lil_me

Good luck with the move

What a morning for you all, as the saying goes things can only get better.

I know age catches up with us all and we feel less willing to be nice to others sometimes but this is happening with our oldie GSD and wondering if I can do anything about it. She's been back with us about a year now after a LONG time away, great at first with other dogs, never agressive etc but in the last month or so she's become a right pain in the bum! She keeps being very agressive with other dogs. We've had her checked by the vet as someone suggested it can be a sign of illness and apart from her arthritis which seems to be much better, nothing they can find wrong. She is agressive on and off lead, her hair even stands up on end like a cat when she starts getting agressive. She's ok with our other dog, that's not an issue but he's now miffed as we have changed when we walk to avoid other dogs (he will play with anything!) Do I have to just accept she's being a moody old sod because of her age or is there something I can do/try? Thanks for reading (PS Megan will be 11 in May)

I've been looking for possible emergency kennels for my 2, it's something I don't want to have to do but must plan just incase. I now have several I would not use. I now also have several 'pet sitters' I would not use after meeting them/watching them work. Family members we have tried but they have let us down so want somewhere I can rely on if needed that's actually going to look after my pooches. Just wondered if anyone could recommend anywhere good? I live near Chester Le Street so Durham, Chester Le Street, Sunderland, possibly even as far as Newcastle are possible to travel to. They MUST have heated kennels as one of mine is a rescue oldie (nearly 11) and I don't want her being cold. I have asked people I know with pets but they use the services of family/friends if they need to so that wasn't much use. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Awww she's wonderful isn't she, sure she'll find a fab home soon

He's as far away as he can be from the washing machine, that's in the back utility room. He won't go near there when it's on. Yes I think less on some spin cycles, more if it's louder and cries when it's filling/emptying. He's scared of fireworks, any sudden noises aswell, always been quite a fearful do of many things but it's took us ages to suss this one out. Fireworks one made worse when a one hit the conservatory door as we went to open it last year. I'll definately stop putting it on when we're out/in bed, in the summer I can use slower spins more. I tried giving him his fave chews yesterday when it was on and he just left it and cried. Thanks for your help.

Ok, my youngest dog is driving me crackers, he's a lab/springer, about 5 years old now and he's scared of the washing machine. At certain times in the day he's always cried more and been more 'scared' and we've now realised it's when the washing machine is on. He's absolutely petrifed of it. He's never been a confident pooch, is scared when a dog growls at him, of loud noises etc but this is getting silly. Any ideas for my soft silly pooch? Not using the washer is impossible as it's on daily sometimes a few times a day, laundrette too expensive...any cheaper ideas? Yes I should have been in bed now but the washers on and his crying is keeping me awake! I've came back down to switch the washer off and calm him down so thought I may aswell ask now! Thanks in advance for any help/advice

Yes and kennel cough as we've had a dog catch it who wasn't even in kennels, local dog with it. Poor thing was poorly for weeks, for the sake of vaccinations cost I'd rather they had it done than go through that again. I will ask about the 4 year for the youngest, see what cost it is, Megan being 11 soon have to face the fact she might not be with us that long

Megan was 10 when we got her back, she'll be 11 in May, the only insurers we could find who would cover an old GSD had an exclusions list a mile long, £200+ excess and premiums ( some quotes were over £100 PCM) so instead I put £100 a month away for emergencies. We do have an 'emergency credit card' with a limit of £5300 aswell incase of emergencies that the savings won't cover, some savings also. I pay for vaccs, wormers, flea stuff etc out of a seperate 'budget' so now there is £1000 put away which we haven't needed for vet treatment (she did need one thing which was £40 and wouldn't have been able to reclaim) We also have a great vet who would accept installments, she mentioned this when trying to talk us out of insurance as she knew many who'd tried to claim for older dogs and been refused etc, said she didn't want us wasting our money. We have since been told of one called 'animalfriends' who might cover Megan cheaper, but I am still wondering if it's worth it, depending on the exclusions etc. I've also heard mixed reports on how good this company are.

