"Gucci" aka "Crab Bait"

[Marhcarter]

Welcome to YT! And welcome to Gucci. He is beautiful! I'm glad he has found his furever home!

[silverjoy]

What a cutie!!!

[GizmosDogShop]

Welcome! I have to ask where did the nickname crab bait come from?

[MarkFromSea]

Thank You! He seems pretty happy... First small dog I've ever had. I never expected to like him this much.

[MarkFromSea]

Originally Posted by GizmosDogShop

Welcome! I have to ask where did the nickname crab bait come from?

Well... LOL... I love to fish! and, ah, it was a little tough to call out the name of a purse for me.... tried a bunch of names... Lil Wookie, Gerbal... lots of others... he seemed to actually respond to "Crab Bait" better than Gucci, the name he arrived with. Of course we have other names, Boo Boo, Good Boy.... He comes to Crab Bait and Gucci... only when he has a mind to. LOL

[Quadraphinic]

Welcome to YT, I love the name crab bait. He's a very handsome little man, and the second picture of him looks so much like my Megan, she had had a very bad oral infection and had to have most of her teeth removed, but the smile on his face looked so much like hers. Thank you for giving him a furever home.
Cheers Quad & Gina

[MarkFromSea]

We do bring him out in a boat... We had him with us for crabbing and camping in the San Juan Islands last summer. His nick name may have started in that time frame, but, honestly I can't recall when I started using it. He's not a chipper, frisky fellow most of the time, more ostentatious, stands or sits and watches us. "Crab Bait" perks his ears up further when no other words seem to work. Of course he tilts his head in response as well.

[kjc]

Hi and Welcome to YT! Sorry some of your posts were lost. Sometimes happens with longer ones. Better to do a series of shorter posts, and I copy the whole thing before submitting it, in case it takes a dive.

Gucci sounds like he's having a blast, these little ones have a way of getting into one's heart! Looking forward to hearing many more stories.

[MarkFromSea]

Originally Posted by kjc

Hi and Welcome to YT! Sorry some of your posts were lost. Sometimes happens with longer ones. Better to do a series of shorter posts, and I copy the whole thing before submitting it, in case it takes a dive.

Gucci sounds like he's having a blast, these little ones have a way of getting into one's heart! Looking forward to hearing many more stories.

Looks like most of the posts showed up later last night. I'll certainly keep the posts short, just in case. Thank You!

When we first got Gucci, we'd be at petco or smart every few days.. We'd bring Gucci into the store. I had Gucci, another customer tells me "I miss having a dog." I told her, "So do I!" LOL

These little guys do grow on you. I'm very glad we have him.

[bailie]

Hi mark and Gucci (crab bait lol) welcome to yt, he is beautiful and what a great life ur giving this little boy , yes these little ones definitely grow on us, a big dog in a little body lol the problem is I could not stop at one

[MarkFromSea]

Thank You. We try to include him in all we do... Although, the up coming ice fishing is out of his comfort zone.

We've found that he is VERY temperature sensitive. Too hot is worse than too cold. Lucky we live in the PNW. In the summer, shade is very important to him. Fishing out of my little jon boat while chasing trout in E WA he constantly sought shade as the boat turned. It really wasn't even hot out. It was the direct sun that warmed him, made him uncomfortable. I'd put a little water on him to help and assisted him to find shade constantly. He likes the little boat more so than the big boat though. Haven't quite figured out why yet.

[MarkFromSea]

I walk him 3 miles, near daily now. He had a REAL tough time when we first got him. That was about 1/2 mile or less, 3 days a week. His mama, Robyn, carried him for part of that at times. I was a little more stern. His fat/muscle line on his ribs were very high up his side then. He also had a mushy muscle feel in his buttocks and legs. Not so now! His rib fat/muscle line has enlarged and lowered down his sides. With more moderate temps, he has no problem with the 3 miles. We had some colder weather about a week ago and even with his sweater, I carried him for parts that he was tired. I'm sure he still did 2 miles at least out of the 3. Thank goodness he's only 5 pounds... We do need to weigh him again. He was 4.6 when we got him, but now he seems like mighty mouse in comparison to then. His muscles are firm and he seems to have a healthy level of fat on his butt, back and ribs. He walks off leash for the most part now, mostly behind me but on the trails he'll lead about half of the time. He really doesn't care for the sidewalks... I've been slowly shortening his nails to see if that is the issue. He does not like his nails clipped.

[kjc]

I just saw the pics... he's adorable! He looks very happy being part of your family.

Just a warning... I know many folks walk their dogs off leash, but I don't. They may be small, but they are extremely fast, and I know when mine see a squirrel or another dog they would be gone. Many larger dogs see them as prey, I think bc of their size. I use a long leash so they can experience a small level of freedom, but I can also get them back to me for protection when needed.

We go kayaking, and yes, it does get hot. I've started to put up a small umbrella for shade (must look silly, but I'll do it for my babies, Lol). And we also use life vests, after Tink went chasing after some ducks one time. I never thought they would swim so far and fast, paying no attention to where they are. Only when she got tired did she decide to turn around. Ducks on the brain!

[MarkFromSea]

Valid point on the leash, when I see dogs, generally, I pick him up. I'm also on the lookout for eagles. When we first got him, he was so reluctant to move forward with the leash on at times. With out the leash, he would follow with out a struggle. Now, it's sort of a habit even though he does very well with the leash. Except, he won't go in front of me when he's on leash. He can be fast in very short spurts, especially in the beginning of our walks.. by the tail end of the 3 miles... he's sorta on auto pilot... and out of sprinting ability. When the weather warms a bit, Feb or March, I suspect he'll be a little more frisky. Currently, he has no interest in the squirrels or rabbits we see on our walks. My walking pace is his running pace. LOL At least half of our walk is wooded trails, the remaining open areas, I should have him on a leash.

He looks awesome when we're on the wooded trails and he is in front of me. He trots quickly, with his mane bouncing. He looks like he's having a good time weaving around the roots, dragging the leaves, an occasional stick, in his hair. Then up hills or in the grass, he does this bounce, bounce, bounce thing... All of his hair bounces if he doesn't have his sweater on. Then there are those times that he's tired, and,,, I just carry him.

He does have a natural tendency to follow on my left side...when on a wide enough path or sidewalk. This is our only indication that he may have had some training years ago.

[MarkFromSea]

The umbrella is a good idea.....
Bubble wrap and duct tape makes a good life jacket>>>>>>just joking

Crab Bait really is pretty sedate when it comes to chasing anything.. he does occasionally....but,,,, it's pretty rare... he's more of a watcher...alertly