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Dogs of The SMB.

Woodman Boy said:
We took Cassie, a black lab, to trying classes which were great. We continued the training and she understands what we want her to do. If she has been running in wet fields, she knows to sit on a towel in the kitchen beside the back door. I tell her to lift a paw, starting with the front ones when she is sitting. When it is trine to dry the back paws, I ask her if she hates the Mags. She stands up as when I was training her I said stand up if you hate the Mags.
Maybe a bit sad, but it makes me laugh every time.
She takes a plastic bone to my wife every night as the Mrs has started to put treats in it. The dog never comes to me with it. The dog has different routines with us when it comes to bananas at breakfast.
She is nearly 2 year old but knows her routines and what she can have and she never oversteps the mark. She is very sensible and loving and we couldn’t ask for a better dog.
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The routine stuff with certain people is amazing to see.

When we got our first dog, my parents were visiting, it got to 10pm and my dad said "are you not going to take that dog out?". He always walked his dogs last thing when he had them, but we tend to do breakfast and before tea, just letting them in the garden before bed. But it was what he had always done, so off he went. Next night it was the same and then they went home again.

The dog never asked for a late walk again, until we went up to visit them. It was months later, but 10pm he started harassing my dad. He just made the connection, grandad is the 10pm evening walk man so that was it, my dad had to walk him when we were visiting each other. The dog decided and my dad would not get any peace until he took him out.
 

DaveH said:
The routine stuff with certain people is amazing to see.

When we got our first dog, my parents were visiting, it got to 10pm and my dad said "are you not going to take that dog out?". He always walked his dogs last thing when he had them, but we tend to do breakfast and before tea, just letting them in the garden before bed. But it was what he had always done, so off he went. Next night it was the same and then they went home again.

The dog never asked for a late walk again, until we went up to visit them. It was months later, but 10pm he started harassing my dad. He just made the connection, grandad is the 10pm evening walk man so that was it, my dad had to walk him when we were visiting each other. The dog decided and my dad would not get any peace until he took him out.
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My daughter's Frenchy is like that with me. Because I regularly tip up there to cook for my granddaughters and feed the dog, every single time I go there, he brings his food bowl to me, even if it's morning or half full 🤣
 
Quick update on our latest foster dog (picked her up.on Sunday).
Reckon she's the most scared and traumatised one we've taken in up to date - doesn't bear thinking about what this poor thing has been through in the past.
She's not eaten anything up to now, and is obviously very stressed.
Our dogs (and the other 2 fosters) are the kindest and most gentle dogs you could wish for, yet she has let out a few growls when they come to sit near her - obviously fear related.
Will take things at her own pace whilst reassuring the others that she's not to be scared of.
Reckon it's gonna be a good while before she's ready for rehoming - but she's welcome to stay with us until she's ready.
 
seahamstar said:
Quick update on our latest foster dog (picked her up.on Sunday).
Reckon she's the most scared and traumatised one we've taken in up to date - doesn't bear thinking about what this poor thing has been through in the past.
She's not eaten anything up to now, and is obviously very stressed.
Our dogs (and the other 2 fosters) are the kindest and most gentle dogs you could wish for, yet she has let out a few growls when they come to sit near her - obviously fear related.
Will take things at her own pace whilst reassuring the others that she's not to be scared of.
Reckon it's gonna be a good while before she's ready for rehoming - but she's welcome to stay with us until she's ready.
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Aaaaaah that is heartbreaking. Sorry if I missed, what breed is she ? You I am sure will get there, and I bet sooner than you think cos you are great at this.

Good luck and keep us posted.
 
seahamstar said:
Quick update on our latest foster dog (picked her up.on Sunday).
Reckon she's the most scared and traumatised one we've taken in up to date - doesn't bear thinking about what this poor thing has been through in the past.
She's not eaten anything up to now, and is obviously very stressed.
Our dogs (and the other 2 fosters) are the kindest and most gentle dogs you could wish for, yet she has let out a few growls when they come to sit near her - obviously fear related.
Will take things at her own pace whilst reassuring the others that she's not to be scared of.
Reckon it's gonna be a good while before she's ready for rehoming - but she's welcome to stay with us until she's ready.
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This is one of those posts where I don't know which like icon to use. A sad face because a poor dog is in that state, or a thumbs up for the work you are doing.

One of the nicest things I have seen for building confidence in a dog is the local community on the field near me. People get to know each others dogs and if one is nervous they give it space, but if they are trying to introduce them to people and other dogs, people take the time to very gently get that little bit closer and bring calm dogs over. There is one I see on a morning now will take a treat from my hand, though she is selective and will spit it out if it is not a good treat!
 
CPLforever said:
Aaaaaah that is heartbreaking. Sorry if I missed, what breed is she ? You I am sure will get there, and I bet sooner than you think cos you are great at this.

Good luck and keep us posted.
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Thank you - very kind words.

I won't say what breed she is cos the rescue don't like too much to be made public - she's a small dog and of a breed that is not known for aggressive behaviour, which makes her case all the more sad.
Yes, we'll certainly work on her - there are some good signs in the fact that once the others snuggle with her (and stop fidgeting ) she does seem more relaxed.
We've taken in really scared dogs before (that snap at us out of fear), but ex breeders are normally ok with other dogs (cos it's the only company they've ever known).
Four of ours are currently snuggling with her, so it can't be un-nerving them over much.
 
DaveH said:
The routine stuff with certain people is amazing to see.

When we got our first dog, my parents were visiting, it got to 10pm and my dad said "are you not going to take that dog out?". He always walked his dogs last thing when he had them, but we tend to do breakfast and before tea, just letting them in the garden before bed. But it was what he had always done, so off he went. Next night it was the same and then they went home again.

