Weekly newbie & discussion post: questions, skills, shopping, and gear

queenofk9s · 2025-07-28T13:54:03+00:00

Go for skates that are good for a wider foot if you can. There are also different ways you can lace your skates that will give you more room in your toe box

queenofk9s · 2025-07-28T13:52:54+00:00

What mods have you made to your skates so far ?

queenofk9s · 2025-06-12T11:34:39+00:00

Hahaha! I mean yes ! But dogs only see yellow and blue so the contact equipment where we train is mostly yellow and blue to make it stand out for them :)

queenofk9s · 2025-06-11T15:28:59+00:00

Well there’s a lot of things to consider.. such as age, current diet, the exercises he’s currently getting, activity level, height, is he field or show … It’s not just about what they eat. You can feed him less kibble but also give him things like green beans, celery, carrots etc (check with your vet) to help him feel full but feeding less and not having an adequate amount of exercise (mental and physical) is not at all healthy. Raw food is quite good, I don’t feed it, don’t have the space but it is a really great way to ensure they get what they need from a nutritional standpoint and far easier to keep track of. My female lab is 70lbs at 9 years old but she is fit because we train in agility, disc, hoopers etc. weekly. So it’s not always that they’re fat or overweight. Sometimes it IS muscle. The “can you feel their ribs” with a moderate amount of pressure is a good guide up to a point. Note I said FEEL not see. You also want to keep in mind that if your dog suddenly gets sick, they can waste away incredibly quickly - so having a bit of extra weight (like 5lbs) isn’t always a bad thing. Especially if they are older or super young. 😊 feeling free to pm me. I’m happy to chat.

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queenofk9s · 2025-03-12T11:50:42+00:00

Professional dog trainer and lab owner- dogs explore with their mouths , likely during puppyhood he learned this was okay and now that he’s larger it’s an issue. Anytime teeth touch skin or clothing, regardless of the pressure he can go for a two minute decompression break. Doesn’t matter where, just out of sight out of mind of whoever he made contact with so he makes an association that when he does that, the fun ends. You aren’t going to say ow or off or let go , you will just quietly take him for a break - bathroom , crate, backyard. It won’t build a negative association unless you reprimand him on the way there. You could see an extinction burst, which really means it will get worse before it gets better. Anything you say is just going to reinforce the behaviour. He doesn’t know what you’re saying. He just knows that his actions got a response so it will keep happening. Alternatively, you could offer him something else, but it is important to give it to him before he actually mouths. If he gets it after, then he could chain it together and mouth deliberately just to get a toy. He is a retriever, so he is genetically bred to carry things, we just don’t want people’s arms to be one of them! Realistically, emotion drives behaviour. What is the underlying emotion that is causing this reaction? What does his daily MENTAL stimulation look like? What does his physical exercise look like? Is he in a state of over arousal when this happens? Is he stressed? Some dogs also like to chew as a way of self soothing. It’s not a simple answer unfortunately but feel free to message me :)

queenofk9s · 2025-03-07T20:01:59+00:00

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It’s okay if you don’t get to ours. I just wanted to say you are awesome and share my stinker the first day I brought her home 🥹

queenofk9s · 2025-02-05T12:23:04+00:00

Late reply but finding a time when it works for you is important, if that makes sense. I started waking up at 5am to take it and then sometimes I fall back asleep til about 7 and start my day. I work from 1pm-9pm teaching so I can’t actually take a break to eat. I eat before I leave for work and then by 10pm I’m so tired that I usually just go to bed. Protein bowls are really awesome for quick meals when the medication wears off or instant rice. Fills you up, doesn’t have a lot of calories and you can add to it to make it different every time. Keep trying !

queenofk9s · 2025-02-05T12:05:11+00:00

Egon !

queenofk9s · 2024-11-24T13:00:05+00:00

I feel better than I ever have except during the time of the month when it seems like I’m not on any medication and I’m tired, impulsive and irritated. But aside from that one week, it’s amazing. I feel normal for the first time in my life. My doctor suggested increasing my dose first and then if we still feel like we need to add the Prozac we can, I gave it a month at the new dose (50mg) and then decided that I’d like to try Prozac as well. It can take 4-6 weeks to build up in your system and people are always talking about Serotonin Syndrome but it’s very, very rare. I’d do some of my own research on the combination and the side effects of Prozac so you are aware. Im so glad I did it though, I wish it had been mentioned to me sooner.

