My Dogs

[weltschmerz]

Where do you buy salmon oil? Sushi has a magnificent coat, sleek and shiny, but he gets constipated.  
Salmon oil would proably help with that.

[Pink Cashmere]

I buy it at one of the smaller pet stores where I live. I think chiver78 buys hers online at Chewys. 

I’m not sure the salmon oil will help with constipation. If I recall correctly, pumpkin can help with digestive issues. It’s sold in the smaller pet store that I prefer to shop at. 

[chiver78]

pumpkin definitely helped GI issues, in both directions. I just buy canned pumpkin from the grocery store. lmk if you still want tue chewy link, and I'll share again.

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2022 17:13:16 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Boy is still doing him lol.

Yesterday I insisted he walk down the steps on the deck himself. He whined and cried, and I just stood at the bottom waiting on him. When he finally got the nerve to come down the first step, I praised him and told him what a good boy he is. He still whines and cries about going down them by himself, I just wait for him to do it.

He seems to know where he’s supposed to poop now. Yesterday I had them on the side of the house and he wandered of to his “potty area”. I followed him and he sniffed around for a while, and finally pooped. YAY! But he still doesn’t have peeing together. He’ll do that anywhere, including inside the house, right after he comes back inside.

I don’t like that.

The last of his potbelly from the worms is finally gone. He still has another round of dewormer to go. Now he’s skinny all over, you can clearly see his ribs. Which makes him look TOO skinny to me, but I don’t want to make him fat like Newbie either. We’re feeding him like we are supposed to, so Idk. I’ll see what the vet says about it when he goes back. Even my next door neighbor said Newbie is overweight.

My experience with dogs and horses is that they go through stages, either growing up or out.  When a growth spurt lengthens bones, they look scrawny but they really aren't.  When I showed horses, one time it would like we were showing a really short chubby colt.  The next show it looked like we were showing a tall skinny one.  Same colt, same diet, different growth phase

[weltschmerz]

For most cats, salmon oil will help alleviate the constipation, but some need added fiber in their diet, as well.

www.revivalanimal.com/pet-health/old-cats/learning-center

It's not really constipation, but his stools are hard as rocks. It can't be comfortable for him.  In any case, it certainly can't hurt. 

[weltschmerz]

Sept 25, 2022 16:41:49 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

pumpkin definitely helped GI issues, in both directions. I just buy canned pumpkin from the grocery store. lmk if you still want tue chewy link, and I'll share again.

I doubt that he'll eat canned pumpkin, but thanks.

[daisylu]

Sept 25, 2022 16:45:46 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Sept 25, 2022 16:41:49 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

pumpkin definitely helped GI issues, in both directions. I just buy canned pumpkin from the grocery store. lmk if you still want tue chewy link, and I'll share again.

I doubt that he'll eat canned pumpkin, but thanks.

Likely not. Cats overall are usually more picky about their food than dogs.

[TheOtherMe]

I've mixed pumpkin with wet food.

[Pink Cashmere]

This morning, Boy was laying on his bed in the den. I turned my back to him for a few seconds, to take care of something. When I looked back over my shoulder, he was gone.

I started calling his name, wondering where he went that fast. Just as I was about to go look for him, I looked down. He was sitting right next to me, looking up at me as if to say “I’m right here!”. He’d been next to me the whole time.

I had to laugh at myself. Mister and I “lose” him on a regular basis because he’s so little. Half the time when I lose him, he’s right next to my feet, or between them.

I worked with him a little this morning to teach him to walk correctly on a leash. We also worked on “sit” some more. I’d like to already have him walking on a leash by the time I can take him on walks. It’s kind of hard to work on “sit” with him, because when he knows I have some treats, he automatically sits. So I have to get him to get up, so I can tell him to sit lol. He did great following me on the leash, because he knew I had treats. And whenever I stopped walking, he plopped down on his butt, (which is what I want him to do when I stop walking) looking for a treat. He’s so greedy lol.

He didn’t like it when I started walking up the driveway. That was clearly out of his comfort zone, so we’ll have to work on that.

