All about dogs

Hey there! This blog is all about life with my dogs, how I train them, and what we do together to bond and stuff. Ask me anything whenever! My dogs are Henry (4) and Maisy (3), field bred standard poodles. The resident human is Claire.

[growlinggrumpies]

Howdy old friends! I think it must have been years since I last posted here.. and once again, I come to you asking for wisdom! Given the pandemic craziness and how my college career has progressed, I may or may not be in a perfect situation to get a puppy of my own in the coming months! Long story short- I’m going into grad school in November and chances are it will be either online or I will negotiate a fall 2020 start date, meaning I will have upwards of 8 months to do initial training and such. However, I am super reluctant to do this because I’m worried about the long term wellness of the dog in grad school. So: the actual question is - have any of yall gone through a PHD/Masters with a dog? How did it go? What would you change about it? Do you recommend it for someone who trials/is a responsible owner? Let me know! I want genuine feedback here- this whole thing is really up in the air, so I want to know if it’s even a good idea.

Thanks in advance :)

[securityunit-ese]

What a great list of ideas for proofing sit (and drop and stand)!

[growlinggrumpies]

Maisy’s breeder, after a 3 year hiatus: We have 2 litters planned this year! One from a Russian import bitch and a UK sire, and another from a half sister of Maisy and one of our best stud dogs!

Me, in college, with little ability and time to care for a puppy, choking back tears: why have you done this to me

[westie-impostor]

Poodle breeder recommendations

So I want to start looking for a future breeder.  I have almost definitely decided on a standard poodle.  But I need some help with finding good breeders.  I live in NJ, but am willing to travel.  And this won’t be happening for a few years but I figured, better be prepared.

This dog possibly will be a PSD prospect.

I’m gonna tag a few poodle people. @astraltailwags @hellhoundbarkery @powerfulexistance @servicebodhi @curly-snoot 

And I’m sure there’s people I forgot.  But if any of you have any recommendations, please let me know!

[soulpups]

@gooddogbestfriend @segomyeggo

[growlinggrumpies]

Ohhhhhhhhh baby the poodle squad grows. Sienna Poodles and Harmony Mountain Hunting Pudles are what I would recommend. I have a dog from each, and prefer the personality of the Harmony Mountain one. I also believe that Harmony Mountain’s foundation bitch, Misty, has like 6 service dog kids/grandkids, and My dog’s (retired from breeding) dad is a therapy dog in Arizona. I highly recommend them, as that’s where I'll be getting my next dog.

[growlinggrumpies]

Help!

Anyone have any idea on how to contact a dog trainer to set up a mentorship/internship? I want to work with animals even when I’m away from my own dogs, so my plan was to contact some trainers that I liked in my new college town. The trouble is that I don’t want to come across as a moocher, or looking for a job, I literally just want to help out and learn behavioral techniques. Anyone have any ideas/ suggestions? Help!

[growlinggrumpies]

Please help me out guys!

[growlinggrumpies]

Help!

Anyone have any idea on how to contact a dog trainer to set up a mentorship/internship? I want to work with animals even when I’m away from my own dogs, so my plan was to contact some trainers that I liked in my new college town. The trouble is that I don’t want to come across as a moocher, or looking for a job, I literally just want to help out and learn behavioral techniques. Anyone have any ideas/ suggestions? Help!

[bitequarantine]

The time I mentored with a shelter trainer, I literally just showed up one day and was like “hi, may I watch you guys work today? I’m taking a course in canine behavior and I’d like some real-life experience,” and she let me sit in on sessions, and then gradually started giving me cleaning/busywork tasks, and then gradually started asking me for help w the dogs. Your mileage with that strategy will definitely vary of course, I just happened to get lucky the first time. But in my experience it’s hard to get on someone’s bad side if all you do is listen, ask questions, & do their dishes.

[growlinggrumpies]

I get that, by the shelter in my town doesn't really use "scientific" methods or do competition work, which is what I'm into. I'm hoping that by offering to do work and help out I can appease a potential mentor, but I know that they could also be offended that I wanted to sit in on their class and not pay, which is what I'm worried about

[growlinggrumpies]

Help!

Anyone have any idea on how to contact a dog trainer to set up a mentorship/internship? I want to work with animals even when I'm away from my own dogs, so my plan was to contact some trainers that I liked in my new college town. The trouble is that I don't want to come across as a moocher, or looking for a job, I literally just want to help out and learn behavioral techniques. Anyone have any ideas/ suggestions? Help!

[growlinggrumpies]

Long time no see!

