Simply Grand

The boys are always the whingers :laugh:

I'm interested to know, and it isn't necessarily related to Esky, but there have been many comments saying "I don't tolerate/allow guarding or aggression". What does that actually mean? As in, how do you actually communicate this to your dogs?

Posted at the same time, Esky may have been approaching just to check out what he had, or because in her head there is no big deal in sharing food. In Fritz's head it is a big deal so there was an issue. ETA - so there's training needed for both of them to understand that there are rules around food and that they both need to look to you for decisions on who gets what, not decide for themselves, whatever their personal opinion is.

Fritz is resource guarding and Esky is not putting up with him being aggressive towards her. Don't panic, this is manageable but you need someone to come and assess the situation and give you a plan. Start by contacting the trainer Nekhbet suggested :) Also, it doesn't make either Fritz or Esky a bad dog, you just have two dogs with their own personalities and experiences learning to live together. And Fritz is still maturing so his personality is far from set. With more knowledge and training for you and the dogs you can sort this out.

YES, what Nekhbet said! Excellent advice.

I find advice to simply crate them whenever food is around as a solution when there has already been an issue with resource guarding concerning. What happens when there's a slip up (like in Esky's case) or when you're not at home and somehow one gets hold of food? No one is perfect and while you may get lucky and never have a slip up, I think it's safer to have done something to remedy the actual problem not just rely on keeping them separate.

Oh definitely, it's totally different with dogs outside of the family! In general mine don't attempt it on other dogs, Riley used to try a bit sometimes and Saxon will occasionally have an attempt and I'll interrupt them as I know some dogs have an issue with it.

Oh don't cry and stress! More dogs = more stuff to worry about but also more fun! Resource guarding from other dogs is totally natural, albeit dangerous so for now I would be having no dogs in the room when preparing meals and serving and letting them eat in separate rooms. I'm tired and about to go to sleep but I'll come back and mention more about the guarding issues in my little pack of four (including foster puppy) :) oh, and how I manage them without too many dramas.

It's quite interesting watching the humping shifting between my four. I think there are definitely elements of starting play sometimes, excited arousal sometimes, just enjoying it sometimes - I'm sure Saxon does it to Quinn sometimes just coz it feels gooood I sometimes get the impression that Riley does it to whoever's closest because he's stimulated by what's going on around him but isn't quite sure what to do. Foster puppy is still a bit clueless about it tbh at only 5 mths old so she tends to be the from either Riley or Quinn but it doesn't seem to bother her. They all do it on and off all the time but it intensifies when Quinn's in season, last week during what must have been her receptive days they were all nuts, obviously hormones and instincts floating around but with two desexed boys, an entire girl who's never been mated or been around an entire male when in season and a girl puppy entering adolescence no one had a clue what they were actually supposed to be doing - there were all four in pile ups, boys on girls, girls on boys, boys and girls on each other, two on one, Quinn on her back hugging Saxon to her belly... it was pretty hilarious and there was no conflict at all, they all had a great time :laugh:

Could be a bit of an attempt by Lucy to assert herself over Bonnie, could be a bit of an instinct coming out as Bonnie reaches full adulthood, could be just be a way of getting out over excited energy, could be something to do with your new neighbour dog hanging around and upsetting the balance a bit... I think you'd have to take into account the whole of their relationship in general to figure out what might be motivating it. And IMO it's not an issue in itself unless it bothers Bonnie. My four (including foster puppy, 2 boys, 2 girls) all swap around humping each other at times, I generally let them sort it out themselves as no individual seems too bothered but if it's always the same "humper" and "humpee" it could get a bit much I suppose! Oops, I mixed up who was humping who, edited to fix!

I'm so so sorry this has happened HuskyDrake, what an awful tragedy I do think you actually made the best choices you could to try and save your dog in a horrific situation. Had you kept trying to intervene yourself in a fight that resulted in two strong dogs dying you may not be here to talk about it Unfortunately I don't think there is much you can do legally about the breach of the terms of the lease, generally the requirement would be that the tenant remedy the breach (having a dog on the property without consent) or vacate the property, and be required to repair or compensate the owner for any property damage. However, I commend you for speaking to a lawyer about what you may be able to pursue. It's a terrible thing for someone to get away with, especially when you had already told your neighbours about your concerns! Again, I'm so sorry you've had to go through this.

He is pretty damn gorgeous.

Oh you poor thing, I feel for you It really sucks when life circumstances impact on our ability to care for our dogs however much we want to, and when things are tough is usually when we need them the most! Definitely get them walked as often as you can afford. Do you have friends or family who could help out with a roster to take them out each day for a good run around? Another thing to consider if you are going to be unwell for a while would be putting them into foster care for a while, I know you would miss them terribly but it might be worth thinking about.

Good advice.

Run free little brindle girl. Sorry you lost her Tesslc, good on you for making the tough decision though. Can't wait to see and hear about your little whities growing up :)

The funds raised aren't shared nationally though, they stay local (state based I assume). I don't know anything about the finances of RSPCA QLD but I know ACT relies heavily on the MPW fund raising to be able to operate the shelter so every possible cent is needed! Having said that, there were several local rescues with stalls there :)

Oh my goodness, I love it :) I have no doubt Toby was meant to be part of your family!

I don't think there are any plans for this bitch to be bred again but agree that her breeder should be aware of the cleft lip girl, and I expect she is because tesslc did say she has spoken to the breeder about the pregnancy :)

Agreed OSo, the pup in question is barely two days old, she's feeding from mum, getting a full belly and has gained weight. It's hardly at the point where Tesslc is making a "bleeding heart" decision to keep her alive and suffering for goodness sake. Tesslc, PLEASE don't be scared off by black & white views, you have a long way to go with this litter and there are plenty of us here willing to support you as best we can no matter what happens. Do be aware that your little cleft lip girl (or actually any of them) may go downhill and you may have a difficult decision to make but there is no need to assume the worst!!

This totally OT but Esky you just reminded me! At the Million Paws Walk today we had the breakfast show hosts from one of the local radio stations MCing (which was great of them :) ) but one of them asked people several times over the PA system whether their dog was an Alaskan Husky! We all wanted to run up and whisper nooooo! to her

Everyone looks like they're having so much fun! :) Sorry to have missed it, I had to be at Million Paws Walk at 8am for set up as I was helping with the mini agility course. Hopefully I can come along next time!

Rogz has little round ones that might be suitable, they don't seem too heavy. I'm not sure about their durability but Rogz stuff is generally ok I think.

We had fun in Canberra :) I was surprised how many Shelties I saw, I counted at least 8 (which I know isn't a huge number but I don't often see them around!). Also an Anatolian and a Leonberger (from the same family), a chocolate Newfie and several St Bernards. Aside from all the dogs there were also a pig and a ferret in attendance :)

Neither did I. Start a new topic then :) They can, the standard says red, fawn, white, black or blue :) Eta - or brindle of course!

Awww, look at happy mum with her pups Congratulations :)