[weltschmerz]

Sept 25, 2022 16:44:16 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

For most cats, salmon oil will help alleviate the constipation, but some need added fiber in their diet, as well.

www.revivalanimal.com/pet-health/old-cats/learning-center

It's not really constipation, but his stools are hard as rocks. It can't be comfortable for him.  In any case, it certainly can't hurt. 

Good grief. I mention cats, and now I'm literally flooded with cat food ads.

I don't like google listening to everything I'm saying.  

[Pink Cashmere]

Sept 26, 2022 13:26:25 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Sept 25, 2022 16:44:16 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

For most cats, salmon oil will help alleviate the constipation, but some need added fiber in their diet, as well.

www.revivalanimal.com/pet-health/old-cats/learning-center

It's not really constipation, but his stools are hard as rocks. It can't be comfortable for him.  In any case, it certainly can't hurt. 

Good grief. I mention cats, and now I'm literally flooded with cat food ads.

I don't like google listening to everything I'm saying.  

It can be very disconcerting how that happens. I don’t like it either.

[Pink Cashmere]

Today, I saw that Boy gets those same wrinkle on his nose sometimes when he is playing with Newbie. Idk why he keeps messing with her when she can and does send him flying with the front or side of her head. She also pins him down with one paw sometimes. But he keeps coming right back for more. She’s so much bigger than him that he can literally stand under her, with room to spare. 

Even though their “playing” makes me nervous sometimes, I do notice that they both expose their bellies to the other sometimes, so I don’t think they are actually fighting for dominance or anything.

[Pink Cashmere]

This is all day, every day if I don’t intervene.


Because this is rare

[Pink Cashmere]

Boy is really coming along with his housetraining. I am sitting on the deck, both dogs were our here napping. Boy woke up and wandered over toward the steps. So far he hasn’t gone down the steps by himself, so I got up and walked down the steps and opened the gate. He followed me and pooped in the grass. 

We came back up the steps and he got situated up against Newbie again and went back to sleep. YAY Boy!

They were running around playing in the yard earlier, so I guess they are both tired since they’re napping for so long. Works for me!

[Pink Cashmere]

Boy just went down the steps on the deck on his own, and pooped in the grass.

I am ridiculously excited about that lol. 

It’s only been a few days since he started going down the steps without me carrying him. And even with that, he wouldn’t go down them unless I went first. 

Hopefully this means he is really getting it with peeing and pooping where we want him too.

[Pink Cashmere]

Annnd he just peed on the deck.

[Pink Cashmere]

One of my dogs seems to be a bully. And it’s not the big dog.

[Pink Cashmere]

Newbie is regressing with her training. She seems to think she has an option now, to come to me or sit or whatever, when I tell her to. 

I am sure it has something to do with Boy coming into the household. But it is still unacceptable. So I will have to work with her all over again, to teach her again that I mean what I say, the first time I say it. 

Between that and training Boy, I have my hands full.

[raeoflyte]

I hear ya on that! I haven't practiced with devil dog since his test. His retake is next Saturday and it would be awful to fail worse the 2nd time. I need to get in gear.

[weltschmerz]

Sept 25, 2022 18:50:04 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I've mixed pumpkin with wet food.

I bought him healthy, grain-free food with sweet potato and he refuses to eat it.

[swamp]

Sept 27, 2022 16:20:44 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Annnd he just peed on the deck.

But at least it's outside. 

My dog pees on the deck when it's covered in snow.  I really think she doesn't understand the difference. 

[imawino]

Sept 27, 2022 16:37:15 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

One of my dogs seems to be a bully. And it’s not the big dog.

Oh my goodness - I LOVE these photos of your dogs together.  

[Pink Cashmere]

Sept 28, 2022 12:38:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

Sept 27, 2022 16:20:44 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Annnd he just peed on the deck.

But at least it's outside. 

My dog pees on the deck when it's covered in snow.  I really think she doesn't understand the difference. 

I agree, at least it’s outside. I just ignore him when he pees on the deck, and only praise him when he does it in the grass. Our dogs pooped on the deck when it was covered in snow. I’m not sure why, but we didn’t fuss at them about it. That’s the only time they ever did that.

[Pink Cashmere]

I am still thinking that buying a flirt pole was one of my most awesome purchases lol.

