"Dog Ownership Rules" that you DON'T follow

[Britster]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

I knew these confessions would come back to bite me! But just a wee Annie-sized bite! LOL! A whole 'nother thread of trying to explain -- it's just a tiny, itty bitty, bit of potato chip once in a BLUE MOON! And the bit of ice cream you can scrape from the sides of a bowl when you are all done with it.....nothing to speak of really.....ah welll..... I am usually almost anal about what they get to eat and what they don't but the occasional broken off piece of chip and ice cream scrapings are the two things I know aren't good and still allow the tinsiest bit anyway. Because I know with common sense that it is NOT enough to do harm. But I guess I am a dirty rotten, no good, low down, two bit, mother mutt who doesn't deserve her precious pups. But try to pry them from anything but my cold dead hands and I will fight to the bitter end. The idea that anyone thinks I am not taking good care of my pups sort of tightens my panties in a wad, to tell the truth. Okay -- Got that all out of my system now. Thanks for letting me unload.

BTW Britster -- Your macaroni and cheese was actually on the list of good things you can feed a dog! So you are in the clear!

Woohoo! Let's be TERRIBLE dog owners together.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Karebear

How about not fussing over your dogs when returning home and not letting them jump all over you. I personally enjoy their greetings which happen to be the same whether i been gone 5 minutes of 8 hours.

I am so guilty of breaking this rule. Who can resist? I love walking in and seeing my two little monkeys standing side by side, ears down, arms waving, butts wiggling, jumping up and down. I dance around with them for several minutes. Ah, heaven.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I am so guilty of breaking this rule. Who can resist? I love walking in and seeing my two little monkeys standing side by side, ears down, arms waving, butts wiggling, jumping up and down. I dance around with them for several minutes. Ah, heaven.

I wish that was a rule I could break. If I dance around with him, or reach down to pet or hug him, he pees.

[chachi]

The biggest one is the feeding of table scraps but Im a pretty healthy cooker but the yorkies and cats do get some. I let them walk ahead of me in walks. They are both spoiled. I dont put flea preventative on except when needed. With 6 cats and 2 dogs I have to, I only had to put it on once this year. I also dont like to put chemicals on them only when needed.I have a practical dog ownership style. They are my babies but when it comes down to it they are dogs and I let them be dogs. I really dont even dress them except at the holidays

[Sweet Apple]

[QUOTE=Britster;3334602]Ohhh another thread idea! I'm on a roll.

What are some of the "dog ownership rules" that you always hear you're supposed to follow, yet you break?

I know most of you know Jackson as this well-trained dog, and he is, but I let him get away with a lot, too. I guess he deserves it.

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.

My still lasted about 3 days...

2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

Apple went from kibble to raw in one day, no probs.

3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..

They all sleep in the bed w/me...And if they want to play tug-o-war, I'm all there for them...lol

4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

Mine all walk in different directions...I just hang on, so I don't lose one...lol

5. Never use a flexi!

What's a flexi?

6. Don't give your dog junk food

I don't do this, 'cause I'm a health nut, myself...I worry too much about pancreitis, so nothing that's not good for them

7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

I baby all mine, and that's our special time together...Why have a yorkie, if you don't want to baby them?


8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.

Living alone, this wasn't a problem...However, my three love everybody, to the point of (probably) being annoying lol...Not for me, but for the company...But, hey, it's their house (the pups), the company will have to deal w/it

9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

-Mine don't need any encouragement...

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

I do not, ever, do this...As a pet sitter, I've heard to many horror stories..

11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.

Hmmm, in my yard, or someone elses? Of course I pick it up, in my yard hahahaha...That would be unsanitary, otherwise...

[capt_noonie]

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.

She was spayed Wed, and she's back to normal already.

2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

Never, she'd just pick out the new stuff anyway, so what's the point?

3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..

Since day one she slept in bed with me.

4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

She always walks in front of me when she's on leash. if she's off she heels, go figure.

5. Never use a flexi!

LOVE my Flexi! Saved her toenails!

6. Don't give your dog junk food

Well I don't actually. Much more strict once she was diagnosed with pancreatitis, but she does still get bread.

7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

Took me a while to admit to myself she is spoiled, but well trained also, so i think it's ok.

8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.

I took her out shopping the first day we had her. But she stayed in my bag the whole time. never touched the ground.



