am i a bad dog owner?

Freddie has changed a lot lately. He used to be the dopey sweet puppy. Last week when I took them for a walk, they met two dogs along the way - without leads on. The owner was a little boy. He had one of his dogs on a loose lead that pretty much rendered the lead useless when the dogs saw us. Rosie, being Rosie, immediately tried to assert dominance, and Freddie followed suit. Suffice to say, both of my dogs ended off without their leash running around the neighbourhood while I picked myself back up from the dirt. They both pulled too hard for me to control. My arm ended up hurting for 2 days.

Since then the bf has been walking them. Anyway, when I was trying to get my dogs back, I had freddy by the collar and was inching up slowly to Rosie. By this time, both dogs were ok, and were just happy checking each other out. Then just as I'm about to get Rosie, Freddy snarls at the other dog (!!!)

I'm thinking, WTF. Where did my sweet lovely boy go?

Rosie in comparison has become such a sweet dog of late. Always comes up for cuddles. And last weekend when I walked them, and insisted they sit, she sat, while Freddie pretty much ignored me. I was dumbfounded. I know we haven't been to puppy training classes lately, but really, this was ridiculous.

It wasn't just me either. The boyfriend noticed it too. He was commenting when he walked them that Rosie was a lot more responsive. Freddie just totally ignored you and did his own thing.

And it doesn't just stop there. I was in the living room last night with the two dogs - I'd just walked in the room - and Freddie suddenly just snaps and snarls at Rosie. It was REALLY scary. You've seen his fangs. I immediately sent both of them outside. I was so shaken. It's made me a bit wary of petting him because I'm scared one day he'll turn on me. And I can't beat those teeth...

This morning I'm out in the garden and Freddie catches a bird. Because the bf caught Fred get another one yesterday and yelled them inside, I did the same and tried to catch Freddie's attention. Look, I know birds get eaten all the time, but it's one thing to know that, and another to have it done in my face, by something that I know and love. Later on in the morning I'm hanging out the laundry and I hear these squawks. Freddie's got another. Rosie hears the commotion and goes back down too. By this time I've given up.

My dog's chased down a bird and has eaten it all up =S

My dogs are carnivores. I know, I know, that's what dogs do. I can't expect to be a dog owner and just have a santised version of their lives. I have to accept that it's in their nature.

But it worries me.

So it looks like we're going to desex Freddie after all. I don't know if I can handle this big dog who nearly yanks you off his feet just by loping over to the tree to mark his territory. I know it's probably just the hormones and it might well pass. But I can't deal with it atm. Does this make me a bad owner? He used to be so docile, trotting along beside me. Sure he'd chase after the birds on the field, but he never got one. And I was happy about that.

Course you could also argue - how dumb are those magpies not to fly off? I noticed the first one this morning, just sort've lay there pretending to be dead. I mean, that won't stop him.

Have I been a bad owner? I feel a little betrayed. Where did my sweet puppy go? And it's so ironic atm that I'm preferring to spend my time and attention on Rosie. At least with her, we always knew what we were getting. And she has definately mellowed over time. Makes me wonder why her owners left her. I doubt their argument that they bought a new house without fencing is a real reason. She's so sweet. I know she's a bit of a troublemaker. But at the end of the day, she comes to you 9 times out of 10 when you call her. She sits up straight and tall for dinner. And she'll sit patiently at your feet, leaning at you a 45 degree angle for as long as you want her to.

I still can't believe he caught the bird and ATE IT.

*shakes head*

lots of photos

so i've been neglecting this blog of late. not because nothing's exciting happened, just because life got in the way. i've still been taking lots of piccies, but just not enough time to upload to show.

fred's filled out a little more, but rosie's still as skinny as ever. despite them both eating the same amount of food. trust me, fred can't get to rosie's food bowl - he's tried. we keep on joking that rosie has an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia - take your pick). we just don't know where all her food goes. and all you see are her ribs..... must be some greyhound in her or something.

fyi, rosie is now fine. her little bout of non eating was just some bizarre dominance thing over fred. *shakes head* 48 hours of fasting to prove that she was top dog - spent most of it growling and getting into fights with fred, because like me, if there's food around, fred will eat it.

so here's another family portrait. a bit more candid than the last. fred loves to show off his nether regions to the camera.

Dog Cuddles

Cuddling Rosie is quite an exercise. She has a tendancy to lean on you
at a 45 degree angle. So not only do you have to be able to support the
weight in order to not topple over, there's still the cuddling factor.
She really is as tall as me, when she
stands up. She looks quite funny when you look at the way she's
sitting. Turning around as if to say, 'what are you looking at???

