The Chillout Zone (Off-Topic Thread)

Pumpkinseeds · 06-11-2013 5:59pm

Those collars look great but I wouldn't want to use one in an urban area, even if they had a quick release collar, I'd be afraid someone would grab my cat just to steal the collar

anniehoo · 06-11-2013 6:05pm

Also it's not a live tracking device either and battery life is only 8hrs so it's definitely not what I'd want it for. I'd only want this to track my cat if he got lost and hopefully have it last longer than 8hrs.

SillyMangoX · 06-11-2013 6:08pm

I'd love to use it to see where Cream goes, he always comes home smelling like chicken :pac: as in live chickens not the cooked stuff!! But with the rate they lose break away collars it just wouldn't be practical in case they did damage to themselves!

Pumpkinseeds · 06-11-2013 6:15pm

I was looking online for a kingsize throw for our bed, now that the weathers very damp, the cats run up and jump on the bed with us when they've done a perimeter check and they want to warm up. Anyway, I came across the old Candlewick bedspreads, those of you over 40 will probably remember them. Not what I'm looking for though. Haven't seen those since I was a child, I'd a lemon one on my bed and my brother had a blue one:)

tk123 · 06-11-2013 7:59pm

Throws are half price in homestore and more!!

:-( Anyways feeling heartbroken and guilty over Bailey - when I was collecting him and the girl went to get him I knew something was wrong. He got that stressed out that he scraped the walls of his pen/kennel (I don't know what to call it) and wore a patch off one of his pads - his whole paw was bright red with blood.

They cleaned and bandaged it to cover it for walking thru the car park . I don't know if I need to take him to the vet or if they'll just tell me to let the air at it but put a boot on for walks etc

He's very precious of his front paws so don't want to stress him at the vets if I don't need to. I don't know now if I can take him to hydro now tomorrow either.

borderlinemeath · 06-11-2013 9:52pm

tk123 wrote: »

Throws are half price in homestore and more!!

:-( Anyways feeling heartbroken and guilty over Bailey - when I was collecting him and the girl went to get him I knew something was wrong. He got that stressed out that he scraped the walls of his pen/kennel (I don't know what to call it) and wore a patch off one of his pads - his whole paw was bright red with blood. They cleaned and bandaged it to cover it for walking thru the car park . I don't know if I need to take him to the vet or if they'll just tell me to let the air at it but put a boot on for walks etc He's very precious of his front paws so don't want to stress him at the vets if I don't need to. I don't know now if I can take him to hydro now tomorrow either.

Why did they keep him penned if he was getting so obviously stressed? There has to be an option to keep him out?

tk123 · 06-11-2013 10:01pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Why did they keep him penned if he was getting so obviously stressed? There has to be an option to keep him out?

No not in this one.

They said he'd been fine all day - playing and this evening went into the bed himself without having to be coaxed. I didn't want to send him but was guilt tripped ( LONG story) into it.

Dodd · 06-11-2013 10:23pm

tk123 wrote: »

Throws are half price in homestore and more!!

:-( Anyways feeling heartbroken and guilty over Bailey - when I was collecting him and the girl went to get him I knew something was wrong. He got that stressed out that he scraped the walls of his pen/kennel (I don't know what to call it) and wore a patch off one of his pads - his whole paw was bright red with blood. They cleaned and bandaged it to cover it for walking thru the car park . I don't know if I need to take him to the vet or if they'll just tell me to let the air at it but put a boot on for walks etc He's very precious of his front paws so don't want to stress him at the vets if I don't need to. I don't know now if I can take him to hydro now tomorrow either.

Hi.Have tried those plugin things that let off a vaper to destress the dog or the dog jacket that is for the same.?

I was thinking about ways to sort this out if you have PC at work and home.
Now it might sound mad(yes I am a bit)but Skype and remote access to your home PC.
If you make a soundboard with your dogs commands and have this on home PC so as not to have it on work PC.
Now you will have your recording of you giving the commands once you click on that button on the soundboard.
So if Bailey is barking you can click button "Bailey" then button "sush" than "get what ever toy" .
The reason for the soundboard is so you don't need to say(shout)the commands in work.:)

I was was watching love/hate and Frans dogs were barking.
My dog jumps up to see what it is while growling.
Fran tells his dogs to STFU and they did but my dog also understands the command so she just dropped back to lying down.:) even though it was the TV that told her to.

anniehoo · 06-11-2013 11:35pm

TK, you're going to absolutely hate me for saying this, but when you post about Bailey sometimes, especially the last few days I actually get a knot in my stomach as I know you're stressed about him.

tk123 wrote: »

:-( Anyways feeling heartbroken and guilty over Bailey - when I was collecting him and the girl went to get him I knew something was wrong. He got that stressed out that he scraped the walls of his pen/kennel (I don't know what to call it) and wore a patch off one of his pads - his whole paw was bright red with blood. They cleaned and bandaged it to cover it for walking thru the car park . I don't know if I need to take him to the vet or if they'll just tell me to let the air at it but put a boot on for walks etc He's very precious of his front paws so don't want to stress him at the vets if I don't need to. I don't know now if I can take him to hydro now tomorrow either.

I've followed Bailey's story since day dot and I know (genuinely know) how much time and effort you've put into him, but sometimes I feel (and I swear this is just me saying this) that maybe, just maybe you need to take a step back from worrying about him a little bit.

I too went through the crate rest/rehabiliation issue....accompanied by the unreal worrying the comes after that aswell (Beanie's luxated patella).

When you posted yesterday about your anxiety about leaving him for a few hours and the effort you've gone to to prevent his separation anxiety, it seems both of you have gotten worked up in the process. Most dogs, should be able to be left for a few hours with no hassle. I genuinely and honestly couldn't understand why he can't be left on his own for a few hours.

Maybe I'm completely missing the point or something,but there's an awful lot of worry attached to him that I'm not understanding at all, now that's he's doing physically fantastic.

DBB · 07-11-2013 1:22am

Anniehoo, I think Bailey has real, genuine separation anxiety.
Tk, have you exhausted the possibility of a small, really small daycare facility? How would Bailey feel about being dropped off at someone's home, rather than a big daycare?

Dodd · 07-11-2013 1:42am

That's the thing,there are many on this forum that live in the area that could look after Bailey for a few hours and get the dog used to being away from home.
Even start with 20 minute play with a dog at someone's home where you are not there,then work from there.
My dog gets SA and so do I.
What I advised above is some thing I still can't do.
The most I have left her for with someone was 7/8 minutes and that was a friend.
These things need to be sorted or it will only get worse in the event where you have to leave Bailey for a few days.

Dodd · 07-11-2013 1:53am

Can a ask what room you leave the dog in when you are not home.
If my dog has no access to the front door then she will bark.
If she has access she will wait there for me to come home while knowing no one else has come into the home.

tk123 · 07-11-2013 4:52am

DBB wrote: »

Anniehoo, I think Bailey has real, genuine separation anxiety.
Tk, have you exhausted the possibility of a small, really small daycare facility? How would Bailey feel about being dropped off at someone's home, rather than a big daycare?

I'm going to get help - I'd been putting it off with work schedules and other crap but making the call tomorrow...well actually later today because it's 3:40am(!) - he topped it all off by having a nice poo explosion there! He went out the back and lay down for about 10 mins but then came over to just outside the door and let go! Cleaned up as much as I could at and have put a 'danger poo' sign on the back door

. Of course I'm wide awake now and the other two are fast asleep with the pup snoring!

It's separation anxiety and it's genuine/bad and most definitely his and not mine. I can't take a step back from him smashing his face and ripping his paws open or risk him lashing out at somebody. It's also defintely something you have to experience to understand otherwise its the usual over protective attitude from people or suggestions for things we tried 4 years ago - no offence to anyone but seriously unless you've seen it and gone thru it you just won't understand.

borderlinemeath · 07-11-2013 12:37pm

I'm not having a good week lump wise. I found one on Coco earlier

. Straight into the vets, she's not 100% what it is, it doesn't feel just as pliable as a lipoma, but it's not as hard as a tumour. It's right in under her armpit and the vet thinks it may be attached to her rib and it may have grown to protect it if she got a bang on it, like a ganglion cyst. So it's back tomorrow for xrays and biopsy as of course madam had demanded her breakfast at 8am and I only found it when she was getting post breakfast belly rubs.

tk123 · 07-11-2013 12:42pm

Oh poor Coco! My friend had a bit of a nightmare with cyst/fatty lumps on her retriever. The wounds just wouldn't heal - turned out she was allergic to the material the drain was made of!

borderlinemeath · 07-11-2013 12:48pm

tk123 wrote: »

Oh poor Coco! My friend had a bit of a nightmare with cyst/fatty lumps on her retriever. The wounds just wouldn't heal - turned out she was allergic to the material the drain was made of!

Ugh, I just felt sick all morning before I went in. I'm only having breakfast now, I couldn't stomach it after I found it. I was TERRIFIED because of where it was, I'd never seen lipomas there and they're the only non bad lumps I could think of. Not a great start to my birthday.:o

Hows Baileys paw today TK?

