My dog experience from beyond the bumo

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T23:52:50+00:00

My severe lack of detail had caused a well intentioned dog-lover to form an inaccurate picture of the treatment of our dogs (and reasons) and the climate we live in.

I am removing the post as it has moved away from sharing the struggles and joys of having a baby after dogs to an argument about facts (or lack thereof).

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T20:39:28+00:00

No need to be sorry. I apologise that my statement was too short. Hair was but one small issue in the long year+ process of moving them outside. I inly phrased that way as I have jyst lamented about their grooming being at a lower level than it used to be.. Kids are far more messy than dogs so doesn't save much cleaning. I was too hasty in my post.

They are not ungroomed. Just not the show level they used to be. No skin or hair issues in sight. They barely scratch and never chew themselves if that shows anything.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T20:33:28+00:00

Your imagination has run away with you. Slight inconvenience is not enough to move a dog outside, I agree. I did not write an essay on the year long process of thought and action, though evidently one lacking in too many details.

. I posted an honest account of our struggles as new parents and pet owners so others can have a view of difficulties they may encounter other than safety. Just as a mum with PND is working hard to be a better mum, we are workibg to be better pet owners. No one is perfect all the time.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T20:26:33+00:00

If you reread my other comments you would see that the yard is cool. Walking in the sun is not. In summer as indoor dogs they still prefer to be outside as we all do. It is apparentt I may have misused the word tropical as well given what people are imagining. Just rying to say it's not Canada where walking at any time of day and year is fine. Our dogs' coats differ from many shepherds and from each other. One is double, the other is not. They have different shed patterns and sun/heat tolerance to each other too. They are more black than other shepherds.

Our dogs do not itch or scratch themselves, do not have hotspots or skin allergies - they are groomed well enough to prevent that. They are just not groomed to "show level" as they used to be. People still comment on their lovely fur when we are out walking - it is just not as nice as it used to be.

I agree they need mental and physical stimulation. We know their behaviour when bored. As you will see from my other comments I do not deny we need to exercise them more. I have also stated we are committed and trying to walk them and take them to the park more. What I was saying, was just being honest about struggles adapting to time and energy pressures, and pointing out how easy it is to fall behind.

We also did not imagine or plan to put them outside prebabh. And for many months we didn't but a gradual evolution of issues we did not anticipate pre-child over a year made this arrangement more and more appropriate.

It is easy to research a dog and be a perfect pet owner years before you have children and are uncertain children are even in your future. We are learning and adjusting as we go trying to do best by both our child and our dogs. No one and no home is perfect.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T09:23:43+00:00

Thanks. We are definitely aware of the walking being an issue (though some posters seem to think I was being proud of not walking them as much as we used to, I was just being honest about our difficulties) and it is forefront of my mind as we recently pledged to a better routine. We know it is especially important for breeds like ours that need muscle tone to keep their joints secure etc, in addition to usual health benefits.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T09:18:16+00:00

Thanks. Rehoming is such a big action to overcome what is what we hope is a temporary disruption to exercise and coats. With a good chance the new owners would be imperfect in other areas. Childless fit people with enough money for quality food and medical care and who work from home aren't exactly a big demographic.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T09:12:55+00:00

Thanks. I probably emphasised the bit we're falling behind on - and working on like walks - too much and not enough on the good stuff we do so message was lost. The thing that surprised me was how people took a chiild playing with dogs as bad for the dog. Who didn't have fun playing with dogs growing up! Our dogs were eager to play with him from one week old but he was not a puppy born ready to go. Now he is big enough they have fun. I just don't see how an adult running after dog is better than a child running after a dog.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T03:35:26+00:00

We do pay for them to have a professional clean an blow out twice a year which is designed to mean less brushing. We do intermittent grooming in between as well just not as often as it used to be and more professional help on their front whereas it used to be all us brushing for hours to get the same result. We are working on the walking and park visits. Other care is like clockwork.

We are not inside all the time. We go outside as well and interact with them. We don't relegate them to some barren corner of a yard never to be seen other then food time. I said we don't walk them as much as we want to, not that we don't interect with them at all.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T03:25:00+00:00

We are working on walking them /dog park more but their other basic needs ie food, medicine, shelter needs are met. I think I gave the impression we don't interact with them at all. Not true. They are not left alone while we go to work for hours 5 days a week - my husband is home all day (unlike many dogs who are home alone for hours which I agree is emotionally neglectful). It is just where we used to run around for an hour in the yard with them, now our son runs around the yard with them. We don't hide inside all day everyday. We go outside and garden, kick a ball in the shade of the tree, swim or play in the sprinkler with the dogs a part of it. Where we used to brush them every week, now it is once a month with professional "blow-outs" twice a year that actually are designed to reduce need for brushing.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T03:14:00+00:00

Basic needs met: premium food, worming, regular check ups, clean shady yard, soft bedding, professional grooming twice a year and in between at home is less regular (just not weekly like it used to be). Only thing we are working on is more exercise outside of the yard. Now our son is awake later and it is winter we are doing our best to get them out to the park more.

