Mindless chatter, weekend edition

 Yowsa Glenda that is COLD!!!! BTW I moved this from General Chat to NDR.

No great suggestions re the beds - is there anything he could be given to chew when he goes for the beds?  Bugsy is still a big chewer at certain times and we have to give him something to chew so he doesn't find something he chooses 

Speaking of the giant PIA he is truly on form today - woke us up at 5 and has been an extreme imp since.  He defines the term 'pushy dog'.  Still after over three years of trying to tone it down. grumble, grumble, grumble

I still have lots of work on my plate for next week's bid but I am hoping to watch some football and college basketball.  Today is the inauguration for the NC governor might take the beast in for the festivities and socialization.

well if I am to get all that done I had best get started NOW!

sending some warming vibes Glenda

 What a smart girl Sheba! No advice regarding Shadow sorry. The only thing I would try if it were me would be to get up earlier. Maybe he's on a different schedule so by the time you get up, he's been up a while and thats why he's all excited.

It's chilly here today but not badly at all. I've got Brandon and JJ here. They only came for an overnight stay, but we're having as much fun as possible. I took all the dogs out to potty and slowly brought them back in one by one trying to leave Brandon and Brianna out to have some time to play together. Well, Kali ended up being the last one out there with them. I didn't worry about it, she doesn't play much with the other dogs.

Well, for the first time in a looong time, she was the one running around playing with Brianna and Bri was shaking Brandon off the way she does Astra. It was a thing of beauty to watch Brianna and Kali playing like puppies and having a grand time!! I've been on watch mode for any interaction between them since the fight and seeing this made it all worthwhile.

I need to do some rearranging in my living room today. I'm short one sleeping spot for when Brandon and JJ come over. Poor Astra walked around the living room yesterday evening looking at all the different dog beds and places and just whimpered cause everything was taken. Yeah, she won't just lay out on the floor.

Kali's collar broke yesterday so its off to the store later today to buy her a new one. It just flew right off her, I didn't think that could happen. I'm just glad it happened at home and not while we were out walking. Just another reminder I NEED to work on her emergency recall.

That's all. It's shaping up to be a good weekend!!

Susan 

Yeah, I got the notification and wondered why, since we all mostly talk DOGS...but, whatever.

Yep, colder than a well diggers *** in January....oh, wait, it IS January!  LOL!

Theo has stuffies.  There are tons of other things, kongs, kong balls, bones, stuffies, toys.....and he never bothers those, just likes to eat the beds.  He is the one who could never have any kind of crate bedding because he would eat it, and continues with the fluffy beds.  But, now, the beds are safe until I get up and sit down.  If I pile them back in the kitchen, they are usually ok.  But, if I leave one near the puter where I am, well, it's going to need mending.  He lays down and just RIPS them apart.  And, I've tried a number of different beds, same thing. And, it really isn't fair to the OTHER dogs to take the beds up because they would like something warm to lay on.  It almost seems like its an anxiety thing.

These beds were new on Christmas Eve.  They are "almost" ready for the trash now.  Crap.  I work to feed my dogs and keep them in whole beds!  LOL!

Could it be that Theo has learned to get your attention by chewing up the beds? Since he doesn't chew them all night, only when you are awake and near you when you are at the computer.  Just a thought.

We had a cool front move in overnight but it's certainly not cold compared to lots of places.  I've made my deviled eggs for my "dog lady lunch" and now will start on cleaning the house a little. 

Have a good weekend everyone! 

Glenda - if you figure out how to stop the chewing, let me know. Sassy was a horrible chewer when we first rescued her, but hadn't chewed anything up in the last 4 or 5 yrs. Lately, she's chewing up her bed constantly. We've changed the beds out, put down blankets instead, but whatever it is, she chews on it. She doesn't really have a time pattern either, so it's impossible to predict. I've used the bitter apple too and it seems to work on the area I spray, but I'd need a huge case of the stuff to spray the entire bed.

DH just left for work, so I have the entire weekend to myself. I've got lots of cleaning to do and a bit of shopping too. I think I'll go to Trader Joes this morning. That usually puts me i a good mood plus I can pick up some yummy food to eat all weekend.

We picked up our new foster boy on Thursday night.  He's been a bit standoffish, but this morning when I went to bring him out of the ex-pen, I got a nub wag.  He had a TPO done last month, so he's still on cage rest.  I'm not really sure how long he has to be confined, & I haven't been able to get answers from his surgeon because I am not his "owner."  Bev's surgeon is coming up today to spend the weekend with us, so I'm going to have her do an evaluation.  He's getting around very well, but I need a better idea of what he can, & can't do.

DH has lost his mind.  He & Bev are taking an obedience class together.  It is, essentially, a class to teach DH how to deal with Bev more effectively.  Classes have been going well, & DH's confidence in handling Bev has grown tremendously.  Usually, DH takes Brinxx, Shooter, & Schatzi to herding class on Saturday mornings, & I take Bev & Chyna for a run, & then we go shopping at the farmer's market.  Bev is usually relaxed when I drop him off at the training center for DH.  This morning, DH asked me not to exercise Bev, because he can handle him.   I tried to explain that, even when I'm taking Bev to obedience, I exercise him beforehand, but DH still wants to try him "fully rested."  Bev is annoyed that he hasn't had his morning run, so he's pacing around the house begging to go out.  By class time, he should be totally psycho.  I'm not sure that DH is going to be able to manage him.

