Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Ziggy]

Just to say I saw Lola's early pics just now, and I do remember now, seeing them before... the pics are soooo cute... i love the crazy ears one...

[The Dogmother]

Ziggy, you'l have a couple of months at least when it seems to be two steps forward and one back. Don't worry, it will get easier.

 

With regards to his behaviour towards Leia, he needs to see that she is dominant, so see if she will feed him (making him wait for his food), train him and give him treats. I had this between Rosie and Ruby at one time and got Rosie to feed Ruby and to give her her food by hand (messy, but it works). If he nips her, then ask Leia to cross her arms or put them in her pockets and to turn away and blank Charlie... no eye contact or peeking at all. Rough playing isn't really a good idea as he is too young to understand who is boss and what is going on. I don't encourage Rosie to get down on the floor and tussle with Rubes, especially as Ruby has a strong prey-drive .

 

I found that getting Rosie to take over the grooming, which I normally do on Ruby before she goes to bed, helped them to bond.

[Lesley]

Ziggy - re the training, I don't know about Setters but Labradors have to build up their exersize very carefully or that can have problems with their hips and elbows. Labs can have 5 minutes per month of age per day - so Tali is on just 10 minutes of structured exersize a day but she obviously doesn't know the rules and plays inside at breakneck speed. As long as we don't let her climb and jump she should be OK.

[Ziggy]

Thanks Claire and Lesley.

 

I had just let Suki, my ten year old, feed Charlie before reading this, as she is home (had to go and pick her up from school as she was unwell, just as the Ocado shopping was arriving and the car had just been picked up to go for repair after a crach on sunday... life just has decided not to be easy for a while!! ), and got her to serve his food in his bowl on the table while he was watching her a few steps away, and put the food on the floor, while I helped her get him to wait a little while, then she called him up to the bowl to eat. He did very well. If he is calm next time, I'll get her to give him some of his food from her hand. If it works fine, the other girls will then have a try too over the next few days. No shortage of kids in this house!!

 

I will check in my books about Irish Setter exercises, as I'm sure I also read this about having to be careful not to overexercise too soon or it will cause knee and elbow damage, or will talk it over with the breeder, we exchange regular updates about Charlie anyway.

I still have nearly three weeks before he can go out on proper walks, so plenty of time to figure it all out (that's if cars stop crashing, kids stop getting ill, fuse boxes stop breaking down, relatives stop visiting... I think another trip to the bakery is in order!!).

[The Dogmother]

Lesley is rght about the exercise and that applies to all dogs, especially long-legged ones. You have to wait until the growth plates (the boney bits where their 'knees' are) have hardened and fused properly. In heavier types of dog like GSD and labs, this is crucial.

 

That's great that Suki is doing the feeding; he has to see them as in charge and in control of things he likes best like footd, treats, walks and toys. Hand feeding is good and will stop him from getting snarly about food and bones. Ruby can be protective of her bones, so I make a point of walking up to her when she has one, putting my feet on it, then taking it away for a bit before putting it back.

 

Sorry to hear about the hassles, as I said in another thread there seems to be some cosmic influence making everything go wrong at the saemme time

[Seagazer]

I'm glad you have a different trainer coming as I don't think the first one was right. You'd only had Charlie for three days, what did they expect him to be doing.

 

You're not the only one that feels as if nothing is going right with their animals or other things. I ended up crying in my local pet shop once when we had a rescue dog before Cookie. I just couldn't get her to do anything and she was always lunging after people, especially ladies with pushchairs. I felt like I was heading for a breakdown with her. It was almost an ultimatum to the family - its me or the dog. Thankfully they chose me although they weren't happy. But that is totally different to what you are going through now.

 

This is only the second time we have had a puppy and you do sometimes wonder what you have let yourself into.

 

I think it is good that you have now got a playpen for Charlie just so that you can both have timeout from each other. You sound as though you have thought of everything. This stage doesn't last long and you'll soon be out walking, which is the best bit, with your gorgeous dog. My OH absolutely loves irish setters, he had his eye on one all the way round the park today.

 

We've got the Gwen Bailey book and I'll quite happily send it to you if you'd like.

[Ziggy]

If there was such a thing as cyber angel, this forum is it!!!

 

Thanks Seagazer, those words are all very encouraging... I think I found myself in the situation where, having four kids, I could handle anything, and having read all there is to read about dogs (including Gwen Bailey), I knew all there was to know to be ready... then bundle of fluff came home, we got car crash, there was a bad day, and hell broke loose...

But then again things got better, and to be fair if I had to score Charlie he would have scored 100% 3 days ago, 90% yesterday, and 110% today. He is such a darling, and so ready to learn, and so adaptable, and so full of lovely bounce, he really deserves the best, and I hope we will be able to provide that for him. The loveliest thing is that I am finally bonding with him, I had expected instant attachment and it didn't happen, and that sent my mind in a panic (silly, I know ), and now I'm finding my feet, and the pup, kids and us are all doing quite well...

 

Thank you sooooo much for all the support... it is priceless

[The Dogmother]

That's really great news Ziggy!

[Lesley]

Glad to hear it is all settling Ziggy

[Seagazer]

Ziggy I didn't instantly bond with Cookie although I obviously liked her very much and always gave her cuddles. In fact my kids noticed that I hadn't gelled (sp?) with her. I actually think I felt like I was sort of 'cheating' on my dear old Sally who had died only 5 months before.

 

Who knows, that might be why I gave up with the rescue dog in between, although I was rather pushed into getting her and felt a bit uncomfortable with her from the beginning. Note to self - must say NO.

 

Cookie and I are well and truly bonded now though

 

I'm glad to hear that Charlie scored 110%

[Ziggy]

We have relatives staying with us this weekend, OH's brother and his family... that includes three teenagers, two of whom are quite weary of dogs... Charlie again is behaving perfectly, staying calm despite being in the middle of a lot of noise and chaos (right now one person is playing the piano, another is loading the dishwasher, my toddler is running around as if this was the last day for fun on earth, and other various kids are playing video games, watching tv, and shouting in the garden). Charlie seems to be enjoying it all, but staying reasonably chilled about it all too...

 

With bonfire night, then the window cleaners and now the guests, this puppy isn't short of new experiences!!

[Space Chick]

Glad to hear Charlie is being so good.

 

With regards to bonding, a friend of mine had a pup a year ago and it took her a few months for them to bond, now they are inseparable.

 

I have found the same with some of my chickens aswell, some you bond with instantly, others take time, although I love them all.

[The Dogmother]

Sounds like the little lad is gaining lots of new experiences

 

Good boy.