Cheez-it, you ate a whole wheel of cheese! I'm not even mad, I'm kinda impressed.
Oh puppy teenage angst, what to do about it, I have not a clue.
I am a runner, I run, and I run alot. Puppies have a ton of energy and while small I wouldnt think of taking them running, but it is something I hope the little Cheez-ball will enjoy someday. Lately he has been ever so destructive. Mauling toys, bones, reptiles, bottles, chewy sticks, beetles, worms, grass, his kennel bedding, the blanket I cover his kennel in at bedtime, part of my back-room couch(that was my fault), his favorite stuffed-snake? Destroyed. I can deal with this, this is cool, it's what dogs do. He has plenty to chew on, and he has yet to really damage anything serious that wasnt his.
Lately he has been going through some changes, he is excitable, barky, his voice is changing, he is developing hair where there was never hair before. All this apparently requires my 100% devoted attention, which is cool 80% of the time. So when he is tired, I am happy. We have a good play (fetch ect.) about an hour every day, he gets a long (hour) walk on the beach in the mornings and walk in the evening. Also the random play-time here and there and lot's of chewing (and things to chew).
With the changes and mood change I changed up his nightly walk. I started by tossing in a few jog spurts and he was fine and tired and slept like a good pup. Each jog (fast walk for me) started lasting longer and longer leading up to a few short sprints here and there. We would jog to a tennis court (fenced all in) and I would his some shots and he would retrieve the balls for me while running around frapping and jog home. Each day he is becomming more and more aerobic. Long gone are those constant puppy naps of before, he never (not once) sleeps unless it's bedtime and then it's probably only 5 hours or so.
Now, I know I shouldnt be running with him (and I am not) as he is only 5 months or less old. But he has so much energy it is crazy and I essentially helped him work on his endurance, extending his bad-dog time five-fold. So I wonder, can I take him jogging faster perhaps? I was thinking around 8/9 mph for about half an hour after a good warm-up walk and then a cool-down and drop him home and finish my run? Anyone know?
The other thing, yes there is always an "other" thing. He chews his toys...good right? Well his accuracy is a bit off and he ALWAYS chews the carpet a bit, no matter what he is chewing. It was on accident at first and has caused only slight wear so far. How the heck do I train against this?? I cant punish him for chewing a toy!! He just gets a few fibers of carpet every chew... I am lost on this one, and I cant take away his chewing. Letting him only on the hard floor seems a bit mean.
Now his other chewing, he chews his butt and chases his tail (or lack of). Unless I am playing with him, or he is distracted by chewing on something (and the carpet by association) he will take pauses from whatever he is doing to chew his butt (well his butt-poof-hair). He does NOT have fleas/ticks/worms and he gets TONS of excercise and almost constant attention. (I only work a few hours a day). If I go somewhere, so does he if he can. But still unless we are doing something he will butt-chew. I was thinking allergy, but it's only that one region and he has no spots rashes nothing. He just chews little cowlicks into his rear-hair. I bitter-appled his backside that did no good. I thought something bit him a while back, and I E-collared him and it cleared. He is fine, but I do not want it to develop into missing hair ect. I am asking the vet on Thursday about an allergy test, but I doubt that is it. All his big-boy hair is growing in there and those are the areas he chews, could that play a part? He is well brushed (which is a chore, he hates brushing/petting) so there are no tangles/mattes.
The Icing on the cake..
I am a sucker, yes, those big puppy eyes I cannot bare to view. So back when I first got him and he wouldnt eat it took various toppings and coaxings to get him to eat. (Even a few food changes). Now he eats next to me, if I leave he stops eating, it takes me playing with his food, adding something yummy or simply laying near the bowl to get him to start eating and then eventually he takes to the bowl. I know I need to put it down and deal with it, but if I do that he ignores it and I hate thinking of him going hungry! Oh and bowl in kennel equals uneaten food. I know the answer to this problem, but he is a growing puppy! I started today putting the food out for half an hour then removing it and he ate a few bites this morning and thats all all day. Hopefully he gets the idea during breakfast.... Picky dog, I know he thinks he's boss and he knows I will eventually keep adding food-additives until he is happy with whats for dinner....argh! To think I caused this mess too.... Oh well, I doubt he can starve himself...Wish me luck.
