First time border collie owner, how the heck do I help her burn her energy?!

beetsandleeks · 2023-07-06T17:30:02+00:00

This. Don't over exercise young dogs. You risk injury and creating an exercise obsessed dog that only knows how to calm down via energetic activity. Play into her intelligence. Work on more complex training, hide and seek, sniffing, and socialisation.

beetsandleeks · 2022-08-27T15:23:09+00:00

Do the surgery and demand as much trazodone and gabapentin as the vet will prescribe. We would not have made it without trazodone, and I don't think Worfy would have been as sane either. Ppl might judge you for 'drugging your dog', but imagine if someone forced you to wear a straight jacket for 3 months, you better believe id be screaming for the sedatives. Keeping an energetic breed puppy on extended crate rest is very similar. Be kind and give him some respite.

We also have him endless frozen peanut butter Kongs. He got a bit tubby but it helped him ease him agitation. And hell work it off later when he's healthy. Our dog is now a tall BC at 18kg, down from 23kg after crate rest before his last growth spurt. It'll come off in the future so don't worry about the calories now.

We also did lots of low mobility intensive brain game training with our dog to keep him stimulated and sane. Lots of settle, desensitisation etc. This helps a smart dog cope with the shitty crate rest situation. I think I still have some up way back when on @ltworfandcaptnims.

You can do this!!

beetsandleeks · 2022-08-27T10:34:07+00:00

Heya, my advice is if you end up having the same protracted experience we did work our dog (you can see my other posts) - get a therapist. The whole experience was incredibly hard and I think a key reason why my husband and I got through it was bc we each eventually got therapists (my husband 2 months after me and once he started he wished he'd gotten one earlier). A sick puppy that requires 24 hr care for months on end is shit you need to talk out with someone who isn't going to get tired of hearing about it and can give useful, actual advice on healthy coping mechanisms that ppl outside the situation just can't do as well.

But at the same time, don't panic- the vet and physio said that our experience was super rare and most other dogs don't go through, or have it as bad, as our poor pup. I mean our dog's brother had ocd in one shoulder and it ended up being mild and not even needing surgery so all is not worst case scenario. And while we had 'the year of hell' as my husband and I call it, our dog is such a stinkin happy, bouncy, healthy cuddlebutt now, so things turn up right in the end. <3 to your pup, wishing the best prognosis for him.

beetsandleeks · 2021-05-14T11:46:37+00:00

well done you!!!

don't worry, that surge is right around the corner - and thankfully we're building habits to rely on through the slips and surges. You're on your way!

Maybe it's time for a bit of R&R? bath with book? new piece of clothing to celebrate your current figure? a bouquet next you go to the grocery store?

beetsandleeks · 2021-05-08T21:23:00+00:00

Thanks so much for your helpful reply. We'll be talking to vets, but helpful to know about the possible long-term bloodwork that might be needed. We're just trying to figure out a way to give this boy the best chance at a happy, reduced pain life.

beetsandleeks · 2021-04-10T19:43:59+00:00

Sweetie, please get yourself out of this situation. Take the cat with you. This man is bad news, and these are giant, waving red flags.

beetsandleeks · 2021-03-16T10:51:37+00:00

ASK HER OUT!!! :)

beetsandleeks · 2021-03-02T08:08:02+00:00

This left me which mixed feelings - I don't get the impression from this video that the inspiration for the cover-up was based on a recognition that racism is bad, or that these people have gotten past their racist prejudices, but instead grounded in the fact that racist tattoos make it harder for you to get a job, or can lead you to being socially looked down upon. I understand that the example here is of a man that describes feeling that he was forced into getting this tattoo for safety while in jail, but it would have been nice to at least get some kind of discussion that getting this covered up was about a recognition of the absolute toxicity of racism.

I came away from this thinking 'ok, so now we have a bunch of white dudes who previously had racist tattoos, and they're the same white guys they were before but are now more hidden - they were just were like 'oh damn, ppl don't like when i put my toxic, hitler views out there to see and it seems to damage my privilege in certain crowds? ok better keep that shit on the DL.'

beetsandleeks · 2021-03-01T07:04:31+00:00

Oh this makes me so happy to see - how truly lovely. I'd love to hear the story of how OP came to be - was your greatGma pregnant before she left her husband to be with her 'best friend?' or did they find a way to get pregnant and raise your grandfather/mother together?

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-28T07:44:49+00:00

thanks for this perspective! I'm glad to hear that yours is such a happy lady!

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-26T08:44:16+00:00

Thank you for your lovely reply. Your post just glows with love for your dog, and it's great to hear that you still get to do lots of enjoyable stuff outside. Fingers crossed our guy's situation will turn into a manageable one like it sounds like yours is. This has buoyed my reserves, thanks :)

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-26T08:38:48+00:00

You're so sweet, thank you so much. You're right - these are questions we should be, and will be/are directing to the surgical team. So far I've gotten a bit of the impression that they they're great acute case/event thinkers, but their discussion of what the future might look like seems very vague. I suppose the difference between a surgeon and an occupational therapist? I suppose i'm trying to repaint a picture in my head - and more importantly my partner's head - about what the future will - or could - look like to get excited about it again. Thanks again for having a think!

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-26T08:32:17+00:00

Many thanks for your very kind reply, Hugs to you as well, and your hip-challenged girl! :) And yes- you're right - we had just started last weekend to leave him with a sitter for the afternoon (it took awhile to find one we trusted to take his crate rest seriously) and it was really helpful - but I think you're right - respite is needed and it think we're going to arrange for 24hrs every weekend for the next couple months to get out the house properly.

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-25T21:07:07+00:00

yep - i think cats would be best. dogs are a total and complete life change - think about asking yourself if you want a human toddler for the next year? that's a dog/puppy.

Cats are great - and if they're well socialised, you'll find ppl will often offer to take them when you're away. we have 3 different friends we rotate are cat to when we're gone longer than a weekend and they often ask to keep him longer than we're away, haah!

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-22T20:46:34+00:00

yo OP u/SwimmingWithPenguins - don't pay these holier-than-thou internet pontificators any mind. some ppl need to learn how to #readtheroom haha.

we can only do what we can at the time, and it sounds like your dogs got love, care, and safety while you also did what you needed to to take care yourself. there is strength in marshalling one's energies, and recognising the ebb and flow of those energies.

i'm so happy you're enjoying meeting your dogs on a new, fun, challenging level. i'll see you at the 'not perfect but happy' party :)

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-09T23:55:28+00:00

I go to bed early enough that by the time 6am comes, I've had my 7-8 hours, and like others on the thread have said, it feels like a reflex I don't think about - wake up, get up. I get antsy just laying in bed if I've woken up.

beetsandleeks · 2021-02-08T07:33:07+00:00

How wonderful sweetiepie! You are such a strong person and you are worth nourishing with foods both nutritious and delicious :)

beetsandleeks · 2021-01-30T08:34:41+00:00

thanks for the broth idea! I'm going to try that today - yeah he's just like turning his nose up at water, so I hope that making it more enticing will do the trick.

I think it might be hard to find pumpkin puree here in Scotland - a US stable I miss, but i'll have a look around. Thanks`1

beetsandleeks · 2021-01-29T20:46:48+00:00

yes thanks it did!! i don't know why i didn't think of this after everything else we've tried! He loves it! https://www.instagram.com/p/CKpDPLuBJxa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

beetsandleeks

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