On the right is the bf with Rosie.

Rosie Cuddle

Rosie getting another scratch

Underneath these two pics is one of Fred getting scratched. Such a cute boy...

Freddie Getting Scratched

Here are a whole bunch of Rosie pictures that I found. She is quite a
pretty girl.... I like the third one down, she's looking over her
shoulder as if to say, 'what's that? it's annoying my comfortable perch
here....'

I really like the pic below this one. she looks so soft. In fact, she's actually just lying there chewing a bone. LOL.

Rosie Lying In The Shade

On the weekends we take the dogs out to the local football field where they get to run around without their leashes on. According to her foster mother, Rosie loves to be chased, and she runs like a hare on steroids. However, I've noticed in the last month or so that she doesn't seem to run as fast anymore. Either Freddie has gotten faster, or Rosie's running slower to let him catch up. You can see the middle pic where Freddie's managed to 'catch' her. They're amazing to watch as they run, although it's scary when they run in your direction and around you. I'm always worried they'll crash into me and topple me down.

Now as I was saying earlier, when Rosie stands up, she's pretty tall. Here are some amusing pics...

Checking Out The View

Hey Come Check This Out!

my dogs are MONSTERS

A few weeks ago we started working on our garden - specifically a vegie patch. We have a fenced off area down the back of the yard where the previous owners had let their vegie patch run over with grass before they sold. As Fred was fascinated with the compost bin, we moved moved it into the fenced area.

The fence was actually fairly rickety - the previous owners didn't own two big dogs - and within a few days Fred had managed to push down the fence and get into the compost bin again.

So the bf went and reinforced the fence - got new posts, wired it all up, and I started planting vegies in the garden.

The last few weekends we've noticed that some of my plants looked like they'd been eaten, and the compost bin seemed to be routinely attacked. Sometimes just a little gate that's been nudged open. Other times, it's a full scale affair - with it belly up. Yet.... the fence always looked intact. We began to think maybe they were jumping the gate - which is slighty lower than the rest of the fence. So this past weekend the boyfriend put up an extra wire across the very top - making it close to 1 metre of fencing.

I went down this afternoon to check on my plants and water, and discovered to my horror a BIG FAT POO sitting delicately beside my marjoram plant. Oddly enough my marjoram plant looked quite forlorn and wilted - I'm betting from the smell and indignity of having to watch up close and personal a big dog poo in front of it.

Now the compost bin was in much worse shape. Obviously the dogs had been quite hungry/desperate and the bin was lying on its side, its internal contents out for all to see.

It also seems that dill and I will never have a true relationship. I bought some last year, only to have it die on me within the week. This time around I'd bought some more and hoped that since now I have a real vegie garden, and not pots, it would survive. ha!  It too had been pretty much eaten to within an inch of its life. =S

But the worst victim is yet to come. I was very excited 2 weeks ago to discover that the aloe vera plant that we have out the front yard had had a little baby. I dug it out and replanted in a pot. As I was scanning through the debris of my vegie patch sorting out victims and survivors, I suddenly realised the pot where my baby aloe vera plant was supposed to be was EMPTY. It still had dirt in it, BUT NO PLANT. MY DOGS HAD EATEN MY BABY ALOE VERA. BRUTES.

I later found my aloe vera plant a little worse for wear lying out on the grass on the other side. My poor plant. I have replanted, but I don't see it being able to survive...

We think that the dogs are digging under the fence. But the hole seems
so small - and our dogs are so big, I don't see how they could do it.
On top of which we have pots all around the fence.

These days the boyfriend and I feel a lot like Elmer Fudd - We'll Get Dose Wasskally Wabbits - Or in this case, those Dastardly Doggies. You just wait and see.

my poor doggie...

Rosie's sick. She's currently off her food and we're quite concerned. It only happened this morning. Makes me wonder if she ate something last night that she shouldn't have.

I will admit there's lots of plants in the garden that aren't exactly dog friendly, but I've been keeping a strict eye on said plants and they have never looked like they've been chewed on.

It's quite worrying, since she just does not seem interested in her food.

The bf just fed her, even went so far as to put the food in front of her (she's on her bed), but all she does is curl up and try to sleep.

She's obviously not her fiesty/naughty self. And I must say it's quite disturbing.

She's already had all her parvo shots (the initial and booster) so I'm pretty sure it's not that.

