The Official Pets Discussion Thread

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Drumstick
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Drumstick » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:44 am

Can't believe you've had Nala for seven years, that time has whizzed by. Still looking regal but fierce. :wub:

Happy Birthday Jack. :wub:

Harley had her third birthday about five weeks ago. Here she is.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:36 am

Look at them :wub:

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
Corazon de Leon

PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Corazon de Leon » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:30 am

So many good boys and girls! :wub:

Getting in on this. Here’s baby Loki, four years ago. He’ll have been with us for four years on 19th September.

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Here’s Loki on Saturday:

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Bonus image: The Avengers know my dog:

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Can’t believe it’s been four years already. :shock:

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Moggy
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Moggy » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:46 am

Four years of lying about the existence of Loki. :x

:wub:

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Pedz
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Pedz » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:51 am

Pugsley when first got him around 4 years ago. He was 4 the other week.

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a year or so ago.

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Just now

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Tortimer.

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Balladeer
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Balladeer » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:53 am

Quick, change the title to The Official Pedz Discussion Thread!

...sorry. They’re very cute.

Corazon de Leon

PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Corazon de Leon » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:58 am

Moggy wrote:Four years of lying about the existence of Loki. :x

:wub:


:dread:

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Victor Mildew » Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:00 pm

Tortimer :lol: :wub:

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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NBK
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by NBK » Sat Nov 23, 2019 5:05 pm

Right, real talk.

After years of saying "No", I finally gave in to my wife's demands and bought a puppy a couple of months ago. She's a black Lab called Storm and is generally well behaved: Sleeps in her crate, pretty good on her walks, does her business outside etc.

My argument against us getting a dog for so long is that our lives are busy enough as it is:

We have three children and two cats already, two of the kids have ASD, with one of them being Type 1 Diabetic and Coeliac on top of that and the other one trying to navigate mainstream Secondary School as she's only recently been going through the diagnosis process. All of this requires us to be constantly 'on' due to the various complexities with their conditions, meetings with teachers and specialists that are required and just generally trying to make sure there's as little impact to their day to day living as possible. This in turn leads to very little downtime and us both being knackered for the majority of the time.

My wife's stance was that it would lead to numerous eventual benefits including lots of chances for head space while out on walks, her acting as a bit of a therapy dog for the kids, giving us something positive to focus on in amongst everything else etc.

The problem I have just now is that we hadn't quite appreciated just how much time, effort and energy has to go in to raising a puppy. Three things that we're low on anyway due to what's been mentioned already.

While not a fan of it at first, I've accepted that she chews things she shouldn't, digs up the garden, always wants to play, is excited by everything etc. because she's a puppy, and that's what they tend to do.

My worry is the impact that these behaviours are having on everyone else in the house. The cats have to be kept upstairs or it turns into a scene from Benny Hill when they're in a room together, and my two youngest kids are constant targets for her playful 'attacks'. My son is one of the two who has ASD and is taking quite a while to adjust, not helped by her never ending interest in him and his reaction to it.

It's recently got to the stage where I'm wondering whether it really will get better and what state we'll all be in when she eventually does grow out of it, even going so far as thinking about accepting we've done the wrong thing and looking for her to be re-housed.

I know this is a massive decision to make that will also have its own impact (along with being regarded as a straight up Terrible Person by just about everyone I tell about it...I'm sure there are a few of you who are already branding me with that title as you read this), but I'm honestly just so, so tired, stressed, anxious...the whole shebang. We've only had her two months, and the prospect of dealing with her at this level for the foreseeable future isn't something I think I'm mentally capable of handling. That being said, I can also see that giving her to another, better suited family would probably just make things worse in the long term.

I know that there isn't a magic solution, and perseverance is key, so I'd be interested in hearing about other people's experiences with juggling a puppy and a family, along with any reassurances of it getting easier that you may have :)

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Drumstick
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Drumstick » Sat Nov 23, 2019 7:37 pm

NBK wrote:I know that there isn't a magic solution, and perseverance is key, so I'd be interested in hearing about other people's experiences with juggling a puppy and a family, along with any reassurances of it getting easier that you may have :)

We have a black Labrador, she's just turned 3. Raising her wasn't too bad as we only had her to consider. We have since had a child (now approaching 2). Even though Harley is very well trained, she's still a dog, and one that requires lots of activity. Trying to do this whilst taking care of a toddler can be utterly exhausting for me.