The dog never asked for a late walk again, until we went up to visit them. It was months later, but 10pm he started harassing my dad. He just made the connection, grandad is the 10pm evening walk man so that was it, my dad had to walk him when we were visiting each other. The dog decided and my dad would not get any peace until he took him out.
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I liked how our Jess knew that Dad watched the News at Ten and then took her out. She'd be fast asleep and as soon as the closing music for News at 10 came on, she'd leap up and be at the front door dancing about as she knew it was walk time 😁
 
seahamstar said:
Thank you - very kind words.

I won't say what breed she is cos the rescue don't like too much to be made public - she's a small dog and of a breed that is not known for aggressive behaviour,
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seahamstar said:
which makes her case all the more sad.
Yes, we'll certainly work on her - there are some good signs in the fact that once the others snuggle with her (and stop fidgeting ) she does seem more relaxed.
We've taken in really scared dogs before (that snap at us out of fear), but ex breeders are normally ok with other dogs (cos it's the only company they've ever known).
Four of ours are currently snuggling with her, so it can't be un-nerving them over much
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Keep up the excellent work mate, I didn’t even know what you were doing was something that could be done. Good on you!
 
Becs said:
Charlie was annoyed yesterday as there was a car on the path in the next street. I tried to get him to pull in next to me to squeeze past it but he insisted on walking where he usually does until his head bounced off the bumper. Then he looked at the car in utter disgust 😂
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It does my head in when vehicles park on the path and the only way around is by going on the road.
 
Georgewhitt said:
View media item 13312
Peeping out from under the winter curtains.

View media item 13201
And proper, tongue out asleep.😁
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Could that boy get any cuter....no I don't think so.
Becs said:
Charlie was annoyed yesterday as there was a car on the path in the next street. I tried to get him to pull in next to me to squeeze past it but he insisted on walking where he usually does until his head bounced off the bumper. Then he looked at the car in utter disgust 😂
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Good lad, that's what I would have done too.
.
@seahamstar I know it has only been two days but how's the wee one getting on.
 
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CPLforever said:
Could that boy get any cuter....no I don't think so.

Good lad, that's what I would have done too.
.
@seahamstar I know it has only been two days but how's the wee one getting on.
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Thanks for asking.
Some progress but still quite worrying.
She has started eating (although she's ignored today's breakfast up to now), but there's obviously some deep-rooted issues with her.

She had a couple of 'lunges' at our other dogs, yet once she's settled she's happy to snuggle up to them.

We're making sure they're not left in a room unattended just in case things do escalate, and I tend to have her on my knee on the sofa , letting others lay close by (to get her used to sharing her space).

The rescue does have other fosterers around the country, so we've let the rescue know the situation and as a back up.plan she MAY end up going to somebody else that has different circumstances to us (dog wise).

We have to be realistic, we don't want to 'let her down' by sending her off somewhere but at the same time we can't risk our own dogs mental and physical health, while also acknowledging that by keeping her in a stressful environment won't do her any favours either.

We will keep working on her though and we certainly wouldn't send her back to kennels - if she's gonna be suitable for rehoming then she needs to settle in a home environment.
She's not had her 2nd vaccination yet, so hopefully we can start learning her to walk on a lead which should get rid of that nervous energy.

She's currently on my knee snoring her head off, and the others don't seem bothered by her 'grumpiness', so it obviously IS a fear related thing and not aggression.
 
seahamstar said:
Thanks for asking.
Some progress but still quite worrying.
She has started eating (although she's ignored today's breakfast up to now), but there's obviously some deep-rooted issues with her.

She had a couple of 'lunges' at our other dogs, yet once she's settled she's happy to snuggle up to them.

We're making sure they're not left in a room unattended just in case things do escalate, and I tend to have her on my knee on the sofa , letting others lay close by (to get her used to sharing her space).

The rescue does have other fosterers around the country, so we've let the rescue know the situation and as a back up.plan she MAY end up going to somebody else that has different circumstances to us (dog wise).

We have to be realistic, we don't want to 'let her down' by sending her off somewhere but at the same time we can't risk our own dogs mental and physical health, while also acknowledging that by keeping her in a stressful environment won't do her any favours either.

We will keep working on her though and we certainly wouldn't send her back to kennels - if she's gonna be suitable for rehoming then she needs to settle in a home environment.
She's not had her 2nd vaccination yet, so hopefully we can start learning her to walk on a lead which should get rid of that nervous energy.

She's currently on my knee snoring her head off, and the others don't seem bothered by her 'grumpiness', so it obviously IS a fear related thing and not aggression.
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Seahamstar, you are indeed a star. I hope good fortune smiles on you in acknowledgement of what you do.
 
max wartbug said:
Seahamstar, you are indeed a star. I hope good fortune smiles on you in acknowledgement of what you do.
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Wow!
That's a lovely thing to say.
Thing is, we've adopted a few dogs from this particular rescue, and having seen the excellent work they do with these poor dogs ( that have had shit existences - I won't called them 'lives'), we just felt we HAD to give summat back.

Tell you what though - when we see them sat in their new owners cars and they go off down the road, it's so satisfying and tear jerking at the same time.
My partner and I have had a fair few 'moments' - shall we say
70s traveller said:
Totally agree with that. Top Man is star.
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🤭
 
Swindon On Tour said:
The time, effort and patience they must put in is incredible.

@seahamstar - These dogs are the lucky ones to find you.
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Plus the understanding & putting things together for each one to reach the rehoming stage which involves the dog regaining trust. Those things are not easy to work out how to do that. It's an art & skill.
Georgewhitt said:
View media item 13312
Peeping out from under the winter curtains.

View media item 13201
And proper, tongue out asleep.😁
Click to expand...
Having a relaxing day off.
 
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