So, I'm back to getting a dog...

Whispered

Ah sorry you're thinking about a travel crate. I mean a wire one that's fold-able, it's the same sort of idea as your indoor kennel. We found ours very handy last year when we went on holiday with our two dogs, they settled immediately because we had their "bedrooms" with us. We also bring them camping sometimes.

Here's a pic of Harley in his as a baby


He is way too big for that one now. So now it belongs to Phoe and we've a bigger one for him.

There are some lovely wooden ones online.

This looks like a piece of furniture, gorgeous.



If you think he'll find it hard to relax if he can't see you well then maybe something like this would work?



I'd also suggest a removable bottom tray for easy cleaning.



He might decide to chew his way out of it, so you'll have to be extra careful with training him to use it. Loads of patience and taking it very slow.

DeVore

Perfect, thanks so much for finding them, that's exactly what I'm planning on building. You've given me some great ideas!

LucyBliss

I'm sorry to go off on a tangent here, but OMG look at baby Harley!! The cuteness is too much!

Whispered

LucyBliss wrote: »

I'm sorry to go off on a tangent here, but OMG look at baby Harley!! The cuteness is too much!

Aw thanks. Wasn't he adorable! Now he's a big mallet-head.

DeVore

I've had Josh 8 weeks now and I am looking at going away for 4 days in 4 weeks time and then 8 days in another 3 weeks after that.

He'll be homed with a professional "home carer" who has dogs of her own and comes recommended so I've no worries about the care Josh will get but... I'm fretting a bit about abandonment issues and anxiety. He really gets a bit frantic when I go to leave and is still throwing himself at anything that gets between us.

Is it acceptible to leave him for 8 days, 4 months after rescue?

Stheno

DeVore wrote: »

Is it acceptible to leave him for 8 days, 4 months after rescue?

Yes, if you can try leaving him there for one overnight before the 4/8 days, so you've a bit of reassurance yourself.

kylith

Ask the career if you can do a trial run were you leave him with her for an afternoon. This will help Josh to feel safer when you leave him for a few days because he'll know from experience that you will come back.

barbiegirl

Welcome to the guilt side of having a dog. He'll be fine, you'll worry and you'll both be delighted to see one another again. We're all allowed go away occasionally. Remember also to leave one of your dirty shirts with him for comfort.

LucyBliss

DeVore, if it helps any, I have three dogs, one of whom is practically my shadow and if she could come with me everywhere, she'd be very happy. She has on occasion hidden under my bed when she saw me getting ready to leave the house and is not cooperative on Wednesdays when she sees me take out the bag I bring with me to my Girl Guide meeting. She recognises my uniform neckerchief and hides when she sees me put it on. She has also seen me pack the uniform for a leader training weekend and hop into the suitcase and nearly refuse to hop back out.

The first time I had to send the dogs to the dog minder they were a year old, we were going to the US for a family wedding and would be gone a week. I was in bits. I was afraid that she'd be miserable and upset and that the other two wouldn't be happy away from home either.

It took Jack ten minutes to settle in his new surroundings when he found the acre out the back was just great for running around in. It took Rosie two minutes when she found a new comfortable chair to sit on. It took Meg three hours - she stayed in the crate we sent out with her own dog bed - and then the woman who helped out at the dog minders sat down and Meg hopped onto her lap and was fine.

While I was delighted to hear that the dogs adapted so well to their new surroundings, I couldn't help but a be a bit miffed that I'd wasted all that energy worrying about them!

So sometimes they can pleasantly surprise us with how well they get on and I do hope that this is your experience too.

I would also think that the two of you having to be separated for a short while might be a good thing. It can be an important part of his development and might help him stop focusing entirely on you to the degree that he is.

DeVore

Thanks all... I should have mentioned that I am planning an "overnight" for him with the carer (and her two dogs) before the 4 days away so he gets used to it.

I got the Bikejoring yoke on my bike today. Well.... that was interesting! At first Josh was mad about it because he liked having something tied to his collar, I guess he figured he was going outside! Then he managed to pull the bike away from my hands trying to get it out the gate, it fell on him, he took off as best he could but the bike dragged him back , he freaked, I paniced, the bike got dragged along, Josh nearly got out of his collar (and from now on I will be using the harness for this!) and I had to stick him in the porch while I sorted the whole thing out. A treat and a rub later and a few things corrected and we were out and trying the system.... and it works! I tried walking with him first, so that I could see how things worked for him. The problem is that at that speed he wants to sniff and pee on everything. So I tried some tentative cycling and he happily trotted along. A little quicker to stop him from investigating trees and we were flying! So, now I can bring him to St Annes Park on nice days, which is usually out of our range, and get some socialisation going.

