wren123
Well-Known Member
They look quite happy together 
We must be mad... That black lab that needed a home...
- Thread starter Kat_Bath
- Start date
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
Thanks all for your replies - I have taken a lot from your encouraging words and excitement. I might be tired today (up at 4, 5 and then properly up at 6 but hopefully he'll soon realise wake up time is 6.30-6.45) but do feel a bit EEK and worried, for both dogs. It's such a big transition/change for Harvey 2/Buddy. I just hope he is happy.
The others have explained well and got it spot on - small meals more frequently - but the other reason is Harvey 1 possibly has/had issues with acid reflux and stomach acid, so to prevent issues, he has smaller meals and a snack-sized portion before bed, to tide him over, and it does help.
The vet said she thinks he is a grazer, but he is a typical Lab and was no bought up with free feeding, so he would eat the entire contents of any bowl put in front of him. I contemplated trying it, but didn't want to make him ill!
Stop it! We only need yellow/red now and then we'd have the full colour spectrum!
I've already nicknamed him Tippy Tappy Tim, as he tip taps on the spot when excited (I think it's excited!), and also Grey Beard, for obvious reasons. Although Harvey 1 has a grey beard too, but he is brown so it's slightly less noticeable. I think Buddy is going to stick. I also need to try the whistle, to see if he remembers that, but I do worry he will associate it with memories of old and get confused/go off in search of a pheasant!
The others have explained well and got it spot on - small meals more frequently - but the other reason is Harvey 1 possibly has/had issues with acid reflux and stomach acid, so to prevent issues, he has smaller meals and a snack-sized portion before bed, to tide him over, and it does help.
The vet said she thinks he is a grazer, but he is a typical Lab and was no bought up with free feeding, so he would eat the entire contents of any bowl put in front of him. I contemplated trying it, but didn't want to make him ill!
Stop it! We only need yellow/red now and then we'd have the full colour spectrum!
I've already nicknamed him Tippy Tappy Tim, as he tip taps on the spot when excited (I think it's excited!), and also Grey Beard, for obvious reasons. Although Harvey 1 has a grey beard too, but he is brown so it's slightly less noticeable. I think Buddy is going to stick. I also need to try the whistle, to see if he remembers that, but I do worry he will associate it with memories of old and get confused/go off in search of a pheasant!
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
Well! They could have been together all their lives!?
They look quite happy together
It does feel a little bit like he has been here forever. Until you take him out for a walk and he is acts like a coiled spring on Very High Alert, bless him.
Maybe one of his nicknames should be Mr Very High Alert!
They largely ignore each other at the moment so I don't think they'll be the type to share a bed, but we'll see. Harvey 1 definitely isn't really bothered about showing him how house life is done, or comforting him in any way during the night (the sod just carried on sleeping ?), or where the best sniffs are. But I'm happy with that - he could have annoyed Harvey 2/Buddy to the max, so ignoring is fine by me!
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
lovely boys, change of name for new one is a must, buddy is nice or if you want something that sounds similar, barney
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
They look happy enough in each other's company. I'm sure they will be fine together. The fox red would make a lovely addition.
ETA But you wouldn't be complete without a pale yellow
ETA But you wouldn't be complete without a pale yellow
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
If he’s been gundog trained get that whistle out! Three pips for recall (probably, give it a go). One long one for ‘stop’. He is gorgeous.
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
They look happy enough in each other's company. I'm sure they will be fine together. The fox red would make a lovely addition.
ETA But you wouldn't be complete without a pale yellow
Honestly! HHO has got me into enough trouble as it is ?? One day maybe we'll have the full collection! All shades of yellow welcome!
Thanks Clodagh - I did wonder what the commands were and thought it might be those two, we'll give it a go.
Thinking about going to a secure field tomorrow, for an off lead sniff and lope around, so might try then. Who knows, maybe even Harvey 1 will pick it up (I did try a while ago, hence having the whistle, but then lockdown put a stop to car trips and then forgot about it really).
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
opportunity for lots of action pics , just saying
misst
Well-Known Member
They look very contented and handsome together - he looks as if he has well and truly got his feet under the table.
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
A bed question, for those still watching this thread...
Harvey 2/Buddy likes to sleep in a ball, upside down, spread out, legs straight, legs tucked in etc etc. He seems to move a lot as well. He's currently on Harvey 1's mattress beds (no sides) but keeps rolling off/pushing himself onto the floor, would sides be a sensible idea or too restrictive?
