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Riverhound

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Posts posted by Riverhound

    I Think I Need A "crutch" For Gig

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Regular harness worked with Cody who was over 100 pounds and the harness with the top, back clip AND the chest clip worked for JJ.

     

    Oh my. That doesn't sound fun.

     

    I feel like I'm constantly complaining about Brees; but she really is a neat dog and she always keeps us entertained! Like, just now, it was very cute that she was trying to eat a book my mother loaned me. <_<

    I Think I Need A "crutch" For Gig

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    We use a harness from Wiggles Wags and Whiskers for our girl Beka. She is very exuberent and twirly when she gets excited about squirrels or other dogs. I was worried about her neck too so the harness works wonders for her.

     

    But does it break your arm? I've read they make pulling easier, and she doesn't need help with that!

     

    The back clip harnesses are the ones you're thinking of, and they definitely do make pulling easier. But the front clip harnesses are great! They will pretty much completely stop the pulling. Because they attach in the front, the minute she starts pulling, the force will turn her around so that she's facing you instead. We tried one on Gussie, briefly when we first got her and we could see a big difference even just in the first few blocks of walking. About as close to a magic bullet as you can get, I think!

     

    A magic bullet is what we need! That looks like it might work. Do you use the double ended leash?

     

    She'll be great for days, and then just bat$h!t crazy! And she's sooooo focused when she's "in the zone". It's impressive! :rolleyes:

    I Think I Need A "crutch" For Gig

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    We're making lots of progress walking Brees -- but she's still a big puller when she sees a squirrel, cat, or flying plastic bag!. I'm NOT looking for training advice (unless you have a magic bullet that'll work riteawayqwik). The thing is, once she sees something, she *has* to keep looking for something else, and it takes lots of "look at me", turning in circles, etc. to get her calmed down again. Over and over and over.

     

    I'm wondering if something like a halti collar would be reasonable for GIG. (I'm assuming there's quite a few critters, but I haven't been in years.) Or a blindfold. Or a cage on wheels. Or drugs! :P (But halti collars look like they could break her neck if she jumps for a squirrel. I'm fond of her, and her neck is pretty. Breaking it would be unpleasant.)

     

    I'd like us all to enjoy the weekend, and I'd like to not have my shoulder dislocated. Joe gets pretty annoyed when we're just doing loops because "someone" doesn't know how to act!

     

    On the plus side, she had her first restaurant trip last weekend. Took about a while for her to lay down at the table -- but as soon as the appetizers were out she plunked her butt on the blankie. (No table food unless she's sitting/laying down.) Once she settled and was focused on our food she was fine. :lol There weren't any little fuzzies, though. Little fuzzies trump food. We should be able to take her to dinner several more times before GIG, so she'll at least (hopefully) be used to that.

     

    Does anyone have a suggestion for a device that can substitute for proper training for a weekend? :ph34r

     

    (This dog makes me feel very incompetent. Joe pulled when we got him. It stopped within a month. He spoiled me!)

    Cherry Eye In A Cane Corso

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Well crap. You're all saying what I was thinking. Crap. Every dog needs to be handled by someone that isn't its people at some point. Vet, groomer, kennel folks. When she got the dog, she told me she probably wouldn't want to keep her for more than a year or so, but wanted to get puppies out of her first -- since they're expensive. She is saying now that the husband will never let the dog go, but I don't know if that's good or bad now that I've seen how she handles her. I should've put this in soapbox.

     

    Will the eyes be damaged? How long? Any good information I can print and stuff in her mailbox about that? I don't hold much hope on the socialization issues. The husband is, well, a different sort of person.

    Space Aggression?

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    We've had Brees since December, and Joe still gets very cranky at times. We kept muzzles on for about a month, and very slowly started leaving them off sometimes. I don't think Joe's likely to actually bite now, but I'm not sure, and we still try to keep her at a reasonable distance when he's grouchy. On the other hand, they love to play chase in the yard and bounce around the living room together, and he adores sniffing her butt! They have no problems drinking out of the same bowl, and very surprisingly out of the same dish. (Which we discourage, but seems to keep happening!) They'll each halfheartedly guard a toy from the other, while sorta wanting to play together. Bully sticks and pig ears have to be supervised carefully. They take turns for people food very nicely. Riding in the minivan is a problem, because Brees likes to pace around and Joe wants to lay down -- so gets stepped on and grumpy. When we get where we're going though, he uses her as a headrest!

     

    So the answer is: I really don't know how to handle space aggression. It's a pain when they act like bratty children, especially when they enjoy each other so much of the time. But that's what siblings do, right?!?!

    Cherry Eye In A Cane Corso

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    A co-worker brought her year-old Cane Corso to work today to show off, and it has really swollen red globby things in the corners of its eyes. Google tells me it's cherry eye. Co-worker seems to think it's totally normal for the breed, and doesn't need to be treated. Internet suggests surgery. I know nothing, other than it looks ouchy! Does it hurt? Does it impair vision? Is the dog suffering?

     

    I don't know that'd I'd be able to convince her to get it fixed even if it's bad. She and the hubby aren't socializing the dog on purpose, as they want it "for protection". :unsure I wasn't allowed to pet her, and when she tried to come to me she got an unpleasant correction. They don't even let their teenage daughter handle her, which seems bizarre.

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