Little Gifts

Seriously? I can't talk to a dog loving neighbour about another dog owning neighbour and ponder the difference in our exercise regimes? I was just wondering what others think and do. The differences in what people do have been quite interesting. It has started me thinking I should vary the intensity on our walks so we have some fun sniffing stuff and some more serious focused exercise. And have you ever lived in Queensland during summer? I never leave the house myself without water and if I think my dogs need a small drink on a hot day to tide them over till we get home then they get one out of my bottle. It is still winter here yet next week it will be 27 degrees. Perhaps you can't imagine what it must be like in summer in the middle of the day with no shade doing exercise on a hot surface? That's about the only actual issue I have with this situation and if I ever saw him or his dog in distress I would offer assistance and not berate him. PS I have edited the title to better reflect my actual ponderings as I don't think he is over exercising his dog in distance terms but can't personally support exercising any dog in the heat during the middle of the day.

Really interesting to hear all the different thoughts and practices on exercise. And I agree, I have no idea what this specific dog's issues and needs are and apart from the walking in the heat on the hot bitumen issue (and lack of poo bags or water on his person when they walk) I was pondering the difference between what I do and what he does (we have a big park right behind us and I've never seen them there with or without a leash) and whether there was any 'right'. I suspect I walk my dogs like I would like to be walked if I was a dog - off exploring and checking things out, never following the same route day in, day out, making our own fun as we go. Nothing purposeful happening here!

My dog loving neighbour and I were talking about another newish neighbour. He has a labrador who he is very regimented with. I'd estimate the dog to be about 5 years old. He walks it at least 3 times every single day for at least a half hour each time, rain, hail or shine. Where possible he walks it on the bitumen at a brisk pace on a tight leash. The dog is not allowed to meander and sniff things - it is all about exercise. He doesn't even carry poo bags with him because the dog is not allowed to slow down enough to poop. The only time they stop is for traffic. The owner would be in his 50s, he's very lean and always walks in shorts and thongs. I don't know how much distance they travel during their half hour brisk walk and I guess that in itself is not taxing physically. I do worry a lot about him walking the dog in the heat of a summer day, especially on bitumen. And I do wonder about whether that kind of focused walking meets a dogs stimulation needs. Mine meander when they walk, sniffing and checking things out and we have a couple of different routes we use so take different amounts of time depending on how distracted they are. I never walk them in the middle of the day (and only have time for once a day) and we aim for a mix of grass, path and road (the latter two being for nails). We also stop to poo and pee and pick up said poo. For me the walks are about the dogs and not me. We have other outings in the car and play a lot at home. Well Stussy does - Tempeh hates leaving the house but that's another story. Anyway it got me thinking about how you know if you are under or over exercising your dog? Is 3 times a day too much? Is once a day too little? Or does it really depend on what you are doing during that period of exercise and what else you are doing at home? And how far distance wise should we be aiming for? Are there guides for different dog sizes and breeds? I know what under exercising can lead to but what are the physical risks for over exercising?

This is what she advised re food: "If you decide to take the course you will need to feed her the smallest amount of food like enough to just cover the palm of your hand the night before we start and nothing at all on the day. We need her to be very, very hungry...." If I did this from the night before all hell would break loose before we even went to bed that night! She's not so much food orientated but has a tendency to get an upset stomach if not fed regularly. Food is just an important part of her day and night and once she is satiated she stops eating. I don't even need to feed her high value food when she is hungry to get her to do a puzzle. Most mornings she just does it with her regular kibble. So I think I'll just feed her normally until that evening meal and just cut that right back (and only kibble) so by the time we are at class she thinks she is getting the rest and the best. I can't see her behaving at all on an empty stomach - she would be having a total tantie.

I got the Nosework info from All Paws and my sister and I both broke up laughing at the advice to not feed our dog that day before the class so that they are very, very hungry. If Tempeh was forced to go without food for even one meal she'd find a way to get hold of an RSPCA Inspector and have the situation immediately rectified! I suspect I'll have to go with half meals on class days if our neighbourhood values its peace and quiet. Hangry doesn't even come close to describing her if meals are served late.

I still remember an adopter of one of Michael Vick's pitbulls saying her dog didn't need time to be rehabilitated - she needed time to recover from what had happened to her. I like to think about most rescue's in that way now. They don't need to be fixed, they just need time to find themselves again after what they have been through. Many rescue dogs (even puppies) have passed through half a dozen sets of hands before they find a forever home. They might be caring hands but they still belong to strangers. And whilst I do have a couple of breeds on my wish list I haven't been owned by anything other than homeless and rescue animals since I was a teenager. So many healthy, beautiful animals are out there needing their own person to love.

I got a message through to All Paws and she is sending me more info. Next free starter class is in Oct. She said even if Tempeh is uncomfortable coming to the classes what she gives us can be done at home instead. So yay! I think we'll be part of Team Nosework this year too! THANK YOU RUMOUR!!!!!!!!

No words. Another bright star in the sky. XXX

All Paws Paradise at Pimpama :) Also hosting Fred Helfers from the US for Nosework seminars at the beginning of October. Rumour they have no course listed since June (also nothing on their FB page since June). I tried to email and it bounced back saying it wasn't a valid address. I will try the number tomorrow during business hours to see what's going on. I was all excited and then let down. And Scottsmum it's funny you say that about Fenzi. I found their website and was trying to find out where they were based and where they run classes and it took me forever to realise they send you the course material to do at home. Well I think that's what I'm deducing from your post? So if I can't even work that out easily I'm about worried about the course material and being able to follow it!

Tempeh already gets most of her kibble meals through puzzle toys but I see Nosework as taking it to a new level. I really want to try this but still haven't been able to find anyone up this way doing it (except for the RSPCA but I can't bring myself to use them).

