courtnek

[quote name='K']Maybe you could write it all down...factually ..from what you definately know about Devin and what you have seen/surmise of the others...stating the facts as you see them..and pointing out the repercussions of these problems...not only for the owners but for the dogs too...you may want to include some statistical data on the amount of dogs in shelters...(do a petfinder search on Lhasa's and include the amount on that day) and the amount destroyed daily ...and make the concluding statement that in the face of this overwhelming evidence you believe they are ill advised and in the wrong for breeding these dogs....it may not have any effect at all...but you never know who you can get through to...and I think you already feel you should at least try...they *may* not even know these things and its worth spreading the word....good luck...[/quote] excellent K! exactly what I was thinking.....maybe they really dont realize what they are doing, and facts are your best training tool. and Cassie, I agree with you.

Hey SD! long time no talk to.... as far as baths, both of mine have short short hair, and I only bathe them twice a year, spring and fall..they have a pool in the yard that they lay in in the summer and dry off in the sun. bad smells coming from the head could be an ear infection...you might want to look into that. Could also be teeth and gums. as far as nails, my Foxhound's are exactly as you described. Just as thick and flat at the base as at the tip. All of her nails are black, which is why I dont trim them, and they are HARD AS A ROCK....my Labs nails are what I always considered normal, some black but mostly clear, and mid-type thickness. I have never had a dog with Nails like Laurel's... they are so hard you cant cut them with the guillotine type clippers, they wont budge, even at the tip. They have to dremmel them off at the vet's ofice. I dont know if that's from six years of field hunting or not....maybe they get stronger? no clue......

yes. glass does not stop a dog from seeing out. however, their vision is much different than ours, not quite as acute, they use their ears and noses to make up the difference.

[quote]Courtnek, could she possibly have mites?[/quote] with her? It could be anything....she was a hunting dog before being "retired" by the club (which means a rescue society took her)... when I got her she was not in the best of shape...teeth were not cared for, coat was lustless, nails starting to curl under...ears are infected I found out today. The rescue society didnt have her too long, and they took as good care of her as they could, having 30 more of them to tend to. She was afraid of everything. She did really well at the vet...She didnt cringe (I asked specifically for the lady vet) and behaved very well. She got an excellent bill of health, which made me feel good. except her ears...and her nails got trimmed properly and are now nice and short. all in all she's fine, which I am glad to know!! :D

that was uncalled for. We were only trying to help you understand. Admin's, please lock this thread. This person is apparently not willing to hear any other opinion then her own.

I am taking her to the vet tomorrow, to get her nails cut (they are all black, I cant see the vein and WONT cut them) and have been cleaning her ears three times a week. The last time I cleaned them there was blood...yet they dont smell bad..and they are slightly red, but mostly look ok... Did I somehow hurt her cleaning her ears (Frfeebe's dont need cleaning)??? I use a vet specified cleaning solution and cotton swabs, not q-tips... poor Laurel....I'm afraid she is learning by my mistakes... :(

Julie, just a thought... Rott and Hmmm are both right in their concern that you watch your dog closely for the signs that a fight might break out, and always have control....this is my experience with a neighbor's pit. Their yard is attached to ours with a common chain link fence in between. My one girl is a Lab mix with an ATTITUDE... I met this Pit, and they also had another dog, a Border Collie. The two of them were perfectly content together, the BC was subservient to the Pit and the Pit was happy with that. Enter Freebee, dog with ATTITUDE....she wont tolerate any other dog trying to be top dog around her. And yes, she will fight if another dog tries to tell her what to do. or does not show submission to her. This is not a normal lab trait, it's just Freebee. She's a mix. I was standing about 4 feet away, talking to the neighbor, when I heard Freebee growl. I looked over, she was staring at the Pit hackles up, teeth bared and growling....I took two steps towards her, yelling "Freebee, CHILL" the Pit was standing there stiff, but wagging her tail...this was before I knew that Pits wil wag their tails even when poised to fight. Suddenly, both dogs ATTACKED the fence.....and wouldnt quit. I grabbed Freebee and hauled her away, the neighbor grabbed the Pit and held her by the collar. NEITHER backed down...they growled and snarled at each other even being held and seperated by a fence...We both put our dogs inside. Later investigation showed that the steel chain link fence had been damaged by their teeth. the loops were warped and bent. Had that been a fight without a fence, Freebee would have lost, because she would not have given up. Neither would the Pit. Now, I understand my dogs. I will never let Freebee run loose in a dog park. or around other dogs. The point to this story is that SOME PEOPLE dont know their dogs as well as we do, or think they have the right to let their dogs run even though they are dangerous. I think this is what people are trying to tell you....you may be a good dog owner, but there are too many people out there who AREN'T...and unfortunately, if a fight occurs, YOUR dog will be the one that gets PTS...whether he started it or not is irrelevant. Hope that helps some.