Hey yall! It’s been a while, but I have an encounter that I’d love to share with you today. For background, my mom had been to the dog park about a week before, came home, and told me about an intact male Doberman Pinscher that had raced across the full length of the dog park 3 times to come after my dog after having needing to be restrained by its owner each time. Henry, my dog, is dog tolerant and generally does very well at the dog park, given that he just tends to chill and play with balls instead of playing or interacting with other dogs. 

After hearing this story from my mom, we went back to the same dog park today to be met with the woman and her same dog. Henry was released into the park without incident, but the woman quickly restrained her dog again and began yelling about our “aggressive” dog who “attacked hers 3 times the other day” as she said this, Henry looked over, saw the other dog, sniffed from a distance, and moved into the center of the park to find a ball. He dog was still restrained and lunging and barking at Henry, who showed little interest. She said “when I let my dog go you’ll be responsible for the vet bills” and continued threatening us from a distance as my dogs interacted peacefully with the other dog park inhabitants. 

My question is, then, what would you have done?

[philoskylax]

Would have left as well (possibly after making a very sarcastic comment about how my unrestrained dog was totally trying to attack her restrained one, suuure, whatever). Then found another dog park or time of day to go to avoid further encounters.

[growlinggrumpies]

We have winners! I was mostly confused and a little angry, I just sort of said “but yours is barking and Henry is not paying attention at all??” And then we left because confrontation is not worth the stress and anguish over vet bills and Injurys. Probs would have videotaped as well if I had stayed because if I would have had to go to court that would be useful.

[growlinggrumpies]

Long time no see!

Hey yall! It’s been a while, but I have an encounter that I'd love to share with you today. For background, my mom had been to the dog park about a week before, came home, and told me about an intact male Doberman Pinscher that had raced across the full length of the dog park 3 times to come after my dog after having needing to be restrained by its owner each time. Henry, my dog, is dog tolerant and generally does very well at the dog park, given that he just tends to chill and play with balls instead of playing or interacting with other dogs. 

After hearing this story from my mom, we went back to the same dog park today to be met with the woman and her same dog. Henry was released into the park without incident, but the woman quickly restrained her dog again and began yelling about our “aggressive” dog who “attacked hers 3 times the other day” as she said this, Henry looked over, saw the other dog, sniffed from a distance, and moved into the center of the park to find a ball. He dog was still restrained and lunging and barking at Henry, who showed little interest. She said “when I let my dog go you’ll be responsible for the vet bills” and continued threatening us from a distance as my dogs interacted peacefully with the other dog park inhabitants. 

My question is, then, what would you have done?

[deathshepherd]

What dog breed would you recommend to me

I want to have small-medium sized breed that; plays well, has energy to work for long times, would be a great tracking dog, wants to work with people or is generally quite easy to motivate to do stuff, i like dogs that like to play (i don’t care if it’s tugging or retrieving things, or both), has to be good around other dogs, shouldn’t be afraid or nervous around people/working and HAS TO be able to work in different grounds/surfaces/environments (weird surfaces that could be slippery or cause noises)… Needs to have good stamina and healthy body. I don’t want any breed that has a lot of problems with not eating well or picky about food (has to have good basic survival instincts/“food drive”, and i’m not fan of breeds that suffer from allergies heavy amount). 

I know how to take care of full coat. It can be anything from low or hard maintenance. 

We would do search, tracking, obedience. Maybe hunting (no hounds). No Hounds or Westies.

[placeholder-inactive]

P O O D L E

[placeholder-inactive]

Are poodles anything like labs?

i know i always preface my answers with this but i just wanna be clear:

mulder’s still a puppy. i don’t really truly know what owning a poodle is like because he hasn’t matured yet. 

but so far i think he’s higher energy that the trio were as pups, and he’s a lot smarter((which isn’t necessarily a good thing lmao))

there’s a lot more grooming involved obviously. 

idk i’m so bad at stuff like this i’m sorry!! if anyone else has experience with both breeds feel free to chime in!!

[growlinggrumpies]

Ahhh! Avid poodle owner here and labs happen to be one of my least fav breeds (nothing against you lab owners out there)

For me, the biggest thing is coat quality and smell. If you’ve ever petted a double coated dog and like, a film of dirt comes off on your hand? That doesn't happen with poodles. Neither does dog smell/wet dog smell, as long as your poodle isn't living with other double coated dogs, because poodles don’t make that coat protein.

Poodles are definitely smarter, and it shows. To me, poodles have more personality and are even more devoted to their owners because of it. Labs are sort of one-dog-fits-all, you know?

And there is obviously more grooming involved, but for someone like me who just cuts them short every 2 months its supppperrr easy- easier that having a heavily shedding breed like a GSD.

