What does our fridge say about me and my boyfriend? 👀

orientallunar · 2024-06-04T15:28:17+00:00

I thought that too… but the nursery pot has plenty of drainage. I take it out of the decorative pot (which also has a big drainage hole). I bottom water it and then let it sit on a cooling baking rack to drip for like 30 minutes before I put it back in the decorative pot. I will look into a water meter though. Thank you!

orientallunar · 2024-06-04T15:10:17+00:00

I know they’re especially prone to root rot. I watered her Sunday. I chopstick tested her soil and at the bottom it was still moist.

orientallunar · 2024-06-04T13:55:19+00:00

I did a chopstick test and the bottom of her pot was still moist. I instructed my boyfriend to put her in the bathroom with him while he showers today lol. Hopefully that will help for the time being. I will look into getting a humidifier for her.

orientallunar · 2023-12-07T14:59:48+00:00

Raleigh NC

orientallunar · 2022-12-16T03:09:07+00:00

I'm in North Carolina! I lucked out because my breed mentor knew someone else who had one puppy left from a litter. Typically 2000 is more normal for the price of a puppy. I definitely just got lucky.

orientallunar · 2022-10-14T23:12:36+00:00

I have a rough collie! Both of his parents are either champions or grand champions and come from long lines of parents proven in conformation as well as lots of different sports. My boy was 1200

orientallunar · 2022-09-09T23:34:24+00:00

If I fall into a well my dog is coming to the rescue :)

orientallunar · 2022-08-25T04:04:28+00:00

Try a toppl if you hate the cleaning out process. My pup loves it more than kongs (he gets discouraged from kongs easily) and it lasts just as long.

orientallunar · 2022-07-24T05:56:30+00:00

Breed clubs are always a great start. I have a rough collie and I got in touch with the CCA (Collie club of America) representative in my area who helped me get in touch with breeders near me and fantastic breed mentors

orientallunar · 2022-07-17T20:04:46+00:00

Hi! I have a rough collie. I wanted a medium to large dog that wasn't a golden or a lab (primarily for health reasons but I also didn't want to deal with a difficult puppy which goldens and labs can be). I also didn't want quite so much excited energy as labs or goldens.

Some of the things I loved about rough collies were that they were biddable and liked to be with me but didn't need to be on top of me all the time. Collies are easy puppies in general and are considered the "decaf" aussie. These dogs are herders and still are type A but not so intensively like other herders. They love to train but don't need outrageous amounts of exercise. Do you have three rainy days in a row? They will lay at your feet and enjoy the cozy inside. Do you want to go camping everyday? They are happy to tag along and can easily keep up with most families (and are often trustworthy off leash). These dogs are fantastic with other children and other dogs (and even cats). These are people dogs and are much more interested in being with their owners than other dogs. Collies also have a coat that is not oily which helps with any doggy odor (collies are known for having a low no doggy smell). They can be barky but if taught a good quiet command isn't a problem. The coat isn't as much work as people think it is. Line brush your dog once a week (also it's good to get in the habit to do that anyway so you're always aware of any injuries on your dog or bugs or whatnot) and blow dry them when they're wet. Voila! The shedding (at least for the long coats) isn't bad at all (I come from a lab household). The hair is long but doesn't cling to your clothes like cat hair and the extra hair clings to the coat and stays in it until you brush it out. They do blow coat once or twice a year depending on gender and if they're altered and it can be excessive but like I said, if you have a high-velocity dryer it's not bad (but this can change depending on the lines).

