Stressmagnet

Wow. No words, just confused.

Ruthless Leather is closed for the moment, FYI.

*sniff* I love you all. I'm such a worrier. Someone slap me. It's just been ages since I had a pup. I think I've forgotten it all and I'm teetering on the edge of senility.

Ps. I'm partially lame (thank you cancer!) do our hour and a bit walk is pretty leisurely - all up maybe 4kms. With off leash time in that. I know he should only have ½ hour at his age so I don't press the girls too much if they just want to free play or teach him tricks.

This trainer considers herself an expert and reckons Labradors are people focussed dogs and by 'confining him outside when he wants to be with me', I'm weakening the bond between owner and dog. She trains agility and obedience dogs - kelpies and Border Collies are her own dogs. She says Labs 'should be part of the family'. I grew up in a family where dogs were outside all the time. They never came in. I've never wanted that and all my dogs, while not having free rein to go in and out as they please, ARE part of the family. Or so I thought. Because Erbie spent the first 6 months as an outside kennel dog, we are working on inside manners but he does really well. After he comes in, he gets 15 of training then goes to his place for a bit and then on and off during the evening (Unless The Walking Dead is on) we gently reinforce the settle; the sit; the stay and the 'get the hell out of the kitchen lol'. He has chewies on his mat (place) but yeah, the girls and I are chatting to each other in the evening too - we aren't 100% focussed on him if he's quiet and behaving. A few 10 mins structured training and quieter indoor games at odd times during the evening then back and quiet on his place. I dunno. Does this woman want me to be totally and utterly focussed on him all the time since I got him late and he's a pup? He's pretty well behaved I reckon - except for normal pup stuff (digging, stealing my gorilla slippers and my youngest teddy who he covets). I guess I'm just confused. He IS part of our family but he's not my child, he's my dog. And it's not always convenient to take him everywhere, he doesn't fit in a handbag! I know he'd LIKE it, but isn't part of dogdom being able to handle being separated calmly and confidently?

He's not showing anything other than the sad lab face if I happen to shake the mop over the deck while I'm cleaning. He's usually sacked out or yes, digging - but I know they grow out of digging and he's confined it to one spot. He zooms around the back yard but I guess he likes hanging near the back door on the off chance... He does love being around people, but he's not crying or whimpering when he's outside. The beagle next door keeps up a non stop bark every 10 minutes for the whole day. And this isn't my dog trainer, just someone I met through a mutual friend. The trainer Ernie's been going to is someone I haven't asked because I didn't want to look goosey. So if I'm reading these responses right, I'm doing ok and he doesn't need to be constantly with me if I'm home? Oops - I lie. He occasionally whimpesr for 5-10 minutes but settles once it's clear I'm busy. That's the worst he gets.

^^i love this pic so much. I adore these dogs.

I've just been told by a dog trainer that I've been leaving Ernie alone too long and perhaps I should rethink the whole dog idea. I'm devastated. You guys are so knowledgeable and helpful I thought I'd post here before I do something drastic - like rehome him. Ernie's day: 7am - brekkie then out in the garden for an hour to toilet and avoid the bickering and chaos that goes with two teenage girls getting ready for school. 8:00 - in car for the school run, takes all up ½ hour. 8:30/45 - 9:30/10 - walk with me. On lead, off lead, training. Sometimes we stop in at the local pet store on the way home. 10am- 1:pm - outside in our 800sq back yard where he has a wooden dog house, toys stuffed with treats. He's usually so buggered from his walk that he lies on the the balcony of his dog house or flops by the back door. During this time, I'm either out and about doing cancer'd things or cleaning house. Total time outside alone had never exceeded 4 hours since we got him. 1pm- 3:30pm - inside with me. He joins me in his bedtime crate while I take a chemo rest. He can see me and loves his bed and his snuggle duck. 3:30- 4:45- girls home from school. He gets at least another ½ walk or play time with them till close to 5, when they come in to do homework. 4:45-6pm he's outside while I cook dinner, and relearn year 9 algebra, year 6 grammar and learn how little I know about everything. 6pm - 10pm he's inside. Has his dinner, then does some training inside, usually spends his evenings destroying a chew toy and flopped at my feet. 11pm - bed. On the weekends - an hour walk with me on the Saturday, then the girls hang with him on and off sporadically till dinner time but he still comes inside for my chemo nap. Sunday's - we take him to the beach for a couple of hours or to a labrador meet and greet. He's outside again until dinner. Is this not enough family/people interaction? The beagle next door is left alone outside from 8-6 each day, and when I worked full time, yeah, sometimes if I couldn't make it home for lunch (which I did most days), the AmStaff spent 6 hours alone outside. I thought this was ok. Not ideal but I did my best. With Ernie, the breeder kept him outside all the time. We are happy to have him inside as much as we can but he's a labrador and bouncy and gets underfoot if I'm trying to clean or in the girls way in the morning. The trainer said if I'm home, and I want a happy dog, he should be with me. Inside. Thoughts? This dog has really stolen my heart and I'm really upset if I've not been doing the best by him.