If you had come to me with your set of circumstances before you got the puppy and asked if I thought it was a good idea, despite the 'eventual benefits', I would have said no, definitely no. Your lives sound hard and stressful enough with the kids having problems, let alone managing the relationships between them and the dog, and the relationship between the dog and the cats on top of that.

I don't think you are a terrible person, FWIW, I just think you wanted to give your wife what she has wanted for so long but your fears are being proved correct.

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NBK
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by NBK » Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:03 pm

Drumstick wrote:
NBK wrote:I know that there isn't a magic solution, and perseverance is key, so I'd be interested in hearing about other people's experiences with juggling a puppy and a family, along with any reassurances of it getting easier that you may have :)

We have a black Labrador, she's just turned 3. Raising her wasn't too bad as we only had her to consider. We have since had a child (now approaching 2). Even though Harley is very well trained, she's still a dog, and one that requires lots of activity. Trying to do this whilst taking care of a toddler can be utterly exhausting for me.

If you had come to me with your set of circumstances before you got the puppy and asked if I thought it was a good idea, despite the 'eventual benefits', I would have said no, definitely no. Your lives sound hard and stressful enough with the kids having problems, let alone managing the relationships between them and the dog, and the relationship between the dog and the cats on top of that.

I don't think you are a terrible person, FWIW, I just think you wanted to give your wife what she has wanted for so long but your fears are being proved correct.


Thanks for being honest, that'll teach me for not hanging out here for so long.

I did bring it up a few days ago and the conversation went as well as you'd expect. I guess it'll be a case of things getting better over time through continued effort, or her realising as well that it's something that we need to rethink.

Hopefully this won't end up crossing over into The Relationship Thread...

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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Tineash » Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:07 pm

Puppies are a huge amount of work, up to about the age of 1. Adopting an adult dog I think would have been right for you; your wife is not wrong about all the potential benefits of having a dog.

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NBK
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by NBK » Sun Nov 24, 2019 10:27 am

Tineash wrote:Puppies are a huge amount of work, up to about the age of 1. Adopting an adult dog I think would have been right for you; your wife is not wrong about all the potential benefits of having a dog.


Yeah, we had looked into that but the advice everywhere was that an adult dog wasn't recommended for a house with kids and other pets.

Rehousing came up again last night and we both ended up feeling sick talking about it so that's off the table now. Just need to try and keep working at it in the hope that things get more manageable.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Victor Mildew » Sun Nov 24, 2019 10:48 am

Puppies are really hard work, and Labs can be hard work even for a puppy.

Jack was adorable for his first 3 or so months, really happy, naughty but in a general puppy way, and then 3-6 months he just turned in to an absolute strawberry floating banana split. He started challenging me and just generally being an arsehole to have around. Growling, being deliberately disobedient, awful on his walks. If you tried to sit somehwere like a pub garden for more than 5 mins, he'd growl, bark, try to escape his lead. Often we'd have half a pint and just say strawberry float this and take him home.

The worst occasion and the closest we came to getting rid of him (we had the talk a few times) Was when he wasn't quite fully grown - it was a beautiful weekend, so we got up early and walked a long way to a pub along a canal we'd not been to. Within one drink he'd chewed through his harness and had started kicking off as usual. We had to attach his lead to his collar then, and he then pulled and played up all the way back. Right near the end of the walk is a lovely pub right on the canal, with benches by the water. We sat down there and within 5 mins he was at it again, only this time barking and growling at me (not teeth bareing, but trying to be dominant). He then was getting so out of control my only option was to wrestle him to the ground and pin him down (knock yourself out context thread) until he calmed down. Absolutely awful he was. Proper strawberry floater.

Anyway, one thing we discovered is that their diet can have a massive effect. It's about how much protein is in the food. On a dog trainer's reccomendation we started feeding him Burns Alert. What a difference :shock: Mellowed him out so much. Then it was all about the disceplin, letting him know whos boss by making sure he waits behind you walking in to room, waits to eat after you're done. Never going on furniture, not allowed upstairs unless we invite him, things like that.

He's 4 now I think, and it wasn't until he was 2 that he became the soppy bastard he is today :wub:

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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NBK
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by NBK » Sun Nov 24, 2019 7:34 pm

Victor Mildew wrote:Puppies are really hard work, and Labs can be hard work even for a puppy.

