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Lu's Thread

I agree George. Our last two dogs were spayed before their first heat, on vets advice that the timing doesn’t matter. I think this was a mistake, I suspect our dogs haven’t matured fully as a result and I feel a bit guilty about that.
 
Dear SPT,

There is an awful lot of old school country wisdom that has eventually been backed up by real science. As it goes Lu is fully grown, but the bones continue to get stronger till two or two and half years. Also by then she will have become an adult bitch, and so nothing will change, neutered or not. Her personality fully formed, by nature and nurture, made only to mature as time passes. Sort of a sublimation ...

I discussed this with a dog breeder who maintained that spaying should be done as a soon as possible, and she disagreed and even called me a fool. That is gambit that is bound to not succeed!

None of us are given the throne of judgement of objective truth, but sometimes the old school country wisdom is quite a good guide.

Thank you for your reply. Best wishes and I hope your New Year is full of of blessings, George
 
Lu's heat has declined very fast and she has returned to her feisty self where male dogs are concerned. Really, I think she is growing up, as she is beginning to be more self-confident and really show what she thinks of unwanted [sexual] attentions. This little dog is quite the Lady! Yesterday she was a bit flirty and today definitely feisty. Of course she will remain fertile for up to another ten days, but if a bitch says no then she does mean it. So all I have to do is keep an eye on her. At the moment she is staying very close by, so today she was off-lead almost all the time at work. Of course in this filthy weather she did the usual Terrier "could not care less about the mud and wet" and she looked like a sort of mud-ball when we came in. However between a bit of brushing and her fastidious self-cleaning she looks Sunday best already.

Happy New year to all here, from George and Lu.
 
Yesterday, Lu listening on the back of my easy chair. [How she gets in that position defies gravity].

IMG_1495 by George Johnson, on Flickr

Listening to this:


Bach many times recycled his own music [called parody] and this theme also is the basis for the second movement of his Keyboard Concerto in F Minor [Haydn's favourite tragic key tonality] and here given a wonderful performance for cello and soloist.

I was on my third listen in a row, staggered by it. Lu had disappeared, and gone on the back the seat for a serious listen. Dogs do listen and become sort of entranced, if they are exposed to enough real music. As you can see from the photo, she did not notice me taking the picture. Total concentration, even if she is never going to write a review in the Times or the Telegraph.

I had a Welsh Collie who would chill listening to Haydn to Beethoven Quartets, but listen on the Qui Vive. She is an adorable little dog, with apparent great musical taste. She hates the Missa Solermnis! She barked at the speaker when the choir came in fortissimo. I turned it off. That will have to be headphones from now on.

A Terrier who gets music. I am not kidding. My old Collie Fred adored it more and more into old age.

Best wishes from George
 
The Christmas time has been a time for reflection and planning. Of course Lu figures large in such thoughts, and not least that she was on heat over the festive season, thus giving a splendid excuse to avoid the annual socialising [which I really do not enjoy].

I have two great confidants who love dogs, and I am very happy to listen to their words of wisdom. One is cousin Patty [Patricia] and the other is a lady I know who lives on Bringsty Common by Bromyard. I had hoped that one day before Lu is too old she might have a litter of puppies, and I would keep a bitch to run with Lu. Then my Bringsty friend poured a gallon of common sense cold water over that, by pointing out that Terriers [and not least Patterdales] are hard to find homes for as they can be extremely stubborn and require more patience than most dogs. This can lead to the dog being treated roughly, or even given up. That is what happened to Lu, so repeating the process would be simple stupidity. So I am taking her to the vet next week to ensure her heat is actually finished, and then we'll book a speying operation for twelve weeks hence. My friend said that if I want to run a young bitch with Lu I should look to get one from someone else ...

Well cousin Pat put the mockers on that. She said that would be a big mistake, as Lu has imprinted on me in a way that is all the stronger for her knowing what a bad home is like. I would inevitably not favour one from a pair so the attention I would be giving Lu would be more or less halved. It is not something to put a sweetie like her through as she is completely content to share her time with me, and increasingly simply politely ignores other dogs these days, preferring to socialise with humans on her walks!

The other pearl of wisdom Pat gave me was that Lu must never meet her original owner again, in case the little dog could think that she might be going back. One has to care for the psychology of a dog quite as much as for human friends.