Exactly what I was thinking. Very good point about the trainer.... Wonder if the story of my friend's grandaughter being attacked by a border collie had got into the news headlines (they weren't interested because it wasn't a bull breed dog) they would have used that type of dog instead.....doubt it. see how the story goes before writing a complaint

Just wondering where they are going with the dog attack story line...

I got an email today from Sunderland Freecycle Admin saying they are now banning posts for pets which I am really pleased about.

Wow, looks amazing, well done to everyone involved

If he was handed into the police station they have a policy in Durham to call Dog Warden so will be in whichever pound they use. Hopefully they'll have him checked to ensure no internal injuries.

Thanks for the welcomes, already finding the site very useful.

Megan would probably be fine in a crate, she has been in them before inc when rescue transported her (maybe not the best thing) but was originally a police dog so should be fine, Luke however would go flippin crackers I think, he's never been in one and can't stand being caged in anywhere. Out/through canvas I never thought of never even seen one like this up, would have to check that.

Sounds like a lovely person doesn't he

We've been considering taking our boys camping, main problem lack of other people to care for the dogs and would not want to put them in kennels, especially as Megan is older, Luke also hates kennels and lost weight when he was there last time. Both our dogs are large dogs. We were considering buying something like http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3400085.htm and letting the dogs sleep in the middle bit, but am a little cautious. Would have to wait most likely until we change cars as the one the dogs go in (that has a boot) has the worst fuel economy in the world so not great for touring the country but if we were going to be able to go camping if I changed cars would consider it sooner. Just wondering if anyone else does it and how you manage it ? Also are camp sites dog friendly

Beautiful girl, sorry to hear about the diabetes but at least like you say it is something treatable. Wishing you the best of luck sorting meds out which I know can be chaos.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v241/lil...nt=a9390d1f.flv another one playing in the water with my son and younger dog. When we first brought Megan home again she just plodded around, but now she's like a different dog.

Took her to the beach again today, here's a video we took, just hope it works for you to see it http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v241/lil...nt=f47437fe.flv have trouble sometimes believing she's 10 myself as she acts like a daft puppy.

Only a couple of times hs been left, like the others in the middle of a overgrown area and even when I thought I knew where it was couldn't find it, have stood in them looking however, note to self keep clean shoes in car!!!! Mainly my dogs go in the garden which makes life much easier as the cleaning up is done at home instead of carrying them around, Megan was originally trained to poop in her kennel (all police dogs up here are as police men don't want to walk about with a 'two' in their pocket, so was easy, Luke has done the same from the start, very rare they do it when we're out as I time it well usually Did have one complaint from the new owner of Holly who we had trained to do this, that she will walk for an hour with her and Holly almost crosses her legs all the way home just for a wee as she won't do one when out oops, it's just easier with 2 children and regularly taking them to parks etc if they do it at home in the area for them.

Thanks for the welcomes Yes she was looked after by us for the police force, she went from them to another owner but unsure what happened after that, much more of her story was posted on dogpages it was a strange time to say the least, also contacted the GSD rescue for advice, in fact anywhere I could. Official retirement now Just hoping that her very good breeding will mean we will have less 'problems' with her, we were expecting her to last maybe a year but have had several people who work with dogs and the vet say we will probably get a few years with her at least Her favourite place so far is the beach, running around like a looney throwing rocks in the air (have to get out of the way sharpish if she throws one near you) and she loves being in the water.

Oh dear, my youngest dog would do the same, gave up taking him to shops now as he can get through a very thick lead in seconds.

Oh yes, Megan's story is what the RSPCA guy called 'Unbloominbelievable' he still said he struggles to believe it now. She would have possibly been PTS as she was an older dog, we gave her time to find a new home as were completely unsure how she would get along with the kids and us, noone even gave her a second glance in the 4 weeks, so pleased noone else wanted her in a way as it's like having an old friend back (even if she's snoring and dribbling on my feet at the minute ewwww!) Even with the fact we told the rescue look you can use the fact she was bought as the best of the best for breeding (not by us by the force who had her and we looked after her for) to see if that helps rehome her with her being an old GSD, as she's showing no signs of hip issues at all. Would think she'd never gone, made herself right at home and she IS the boss!