Mister played with them with the flirt pole and they are both sprawled on the deck now, Boy is too tired to aggravate Newbie.

The end of the flirt pole we have has something like ribbons, with squeakers inside. Boy can only catch it after Newbie already has it, he can’t run fast enough to catch it before her. But when he does get it, he refuses to let it go. Mister raised it in the air to try to get Boy to let it go and Boy went right up in the air with it, all feet off the ground and still wouldn’t let it go. So Mister started having to fish it out of his mouth.

I am still looking for other ways to get them enough exercise so they don’t get bored. I saw something about a spring pole somewhere, I need to see what exactly that is. Newbie is pretty mellow anyway, but Boy is like a different dog when we manage to get him tired.

[Pink Cashmere]

I just had another short training session with Boy. I decided to teach him to watch me before teaching him to heel. I’m not sure either lesson is being learned because he automatically does both when I have treats in my pocket. He follows me, looking up at me the whole time, and when I stop walking, he sits, something else I’d planned to teach him.

I’ve never had a dog already do the things I wanted them to learn to do, so I guess just give him a lot of positive reinforcement since he’s already doing it? Idk, maybe I’ll ask Mr. T about it.

[weltschmerz]

Sept 28, 2022 15:47:05 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I am still thinking that buying a flirt pole was one of my most awesome purchases lol.

Mister played with them with the flirt pole and they are both sprawled on the deck now, Boy is too tired to aggravate Newbie.

The end of the flirt pole we have has something like ribbons, with squeakers inside. Boy can only catch it after Newbie already has it, he can’t run fast enough to catch it before her. But when he does get it, he refuses to let it go. Mister raised it in the air to try to get Boy to let it go and Boy went right up in the air with it, all feet off the ground and still wouldn’t let it go. So Mister started having to fish it out of his mouth.

I am still looking for other ways to get them enough exercise so they don’t get bored. I saw something about a spring pole somewhere, I need to see what exactly that is. Newbie is pretty mellow anyway, but Boy is like a different dog when we manage to get him tired.

I got a flirt pole with ribbons for Sushi. He plays with it for a millisecond, and then he's done.

[Pink Cashmere]

Sept 28, 2022 17:00:09 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Sept 28, 2022 15:47:05 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I am still thinking that buying a flirt pole was one of my most awesome purchases lol.

Mister played with them with the flirt pole and they are both sprawled on the deck now, Boy is too tired to aggravate Newbie.

The end of the flirt pole we have has something like ribbons, with squeakers inside. Boy can only catch it after Newbie already has it, he can’t run fast enough to catch it before her. But when he does get it, he refuses to let it go. Mister raised it in the air to try to get Boy to let it go and Boy went right up in the air with it, all feet off the ground and still wouldn’t let it go. So Mister started having to fish it out of his mouth.

I am still looking for other ways to get them enough exercise so they don’t get bored. I saw something about a spring pole somewhere, I need to see what exactly that is. Newbie is pretty mellow anyway, but Boy is like a different dog when we manage to get him tired.

I got a flirt pole with ribbons for Sushi. He plays with it for a millisecond, and then he's done.

Lol.

I think Newbie’s high prey drive is why she likes it. Often when she catches it, she shakes it furiously, like I guess she would do if she caught a small animal. 

She and Boy both like to chase any small thing that moves, so the flirt pole works for them. 

[chiver78]

Sept 26, 2022 16:33:34 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

This is all day, every day if I don’t intervene.


Because this is rare

she's so much in love! 😍

[Annie7]

Sept 28, 2022 15:47:05 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I am still thinking that buying a flirt pole was one of my most awesome purchases lol.

Mister played with them with the flirt pole and they are both sprawled on the deck now, Boy is too tired to aggravate Newbie.

The end of the flirt pole we have has something like ribbons, with squeakers inside. Boy can only catch it after Newbie already has it, he can’t run fast enough to catch it before her. But when he does get it, he refuses to let it go. Mister raised it in the air to try to get Boy to let it go and Boy went right up in the air with it, all feet off the ground and still wouldn’t let it go. So Mister started having to fish it out of his mouth.

