Thanks Angela

I bet you feel so guilty about Tootsies toenails Schmoo has little black ones and l can't see where the quick is on them and when l trim them - l am half expecting a screech of pain!

For the next couple of weeks l have to do full time and as my back is still not right DH is doing the walks. I did walk with them over the field with DH but can't do the actual holding of leads at the moment in case l am pulled.

Your're right about next door neighbor getting what he deserves! I do believe that what you do in life will come back to haunt you. I have'nt had any trouble from them for a couple of days but l am sure that they are writing down any time the dogs bark on their little form for the council! Such small minded people!

I have found a training school that is about 40 mins away that has trainers that don't get paid for the work they do. They support rescue kennels and do fund raising for them too. It is in the old american base at upper heyford and l am definately thinking of giving it a go.

It is only 50p per session for pups and you can take your dogs up for a free consultaion beforehand if you feel you have specific problems. Also 3 of the trainers are graduates from Dr Ian Dunbars school. He is quite well respected in the dog world it seems.

Anyway must go now but l'll be back!!!

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Ta Ta For Now xxx Kittysoo

Back again.

Had a bit of a disaster with the dogs staying downstairs!
It seems l snore when l eat too much!!!!!!

DH who is an amazing snorer can't put up with my piggy grunts every now and then, so ended up sleeping on the sofa.

Problem was the dogs thought this was great, so have started expecting him to come down and have started giving little barks calling out for him!

Now if we were on speaking terms with my neighbours from hell - (Bye the way his dogs have suddenly disappeared - either he is tying up their muzzles to keep them quiet or he is not allowing them out of the house any more l don't know but I would tell him that the dogs are going to do the odd bark, but we are going to ignore it and it should soon stop.

Unfortunately as he is just waiting for us to step out of line, we can't let them continue barking and reluctantly made the decision to let them back upstairs again.

I am so anoyed and disappointed as l felt we were getting somewhere but because DH was sleeping downstairs too often they had worked out that by barking he would come running. Suddenly they were training us!

Last night was the first night that they came back upstairs and to be honest it was a nightmare for me. Schmoo and Seiger settled down but Scamper kept trying to get up on the bed. DH complained that he was just dozing off and we had the worst dogs ever and this could'nt go on - yar de yar de yar and suddenly all 3 were prancing about! Told all 3 to go back to bed and told DH to shut up moaning ! Finally peace and l got some sleep.

Then Scamper decided that he needed to go out after a couple of hours. I took all 3 down and let them out one at a time so as not to have all 3 barking - (have foxes and sheep very close by). Finally went back to bed.

Ten minutes later Scamper started pacing and crying. I thought no way you've been out and ignored him. Then the smell hit me - he deposited a pile on the laminate floor by DH side of bed. Shoved him out again and cleaned up. All this time DH slept on in blissful ignorance!

Five AM - DH needed the loo!!!!!! Woke all 3 up and then went back to bed not before letting them out of the bedroom so there l was rushing downstairs for the 3rd time to let them out AGAIN!!!!

The radio alarm clock woke me up at 7 then lights on clocks and radio went off. Dogs had jumped about when they heard it and get this - actually managed to knock the switch up by the plug!!! At worse just playful spirits but possibly one of the little devils wanted a lie in after the previous few hours and switched it off.

Anyway l could'nt risk sleeping in as l had to open up reception at work so had to get up earlier than planned.

All in all it was a knackering night. I should gave stuck with cats!

Anyway tomorrow morning l am off to vist Katie. She will be 5 weeks old now and running about. Only one more week and then she's coming home

I am going to start a new thread in dog chat by the way as l have a question to ask about Katie and this post is very long. The title will have puppy and stroller in it by the way heh heh heh

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Ta Ta For Now xxx Kittysoo

Oh dear Kitty - at least you can say your dogs are quick learners I hope you have a better night tonight If it is any consolation Toots had me up at 6.30 this morning so I have moved my heating timer on a bit as I think that was what woke her . Tootsie has always slept in my bedroom because I set my alarm on a night downstairs but she settles down nicely now and I dont let her up on the bed anymore.

I have been trying her on some new dog food which she seems to like so Im going to give it a try. I got IAMS last time but apparently it is full of rubbish so I have am trying her on a natural one. Re call is still going well but there were a few other dogs about on our walk tonight and she kept getting distracted.

Have you looked into the training school yet? I took Toots to one for a while but one of the trainers always brought his 4 year old daughter and she always wanted to take Tootsie - she used to literally drag her round the room and I was trying to be polite and had to just let her. I think that may be one of the reasons that she hates kids but that is a whole other problem

I hope it goes well with Katie tomorrow

Can I just say Kitty that I think you are absolutely nuts to be bringing another dog home. Your other three are ruling your life now, causing problems with your neighbours, your OH doesnt sound too happy and I'm pretty sure when you get your new baby home she will behave in exactly the same way as the rest. Its not that long ago that you had thoughts of rehoming the pups - well instead of 2 to rehome this'll be 3. Sorry if this sounds harsh because I can just tell from your posts that you do adore your fur babies

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Yum Yum Yum

Hi Toots and Jo

Just read your posts before turning in. DH is watching snooker only another 9 days of boring evenings to go!