I am a runner, I run, and I run alot. Puppies have a ton of energy and while small I wouldnt think of taking them running, but it is something I hope the little Cheez-ball will enjoy someday. Lately he has been ever so destructive. Mauling toys, bones, reptiles, bottles, chewy sticks, beetles, worms, grass, his kennel bedding, the blanket I cover his kennel in at bedtime, part of my back-room couch(that was my fault), his favorite stuffed-snake? Destroyed. I can deal with this, this is cool, it's what dogs do. He has plenty to chew on, and he has yet to really damage anything serious that wasnt his.
Lately he has been going through some changes, he is excitable, barky, his voice is changing, he is developing hair where there was never hair before. All this apparently requires my 100% devoted attention, which is cool 80% of the time. So when he is tired, I am happy. We have a good play (fetch ect.) about an hour every day, he gets a long (hour) walk on the beach in the mornings and walk in the evening. Also the random play-time here and there and lot's of chewing (and things to chew).
With the changes and mood change I changed up his nightly walk. I started by tossing in a few jog spurts and he was fine and tired and slept like a good pup. Each jog (fast walk for me) started lasting longer and longer leading up to a few short sprints here and there. We would jog to a tennis court (fenced all in) and I would his some shots and he would retrieve the balls for me while running around frapping and jog home. Each day he is becomming more and more aerobic. Long gone are those constant puppy naps of before, he never (not once) sleeps unless it's bedtime and then it's probably only 5 hours or so.
Now, I know I shouldnt be running with him (and I am not) as he is only 5 months or less old. But he has so much energy it is crazy and I essentially helped him work on his endurance, extending his bad-dog time five-fold. So I wonder, can I take him jogging faster perhaps? I was thinking around 8/9 mph for about half an hour after a good warm-up walk and then a cool-down and drop him home and finish my run? Anyone know?
The other thing, yes there is always an "other" thing. He chews his toys...good right? Well his accuracy is a bit off and he ALWAYS chews the carpet a bit, no matter what he is chewing. It was on accident at first and has caused only slight wear so far. How the heck do I train against this?? I cant punish him for chewing a toy!! He just gets a few fibers of carpet every chew... I am lost on this one, and I cant take away his chewing. Letting him only on the hard floor seems a bit mean.
Now his other chewing, he chews his butt and chases his tail (or lack of). Unless I am playing with him, or he is distracted by chewing on something (and the carpet by association) he will take pauses from whatever he is doing to chew his butt (well his butt-poof-hair). He does NOT have fleas/ticks/worms and he gets TONS of excercise and almost constant attention. (I only work a few hours a day). If I go somewhere, so does he if he can. But still unless we are doing something he will butt-chew. I was thinking allergy, but it's only that one region and he has no spots rashes nothing. He just chews little cowlicks into his rear-hair. I bitter-appled his backside that did no good. I thought something bit him a while back, and I E-collared him and it cleared. He is fine, but I do not want it to develop into missing hair ect. I am asking the vet on Thursday about an allergy test, but I doubt that is it. All his big-boy hair is growing in there and those are the areas he chews, could that play a part? He is well brushed (which is a chore, he hates brushing/petting) so there are no tangles/mattes.
The Icing on the cake..
I am a sucker, yes, those big puppy eyes I cannot bare to view. So back when I first got him and he wouldnt eat it took various toppings and coaxings to get him to eat. (Even a few food changes). Now he eats next to me, if I leave he stops eating, it takes me playing with his food, adding something yummy or simply laying near the bowl to get him to start eating and then eventually he takes to the bowl. I know I need to put it down and deal with it, but if I do that he ignores it and I hate thinking of him going hungry! Oh and bowl in kennel equals uneaten food. I know the answer to this problem, but he is a growing puppy! I started today putting the food out for half an hour then removing it and he ate a few bites this morning and thats all all day. Hopefully he gets the idea during breakfast.... Picky dog, I know he thinks he's boss and he knows I will eventually keep adding food-additives until he is happy with whats for dinner....argh! To think I caused this mess too.... Oh well, I doubt he can starve himself...Wish me luck.
