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Post by maxt on Feb 9, 2015 9:22:17 GMT
Quick update after this morning's walk. So much better on the lead today - still work to do, but he is learning quickly. We caught up with a friend who walks several very friendly dogs and tagged along at the end of their walk for a while. Toby was in hiding for a short time, then came out from behind my legs to make friends with everyone. He was on lead (and will be for the foreseeable) so a lot to ask of him, but he managed very well and knows already how to keep himself out of trouble in a large-ish group. We have arranged to meet again later in the week and I will take just Toby for another socialisation by baptism-of-fire walk!
He had a good scoot around the garden afterwards with Dexter and everyone is now having a kip. Phew!
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Post by rowlfsmum on Feb 9, 2015 9:26:16 GMT
Bless sounds like he will be just fine with you.
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Post by Rough coat on Feb 9, 2015 12:35:49 GMT
So good to read Toby is being a good boy and enjoying himselff with Dexter and Charley. The photos are great too.
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Post by daisydip on Feb 9, 2015 15:33:58 GMT
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly they fit in. Routine and regular walks. This one has the most adorable face.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2015 12:07:34 GMT
This little boy is already sounding very different from the frenetic, over-excited dog that I first met. Dexter and Charley are going to be so good for him, and it's going to be fascinating seeing how the different parts to their characters come to the fore when dealing with Toby. You're doing a brilliant job and I'm loving seeing your updates and photos
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Post by maxt on Feb 12, 2015 11:04:37 GMT
Well, what a difference a few days makes. Big change: Toby sleeps. For England. There have been a couple of morning he has had to be shoved enthusiastically encouraged out of his bed to go in the garden. No nocturnal accidents since he arrived Toby has learned about being on lead and walks along really well with just the odd pull when the others charge away, but he is very nearly there. No reaction when we pass other dogs if they are at a polite distance, other than interest and curious to say hello. Only 1 attempt at mouthing yesterday and I am sure that was because he had just forgotten himself - this was just soft, no teeth, so huge improvement there. The jumping up is also slowly disappearing, but still a work in progress when anyone, particularly Andy, comes through the front door. I was amused to read Fleur's thread about fast eating. This boy is also quick and tried, on day 1, to 'help' the others with their bowls. While we can take their food away, Toby doesn't stand a prayer. Charley Terriorist has cured him of any notion that sharing is caring and no repeat performance has been attempted. They all wash up each other's bowls afterwards without incident. Timid when he first arrived, he is emerging. Not sure how the finished pup will be, but he is now challenging the Terriorist and Dexter has stood back and left them to it (he was intervening for the first few days to protect Charley). But, it has to be said ... Charley has an 'only child' mentality and has been lucky that Dexter was non-confrontational other than to try really, really hard to get her to play. Toby will, I think, be less of a pushover for her so the mini-pack (a 'packet' if you will) is being reshuffled. We had a small 'remove the chewy stick from Toby' issue when he growled at us for going near and will now make sure every time he has his chewy stick, or anything else, we can give/take/give back randomly. Going to be interesting to see how it all ends up. He has dropped a little weight since arriving so he is on 3 feeds a day and we will have to keep his Dexter playtimes on a time limit because, although it is lovely to watch the pair of them playing and whooshing about, Toby is, after all, still a growing lad and needs to eat more cals than he burns off. When not sleeping he is teething, so a selection of 'legal' chewables need to be on hand. Frog is current favourite He is the cuddliest wee thing on the planet and makes the strangest noises. Will try to work out how to load small vid clips cos he is hilarious.
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Post by BW on Feb 12, 2015 11:21:26 GMT
Great update & lovely pic of the wee lad Maxine - he seems to be coming on in leaps & bounds, (no doubt literally!).
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Post by Socksmum on Feb 12, 2015 11:31:59 GMT
What a lovely update, he's doing just great with you and yours. The pic is fab. Thanks for sharing xx
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Post by maxt on Feb 12, 2015 12:19:33 GMT
Great update & lovely pic of the wee lad Maxine - he seems to be coming on in leaps & bounds, (no doubt literally!). Never seen so many leaps and bounds. On the one hand it is really great to see him having so much fun, on the other, today was my first lurchered day. If anyone has tips for avoiding the 2-dog-sideways approach with the pursued dog facing backwards, coming at a bit of a lick in no particular direction, with me and the rest of the world in his blind spot, do tell. Luckily in the comfort and privacy of own garden and don't think anyone saw Hopefully no-one heard either! Wing mirrors?
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Post by Romi on Feb 12, 2015 12:44:57 GMT
Get yourself a Zorb ball thingy. Get in it. Never get out. This is the only way to avoid being lurchered. www.zorb.org.uk/index.html
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Post by maxt on Feb 12, 2015 12:54:03 GMT
Get yourself a Zorb ball thingy. Get in it. Never get out. This is the only way to avoid being lurchered. www.zorb.org.uk/index.htmlBrilliant! One of the 'my-life-will-be-incomplete-until-I-have-one' thingies. I was eating a bowl of lunch at the time and ... fanfare and applause please ... didn't drop any. No idea how.
