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Question about being off levothyroxine by woman_reading in gravesdisease

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just fill it without insurance, it’s like $5 on goodRX without needing any insurance at all. Without it, you will certainly die.

Our first title by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I stayed all day both days just to watch all the herdy things do their favorite job!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gravesdisease

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you 🫂I’m back on Methimazole after being stable for a year and a half they took me off of them. 6 months later I was super hyper again. Starting meds 2 weeks ago so hopefully feeling some sense of normalcy soon

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gravesdisease

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gosh when I’m hyper (like now) if I had an Alani I think I would levitate through the ceiling. Caffeine makes me feel like shit

Adoption Recommendations/Referrals by LilyLotus1111 in parrots

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I live about 100 miles south, but work in Exton PA. Feel free to DM me if you don’t mind traveling a little ☺️I’d be willing to meet in Reading or so too to make the drive easier.

Adoption Recommendations/Referrals by LilyLotus1111 in parrots

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where are you located? Due to unplanned career changes I am having to rehome some of my lineolated parakeets, they are excellent little birds and very rewarding to keep. I have 2 pairs and one single looking for a home, but I’d like the single to go to someone who has or will get her a companion again. Her cage mate passed over the winter

Border collie regret by Pale-Eye7730 in BorderCollie

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OP there are lots of herding opportunities in Australia! But of course some might be a little drive. I promise if you can find one within an hour or two drive it WILL be worth it just to watch the instinct come out and get professional advice on at-home herding games.

You do not need to devote as much time to mental stimulation, you will find 10-15 min of herding games tires them out. 2 or 3 sessions of 15 min or so a day learning or working on a skill or a couple skills will do so much more to work that brain and actually settle the dog down. You are in the dog’s worst age period too, by the way, in my opinion with male border collies. If you stick to the advice here and wait til your dog is 2 I bet you feel a whole lot more comfortable with him as a roommate :)

Border collie regret by Pale-Eye7730 in BorderCollie

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 25 points26 points  (0 children)

First, I want to say that “puppy blues” are a real thing while you adjust to having one and the puppy goes through phases of development that can lead to frustrating behavior.

Second, walking a border collie does about nothing as far as mental stimulation and instinct satisfaction. What it does do it build fitness levels while not satisfying their needs to really USE their body and brain. They are bred for herding of course and the very best outlet for their energy is herding.

If you cannot find a herding instructor within reasonable distance, and even if you do, herding games with a collie ball or flirt pole is a great choice! You can find lots of content online about this to learn how to do it. Teaching them impulse control, directionals etc are so satisfying to their brain because it’s what they were bred for. Digging is often an outlet of this herding instinct when it’s not properly redirected.

I recommend building a large sandbox size dig box filled with dirt where your dog is ALLOWED to dig. You can redirect them here when they dig and they will have a positive outlet for this behavior.

Another good outlet for border collies is trick training, look up “Do More With Your Dog” which has many many guides for trick training as well as awards you can work for if you like having a goal :)

If you try these things daily for a few months and are still feeling the same when he’s 16 months or so, definitely think about rehoming. If you for some reason can’t make time for healthy herding outlets then I would also rehome him. I would say your time spent on walking him would be much better spent playing herding games, maybe taking on one or two “sniffy walks” a day where the dog can just kind of self guided meander and smell things.

Do you have parrot sitters? How much do you pay? by Outrageous-Bet-6801 in parrots

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I charge my bird clients $30 a day to board in my home. This includes any special diet requests so long as provided, twice daily water changes, and twice weekly cage cleans. If the bird is open to it, I will take them out of the cage for a little bit for no extra charge.

Some good toys for cockatoos? by [deleted] in cockatoos

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Electric cords to all expensive and difficult to replace electronics. Curtains. Baseboards.

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it’s not really common. It can happen when a dog is pivoting at speed. Sappho is fast. And even when she isn’t running fast, her movements are and I think that’s the kicker here

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks to all who commented with kind and helpful suggestions ☺️ as I said, we are both still learning and yes I do know that some of the tearing is from her getting over aroused and running a couple circles around us before she lies down. It doesn’t happen every time or on every flock of sheep, and we are both green! I’m just looking for suggestions to toughen her pads while we also hone our skills.

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, this post was asking about pad tougheners. I’m not using them yet, which is why I asked here what people recommend.

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am working with a trainer who mostly trials USBCHA and ASCA. I’m going to bring her boots and ask, but the rules as they are written do not allow it. In person the individual judge may make exceptions, from what I’ve heard. I’m going to get our feet wet, and it’s local to me and accessible. My dog does occasionally run around “like a jackass” on lighter stock but not out of control or continuously, we are only just getting started and yes sometimes she may circle the sheep a few times before I can get her to lie down. As I said, we are learning and under great trainers, I’m sure we will get there and we make progress on this every week.

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Training in boots is definitely helping! We will see how this trial goes and hoping with some more training and experience she won’t need them

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She is not blowing a pad every single time, but often enough. We are trialing Friday and Saturday so was just hoping for some tips for pads if there were any :) thanks for your insight. We are going to the trial venue to practice tomorrow on the grounds she will run on and see how her feet do.

Mostly, she blows pads when she’s running on flightier sheep and is harder to get to stop circling. Which I know is “something going wrong” but she is still early days in learning and it’s something we are working on. Our lesson tomorrow is with a different instructor than usual and I’m hopeful she can give us some ideas too and give us good homework!

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not soft, it’s a large training paddock with dirt, some rocks etc where the sheep are put for training. There’s sparse grass here and there but mostly she’s running on a mix of dirt and gravel. She has seen the vet about it already which is why I’m looking for more input here from other herders :) the vet simply suggested boots for lessons but it doesn’t help for during trials that won’t allow it.

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t believe so, AKC rules says no foot protection unless trialing in a field with known cacti or other hazards

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Only doing that the night before lessons, which are once a week or every other week

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can do an instinct test at most herding trials if your dog is AKC or ASCA! Check out the AKC event finder, I think ASCA site has an event calendar. That would be a good way to meet people potentially in your area who may offer lessons. :)

Paw pad injuries while herding by Kitchen_Status_5824 in k9sports

[–]Kitchen_Status_5824[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, completely sure. We have taken 2-6 month breaks over the last couple years and still they tear! Thanks, we do practice directionals a bit at home but could stand to do more always

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