The crate is designed and getting built this weekend. I've decided to make a (lockable) dog flap leading from the crate to the garden so that if he's confined to the crate for some reason I can let him decide if he wants to be in it, or out in the garden. If I can nail that this fortnight, I will be one very happy dog owner. Its the last real part of the puzzle.

Taltos

Sounds like a very lucky dog with a home-made crate.

We also used crate training as part of their house training - worked a treat. Unfortunately they grew out of their crate and now the house is one big crate for them.

Great idea to trial the home boarding - don't forget to include a favourite blanket or toy.
We also normally printed (and laminated) food and medication instructions as well as our vets details and an emergency number just in case. Have gone away twice now and have to admit the guilt for me at least is not getting any easier.

It really helps though when you come back and they give you a huge welcome, both were a bit off their first day back home but we did our best not to make it any different and just went back into our normal routines - feed now - measured treats - time for walk. Only thing we messed up on was two days later changing one component of their diets but we live and learn.

Pets have a way of picking up on you feeling guilty but do your best not to act differently or spoil them in any way - just reinforces behaviour. Looking forwards to seeing the finished crate though

edit: Um just one thing - when teething mine ate anything wooden - and I mean anything, our dining chairs, wine rack, kitchen island, skirting board corners, licked a hole through the plaster back to the brickwork - the foldable cage we had was bullet proof, but we did take our time training them how to use it and sleep in it. Earlier you start the better - definitely look into how to use it appropriately to avoid any later issues. For my two girls it was their escape from the cat - or it was until one night they went to go to bed (on command) and stopped at the door shaking - my tom cat was plonked down in the middle of the bed sleeping...

ISDW

Please do use a harness when bikejoring, and a lead with a bungee in it. what kind of harness do you have? A dog walking one is not appropriate, you need one that will allow him to pull safely, an x back or a shoulder harness. it is really dangerous to get a dog to pull from its collar.

DeVore

I see people here saying their dog was "off" with them or in a huff or stuff... thats kinda weird. I havent experienced that yet (probably its too soon, I've only had him 8 weeks) but Josh is always always mad happy to see me. Even then I give out yards to him, he's always back in 5 mintues look for rubs and play. I wonder if he will develop this but right now its nothing but energy and ALWAYS up for a play. Like, *always* unless he is asleep
I cant imagine him being "off" with me, it would actually be a treat.

I'm not so much feeling "guilty" about it, as I am feeling like I dont want to undo all the progress we've made in settling him in and that. I just *know* he will be anxious, he's anxious if I go upstairs to the bathroom, but he's just going to have to dog-up and get over it. Sorry buddy, you'll live.

Travel is a regular part of my life and while I've seriously curtailed it for him, its still something that comes up from time to time. He will be looked after and will have doggie company for the time so some anxiety will just have to be put up with I'm afraid.

Hooked

I've recently taken up bikejoring and bought my harness off eBay. I haven't read the thread in detail so in not sure of the type of dog you have but here's the info on the seller and the harness which I was very pleased with. Only 13 sterling plus postage.


eBay link:

x back Racing Sled dog harness Husky/Malamute

http://bit.ly/122mdzY

DeVore

Ah, then I'm wrong about "bike-joring", this is a leash which connects to under the bike saddle (kind of a metal sprung thing).

ISDW

Hooked wrote: »

I've recently taken up bikejoring and bought my harness off eBay. I haven't read the thread in detail so in not sure of the type of dog you have but here's the info on the seller and the harness which I was very pleased with. Only 13 sterling plus postage.


eBay link:

x back Racing Sled dog harness Husky/Malamute

http://bit.ly/122mdzY

How do you find the attachment point using an xback? People do use xbacks for bikejoring, but the most popular harness for the sport is a shoulder harness. depending on the height of the dog, he could get pulled up at the back legs with an xback, with the line coming off the handlebars being a lot higher than it would be off a sled, rig or scooter.

DeVore

So.... I buckled and bought a crate (http://www.jebbtools.ie/animal-products/dog-crates/cheap-dog-crates-ireland.html) because this one is almost exactly the dimensions I wanted to get (its pretty big all the same!) and its about the same price as trying to make one myself.