people who dont know any better accuse me of starving my Foxhound too.. they are meant to be lean, for the hunt..and she was field trialed. They should not get fat, because their legs are very skinny and could not handle excess weight.. same as with greyhounds and other hunting dogs...they need to be lean..the fact that they are no longer hunting is irrelevant. they need to stay thin for good health...

K, and the other administrators, PLEASE lock this thread. Guida now has us fighting amongst ourselves...whether she really is a troll, or just someone who is not willing to hear anyone elses opinion, I dont know and I dont care. We are spending so much time defending her, and America, and our belief in crates, that we are sniping at each other. Thank you. Katy

[quote]Don't worry! Do you know how many times people turn red and are sooo embarassed when their dog pees/poops in the office? It happens all the time, several times a day. I couldn't care less these are dogs, dogs don't get embarrassed, though they do have a weird sense of humor! LOL [/quote] It IS embarassing!!! But what's funny (to me) is that I am not embarassed for ME (I am a hard headed stubborn individual, but you all knew that anyway) but I feel bad for my dog. I know she didnt want to do that, she always looks guilty when she has an accident (and usually it';s because she ate something she shouldnt have) but I know this is fear and not lack of walks or bad training. I feel bad because she is so afraid, and the other people dont realize this and think she is a bad dog...I always feel like asking them if nothing in their life ever scared them so much it caused them to "soil their pantaloons"...I dont though... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You are having a picnic on a hot. humid day..your five year old son has a temper tantrum and wanders off into the woods..near a small but deep lake..(I have issues with them letting him wander off, but that's a different story) They cant find him when they go look for him..what would you do? They send out an alert, they get 200 people out to search, on a bad night with a major thunderstorm... the search is called off because of the danger of the thunderstorm..they have taken hours to do this searching...eventually, they call in a pyschic.. I have no problem with psychics, I believe in some cases where everything else fails they can help..but..WHY DIDNT THEY BRING IN A BLOODHOUND? In the beginning, before it became too late... THIS is what these dogs are trained to do...why not use that training? They may have found him alot sooner then flying in a psychic from New York... Personally, I would have demanded a bloodhound...

you're gonna laugh at me, but I have avoided taking Laurel to the vet because of that. I took her once, she pooped out of fear...I am taking her again Saturday, but she is more socialized then she was the first time. If it helps, I walked her both before the drive and after. and she still pooped. Sometimes fear is more than training can overcome... :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Most pet shops get their pets from puppy mills..If we could get laws enacted to stop puppy mills, the pet shops who exist on selling animals would go out of business...

"liberal Democracy" was a term used for the US 150 years or so ago, in the time of the early presidents. When our politics broke into two parties, republican and democratic, the term was no longer used and we became a Federal Republic. Some countries still use the term to describe their own governments. It basically means the same thing. A democracy where people are supposed to be taken as individuals, and all people entitled to the same rights, whether rich, poor, or otherwise. As for Guida... she apparently doesnt like us much, and has made a point of pointing that out. I no longer intend to reply to this thread. It's a waste of time. Myself and many others tried to be reasonable and answer her questions. Here, Guida, we agree (for the most part) to diagree, and we dont bash each other when our opinions differ. And Yes, I am an American and proud of it. Our government is by no means perfect, but it's pretty damn good with all it's flaws. And we are the most giving country in the world, something you should remember if a disaster ever strikes your country. Who do you suppose would be the first to send the Red Cross, Government Aid and millions of dollars to bail you out???? If you want to stay here and talk, I suggest you chill out. Otherwise, there's the door..... :evil:

you still havent answered my question...

she/he still hasnt answered my question.and I think it's a GOOD question.....