They're both currently asleep, snoring VERY loudly!
Harvey 2/Buddy likes to sleep in a ball, upside down, spread out, legs straight, legs tucked in etc etc. He seems to move a lot as well. He's currently on Harvey 1's mattress beds (no sides) but keeps rolling off/pushing himself onto the floor, would sides be a sensible idea or too restrictive?
They're both currently asleep, snoring VERY loudly!
wren123
Well-Known Member
My lab loves to curl up into the sides of her bed, the bed I’ve got has soft sides so they do stop her falling out but they don’t restrict her in any way.
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meleeka
Well-Known Member
Lovely pics! I don’t think there’s anything wrong with dogs that aren’t best friends, as long as they are happy to co-exist. I think it’s very early days to predict what their relationship will be, but they certainly look happy enough in your photo.
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
Makes sense - I'll have a look and see what I can find. Thank you!
Thanks Meleeka. I'm surprised by how much I've learned about Harvey 1 so far but I think he is still a happy dog - I'm not sure if he is a best friend kind of dog, but it's nice to see him ignore Harvey 2/Buddy as I thought it would be way worse. I underestimated him!
PinkvSantaboots
Well-Known Member
O
It's made me realise I should probably split her food I was probably in an old fashioned mindset of a dog just needs one feed a day.
Thank you ?
TheOldTrout
Completely Unknown Member
What a gorgeous dog! He's very lucky to have such a lovely new home.
MrsMozartleto
Just passing through...
Beds - ours have everything from a rigid plastic thing with a pad/mattress, to a deep pad mattress with a single quilt folded over on top (the Grotties' nighttime beds), and soft sided normal beds (their daytime beds). They sleep in all sorts of positions. There doesn't seem to be a favourite bed per se, though the Grots will take a flying leap onto their nighttime beds and curl up very quickly.
Gorgeous dogs by the way. Hope it keeps going well.
And a red would really set off the combination ???
Gorgeous dogs by the way. Hope it keeps going well.
And a red would really set off the combination ???
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
Have ordered a couple of beds so we'll see what happens! It's already tiring carting 2 beds up and down stairs every morning and evening.
Someone is gaining in confidence and starting to choose toys he likes and gets a bit cross when Harvey even looks at him when he has a ball or Teddy...! It's good to see him coming out of his shell though. I'm not sure separate toys will ever be achievable, so I don't think I'll even try.
He also now knows to come up and down the stairs with us and no longer gets "stuck" up or down, bless him. He comes back in the house straight away after wees and after a walk, and he's not jumped the fence again (yet...!). He's already responding well to Buddy but he's ever so funny - he'll put two paws on your lap but when you invite him up, he gets down and just stares at you! Not even a hint of intrigue or confusion as to the command, he just stares blankly, unblinking ??
We did some crate training last night and today and will leave them tomorrow for 20 minutes, doing a bit more each day. Hopefully that'll go well!
Someone is gaining in confidence and starting to choose toys he likes and gets a bit cross when Harvey even looks at him when he has a ball or Teddy...! It's good to see him coming out of his shell though. I'm not sure separate toys will ever be achievable, so I don't think I'll even try.
He also now knows to come up and down the stairs with us and no longer gets "stuck" up or down, bless him. He comes back in the house straight away after wees and after a walk, and he's not jumped the fence again (yet...!). He's already responding well to Buddy but he's ever so funny - he'll put two paws on your lap but when you invite him up, he gets down and just stares at you! Not even a hint of intrigue or confusion as to the command, he just stares blankly, unblinking ??
We did some crate training last night and today and will leave them tomorrow for 20 minutes, doing a bit more each day. Hopefully that'll go well!
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I probably being over cautious but at any signs of either guarding their toys the toys would be packed away for now.
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
I had such a giggle that they are both called Harvey. I'm imagining you signing all your Christmas cards from Harvey & Harvey. I love it. it's like when people called Chris and Chris or Terry and Terri get married ?
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
I did wonder about that. Buddy likes to carry something around and Harvey isn't in any way bothered (it's more a basket of balls and kongs for filling with things) but Buddy has given a few warnings signs today. It's a basket that's freely available though so not unsurprising. If they're taken away (but the kongs are still used for snacks and taken away when finished) when do you introduce? I'm not sure how sharing works - I guess it depends on the dog(s) in question?