9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

I let her hump her bed. Some would say that is a bad behaviour.

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

I don't do this actually.

11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.

yeah I don't 100% of the time. If it's totally hidden and no one will walk there, like in a planter I'll leave it there for fertilizer. If it's somewhere there is a chance someone would walk on, for sure I will pick it up.

[princessizzy]

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.

it last about 3 days with the other dogs but when izzy gets fixed I'm sure she will be freaking out if I keep her in the cage... she doesn't even like it now..lol
2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

When I switched from a crappy food to the good stuff we went cold turkey... and she went straight to raw with no trouble
3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..

She sleeps with us every night and that her favorite game but I am careful because i don't want her to hurt her mouth
4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

yup they all do but they do not pull
5. Never use a flexi!

uhhhh.. what's that..lol
6. Don't give your dog junk food

This is one that i do follow pretty close BUT she does get a few licks of Ice cream when we go...
7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

Ok really?!?!? She is my baby... and always will be...lol

8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.

I was carefull but I didn't wait 1 week...
9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

What bad behavior?...Oh wait, you mean the barking at the squrrial outside that torement her all day!! Never

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

Our kids are older but i do not leave the dogs alone together.. the little ones go in their kennals in my room and the big dog get into the laundry room
11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.

In our yard.. i pick it up about every 2 days... but in other yards I do unless I have forgotten the baggies.. but i rarely forget
__________________

[Britster]

LOL, this thread has been fun.

I'm surprised so many don't know what a Flexi is. It's just a brand name for a retractable leash, I guess I should have been more specific, lol.

[capt_noonie]

I think if you do go for a retractable leash, it must be a Flexi. It's the best for the money and the quality. Don't buy the cheap ones from Ross for 9.99. Those are made in china and not quite sure I would put my trust in it with my dog on the other end. The Flexi's are made in Germany.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

I don't do this actually.

Actually I forgot, I did leave Uni and Katie by themselves several times before, they were fine.

[Deuce]

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.

- I got about 2 days with keeping him from running, by day 3 when I took him outside to potty he just bolted away from me and ran around me in circles. He gets a little nutty if he doesn't get enough exercise so I let it happen for a couple of minutes, picked him up to make sure nothing was pulled/bruised/bleeding and he wasn't in any pain so I let him get some of that energy off. Not all dogs can get away with this, but I just couldn't keep the poor pup locked up anymore

2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

- I switched cold from RC to Wellness small breed, he started getting itchy so I blamed it on the food after reading the reviews on RC, figured a cold switch would be better. Since then no itchies and it didn't hurt his tummy, pretty sure he is one of those rare "iron stomach" yorkies

3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..

- Why not? There is nothing more comforting than a little paw thumping across your face in the middle of the night, lol. Normally he just cuddles in the crook of my arm, or up next to my tummy, it's too adorable to give up. Tug is one of the best ways for us to burn up his energy, plus I think its good for building muscles, I don't play rough with him, and I let him win usually, from time to time I win and give him lots of love after

4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

- I don't care about him walking ahead of me as long as he's not pulling. <--same here

5. Never use a flexi!

I don't know what a flexi is...google....ah I use that when we're going to an area with lots of room to run, but just for walks I use the reg. 5 ft leash.

6. Don't give your dog junk food

- I toss him little bits of what I'm snacking on if it's not on bad for animals list, so I'll toss him a bit of cracker, chip, etc.

7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

- LOL that's a joke right?

8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.

- By the second night my BF had already met him and by day three I had the landlady and family meet him. I still expose him to new people, but he's still wary of strangers, and people he hasn't seen in a while. He's my shy little boy...


9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

- Luckily, Rizz doesn't have too many bad behaviors, just the begging and since I'm the only one that is allowed to give him people foods he only begs from me so I don't really consider it that bad.

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

- I don't have kids, and I probably wouldn't leave him alone with one, unless I knew the kid and trusted them with my little pup. The other dog that I have around the house I wouldn't leave him alone with, mostly because he doesn't like him.

11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.

- I always pick it up when we're out at a dog park or just out for a walk, but in my yard it may sit for a day or two before I pick it up and then "dump" it in the right spot, toilet or garbage if it's going out that day.

Whew...those are a few confessions, we're probably guilty of more in my house, what can I say, traditional methods go out the window with Yorkies.

