the further adventures of HB

[Newportnobby]

@tutenkhamunsleeping
Plenty of room for Seacows, Sealions, Dogfish, Catfish etc etc then
A mermaid or two might meet with some resistance, though

[guest311]

I've had Shepherds most of my life, both before going into the RAF, handling them in the RAF, and since.
most of ours have been rescues, and only one was a real problem, a real alpha male who was always challenging me.
we've only had one from a pup.
we've also usually had a couple at a time, but not always.
HB is my first husky, and he can be challenging, it's in his nature.
you certainly need to be aware of what he is doing all the time, no good letting him off the lead and then walking round on your phone.
you also need to read him all the time when he's off the lead, and as soon as he indicates that he's seen or scented something, he has to be called back and put back on the lead. his recall otherwise is shall we say patchy, and his hearing is definitely selective at times. :'(

but, as with all dogs, and no doubt cats as well, you get out of them what you put in. spend time with him, train him, as much as you can a husky, and give him affection and you will get it returned, as long as there are no mice/voles/squirrels/ cheese sandwiches around.
if there are, and he's not on his lead, then forget it, a husky has his priorities 

shepherds want to please you, huskies not so much, but I wouldn't be without the idiot.

would I have another  probably not.

if I'm still able to have another dog when we lose him, I think it will be back to a rescue shepherd.
they are so much less work.

but hopefully, that will be well into the future, and I am assured that huskies do calm down by when they are about 12, so only another 5 years  :'(

[tutenkhamunsleeping]

 

[guest311]

5. needing the idiot on the other end of the lead to throw his tennis ball to chase

Coco would have LOVED one of those 

[guest311]

we got Coco, ok let's be totally honest, I got Coco when she was about 4 > 41/2

on nights one night, and saw her on a rescue site. at that time the house was empty - we'd lost our last shepherd, who we'd had from a pup, and  SWMBO + daughter/husband/grandson were on holiday 

e-mailed the rescue group, ex RAFP QPD etc, would love to meet her etc, then at the end of the shift went home.
got in to work the next night to find an e-mail 'please get in touch, you are just what she needs' 
replied, and got a phone call, "when would you like to meet her?"

as that was my last night shift .... "how about tomorrow - where is she ?"

ended up going to her foster home at the end of the shift, and she came out and straight up to me ... big sloppy lick 

so donation made, and took her home, a couple of hours later rescue turned up to vet her home, by which time she was sun bathing outside the back door.

papers signed, and she was mine/ours 

slight problem, hadn't actually told SWMBO. :'(

luckily, now on four days off, so had time to 'bond', but it took three of those days to get her into the house, she's only ever known a barn 

so, SWMBO due back friday  , swapped my shift, and greeted her as she got out of the taxi.
"hello darling, did you enjoy your holiday?"

oooppps

"What have you done ? I thought you were back on shift tonight ... AND WHAT IS THAT AT THE WINDOW"  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

looked, and big hairy german shepherd head  :'( :'( :'(

"erm, didn't I mention, that is Coco, OUR new dog" 

luckily she fell in love with her, otherwise I'd have been sleeping in the shed.

some four years later we lost her to a brain tumor, but what a great four years.

did I mention ...

I'm an idiot for dogs 

[guest311]

with the weather improving over the last few weeks, the jacket for the idiot on the loopy end of the lead has been once again replaced by more water for HB.

just hope it doesn't rain 

anyway, our intrepid hunter continues to scour the plains in search of sustenance, but as usual tends to rely on a filled kong, or a bowl of dog food, plus dental chews, hide chews, and just about anything else he can scrounge.

still, he doesn't look to bad on it ....











while he continues to hunt, without any more success, an interruption in the supply of white hide chews has led to replacement cow's ear chews, AT £1.75 each, that's nearly 1/3 rd of the price of a bottle of wine, having to be sourced  :'(

and they say it's a dogs life 

[themadhippy]

while he continues to hunt, without any more success, an interruption in the supply of white hide chews has led to replacement cow's ear chews, AT £1.75 each, that's nearly 1/3 rd of the price of a bottle of wine, having to be sourced 

Get your pinny out and give these a try.They go down well with friends dogs.


1 tin of Sardines or Mackerel drained of oil (do not use tinned tuna)
1/4 cup of grated cheese (any will do, although cheddar always goes down well)
1 cup of wholemeal flour
2 eggs


Pre-heat oven to 180c and grease a small baking dish.
Mix up Sardines, Cheese & Eggs to a pulp
Stir in the flour until all is well combined.
Transfer to greased baking dish.
Bake for 30 - 40 mins.
Allow to cool completely and then cut into bite size pieces.
Pre-heat oven to 80c
Spread pieces evenly on a baking tray and return to oven.
Allow 40mins - 1hr in oven for the treats to dehydrate.
Remove and allow to cool.