Freddie on the other hand seems ok. He's still chomping down all his food quick smart. This morning it looked like they might even have started a dog fight or something. She just kept on growling and barking at him. He spent most of the morning close to the back door, while she dominated the rest of the patio. But by mid afternoon they were back together on the same dog bed again.

Meanwhile, I've managed to catch something too. Am coughing constantly like my lungs were abt to burst =S

*sigh*

We might need to take Rosie to the vet this week. Gonna see how she's like tomorrow. Hopefully this is just temporary.

washing day

washing rosie has always been a trial. i was warned by her foster mother that rosie truly disliked water and would run away terrified at the thought.

i have kept this in mind, and tried to be as soothing as possible, yet the last few times i've tried washing them have been a trial. incidents range from me chasing after her with the lead, getting the boyfriend to hold her still while i wash, to following her around the verandah (she's on leash) as she shies away from water.

usually i was fred first because he's so docile. he'll just stand there and endure it. but the boyfriend pointed out that doing this shows rosie what she's in for. so this time around i went after her first. tricked her onto the lead and proceeded to wash. i also couldn't find the water buckets today so made do with the garden spout pourer thing. you know, the one that you tip over and water comes out in little holes? kinda like a shower spout (my vocabulary is defeating me this afternoon). it worked quite well.

and she suffered fairly well, despite her starting to tremble by the end of it.

the last few times i have tried rewarding them with bones after the Ordeal, in order to emphasis what a good dog they were. i even praised rosie while i washed her (there were times when she just stood still - cornered as she was between me and two sides of the verandah).

after i finished towelling her, i unhooked her before giving her the bone. bad idea. the minute she was off, she ran. i had to call her back to give her her bone, by which time the whole idea of rewarding her for her behaviour has already been wasted - she's forgotten already.

so why did i take her off the lead first, i hear you ask. well i had it in my head that all rewards should be off the lead, and i wanted her to acknowledge that i was giving her a reward. it doesn't sound right when i type it out. but either way i think i know how to work this better next time around.

the minute rosie got her bone you should've seen how fast she pelted out into the backyard.

*sigh*

after i washed freddie, i made a point of giving him the bone while he
was still on leash and drying how down. this worked much better -
although as a control group freddie isn't very helpful. he's such a
good dog.

taking care of dogs is all trial and error. hopefully next time i'll do it even better, and make a point of giving her bone before she gets let off.

the trouble with owning a dog

Rosie chased after a cat last night. Technically not as bad as you'd think. Except that 1. She ran across the road to get it (I'll tell the story in a min), 2. The owner was there, and 3. I have no idea whether or not the cat survived or not.

I've started making a conscious effort to discipline the  dogs about pulling on the lead when walking. I usually stop if they pull, and don't start walking until they turn around and acknowledge me.

Last night she pulled. There was a car driving towards us (we were on the opposite footpath) so I figured that must've been why she'd wanted to go quicker. As I'm standing there holding the lead, Fred, who never pulls, got bored, and started walking around me, twisting the lead as he did so.

As I turn around to try to untangle, somehow the other lead slipped out of my hand. The minute the lead went lax, WHAM, Rosie's pelting across the street. Chasing down a cat. I couldn't believe it.

She must've sniffed it out across the street. I kept on yelling at her to come back but she didn't really listen. Meanwhile, luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you see things) the car that had been driving towards us had already turned into the driveway OF THE HOUSE THE CAT BELONGED TO.

So there's my dog chasing this cat through the brush (and I'm pretty sure she nipped it at one stage), me standing there with freddie still on the lead, screaming "Rosie! Rosie! Come! Rosie!" and the owner sitting in his car refusing to come out.

Eventually the cat pelts across the driveway, and Rosie runs across and I manage to get her attention and back on the lead. The whole time berating BAD DOG, BAD DOG.  *sigh*

I apologised profusely to the owner, and asked if the cat was alright. He didn't seem too worried. But then Freddie spots the cat and lunges. Luckily he's still on the lead. But of course the owner didn't spot Fred, and totally freaked about this big moving thing near him.

=S

This is one of those times when I wish I didn't have big dogs.

Anyway, so I walked them straight home and after feeding them left them outside (usually they get to come in after dinner).

Bf reckons they obviously knew they'd done something wrong.

I was rather ruffled.

I realised I should've left my address with the cat owner. Because last thing I want to know is that my precious Rosie has managed to kill a cat. Because the min that happens the owner is allowed to request I put my dog to sleep. People are very sensitive to dogs who kill other animals - particularly domestic ones.

