dumbbird7

Greetings all Jack, now 18 weeks, is near enough toilet trained day and night. Door is left open daytimes and he comes and goes when the urge takes him. Night time I stand sentry outdoors about 10.30 ish to ensure both tanks are as empty as they can be. However the carpet where the layers and layers of newspaper were three weeks ago are humming and I am looking for a magic formula to wash it out. Some say vinegar and water, others that this doesn't work. It's a narrow strip of a passageway between bedroom and hallway. I have already introduced the Bex Bissal but still it pongs... As far as I can tell, he hasn't peed there lately; it's at a junction I traverse many times daily to go to fridge freezer in dining room. I would spot new pee in an instant. However when the wet and cold weather descends upon us any time soon, he may decide to give the cold wet garden a miss until summer comes again. Bright ideas most welcome please.

A bit late with reading your thread, but about your dog drooling when travelling - perhaps it's because she can't actually see where you are travelling. Is she travelling i the boot area and can't see out of the window perhaps? All to do with liquids in the ear corresponding with what the eyes see. My pup, aged 12 weeks threw up regularly until I changed his position and lifted him so that he can now see. One reason I wouldn't put my dogs in the boot area, inconvenient being on the back seat but they LOVE the car, would travel to the moon and back in it, no sickness or drooling at last.

Mandy, you say your boy has had a growth spurt - Jack seems to be throwing out his chest too, quite the macho feller-me-lad. The seams in his coat stand out now, just as if the pattern pieces were sewn together in the designer stage. The meal situation has been altered now and seems to be working better - big breakfast, small lunch, large dinner Binio about 10 before bed. Sleeps till 5.30 or 6 if we're lucky. So not 3 full meals, but slightly more than 2. Is there any particular reason he doesn't like the car? I dreaded the thought that my new dog would hate the car. One dog I had may years ago wouldn't get in the car at all. Perhaps because in the boot they can't see anything and get car sick. Anyhow I put tiny chunks of cheese on the back seat, this led him in and he tolerated the ride. At the end of the walk, he found yet another morsel of delight to get him home again! After about a week of this, he just loved the car!! Bribery and corruption - I'm all for it. These days, Cathedral City cheese sells mini bags of tiny chunks I find handy for bribing, or just as a reward. Makes a change from the vets treats.

Thanks for all these replies. Last night I fed at 5pm having given equal sized meals for brekka and lunch. Just before bedtime, he had a Bonio. I was called out during the night, #1 & 2 performed then slept until 5.30am. We don't heat the bedroom so perhaps he woke up feeling a little chilly. Anyhow will take advice and see how it goes. 18 weeks old today, 11.6k. Most of this must be legs! Old dog keeps asking when it's going home. Haven't the heart to say...

Jack is 18 weeks old. He has main meal at breakfast, smaller one at noon and very light snack at 4pm. He sleeps well until the early hours, 2 or 3am, then wakes me up. I take him to the garden where he performs. Daytime wees and poo time not a problem. Last night, he woke me again an hour later, out we went again, but no performance this time. I am wondering:- Is his teatime too early? I set it early to give him time to 'unload' before bed. However perhaps tea time is too early? And if so, should I give a couple of biscuits at bedtime to tide him over? Successful nighttime toileting itend to be a little sporadic. I always stand out in the wet and dark with him before bedtime 10.30ish, until the Deed is done, and I must say he is quite conscientious about this emptying business as a rule. I don't comment if I have to clear up in the morning, like it's no big deal.

Thanks for this D'Elle didn;t see that it was in the wrong section. Dumbbird indeed.. Anyhow it;s the answer I was looking for. We're making slow but stesady progress in other things so I'll stop expecting miracles on the lead for now; sometimes I forget he's still only a baby, bless his little cotton socks.

My BC pup is 17 weeks old. He sits on command but is ready to get up again almost immediately. Same with stay. Lead training is becoming difficult as he is so absolutely fascinated by the world around him, he has to rush off and deal with it. He'll walk well by my side then begin pulling to reach the next clump of grass, or fluttering leaf. I stop, tell him to sit. He does. Has a little treat, Good Boy. Off we go again, quietly, but within 4 or 5 steps, he's pulling again. My left arm is quite long now. We do this lead exercise twice a day, but I may be doing it incorrectly. I taught Old Dog by the distancing method and it was much easier, for his first 2 years. He's been my next of kin for 14 long years, my beautiful boy. I always took the lead, through gates and along paths. Trouble is, he still waits at the end of a narrow path or when coming to a gate, for The Boss to go first and said Boss has to climb over large elderly collie to exit path, or get gate opened. He's holding up his end of the bargain, I must do the same, it's only fair. Daily, pup has half hour off lead rushing around in the orchard, walking home on lead in the lanes, all told 45 minutes. Afternoon it's an hour or so with old dog in the forest off lead meeting others. Ten minute outs before bedtime. Can anyone advise this lead problem please.

Yes, my lad Jack, now 17 weeks old, get's the O, be joyfulls usually early evening. A whirling dervish, dancing and prancing, racing at top speed out of one patio door, along the patio, in the dining room. Race track. Goes quite crazy. Lasts about 45 minutes. Old dog and I just hunker down until it passes.

I have a youngster of 17 weeks. Super intelligent, skittery, affectionate and nosey, but still unsure of the big outside world. High Viz jackets give him the heebie jeebies, and people viewed from a distance, say across a playing field or park. I ask him to sit whilst he figures things out. I keep quiet; if he is a little scared, hearing me will reinforce it. Inconvenient sometimes, at least he doesn't bite. What a nightnare for you, I'm sure you have all our sympathies. Now he is entering adolescence, and occasionally I 'send him to Coventry' and it brings him down to earth pretty quickly. No touching, no talking, no looking etc. Dog? What dog? Just body language. He gets the message pretty quickly that I am in charge here, and he is safe. A couple of hours is usually all it takes. Just body language no shouting or harsh words or giving away your insecurities by maintaining your dignity (tricky whewn you're absolutely steaming at that point!) and I reckon we've all been there too. But everyone in the household must follow suite. And he must be the last to eat. My old collie, now 14, kept trying to rise in the ranks until he was about 11, this method worked every time. He's given up now thank heavens, my lovely old boy and is quite happy being the underdog. Have decided to try an Adaptil puppy collar to help produce calming influence. Mixed reviews though I was surprised how many owners favoured them. If it doesn't work, no harm done. Perhaps your behaviourist may suggest something like this for a trial. I'm taking him to sit on the bench outside Morrisons tomorrow. Just to sit and observe folks going about their business, bikes, dogs, prams and so on. I shall keep schtum and hope people come up to him to say hello. If anyone finds an elderly woman and a collie puppy hiding under a supermarket bench tomorrow, please come and rescue us...Anyway, good luck with it all, do update us on your progress.

Thanks Rush Fan, the old boy always eats first, watched from very close quarters by Jack the lad! And you may be right that he wants what Dodi has. Sometimes having other dogs around concentrates the mind wonderfully. He's got a little beef & tripe & chicken neck for breakfast, we'll see how fast that goes down. Think kibble has had its day although It's very convenient, and relatively cheap, all previous collies have been BARF dogs. Dodi has beautiful teeth and gums from chomping chunks and wings 'n stuff. His breath and long spey coat is sweet, no doggy smell.

I'm sure quite a few of us are vague and silly, Gentle Lake, but not you of course. I am well aware that packs of wild dogs do not roam the forests with primus stoves. However I am sure the adults would regurgitate for the youngsters. Raw dog food is the best, but the breeder had pups on Field & Trial kibble for working dogs. I prefer to change gradually,

Hi Mandy, Yes he's all legs, like a young colt. Dad is a long lean BC, mum is brown Beardie. I've tried to measure at the shoulders, but a total, total waste of time...wriggles, goes for the tape, spins away, dances, laughs at me. I give up!