SillyMangoX · 07-11-2013 12:51pm

Happy birthday borderlinemeath! There are so many lumps and bumps that dogs can get without it being anything sinister, so even though I know just how hard it is, try not to let yourself get too worried about it - I'm sure it will turn out to be just fine like with benson

borderlinemeath · 07-11-2013 12:55pm

SillyMangoX wrote: »

Happy birthday borderlinemeath! There are so many lumps and bumps that dogs can get without it being anything sinister, so even though I know just how hard it is, try not to let yourself get too worried about it - I'm sure it will turn out to be just fine like with benson

Thanks, it's so hard not to worry. At least with Benson I was slightly comforted (if that's the right expression) that if the worst possible scenario came true that at least it was on a part of his body that he could live without.

tk123 · 07-11-2013 12:58pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Hows Baileys paw today TK?

The wound has settled down and doesn't look as bad but he's limping on it so must be a bit sore. I can't tell if the nail beside it is worn/chipped or just blood stained.

Happy birthday btw!

SillyMangoX · 07-11-2013 1:03pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Thanks, it's so hard not to worry. At least with Benson I was slightly comforted (if that's the right expression) that if the worst possible scenario came true that at least it was on a part of his body that he could live without.

I know how you feel, when I was younger my old dog had a tennis ball sized lump on her neck. No matter how much my parents tried to reassure me it was just a fatty lump I couldn't help but worry so when I saw the vets car at the farm across the road I snuck over with the dog and got him to have a look, I was a lot more convinced after the vet reassuring me, even though I was a hysterical 10 year old!!

bluecherry74 · 07-11-2013 1:32pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Ugh, I just felt sick all morning before I went in. I'm only having breakfast now, I couldn't stomach it after I found it. I was TERRIFIED because of where it was, I'd never seen lipomas there and they're the only non bad lumps I could think of. Not a great start to my birthday.:o

God, poor you.

Hopefully this will be good news too, my fingers are crossed for you all.

Happy birthday!

tk123 · 07-11-2013 3:16pm

Rather than start a thread... I'm thinking of getting a walking belt (the Trailbaby ones that have been mentioned before look great)..but I'm wondering if the dogs will criss-cross and trip me up! Do they take much getting used to? Sometimes they want to walk side by side, sometimes one will go on each side and sometimes they'll switch!

bluecherry74 · 07-11-2013 3:34pm

I've been thinking of getting one too and wondered the same. Holding 2 leads, a torch and a poo bag is a bit tricky! My two tend to criss-cross a bit too. At least with the lead I can put on the brakes, but with a belt I'd be worried that I'd have no control.

borderlinemeath · 07-11-2013 3:42pm

bluecherry74 wrote: »

I've been thinking of getting one too and wondered the same. Holding 2 leads, a torch and a poo bag is a bit tricky! My two tend to criss-cross a bit too. At least with the lead I can put on the brakes, but with a belt I'd be worried that I'd have no control.

Get a head torch, I got one on sports direct ages ago and it was only about €6. This one looks identical to mine but is more expensive, but I would imagine they would have them in Heatons or Lifestyle or a camping/hiking shop.

http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Gear-Reviews/Search-Results/Accessories/Search-Results/Wynnster-12-LED-Head-Torch/

I find that the dogs do end up crossing on the walking belt but I tend to hold the leads anyway which gives a lot less opportunity. It's a great back up in case you fall flat on your face, just like I did last weekend!

tk123 · 07-11-2013 3:44pm

A belt would be handy even just to clip them to for a few mins if you need to free up one of your hands? I have a Doog belt that claims you can clip an dog either side but I don't think it'd be strong enough!

fiacha · 07-11-2013 3:47pm

tk123 wrote: »

Rather than start a thread... I'm thinking of getting a walking belt (the Trailbaby ones that have been mentioned before look great)..but I'm wondering if the dogs will criss-cross and trip me up! Do they take much getting used to? Sometimes they want to walk side by side, sometimes one will go on each side and sometimes they'll switch!

I may be wrong, but I think these systems are designed for dogs that are trained to work in a team so there may be some time involved before your lads get in synch.

I'm dogless at the moment, but when I used to walk a pair I clipped both leads to separate D-rings on my jacket using carabiners. Worked great until they decided to run in separate directions or start rolling around in the grass together.

I don't know how the trailbaby system works, but I got good results by connecting Woody to me via his extension lead and then connecting Luna to his harness via a shorter lead. Only had issues when they both stopped to roll in something or chase a bit of paper :rolleyes:
May only work if one dog is happy to follow the other, but Luna would often drop back to trot alongside Woody.