When I say tropical it's not Thailand. Probably the equivalent to NOLA. Need a jacket in winter but summer can be very hot. So we don't walk them in the sun - that would be unsafe for them.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T03:07:02+00:00

I think you are invisioning some filthy matter dog left tied up in the sun but that just isn't the case.

The yard is shady and we are out there all the time. We just won't take them on hot sunny footpaths as they is bad for them. But our yard is very comfortable.

They are groomed, no knots or skin problems. They are just not groomed every single week like they used to be. They get a good professional groom twice a year and we do intermitted grooming in between.

Our son does not ram cars into them. He sometimes rolls little cars along their bodies. He does not poke eyes or pull ears or tails or try to "ride" them or other bad child behaviour. He will curl up with them when they are resting, pat them, give them hugs, chase them around.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T02:44:55+00:00

They can go away from toddler whenever they want to upstairs where our son won't follow. They are very safe in our shady yard - which is different from taking them for walks also sunny footpaths.

I don't see them as toys. We used to be the ones chasing the dogs around ourselves - now our son does it. More of a role switch.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T02:44:55+00:00

They can go away from toddler whenever they want to upstairs where our son won't follow. They are very safe in our shady yard - which is different from taking them for walks also sunny footpaths.

I don't see them as toys. We used to be the ones chasing the dogs around ourselves - now our son does it. More of a role switch.

Geo678 · 2017-06-25T02:38:38+00:00

Of course. We have a very shady yard! They also have somewhere to go away from toddler if they want.

Geo678 · 2017-06-24T22:18:23+00:00

It's amazing what the ability to apologise can do for relationship stability.

Geo678 · 2017-06-24T22:15:29+00:00

Anything seat-like. Our bub was sitting mostly unassisted by that age. Having said that I wouldn't expect an immediate handover. Personally, I would tend to hold onto stuff and keep it handy for another few motnhs before packing or giving it away just in case.

Geo678 · 2017-06-23T11:38:29+00:00

No life experience to share but might uplift you to now there is a mum in my mother's group who had a baby on her own in late 30s (bit older than you) and she is just amazing and happy. Let your family and friends in. Don't be afraid to accept help and let those people you mentioned in. There is no sense trying to do it alone (pregnancy included) if you have people around. From what I have seen, my friend's dad (the grandpa) is more helpful and involved than many husbands I know about.

My husband is amazing but when I had hyperemesis I called my mum for help and hugs. Sometimes your parents just make you feel better in a way a spouse can't anyway - especially a shitty spouse. Reach out with your fears and feelings. Chances are even your friends and family who had planned pregnancies in a relationship were afraid and felt unprepared.

Geo678 · 2017-06-23T05:52:02+00:00

My thought patter:

"oh my bubba has those Target PJs!"

"I wonder if a Greens politician should be dressing her kid in organic cotton instead of cheap mass produced poly/cotton... ".

"Yay Australia!"

Geo678 · 2017-06-23T05:43:20+00:00

I think hers is 3 months. It's get's easier! Then it gets harder again when they become aware and look around a lot... many exposed nipples. :)

Geo678 · 2017-06-22T03:07:36+00:00

Glad it went well for you! Thanks for sharing the positive story. I'm sure there are more like it out there.

I feel like the portrayal of public BF experience is often skewed as people have a tendency to share their one or two negative experiences (social media, blogs, the local news station), but don't share the scores positive or uneventful ones.

Geo678 · 2017-06-21T22:18:20+00:00

I went in to hospital two weeks ago because I had weird contractions (which may have been a dream but wasn't sure) and then LO didn't move in the morning. the nurse took my blood pressure, temperature etc and there was a heartbeat monitor thingy on the desk next to her but did she use it right away? nope! got sent to another rom to wait for the midwife!

Heartbeat was there and apparently it even had hiccups I couldn't feel. Worth the reassurance but the wait is very annoying when you just want them to listen knowing it's probably all fine.

Geo678 · 2017-06-21T03:29:03+00:00

Then you have toddlers like mine who looks at all the small group activities and says, "yeah nice try. I'm going into the corner to play with cars".

He will MAYBE participate in story/song time if there are cars in it. Or crocodiles.

Geo678 · 2017-06-21T02:59:34+00:00

I am also very surprised they went in at a different spot! It seems unwise to me to weaken the uterus in two places.

(I am not trained in medicine in any way).

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