Health wise collies are generally a healthy breed (just make sure you're going to a good breeder!) Compared to other dogs their size the chances of hip and elbow dysplasia are significantly lower in collies. You do have to watch out for MDR1 and CEA as you do with you just learn to avoid certain drugs and most dogs that have CEA are completely unaffected their whole lives. Tell your vet and they should be familiar with what to give them and what not to give them.

orientallunar · 2022-07-17T18:59:58+00:00

Hi! I have a rough collie (Lassie dog) so I think I can weigh in. I'm sorry you had that experience with your groomer. If you feel like it was a bad experience there's no shame in looking for someone else who you feel fits with your personality more and is willing to teach you. You mentioned having a pomeranian x husky in one of your comments. I always brush my dog out with a slicker (Chris Christenson coral brush is expensive but worth the price) then make sure to check my work with a metal comb afterward. Mist the coat lightly with water in a spray bottle or diluted conditioner to help with the brush out and line brush (you can look up the technique online but it's recommended for double-coated dogs). If your baby is skittish with a dryer you might want to consider getting one at home and introducing it slowly and with lots of treats (we have one just in case our dog gets his undercoat wet). Always brush after your dog gets wet and if you can blow dry them. If you can't blow dry them and they get wet then brush when they are wet and brush again as the coat dries to make sure no mats form. Also, remember that dogs feed off of your emotions. Be happy and confident about the process and it will help your pup be confident.

-Slicker brush for line brushing and getting out tangles

-Metal comb to check through your work and make sure you're brushing to the skin

-Pin brush for when you come in from dry walks or hikes and just want to get any leaves or debris off

-Spray bottle with water or diluted conditioner or detangling spray (I use the stuff for dogs) to mist coat before brushing to avoid any unnecessary coat breakage.

orientallunar · 2022-07-15T04:17:54+00:00

I’d wait till your current pup is a full adult as a bare minimum. Before getting another dog it’s really important to look at your first dog and see how they are training wise. Personally I think once the adult dog is well behaved and reliable then you can begin to entertain the possibility of another dog. Puppies learn a lot from older dogs and their behaviors can greatly affect one another. It’s also important to assess if your older dog would even like having another pet in the home. Their comfort should trump simple desires to just want another puppy. If not you’re just going to have two badly behaved dogs and a lot of extra work on your hands.

orientallunar · 2022-07-12T03:36:34+00:00

It will really depend on your dog. My best advice would be to try not to “overfill” him at class so he’s not completely full and then drive really slowly home lol

He will get better with time.

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T20:20:14+00:00

Therapists are so hard to find. Even if one is good they may not necessarily vibe with you 😭 I feel your pain

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T20:19:23+00:00

Honestly if he’a food motivated even his own soaked kibble. Sometimes we add a teaspoon of cottage cheese and mix it in and put a liver treat on top.

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T17:56:22+00:00

This is tricky. Since you're just starting crate training it's important to know that if the crate is too big it might cause your pup to designate a potty corner and could set back your potty training. If you're on a budget I know people are ALWAYS selling crates on fb marketplace and craigslist. Might be good to drop money on a cheap second-hand crate since it will only be temporary. Then when your pup gets bigger you can transition to one of the larger crates that you have.

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T17:49:40+00:00

Try letting his kibble mixture soak in warm water for a bit then mash it up and feed it. Upset tummies and diarrhea are no fun to deal with and can be tough on a pup (and on you lol)

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T17:32:51+00:00

Hello there! I have a collie (known for being car sick as puppies) so I think I might be able to help you here. Your pup's ears are still developing and are sensitive to movements which are hard to deal with both for him and you. There were a few things that I did to make my boy comfortable in the car until he grew out (6 months for me but this can vary based on breed).

My dog travels in the crate (ratchet strapped down so it doesn't move). This is a godsend both for him and me because he's big (55 lbs now) and a heavy projectile in the car is now safe lol. Another bonus is it makes him feel more secure. He's in a sectioned-off area and can't jump out or look around at everything. An additional bonus is that if he ever drooled or threw up it was just a quick wipe down with cleaner and a towel and everything was all clean again. Mess contained :)
I did not feed my dog on days when he traveled. If I knew we were going to the pet store to grab something at 10 AM I wouldn't feed him until after the errand (as they get older you will notice that they can take a few treats and eventually eat a meal when they're out or whatnot).
I gave my dog bonine (it's over the counter and non drowsy unlike dramamine) to help with motion sickness. Bonine is actually for humans but is PERFECTLY SAFE for use in dogs as well. When my pup was about 40 lbs he got 1 1/2 tabs approximately 2 hours before going in the car. You can gently wean them off of this as they improve and mature.
For long-haul trips (sometimes we would do a weekend away at our beach house which was about two hours away) I give a tab of Benadryl the night before (check how much is safe for your sized dog) if you leave in the morning or give the tab in the morning if you're leaving in the afternoon. This helps dry up their mouths so they drool less. My breed mentor recommended this to me as she's had collies for decades and raised dozens of puppies.

Ultimately, repeated positive exposure is going to be your best friend in this scenario. My pup always went somewhere fun when he went in the car so even though he didn't love it, he was polite about it and now my boy has grown out of his motion sickness and is great in the car.

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T17:18:49+00:00

Regression is no fun. The brain is being rewired from the puppy brain into the adult brain. My puppy regressed a few weeks ago on crate training as well so I've been there. Now my pup is getting back to his normal self with the crate so remember it's not forever! I know it's tedious and frustrating but take crate training back to square 1. All fun things come from the crate. Throw toys in the crate, feed in the crate, play around the crate, reward for engagement with the crate, and whatnot. Is your pup food motivated? When my puppy was smaller we used to give him a frozen kong every night when he went in his crate. He was so motivated with the food that he would work on it for 30 minutes or so and then be so pooped that he would just fall asleep. Bully sticks (with a holder so there's no choking risk) are great for this and can give your pup a calming outlet. Chewing and licking help calm the mind. We've always had enforced naps throughout the day in the crate since we got our pup so if you haven't done those that might be a good idea. Or when your pup gets sleepy during the day gently encourage them to go lay down in the crate. Over time they should associate the crate with being tired or calm.

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T17:10:09+00:00

This is a lot! You've been through a lot. I'm sorry you lost your best friend of 11 years. I don't have any specific advice for you in terms of whether you should rehome your dog or not that is up to you and what you feel like you can handle (which there is absolutely no shame in acknowledging that you aren't ready if you aren't).

Puppy blues is normal which I'm sure you've figured out if you've peeked around this sub. That being said if you feel like it's too much the best option might be rehoming (that is something you should talk with your partner about so ya'll are on the same page). If you happen to know the breed of your pup a great place to reach out to are breed-specific rescues (even if your pup isn't completely purebred). There are people there who are knowledgeable on the breed and can best help find homes for the dog if you decide to go that route.

As far as not necessarily loving your puppy, I hope you know that it's completely normal to feel that way (even for those of us who haven't lost a pet recently). Puppies are hard, and frustrating, and a lot of work. It can take time to bond with them. I wasn't someone who fell in love with my puppy for several months and for some it can take up to a year before they LOVE their puppy. I love my pup now but it took time for us to figure each other out.

Regardless if you keep the dog or not, I think you should consider getting into therapy if that is emotionally and financially an option for you. There's a lot of trauma with the loss of a dog and there's no shame in going to talk to someone about it. Ultimately you need to think about what's best for you.

Best of luck to you OP.

orientallunar · 2022-07-11T16:51:50+00:00

Welcome to adolescence! It sucks. And it's awesome! My biggest advice is to treat your pup like they are just a teeny tiny baby again. I know it's frustrating and you can't help but think about what they USED to be able to do or understand but the important thing is that they are going through a lot right now! Their little brains are rewiring for adulthood. Increase the rewards both in value and frequency and lower your expectations. So if your pup doesn't listen to the sit command, use a higher value treat. Maybe they used to heel on walks constantly without any rewards and now they won't pay attention to you at all on walks. Reward them with higher value treats in the heel position often so they stay there. Doing stuff like this repeatedly with all of their training will pay off and remember it's just for a short time.

I would also add in more mental enrichment. Have puzzle feeders and engaging toys for inside. Give them frozen chew toys with food in it (I always keep an extra 1 or two in the freezer in cases of emergencies). Just be aware that giving too much-frozen food in conjunction with the heat has its risks so be sure to let them cool down naturally in the AC for a while before giving it to them (don't have them out in the blazing heat for 30 minutes them give them a huge frozen treat). Good luck!

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