courtnek

DAL, sweetie, listen to me please. I know you like Leeanne, and she is helping with Cody alot, but these are the facts in the world of pack order.... [quote]Maybe I'm wrong here but I liken it to sending a 5 year old to play with an infant. Puppies don't behave like dogs and don't have the same social skills and for some reason, Buck won't tolerate them.[/quote] In a pack society, and especially in Cody's case since he cant hear at all or see real well, an adult dog will punish a puppy for an infraction. In Cody's case, he couldnt "see" or hear it coming. All of a sudden there is a puppy there, trying to get HIS treats, and his instincts took over. He punished the puppy for breaking the pack rules. In a dog that can see and hear, the puppy would have been warned off, most likely by it's mother. Since Cody cant hear, or see well, it wasnt until the puppy had already broken the rules that he reacted. Puppies are given food by their mothers and other female members of the pack. They are not allowed to gorge on the kill (if they are old enough to do that) until a certain level of maturity has been achieved. Even then, once mom isnt feeding them anymore, they are generally bottom of the pile at feeding times. The puppy should not have been loose, and Leeanne should have known that. Cody was not being vicious, just following his inner nature. Food is one of the biggest reason for dog aggression - people dont understand that it transcends training when it involves other dogs. WE should always be able to take their food, we are Alpha. Another dog, no they wont go there. Haven's "alpha" should have prevented him from approaching. Hang in there Girl...get him in adult classes since puppies bother him. but understand that even though he is deaf, and partially blind, pack rules still, well, rule. :fadein: :fadein:

I am using Rescue Remedy on Laurel, for fear and timidity, and it appears to be working, but it takes a while before you see results. All of Cassies advice was excellent. Dont make a big deal out of leaving or returning especially. Use obedience training as a means to calm your dog. they feel more adjusted when they can do something useful and be praised for it. Also, as far as the baby gate jumps, if you have a room where there is nothing destructible (like the kitchen and bathroom) you can double the gates up, one on top of the other, to prevent leaping over. I would put the crate in there, with the door open, things to chew on, like the kongs, while at the same time teaching him to lay in the crate while you're there so he becomes calm about it. This will take some time, which is why I suggested the gates and a nearly indestructible room. There are also pheremone machines you can get which give off a calming scent. Quiet music or the TV helps too. Sometimes just sound will alleviate the stress. Also, I have found that with anxiety, an old fashioned wind-up clock that ticks will help. Something about the regular beat of the ticking seems to calm them. Just dont set the alarm!! :fadein: good luck, and kudos to you for trying so hard....

Laurel peed on Kyle's leather jacket (he left it laying on the floor) the people at the drycleaners didnt bat an eyelash.... :lol:

Pei DONT wash it....have it dry cleaned. Washing will not remove the pheremones, and it could very easily cause the feathers to stick through the lining and ruin the coat. I washed my sons down coat and it disintegrated shortly after that. If you do decide to wash it, let it hang to dry. Dont put it in the dryer. I think that's what ruined Kyle's coat. and wash it in cold water.

Cassie is correct. Lifting is a marking gesture, basically a calling card - I was here. The higher up they can pee the better chance the wind will carry the scent farther, and the highest pee spot gets all the attention from other dogs. They will also try to outdo each other - I can pee higher than you. In your yard, there is nothing to mark against. No other dogs have been there trying to "outmark" him. It's really just a pheremone thing, there are pheremone's in dog urine that get carried on the air. If you walked him around the neighborhood where there were other dogs marking he might lift once he reaches maturity, but he might not. Depends on how confident he feels. It's nothing to worry about if he doesnt. neutered males often lift less then entire males. especially if they were neutered before they matured and learned to lift. My female will lift her leg on neighborhood walks (she really is very dominant) but always squats in the backyard.

I can vouch for Rescue Remedy for timid dogs - I have been using it on Laurel and gradually she is getting bolder and less scared. We're not there yet, but I think eventually we will be. It does take a long time, along with timidity training and socialization, but I can tell that when she has had her "meds" she's less scared. She was raised in a pack, very little if any people socialization, she was field trialed, (Foxhound) and the only "people" interaction she ever got was from the handler/hunters who ran them. She was also Omega, not a good place to start. I;m bringing her around now, but it takes time. I think the Rescue Remedy is definitely helping some.

I believe its Citrus fruit in general. grapes, apples, pears, oranges, they are all high in acid levels, which dogs stomachs dont fend off the way ours do.... raisins I have read is because since they are dried, the acid contact is actually higher.