These replies very comforting, thanks everyone. The Old Man who has never favoured kibble but gets a handful with his dinner, is on beef chunks and raw mince/offal/tripe - a bit rich for such a babe. Anyway, not sure the milk teeth would be up for it. However I have chopped up pieces of beef chunks into tiny pieces, some a bit grisly and mixed them in with moist kibble and it's all gone down. The pooh was a lovely colour. When the grown-up teeth start coming through, I shall gradually change him onto raw. Might have to get out the Red Handbag and spend evenings down on Lloyds corner to pay for two dogs on raw! This afternoon, I caught him munching on a snail. Couldn't get it off him so I'm hoping it doesn't contain anything worse than the garden soil he digs into. Calcium's good for him anyway. Gave him small pot of plain live yoghurt just in case. We don't give treat here, not even during 'training'. He does stuff because he luv's me!

Thanks for this. Yes he's due for his 2nd jab on Monday, I weigh both the dogs weekly, mainly to get pup used to vets without anything bad happening (fear week etc).The old boy has a tendency to gain weight and I am trying to keep him down to about 27k. The second I stray from the kitchen, big dog is shimmering his way in the shadows to the pup's dish and clears it in seconds. No door to the kitchen so can't close them off. Can't take my eyes off them for a minute. The pup seems to be gaining weight, began at 7.1 to 7.9 and lately 10.1. So I reckon he's just pulling a fast one and is thinking of getting off the rickety bottom rung of the ladder and trying for the next one up. No chance, Pal. I have tried adding a little chicken or raw beef mince which sometimes finds favour. I hear that Collies often self-regulate, my others did unbeknown to me in those days. Often didn't eat for 48 hrs at a time. Trouble is, one doesn't know what day they have decided not to partake, so put food down anyway. Later with lid on back to fridge, repeat following day then in the bin! The food I wasted was criminal. Pup is full of beans, either because he's young, or starving! Can't yet decide which...

Thanks for this. Yes he's due for his 2nd jab on Monday, I weigh both the dogs weekly, mainly to get pup used to vets without anything bad happening (fear week etc).The old boy has a tendency to gain weight and I am trying to keep him down to about 27k. The second I stray from the kitchen, big dog is shimmering his way in the shadows to the pup's dish and clears it in seconds. No door to the kitchen so can't close them off. Can't take my eyes off them for a minute. The pup seems to be gaining weight, began at 7.1 to 7.9 and lately 10.1. So I reckon he's just pulling a fast one and is thinking of getting off the rickety bottom rung of the ladder and trying for the next one up. No chance, Pal. I have tried adding a little chicken or raw beef mince which sometimes finds favour. I hear that Collies often self-regulate, my others did unbeknown to me in those days. Often didn't eat for 48 hrs at a time. Trouble is, one doesn't know what day they have decided not to partake, so put food down anyway. Later with lid on back to fridge, repeat following day then in the bin! The food I wasted was criminal. Pup is full of beans, either because he's young, or starving! Can't yet decide which...

My bc pup is 16 weeks old. He's doing brilliantly in almost everything. I've had him since he was 12 weeks old, and he lives with me and my 13 year old Border Collie, who, by the way, is not totally impressed with this new brat. Jack is on Iams puppy kibble. He has decided that he isn't a puppy any longer and expects something better. I know he is hungry but looks in his dish then walks away. The resident dog, Dodi, has always been a BARF dog, who always gets his meals first. I am reluctant to give way on this matter - the dish is taken up after 15 minutes and will be presented at the next mealtime. Bearing in mind that we will be coming up to teething time, I have offered the kibble slightly moistened with warm water or chicken juice. Still no deal! Yesterday he picked at his dinner and took only about a small tablespoonfull for the whole day. Am I being too harsh on the lad or must I hold out on this. Don't want a fussy dog who controls the kitchen (and all who live in it!).