Hi This probably should be in the Lab forum but there's sone interesting discussions in there and I didn't want to derail them for this frivolity: :D Have a desexed 7month males lab puppy (Ernie the loveable Idiot). He still has a slim skull tho both sire and dam had well developed heads. (What I would call the classic lab head; broad between the ears). His breeder said something about when 'his head splits', which I took to mean when his head broadens. Any idea when this happens? I realise he's still a pup but I'm not sure if due to neutering him early (I'm kicking myself), he will never get that lovely mature head and will always look puppy like. I'll be fine and love him just the same, (well maybe not if he keeps rearranging the potted plants) but it would be nice to know. Yeah, I'm superficial and shallow.

Dogsonline have breeder listings. Get into an email dialogue with the breeders. I got my Choc from a NSW breeder who I'd been corresponding with for 6 months. I wasn't fixated on colour - temperament should be your breeders focus. My Choc was a happy accident - his original owners retuned him at 6 months when they got divorced. I would have been happy with any colour as long as the personality and energy level fit my needs. Beware of breeders who only breed one colour - Choc is recessive (I believe) and it's good to see a mix of blacks and yellows in their breeding stock. So called 'silver' labs are not worth more and some are crosses - steer clear. Decide if you want a high or low energy dog; talk to breeders and be honest about what kind of energy you are willing to give the dog. Ask about hip/elbow and eye disease and heart issues in the lines. A good breeder will match the pup to the family. I have a chilled laid back boy because I was frank about what I needed. And I'm very happy. Others here will be far more knowledgable than I - so take their advice!

That's a great suggestion. I had the Kongs already and got Horrible Herbert his own one. Not sure why but he has never been interested in them. Yet he tends to be a food freak. Must be a solution somewhere. Ernie cannot be bothered with Kongs. I've tried the wobbler, the one with the x in it, the ridged one and the traditional. I have over $100 worth of designer expert landfill. He likes a frozen black banana - takes him about 20 minutes and worth it for the look of pain the brain freeze causes (revenge BWAHAHA); and I scatter kibble. Anything requiring the slightest bit of work for his food gets the big stupid eyes and a heartfelt sigh. Too scared to try the pet maze things or the pet treat game thingies; I worry they'd end up as lawn decorations along with the kongs.

Yup. My dogs have all had fearsome barks but are complete sluts for an ear rub or a treat. It must be the company they keep.

Canidae: The no fart dog food.

I have to say, all my dogs have done well on Canidae. I know some dogs don't, but I switched Ernie's a week ago and NO FARTS. Praises and thanks. Also his stools are compact, and his coat is already looking shinier. The no farts was the selling point, as I just got rid of a husband that farted; not replacing him with another male that does the same thing. I want my bedroom smelling like ROSES.

Just going back to Canidae - Ernie's on the Lamb and Ruce. It says it's a single protein food but haven't hefted up the bag to see if chicken meal is in it, or the Fiish one they sell as well. Apologies if someone has already found that it does.

One question - how would you register your pup? I have no quibble with the breed; love them. And you sound like an owner who understands the breed.

