting another female lab who she has been around several times before. For the most part they just stay away from each other but two times in the past few days my dog has attacked the other dog (who is bigger) anytime she gets too close to us. There isn’t much biting but the mouths are open and the latest attack took a little fur from the other dog. Yelling “NO” did not help and the fight went on for a good 30-45 seconds. We eventually broke them up by squirting them with a water bottle. What can I do to get my dog over this possessiveness?
Todd, it sounds like your dog is protecting her people. Since this is just a short time thing, can you keep them separate? If not, I’d have one person make a fuss over her while the other person is taking care of the visitor.
You may also want to work with your dog to help her be more accepting of the visitor. Give her a command as soon as she begins to tense up and reward her with a treat when she responds. You may want to leash her so you have more control and she recognizes that she is having a training session.
If she grows more aggressive or if you are planning to be dogsitting frequently in the future, I’d ask a behaviorist to come in and give you a hand. You don’t want to return a wounded dog to its loving owner!
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07/26/2007
Sophie, my Scottie, loves hanging out with her cousin Sammy, a King Charles/Cocker hybrid. If you’ve been following my blog, you know Sophie was really itching up a storm and had some hot spots. Look how great she’s doing! Tons of shiny hair. I can’t believe what a difference changing food has made for her.
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07/22/2007
Talk about happy! This guy is just enjoying life, isn’t he? Look at that ear to ear grin and all those adorable wrinkles. You can see why I had to feature him for Silly Dog Sunday, right?
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If you are looking for an alternative to a purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Cocker Spaniel, you may be interested in the Cavalier King Charles Cocker Spaniel “designer” dog breed. This spaniel hybrid is usually smaller than a Cocker and a bit sparser in coat.
I have been hanging out recently with a King Charles/Cocker hybrid. She loves kids, prefers to be with her people over playing with other dogs and tries extremely hard to please. Her owners say she was a bit mouthy as a puppy, but outgrew it pretty fast. Despite her desire to make her family happy, she is a tad stubborn and potty training was a bit of an effort - if it rained, she was more concerned about melting than about having accidents in the house. It did finally take, though and she is very quick to learn other things.
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07/21/2007
Have a blog about dogs? Just wanted to brag about your super puppy? Maybe you love to take pictures of your goofy hound. If so, we want you. That’s right - we’re asking you to join us for a barking good time at the first Gone to the Dogs carnival!
To add your post to the carnival, use the handy submission form on the blog carnival website. If you post a comment here, I may miss your post and accidentally leave it out of the carnival.
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07/16/2007
Seriously, could this little Boston Terrier be any happier? As you can see from this photo, these small dogs are really high energy, but a ton of fun. If you want a quiet, small lapdog, this breed is not right for you.
However, if you want a smart, slightly hyper dog that thinks you are the best, you may want to take a close look at the Boston Terrier. (By the way, did you know that this breed is one of the few American made dog breeds?)
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07/09/2007
Are you starting to walk on furniture to avoid your tiny puppy’s pirahna teeth, it is time to put a stop to that nipping and biting behavior. Puppies naturally nip each other when they are playing, bite things as part of their exploration of their surroundings and bite to get your attention. If they are removed from their mother and siblings before they learn what is acceptable, their new owners are apt to have bloody toes or nip marks all over their hands and arms. How can you stop that puppy’s rotten behavior?
1. Firmly say “No” and replace your body with a chew toy. If your puppy continues to bite, place it in a crate until it calms down. Don’t act angry. Simply put your puppy away quietly.
2. Encourage the behaviors you want with praise. You may want to come up with a few words you repeat whenever one of these behaviors occurs, such as saying “kisses” when your puppy licks you.
3. Ignore your puppy if it starts to bite. Fold your arms and turn away. Don’t jump around and make a lot of noise. That will just wind your puppy up further.
4. If your puppy is persistant with nipping, try spritzing yourself with Bitter Apple or vinegar.
5. Avoid games that encourage nipping, such as tug of war.
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07/08/2007
This dog has got to be having fantastic dreams. Maybe he’s chasing a whole meadow full of bunnies and butterflies around? Or perhaps he’s tracking down a major criminal as an entire police force cheers him on?
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