Getting a scruffy little stray
Discussion
So, a friend over here has been left with 3 puppies on her doorstep. Being the mug that I am, I'm taking the little scruffy black one. So, on top ofmthe 2 British cats I took in, and the little white stray cat that moved in, I'll have a wee mongrel as well! He has had his first set of jabs, and his thingy for parvovirus, so he will stay at her house until the 2 weeks are up, and he'll be moving in.
Looking forward to it.
Looking forward to it.
Melvin Udall said:
I'm far too manly to have a pretty dog. 
Mongrels are cheaper to run, as I understand it; less chance of inherited illnesses and such. So long as he's not mental (and if he stood still long enough to have a picture taken he's probably OK) you'll do fine. Make sure to be strict to start with, and don't let him play up; it'll play dividends later on.He's gorgeous. A couple of tips. Straight away get him used to having his paws handled so you can clip his nails, ditto brushing his teeth and taking food and toys off him so he'll learn not to be possessive. Brushing teeth at least 3 times a week is very important, most adult dogs have gum disease causing bad breath and the possibility of heart disease. Use a toothbrush designed for babies/young children and use an enzymatic toothpaste designed for dogs. Mine love the taste and don't mind having it done.
Have fun, puppies are hard work but very rewarding, I'm jealous but have four dogs already.
Have fun, puppies are hard work but very rewarding, I'm jealous but have four dogs already.
Edited by rovermorris999 on Wednesday 12th October 21:05
I think he looks gorgeous and has character!
I would use the words 'boundaries' and consistency' rather than 'strict'. No need to be harsh about things, just let the little fella know what you want by teaching him that doing what you want brings rewards
Else he'll learn that your approach means you will simply remove stuff from him, which is far more likely to result in resource guarding. Plus he can run faster than you so you'd never catch him anyhow!
Hope all goes well
davepoth said:
Mongrels are cheaper to run, as I understand it; less chance of inherited illnesses and such. So long as he's not mental (and if he stood still long enough to have a picture taken he's probably OK) you'll do fine. Make sure to be strict to start with, and don't let him play up; it'll play dividends later on.
Not necessarily. It depends on the mode of inheritance. Could be he inherits all the bad bits from the parents.I would use the words 'boundaries' and consistency' rather than 'strict'. No need to be harsh about things, just let the little fella know what you want by teaching him that doing what you want brings rewards
rovermorris999 said:
He's gorgeous. A couple of tips. Straight away get him used to having his paws handled so you can clip his nails, ditto brushing his teeth and taking food and toys off him so he'll learn not to be possessive.
Better to teach him that swapping what he has for something even better is very rewarding Else he'll learn that your approach means you will simply remove stuff from him, which is far more likely to result in resource guarding. Plus he can run faster than you so you'd never catch him anyhow!Hope all goes well
''Else he'll learn that your approach means you will simply remove stuff from him, which is far more likely to result in resource guarding.''
What I meant was, take stuff off him, especially food, praise him, then give it back. When you catch him eating something he shouldn't you'll be glad you did. Plus if a child does it without thinking the dog is unlikely to snap.
What I meant was, take stuff off him, especially food, praise him, then give it back. When you catch him eating something he shouldn't you'll be glad you did. Plus if a child does it without thinking the dog is unlikely to snap.
Best dog training/ advice book I have read is the Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey.
I recommend a copy. It is really, really helpful and full of lots of practical stuff.
A bit of time invested now in doing the right thing makes life with the little chap much more enjoyable further down the line..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Puppy-Britains-Num...
I recommend a copy. It is really, really helpful and full of lots of practical stuff.
A bit of time invested now in doing the right thing makes life with the little chap much more enjoyable further down the line..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Puppy-Britains-Num...
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff