Is it ok to do this - dogs?

puddy

ladymarmalade1970 wrote: »

My OH used to be like this but he has calmed down now. Possibly because the first place i look when i go shopping is the reduced counter lol.
How does your OH cope with the dirt from your dog? I struggle with dust and have to wipe my walls down constantly (well about 30 mins of washing walls every week).

me and my OH are contradictions in opposite ways. my OH's hosue before we moved here together, was a complete !!!!!! tip, rubbish on the floor, broken oven, cooking utensils sitting around, dust, dog hair, mildewy windows, dog allowed on all the furniture and beds (bleugh), but is obsessive about food hygiene and 'some' health and safety stuff, like pulling the plugs out of things that i then go and use and wonder why they dont work

on the other hand, he will do things like leave the gas on after taking a pan off it, he will drop things on the floor and not pick them up, spill things and not pick them up. he complains about me hoovering because of dust being kicked up, his solution to dust would be just to leave it. but he will physically remove me from the reduced counter and wont eat things that are leftovers or have already been opened

me... i like a clean, neat tidy home but will eat stuff well out of date, if they look and taste ok. plus my car is a virtual health hazard and completely different to my home

bizarre

puddy

ladymarmalade1970 wrote: »

I think alot of dogs can get funny over bones. My Staffy X never has but my rottie, when we first rescued him at 9 months, did growl at me a couple of times when i went near him with it. I took it off him immediately and for all the people that say you shouldn't do this it's worked perfectly for us as i can now give him bones and take anything out of his mouth.
I am not sure how you deal with food issues, that could make a difference. We have never really had any issues other than my rotties recall which isn't perfect. Sorry.
How old is he and what type? Was he puppy or rescue?

yes, the other day i was successful in taking a courgette from his mouth that he stole from the shopping i was putting away. i was surprised he let me.

he is a 7 year old collie. he was taken in by my partner's daughter when he was about 1, not really trained, treated like a person so i have to be very strict with him. he was given all sorts of human food when he lived with them, but now he's with just us, i only give him the odd thing like apples and his low fat food

ladymarmalade1970

LOL my car is a health hazard too. My best mate said he would pay for it to be valeted but i don't see the point as the dogs go in it lots. Could be why they like it so much as to them it's homely.

ladymarmalade1970

puddy wrote: »

yes, the other day i was successful in taking a courgette from his mouth that he stole from the shopping i was putting away. i was surprised he let me.

he is a 7 year old collie. he was taken in by my partner's daughter when he was about 1, not really trained, treated like a person so i have to be very strict with him. he was given all sorts of human food when he lived with them, but now he's with just us, i only give him the odd thing like apples and his low fat food

Awwww bless, i bet you DO have your hands full :-) If he is a collie then he needs stuff like this to do. They are such clever dogs and need so much stimulation. They can become aggressive and nervous if they don't get it so i would say carry on.
Have you tried the Nina Ottersson toys? We had them for ours but they aren't suitable as my rotties chews them. You have to do them with him initially but once they get the hang of it you could leave them. They are expensive but if he is going to use them then i imagine it's money well spent.
The other thing that keeps them amused for hours is a boomer ball although not sure if his back condition is permanent??? If so, it's probably not suitable but if not these are fab and have lasted my 2 since we brought it over 2 years ago.
You can get lots of toys for dogs that aren't destructive (like my 2) just google clever dog toys.

hethmar

My house has always been a health hazard - well its always been reasonably clean but tidy? - hmm not really. But my kids never got all the illnesses other kids in the street had and just recently one of my sons gave me a backhanded compliment when someone said how often a certain friend got stomach upsets and the like he said "My bro and I never have any stomach upsets, I think its because mum wasnt that bothered keeping us clean when we were young" pmsl. But its true, my kids were always covered in mud or rummaging through stuff in the garden or paddling in our natural pond. I never worried about them keeping their clothes clean and hair tidy - they have most of their lives to concern themselves over that.