I know how you feel RNP, only in reverse. EVERYBODY wants to pet Freebee and encourages their kids to do so, cuz she looks like a Lab. However, she doesnt like strangers or small children, and will back away behind me with her ears flattened. Then I get accused of having a "vicious Lab, what did you do to this dog?" sometimes you just cant win, no matter what side of the streeet you're on.... :evil:

[quote]NOW I don't get a moment of alone time! He's littlerly ON MY HEELS 24/7, I can't even go to the bathroom without his company You can imagine the scene he puts on when I go to school [/quote] he's preparing you for children Shara, as K knows well...you cant 1. go to the bathroom - the kid will stand outside the door and scream 2. answer the phone, the kid will need your immediate attention right then and there. 3. do the dishes, he'll want to play with them and investigate the dishwasher 4. dust. he wants to dust too. 5. vacuum, he wants to play with the vacuum cleaner.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

there is pet friendly ice melt at most good pet stores. Vaseline will work for the walk, but it's a petroleum product and should be washed off as soon as the walk is over. That's why I suggested salad or olive oil, it wont hurt them to lick it off.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: almost makes menopause look desirable, doesnt it? :wink:

he might have, or have had, a slight urinary tract infection, which is more common in the cold. When they pee in the cold, sometimes it doesnt all come out because they want to "get it over with"...so they dont do the last few sprinkles...I used to see this in my male dogs alot in the winter. dont gross out, but imagine yourself having to pee outside in those conditions. If he's not licking so much now, he's probably ok, but if he starts up again get him checked by a vet.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here RNP, but this isnt even common sense. It's experience. I could understand and forgive a man for not knowing about a female dogs heat and esterus....if no one told him or if he didnt research it how would he know? However, this woman has 3 children. She's been through esterus herself, and has to have at least SOME understanding of how a female dog's esterus would work, having been through her own every month since she was a teenager..... You're a responsible dog owner and take pride in knowing all you can about your dogs. I applaud that. However, some men would never even consider the issue. It's not something they have ever experienced. Ed didnt, the fact that this could happen never occured to him, it's not something men generally think about. A woman, however, especially with children, should have an experiential understanding of the process. at least, in my opinion. Having been through esterus themselves, you'd think they'd realize that with dogs it's something similar, and bound to happen someday.....

ssooo... WHY is it that when you blow in a dogs face they get mad, but as soon as you put them in the car they want to stick their heads out the window? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

there Are unfortunately many herding dogs who end up being put down. Herding, while inherited, still has to be taught to an extent, for the dog to do it correctly. Usually its taught by another dog, while the new one is a puppy and can learn faster. Some herders start to chase, and nip, and some eventually kill because they dont know any better. While it may have been "convenient" to have this dog downed, there may have been other issues as well....

It is going to be sub-zero here tonight as well. Just do as was suggested above - check paws to make sure there is no ice sticking to them, if you see him favoring a paw then check it out - ice can cut the pads and the tender interior. otherwise, they're usually pretty good at letting you know there is a problem. They might lick, or chew on a paw/pad that has been hurt. Definitely stay away from salt, that's nasty....Also, it wont hurt to put a small cottonball full of salad or olive oil on their pads before they go out. It forms a protective barrier (oil and water dont mix) and the worst they will do is lick it off.

good reply Mei-Mei... yes, I KNOW Freebee is unsocialized, and I KNOW that she is a risk around other dogs. I have been working with her for years trying to calm her tendencies to want everything her way....I havent gotten there. Some things are easier to train out than others. She has no dominance issues around me, I wont tolerate it, but she does have dominance issues with other dogs, and small children. so for everyones safety, she is not allowed off leash. It's not fair to assume that nothing has been done to resolve your dogs issues...in my case lots have been done, and the issues remain. Once the early socialization period has been lost, it takes much longer to retrain.

Best wishes to you Peyton, in your new forever home. BEHAVE YOURSELF!! and HF.... you're an :angel: :angel: :angel:

Shara, as far as BARF, I dont know enough about it to instruct you - HOWEVER...if Coal doesnt eat his food inside of 30 minutes, pick it up and either throw it out, or put it in the fridge. When he gets hungry enough, he'll eat as soon as it's put down. and no, its not cruel, he's taking advantage of you.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Not always, although I agree that often the dogs on the leads are the problem. I dont take Freebee on lead or off, where there are other dogs. SOME she is fine with, OTHERS she is not, and there is no way to tell until they meet. There does not seem to be any distinction between the dogs she likes and doesnt, except that if they make any kind of dominance stance towards her, she will erupt. So I dont take her. My ex would not allow me to socialize her as a puppy, said he wanted her to be "tough" and "strong"....I should have thrown him out then, but I didnt. So she is not socialized, I know it, and wont take the chance of her hurting or being hurt by another dog. It's up to the owner to know and react accordingly.

I'm for Bootscootin' Baby.....

yours grew up by FOUR??? I'm still waiting, she's 6.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

well, winter finally got here - 8 inches expected by tonight - the dogs love it!!

there is also a disease, called blastomycosis, associated with rivers and stagnant water. my Golden Lab died from it. It is also contagious to humans, and has the symptoms of pockets of tissue, that become sores, and bleed water-like pus. Please be aware of it.

CONGRATS TO YOU AND ABBEY!!! GOOOOODDDD JJJOOOOBBBBB!! These things CAN be overcome, with time, patience and attitude!! GOOD FOR YOU!! :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: