Dogs

[Wolfox]

We are on holiday in Greece at the moment…. We came back from a meal out to see a stray dog waiting at the gate…. We left her there as it may have belonged to someone and equally it wasn’t our Villa so didn’t want to encourage a stray (it wouldn’t be fair)

 

we woke up in the morning as she was still there

 

 

One of my kids let her in “can we keep her?”

 

Me -”No, I’m sorry, we have two dogs and it would be really difficult to get her back home”

 

 

 

The neighbours agreed to look after her for a bit and see if they could organise a local charity to sort something out - result!

 

Mabel (yes, she got named!) came round for the odd play date…. My wife and all the kids started working on me…

 

inevitably I have caved in…. She now has had her rabies jab, various other jabs  and a pet  passport…. 
 

A U.K. registered charity called Zante strays have agreed to ship her to our home after she’s had her booster at the end of August and our Greek neighbours have very kindly agreed to foster her until Zante strays pick her up…

 

What is it about Brits and dogs?  I couldn’t bare the thought of her being destroyed, I couldn’t have forgiven myself.

 

Welcome to the family Mabel…. We can’t wait for you to come to your new home in Leicester!

 

Edited 28 July 2022 by Wolfox

[Daggers]

38 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

We are on holiday in Greece at the moment…. We came back from a meal out to see a stray dog waiting at the gate…. We left her there as it may have belonged to someone and equally it wasn’t our Villa so didn’t want to encourage a stray (it wouldn’t be fair)

 

we woke up in the morning as she was still there

 

 

One of my kids let her in “can we keep her?”

 

Me -”No, I’m sorry, we have two dogs and it would be really difficult to get her back home”

 

 

 

The neighbours agreed to look after her for a bit and see if they could organise a local charity to sort something out - result!

 

Mabel (yes, she got named!) came round for the odd play date…. My wife and all the kids started working on me…

 

inevitably I have caved in…. She now has had her rabies jab, various other jabs  and a pet  passport…. 
 

A U.K. registered charity called Zante strays have agreed to ship her home after she’s had her booster at the end of August and our neighbours have very kindly agreed to foster her.

 

what is it about Brits and dogs?  I couldn’t bare the thought of her being destroyed, I couldn’t have forgiven myself 

 

Welcome to the family Mabel!

 

Cute.

[Fathead1981]

my first ever dog at the age of 41, meet Stella our new Goldendoodle puppy

 

[Wolfox]

20 hours ago, Daggers said:

Cute.

Most people bring back a bit of olive oil or maybe a bottle of ouzo…. I’ve got a hound!!!

 

The vet said she was only 12 weeks old and she has big paws…. Will be a proper dog size !

 

Just said goodbye to her this morning and she’s booked on the transport for September 

[Rain King]

We've just taken on the in-laws cockapoo.

 

Nicest dog you could ever meet and always around our house anyway, loves the kids and they thought it'd be nice for us to have her where she can play and have fun rather than be asleep by half 8 every night.

 

Can anyone recommend some good places to take for walks in Leicestershire other than the obvious Bradgate, Fosse Meadows etc?

 

Would like to find some hidden gems that aren't overcrowded with other dog walkers.

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

26 minutes ago, Rain King said:

We've just taken on the in-laws cockapoo.

 

Nicest dog you could ever meet and always around our house anyway, loves the kids and they thought it'd be nice for us to have her where she can play and have fun rather than be asleep by half 8 every night.

 

Can anyone recommend some good places to take for walks in Leicestershire other than the obvious Bradgate, Fosse Meadows etc?

 

Would like to find some hidden gems that aren't overcrowded with other dog walkers.

 

Outwoods between Loughborough and Woodhouse Eaves is great, just be mindful of the bridal paths if you have the dog off-lead. Also the fields along the Soar between Mountsorrel and Barrow are good - just have to be careful if the cows are roaming about

[Wolfox]

45 minutes ago, Rain King said:

We've just taken on the in-laws cockapoo.

 

Nicest dog you could ever meet and always around our house anyway, loves the kids and they thought it'd be nice for us to have her where she can play and have fun rather than be asleep by half 8 every night.

 

Can anyone recommend some good places to take for walks in Leicestershire other than the obvious Bradgate, Fosse Meadows etc?

 

Would like to find some hidden gems that aren't overcrowded with other dog walkers.

This is a great resource…. I’ve done loads of these and there are some real gems where you may not even see another person!

 

https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/walking/walking-maps/

[Costock_Fox]

20 hours ago, Fathead1981 said:

my first ever dog at the age of 41, meet Stella our new Goldendoodle puppy

 

She looks good for her age mate.