Good luck with the bed eater Glenda, I don't have any wise advice though ... When Thor does something he is not suppose to do, I talk to him, big talk, showing what he did wrong and that I don't like it and it works.

Today I have lots of work to do and vacuum the house. Nothing exciting here, but it's OK. I hope Julie finds Bobbi today!

glenmar

Yeah, I got the notification and wondered why, since we all mostly talk DOGS...but, whatever.

glenmar

It almost seems like its an anxiety thing.

Theo give it a break!  The other dogs deserve and need their beds!

Well no trip to town with the beast today as our walk wound up longer than expected.  We met the crazy white and black dog and I have had ENOUGH! They came up behind us so I turned down the entrance to the pool which worked fine.  Then when we came back up that drive we met my friend with Bugsy's girlfriend.  So we walked in our normal direction.  Happy as clams.  Then girl with black and white dog is coming at us and it lunges, snarls and nearly jumps into a car.  B responded by lunging and pulling hard to get to the dog.  Teenager looks at me like can you keep your dog away.  $%*^()&&%&*%^##&*^*(&;)(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was peeved but my friend was fit to be tied - we've been walking around this neighborhood for 3+ yrs with no problem with any dog.  In fact we were walking with another dog until she allows her dog on the 6ft or longer leash to charge us - I wish Bugsy wouldn't respond but you know I really can't blame him.  I just want to have my body left intact.  I'll be honest this is the last time I will try and avert a problem.  If she can't even be thankful or try to control her dog - I am not playing anymore.

Karen, you're much better than me.  I would have blown my stack right then.  If someone can't or won't control their dogs, I step in.  I try to give suggestions on how to improve the problem, but if they aren't receptive or if they are snotty, then I turn into a real b!tch. 

Yay Amanda! Got any pics of the foster?

BEVOLASVEGAS

Karen, you're much better than me.  I would have blown my stack right then.  If someone can't or won't control their dogs, I step in.  I try to give suggestions on how to improve the problem, but if they aren't receptive or if they are snotty, then I turn into a real b!tch. 

You rock.

We went to Petco today to get a kitty litter refill. The old guy that works the register there is loud and bit of a pill. He likes Shadow but Shadow doesn't want anything to do with him. I think its the grating, fingernails-on-chalkboard tone of the guy's voice. Plus, he moves into proximity too quickly. The fact that Shadow backs up and avoids is a good thing, if you really know dogs. Which this guy doesn't, even if he does say that he has dogs. Many of you know of the time and methods I have used to make Shadow calmer in public, even in the face of ill-behaved dogs. But this guy thinks I need to socialize Shadow. I could have told the guy he doesn't know squat but I was laughing inside. Some days, I just let it go.

Yep, Theo is a confirmed bed eater.  Born to eat beds.  Even as a pup in the ex pen with his littermates, it was ALWAYS Theo who ate the bedding.  And, it continues to this day.  He gets no response, no reaction, NO attention from me.  I just matter of factly, without a word or a look, pick up the victim and remove it to the mountain of OTHER beds that need mending.  If it weren't so danged cold, I absolutely would just say the heck with it and not mend the darned things, but it's not fair to everyone ELSE not to have a bed, just because Theo has this compulsion.

I move through the "receiving line" in the morning without a word, no comment, no looks, no reaction to it at all.  I basically pretend they aren't there.  Remember, this is a narrow RV hallway that passes from the bedroom past the bathroom and into the kitchen and then the livingroom area.It's narrow and relatively short, with a partial turn on the way out.  Filled with at least four GSD's. And I just plow on through as if they were NOT there.  At first, I was turning away from Shadow, but the bruised butt got to be a little old so now I just completely act like he isn't there, jumping and being stupid.  And, I can get up in the middle of the night, at 5AM or 9AM and its the same behavior.  He starts gearing up when I MOVE in the bed towards morning.  Rotten brat!  I literally can turn over in bed and hear him rev up.

I do think this is all a stress reaction, but knowing that doesn't make it any easier to live with it.  This too shall pass.....this too shall pass.....someday SOON (I hope) we'll have real lives again.

It made it to a whooping 18 degrees today.  I am not sure that my DEEP FREEZE gets that cold.  Yowser!

Ron, I hate people like that.  There is a woman at the store where I buy dog food, who is like that.  I put my guys in a sit-stay, & she starts trying to call them over.  When they ignore her, she comments about me needing to work on their obedience.  I've decided that it's easier to not take the dogs in, instead of trying to explain that I don't care if MY dogs don't listen to her.

Obedience class with DH & Bevo was every bit of the train wreck that I had feared.  By the time that Bev & I arrived at the training center, he was an absolute basket case.  He was bouncing like a fool, & trying to run zoomies around me.  DH had no clue how to deal with him, & the trainer came over after 10 minutes of DH struggling, & took Bev.  She did get Bev to sit, & down, but it took her quite some time, & it was only when she showed him the treat that he decided to listen to her.  For a second..  DH ended up pulling Bev out of class early because it was obvious that he was getting nowhere, & they were a big distraction. 

I met DH & Bev when they walked out of the training ring.  DH handed Bev to me, & asked me to take Shooter with us too.  Apparently, Shooter decided that it was more fun to chase, & try to eat the sheep than it was to herd them, today.    I opted to take the boys for a hike so that DH had time to get home, & calm down.  The boys & I had a great hike with a friend of mine, & now we're home.  Now, they are tired, & DH has calmed down, & in a much better mood.