The Official "Dogs of the DMF" Thread

[Monsterlover]

Such a bummer. I'm glad she was fine the day before and didn't have to suffer.

This. A long drawn out decline would have been worse I think.

I'm so very sorry for your loss bud.

This place and these people were tremendous in helping me get through my loss last year.  Know that you are not alone and we all share in your grief. 

The love of a dog is like nothing else on this planet and you had 14 great years with her.  For me it helped to not try and push the grief away but embrace it and the try and remember the love you had for each other.  It always seems like they leave us to early but I try too focus on the great times we had together.

Please let me know if you need to talk.

Thanks man. I have a 45 minute commute to the shop so that has become think about the dog time. Sometimes its tears other times laughter. We had some fun times together. A lot actually.

I posted here because we all "know" each other and I knew you would all understand.

The wife and I are doing well. We talk every day about Sara and what its like now without her.

The biggest thing- the house is so quiet!  No more jingling collar and toe nails clacking on the hardwood floors.

No more dog giving you the stare down while you eat a yogurt waiting for her chance to lick out the container. Things like that. Little things are what get noticed all of the sudden.

I know itw a place for sad things as well as happy but I kind of feel like I've brought this thread down a bit. How about some happy dog pictures?

[LMT]

[Monsterlover]

[DarkMonster620]

You meant looks like this:


Dog being massaged by cat

[triangleforge]

This is Rufus, a beautiful old guy who's always at the high school where I teach. As you can imagine, the kids love him.

[Ducatamount]

"Sweet Rufus" 

[Monsterlover]

[Rudemouthsky]

http://m.click2houston.com/news/passerby-posts-pic-of-dog-trapped-in-hot-car-on-facebook/26486854#.U5wzjZnB7qI.facebook

[1.21GW]

http://m.click2houston.com/news/passerby-posts-pic-of-dog-trapped-in-hot-car-on-facebook/26486854#.U5wzjZnB7qI.facebook

I thought we generally stopped doing that as a society--i.e. leaving living things in cars on hot days--but I guess I'm wrong.  Glad he survived! 

[Two dogs]

Not a DMF member but great effort by this guy 

http://www.wimp.com/puppycanyon/

[DarkMonster620]

I thought we generally stopped doing that as a society--i.e. leaving living things in cars on hot days--but I guess I'm wrong.  Glad he survived! 

I would leave teh sales monkey in a closed black car at noon . . . but, only him . ..

[hbliam]

So we got a third dog and have an issue that maybe the DMF has a suggestion for dealing with.

Dog #1 (Lucy, jack russell terrorist) who is 10 years old and was the only dog along with two cats. The two cats died in 2013 and dog #1 was super depressed so we found dog #2 (Charlie, 2 year old, deer chihuahua). They got along pretty good with the very rare instance where dog #1 would attack #2 over food. Never with an injury but souded bad. So wife comes across dog #3 (5lb chihuahua) who had been in a pet store for 5 months and felt bad for him. She said she would re-home him but you know how that goes.

So now dog #2 and #3 love each other and play like crazy and Dog #1 will attack dog #2 pretty regularly. I can't figure out the trigger. I think it might be dog #1 protecting dog #3 but then other times the fight starts with what seems like no provocation. Dog #2 is submissive and never starts a fight, tries to walk away with his ears down and tail between his legs when he thinks one is coming. Dog #1 never attacks #3, even lets him eat out of her bowl without much of a problem which is unheard of for #2.

Most of the time they all sleep together and hang out together without an issue. Then wham!

Short of hiring cesar milan, I'm not sure what to do.

[1.21GW]

So we got a third dog and have an issue that maybe the DMF has a suggestion for dealing with.

Dog #1 (Lucy, jack russell terrorist) who is 10 years old and was the only dog along with two cats. The two cats died in 2013 and dog #1 was super depressed so we found dog #2 (Charlie, 2 year old, deer chihuahua). They got along pretty good with the very rare instance where dog #1 would attack #2 over food. Never with an injury but souded bad. So wife comes across dog #3 (5lb chihuahua) who had been in a pet store for 5 months and felt bad for him. She said she would re-home him but you know how that goes.

So now dog #2 and #3 love each other and play like crazy and Dog #1 will attack dog #2 pretty regularly. I can't figure out the trigger. I think it might be dog #1 protecting dog #3 but then other times the fight starts with what seems like no provocation. Dog #2 is submissive and never starts a fight, tries to walk away with his ears down and tail between his legs when he thinks one is coming. Dog #1 never attacks #3, even lets him eat out of her bowl without much of a problem which is unheard of for #2.

Most of the time they all sleep together and hang out together without an issue. Then wham!

Short of hiring cesar milan, I'm not sure what to do.

Just to clarify: Lucy (jack russell) is a female, the other two (chihuahuas) are males?

Also, I took your story to suggest that the acquisition of #3 has increased attacks on #2 (by #1), whereas before you got #3 the attacks were infrequent pecking order stuff.  Is this true?  And have the attacks gotten more violent or are they just pecking order growling/barking/snapping that comes and goes?

[Triple J]

Sounds like dog #1 is seeing herself as the pack leader, instead of you and your wife.

When the attack happens, or really any aggressive behavior whatsoever (including protecting food), dog #1 needs to be put into a submissive position until they relax. Typically this involves rolling them over on their back/side and allowing the other dogs to walk over and sniff them. It teaches them that you're the pack leader for everyone, including them. Speaking of Caesar...this is a technique I picked up from his show.

Needless to say, it may not go over well at first, but repetition and consistency is key. My lab/pit mix likes to try to be dominant when other dogs visit our house. This is what I do with her, and it is effective in diffusing the situation. She's not a fan of it, but it works. I've also done it on walks when she acts aggressive towards other dogs being walked...even though they don't usually come over and sniff during it. Just the act of putting her in that position is effective.

[Skybarney]

Sounds like dog #1 is seeing herself as the pack leader, instead of you and your wife.

When the attack happens, or really any aggressive behavior whatsoever (including protecting food), dog #1 needs to be put into a submissive position until they relax. Typically this involves rolling them over on their back/side and allowing the other dogs to walk over and sniff them. It teaches them that you're the pack leader for everyone, including them. Speaking of Caesar...this is a technique I picked up from his show.

Needless to say, it may not go over well at first, but repetition and consistency is key. My lab/pit mix likes to try to be dominant when other dogs visit our house. This is what I do with her, and it is effective in diffusing the situation. She's not a fan of it, but it works. I've also done it on walks when she acts aggressive towards other dogs being walked...even though they don't usually come over and sniff during it. Just the act of putting her in that position is effective.

Triple nailed it.  I am on my third wolf and the current pup was quite aggressive if challenged in anyway.  Now he is a big mush ball that a kid can maul to death and only rabbbits need fear him.  The submission that Triple spoke of is the very first place to start.  It is very important that it is done until the pup stops struggling.  Don't let the other pups interfere as you do not want to take away his position in the pack.  It won't take to long of consistent reminding him that you are the only ones calling the shots.

Good luck!