Comment
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Comment by James on July 2, 2008 at 12:10am
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Well what is a "hotspot" I thought it was just a term for an area they like to chew (till raw)
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I take him jogging in the evening (it's dark out) and the ground is definately not hot. He also hits the sand before 7am (the only time dogs are allowed, before 7am after 7pm). He is about 16-17 lbs, he has a waist and passes the feel-the-ribs test. Fortunately he understands the drop it command (no seagulls here. yuck!) but only when it is something that cannot fit entirely in his mouth. If it's small enough to conceal he thinks I dont notice. I can always tell when he has something when he runs inside instead of waiting for me to take the leash off! He thinks he can do whatever he wants when I am not around, when I am around he seems suprised when I catch him doing something. Yesterday he drank drank drank, then played and stopped and peed!(inside) when I yelled to get him to stop he ran to the door and sat like he needed to go out, sprinkling pee all over the place on the route!! (that was annoying to clean up, I wonder if a black-light would work). He has short adult-hair everywhere except his head/face and his chest/armpits/feet, I'm glad the skunk stripe is gone! He is really good when I am watching him (within 5 feet of him) but when he is bad he gets badder! If he does something and I make a startling noise, he fraps around and does it more and more!! argh!
So for the hotspots, should I keep e-collaring and gold-bonding him as they happen? I yell at him when he chews in front of me, but thats the only time he ignores me. I guess he doesnt see the problem with what he's doing, it's not my couch right?
Glad to know Bailey is being a knucklehead too! Not that I wish trying times on you, but it's good to know that he is pretty normal to those around his age.
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Comment by Karen & Bailey on July 1, 2008 at 11:01am
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hi james! hi cheez-it! Bailey's in uber teething mode too! he's chewed on the baseboard in the kitchen 3x now. =T duct tape works miracles... i wont paint it over until he's big enough that i can trust him not to chew on it.
and.. and.. well needless to say we wont be visitng the beach soon. last weekend we went after work, we let him off leash in one area where it was legal to do so, and and.. well.. he just started sniffing around.. found a dead seagull and took the wing and had it in his mouth and started chewing.. well i had to chase chase chase him (he kept running off as i was approaching) while he was chew chew chewing.,... and well when i finally caught him, and he wouldnt drop it, i had to pry it out of his mouth.. hes not going back there anytime soon and not off leash either, and we wont be going back during high tide! AHH!!!!!!!... anyways, were working on perfecting our "drop it" command too. well just stick to the park for now.
anyways, just wanted to let you know your corgi isn't the only corgi who is growing hair where there was never hair before... lol. good luck with the little cheez ball. give him a big hug for me. hes growing up so fast. =*)
im also thinking of switching bailey to adult food after we finish this bag of puppy food because well. hes already 23 pounds and not even 6 months yet. needless to say, he doesnt need the extra nutrients in his food for growth reasons - hes already such a big boy.
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Comment by Sam on July 1, 2008 at 7:59am
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Sounds like you are on the right track. If he is tolerating the walks well a little jog would probably be fine as long as you choose the cooler part of the day to try. Also consider the surface, asphalt is darn hot! As fall arrives I would suspect this would be a grand time to start your fitness routine. Sounds like he is quite an active fellow and would delight in the time together. Why not find a training class to attend? This would be a great outlet for his body and his mind.
As for chewing his butt I do find that pups do seem to be more itchy as their adult coat comes in. Once they irritate a specific spot they seem to work at it eventually causing a hot spot. I have one that seems to find comfort in licking a certain spot. I am guessing with her it is an expression of anxiety though I am not sure the cause. We have a pretty active home.
Regarding the food I have yet to hear of a corgi starving themselves. It is a rare few that will not get used to the routine of eating at meal times if you stick with the plan of 10 minutes to eat and bowl picked up. As we keep adding tasty toppings we only encourage them to be more selective. If he is growing well and his weight is good I would not be encouraged to continue sastifying his whims.
Work on making brushing a good experience. Have some tiny morsels that he usually does not get. Brush a few strokes then treat. Most dogs come around well to this method.
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