ourempire
Well-known member
Our ruby (Molly) is now 1½ years old. She is our first dog, and also our "baby", since we don't have any children.
I have always tried to relax and spurned other people who were too anxious about either their children or their dogs, but now it has hit me right back.
I am really careful what I let Molly do. She is totally fearless, and she runs straight after strangers, bikes, cars or trucks if she is not on a leash. Of course our back garden is fenced, and there she can run freely, but our front garden is open out to the road.
I have tried to teach her free walking on dog school, but she simply is too curious to be trusted. Frankly, she is not to be trusted!
Therefore we always walks her with a leash.
Now we are going on a 4 day trip later this summer. My sis-in-law will take care of Molly. We completely trust her, she has had a dog herself for many years and was very careful to train and nurse her.
BUT - she is now talking about teaching Molly to walk free, when she is with her. I am horrified that something will happen to Molly, so will have to state very strongly that I will not allow it.
This is the first thing - should I just let my sis-in-law try?
Secondly, another family member has a tiny male dog, and the two dogs will in the future both have to be brought along for family gatherings (we live far from each other). BUT: the male dog is nice (mixed cavalier and other small breed) - but totally and madly in love with Molly. He is not neutered, so he is constantly trying to hump her. I won't allow it, even though she is spayed, I find it annoying and groce to watch all the time. So far I have managed to keep him away from her, but it has been close calls. This weekend I had Molly in a leash, and he was also tied up, so they only could sniff and talk. My husband and father in law agree with me that they should not be allowed to mate (even though Molly is not that interested). But I feel that everybody else thinks I am hysterical. I would love to propose a neutering for the male, since he is not going to be used for breeding anyway, but I just KNOW that it will be taken the wrong way. I just foresee many years to come with family gatherings where my task is to prevent mating!
What do other people do?
Thirdly, I am not that keen on letting the children play alone with Molly. I don't mind when it is girls or just ONE boy, but we have two nephews who seperately are wonderful, together a match made in hell I mean that in the most positive way, but for instance I wouldn't let them play football with Molly without watching them. I had horrible pictures of a sudden kick towards a dog mistaken for a ball, so I only let the play with me watching.
But: All those things make me think that I maybe am too hysterical and anxious? Am I in my right to be so careful, or do you have any advice for me to relax more?
I have always tried to relax and spurned other people who were too anxious about either their children or their dogs, but now it has hit me right back.
I am really careful what I let Molly do. She is totally fearless, and she runs straight after strangers, bikes, cars or trucks if she is not on a leash. Of course our back garden is fenced, and there she can run freely, but our front garden is open out to the road.
I have tried to teach her free walking on dog school, but she simply is too curious to be trusted. Frankly, she is not to be trusted!
Therefore we always walks her with a leash.
Now we are going on a 4 day trip later this summer. My sis-in-law will take care of Molly. We completely trust her, she has had a dog herself for many years and was very careful to train and nurse her.
BUT - she is now talking about teaching Molly to walk free, when she is with her. I am horrified that something will happen to Molly, so will have to state very strongly that I will not allow it.
This is the first thing - should I just let my sis-in-law try?
Secondly, another family member has a tiny male dog, and the two dogs will in the future both have to be brought along for family gatherings (we live far from each other). BUT: the male dog is nice (mixed cavalier and other small breed) - but totally and madly in love with Molly. He is not neutered, so he is constantly trying to hump her. I won't allow it, even though she is spayed, I find it annoying and groce to watch all the time. So far I have managed to keep him away from her, but it has been close calls. This weekend I had Molly in a leash, and he was also tied up, so they only could sniff and talk. My husband and father in law agree with me that they should not be allowed to mate (even though Molly is not that interested). But I feel that everybody else thinks I am hysterical. I would love to propose a neutering for the male, since he is not going to be used for breeding anyway, but I just KNOW that it will be taken the wrong way. I just foresee many years to come with family gatherings where my task is to prevent mating!
What do other people do?
Thirdly, I am not that keen on letting the children play alone with Molly. I don't mind when it is girls or just ONE boy, but we have two nephews who seperately are wonderful, together a match made in hell I mean that in the most positive way, but for instance I wouldn't let them play football with Molly without watching them. I had horrible pictures of a sudden kick towards a dog mistaken for a ball, so I only let the play with me watching.
But: All those things make me think that I maybe am too hysterical and anxious? Am I in my right to be so careful, or do you have any advice for me to relax more?