[Unabomber]

Had the most harrowing few weeks with my dog. We were meant to go on holiday but long story short he got IVDD and needed emergency surgery. Means he slipped a disk. So brutal. He can’t walk and is only 5. We are hopeful that he will walk again but it’s difficult. It’s like having a baby having to support him for toilet etc. I thought naming a dog Nigel Pearson would mean he was ****ing sorted for life. 

[RonnieTodger]

1 hour ago, Unabomber said:

Had the most harrowing few weeks with my dog. We were meant to go on holiday but long story short he got IVDD and needed emergency surgery. Means he slipped a disk. So brutal. He can’t walk and is only 5. We are hopeful that he will walk again but it’s difficult. It’s like having a baby having to support him for toilet etc. I thought naming a dog Nigel Pearson would mean he was ****ing sorted for life. 

Oh bless him. Fingers crossed for him mate

[Tommy G]

Being strong armed into getting a dog - mainly because my 3 year old son is non verbal and has some moderate learning difficulties we believe a dog would be helpful, he is a different child around other peoples. 
 

We are looking at a lab or a cross between a lab and a retriever. Mainly for their temperament, and also my wife has already had a lab as a kid. 
 

I need as much info as poss please - where best to get one for starters, how many weeks should the puppy be at pick up etc. there are plenty for sale online but anyone got any experience of good websites. I would of got a rescue but because of my son we really need one from a puppy and a specific breed (ideally) 
 

Thanks.

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

9 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Being strong armed into getting a dog - mainly because my 3 year old son is non verbal and has some moderate learning difficulties we believe a dog would be helpful, he is a different child around other peoples. 
 

We are looking at a lab or a cross between a lab and a retriever. Mainly for their temperament, and also my wife has already had a lab as a kid. 
 

I need as much info as poss please - where best to get one for starters, how many weeks should the puppy be at pick up etc. there are plenty for sale online but anyone got any experience of good websites. I would of got a rescue but because of my son we really need one from a puppy and a specific breed (ideally) 
 

Thanks.

 

They should be picked up from 8 weeks old onwards, apparently much earlier than that and they can develop behavioural issues as a result. Can't give any advice on where to buy as I got mine from a friend of a friend who had a one-off litter but if you don't go off a recommendation, ensure you go to visit the place and insist on seeing the litter with their mother, and check the place is properly set up and not just a front - I had a friend who didn't and it turned out the puppy was from a puppy farm and it quickly developed a fairly serious illness. It was ok in the end but caused a sizeable dent in her bank balance!

 

Labrador btw - perfect choice. They are absolutely magic with children and seem to instinctively know not to play rough around them. I've had friends with babies and toddlers around my dog and she is really careful around them even when she's excited. Also dead easy to train - apparently the black and yellow ones mostly (brown labs tend to be a bit more loopy for some reason)

[Sir Shep]

On 28/07/2022 at 13:24, Wolfox said:

We are on holiday in Greece at the moment…. We came back from a meal out to see a stray dog waiting at the gate…. We left her there as it may have belonged to someone and equally it wasn’t our Villa so didn’t want to encourage a stray (it wouldn’t be fair)

 

we woke up in the morning as she was still there

 

 

One of my kids let her in “can we keep her?”

 

Me -”No, I’m sorry, we have two dogs and it would be really difficult to get her back home”

 

 

 

The neighbours agreed to look after her for a bit and see if they could organise a local charity to sort something out - result!

 

Mabel (yes, she got named!) came round for the odd play date…. My wife and all the kids started working on me…

 

inevitably I have caved in…. She now has had her rabies jab, various other jabs  and a pet  passport…. 
 

A U.K. registered charity called Zante strays have agreed to ship her to our home after she’s had her booster at the end of August and our Greek neighbours have very kindly agreed to foster her until Zante strays pick her up…

 

What is it about Brits and dogs?  I couldn’t bare the thought of her being destroyed, I couldn’t have forgiven myself.

 

Welcome to the family Mabel…. We can’t wait for you to come to your new home in Leicester!

 

That's a lovely heart warming tale (no pun intended!). Cheered me up no end and I'm looking forward to hearing about his arrival in september, nice one. 

[Countryfox]

14 hours ago, Unabomber said:

Had the most harrowing few weeks with my dog. We were meant to go on holiday but long story short he got IVDD and needed emergency surgery. Means he slipped a disk. So brutal. He can’t walk and is only 5. We are hopeful that he will walk again but it’s difficult. It’s like having a baby having to support him for toilet etc. I thought naming a dog Nigel Pearson would mean he was ****ing sorted for life. 

