Dogs have 2 always had them, often cats, birds,chicken, rats,mice, but always dogs. When I used to walk my daughter to shool with the dogs after a night shift, drop her at school back over the fields, get the papers, home to bed, other peoples children always wanted a dog. Well, of course, I worked nights, and was there in the day with them. I tell people you are taking on a baby, but without nappies or the confinement of a cot, it will pee,poo,chew, throw up, cry, and you, the "new" mummy are going to have to sort these things out. For some while your life will revolve around them totally, forget days out, holidays. Some kind of training classes, excersise,food water,wormers,flea treatment, someone on Mumsnet asked about getting a dog, I said this, was berrated big time, then the woman said well she went to the beach every day, holiday booked etc. perhaps she wouldnt bother. I wasnt trying to put her off, just giving the facts, I did later get an apology from one poster. I know 2 people personally who got puppies, a couple of years back, one I knew darn well would get rid of it sooner rather than later, she hung on in there for a bout 3 months, the other I thought would last the course, lasted a few months longer, she got the toilet training done really quickly, and was on a roll, got fed up with the chewing. Course, they are all different, I have met folk who claim teir dog has NEVER chewed, but puppies teethe like human babies, I expect it.Got up yesterday morning, went to check garden, veg plot, I have a cutting garden, just put in some quite expensive chyrsanths,a few slug pelletts round them, and my cosmos, next thing Luna my 2 year old Border Collie, dives on a cat poo, I am telling her "no" and "leave" aint happening, she wolfs it down with side order of slug pellets. I ring vet, straight away, who laughs, tells me signs to look out for, and dosage for her weight which would cause problems. Nail bighting 3 hours to see if anything happened, it didnt. My last BC loved eating poo, never dog poo though, I have met quite a few owners whose dogs WILL eat dog poo. 11 years ago, I had to use a dog walker twice, it cost me £13 per walk, same money to let them in the garden for a pee. Houses, wages are cheaper here, last year I got a virus, ended up in Hospital a couple of days, Luna was 4 months old, my son came over to "sit" with her in the day, but I had to use a dog walker, I wouldnt go with someone who walks a "pack" I just wanted my 2 walked, he showed me his insurance policies, etc. I would just go for any old one, I see people in the woods walking 4 or 5. I wouldnt be without them. Odly when I was along and ill Luna was very calm and just lay on my legs, it was great.
Forgot to put, the veg plot, has a fence all round it, and a gate, normally the dogs cannot get down there it was just because she followed my down, and I hadnt shut the gate.
Nanny - I am a regular on a breed specific dog rescue forum - been on there for about 10 years now. They get people calling to take on their dogs for a number of reasons, most common of which (although they wouldn't put it this way) they've taken on a cute puppy, found it's a tie and makes a mess so now want rid, usually somewhere between 6 months and 18 months old. Often they are complaining it attacks other dogs/the cat/the postman. Enquiries reveal the dog has never been socialised.
Monty Don actually did a great disservice to dogs with his recent book. He gave some advice which is very common 'folklore' on how to train a dog and which frequently leads to dogs being dumped in rescues or put to sleep.
Hosta - you should suggest your tenants get a stuffed toy - cute and cuddly, doesn't need walking and won't mind being left all day
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'd be more than happy if they gave notice and moved out to be honest.
I remember at Hampton Court Flower Show a long time ago they were tannoying for the owner of a car to go back to it " as your dog is in distress"!!!
What eejit leaves a dog in a car in a car park in July and goes to a flower show?
I don't " get " pets, but I know others love their pets dearly and get huge comfort from them and look after them wonderfully but I'd never be cruel to any animal and it annoys the bejeezus out of me to see animals mistreated. Leaving a puppy in a flat for several hours on end , is , to my mind,cruel.
Are your new clients not turning out as well as you'd hoped, Hosta?
I've had Border Collies most of my life, usually 2 at a time. Some are easy to train, like my lovely Tigger who died last year. Some less easy. But I had one, years ago, who seemed untrainable and he killed chickens and small animals. The dead creatures would be left under the oak tree, one time it was a dozen of a neighbours chickens. We had 3 acres and it was really hard to keep him in, some of the boundary was hedging and he always managed to wriggle through. He also had a tummy problem, constant diarrhoea. I took him to the vet who said he was inbred and not normal. He said I should have him put down, so I did. Still cried though.
Been gardening, bottom trellis bed, not quite finished, but it's too hot.
OH is back from Norfolk this afternoon.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
My distant neighbour acquired two dogs. The first dog she did not train or clear the poo. She was saying the dog was naughty and should she take him back and she did. Some months later she bought another dog didn't train him and didn't walk him either and that one was never seen again. It annoys me when I see her , altho' I don't say anything, with her irresponsible behaviour and the not knowing. I don't know why they buy any pet if they're not prepared to train them, feed them healthy food, walk them and give them a bath, love them and have their best interests at heart.
The problem is that they're seen more as a lifestyle accessory than as a living sentient being who is dependent upon you for everything.
We both love dogs and have always had them in the past ... we sometimes feel we would like to have one again ... but we know ourselves well enough to know that we would not want to adapt our lives to meet its needs ........ so now we're content not to have a dog.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm glad I am surrounded by people who think that dogs are family; not a play thing.
She says with her four legged baby pottering around the house like a wilful todler intent on ignoring mummy because she dared to try to brush his hair.
Posts
Dogs have 2 always had them, often cats, birds,chicken, rats,mice, but always dogs. When I used to walk my daughter to shool with the dogs after a night shift, drop her at school back over the fields, get the papers, home to bed, other peoples children always wanted a dog. Well, of course, I worked nights, and was there in the day with them. I tell people you are taking on a baby, but without nappies or the confinement of a cot, it will pee,poo,chew, throw up, cry, and you, the "new" mummy are going to have to sort these things out. For some while your life will revolve around them totally, forget days out, holidays. Some kind of training classes, excersise,food water,wormers,flea treatment, someone on Mumsnet asked about getting a dog, I said this, was berrated big time, then the woman said well she went to the beach every day, holiday booked etc. perhaps she wouldnt bother. I wasnt trying to put her off, just giving the facts, I did later get an apology from one poster. I know 2 people personally who got puppies, a couple of years back, one I knew darn well would get rid of it sooner rather than later, she hung on in there for a bout 3 months, the other I thought would last the course, lasted a few months longer, she got the toilet training done really quickly, and was on a roll, got fed up with the chewing. Course, they are all different, I have met folk who claim teir dog has NEVER chewed, but puppies teethe like human babies, I expect it.Got up yesterday morning, went to check garden, veg plot, I have a cutting garden, just put in some quite expensive chyrsanths,a few slug pelletts round them, and my cosmos, next thing Luna my 2 year old Border Collie, dives on a cat poo, I am telling her "no" and "leave" aint happening, she wolfs it down with side order of slug pellets. I ring vet, straight away, who laughs, tells me signs to look out for, and dosage for her weight which would cause problems. Nail bighting 3 hours to see if anything happened, it didnt. My last BC loved eating poo, never dog poo though, I have met quite a few owners whose dogs WILL eat dog poo. 11 years ago, I had to use a dog walker twice, it cost me £13 per walk, same money to let them in the garden for a pee. Houses, wages are cheaper here, last year I got a virus, ended up in Hospital a couple of days, Luna was 4 months old, my son came over to "sit" with her in the day, but I had to use a dog walker, I wouldnt go with someone who walks a "pack" I just wanted my 2 walked, he showed me his insurance policies, etc. I would just go for any old one, I see people in the woods walking 4 or 5. I wouldnt be without them. Odly when I was along and ill Luna was very calm and just lay on my legs, it was great.
Forgot to put, the veg plot, has a fence all round it, and a gate, normally the dogs cannot get down there it was just because she followed my down, and I hadnt shut the gate.
Nanny - I am a regular on a breed specific dog rescue forum - been on there for about 10 years now. They get people calling to take on their dogs for a number of reasons, most common of which (although they wouldn't put it this way) they've taken on a cute puppy, found it's a tie and makes a mess so now want rid, usually somewhere between 6 months and 18 months old. Often they are complaining it attacks other dogs/the cat/the postman. Enquiries reveal the dog has never been socialised.
Monty Don actually did a great disservice to dogs with his recent book. He gave some advice which is very common 'folklore' on how to train a dog and which frequently leads to dogs being dumped in rescues or put to sleep.
Hosta - you should suggest your tenants get a stuffed toy - cute and cuddly, doesn't need walking and won't mind being left all day
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'd be more than happy if they gave notice and moved out to be honest.
I remember at Hampton Court Flower Show a long time ago they were tannoying for the owner of a car to go back to it " as your dog is in distress"!!!
What eejit leaves a dog in a car in a car park in July and goes to a flower show?
I don't " get " pets, but I know others love their pets dearly and get huge comfort from them and look after them wonderfully but I'd never be cruel to any animal and it annoys the bejeezus out of me to see animals mistreated. Leaving a puppy in a flat for several hours on end , is , to my mind,cruel.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Are your new clients not turning out as well as you'd hoped, Hosta?
I've had Border Collies most of my life, usually 2 at a time. Some are easy to train, like my lovely Tigger who died last year. Some less easy. But I had one, years ago, who seemed untrainable and he killed chickens and small animals. The dead creatures would be left under the oak tree, one time it was a dozen of a neighbours chickens. We had 3 acres and it was really hard to keep him in, some of the boundary was hedging and he always managed to wriggle through. He also had a tummy problem, constant diarrhoea. I took him to the vet who said he was inbred and not normal. He said I should have him put down, so I did. Still cried though.
Been gardening, bottom trellis bed, not quite finished, but it's too hot.
OH is back from Norfolk this afternoon.
My distant neighbour acquired two dogs. The first dog she did not train or clear the poo. She was saying the dog was naughty and should she take him back and she did. Some months later she bought another dog didn't train him and didn't walk him either and that one was never seen again. It annoys me when I see her , altho' I don't say anything, with her irresponsible behaviour and the not knowing. I don't know why they buy any pet if they're not prepared to train them, feed them healthy food, walk them and give them a bath, love them and have their best interests at heart.
The problem is that they're seen more as a lifestyle accessory than as a living sentient being who is dependent upon you for everything.
We both love dogs and have always had them in the past ... we sometimes feel we would like to have one again ... but we know ourselves well enough to know that we would not want to adapt our lives to meet its needs ........ so now we're content not to have a dog.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Having had dogs and/or cats most of my life, I remember once being asked if I minded changing my baby's nappy.
I said: not at all - at least I know where the poo is going to be!
I'm glad I am surrounded by people who think that dogs are family; not a play thing.
She says with her four legged baby pottering around the house like a wilful todler intent on ignoring mummy because she dared to try to brush his hair.