Ooooh Stumpy

weejake · Master

Ooooh Stumpy

Indiana · Guru

He's too gorgeous that I wouldn't mind him coming at me! Mind you, you're right when you say it's scary for owners who don't know him. Tigerlily is exactly like that. Before I really knew what she was like, I let her off in an enclosed area with Indiana because they got on well in the house and I didn't forsee any problems. As soon as they were running she took a chunk out of his back. She is now always muzzled but still tries to nip and bite. Indiana is used to her now and she can't do any damage in the muzzle but I'm always on the lookout for other owners and their dogs in case she does it to their's. However, I don't panic so much now that I have worked out how to do recall with her. Her recall is dreadful apart from with a squeaky. I keep a really loud one in my bag and if I see another dog, I squeak it and she comes running. Is Stumpy motivated by anything like that? I know some people frown on squeakies with greyhounds but it is the only thing that interests her. Food doesn't work.

tootsmazza · Enlightened One

Poor Stumpy, it is really unnerving for other owners though and I would suggest persevering with the muzzle. Have you tried putting it on for short periods and giving him treats constantly while its on to distract him. I find Mathieson's chicken bites work well with Mason cos they are shaped just right to slip through the grids.
Mason spends a lot of time tryng to persuade people to take his muzzle off - goosing them an rubbing up against them etc - but when he's distracted forgets its on completely. It may be that doing it gradually at home will make it less stressful for him when its on out.
Also make sure its a racing muzzle and the right size, it may worry other dog owners to see him wearing his Hannibal facewear but thats ignorance on their part and at the end of the day you're putting your dog's safety and reputation first.
Marie

tandemsandy · Master

OH Bless you both. It is so scary when things like that happen. I always have my muzzle with me for Red in case. But have to admit it sure hurts when he gooses me and constantly rams my thighs to get it off. I will have to admit also that I and Red found giving him treats thro muzzle was a nightmare. He couldn't manage at all. He is also not very motivated with treats after one. So now he is never off the lead except in the garden and if I am in a field which has no hidden corners. Sad but necessary for my peace of mind...And his recall is very slow work as doesn't want treats. Hope you find a happy solution to your problem

weejake · Master

Yep you are right agout the muzzle, I really should persevere. I am too soft, I hate anything frightening or hurting them, I am strict compared to Jim as I keep them on the lead even if I see dogs in the distance, and constantly call Stumpy even if he wanders just a little way off,keeping an eye out for dogs all the time, it's like a military operation. But in fact part of my misery last night was that I had scared him myself, you should've seen his little face, and of course I couldn't immediately give him a cuddle as I would be sending out conflicting messages.

As for squeaky toy, he would run a mile, hates em, what a wimp. In fact we bought him a toy that was in the shape of a burgler and for the first week he couldn't even be in the same room as it, would run out crying if he spotted it. I had a toy like that a witch puppet, couldn't even take it out of the box, green hair warts ugh, wanted the ballerina y'see.

Ah well time to dig out the baskerville until I get a real muzzle. poor wee Stumpers. I made up to him last night by doing the "whose the baby" routine, when you say this he rolls on his back flailing his legs in the air , grinning until we blow a raspberry on his belly then he jumps up and brings us a toy or slipper as a pressie.

See far too soft.

Michelle · Master

It is hard with the muzzle, Jet wears his whenever we go out and at first i had a terrible job getting my boyfriend to make him wear it, still do as he feels sorry for him. Jet doesn't much like it and will headbutt me to try and get it off but we persevere, it's for his own good really as if he should bite another dog i'd be in fear of the owner trying to get him PTS.

weejake · Master

I know if he did bite another dog.....Oh doesn't bear thinking about. The thing that has stopped me so far has been when we were still down south we would walk with assorted groups of dogs, and after the intial mayhem at the start, Stumpy was always the quietest and easiest of the bunch. And I kept thinking that the muzzle wasn't needed. But up here is different, they are not socializing and even when we see the same walkers, I just wave and keep away.

Oh and he's totally food orientated which is why his recall at other times can be pretty impressive. Turns immediately and charges back to me, and have managed to just give him treats every other time he comes back.