- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Gorgeous silly boy , I love silly dogs xx
New Toffee Thread
- Thread starter SteffiS
- Start date
We can't believe how much his legs have grown, everyday he can reach more and more stuff
.
- Location
- East Sussex
Oh he's gorgeous!
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Awwwwwe 
Leanne
Sniffer Dog
- Location
- Shropshire, UK
How is ripple doing?
We are working really hard on keeping things as normal as possible for Ripple but also trying to make his encounters with Toffee positive.
Ripple has his private space, his normal daily routine, and his quiet time and kong in the evening with me. For a lot of the time he chooses to ignore Toffee completely but we do get the occasional barking contest through the baby gate.
Now Toffee can go out for short walks me and OH take one dog each around the local rec in the morning, walking together but adjusting the distance between us as we feel necessary. We also have quiet time on the steps outdoors (weather permitting) at lunchtime where we have both dogs on the lead but in reasonably close proximity.
We want to move this on bit by bit, especially as OH is away for a week starting in just over two weeks time and I would like things to be as uncomplicated as possible by then
.We are planning on more meeting in neutral ground, such as the cafes we go to, and hopefully some different short walks.
I get advice from loads of people on this, ranging from throw them in together to keep them separate until Toffee is grown up
. At the moment we are happy working this out ourselves, but I do have access to a behaviourist if I decide to use professional help.Long winded answer to a short question.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
You are absolutely best working it out yourselves. You know both dogs and you know what is best for them xx
Leanne
Sniffer Dog
- Location
- Shropshire, UK
Getting so big! How is it going with him and ripple now?
Things are going reasonably well between Ripple and Toffee, it's still the same problem Toffee tries to play with Ripple and Ripple gets over excited and really rough. They have controlled play together, short walks together and short training sessions together. We've found taking them to neutral ground and allowing 5 - 10 minutes of running and play together works best, stopping it before things get out of control.
This week is going to be a real test of my ingenuity as me and OH normally have control of one dog each, but as OH is away I'm not quite sure how things will work. Added to this Ripple still has a dodgy tummy and is getting me up in the night, and Toffee can't really be left on his own while I walk Ripple as he gets distressed, so this week should be quite interesting
.
This week is going to be a real test of my ingenuity as me and OH normally have control of one dog each, but as OH is away I'm not quite sure how things will work. Added to this Ripple still has a dodgy tummy and is getting me up in the night, and Toffee can't really be left on his own while I walk Ripple as he gets distressed, so this week should be quite interesting
.
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Good luck!
Leanne
Sniffer Dog
- Location
- Shropshire, UK
Sounds like it’s getting so much better! Well done!!
Today, with Ripple's sickness, has taught me that I need to work on helping Toffee be alone for short periods.
In hindsight letting OH rock him to sleep and sit with him so much of the time was probably not such a good idea as he hasn't learnt to be alone at all apart from at night. He's barking every time I leave the room even if only for 1 or 2 minutes.
Also OH has booked work abroad for most weeks until the end of the year so he will only be here for very short periods so obviously things will have to change.
I've made up some Kongs and I'm going to use the crate more. I'm also hoping that by flitting in and out of the room for a minute or so at a time will help Toffee realise I haven't disappeared.
Previously I've always done most of the work with the pups when OH has been at work so they've been used to popping in and out of the crate when I need to go upstairs or answer the door.
I'm sure once I'm less tired from my night in the garden with Ripple I will be able to sort it all out
.
In hindsight letting OH rock him to sleep and sit with him so much of the time was probably not such a good idea as he hasn't learnt to be alone at all apart from at night. He's barking every time I leave the room even if only for 1 or 2 minutes.
Also OH has booked work abroad for most weeks until the end of the year so he will only be here for very short periods so obviously things will have to change.
I've made up some Kongs and I'm going to use the crate more. I'm also hoping that by flitting in and out of the room for a minute or so at a time will help Toffee realise I haven't disappeared.