Anyway she is just so chilled these days, and astonishingly brilliant at recall. She seems to know even before being asked. Here she is a couple of hours ago after a late morning walk and my Christmas lunch which was delayed by a fortnight's worth of Polish food that I have been eating since Christmas Eve! She had some of it after I had finished. I always do that.

IMG_1524 2 by George Johnson, on Flickr

I think you can see how relaxed she is now, compared to months ago. And she is shining with health.

Best wishes from George

PS: I just noticed that in the back-ground of the photo, you can see my Pembroke [mahogany] writing desk, which blends very nicely with my recently acquired Pembroke dining table.

IMG_1419 by George Johnson, on Flickr

The desk belonged to Granny Johnson's family since new! It is not in great shape, but has sentimental value for me, even though it is much repaired, including a much newer than original drawer, which does not match.
 
Lu is booked for spaying twelve weeks tomorrow, with a pre-op check a week earlier.

I am not looking forward to it for her at all. I shall plan to have the rest of the week off so I'll have Wednesday to Friday plus the weekend to tend her. Being a Terrier the chances are good that she will bounce back quite quickly, but better to be there for her for a few days without the potential for problems taking her to work, I think.

In the vets we met a Poodle cross Patterdale, and they got on immediately. The lady owner said that she had a lovely Patterdale dog, if I wanted to breed and I explained that I was there to book spaying.

It is quite some denial of her natural self, but in the modern world, it surely is for the best.

The girls in the vets really do like my little dog. Probably they are so professional, that they appear to like any pet. I hope she does not get vet-shy from this intervention.

Best wishes from George

PS: She will be a few weeks over two years old, which in my view is old enough for her to be fully developed physically and emotionally. In so many ways now she behaves like a fully matured if very energetic dog. Unlike many Terriers, she really is biddable, which is what I would a call a triumph of patience over Terrier stubbornness, and she certainly had a her share of that to start with.
 
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At two years old and definitely having serious libido, I doubt that she will miss her next heat. She may wait, but not become neurotic about its absence. It will not occur and she will not miss it. But she is a most kindly little dog with no vice land no nip. At two years old when the op occurs she will be fully former physically and psychologically. Spaying too young is a mistake in my view.

Best wishes from George
 
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Congrats George.
But as I am sure you are aware any issues already established will be hard to retrain.
Our 12 year old Yorkie rescue has been with us since she was 18 months old. She still thinks everyone and everything is out to kill her and only trusts the immediate family. Despite our best, professionally advised attempts, we have not removed her chronic separation anxiety. Consequently she goes everywhere with us. She is currently enjoying a rural holiday in Brittany!


Dear Bob,

I have been reading this thread again. Nice to read a sort diary of how Lu has come on. I think her best advance has been since the first week of December just gone. That first week we went up to see my cousin Pat for a long weekend, and since then she has completely stopped being a yappy little dog. She was absolutely superb with my cousin. I suspect dogs recognise family. Mannerisms, ways of moving and possibly scent as the genetics will be very close. Since then she has become a real human-liking dog. Almost everyone, and if she is not keen, she is utterly polite about it. She is now superb off lead, and plays with other dogs joyfully, but soon looses interest and wants to hang round her humans. On occasion, though she has not bite in her, she could be over enthusiastic with play, but now she gauges the level of energy very nicely. She is especially good with the older dogs, and it is rather beautiful to see her simply being friendly, giving a little play challenge and if this is not reciprocated, she just stands close and lets the old dog approach in his or her own time.

When I got her she was rather unruly, having at best only partial recall, and she had not learned to sit, or stay. Worst was that she was not remotely house trained. In reality I cured the house training very easily, by taking her out very often, including last thing at night, and just before sunrise. The consequence is that she still is getting up ready for a walk at six in the pitchy darkness!

She has learned to sit and stay [staying is not perfect], and has superb recall, as well as not crossing the road without a lead; all achieved by simple vocal encouragement, and TLC. I do not give her treats for being good, but I do share my food with her.

So I think I got her before permanent psychological damage was done, and some Terriers are very mentally strong. Perhaps the only lasting trait is that now she has imprinted on me she has excessive separation anxiety. She is happy to sleep in the car for a while, but trying to leave her in my house, even to carry the rubbish out brings about a massive vocal complaint that does not stop till I come back in. More like a foghorn than barking. Surprising how much noise a tiny dog can make when they have a mind to.

