- Location
- Cornwall , UK
What a lovely post to read , so happy for you , and Alex x
ALEX, the Bodeguero cross
- Thread starter snowbunny
- Start date
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Yay! I have been following the Alex pupdates while I've been away, but I've not had the time to write a proper response, which I've felt bad about because it seems like I just dumped him and am now ignoring it! I'm so pleased he is settling in so well and that you see him for the brilliant little dog he is. It doesn't sound like there's anything serious going on with him and Amber, just trying to work their way through the transition period as they get to know one another. I am delighted that Bear is so taken with him, though, as that was my biggest concern; with Bear being an older boy, it would have been awful if he'd been put out by Alex's arrival.
I'm so glad you managed to find somewhere he could be off lead. That must have been such a joy to watch him - and for him to come back to you, what a good boy!!
Thanks for all of your updates, it's so lovely to hear about how you're all getting on.
But, photos, please, you're killing me!
I'm so glad you managed to find somewhere he could be off lead. That must have been such a joy to watch him - and for him to come back to you, what a good boy!!
Thanks for all of your updates, it's so lovely to hear about how you're all getting on.
But, photos, please, you're killing me!
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
I will figure the photos out, I promise.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Not at all. I'm glad he has his own thread.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
The cooler weather today has brought the inner puppy out in Alex. He has been playing with Amber and generally being bouncy.
I have only been bitten a couple of times today so that is an improvement. Really, I look like a battered wife!
He is showing marked signs of improvement with the resource guarding. Now Amber can pick up things quite close to him without a scuffle breaking out. Poppy is far too dignified to get into scuffles and Bear just tells him off he goes too far. Bear doesn't like being walked and bounced on.
Alex is now eating well after his sickness at the weekend. I think it was just that he was being bonkers too much in the heat. He does like the cooler weather.
I have only been bitten a couple of times today so that is an improvement.
Really, I look like a battered wife!He is showing marked signs of improvement with the resource guarding. Now Amber can pick up things quite close to him without a scuffle breaking out. Poppy is far too dignified to get into scuffles and Bear just tells him off he goes too far. Bear doesn't like being walked and bounced on.
Alex is now eating well after his sickness at the weekend. I think it was just that he was being bonkers too much in the heat. He does like the cooler weather.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Alex is now walking off lead in all the safe areas that the others are allowed off lead. His recall is better than Amber's.
Amber is still smitten with him and they stick close together when we are out. They play together quite nicely now. Poppy is finding him interesting but beneath her dignity.
He had a good long run this morning and crashed out when he got home. Yes, a Bodeguero got worn out on a walk! I don't want to do that too often though as he obviously isn't used to it. He is sleeping by my side as I type.
He is now quite relaxed around strange dogs. One growled at him and he just turned and walked away.
I am so impressed with this little dog. He is bright, wants to learn and just loves all the attention I am giving him in training and play.
Amber is still smitten with him and they stick close together when we are out. They play together quite nicely now. Poppy is finding him interesting but beneath her dignity.
He had a good long run this morning and crashed out when he got home. Yes, a Bodeguero got worn out on a walk! I don't want to do that too often though as he obviously isn't used to it. He is sleeping by my side as I type.
He is now quite relaxed around strange dogs. One growled at him and he just turned and walked away.
I am so impressed with this little dog. He is bright, wants to learn and just loves all the attention I am giving him in training and play.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
I love this thread xxx
- Location
- East Sussex
He seems to have settled in really quickly. Great that the spats with Amber seem to have resolved.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Wonderful update! Oh, my little heart is bursting. I'm so glad he's doing so well.
He certainly didn't have much muscle tone when I brought him over, but I'm sure that will be changing very quickly. And such great news that he turned away from a growling dog - well done, super boy!
He certainly didn't have much muscle tone when I brought him over, but I'm sure that will be changing very quickly. And such great news that he turned away from a growling dog - well done, super boy!
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
His muscle tone is really picking up quickly. He's eating the right stuff (meat and veg with kibble always available) and I'm already seeing an improvement. I just adore him.
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
xx
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I am so happy he is has found such a happy and loving home, the tragedy is, what would have become of this lovely, intelligent, bright little dog if @snowbunny hadn't come along and you hadn't had. So many dogs like him are abandoned
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Today Alex has just bitten me at every opportunity. I actually ache all over. Nothing has been different today and no triggers that I can see.
He also went for poor old Bear a couple of times.
I guess I just have to redouble my efforts.
He is walking really nicely now, on lead and off. He loves a good run.
He has discovered a love of sausages which I sometimes use for training. Training had to be suspended today though because I just needed a break from the biting. I love this little guy to bits but I wish I knew what I have been doing wrong. It's clearly not his fault so it must be mine. I can't fail this little fella.
He also went for poor old Bear a couple of times.
I guess I just have to redouble my efforts.
He is walking really nicely now, on lead and off. He loves a good run.
He has discovered a love of sausages which I sometimes use for training. Training had to be suspended today though because I just needed a break from the biting. I love this little guy to bits but I wish I knew what I have been doing wrong. It's clearly not his fault so it must be mine. I can't fail this little fella.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Could it be trigger stacking? Lots of little things that add up and have caused him to tip over. The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back? Life has been pretty dramatic for him recently. It can take a few days to lose the stress hormones that are created every time there is any sort of stress, whether that's good or bad stress. The guys at Absolute Dogs have an analogy which I really like : the "stress bucket". This is a bucket with a small hole in the bottom. Every time you do anything a bit icky or a bit exciting, the bucket gets topped up. So each of his interactions with Amber, just being in a new home, meeting new people and dogs, having new food, being growled at by a strange dog, going to new places on walks, getting to go off lead.... every single one of these things, whether good or bad, will be topping up his "stress bucket". Over time, the bucket is emptied through the small hole in the bottom, but it takes time to do that and, meanwhile, any additional stress is topping it up - until the bucket overflows and you get a mess.
Sometimes a dog (or human - this is equally true of us, as my recent exploits made blatantly clear) just needs a couple of days of doing nothing exciting to let that bucket empty.
I would suggest giving him a day or so where you just do really boring things together. Try to limit his access to the other dogs so they're not playing or getting grumpy with one another. Use scatter feeding and kongs (if he is into them) to promote calmness and to exercise his brain. If you do take him out, make it the most unstimulating places, otherwise just let him mooch in the garden.
You'll get there; you're not failing him, and it's not your fault. You both need time to adjust, that's all x
Sometimes a dog (or human - this is equally true of us, as my recent exploits made blatantly clear) just needs a couple of days of doing nothing exciting to let that bucket empty.
I would suggest giving him a day or so where you just do really boring things together. Try to limit his access to the other dogs so they're not playing or getting grumpy with one another. Use scatter feeding and kongs (if he is into them) to promote calmness and to exercise his brain. If you do take him out, make it the most unstimulating places, otherwise just let him mooch in the garden.
You'll get there; you're not failing him, and it's not your fault. You both need time to adjust, that's all x
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Thank you @snowbunny. That makes a lot of sense. I'll try making life boring for a while. Admittedly it has been a lot for him to take in, poor guy. I was beginning to think I'd have to live with bruises forever. I'd actually be willing to do that, if it is only me that gets bitten, rather than give up on him. It's along road ahead with him but I adore him so I'll slow things down.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
Alex has been a bit better today. I haven't actually needed a blood transfusion. He is still biting but not as much as yesterday. I'm slooow feeding him his meals and treats and this seems to help. I'm also scatter feeding when he gets frantic. I sat and played a gentle game of give and take with him and he liked that and went to sleep quite happily afterwards.
He seems to be sleeping a lot today. I think he may be using sleep to help process the big changes he has gone through recently.
I'm trying to make life boring in the extreme for him at the moment. His walk was so boring I could have fallen asleep and all games are really calm. I'm leaving training for a couple of days except for little things like sit and wait.
After yesterday I am exhausted so a rest with a calmer dog is doing me good too.
He is still biting but not as much as yesterday. I'm slooow feeding him his meals and treats and this seems to help. I'm also scatter feeding when he gets frantic. I sat and played a gentle game of give and take with him and he liked that and went to sleep quite happily afterwards.He seems to be sleeping a lot today. I think he may be using sleep to help process the big changes he has gone through recently.
I'm trying to make life boring in the extreme for him at the moment. His walk was so boring I could have fallen asleep and all games are really calm. I'm leaving training for a couple of days except for little things like sit and wait.
After yesterday I am exhausted so a rest with a calmer dog is doing me good too.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
This evening Amber is being a dick. She is doing everything she can to wind Alex up. He just wants to be left alone, poor little man. I am impressed with how he is holding though. He started to get bitey about it and I stroked his head and talked quietly and calmly to him and he relaxed and really held back. I could see it was a choice on his part and I'm so proud of him.
Anyone want a Labrador? Slightly used and certifiable but has good winding up skills.
Anyone want a Labrador? Slightly used and certifiable but has good winding up skills.
I've already got one thanks x
- Location
- Buckinghamshire UK
After two days of utter boredom Alex has calmed right down. I'm going to give him another day or two of the same and then slowly start training up again. He has only tried to bite once today and that was when he got a bit over excited. The slow feeding is also helping, I think and he enjoys it. I've also introduced massage which he loves. The calming activities have also had the benefit of giving us much more alone time which can only be good.