I am still looking for other ways to get them enough exercise so they don’t get bored. I saw something about a spring pole somewhere, I need to see what exactly that is. Newbie is pretty mellow anyway, but Boy is like a different dog when we manage to get him tired.

Nala loves the flirt pole too. And like your Boy, she doesn't let it go either. I have to trade for a treat. Unlike Boy, she is a 72 lb dog, so she can pull me with the flirt pole. So, I have her "down" once she catches the toy, give her a few seconds to enjoy her catch and then ask her to drop it for a treat. Then she has to sit and wait for my "OK" to try to catch the flirt again. She can't just jump and start on her own. My trainer said Nala lacks impulse control. So, I have to make her wait for as many things as possible.

Have you tried the snuffle mat or the other puzzle toys? Nala loved them for a while but now she's bored of them.

We do the "Find" game. I have her place on her bed in one room. Then I place training treats in another room on different surfaces - under a ball, on the top of a sofa, on a table, on the stairs, etc. Then tell her "OK, go find". She loves to sniff them out. That mental stimulation tires her out after about 15 minutes. You can do this on a rainy day.

It's fun doing these things

[Pink Cashmere]

Sept 29, 2022 8:18:36 GMT -5 Annie7 said:

Sept 28, 2022 15:47:05 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

I am still thinking that buying a flirt pole was one of my most awesome purchases lol.

Mister played with them with the flirt pole and they are both sprawled on the deck now, Boy is too tired to aggravate Newbie.

The end of the flirt pole we have has something like ribbons, with squeakers inside. Boy can only catch it after Newbie already has it, he can’t run fast enough to catch it before her. But when he does get it, he refuses to let it go. Mister raised it in the air to try to get Boy to let it go and Boy went right up in the air with it, all feet off the ground and still wouldn’t let it go. So Mister started having to fish it out of his mouth.

I am still looking for other ways to get them enough exercise so they don’t get bored. I saw something about a spring pole somewhere, I need to see what exactly that is. Newbie is pretty mellow anyway, but Boy is like a different dog when we manage to get him tired.

Nala loves the flirt pole too. And like your Boy, she doesn't let it go either. I have to trade for a treat. Unlike Boy, she is a 72 lb dog, so she can pull me with the flirt pole. So, I have her "down" once she catches the toy, give her a few seconds to enjoy her catch and then ask her to drop it for a treat. Then she has to sit and wait for my "OK" to try to catch the flirt again. She can't just jump and start on her own. My trainer said Nala lacks impulse control. So, I have to make her wait for as many things as possible.

Have you tried the snuffle mat or the other puzzle toys? Nala loved them for a while but now she's bored of them.

We do the "Find" game. I have her place on her bed in one room. Then I place training treats in another room on different surfaces - under a ball, on the top of a sofa, on a table, on the stairs, etc. Then tell her "OK, go find". She loves to sniff them out. That mental stimulation tires her out after about 15 minutes. You can do this on a rainy day.

It's fun doing these things

I just played with them and the flirt pole again, I’m going to have to start playing with them separately. Newbie will let go when I tell her drop it. Boy will not. So then Newbie grabs it again and it becomes a tug of war between them, which is not how that is supposed to work lol. I gave up and put the flirt pole away and threw the bouncy square for Newbie to chase it. Boy likes that darn deflated blue ball too, so I threw it for him to chase when Newbie was too far away to get it before he could.

I do something similar with Newbie, I let her enjoy her catch for a few seconds before she has to drop it. She also has to sit before I throw the ball or wave the flirt pole, and I tell her “go get it”, but I am not as organized with it as you are. 

I’ll have to Google snuffle mat, Idk what that is. Before we got Boy, I got Newbie a ball that she has to figure out how to get treats out of, she was not interested at all lol. I’ll have to research other puzzle toys too.

I’ll try the “find” game too. Newbie is not as motivated by treats as Boy is. Maybe because we’ve been over feeding her since she’s “obese”. I am obviously still offended that they said my baby is obese lol. But I have to be honest and say that she really is overweight, now that I really look at her.

Thank you so much for sharing and offering suggestions! I agree that it’s fun doing different things with our dogs, and watching them learn and play. I hope you continue to share things about life with Nala.