Team Bart have said not an option (due to freight and storage) but ARA have been sharing it around so hopefully someone through them can take these boxes off your hands and use them.

But I for one am very excited about your arrivals T! I miss my foster puppy fix!

SAS I'm going to let Animal Rescue Appeal and Team Bart To The Rescue know about this as either group could take them off your hands and distribute them to various rescue groups across the country who could use them.

Aren't dogs just the best!

I so want to find someone who does this up my way as I really think this will be good for Tempeh.

I bought a few reflective armbands from Kathmandu cheap that I think were for cyclists. I loop them around my upper arms and the leash (up the top and down the bottom) just to help us remain visible. I know from getting too close to walkers that some people wear all dark colours without thinking how well headlights pick it up on a really dark night - they just don't think/realise. I'm sure I've done it too. Love Thistle in the new get up!

I have a foster fail who experienced an incident that has left her fearful. She likes everything the same - hates leaving the house on walks (stress poos the whole outing), vomits if being taken out in the car. Gets very hyper if our other dog leaves the house too. It takes about 10 visits to my house for her to accept a 'stranger' without circling and barking and generally being unable to settle. As a young dog she clearly still needs exercise and variety in her day. We've had a couple of different behaviourists and all their advice has assisted. Most recently we were advised to start using food games to stimulate and tire her mind. It took a while for her to understand why we were hiding perfectly good food but now she looks forward to the challenges and it has really changed her behaviour. I'm thinking of trying Nosework now, again at home. She is calmer and more confident after just 7 months on our current regime. She settles quicker with strangers (they will never be able to touch her) and we don't force her to have exercise off the property or go for what we believe are enjoyable car rides because they aren't for her. We manage. She is extremely bonded to us and I doubt she would manage being rehomed (or even kenneled). Us abandoning her is her greatest fear. We haven't needed to medicate her but we would if it was in her best interests or she was a danger to herself. I previously had a stafford who had a lot of fears and would chew his way through steel in a panic to get to a human when something frightened him. We managed that by him rarely being alone, even if that meant he spent the day with a lovely neighbour, my parents or he came to work with me. He was also medicated all his life but it was mixed with homeopathic treatments too. He lived like that till he was almost 13 years but his panic was still his ultimate downfall. I learned from him not to try and fix everything to suit what I thought was right for him. So now, just because my pei girl doesn't want to leave the house for stimulation doesn't mean I can't provide it for her at home. I will never again force a dog to overcome a fear. I will try but if it isn't working I will stop and accept their reality.

What a heartwarming story! They were meant to be there at that exact time to find her and save her. Don't you wish she could talk to tell them what she'd been up to for a month!

I'm going to read up on this and see if we have an option near me in South East Queensland. Tempeh is a nervous nelly who gets all worked up leaving the house even to walk. I started doing treat dispensing puzzles with her for all her meals to busy her mind. It took her a few days to work out why I was hiding her perfectly good food under things but now she enjoys it and the stimulation is positive for her behaviour. Maybe if she had an out of the house activity she actually enjoyed she wouldn't be so scared? She finds nothing positive about walking - doesn't sniff or look at anything and just keeps walking till she can see home again. It's sad because Stussy loves a romp in the park and now has noone to do that with.

Oh Caz I've only just seen this! Charlie sounds like the best dog ever! I'm glad he found unconditional love for his quirky and naughty self with you. It's another great lesson we can learn from our dogs. Run free and don't follow any rules Charlie! XXX

I used to have a doggy coat stall at some farmers markets and lots of unusual breeds would come through. Because of DOL I was usually able to pick the breed and impress the owner. So many lovely doggies out there!

Very hard week for you. Be guided by the ranger's assessment then that it was an accident and you have now done what you can to avoid another. Ignore the neighbour's demands and let him learn his own lesson. I know when new dogs moved in next to us and Tempeh went a bit crazy trying to check them out through the fence gaps we put barriers up the same day. That is what good owner's do when their dogs are being bad. If Ivy did bite the paws of a rabid rat trying to get through the fence then don't think badly of her feeling the need to protect her home. First nip and the rat should've retreated anyway.

If it smells fishy then it probably is. Play the waiting game for now and see what comes of it. If the neighbour knew their dog barked at your dog and did nothing about the gap on their side either then that indicates to me they didn't see any need to protect their dog from your dog. Now there has been an incident you have responded by covering the gap on your side. If they haven't what does that tell you about their concern for their dogs? It sounds like an accident instigated by their dogs. You have rectified your part in the accident. You may choose to contribute financially but I certainly wouldn't give more than half. Hopefully one of the legal peeps will come on here and set your mind at ease. As far as attributing blame goes though it certainly can't all be sent in your direction because the fence gap (which you both have a share of) didn't start the problem - the behaviour of the smaller dog did.

Neighbours dog has placed its paws inside your dog's yard space, trespassing if you like so I would consider them at fault and starting the problem. Is it a shared fence line or was the neighbour not supervising her own dog's behaviour while out of its yard? The other issue is whether the fence was fit for purpose. Does it contain your dogs? Then yes it is. Have they ever dug out under that gap? If yes then perhaps the fence is not fully fit for the purpose of containing your dog and keeping others out. I would think there could be some blame on both sides so I would not be paying entire vet bill but would be finding out more about how it happened. If their dog started it they have to accept some of the blame, especially if they were in public with it and not supervising what it was doing.

Oh honey I'm so sorry! I know what it's like to go in for one thing and discover another. Wolf's cancer was so aggressive we never really even got started on treatment. I hope you have positive options for Jeune. XXX