Sorry to hear that mate ..  I've had a harrowing time recently so I know what it can do to you ...  several grim days followed by the worst day of my life (and I don't say that lightly) ...  affected the whole family ..   time is a great healer and all that but the images of that day will haunt me forever. 

[Costock_Fox]

15 hours ago, Unabomber said:

Had the most harrowing few weeks with my dog. We were meant to go on holiday but long story short he got IVDD and needed emergency surgery. Means he slipped a disk. So brutal. He can’t walk and is only 5. We are hopeful that he will walk again but it’s difficult. It’s like having a baby having to support him for toilet etc. I thought naming a dog Nigel Pearson would mean he was ****ing sorted for life. 

Sorry to hear that mate. I’ve got a friend with a Sausage dog and he has the same thing, he recovered but I think she still walks him with a sling around his back to support him.

[Costock_Fox]

43 minutes ago, Countryfox said:

Sorry to hear that mate ..  I've had a harrowing time recently so I know what it can do to you ...  several grim days followed by the worst day of my life (and I don't say that lightly) ...  affected the whole family ..   time is a great healer and all that but the images of that day will haunt me forever. 

Also sorry to hear that. Dogs eh.

[Heathrow fox]

Dog/Cat food gone up again.The price has more or less risen by a third in twelve months 

[FoyleFox]

On 05/08/2022 at 21:42, Unabomber said:

Had the most harrowing few weeks with my dog. We were meant to go on holiday but long story short he got IVDD and needed emergency surgery. Means he slipped a disk. So brutal. He can’t walk and is only 5. We are hopeful that he will walk again but it’s difficult. It’s like having a baby having to support him for toilet etc. I thought naming a dog Nigel Pearson would mean he was ****ing sorted for life. 

So sorry to hear this. How is he doing now? My late furry friend had a spinal disc issue, had an operation to correct, but she no longer had the muscle strength in her back legs to walk. We got her a cart. It was quite expensive but absolutely brilliant.

 

First trip out, came up in FB memories today.

Edited 6 September 2022 by FoyleFox

[Unabomber]

2 hours ago, FoyleFox said:

So sorry to hear this. How is he doing now? My late furry friend had a spinal disc issue, had an operation to correct, but she no longer had the muscle strength in her back legs to walk. We got her a cart. It was quite expensive but absolutely brilliant.

 

First trip out, came up in FB memories today.

Thanks for asking. He has been been subject to crate rest since we got him home end of July. He can now use his legs and can walk albeit very wobbly. We need to now try and get his strength up in his back legs. We have a catch up with the surgeon on Thursday to see what he says. Currently he is still in his crate apart from when we take him outside for toilet. Pretty hopeful that he will get walking again properly over the coming weeks/months. We really want to start taking him out again even if it is in a stroller to give him a change of scenery. 

 

[FoyleFox]

Hope all goes well on Thursday. Obviously, fully dependent on size etc, but I've still got that cart in the loft, if you get to a point of wanting one, even short term. It can be set for the back legs to be on the ground, working the muscles but supporting the body.

 

[LanguedocFox]

On 06/08/2022 at 08:07, Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo said:

 

They should be picked up from 8 weeks old onwards, apparently much earlier than that and they can develop behavioural issues as a result. Can't give any advice on where to buy as I got mine from a friend of a friend who had a one-off litter but if you don't go off a recommendation, ensure you go to visit the place and insist on seeing the litter with their mother, and check the place is properly set up and not just a front - I had a friend who didn't and it turned out the puppy was from a puppy farm and it quickly developed a fairly serious illness. It was ok in the end but caused a sizeable dent in her bank balance!

 

Labrador btw - perfect choice. They are absolutely magic with children and seem to instinctively know not to play rough around them. I've had friends with babies and toddlers around my dog and she is really careful around them even when she's excited. Also dead easy to train - apparently the black and yellow ones mostly (brown labs tend to be a bit more loopy for some reason)

Just wanted to agree with all this. We’ve had two labs - black female and the big blond lad on my profile pic. Both great with kids and very easy to train. Enjoy!

[thegaffa]

On 06/09/2022 at 13:26, Unabomber said:

Thanks for asking. He has been been subject to crate rest since we got him home end of July. He can now use his legs and can walk albeit very wobbly. We need to now try and get his strength up in his back legs. We have a catch up with the surgeon on Thursday to see what he says. Currently he is still in his crate apart from when we take him outside for toilet. Pretty hopeful that he will get walking again properly over the coming weeks/months. We really want to start taking him out again even if it is in a stroller to give him a change of scenery. 

 

My French bulldog (2 at the time) had wobbly back legs that she dragged around and couldn’t barely stand, we were told by the vet it was ivdd and that he had booked her in for a specialised assessment and operation in Birmingham.