Now to continue my reading on crate training

Lets hope this is the last major change I need to do because I'd like to get to the stage where he and I are working out. right now he's getting things all his own way in terms of where he is and how much time he spends with me.

Whispered

DeVore wrote: »

So.... I buckled and bought a crate (http://www.jebbtools.ie/animal-products/dog-crates/cheap-dog-crates-ireland.html) because this one is almost exactly the dimensions I wanted to get (its pretty big all the same!) and its about the same price as trying to make one myself.

Now to continue my reading on crate training

Lets hope this is the last major change I need to do because I'd like to get to the stage where he and I are working out. right now he's getting things all his own way in terms of where he is and how much time he spends with me.

I know it's been said before, but I just wanted to mention again; it is absolutely totally necessary to take the crate training at your dogs pace.-

It's ok that he's getting things his own way mine do! If I need a bit of time away from them they have their crates, but when I'm working from home they are always in the room with me.

tk123

It's going to be HUGE!! I got the XXXL one for crate rest and could fit in it with the dog!

The Sweeper

Bikejoring isn't the same as using a WalkyDog attachment for walking your dog on the bike. The Walkydog (a springloaded shock absorbing attachment that fits on the saddle pole) is specifically designed to NOT let your dog pull you on the bike. The idea is that you train the dog to run alongside the bike, but if he reacts to wildlife, other dogs or something else and goes shooting off at right angles you won't be pulled sideways off your bike and badly injured.

Sounds like you have some variation on a WalkyDog, Dev.

nemo32

Thats who we bought our crate from and it was delivered next day, Great service. Best of luck with the training, it will be well worth it! My guy loves his crate and he brings everything in there with him. We haven't reached the stage were he will stay in the crate without having a freak attack if we are in another room in the house but slowy slowy :-)

DeVore

The Sweeper wrote: »

Bikejoring isn't the same as using a WalkyDog attachment for walking your dog on the bike. The Walkydog (a springloaded shock absorbing attachment that fits on the saddle pole) is specifically designed to NOT let your dog pull you on the bike. The idea is that you train the dog to run alongside the bike, but if he reacts to wildlife, other dogs or something else and goes shooting off at right angles you won't be pulled sideways off your bike and badly injured.

Sounds like you have some variation on a WalkyDog, Dev.

Yep, thats what I have. It works a lot better than I anticipated too! Gonna try to get him down to Saint Annes maybe tomorrow...

DeVore

So, big day today... We went out with the WalkyDog attachment to the bike and things went great, I knew better how to get him connected to it and with a bit of a struggle (cos he's delighed to be outside going for his walk!) we got hooked up and on our way. Everything went smoothly down to the park when I got complacent, went too close to a bollard and Josh went one side and I went the other and pretty much lumped myself over the handlebars. Josh pulled up sharply and managed to pull the harness right over his head and then stood there, free as a bird, looking at me lying in the mud. Thankfully he didnt run or make a break for it and was quite happy to go back on the lead and on the bike. Lesson learned.
Other then that, its fantastic. Very little pull even when he is serious about getting to sniff some passing tree. So little affect on my steering that I have to keep checking back to see if he's still actually there!

Turns out, the Dog Compound in St, Annes is being renovated for 2 weeks. It does look pretty cool and we'll be going back there again as soon as its open.


Second thing is that his crate arrived. Its... ginormous. Its probably a bit TOO big if truth be told but I hated the idea of having him squashed up like a battery hen. So, not a great start when I was unpacking it the door fell open from the side and made a big crashing sound and he took off like a rocket from it. I set it up, along with a huge piece of metal for the floor and at first he wanted nothing to do with it. The floor made a loud buckling sound when he stepped on it and he didnt like that at all! So much so that when I put a treat in his bed inside, he was trying to find a way to get to the bed without walking on the floor and it was doing his little doggie brain in with frustration. Eventually he made a dash for it and leapt in the bed from the door and then got out pretty sharpish too. I decided to take the floor piece out because the noise was pretty loud from it and I didnt fancy that through the house whenever he was awake.