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Post by alfie&tillysmum on Feb 12, 2015 13:17:38 GMT
Congratulations on not dropping your lunch! When my two start doing zoomies in the garden I try to stay close to the shed or large tree. It has worked so far but no doubt they will catch me off guard one day.
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Post by maja5 on Feb 12, 2015 13:39:17 GMT
great to hear see such nice update and such improvement..he looks so cute..very handsome young boy.. it is amazing to see how can right environment and nice understanding people help pets to have better lifes... (and though,such a shame that there is still so many selfish and stupid humans causing that the many pets still suffer!...) Toby was really lucky to end up with you...
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Post by rowlfsmum on Feb 12, 2015 13:57:31 GMT
That was an achievement, being lurchered and keeping your lunch IN the bowl! Bet the dogs were disappointed not to get a free snack!!
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Post by maxt on Feb 12, 2015 14:17:16 GMT
... Toby was really lucky to end up with you... Nah, Toby was lucky SLR spotted he was in trouble and got on the case. His future was always going to be better after that. We just happened to have a spare bed in Toby's size
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2015 23:42:38 GMT
finding you and your pack is just what he needed. His life is going to change for the better and he's going to learn so much from Dexter and Charley. You came along at just the right time and I'm so grateful to you both for the love and care you're giving him.
Lovely photo and great to hear how his character is coming out. His previous owner told me he was affectionate so it's really nice to hear how cuddly he is.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2015 11:03:39 GMT
how is Toby getting on?
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Post by Mimsmum on Feb 17, 2015 11:37:13 GMT
Ditto x
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Post by maxt on Feb 17, 2015 12:04:14 GMT
Well, just over a week later ... Toby is a joy to have around. He has caused an amount of chaos disproportionate to this size but no different to any other young thing with more energy than co-ordination/understanding of r-u-l-e-s! But he is getting there.
He now sits better than the other two while waiting for his meals. In fact he sits as upright as he possibly can with every little bit of him trying really hard to sit the best so he might get fed faster/more.
He has very nearly cracked walking on lead with just one or two leaps forward when he sees someone/thing exciting. He meets dogs now very politely, but still gets excited if people stop to say hello. Improving though.
Toilet training goes well so long as we are super-vigilant. He gives the smallest whimper now to go out and we miss it at our peril. Even if he has just been out five minutes before. It's all pretty random, but keeps us on our toes and after just a week is much, much better. New washable, absorbent doormat arrived on Toby day 2. It's washable/absorbent properties were being tested within 10 mins of it being down!
Counter surfing: Charley has been less successful than we hoped. Toby is an accomplished and expert 'non-return-borrower' of anything not watched on a second-by-second basis. A loud 'NO' does now get his attention and he grudgingly takes his front paws off whatever they were on but no recognition that this might be unwelcome. I think he has pretty much helped himself and so thinks it normal. He had the notion that he could pop his cute wee nose into our dinner for the first day or so while we were at the table eating it. He now stays in his bed (not the crate) while we eat!
Crate - still not popular, so we are doing the treats with door open but he is very reluctant and just pops his nose in far enough, with front paws, then reverses straight back out. This will be a longer-term thing but we'll keep at it. We left Dexter and Toby together where they could do least damage to the house or themselves while we walked around the block for 10 mins and they seemed ok. Will do this a bit more each day so I can leave them for an hour or so, then life can be resumed!
Dexter thinks he is in heaven: Toby never says no when Dexter asks him if he wants to play and Charley actually curls up next to him. Dexter no longer plagues Charley to play all day (she joins in with the two of them occasionally, but on her terms). So, instead of 3 making life more challenging, Toby seems to have fitted well and has made life with my two easier. He has stopped dropping weight now and his coat is improving a bit. Would still like to see less of his spine and hip bones but that won't happen overnight.
He adores Andy and chooses to sit with him while there is DIY or boy stuff going on and 'helps' with knee pads (favourite), dust sheets, anything portable in fact and some things which aren't. Otherwise he is a cuddle monster and is extremely happy if he can just sleep many times a day with his head tucked into a warm person. Recall in the garden is coming along - luckily he is very food oriented so taking full advantage of that.
Oh, had forgotten the mouthing ... because we haven't seen it for a few days now. I am convinced this is less to do with us and more to do with Dexter letting him know quite firmly when Toby has gone too far with his bitey game.
Will post pics separately. Still not sure how to load a vid clip.
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Post by rowlfsmum on Feb 17, 2015 12:50:52 GMT
Brilliant that sounds as if all is going in the right direction.
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