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Post by Lexie on Mar 25, 2004 23:28:40 GMT -2
You all know this is my first basset and my first puppy. I read that because of the build of a basset that they should not be permitted to jump on furniture. I believe that it is hard on their back. Becuase of that, Lexie has never been on my couch, chair or even our bed--(except at the grandparents, they allow everything) Am I worrying for nothing? Should I give in to the temptation of letting her lay on the couch with me?  |
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Post by JoAnn on Mar 25, 2004 23:38:17 GMT -2
I couldn't stand it if the hounds didn't snuggle on the couch with me and hubby. We have a very high bed and we lift them on and off. The couch they manage on their own, with no ill effects so far. If you feel uncomfortable about her getting on and off the couch, you can teach her to put her feet up and then Lift her up from the rear and lift her down again.
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Post by Bassetpup on Mar 25, 2004 23:54:10 GMT -2
You can also get or make a ramp for them to get on the couch, in the car, on the bed, etc. I would think that as long as you are careful and limit her. It would be ok. I wouldn't recommend stairs a lot though..those can be pretty rough on them.
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Post by Lexie on Mar 26, 2004 0:02:47 GMT -2
Great advise ladies, thanks. I don't think that it will be much longer before I have a choice about the couch. Do your babies sleep with you or in a crate?
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Post by Southern Bassets on Mar 26, 2004 0:03:18 GMT -2
I have read that it's not good on their legs too.
One thing you can do is they sell sort of "Boosters" that look like fabric covered ramps for your couch or bed?
Or you could make one?
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Post by Bassetpup on Mar 26, 2004 0:06:36 GMT -2
My Lily sleeps in a crate. When she is housetrained and a little older, she will be able to sleep with us if she wants to. I would love it if I could let her now cuz when hubby is gone, it sure would be nice to have someone else to sleep with..lol.
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Post by JoAnn on Mar 26, 2004 0:47:28 GMT -2
Ours are truly spoiled and all sleep with us. Good thing we have a kingsized bed. Even then it can get a bit crowded  |
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Post by emma, cloe,petunia, and flash on Mar 26, 2004 19:41:10 GMT -2
my husband works 24 hour shifts and when he is at work, my girls sleep with me in bed. when he is home, they sleep in their kennel, and when they go with me to work they sleep in crate. they seem to know when they can sleep where and are ok with it. my emma feels very secure in her kennel and will go there if someone in the house(two leggers) is in trouble, or if she is really tired.
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Post by Lexie on Mar 26, 2004 19:50:01 GMT -2
They are so smart! Lexie sleeps in a crate but will not go in on her own unless it is to get a toy that she wants to play with and comes right back out.
In time, in time----I keep telling myself!
What lucky babies to get to go to work with momma. I bet you they are spoiled rotten! ;D
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Post by TrudiRose on Apr 1, 2004 2:47:07 GMT -2
We don't let Norton sleep on the bed. He has his own crib mattress in the living room, and a doggy pillow on the floor of our room, so he has a choice of where to sleep. He also often goes into my son's room and sleeps on the carpet next to my son's bed.
He recently has begun sneaking on the couch when we're out of the room, which terrifies me because I, too, have heard that they should NOT be jumping on furniture. It's not so much that they'll pull a muscle; it's that each time they do it, the cushioning between the vertebrae wears away a little bit. So they could be jumping on and off furniture for years with no problem, and then after years and years of it, one day that last little bit of cushioning wears away, and BAM! a slipped disc. A basset on the Daily Drool email list spent the last half of her life severely crippled as a result of 3 slipped discs, caused by years of jumping on and off furniture and going up and down flights of stairs.
I bought Norton a ramp to use for the couch, but he hasn't been able to use it yet because he recently had surgery on his front leg, which is all bandaged up. So he's hobbling around and his balance and coordination is off. Once he's all healed, I'm going to try to teach him to use the ramp. It will save me a lot of gray hairs and worry!
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Post by emma, cloe,petunia, and flash on Apr 2, 2004 2:00:06 GMT -2
well, i came in the house the other day when dad was "watching" the girls and emma was strecthed out on the back of the couch watching tennis on tv.
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LuluBaby
Jr. Basset Friend
Wake me when it's time to eat
Posts: 75
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Post by LuluBaby on Apr 2, 2004 13:15:34 GMT -2
Lulu Belle is really spoiled too. She sleeps with us...but we only have a queen size bed. My husband, who insisted that we'd "never let a dog push us out of bed" brought up the idea of getting a king size last night  He is sooooooo hooked. She's...mostly housetrained. She only has a problem if we leave her alone for a very extended period of time. If she couldn't chase her kitties around the house though...she'd be a very sad basset. I do have a question about food though since we're talking overprotection...Lulu has been fighting pano, but I think we're getting closer to the end of the pain. Her bouts have become less frequent and she's more active than before. At what point can I start feeding her adult food? She's a good size with a beautiful coat. We're feeding her Nutro Large Breed Puppy because of the reduced phosphorous and calcium, but it still has quite a bit as it's designed to promote healthy growth. Anyway, now that she's 10 months old, can I put her on an adult formula? I've heard that the adult formula may help alleviate some of the symptoms, but I want to make sure she gets all the nutrition she needs. Jeanne |
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Post by Bassetpup on Apr 2, 2004 14:23:39 GMT -2
Some things I have read is that you should start them on adult at 6 months. However, lots of vets and many others recommend 12 months. I had this same question when we got Lily and heard both responses. I would say give a call to your vet and ask. They might say go ahead and switch or they might tell you to stay on the puppy. I would think the vet would have the best answer for each individual.
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Post by MowgliBaloo on Apr 2, 2004 15:11:55 GMT -2
Our dogs are both on the adult Nutro beef and rice formula now...on the vet's advice. Even Baloo who is still pretty young. BUT she has gotten sooo large that the last thing she needs is any growth formula! I made the switch gradually...slowly mixing in the new food with the old. They had "the runs" for just a day or two and then were totally fine!
Oh...and when the husband is not home, Mowlgi does sleep with me. When he is home, she sleeps in her bed next to ours. Baloo still sleeps in her crate since she has "potty issues."
Mowgli also sleeps with the girls sometimes...but she snores SO loud that she wakes them up! We always seem to get a call in the middle of the night to "come and get Mowgli so I can sleep!"
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Post by Lexie on Apr 6, 2004 18:55:42 GMT -2
Hubby called me this morning at work and was laughing at Lexie. You know how I've been worried about her jumping off the couch? Well, we decided that to prevent that from happening, we would not allow her to get on the furniture at all. So, this morning he left her in the den alone while he was getting ready for work and came back in to find her on the couch, on her back with all four legs up in the air--chewing on her toy chicken. He thought this was hysterical. He said "mom how can I move her and tell her that she can't get on the couch when she is so comfy?" Looks like I lost again!  |
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He is sooooooo hooked. 