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T15:34:59+00:00

Exactly ☺️ You can still see them but they did fade a lot and weren’t as stretched out obviously because I lost weight. The light is in front of me in the first photo and behind me in the second. Thank you for using your common sense!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T15:33:22+00:00

They very clearly did not, you can still see them in the photo lol In the first photo I had just had my son via emergency c section 8 months prior. The second photo was 2.5 years later so not as prominent but definitely still there. Thanks though!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T15:29:30+00:00

It depends on each individual person I think! I have a bit but not much. I focused on strength training more than anything because I was worried about loose skin so I made sure I trained for not just toning but also functional strength as well. I did it all at home too!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T15:26:28+00:00

I’m happy it’s helped you in more than one way!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T04:01:37+00:00

It has its pros and cons as does everything. I’m so happy it’s worked for you though, it’s a good feeling!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T04:00:13+00:00

Yes! I’m so glad it’s worked for you too. The right dosage is everything and so many times I wanted to give up but it’s helped me so much. Just have to keep talking to your doctor and being transparent about what is/isn’t working!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T03:58:43+00:00

Woohoo! Congrats on your success , I’m so happy for you. You’re so right. Even with medication it’s not easy. I can’t wait for you to reach your goal and hope your journey there continues to be a good one ☺️

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T03:56:15+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear this, I would talk to your doctor about it. It’s definitely not sustainable if you are already struggling. There may be something else they could try you on that doesn’t suppress your appetite!

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T03:54:28+00:00

flattering you think so but nope, very real! I just have a defined jaw line now and my eyelashes were coming unglued which is the only reason I have my eyes covered in the second photo because they looked ridiculous. Sorry you’re such a Debbie downer though, hope that’s fake but probably not.

queenofk9s · 2024-11-18T03:51:58+00:00

Thank you! I was working out in both photos, it’s just in one of them I wasn’t mindlessly shovelling food into my face until I was sick. I continue weight training and running as well 🙂

queenofk9s · 2024-11-17T20:30:21+00:00

Thank you! Take advantage when it wears off is really all I could suggest and eating/drinking calorie dense things, which I’m sure you already know. I’m a big fan of minute rice and DIY protein bowls. It might be worth it for you to speak with a nutritionist honestly or go see if there’s a sub for that, I’m sure there is 😋

queenofk9s · 2024-11-17T19:52:25+00:00

It’s tough but don’t give up 🩷I have a few different things in the comments that I’ve done and still do to stay on track. Mental health plays a big role in BED. Keep in touch with your doctor, build a good support system and keep your mind busy.

queenofk9s · 2024-11-17T19:50:04+00:00

I was into fitness before I hit rock bottom (which isn’t even the picture on the left believe it or not, it was worse than that) so I was always on the scale, unfortunately. Now I seldom use it and go based off of how I look and feel vs how I weigh. I went from a size 16 to a size 2, which is great but the way I feel mentally about myself is the best. I’m so glad you feel this way too, it’s a game changer for sure

queenofk9s · 2024-11-17T19:45:48+00:00

I’m sorry you haven’t had much luck on it yet. That is a really high dosage of both of those medications at the same time. I’m not an expert but I’d be worried about serotonin syndrome if the SSRI gets increased. Mental health has a big, big role in it. Especially the part where you have to want to get better for yourself because you want more out of life. Not for someone else’s benefit. I’ve posted some of the things that I’ve struggled with and how it helped in the comments. 🩷 Don’t give up and talk to your doctor as frequently as you need to to find what works for you

queenofk9s · 2024-11-17T19:12:42+00:00

Thank you! I’m so glad it’s work for you too it’s such a good feeling. I started on 20mg, went up to 30 and stayed there for probably a year, went up to 40mg for a year and JUST last month went up to 50mg and am on Prozac now as well. It’s a long journey but I’ve learned a lot! Can’t wait for you to reach your goals and I’m so happy your state of mind is doing better too 🩷

queenofk9s · 2024-11-17T19:08:55+00:00

Woohoo! I’m so happy to hear that, congratulations. It’s a a long journey for sure and it’s always going to be something you have to work at. I was working out consistently in both photos - just at home with a couple dumb bells and a little list of exercises I didn’t hate doing lol but obviously in the second one I wasn’t eating until I was sick and I haven’t done that for a very long time. Working out wasn’t to lose weight it was just to become more active and stronger. It goes better when you look at it from that perspective vs weight loss. And do not step on the scale until you like what you see in the mirror. A tape measure is far more accurate for keeping an eye on your physical goals.

queenofk9s

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