Your right Jo about the 3 turning into 4 problems and your also right about them running my life at the moment. I was pretty down when said about rehoming the mutts. I know l won't do it but l was very upset about the way the neighbors have been behaving.

I think the dog barking has been the final straw between the 2 households. Basically when he moved in his lodger, he changed from an independent male to a henpecked wuss. His lodger is a very short tempered woman who likes her own way and she has changed him a lot. Had almost 20 years of him being a perv but a polite one.

When l just had Lucy (GSD/Lab X) and Seiger (GSD), life was certainly a lot simpler. Both dogs walked well and my next door neighbor was still talking too me.

Looking back l realise that DH was always a cat person. He loved GSD and they are his favourite breed but l was the one that walked them. When he came home from work he would play with them and usually feed them but it was always me they turned too.

To be honest l rushed into Schmoo. My intentions were that when l lost the both of them we would get older rescue dogs. If DH had said lets get a pup though l would have been straight in there agreeing with him, but he also said no more dogs till we had lost the others.

There was 5 months between them and the moment we got the second one l found it difficult. They distracted each other all the time and trainning was very hard. Some how l have blocked this from my mind.

When DH asked me what l wanted for my 50th birthday - l did'nt know but said a puppy only as someone had shown me a picture of one at work a few days before. I honestly never thought he would take it seriously as it was not what we had planned.

Not long after l got Schmoo, Lucy passed away. I was back to 2 dogs but missing her like crazy. Training was going fairly well but then l bumped into a friend of mine whom l had lost contact with and her Yorkie was about to have puppies. When they were born she invited me around and I suddenly became obsessed with the thought of having a little girl. Problem was DH thought that paying £600 was over the top and refused.

Totally disappointed and on impulse l bought Scamper a little Jack Russell boy aged 15 weeks for £75 after seeing a notice at a vets appointment about a week later!

In the meantime, still not having my girl and finding Schmoo to be so sweet, l wrote to his parents owners and said in the future l would love to have a little girl. I thought that would be next year and that l would have the training all sorted out by then. I was quite shocked that she was born so soon. I had committed myself to Katie but also it may sound stupid but l think that l fell into the trap of falliing for little puppies. We'd all love to have them but we have to be sensible and raise one at a time. I seem to be collecting them.

Having had big dogs in the past. It almost feels that 4 little ones add up to one big one!!! Nuts l know.

I think l realised when l got Scamper that l had bitten off more than l could chew. I have never had a Jack Russell before, never read about them until l got him and am completely suprised at just how stubborn and independent he is compared with Seiger and Schmoo. I also got him at an older age and he had never left his puppy home at all. Basically he is a dog that has got balls and he knows it.

I thought that the socializing that l had done was ok but l realise now that it was not enough. I have been told that the little ones feel bold as they are a pack walking together rather than just owner and dog. Even Schmoo who is a very submissive dog will bark and run towards anything that he sees. Moat of our walks are solitary as we hardly ever bump into anyone.

My final bad point is that if l am being honest l am a person that gets distracted easily and does'nt see things through to the end. If there is a quick fix - l'll take it. My attitude to dog training is exactly the same.

DH takes no part in training the dogs. I am just as lax at times. When l get tired - consistency flies out the window. I have a 1001 things to do before l will allocate the time to trainning. There is alway one more thing to do before l can start it.

Yet l could stock a library with all the dog books, behaviour books and a pet shop with all the latest gadgets that are supposedly meant to aid in training. I download E books, print off tons of info about training when l should be putting a proper routine together and actually getting on with it! DH now says that l spend all my spare time reading the posts on this forum rather than do something constructive with my time. I look on it as l am learning about dogs.

Anyway girls, l think l have waffled long enough, it is very theroputic though. Trust me all the mutts will have a good life and will be well taken care of but l know that l have to change the way l deal with them as it can only get worse as the pups get older. At the moment l can excuse their behaviour as puppy boisteriousness, but if l am not careful Scamper will push to become top dog over us humans too.

All k can say is that the mutts and l are a work in progress!

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Ta Ta For Now xxx Kittysoo

My heart sank reading that post ^^ I feel very sad but happy for you... you have your babies, but times are hard and i think thats the hardest thing... You love them sooo much it drives you crazy 24hrs a day and in disguise its a good thing that you care for them so much and you know where to go right in future, and your doing something about it. I wish you all the luck in the world and i know you will have a lovely future with them I cant wait to hear the good updates xx

Thanks Amy for your kind words. I feel more cheerful today

In the cold light of day l looked at my thread and thought oops your wearing your heart on your sleeve again! I do get very emotional about things and my fur babies are so precious to me but l have humanised them and trying to reverse my own reactions to them is very difficult.