 

The vet gave us some pain relief for her until her operation that was a about a week away.

 

during that week I massaged and moved her legs ( like physio on the legs) and did this 3 times a day, on each leg for 20 mins at a time and by the 3rd day she was running around with wobbly legs and dragged them slightly still, and by day 6 she’d didn’t drag them at all but was still a little wobbly whilst running.

 

About a week after this (I continued the physio on her during this time), she was fine and it’s been over a year now and she’s still has no issues, I’m glad I read up on the help physio/leg massages on her could have and also thankful that she never needed an operation.

[Wolfox]

On 28/07/2022 at 13:24, Wolfox said:

We are on holiday in Greece at the moment…. We came back from a meal out to see a stray dog waiting at the gate…. We left her there as it may have belonged to someone and equally it wasn’t our Villa so didn’t want to encourage a stray (it wouldn’t be fair)

 

we woke up in the morning as she was still there

 

 

One of my kids let her in “can we keep her?”

 

Me -”No, I’m sorry, we have two dogs and it would be really difficult to get her back home”

 

 

 

The neighbours agreed to look after her for a bit and see if they could organise a local charity to sort something out - result!

 

Mabel (yes, she got named!) came round for the odd play date…. My wife and all the kids started working on me…

 

inevitably I have caved in…. She now has had her rabies jab, various other jabs  and a pet  passport…. 
 

A U.K. registered charity called Zante strays have agreed to ship her to our home after she’s had her booster at the end of August and our Greek neighbours have very kindly agreed to foster her until Zante strays pick her up…

 

What is it about Brits and dogs?  I couldn’t bare the thought of her being destroyed, I couldn’t have forgiven myself.

 

Welcome to the family Mabel…. We can’t wait for you to come to your new home in Leicester!

 

Mabel is home!

It was quite a trial to get her back as a UK based charity Zante strays are finding it increasingly difficult (border restrictions) to get rescued pups back from Greece, they have to try all sorts of processes.  Ultimately she was flown over to Holland and then picked up from the Calais-Dover crossing, the charity took care of all the paperwork… no quarantine needed.

 

Her experience was made a little easier as she was able to travel with her brother. 

When we found her, there was another pup too who went next door… our wonderful foster parents agreed to take them both on…  they look quite different, but apparently multiple Dads can be involved in the same litter (every day is a school day).   Another really good news story is that I was also able to find a home for her brother (Sid), I was thinking about posting a pic of him on here, but started with my neighbourhood WhatsApp group and found a mother and daughter willing to give him a home, who live just round the corner…  We all had to have home visits from the charity to assess if we were suitable parents, which was quite reassuring…

 

She’s settling in just fine, our boys, Dudley and Baxter, are a little wary of her and it always takes a little while to sort out the hierarchy… they are eating together ok and I even spotted her sharing biscuits with Dudley…

After some trial and error we have kept her overnight in the kitchen area with her cage open for her to sleep in if she chooses, remarkably no accidents since we have done that!  She’s getting used to a lead and needs a walk in the morning as well as our normal evening stroll as she is a bundle of energy… she’s a beautiful little girl with a lively and lovely nature, I am assuming from her legs and face she’s some kind of whippet/ terrier mash up...  I think she’ll want to sprint really fast when given the opportunity… she likes to sprint down the hallway, through the kitchen and out to the foot of the garden (100 yards or so), she’s like a furry bullet!   I will have to train her to return before I let her off as I imagine when she gets going she could put a mile between in a few short minutes!  

She loves cuddles and always comes in for little snuzzles whenever the opportunity to presents itself…  as I am total soft touch, she gets lots of opportunities of course!   

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

My labrador had a massive snorting fit at 6am, lasted about 5 minutes, but then she stopped and seemed ok. Ate breakfast like usual, seemed a little down but no coughing or anything since. She just snorted a few times again then stopped. Never heard her do it before, maybe it's kennel cough? Has anyone else experienced this? Not sure whether to take her to the vet yet

[Jabfox]

1 minute ago, Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo said:

My labrador had a massive snorting fit at 6am, lasted about 5 minutes, but then she stopped and seemed ok. Ate breakfast like usual, seemed a little down but no coughing or anything since. She just snorted a few times again then stopped. Never heard her do it before, maybe it's kennel cough? Has anyone else experienced this? Not sure whether to take her to the vet yet

Happened to my friends dog who I was dog sitting over the weekend, sounds very similar to what happened to your pooch. she seems fine now and my mate said it hasn't happened since. Was a little scary at the time as its not something my own dog has ever done so took me by surprise. 

 

Apologies this isn't particularly helpful.