Guida, you never answered my question... is one or both of your parents home all day? In that case, crating would not necessarily be necessary.... I am trying to give you as much information as I can, without being rude, but you are not helping your own cause by accusing "Americans" of jailing their pets. If you really want information about crating, then ask without accusing. If not, if you are trolling, then GO AWAY... We crate for ALL of the reasons listed above...and it has been proven to be an effective training tool, especially if you cant be home all day. and it's not just "Americans"...people all over the world use crates to train/control their dogs. YOUR dog is lucky enough to not need it, but all dogs AREN'T... My dogs now need no crates..they are trained and I can leave them loose all day. Some people have dogs who cannot be trusted in those circumstances...Should they not have dogs then? I tried to be reasonable...I expect you to be the same.

The more I think about this, the more I think she was reacting to something heard/smelled/seen, and she responded with pack instinct. She was raised as a field trial dog, she had little human contact and is used to being around dogs, who respond the same way. I think she was trying to get my son off his duff and up to see what was going on...trying to protect her Alpha, which is me...of course, he did not get up, so she came back to me...I think she was guarding me, she does it all the time even in little circumstances (like when my sons friends come around, she's fine if I'm not there but goes into Bay-mode when I am). I think she sees him as another pack member, but one who should protect the Alpha...she is not a people orientated dog at all...getting there, and better, but it's taking a long time to undo six years of field trialing... Besides, I think he should protect his Alpha as well!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[quote]If you're not the lead dog the view never changes[/quote] your signature pretty much says it all.... :D I can give you some "tips" on dominance training, but if you can find a professional trainer that would be much better...A 90 lb. dominant dog is a major headache if not trained.... Heeling is a time thing...it takes lots of repetition, however, the dog has to see you as Alpha...once done, they are somewhat less likely to try to lead...their instincts tell them to follow.... so basic dominance training, until you can find a pro... Always enter doorways first. Never let the dog "lead" you. Instill Cassies "Nothing in life is free"...make the dog obey a basic command for everything it gets, even if it's only a "sit"...that includes meals and walks. until dominance has been assured, never let the dog sleep on the furniture or the bed. Those are "Alpha" spots. If you have a two-story house, until dominance is assured, dont let the dog sleep at the top of the stairs when you are downstairs. That's also an "Alpha" spot. Eat first, even if it's only a few crackers, and let him see you doing it. No begging, no table scraps. With the above in place, heeling will become easier...although heeling is still time consuming. Still, contact trainers and explain your situation. With patience and perseverance, you may find one who will relate to someone who can basically train their own dog, just needs some additional help. Best of luck to you! :D

[quote]First off everyone I have talked to so far blows off the fact that I started training her myself[/quote] who have you been talking to? Professional trainers or people from other boards? here is a site for trainers in Ohio - I dont know exactly where you are so I dont know if these are close or not...you could also check the yellow pages if these font work out. You might have to call and ask them specifics questions. Good luck [url]http://www.planet-pets.com/trainoh.htm[/url]

I think we have a culture or language barrier here.... Guida, a crate is used for housetraining the same way a mother would den her pups. In MOST cases, animals will not soil where they sleep, in a den the pup would walk away from it's bed and soil in another part of the den, which the mother would clean up. Enclosing the puppy in a small crate (big enough to stand up and turn around, and lay down but no bigger) usually causes their den instincts to prevent them from soiling. They do need to be removed at regualr intervals, like Newfiemom said, and if you are home you dont have to close the door if the pup will remain in there quietly. If you are not home, it is safer for the pup to be crated. Puppies are extremely curious, and with no one there to watch them (for instance I work full time) they can electrocute themselves chewing on wires, pull stuff off of tables on top of themselves, and destroy things in the house. Once they are housebroken, most of them still choose to sleep in their crate because it's become thier bed, their den, and their quiet place. You say Snoopy sleeps in your parents room? Is one of your parents home all day? It's much easier to train a puppy without a crate when someone is there all day to watch it. Does that help?

