Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
So do I - that photo made me snort with laughter as he does look well p**sed off
Toffee 2019
- Thread starter SteffiS
- Start date
Having spent ages before Christmas working on leaving Toffee with a Kong while I took Ripple for a walk, I came back today, to hear (from the drive) poor Toffee barking and howling his head off sounding really distressed 
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I’d only been gone an hour, he was in his crate with his Kong, but it’s the first time he’s been left on his own like that since 23rd December. It didn’t occur to me that he would need to be left for short periods to get him used to it again. He’s fine if I go out and Ripple is in his bed, it’s just being alone he doesn’t like. I feel really dreadful for leaving him.
.I’d only been gone an hour, he was in his crate with his Kong, but it’s the first time he’s been left on his own like that since 23rd December. It didn’t occur to me that he would need to be left for short periods to get him used to it again. He’s fine if I go out and Ripple is in his bed, it’s just being alone he doesn’t like. I feel really dreadful for leaving him.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Aww, don't feel bad , I am facing the same with Reuben , he hasn't been left alone for about two weeks so may protest . Just ease him back in , he wont bear a grudge x
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
He's probably just disgruntled and annoyed rather than stressed out.
That would be my guess.
That would be my guess.
He’d had his walk with lots of off lead time, he met with two labs from the village and had a run about with them (and recalled on the whistleHe's probably just disgruntled and annoyed rather than stressed out.
That would be my guess.
) . Then he had some time chasing his ball in the field. When we got home he was actively looking for his Kong and keen to go in his crate.If he was disgruntled then there’s no pleasing some boys
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Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
His Mum and brother weren't there to attend to his every whim
He's a bit
He's a bit
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Bring the car indoors?
I'd work on separate beds, lots of reinforcement for calm behaviours and gradually bring the beds together.
I'd work on separate beds, lots of reinforcement for calm behaviours and gradually bring the beds together.
Bring the car indoors?
Currently they have separate beds in separate rooms with a gate between them. They do some basic training together really nicely, both focussing on me. But if they’re allowed unstructured time together they just never stop, if Ripple tries to rest Toffee is just at him the whole time. I’ve tried letting them be together when I know Toffee is tired but it doesn’t make any difference to him. I can see Ripple is quite prepared to be quiet after a while, but I assume it’s just a maturing thing with Toffee.
All these lovely pictures of dogs sleeping nicely together on the forum, I’m quite envious.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
My lot don't sleep together, always on separate beds. Although I just walked in and Squidge, Ginny and Shadow were all on the same sofa. Not touching, mind
I think it's probably just a case of Toffee growing up. Do you give them Kongs together? Or other calm activities they can do alongside one another?
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
Find it was a great game for bringing my two together. They had to sit and stay whilst I ‘hid’ kibble around the room. Also the ruffle snuffle mat was a good one - they had to sit whilst I filled the mat with tiny pieces of kibble - that got them used to calmly sitting alongside each other. I know they are both eating activities but they worked. The patty tin with tennis balls was a good one too - hide bits of kibble under the tennis balls 
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- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Depends on the dog. Mine all eat their kongs together. Willow likes her space, but the others are all fine together.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
I give mine food together once the pup can cope and keep away from stealing Tatze’s. He’s really learning to ‘take turns’ now. When I empty a tub of quark I let one lick then the other, swapping regularly. (Shhhhhhh, don’t tell Guide dogs!)
He waits nicely now for his turn.
He waits nicely now for his turn.
I tend to think Ripple might be more of a problem with eating together, but they do wait together for treats when I walk them both in the mornings. Perhaps I’m looking too much for a quick transition to laying down together, and need to work on other things first. You’ve given me some ideas and those should also point me in the right direction to find other things they can do together (won’t be the snuffle mat as I had to bin that today as Toffee had eaten half of it 
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Yes, you’re right @Natalie, massive improvements. And apart from the first 48 hours when Toffee was really quiet and they did doze together they have needed to be kept apart as Ripple obviously wasn’t keen. It’s funny how you forget.
I guess moving to the loud, rough play is several steps forward so I just need to keep working at it.
I guess moving to the loud, rough play is several steps forward so I just need to keep working at it.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Haha, so funny how different they all are! W&S used the snuffle mat as intended. Squidge picked it up and flung it around so all the kibble came out - then she started to chew it up. Choccieswon’t be the snuffle mat as I had to bin that today as Toffee had eaten half of it
I would never dare a snuffle Mat or those lick Mats with Rory he would eat them. Doug ate a tornado dog toy,. Instead of moving it round to get the treats he just ate the thing spat out the particle board and ate the treats. Direct Doug was always direct