I won't stress this because obviously every breeder is different, but I feel like the highest quality (in terms of health) poodles are a lot healthier than the highest quality labs. Less chance of hip dysplasia, better lifespans, ect. Also, poodles can free feed and have excellent condition, which is a huge plus for me

[pantsthepuppy]

Husky Jasper was thrown from a vehicle in a rollover crash and was killed instantly .

[pantsthepuppy]

Guys when I first shared this today I didn’t realize but this is actually a dogblr dog. Hug your babies and keep them safe in the car. 😢

[cup-noodle]

[allbarksomebite]

PREACH

[bravesappho-deactivated20180713]

any standard poodle dogblrs??

hey y’all! recently i have been on a poodle stint and i don’t think i follow any dogblrs with standard poodles…

if you know any or are one let me know!!! would love to see some poods on my dash <3

[specklemutts]

I follow lotsa poodle blogs!! @thepoodlepack @philoskylax @rubypoodle @special-agent-poodle @guidedogintraining @3demondogs @growlinggrumpies @chevronsparklewoofs all have poodles!

[growlinggrumpies]

Whoop!!! Poodle crew!! 2 field bred standards here!!!

[snootblr-blog]

What's your opinion on cropped tails and pointed (?) ears? cause the doberman you reblogged clearly had them (in the first pic newly done) and in my opinion it's a pretty terrible thing to do to your dog :(

If it can be avoided then don’t do it for aesthetic, obviously. I live in a country where both ear cropping and tail docking is illegal unless the dog is a working animal, so I don’t have much reason to care. I am aware that in a lot of countries (esp. America), breeds such as Doberman are often almost impossible to buy without at least cropped ears because it’s breed standard.Anyway, unfollow if you want but seriously, why is it cruel to crop a dog’s ears at a young age, under anaesthetic, but it’s not cruel to cut them open and remove their internal organs at a young age for the sake of preventing pregnancy. I’m not against either but honestly I know which one is more invasive and dangerous.Another thing, whatever you think of cropping and docking and however much you want everyone to know, don’t go replying to people’s positive and loving pictures and posts of their dogs just so you can tell them how much you pity their “poor doggy”. It’s disgustingly rude. Do what you want with your dog, and leave other dog owners to their dogs. If it’s not abusive, it’s not your business. :)

[doberbutts]

The new year has hit and we’re already back to “cropping is cruel poor dog uwu” posts. What’s that they say about the more things change?

[st--pvtrick]

Are… are you saying that it’s not cruel? Are you serious?

How would you like if someone cut off part of your ears without consent just to make you look a certain way?

[snootblr-blog]

Uh… So there’s this thing we sometimes do to babies called circumcision…. And uh… Buddy, I have news for you…

[h42el]

Well, here I come to this charged debate again. *sigh*

Suffice to say, if you are not against cosmetic surgery on dogs, you can unfollow me right about now. Rant below the cut.

Keep reading

[snootblr-blog]

Wow, you wasted all that time ranting at me about things i agree with. My point was not that we SHOULD dock and crop, my point was that working dogs should be docked and that I have nothing against a cropped and docked dog. I wouldn’t do it and I wish others wouldn’t without good reason, but I’m not about to go “I’m not reblogging Creed! He has CROPPED EARS!!”, nor am i about to publicly announce how much pity I feel for someone’s cropped dog. Because I’m not fucking 12 years old. I’m just saying, it’s not cruel as such in all cases and in some cases (with docking, not cropping) there are Massive Benefits to it. Anyway, I live in england. So as i said in a recent post, i dont actually have any reason to get into this argument because it has literally nothing to do with me anyway, and I’m too fucking tired to read pages and pages of people’s self rightousness. Whatever

[h42el]

Hey :) I said right at the top that I agree with you. Then I picked apart some of the finer points- that is not to say that I don’t agree with your general stance on it.

Keep reading

[folkdogs]

The dog world is exhausting. The concept that we should treat these wonderful animals with respect, gentleness, and kindness is one that shouldn’t be a controversy. Manhandling, yanking, choking, pinching, pinning, grabbing, prodding, and hurting dogs in general is NOT fucking okay and there’s no excuse for it. Abuse dressed up as ‘training’ or ‘handling’ makes me sick.

[pulldogs-deactivated20210622]

Spawned from a conversation elsewhere: why is health testing so rare in ADBA dogs?

[growlinggrumpies]

Could be the game bred thing, a dog with hip dysplasia or DCM is not likely to win fights. Also, there are generally different populations of people who breed APBTs and “normal” purebred dogs, so there isn’t the same social pressure to test for diseases than there is in the AKC/UKC/ect