[quote]It's really mean to say that we don't care for our dogs and just lock them away. And why do you think that our dogs are sad?? And it isn't just Americans that use crates. There are people from many different countries here and I'm sure at least some of them have used a crate before. Next time if you have a question, please ask it more respectfully because that is insulting. [/quote] I have been told in Britain they call them "cages"...which I dont care for because "crate" sounds nicer somehow... :) However, Guida, they are not mini-jails..they are tools which we use to both train (housebreak) and control our pets. If crated properly, most learn to love their crates, and treat them as dens and sanctuaries from noise and distraction. My one dog would not be crated, she is claustropohobic (fear of enclosed places), which she may have learned from me, since I am as well. But usually, they get along very well in a crated environment, providing it's not used for punishment and is looked upon as a peacful resting place. It provides them with an environment similar to the one their mother would have...a den, safe and secure. They are usually metal wired, or plastic wired. The dog can see out and is not enlosed, like in a box or a doghouse.

Laurel, the shy, timid, scared-of-her-own-shadow dog went ballistic tonight. She was running back and forth between the back door and the living room, never making a sound but not settled like usual. I let her out three times, she came back in and still paced and ran...She even ran right up to my son (who scares her) and nudged and griped and GRABBED HIS FOOT!!! She has NEVER done anything like this...he yelled at her for it, and she didnt budge..also very unusual...she didnt bite, but did put her teeth on his foot and PULLED!!! Like "Get UP!!" He yelled again, she came to me and whined and paced...I put her on her leash and took her outside..this whole time Freebee was antsy and pacing, but not making any noise...not growling or showing any fear, just nervous, also not like her... I walked Laurel around the whole property, found that the garage door was open and closed and locked it. Nothing appears to be missing. I know their noses are better than most other dogs, but in a closed house with no windows open? Could she have smelled something through that? (she's a Foxhound by the way, for anyone who didnt know) I am uneasy now...I dont know what caused her to react, Kyle may have left the garage door open, and it wouldnt be the first time...she is all settled in now and sleeping...her rounds around the house settled her...but WHAT set her off? and WHAT made her approach my son and NOT be afraid? I am SOOO not good with a fearful dog....

Laurel, the shy, timid, scared-of-her-own-shadow dog went ballistic tonight. She was running back and forth between the back door and the living room, never making a sound but not settled like usual. I let her out three times, she came back in and still paced and ran...She even ran right up to my son (who scares her) and nudged and griped and GRABBED HIS FOOT!!! She has NEVER done anything like this...he yelled at her for it, and she didnt budge..also very unusual...she didnt bite, but did put her teeth on his foot and PULLED!!! Like "Get UP!!" He yelled again, she came to me and whined and paced...I put her on her leash and took her outside..this whole time Freebee was antsy and pacing, but not making any noise...not growling or showing any fear, just nervous, also not like her... I walked Laurel around the whole property, found that the garage door was open and closed and locked it. Nothing appears to be missing. I know their noses are better than most other dogs, but in a closed house with no windows open? Could she have smelled something through that? (she's a Foxhound by the way, for anyone who didnt know) I am uneasy now...I dont know what caused her to react, Kyle may have left the garage door open, and it wouldnt be the first time...she is all settled in now and sleeping...her rounds around the house settled her...but WHAT set her off? and WHAT made her approach my son and NOT be afraid? I am SOOO not good with a fearful dog.... :o :o :o :o

her accidents were of the solid kind...I think I was calling her back sooner then she wished, and she was trying to obey, but couldnt hold it...She never showed any inclination to not come in, so maybe I rushed her. She's a rescue, and coming when called is one of the things they stress so they can be adopted out...I am glad that she is learning to disobey on this count...Freebee knows to go out and do her business. Laurel is just learning...poor girl...I may be too impatient for her...only in the morning. I am getting up earlier now and letting them out, feeding them, and then letting them out again. Mostly for Laurel's sake... At night all is cool. They use the yard and I walk them for exercise... I got used to Freebee...I am now getting used to Laurel's ways...