My amstaff was killed by a metre long brown snake here in the burbs, Central coast NSW. Is there anything you can do to minimize the attractiveness of your yard to snakes? We currently have a rabbit infestation that the council refuses to address (or let the street address) and I'm worried that this makes my yard good hunting ground. Ernie, the resident labrador goofball has not much sense. My old kelpie seemed to instinctively give snakes a wide berth but the amstaff obviously took them on. I'm terrified Ernie will think it's a big wiggle stick. How can I snake proof my yard? Oh and yeah, the kiddos. I've got two teen girls who are experts on everything so don't need my advice. I'm worried about them too. :D

Seriously. This breaks my heart. When does plain common sense come into play? Whose ego is so invested in killing this dog? Breed legislation is ridiculous. License OWNERS. Ban OWNERS. Not dogs. I'm heart sick. A 3 yr old dog who's spent 2 years of his life confined and is STILL assessed as being a suitable therapy dog? That dog is one in a million and I bet the staffy in him contributes no small part to his nature. Where do I donate?

I didn't know. Thanks for the heads up.

Thank you for the graphic - informative as to how words get twisted. I am not responsible for how my words get misinterpreted but I will agree that I should choose my words with care. So. I classify as 'bully', any dog with bulldog, bull mastiff or Staffordshire in its lineage; or as this website states: Put very simply almost all dog breeds that fall into the classifications of bulldogs or mastiffs are bully breeds. In addition several brachycephalic (flat or pushed in face) dogs and other extremely large dogs, such as Great Danes, are classified as bully breeds. Once again, this has more to do with either the original purpose for which the dog was bred or the lineage of the breed, than it has to do with size, temperament or reputation. (http://alldogswelcome.com/bully-breeds.html) I have have not said they are more aggressive; nor have I said they are 'gladiators' and 'have a high pain tolerance.' I have said I think they require committed owners and I would agree to some extent that they need special handling. Why? Because innate to the breed is a strong desire to please their owners. My amstaff was the most people focussed dog I've ever owned or had the pleasure to meet. In the wrong hands; in cruel hands; in impatient hands and in lazy hands - that wonderful trait can be used against them. I am not responsible for the history of bear baiting; pig hunting and dog fighting that some of these breeds have in their past - nor am I responsible for the idiots who wish to encourage traits of bravery, courage and tenacity to make what could be a great family dog into a money maker. I repeat. I love these breeds. Would I suggest them to a novice owner? No. A novice owner who might not understand that these dogs look for leadership and guidance and consistency and are not to be left outside 9 hours or more a day, away from the human companionship they crave, because they are at work and reckon the 2-3 hours they spend when they get home is enough. I don't think you and I are on different sides here. You may think I am because I advocate responsible ownership of these dogs so they don't get dumped in the pounds (have you seen the predominance of staffy and staffy crosses in the shelters?). They get dumped because they are strong athletic and powerful dogs who their owners can't handle because they bought for their looks and couldn't be bothered understanding what the breed NEEDS. Again, owner NOT breed, but not all breeds are alike. Not every Labrador is a loveable goofball. Not every cocker spaniel is a soft eyed smuggler. Not every bully is an aggressive dog - but breed traits cannot be ignored, surely? Or why do folks buy pure bred dogs?

Can some one give me price comparisons? I've a lab, currently on 1 1/2 cups a day of Canidae grain free. Would it be cost comparable? Feed more or less in your exoerience? Do you supplement?

Well said.

A bully is a blanket term for any bulldog breed. It IS a generalisation though.

Granted ALL bullies don't take work. But a lot of them do. Like any dog, they need exercise and training and a committed owner. I think it's more important with bullies because a) media hysteria. They have to be BETTER behaved than your average dog and b) they can be single minded with a high prey drive. As are other breeds, but again, bullies are strong athletic dogs. I stand firm on my stance that bullies are NOT for a first time dog owner or for a lazy one. Not the breed, but the owner.

Liking the aquamarine one... He's got a training collar and lead already and makes no diff but maybe as you and others have suggested -- it's not official enough? Thank you.