Ive found it best to cut them into size before the first cooking,even got a bone shaped cookie cutter for the job

[guest311]

in HB's mind, a greased baking dish is a bite sized container  :'(

[guest311]

might need to double the amounts ... maybe find a mouse shaped cutter 

[tutenkhamunsleeping]

might need to double the amounts ... maybe find a mouse shaped cutter 

For a varied diet, add toddler and baby shapes

[guest311]

HB loves kids ....

not sure though that he could manage a whole one 

[themadhippy]

might need to double the amounts ... maybe find a mouse shaped cutter 

I get   15-20   3¹/₂" X 1¹/₂" biscuits out of one batch,or about 30 seconds worth if my mates ridgeback had her way

[guest311]

looks like I'm cooking tomorrow, or should that be baking ?

[guest311]

firstly I must admit to not yet trying out the biscuit recipe, my only excuse being that SWMBO has not been too good the last couple of weeks. so the baking is still on the to do list.

however, last week I had a bit of a concern over HB.
on tuesday's walk I noticed that he was favouring his right front leg, not exactly limping, but not putting all his weight on it. checked him over and no signs of any cuts or scratches on his pads, and nothing between them. no flinching or crying when I ran my hands over his leg, so just cut short his walk and headed home.

no problems with him having his dinner / dental chew / hide chew and he settled down under the dining room table as usual for his post walk / dinner sleep.

later on there was a yelp, and he came limping into the sitting room. checked him over again, and could still not find any reason for this, and he wandered outside, still favouring his front right leg.

my initial thought was that he might have trapped a nerve, or even got cramp, when he got up, but just in case I phoned the vet for an appointment for the next day.

throughout the evening he was the same, cried out when he got up, and limping when he walked, and unusually for HB, he didn't jump up onto the bed for his treats when we went to bed, instead sitting by the bed and looking hard done to. mind you no problems with his appetite and he still pestered for his humbug before he'd settle down [don't ask  ]

wednesday morning I got up to be greeted by HB tearing up the stairs and leaping onto the bed, with kong in mouth.
he them proceeded to tear downstairs and wait by the fridge for his morning treat to go into his kong



he then proceeded to act in his usual idiot way growling at his kong, throwing it around to try to get the treats out, and pouncing on it with no signs of pain or limping [it's hard to pounce while limping ]

phoned the vet, cancelled the appointment, and at the usual time got the idiot ready for his walk.

out to the fields, let him off the lead, and off he went, mad as usual, chasing around, searching for prey, and having the occasional grazing session.

nothing wrong there then.

did the first loop of our figure 8 walk, but then took him home, and no signs of any of tuesday's problems.

thursday was the same, so friday back to his normal figure 8 walk, and again no problems, and it has been the same since.

so a mystery, all I can think is that he had somehow trapped a nerve, and the night's sleep had freed it.

so, a few pics of HB, fully restore to full idiot mode,











and finally, a pic of him resting on the sette ...
the brown dog on the left is Izzy, who normally won't allow him up there when she is, and the white tiger is stuffed, which HB may be if he gives me any more scares

[guest311]

the 'pup' is now nearly 7 1/2 years old, having been taken on / adopted when he was 6 months old when his [first time dog owners] couldn't manage both him and the new baby [think I'd have kept the dog, put the baby up for rescue, probably even a husky would be less trouble, overall, than a kid] 

it has taken several years to get him to the stage where he can be off lead, and I have to be totally aware of him, what he is sensing / seeing, and what else in in the field.

as soon as he indicates he's seen / scented / heard something, or I have seen something, he needs to be called back and on his lead.

no good just turning him loose, going on my phone, and ignoring him ...

oops, just described the usual IDO 

and yes, selective hearing seems to be an inbred thing for huskies... but it is great to watch him running around off lead, but you have to be 100% aware of what is going on around you.

however, when you do actually take notice of your dog, and his surroundings, and have learned to read him, I find that he can to a certain degree be trusted off lead, AS LONG AS I AM ON THE BALL.

I remember being told at the beginning of my RAFP QPD course, there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad handlers.

and yes, I too have noticed the amazing self healing powers of HB..... been caught out too many times 

but would I be without him, or you be without yours ?

can I get back to you in a couple of years ?

I'm just hoping that it was right when I was told that they calm down .... by when they are 12  :'(