[concretegurl]

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.

- I picked up Scoobers the morning after he was neutered from the rescue, and he was so terrified of people then still that he was either shadow slinking along the wall for the first week or scampering from under the tables to behind the couch. My other two aren't fixed so...

2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

- I actually broke this rule big time! Scoobers was on less than desirable Science Diet when I got him and even though they gave me a 5 lb. bag to take home I gave it the neighbor and switched him immediately to Innova. Elvis arrived with Kibble and Bits I think (seriously yuck!) switched him to Innova for the first feeding tossed multicolored heart and X shaped kibble in the trash, Princess had arrived with food in her crate (she was flown in with Elvis) and I switched her to Innova for her first meal with at the same time as Elvis! However when I was told not to feed my white dog red meat I did a 50% a week for all of them even though it was all still Innova it was a different variety, i also did a 50% switch for a week when switching Princess from puppy food to adult. Right now I'm switching from Innova to Taste of The Wild and because of the variation in ingredients, I'm starting at 1/4 for a week then 1/2 for a week then 1/2 of Innova in Taste of the Wild for another week.

3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..

- Huh we break this at times-especially if Derik is on the night shift and Scoobers often sleeps with Milo he wakes him up in the morning with kisses when the alarm goes off and its time to get ready for School, Princess goes in her kennel most nights,she came kennel trained and she seems to prefer it she goes in and goes to bed there on her own most of the time-her kennel is twice as big as required for her size though, she's 12 pounds and her kennel accommodates dogs 45 lbs- having an adequate or overly large kennel is important its meant to be a den not a cage! Scoobers has to be kenneled at times,again he is 21 pounds and has the second largest kennel size made and Elvis sleeps under my bed he has since we got him since my bed is very raised and his bed fits under, he can't really jump up successfully I hate when he jumps off!. We began to kennel Scoobers after Elvis has his second seizure episode and Scoobers growled at him and avoided him for the whole next day-I'm still afraid instinct may cause an incident and if he has a seizure when we're asleep- well its not worth the risk. Does it count if the dogs also have dog beds under and next to our beds?...Scoobers plays tug it built up his confidence to learn he could be in control and they all play tug with each other-who made that rule I thought it was only for American Staffs and specific breeds...
4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

- I don't my mini schnauzers already think they are in control-they have to heal or walk behind me-Elvis won't even walk on a leash most days he just walks next to me
5. Never use a flexi!

-Learned this the hard way when I got Scoobers he broke 5 of them before I switched to a chain link leash...I have varying weight chain link leashed for each of my dogs now-they're tiny links no worries-they are easier to clean and I think they look cute, a chain link big dog style leash only in miniature for mini dogs-I do miss the Comfort Grip handle on my Flexi though and think I might get one for Elvis.

6. Don't give your dog junk food

- I don't! Zukes treats, Stella and Chewy's raw patties and Greenies, Dogswell Breathies Mellow mut etc...its my boyfriend I catch feeding my dogs people food! Then he complains about them getting gassy-gee I wonder why!

7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

- Define spoiling or babying-does holding your dog like an infant count? I'm sorry I don't understand the question...rule...huh...what was that?


8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.

- Wasn't an issue with Scoobers he hid for about a week, Elvis and Princess we got in January and it seemed like everyone was business that month we didn't show them off to everyone until February...but we wanted to!

9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

- Again, my boyfriend, Princess attacks my feet and he rewards her (she doesn't really bite she mouths and wags the whole time its a play game)...I might give Elvis an extra pat when he barks and growls each time Derik enters the room...what its only fair! Huh Scoobers doesn't have bad behavior he has psychological issues so special needs dogs don't count...