If that is worst problem, I can accommodate it easily. At least she will not wonder off with someone else, which can be a problem with very kindly dogs.

Thanks to all who have posted so nicely on this thread. Dogs really are life enhancing.

Best wishes from George
 
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What a great thread showing the loving and caring side that most possess. Here’s my little in stature, but big in personality Patterdale Meg sat on my dad’s lap, with Harvey photo-bombing.

52631105465_5408d32405_m.jpg
 
Dear Mac,

Meg looks quite similar to Lu!

The other day I met a Patterdale [sire] cross Poodle that was the same height, but looked about twice as wide. Very sweet little lady. Lu and her got on really fast in the reception the vet. Almost like they knew each other. The lady owner asked if I ever meant to breed from Lu, as her Patterdale dog is apparently also very gentle. I said I wished so, but knew that are already far too many dogs looking for good homes post Covid without adding to the problem. I was in to book spaying. I still think that is the right thing, but it is also a bit sad. In this case the head not the heart must rule.

Thank you, especially for such a fine picture.

Best wishes from George
 
George
When we had our Yorkie spayed she got home groggy from the op, leaned on the wall and slid down it reminding me of the drunk horse in the film Cat Balou!
Anyway being a dog she didn’t know she was supposed to be ill and next day she was up for everything again.
Lu will be fine.
 
Dear Bob,

Lu is definitely a tough, wiry little dog. I doubt that she will be likely to be too poorly for long. In reality, I shall try to be free of work for a week, in case she needs nursing. The bigger problem may be that she gets too active too soon!

Thank you for the re-assurance.

Best wishes from George
 
Hello George,

I had Meg spayed when she was about 2. She was curled up on the chair for the day, then pretty much back to normal. Patterdales are a notoriously hardy breed.

Meg is also a loving and gentle dog in and around the house.

Regards
Justin
 
Lu is very good at befriending and calming down new dog acquaintances. She has entirely given up the yappy in your face approach as she has grown in confidence herself, and her latest conquest is a six month old rescue Rotty cross German Shepard. Only rescued ten days ago, and been out with his new owner Lu and myself a few times now, and Rocko proves to be a very gentle and affectionate dog with both Lu and me. Amazing progress. They had a riot this morning. Dogs recognise a friendly dog and a friendly human so fast. They just know.

Last week he just hid behind his new owner. This morning he was having ear tickle from me!

Perhaps dogs that have known hard times are all the more appreciative of careful attention and love.

Not necessarily permanently scarred emotionally, their eternal optimism allows them to understand all the more what good care is.

Another successful walk was first thing, with my downstairs neighbours have two labs and black mongrel bitch just a little larger than Lu. At first Lu was most friendly to the little one, but has gravitated to the old Lab, and they just potter around, a bit like Derby and Joan ... while the young Lab and little one play like mad with a tennis ball or whatever. The mid morning walk was with the nice lady who gave Lu to me. This is a normal Sunday morning thing now, and strangely Lu more or less ignores her two [Lab cross and Huntaway pup, sadly also a rescue], and potters about with my friend and myself. Occasionally she pinches their ball, and teases for a while, but gives it back ...

Lu brings me more joy than I thought I would ever have again. Simply the best and I am blest to have her care.

Best wishes from George
 
Lu continues to have so many new situations to learn from, and she does. A fortnight ago she was asked to a Wake and performed as perfect meeter and greeter ... She raised the spirits of everyone present and spent two hours saying hello to a hundred people.

Two photos that present her last July [in her first week with me] and this week. The same dog personality, going from timid, "I hope for a good life," to, " I am what I am, and life is good."

IMG_0776 by George Johnson, on Flickr

Timid Lu ...

And proud, kindly, yet confident Lu:

52691241926_c3aec47aa3_k.jpg
[/url]IMG_1577 by George Johnson, on Flickr

The difference is in the contented stance and the calm eyes, but her character was always there.

But it has come out into a bloom of confidence, which is actually quiet and kind, rather than yappy and pretending to to be confident. I have never known a dog so happy in her skin and so kindly to humans or other dogs.

I am actually gaining ground on separation anxiety. She no longer panics if I leave her inside my flat for a short while, or with friends, but it is baby steps. Give me twelve months of patient work on that. She seems to realise that I will be back before too long ...

Best wishes from George
 
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