The OP's partner does seem a bit obsessive about cleanliness - I bet he had a mum who made him take his shoes off at the door and never let him get a dirty face. What diseases does he think the dog may pick up from your garden? The dog is much likely to pick something up on walks in woods or parks and I guess you must take him those sort of places?

puddy

hethmar wrote: »

My house has always been a health hazard - well its always been reasonably clean but tidy? - hmm not really. But my kids never got all the illnesses other kids in the street had and just recently one of my sons gave me a backhanded compliment when someone said how often a certain friend got stomach upsets and the like he said "My bro and I never have any stomach upsets, I think its because mum wasnt that bothered keeping us clean when we were young" pmsl. But its true, my kids were always covered in mud or rummaging through stuff in the garden or paddling in our natural pond. I never worried about them keeping their clothes clean and hair tidy - they have most of their lives to concern themselves over that.

The OP's partner does seem a bit obsessive about cleanliness - I bet he had a mum who made him take his shoes off at the door and never let him get a dirty face. What diseases does he think the dog may pick up from your garden? The dog is much likely to pick something up on walks in woods or parks and I guess you must take him those sort of places?

no, its the complete opposite, his mother was very ill and committed suicide when he was 12, he was quite neglected and had a very dirty house. this is why he isnt bothered about surface dirt or things being dirty, he is also a hoarder if given the chance, but is only obsessive about food hygiene and arbitrary health and safety stuff which are not really connected to reality, like the wood preserving anxiety.

yes the dog goes out in 'dirty' places! he als likes to eat a lot of grass and plants whilst he's out

OnAndUp

I'm pretty sure that it would be ok.

I have heard it recommended by several dog trainers, and it's a good way to tap into the dogs natural instincts plenty of stimulation sniffing the bits out and exercise too, better than just eating it out of a bowl.

http://www.barkbusters.co.uk/dog-training-tips/boredom

Surely "experts" wouldn't recommend it if there was a hygiene issue?

I have one of these my dog loves it and it takes him about 20 mins to eat his meal from it!

http://www.nutrecare.co.uk/Product-3443/Busy-Buddy-Tug-a-Jug

ps. Maybe ring and ask you vets for a medical opinion if it puts your hubby's mind at rest.

puddy

excellent, im going to continue, i thought it couldnt be unhealthy for him because what about all the sticks and branches he picks up on walks and in the garden and throws them about the garden chewing them, they have germs or whatever on them and thats ok. also he brings his toys in and out of the house and garden all the time, they will have the same germs and things on them surely?

he really enjoys it and sits there all excited waiting for me to throw the food

DogsBody

'Scatter feeding' like this is actually a well established form of environmental enrichment for many captive animals It gives the dog something exciting to do and acts as a predatory sequence outlet - I sometimes to 'search squares' for mine in the garden with their food, and I will use it at work for dogs who are too wary to interact with a person, to give them something to occupy/interest them while I'm working on their other issues.

Heartworm/lungworm - in the UK this usually refers to Angiostrongylus vasorum, as 'true' heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is not endemic here (yet) AFAIK. If your dog is regularly wormed with 'good' wormers, there shouldn't be a problem - obviously your vet will know how prevalent lungworm is in your area and will be able to advise re worming accordingly!

hethmar

puddy wrote: »

no, its the complete opposite, his mother was very ill and committed suicide when he was 12, he was quite neglected and had a very dirty house. this is why he isnt bothered about surface dirt or things being dirty, he is also a hoarder if given the chance, but is only obsessive about food hygiene and arbitrary health and safety stuff which are not really connected to reality, like the wood preserving anxiety.

yes the dog goes out in 'dirty' places! he als likes to eat a lot of grass and plants whilst he's out

Poor bloke, no wonder he has these probs. Is he getting any help with the anxiety?

Not a lot you can do really if the anxiety is that deep seated - he will worry about the dog anyway, so may be best to put the food in little boxes round the garden - would that ease his mind a bit do you think?