So, without the floor things have improved. I climbed into the crate, along with the biggest juiciest pork bone from his stash and we had a nice chew on it with me in there with him and a good solid sniff of all the bars. When I got out he got out too of course and couldnt really be coaxed back in but I figured, take it slow. So, I sat down to do some work on the laptop and he went about his usual array of playing with toys, my feet, attempting to take my power pack away with him and generally mess the place up. Then he decided he wanted his blanket and vet bed... so I watched him very tentatively stick his nose into the crate and sniff everything. Stick a paw in and out, step in grab his bedding and pull it out. I decided I had to show that bedding stays in the crate so I put them back in, sat down and ignored him again. This time he went in and lay down. He's TOTALLY suspicious of the door, I think he knows it can be closed on him but right now I just want him to get comfy with the whole idea of sleeping in there.
So, over the course of the day I've tried to reward him when he goes in and now as I type, he's flaked out in there. Quite happy in his bed. I'm going to leave him like that tonight and for a few nights before trying to use the door.

I'm getting a dog flap put in that leads from his crate to the garden so even when he is incarcerated he can go to the garden if he wants, but access to the kitchen is going to be on my terms (so I can *have* a kitchen again!).

But softly softly catchy doggie... Round 1 to the "Two Legs".

gavmcg92

DeVore wrote: »

He's TOTALLY suspicious of the door, I think he knows it can be closed on him but right now I just want him to get comfy with the whole idea of sleeping in there.

Millie is the same when it comes to her bed time. She sleeps on the couch in the kitchen. When I call her from the kitchen she comes as far as the top of the three steps down to the kitchen door. She knows exactly what will happen when she crosses that threshold :P

Stheno

Well done! Sounds like a lot of progress in a very short time Real trust that he just stood there after the bike crash

If you can, get a piece of vet bed that is bigger than the floor of the crate, put it in and fold it over at the entrance of the crate so it feels especially inviting. The floor of the crate gives it a bit more structure, and deals with any nasty toilet/sick stomach/vomiting accidents far better than without.

Leave his bed on top of the vet bed towards the middle/back of the crate.

Any time I've used crates, I've always had a bowl of water in the crate to one side of the door too, just gets them used to going in and out

Ms Tootsie

The updates are hysterical, they remind me so much of when we got our guy. Going from being at our wits end to slowly getting there and celebrating every tiny milestone along the way. The first time I saw him get into his crate without needing any coaxing with a treat I could have cried with joy lol because I knew all the hard work was finally paying off.

I will say if the crate is huge, when you first go to leave him in it with the door closed, use a bit of cardboard or something to block parts off and make it more suitable for his size. You dont want him being able to get up and go to the toilet at one end of the crate and then lie back comfortably away from it all on his bed, this will only start bad toilet habits in the crate. We are still having the odd accident in the house with our guy (I swear I think he was the runt of the litter) but the one place he will never ever go to the toilet is in his crate. I got this tip from other dog owners here on boards

notlongleft

loving the update Josh sounds like he s getting better. Great that he did run off while you were in a heap!

kylith

Just wanted to say DeVore; you may need to check with your home insurance company before getting a dog door installed. AFAIK some of them won't cover you if you have one.

DeVore

Thanks I'll be sure to give that a check before I smash holes in my house.

Not much update from Josh lately, the crate has been taken in his stride and while I havent yet closed the door, he has no problem going in and out of it and sleeping there. So far so good.

I dunno when will be the best time to lock him in... I'm debating if I should wait for the dog flap to be installed (sometime this week, all going well and if the insurance company has no issue!)

He has become noticeable less bonkers in the morning and less anxious about me leaving the room. If he's tired he may not even get up to run over to see where I'm going through the glass pane in the door (which he has always done since day 1!). That is a huge bonus because in the first week he would go so nuts that I couldnt dare leave my laptop around when just nipping to the loo! Everything had to be packed away. Now I feel like I can leave him a short time without thinking he will chew through the cables ...

I've booked 9 days away in March and I must admit, I'm worried. He's SO attached to me that I hope he wont stress out again. Also, I hate the idea of the little fella being distressed. So, I guess I'm bonding with him

The local college has allowed me access to their fenced off huge playing fields area and Josh is in doggie heaven there with acres of room to run and tons of bushes to snuffle.

I'm hoping to board him with the pet-sitter lady for a day this weekend, then a three days in a fortnights time, working up to the 9 days in March.

Some days I want to snuggle him like mad and others I want to give him a big kick up the arse

Assassin saphir

Best thread on boards DeVore. I got my first dog 4 weeks ago and we are going through the same things as you and Josh. I love reading your updates. Keep them coming!