I only used this system when in safe areas as I preferred to have them both on separate static leads when around traffic etc as I felt I had better control over them.

borderlinemeath · 07-11-2013 3:49pm

tk123 wrote: »

A belt would be handy even just to clip them to for a few mins if you need to free up one of your hands? I have a Doog belt that claims you can clip an dog either side but I don't think it'd be strong enough!

I find it so handy for picking up poo, rather than having your wrist pulled when you're trying to get it into the bag and tie it as quickly as possible. Or sometimes if we're in the fields Benson gets a load of ditch debris stuck in his coat that I need to pull out. (honestly, his coat is like velcro for brambles and other hedgerow bits!) I never go out without the belt now, it's just an extra safety measure for me.

Pumpkinseeds · 07-11-2013 7:40pm

What a day. I heard hissing and growling in the kitchen this morning and found Toby cowering while Felix stood over him. Couple of bits of fur in the hall but nothing major, or so I thought. They went their seperate ways and Toby came back to bed with me while Felix did some bird watching. When I came down later on there was blood spatter on the back door and drops of blood on the kitchen floor:eek:

All I could see is a slash on Toby's ear, poor chap can't seem to defend his ears or face and ends up with scabs everywhere:( I don't know if it was Felix that he was fighting with as he was soaking wet after coming in from the rain a few minutes before hand, I'm hoping he just shook his head when he came in. Any more of this and I'll have to look at talking to a pet behaviourist.

Had to go to the hospital with my mum this morning so I was worried leaving them unsupervised, then her appointment was delayed by almost 3 hours:rolleyes: When I got home there was no sign of Toby but Tabby puss was waiting for dinner on the shed. Toby home safe and sound now, and all are accounted for.

Between today and Monday's chimney fire I need a very large drink:)

Layinghen · 07-11-2013 8:32pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

What a day. I heard hissing and growling in the kitchen this morning and found Toby cowering while Felix stood over him. Couple of bits of fur in the hall but nothing major, or so I thought. They went their seperate ways and Toby came back to bed with me while Felix did some bird watching. When I came down later on there was blood spatter on the back door and drops of blood on the kitchen floor:eek:

All I could see is a slash on Toby's ear, poor chap can't seem to defend his ears or face and ends up with scabs everywhere:( I don't know if it was Felix that he was fighting with as he was soaking wet after coming in from the rain a few minutes before hand, I'm hoping he just shook his head when he came in. Any more of this and I'll have to look at talking to a pet behaviourist.

Had to go to the hospital with my mum this morning so I was worried leaving them unsupervised, then her appointment was delayed by almost 3 hours:rolleyes: When I got home there was no sign of Toby but Tabby puss was waiting for dinner on the shed. Toby home safe and sound now, and all are accounted for.

Between today and Monday's chimney fire I need a very large drink:)

A large drink? You deserve a medal......

borderlinemeath · 07-11-2013 8:43pm

I'm off out now for my very large drink. I'll raise a glass for you pumpkinseeds!

SillyMangoX · 08-11-2013 1:17am

I haven't had a drunken post on here in a while! I love you guys

have to say thanks, because I have really appreciated having this forum to talk to fellow animal people on , my friends are sick of my crazy cat lady antics!!

tk123 · 08-11-2013 5:52am

Bailey was crying on and off during the night...he didn't want to get up and decided to lie on a cushion beside Lucy's crate for a couple of hours with the odd whine to wake me up...an hour ago he wanted to go out...open the door and lies on the ground for a few mins and farts then comes back in 30 mins later and goes back to bed! Wide awake (again)....All of that for a FART....!? I'm relieved and suspicious at the same time

News flash - there was a small explosion in a bedroom on the east coast this morning, one pair of retried jeans (in the bin pile) were killed but no other causalties.. A Yankee candle has been deployed.

angeldaisy · 08-11-2013 8:04am

Last night I kind of noticed that Tara wasn't in her bed near me like she usually is, but just assumed that she'd taken herself to bed early.. the dogs sleep in our bedroom.
Anyway walked into the ensuite an hour or so later to find the entire contents of the bin pulled out and shredded all over the floor! She didn't even have the decency to have a guilty look on her face!

Pumpkinseeds · 08-11-2013 1:09pm

Poppy is loving our bed now. We have a feather duvet that she doesn't really trust to walk on, but she's getting in under it on my side and sleeping on the sheets with the duvet partially covering her and using my arm as a pillow. All very cute except that she expects me to budge over so she can have a warm bit of the mattress:D

I got a huge throw in Pennys yesterday, we needed a nice big fleecy one for Toby to stop the duvet getting destroyed when he jumps on the bed soaking wet from his adventures in the rain. It's one of the Christmassy/Nordic ones with lots of colours in it to hide the cat fur:)

baby and crumble · 08-11-2013 3:49pm

Just popped into the pet shop and I've fallen in love. I have a feeling I might have found our next hammie. Now I just have to convince my other half...