See when we ended up with 2 Harvey Christmas tree ornaments last year... I never thought it would actually become reality!!
windand rain
Well-Known Member
They both sound wonderful
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
Our two lots of gay friends are Michael and Michael and Paul and Paul. So Harvey and Harvey will be fine. ?.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I don’t leave ad lib toys. Although we have gravitated to Foxy and Toucan lying around but if there was ever a sideways glance they would be there no more. They only really carry them for greeting purposes.
I wouldn’t give kongs or anything, ever, with them loose together, but there are many people with far more experience than me.
I wouldn’t give kongs or anything, ever, with them loose together, but there are many people with far more experience than me.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
We leave toys around for easy access but at the first sign of guarding the toy is removed. I would only give a stuffed kong to an individual dog in a crate, or somewhere else by itself where there can't be a challenge.
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
Makes sense - thank you both. I should have been clearer as well, I was planning on filled kongs when Buddy is crated and Harvey loose (both in the hallway - Harvey has the stairs and landing as well though, as he always has done) when left for the first couple of times. Interesting you say you remove the toy at sign of guarding - I would always remove a toy when Harvey started over-chewing. Teddy would go on a break to the top of a fridge, then get returned to the basket and ignored for weeks. Wouldn't have thought about removing on guarding, in case of argument, but that makes complete sense.
Annette4
Well-Known Member
We removed all toys from ours when Ginny first came home for 2 months then put the box back but watched them really carefully (Ginny was crated whenever we weren't in the room) until we were certain there was no guarding. If there had been any sign of it then toy box would have gone away again.
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
???? Thank you. I think I just didn't think about it as Harvey's really never that bothered. Will go about removing them all first thing in the morning. Thanks again everyone - really appreciate your help with this!
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Any dog that argues with me when I remove a toy will find itself in serious trouble! The people are in charge in this house not the dogs! We did stop giving bones/similar high value toys when we had the first Rottweiler, she was a terror for trying to get all the toys and sit on them so that no-one else could ahve them. She would growl at other dogs (we had 7 at the time) who approached but tbf, she never growled at people. She was a rehome who had had a bad start.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I had a rescue bull terrier bitch who would do that, I used to tie her up (pre crate days) when they had chews but she always got them somehow.
Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
A week in so I thought I'd update.
Buddy is doing really well. He's found his voice but after loads of coincidencal parcel deliveries today, he's barking less and less. He's also not whining quite as much but has now started whining a bit when we're stood right next to him! ?
They've been left on their own 3 times, just for 15-25 mins, Buddy crated and Harvey in the hallway, and they've been good. We have a camera so know Buddy has whined, but I think he'll settle - he lay down today when left, whereas yesterday and the day before he remained stood up!
Toys have been removed for now, but they've done well with the kongs after they've been left on their own, before I've had a chance to pick them up.
We've walked them individually a couple of times as well and that's been nice, on both counts as it's nice to teach Buddy new things and to fully interact with Harvey again.
There has been a bit of jealousy and jockeying for position when it comes to towelling off and general pats, but I've asked Buddy to sit out the way and he has to an extent, so he is learning.
He's such a good dog and he already seems more at home, even compared to him lying upside down last week, just after he arrived. Harvey is also being really good. It'll be interesting to see if they might play if we go to a dog field again as Buddy seems keen but Harvey might resort to his old habit of chasing. We'll see.
Fingers crossed for even more progress!
Buddy is doing really well. He's found his voice but after loads of coincidencal parcel deliveries today, he's barking less and less. He's also not whining quite as much but has now started whining a bit when we're stood right next to him! ?
They've been left on their own 3 times, just for 15-25 mins, Buddy crated and Harvey in the hallway, and they've been good. We have a camera so know Buddy has whined, but I think he'll settle - he lay down today when left, whereas yesterday and the day before he remained stood up!
Toys have been removed for now, but they've done well with the kongs after they've been left on their own, before I've had a chance to pick them up.
We've walked them individually a couple of times as well and that's been nice, on both counts as it's nice to teach Buddy new things and to fully interact with Harvey again.
There has been a bit of jealousy and jockeying for position when it comes to towelling off and general pats, but I've asked Buddy to sit out the way and he has to an extent, so he is learning.
He's such a good dog and he already seems more at home, even compared to him lying upside down last week, just after he arrived. Harvey is also being really good. It'll be interesting to see if they might play if we go to a dog field again as Buddy seems keen but Harvey might resort to his old habit of chasing. We'll see.
Fingers crossed for even more progress!