Being cross with your dog

Our last dog (not the stealer of chicken) would look guilty even when she hadn’t done anything.

If anyone made a hideous stink (I know some GNers don’t like the F-word) we’d say to her, ‘Pooh - was it you?’ and she’d slink off and hide behind the sofa*.

Very unfair of us when we knew it wasn’t her - hers had a distinctive ‘bouquet’.
*It was a very comfortable hiding place though - we kept an old, folded baby-size duvet there for her.

The first one was fair game … dropped on the floor as the clothes were taken out of the washer but the second was cheekily snatched from my daughter’s hand ….. and she swears that Tilly smiled as she gulped it down as she tried to grab it back!
Lots of very bad words were uttered!

My Ivy went into my birthday gift bag and ate boxes of orange creams while I was out for my birthday breakfast. A mad dash to the vets, who was happy enough not to give her the meds to make her sick because there wasn't a lot of chocolate consumed just a lot of the orange centres. She did warn me she would probably be bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day with the E numbers she had in her though.

oh fleurpepper, do you have your dog now?

Maw, my dog is a sulker too I love this thread. My dog has never once wet in the house but I came home to a wet kitchen floor, really told her off and she took the blame and everything.....it was only later on when it was wet again that I remembered I had watered a plant and there wasn't a plate under the pot and it had leaked out all over the kitchen floor

JJ, no not yet - no news or photos since she was taken away to go into plane. Hopefully on their way now- 3 hrs drive.

Must keep calm to give all the good vibes when she finally arrives.

Her bed is ready, poaching some chicken now and good quality pellets in bowl and water too. Letting the wood burning stove slowly go down so it will be toasty but not too hot.

Where's she going to sleep? In the kitchen or your bedroom?

I remember when we got our last dog, he had been in kennels for weeks after his owner died (well, living in the kennel owner's house for part of the time!).
He wouldn't eat so I sat on the floor with him and he took it from my fingers. DH thought I was setting a precedent but he settled down and ate from the bowl after a week or so.

He was happy to sleep in the kitchen although one of the DC said she was going to bring her duvet down and sleep on the floor with him.

When we first moved to France we had a Cairn terrier who regularly travelled back and forth. One time when we were staying with a friend in Suffolk we had to see the bank manager and so left her shut in our bedroom. When we returned I went to let her out and found the wrapping from a bar of chocolate on the floor. It was in foil, in a card board wrapping, in a paper bag and the bottom of our picnic bag. She'd eaten the whole lot. Quick phone call to the vet who told us to bring her in. My DH was holding her and he could feel her heart getting faster and faster. Two adrenaline shots, an overnight stay and a bill of £130 and she was OK.

On another occasion, staying overnight in Kent, we were loading the car and put her in first. She climbed to the back, fund a sealed polythene box containing a left over sandwich which she got out of the box and ate in the space of a few seconds.

When we lived in Suffolk I left a frozen chicken on the work surface. My DH heard a thud, went into the kitchen to find her staggering about in a dazed fashion with the chicken on the floor.

We found one of our cats (another occasion) on the work surface eating his way into a frozen turkey.

When Ruby, my Berger de Pyrennees was a puppy I made some smoked salmon sandwiches for our lunch. I walked to the other end of the room, came back to find her on the table munching away. She was told off and never did again.

We've never fed our dogs from the table and I get cross with any guests that try to do so. If we eat something that they would like, such as fish and chips, I remove the pates form the table and put the skin in their bowls.

Still no news- trying not to panic. We have a huge farmhouse kitchen, and yes, she will sleep there. There is a nice 'niche' into the wall, and under a lovely side desk. Perfect.

Never ever feed from table- as guests are not allowed to either- not even GCs. If we have left overs, in dog's plate if suitable, and in the normal place, or in the garden.

Has the dog not arrived yet? Poor thing, what a terribly long journey. It will be so afraid.

Our eldest dog doesn’t eat what he steals (unless it is food), it is currency. Sock = liver treat, remote control/glasses = chicken wing. Gave up chasing him, cornering him long ago, he is too fast. Though when he stole butter we let him out and turned the hosepipe on him - worked.

GSM, any minute now. apparently arrival at airport was nightmare, impossible to locate the dogs for 1 hour. They made 2 good stops on the way and she is very calm.

She must be traumatised. Why put her through this?

Germanshepherdsmum

She must be traumatised. Why put her through this?

Because a few days of trauma and then a good life is better than a life of misery in a dog pound, quite possibly with early euthanasia?

Not necessarily. These dogs can be sponsored to live a good life in their own country. It’s something I do, rather than subjecting them to a very traumatic journey and a life to which they may be unable to acclimatise.

Dogs really don’t have a conscience or ‘Know they’ve done wrong’. That look is not guilt, it’s fear or sadness because you’re cross and shouting at them.

I’m all for giving every dog a chance GSM, I’m sure sponsorship such as you describe works for some dogs too. However I’d never condemn anybody for wanting to give a dog a home with them in UK wherever the dog comes from.

Thanks watermeadow for reminding us that dogs don’t do remorse or guilt. If only 🐕🐶. There’s no point being cross, raising your voice if you arrive home to find the dog bed exploded. They will look anxious, ears down maybe whale eyed but that’s an in the moment response to their human shouting at them - why?

I’ve posted on other threads about my negative feelings on importing street dogs. Some settle but many don’t adjust to domestic lives, they run and keep running. There are so many dogs in the uk needing adoption. I know some people go to foreign charities because uk based shelters often have stricter expectations, eg no small children, safe fenced gardens, no placements with people who work full time, expectations dogs won’t be left longer than four hours.
These expectations are based on years of experience

Casdon

Germanshepherdsmum

She must be traumatised. Why put her through this?

Because a few days of trauma and then a good life is better than a life of misery in a dog pound, quite possibly with early euthanasia?

This totally. Her pack were all shot- street dogs are shot and stoned there. So it is a life in kennels- or one day of trauma and a forever home. She is a tad nervous, but has eaten, drank, licked my hands, given me her paw, walked around, discovered a real garden and is now flat out on her bed. I'll get up very early to take her out- and we have put aside 3 months to allow her to settle in total peace. She was with the woman who found her, and lived with her for a while, and her dog, together- he kept her calm.

Wonderful.

Oh Maw! How could you be cross with that lovely creature?

Yes indeed. Apologies, never intended to highjack this thread.

''a life to which they may be unable to acclimatise.''

well, this dog has been assessed for 3 months. We know a lot about her. She now has a forever home with 2 dog lovers who are experienced with re-homing. She has a large garden, surrounded by countryside- and will have long walks, and lots of love. I truly think she will acclimatise fine, honestly.

She has a good chance of a good new life and I wish you well
That doesn’t change my views though

Nor mine. I support a charity which rescues street dogs and finds them loving homes in their own countries.