Previously I've always done most of the work with the pups when OH has been at work so they've been used to popping in and out of the crate when I need to go upstairs or answer the door.
I'm sure once I'm less tired from my night in the garden with Ripple I will be able to sort it all out
.
Leanne
Sniffer Dog
- Location
- Shropshire, UK
Try the relaxation protocol! That’s made the world of difference to Mas! He is now perfectly happy on his own for up to 25 minutes... granted he eats the walls but he’s happy whilst doing it!
I did wonder about this, is he too young at just 16 weeks?
I think you said you made a mistake to start with as something wasn't very clear, I've downloaded the page already, what was it that wasn't explained very well?
Leanne
Sniffer Dog
- Location
- Shropshire, UK
I wouldn’t have thought so (too young) as tbh Mas wasn’t much older when we started it I don’t think?
And if he is too young you can just stick with the first few days over and over till he’s rock solid on them.
What I did wrong was I let him get up after every ‘down’ when they are meant to be down for the entirety!
Mas has a really solid settle now (as evidenced today by the snoring in assembly
) and I genuinely think it’s 100% down to that
And if he is too young you can just stick with the first few days over and over till he’s rock solid on them.
What I did wrong was I let him get up after every ‘down’ when they are meant to be down for the entirety!
Mas has a really solid settle now (as evidenced today by the snoring in assembly
) and I genuinely think it’s 100% down to that
I'd second that, we've only got to day ?10? (fully planning to get back to it) but it already helped massively with just getting that basic level of settling instilled.
No harm in giving it a go, see how you find it after e.g. day 3 and if you get to a stage where it feels like you're asking too much then as @Leanne says, you can just go back and repeat the days but in different rooms, then with the radio on, with the hoover on etc.
No harm in giving it a go, see how you find it after e.g. day 3 and if you get to a stage where it feels like you're asking too much then as @Leanne says, you can just go back and repeat the days but in different rooms, then with the radio on, with the hoover on etc.
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Just catching up on this...he is getting so big! Hope you are able to manage ok with the two of them while your OH is away. It does sound a bit challenging with having to keep them apart quite a bit.
OH is back today, but only for 10 days then he's off to Saudi for 2 weeks.
Managing the two dogs has been a real challenge, not helped by Ripple being unwell.
I have learnt several things I need to work on with Toffee:
Being alone, both in his bed for more than 2 seconds (he gets up every time I leave the room even if just to answer the phone, put rubbish in the bin, have a wee etc). And alone in the crate during the day - he's fine at night - he needs to get used to me giving him a kong so I can take Ripple for a walk.
Barking and lunging at the cats.
Giving Ripple some space when he is just walking through the room to go out for a wee.
Giving Ripple space full stop.
I would also like the boys to travel together in the car crate as currently I have to have them separate, which means there is an additional crate on the back seat.
There are loads more things I need to do and I can't imagine for one minute OH would cope on his own as the past week has been a real juggling act.
The only way to do it has been to spend the whole time doing 'dog' things to the detriment of the rest of the house.
Managing the two dogs has been a real challenge, not helped by Ripple being unwell.
I have learnt several things I need to work on with Toffee:
Being alone, both in his bed for more than 2 seconds (he gets up every time I leave the room even if just to answer the phone, put rubbish in the bin, have a wee etc). And alone in the crate during the day - he's fine at night - he needs to get used to me giving him a kong so I can take Ripple for a walk.
Barking and lunging at the cats.
Giving Ripple some space when he is just walking through the room to go out for a wee.
Giving Ripple space full stop
.I would also like the boys to travel together in the car crate as currently I have to have them separate, which means there is an additional crate on the back seat.
There are loads more things I need to do and I can't imagine for one minute OH would cope on his own as the past week has been a real juggling act.
The only way to do it has been to spend the whole time doing 'dog' things to the detriment of the rest of the house.