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

- Actually I'm almost religious about this one, I have to keep my dogs separated as Elvis has seizures and as much as they all get along-its instinct for a sick dog to be well put out of the pack and I'm not going to risk a situation of instinct happening.I mean they are all together but they get kenneled or separated in different rooms if I'm not home. I try to keep Elvis with me but I can't take to the court house etc... Scoobers often goes in the room with my son (he's six) and Elvis is alone with my daughter who's 11 whenever she'll give him her fullest attention...Princess can't be unsupervised still she's barely a year but still chewy-we call her Princess monster for a reason

11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.
-I do we have a Poop Patrol poop picker upper thing they're great! My 11 year old actually enjoys going out and picking up the pooh and putting it in the pooh can-she does it unasked, yet she can't fold her cloths to save her life go figure-we live in typical subdivision and despite having a larger yard and the dogs only poohing between the apple trees we use our yard for kids to play in and family gatherings so it's a must. My 6 year old son has began to use the Poop Patrol poop picker upper he calls it the poop grabber and thinks its cool-if you have kids try it out they may just surprise you as mine did me and why not try it yourself I don't like the weird shovel things. I carry bags for our walks and it's required at the parks here, they all have bag dispensers provided by the city-I'm the lady at the park who goes and gets a bag and hands it to the person who let their dog potty and either forgot their bag or didn't get one themselves-sorry my kids and others play in the grass and I don't like cleaning pooh off my shoes or the kids-please pick it up. Elvis came to me with whip worms and even though we don't have them in our area finding out about them and other pooh spread parasites OMG please clean it up...unless it is in your own yard

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by Britster

LOL, this thread has been fun.

I'm surprised so many don't know what a Flexi is. It's just a brand name for a retractable leash, I guess I should have been more specific, lol.

Totally! Flexi's are great for Yorkies! They have the Comfort Grips Handles now that was my first experience with them, but I tried my friends original Flexi WOW a hard plastic handle stinks! I know I stated that Scoobers broke 5 (maybe it was 6) but I kept buying the cute little ones that had a max weight of 12 pounds and he was about 15 pounds then...my fault not Flexi's. NEVER BUY THE IMITATIONS! Flexi is the only retractable leash you should ever consider, shell out the $10 extra bucks for the Comfort Grip handle...I can't stress that enough the plastic one really hurt my hand after walking my friends dog for her-I actually bought her a Comfort Grip Flexi...look on eBay they have Flexi Comfort Grips for cheap! But even if you pay retail its the only way to go when it comes to retractable leashes!

[katienme2002]

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.
Roxie was already spayed when I got her, so I didnt deal with this..
2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

Ok, I dont always do this , but i have..lol..
-3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..
Roxie doesnt sleep with me all the time, but once in a while I will let her..lol..I do play tug of war with her and get in the floor and act like a dog..lol..
-4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

-I too could care less if she walks ahead of me, when we are out on our country trail on our property she does not use a leash..

5. Never use a flexi!

I like a flexi
6. Don't give your dog junk food

- Roxie gets what I eat, in small portions.

7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

- Roxie is beyond spoiled rotten!
8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.
I took Roxie everywhere possible, but she was a little over a year old when I got her..
- 9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

I wouldnt say I encourage bad behavior,but I dont always stop it either...lol..
- 10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.


My daughter is 8 and has been left in the same room with the dog, never home alone.
- 11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.

- We live in the country , so no. But when at the park or beach, I do.

[Ellie May]

1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.

We had slip-ups, but yes, we tried hard to follow the rule. Because they don't understand that too much movement can cause damage, I figure it is my job to keep them safe. Vets really tend to get irritated when complications happen because the owner refused to use a crate or whatever.

2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.

An attempt is made when switching between kibbles. She picks the new out though. Not necessary for homecooked.

3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..

lol, we like to snuggle! Still have not decided about the tug thing. We do it sometimes in a way. I don't really think it's healthy for Yorkies' necks though.

4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks

No way to stop her really.

5. Never use a flexi!

They have their place. I don't have a problem with them. We don't use one because I tend to let go if it isn't wrapped around my hand.

6. Don't give your dog junk food

You mean no Cheez-Its and iced animal crackers and Skittles? If a pup is healthy, I do give them some junk food. I don't give things that seem too greasy to me.

7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!

What is the point of having a dog if you are just going to take it for walks, feed it, play a little, and put it in its kennel?


8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.

This philosophy of not stressing puppy out...we are now paying for it. I really don't agree with this stance and would be happy to break the rule.



9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.

Depends. We try not to, but it's so cute!

10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.

Ellie can't be trusted around kids. She is always within hearing distance when with other dogs. Usually I make one of the dogs come with me. If she was friendly with other pups and there was one her own size, I'd be okay with that.

11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.

I try. Doesn't always happen. We have neighbors though, so kinda have to. And I think it's best to limit the spread of parvo...