SillyMangoX · 08-11-2013 4:46pm

baby and crumble wrote: »

Just popped into the pet shop and I've fallen in love. I have a feeling I might have found our next hammie. Now I just have to convince my other half...

Aww that's brilliant news, any hammie would be lucky to have ye

borderlinemeath · 08-11-2013 5:05pm

Just back from the vets with Coco and she's in the clear. Yay!!!

The xray showed the lump was on the rib from where she must have walloped herself or slipped off something (and she's a divil for climbing in ditches and on the rocks at the beach) when they took a biopsy it was bloody fluid rather than a tumour mass. Also on the xray it wasn't as 'angry' looking as a tumour would be. So observation and see if there's any changes at all in the coming weeks but going on what came out they're happy that it's not a tumour.

tk123 · 08-11-2013 5:09pm

Yaaay glad Coco is ok!

borderlinemeath · 08-11-2013 5:16pm

I can't believe how lucky I am. Two lumps in two weeks and both benign. So so relieved.

tk123 · 08-11-2013 5:22pm

Lucky dogs for you to spot it and have them at the vets so quick.
Poor Bailey is limping on the paw - I got him new booties yesterday to cushion it a bit and took him 2 mins around the corner to the green but he's a bit miserable. Only dawned on me there that have a stock of Previcox from last time he was at the vet and she prescribed extra for me to have on hand if needed! DUH! Hopefully he won't need an xray because he's due more bloods in a couple of weeks = €€€€'s

rannerap · 08-11-2013 9:49pm

My mam was devastated when I moved out and took my two kittens and had decided to either foster or adopt another one or two to fill the void. Was on Facebook earlier and a picture popped up from one of the animal rescues I follow. It was a kitten looking for a home. It looks identical to one of my kittens so I showed my mam and she emailed the rescue saying she would adopt her and was convinced to adopt her brother too

quite a turnaround for someone who hated cats before I got mine!

Pumpkinseeds · 08-11-2013 10:23pm

Sarannewrap wrote: »

My mam was devastated when I moved out and took my two kittens and had decided to either foster or adopt another one or two to fill the void. Was on Facebook earlier and a picture popped up from one of the animal rescues I follow. It was a kitten looking for a home. It looks identical to one of my kittens so I showed my mam and she emailed the rescue saying she would adopt her and was convinced to adopt her brother too quite a turnaround for someone who hated cats before I got mine!

Cats are like crisps, you can't just stop after 1:D

SillyMangoX · 08-11-2013 10:34pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Cats are like crisps, you can't just stop after 1:D

Never have a seen a more true statement

rannerap · 08-11-2013 11:00pm

Tell me about it haha I constantly have to talk myself out of getting a third!

Pumpkinseeds · 08-11-2013 11:03pm

We were determined not to have any more. Then Felix showed up, so we took him in, then a year later Jasper arrived. In the space of the past 6 months we have Toby and Poppy. There's also the visiting tabby thats been coming for breakfast and dinner every day for ages now:D

Dodd · 09-11-2013 12:57am

tk123 I don't think you answered my Q about the plugin thing/jacket that help with dog anxiety.
I have not tried them myself but my dog is fine for an hour or two.
She was bad but I worked time away from her up at stages and good doggie when not barking when I got home:

tk123 · 09-11-2013 8:54am

Dodd wrote: »

tk123 I don't think you answered my Q about the plugin thing/jacket that help with dog anxiety.
I have not tried them myself but my dog is fine for an hour or two.
She was bad but I worked time away from her up at stages and good doggie when not barking when I got home:

I've tried it all with little success. Behaviourist coming in 2 weeks to help us!

Btw is that our one of our mad cat ladies being quoted on Pet Expo's FB??

Cocolola · 09-11-2013 10:52am

tk123 wrote: »

Btw is that our one of our mad cat ladies being quoted on Pet Expo's FB??

Aw look it's Peach!

baby and crumble · 09-11-2013 12:54pm

baby and crumble wrote: »

Just popped into the pet shop and I've fallen in love. I have a feeling I might have found our next hammie. Now I just have to convince my other half...

Convinced!! We just bought our new little fluffster.

Were picking her up Monday, have to do a little preparing of the cage first. Now the name debate begins... SO EXCITED!!!!

Layinghen · 09-11-2013 1:40pm

Congratulations Babyandcrumble. Photographs of course at the earliest opportunity.......

The Chillout Zone (Off-Topic Thread)

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