I was fussing Seiger my GSD and despite being a huge old boy his muscles are so wasted now. His bone structure is great and have no problems, he eats well, plays with the pups and looks forward to his walks. Yet when l fuss him there feels hardly anything there any more and though you cant really see that he has detiorated you can feel it. I shall miss him when he goes but make the most of each day. He will be my last big boy.

I also admit defeat far too early but if it takes me the next few years - l will sort these pups out.

Talking of pups - l went to see Katie today. What an adorable little bundle of fur. Took some more photos and a video pictures of her and her family. Even her human family are lovely. Only one week till we get her. I took a little dog blanket and wrapped her in it to get her smell on so my mutts can pick up her smell. They were all over it when l got home.

Tomorrow l have to collect my Dad (he has dementia) and then off we go to my sisters house. I(t is the second anniversary of my Mums death, so we are going to get together.

I now have to take all 3 mutts with us, as they might bark and the neighbors will have another chance to jot down on their list.

From past experience it is like taking 3 babies out at the same time. Have to strap each one into the car. Take food, dishes,snacks, toys, towels as its supposed to be raining, beds so they wont lie on my sisters cream carpets,dog coats,poo bags and of course leads. It seems more work than when my children were small.


Anyway must sign off now and do some emails before bed. Tomorrow is another day according to Scarlet O Hara!

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Ta Ta For Now xxx Kittysoo

I hope you have good day with your Dad and family - what a nice thought to remember your Mum with all of your family around you ( including your fur babies )
I have created a bit of a problem here. I have been decorating for the last week ( and will probably be decorating for the next few weeks at the rate Im going ) Anyway I have moved the furniture around in my living room so that my window is not blocked and to let more light in. Unfortunately my window is very low and it means that Toots can see ouside and she is barking at any movement in the street. I live at the end of a road so there isnt much going on out there but my neighbours only use their back door so walk past my window and Toots barks like mad My neighbours have always been good with Toots even though she runs up to them and barks at them if we are at the front of the house. If she is in the back garden and they are in theirs she also barks - on the other side of my house is a cycle and footpath which again if anybody walks past she barks at them too. Toots is told to be 'quiet' as soon as she barks but she will then sit growling till she has had the last word if she doest shut up I just put her back in the house. I am going to have to see how we get on with the furniture this way round and see if she settles down - I prefer it this way round though. My neighbour told me that he is dog sitting his daughters springer spaniel this week so we will have to see what Toots thinks of that - the spaniel is a lovely dog but is timid so I can just imagine Tootsie frightening the poor thing
Right I need to get off now and sort out my tip/house

Hi Angela

Know exactly what you mean - once you start decorating it is only natural to change the room round for a whole new look.
Maybe you should keep a water bottle by the window for Tootsie. I am lucky that mine and my neighbors house is slightly set back and mine is the last in the street - adjoining a field.
Still even though the mutts cant see anything they can hear everything going on out there and used to let us know! These days they are never out of our sight which is not very good. Dam those neighbors !

Today DH dropped me off at work and then took the dogs over the hill. He kept them on a lead as he saw a couple of horse riders going by. Once they were out of sight he let them off, only to find that a few minutes later they had turned back and came back into view again. He managed to get Schmoo and Seiger on a lead but Scamper took off!

He told me that little legs or not he still managed to get down the hill to the horses in no time and was barking around the feet of the horses. Luckily they were fine or there could have been a nasty accident if the horses had reared. It seems that Scamper just kept following barking and jumping around till DH managed to get down the hill again.

A few days ago - again on the hill a landrover passed and off he went after that! I have told DH to put him on a long lead as he is just not consistent with recall at all and is out of control. Hopefully l will be back to working part time in the next week or so and then l can start walking them out again too and getting some lead work in.

Last weekend when l went to my sisters with my Dad l noticed that DH had loaded the dogs in the car without their haltis on and what a difference when l put them on their leads, My back was still bad and all 3 of them pulled me like crazy that l nearly fell over. Even Seiger who has necer been a problem pulled so hard that l could barely hold them. That is going to stop for sure!!!!

Getting back to the house - DH painted mine white all the way through a couple of years ago and believe me it needs doing again. The whole place has got into a right mess and l will have to start my decluttering again. Plus muddy wet dogs are an absolute no no on white walls and skirting!

Anyway hope that Tootsie is settling a bit now, please let us know how it goes and enjoy your new look!

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Ta Ta For Now xxx Kittysoo

Totally agree! You must be nuts!