Jack was adorable for his first 3 or so months, really happy, naughty but in a general puppy way, and then 3-6 months he just turned in to an absolute strawberry floating banana split. He started challenging me and just generally being an arsehole to have around. Growling, being deliberately disobedient, awful on his walks. If you tried to sit somehwere like a pub garden for more than 5 mins, he'd growl, bark, try to escape his lead. Often we'd have half a pint and just say strawberry float this and take him home.

The worst occasion and the closest we came to getting rid of him (we had the talk a few times) Was when he wasn't quite fully grown - it was a beautiful weekend, so we got up early and walked a long way to a pub along a canal we'd not been to. Within one drink he'd chewed through his harness and had started kicking off as usual. We had to attach his lead to his collar then, and he then pulled and played up all the way back. Right near the end of the walk is a lovely pub right on the canal, with benches by the water. We sat down there and within 5 mins he was at it again, only this time barking and growling at me (not teeth bareing, but trying to be dominant). He then was getting so out of control my only option was to wrestle him to the ground and pin him down (knock yourself out context thread) until he calmed down. Absolutely awful he was. Proper strawberry floater.

Anyway, one thing we discovered is that their diet can have a massive effect. It's about how much protein is in the food. On a dog trainer's reccomendation we started feeding him Burns Alert. What a difference :shock: Mellowed him out so much. Then it was all about the disceplin, letting him know whos boss by making sure he waits behind you walking in to room, waits to eat after you're done. Never going on furniture, not allowed upstairs unless we invite him, things like that.

He's 4 now I think, and it wasn't until he was 2 that he became the soppy bastard he is today :wub:


Jesus, that sounds like it was really tough. Well done working through it. Yeah, I'd read about protein adding to the batshit factor so have tried to avoid foods high in it.

We're trying out Tails for her main food and wee puppy treats, frozen carrots and mashed banana for her extras. Along with all the random gooseberry fool she seems intent on going after on her walks. Had to steer her away from an open bag of Maoam Pinballs earlier.

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Ironhide
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Ironhide » Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:28 pm

The cat managed to lose a claw this afternoon, he came into the kitchen and spat something out of his mouth then did a long wailing meow to get everyone's attention, on closer inspection it was one of his claws which he'd apparently brought to show us.

I've never known a cat to do something like that, he picks up other things (straws, rubber bands, bits of paper .etc) in his teeth too and then carries them round.

A few weeks ago he broke part of his scratching post and was attempting to put it back together with his paws :lol:

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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Joer » Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:53 am

Me and my partner haves wanted a dog ever since we met four years ago and decided that there’s never going to be a better time for us to get a dog in terms of the amount of time we’re due to be spending at home where we can train it and took the plunge on Monday.

We bought a little Cocker Spaniel puppy and have called him Henry and he’s the sweetest little thing.

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Unfortunately, Monday night he was really ill and we took him to the vets on Monday morning and he has been diagnosed as having parvo. We’re currently spending the days with him at the vets, then we’re picking him up and trying to nurse him through the night before taking him back again in the morning.

Tomorrow will be day 3 of having the symptoms so hopefully he can pull through and start to get better but he’s so tiny I don’t know how much strength he has.

It’s so frustrating that the insurance won’t cover this as it happened within 48 hours of us getting him as we’re already £560 down on vet bills, then there’s the insurance cost (which isn’t covering this anyway) and the initial outlay we had to pay for him too so we’ve been absolutely rinsed recently. It’s horrible that him surviving this could come down to us just running out of funding for him but I’m going to give him as much as I can do as it’s so heartbreaking.

Has anyone had a dog that’s had parvo before and come out of it the other side? I need a happy success story I think.

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Bunni
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Bunni » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:00 am

Can't help on the sickness but there's a dog just like that near me. Old as strawberry float and proper chubby and sits in the doorway of Tesco demanding belly rubs for entry. Just rolls over and blocks the whole door. Adorable wee strawberry floater.

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Frank
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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by Frank » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:07 am

where'd you get him from? Surely if he's got ill within 48 hours of you getting him they should be offering some support? Even with rescue animals they usually cover vet bills in the early days...

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PostRe: The Official Pets Discussion Thread
by 7256930752 » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:24 am

That's gooseberry fool Joer, I'd go back to the breeder of I were you.

Dogs are expensive man, we've bounced from one problem to the next with ours over the last few months and it's cost a small fortune.


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