And I've invested too much time, love and money to be putting my dog down.

At the same time I have to be a responsible dog owner.

Feeling a bit frustrated and upset about it all, really. Very unhappy with the dogs. I know it's in their nature to chase after prey, and cats are a nice start (although rabbits and other vermin would be better), still...

Being a responsible big dog owner can be a bit of a trial.

Doggie Training

We took Fred and Rosie down for doggie training tonight. Second time
around. Last time we took them, Rosie spent the entire time eyeballing
the other dogs and growling. I was so embarrassed. All the other dogs
were exciteable, but none growled. The trainer basically just dismissed
Rosie's behaviour explaining: "some dogs are just dominant" *gulp*

This time around, she was placid as a lamb. All chilled out sitting at
my feet. I was so pleased. I think she's learnt that this is a chance
for her to meet other doggies. That or she just decided she was going
to be good for once. Naughty girl. Even the trainer said that Rosie was
a troublesome one. =/

So far we've been taught to teach them 'watch' so that they'll look at
us, and tonight we learnt 'heel' where they lean against your left leg,
and then there as another one, where you teach them to walk at your
ankles.

We also ran out of treats!! =( Last time we brought the wrong treats
(too hard to chew, not fast/gratifying enough to enforce the reward
rule) and tonight we didn't bring enough. I had bought a 6 pack of hot
dog sausages, and chopped em up small, but we ran out by the time we
got to learning 'heel' and had to beg the other owners for treats. LOL.

One of the main reasons that we're taking them to training is that each
dog has a different owner/boss so to speak. Fred adores me and will
follow me everywhere but doesn't really pay attention to the bf. Rosie
in comparison doesn't usually listen to me. Because she originally ran
away from the bf during what will know be known as "the incident"
(where she ended up spending a night at the pound) and the bf was the
one who ended up picking her back up from the pound, she treats him as
boss rather than me. Which is fine (coz I have Freddie), except that
she then decided I wasn't worth listening to. So at training I take
Rosie, and the bf takes Fred.

Basically training gives us both a chance to exert dominance over the dog who usually doesn't pay much attention to us.

Since we started training they have both gotten better on the lead. And
now they will both run to us whenever we call them (well Fred always
did, but Rosie didn't).

I must say, training is a lot of work. You have to constantly reinforce
things. As the lady explained ruefully to me tonight, 'you have to use
a lot of treats on Rosie. she loses attention fast, and you have to
keep her occupied' =/ at least anything i feed her will be taken out of
her dinner. I'm not having fat doggies..

It's amazing what one night of training can do though. She responds a lot better to me now, and Freddie went up for a cuddle with the bf after dinner. I'm glad he still believes that I am boss though. I came online to check email and eventually he left the bf and is currently asleep at my feet. =D

I love the fact that I have a dog which absolutely adores me. Sssh. I don't care if he's just a puppy and that's what puppies do. I choose to believe that he'll always be like this =D Even if I have to tie him to the chair so he'll be near me. no no no, jk. LOL.

We met a deerhound tonight, which is similar to wolfhounds, but a bit ganglier and taller. And boy was she tall. Only 6 months, and she was double the size of Freddie. She was gorgeous though. Freddie looked tiny in comparison. I love the idea of a big dog, and had really high hopes for Freddie. I must admit I'm slightly jealous that this woman had a bigger dog. Freddie is actually quite stocky, and the bf has agreed with my suggestion that Fred's crossed with either Bull Mastiff or Boxer. In case you're curious, here is what a Deerhound looks like. This is one that is currently available for adoption.

Just FYI, these dogs were bred as their names indicate. Wolfhounds to hunt (hound) down wolves, and Deerhound to hunt (hound) down Deer. Yet in general they are one of the sweetest and most affectionate dog types you will ever find.

I've also been checking out the rescue pages again. I swear, I know that I can't adopt another dog, but once you rescue a dog, you automatically find yourself drawn to all the others, just to see what else is out there. If only as an unconscious way to show your support. Least that's what I tell myself anyway.

And just in case you can't get into the forums...here's the cutest pic. He looks a little like Fre

Anyhow, I found the most adorable wolfhound the other night. Again fairly small, blonde, no brindle, and a sharper nose than Fred. But soooooo cute. Here, take a look yourself: here and here  If no one takes him he will be put down =( The rescue groups are currently trying to save him. I wish I could do something but he's in Bland Shire, (which I have NO idea where, and anyway, I have a full house as it is). But he is just soooooo adorable. I really hope he can be saved. Such a waste otherwise..