courtnek

I have heard and been told that a hound's nose is extraordinary...think of bloodhounds and how they find people....but my little foxhound did her good deed for the day (night, actually...) I had asked my son to help clean up after his friends, some of whom smoke...he took out the trash and emptied the ashtray's and all seemed well, until about an hour later. :o :o I was asleep, and Laurel started to whine, then growl, then got really agitated....I got up thinking maybe she needed to go out...she ran into the kitchen, where the garbage was smoking!!! Hadnt actually ignited into a fire yet, but would have started shortly...I poured water into it and took it outside...she stayed out there and sniffed it continuously, until she was finally satisfied it was out, and then checked every other garbage can in the house...and now has taken to checking the ashtrays as she moves through the house....she insists I go with her, and she sniffs each one, and wont lay down until she's done...GOOD DOG!!! :angel: :angel: :angel:

actually, I was considering a sweater for Laurel, but have decided I'll wait and see how she handles the winter first. She has NO undercoat, which surprises me since she lived in a kennel, and although heated I'm sure it wasnt kept at room temperature.... I would like to get them both a pair of rubber slip-on boots with velcro or something....It's raining now constantly, and the yard is covered in mud and I have to do the "feet dance" every time I bring them in to clean off their feet. It would be so much easier just to slip the boots on and off, and leave them in the tiled hallway by the back door... might help when the snow starts too....

I used to live in a townhouse with the mail slot in the lower portion of the door, and my dog used to grab and shred the mail too....I think they feel they are protecting their territority.... I put a metal milk box (the old fashioned ones people had back when milk got delivered every day) on the front stoop and asked the mailman to put the mail in there. He was more than happy to do so :lol: :lol: So maybe you can put together a nice box, that he can keep on the stoop or attach over the existing mail slot, and present it as a gift, and while you're there, check out the dogs rabies tag. Kill two problems at once....

I have found that most dogs are either A) afraid of the vacuum and hide, or B) hate the vacuum and attack it. there deosnt seem to be a comfortable middle for most of them. Laurel is afraid of it, Freebee attacks it....I think it's because of the high whining sound they make, I bet it hurts their ears....Freebee will attack it if I move it into the room, before it's even turned on.... Kavik sounds, except for the gum, like he doesnt like things with handles, that extend out from someon's hand, like the mop and the umbrella... did he ever get hit with a stick, or a wiffle bat or something? even in play? Freebee gets hysterically angry if anyone picks up a rolled up newspaper or magazine, or if I roll up the papers to put them in the recycle bin. My ex used to tease her with them, popping her on the nose and butt, and now she attacks them and tears them to shreds if she sees one.....stupid ass thought it was funny to see her get all worked up over it..... He always got home from work an hour or so before me, so I didnt even know he was doing it until I saw how she reacted to it. He tried to punish her with rolled up papers when she was a puppy and I made him stop, then he turned it into a "game" that he would only play when I wasnt there. so it could be something happened to Kavik that you're not aware of, you're only seeing the outcome....

thanks Jacsmom, but we tried it once. All she does is curl up and hide and keeps away from him. Maybe I'll try it again after the herbal medicine gets here, if it does in fact calm her down and tone down her fear a little. It's not just Kyle, she is afraid of anyone she doesnt know. The lady neighbor across the yard cant coax her over either. I am trying to introduce her to as many people as I can, while on a lead, so she can either move away or stand still, let her decide what she wants to do. SHe's better than when I first got her, but still a long way from comfortable. I have Kyle giving her dog biscuits (the kind that clean your teeth, her breath is horrible) and talk to her softly right after she comes in from outside. It's still a challenge, but we'll get through it.

first, make sure he's had his shots. Rabies treatment is brutal....and he has no legal right to refuse the information. If he tries, call Animal Control... secondly, realize that the dog is old...he may have not meant to bite, he was grabbing for the mail and fingers got in the way. It may just be an accident, but you do need to verify the shot information.

Laurel is also very fearful, of everything but me....I have ordered a bottle of Bach Flower Remedies called "Rescue Remedy", which is supposed to help with fearfulness...I'll let you know how she does, maybe it will work for Kavick too...

One of my closest friends was a childhood sleepwalker. She got up one night, went down to the kitchen where her mother was entertaining friends, and peed in the litchen garbage can.... :o :o :lol: :lol:

There are some people (myself included) where the paralysis part during REM doesnt always work. When I was a child I used to walk in my sleep. The paralysis prevents that in most people, but they thought my REM sleep was actually on the lighter side (I'm usually a really light sleeper) and I woulg get up and walk around the house. My mom always slept with her door open, and mine closed, so that if I opened it she would hear it (it squeaked and she never got it fixed). It stopped when I was about 11, but then one night when I was 16 she says (and I dont remember ANY of the episodes, ever) I got up, it was summer, I dressed up in winter clothes, coat, hat, mittens, leashed the dog and took him for a walk. She was following me down the street by my house in her housecoat. The doctors had always told her never to wake up a sleepwalker, but rahter, restrain them in a room somewhere and block them from leaving without touching them. She had an outside lock on my door in my room. She had stopped sleeping with her door open cuz we all thought the episodes were over. She said she followed me for about a block, I came back, got undressed and went back to bed....I dont remember any of it, but she showed me the winter clothes I had taken off and left on the floor.... and the leash was on the floor too, although it was always kept downstairs.

thta's what I was just thinking....not really growling,. but "crooning".... maybe he's just so happy to be out of the crate he's trying to make noise about it, and it sounds like growling.... :D

:o :o oh no.....are you telling me it's not gonna work?

good post Malamum, and I see your point. Myself I always err on the side of caution with a growling dog, since they can bite 5 times faster than we can react...but you may be right. Maybe letting him know his growling is NOT having an affect would be better. thanks.

I looked into the Bach remedies, because I have heard many good things about them, and a behaviorist in England uses them all the time, and I found something called "Rescue Remedy" that looks like it would be perfect for Laurel, so I ordered it. I'll let you know how she gets on... thanks everybody.

There is a story I can tell that deals directly with this. I have a friend at work who got a purebred GSD and brought her to work to show her off. She is 1 1/2 years old, but has not spent a lot of time with people other than her owner, her sister and the other dogs in the house. Her name is Maggie May (registered Princess Margaret) and Terri wanted to show her off. I came outside to find a flock of people standing AWAY from her, in fear. These same people had flocked her, trying to pet her, and since she felt closed in she had backed off and growled. She is not used to large groups of people paying attention to her, and Terri had said this repeatedly and asked that they approach her one at a time and greet her. They didnt listen, so Maggie warned them off. I walked out in the middle of this, approached Maggie and held out my hand, palm up, so she could sniff it (the proper way to greet a strange dog) Her tail started to wag so I petted her gently on the top of her head and stroked her ears. She became a different dog. She did the doggie smile, and wagged her tail and stood by my side while I petted her, then another friend who has dogs came out and did the same thing, and she liked her immediately as well. The other people were actually MIFFED....one of them said "she must only like people who own dogs..." and Sandy and I both said "No, she likes us because we didnt threaten her by getting in her face and wanting her attention in a huge group......" and they got PO'd and stomped inside....some people...so yes, I guess general education about dog behavior would be a good thing...in case it's ever necessary. Maggie was not hostile, just afraid, and growled as all dogs will to warn off the threat. Maybe a Golden or a Lab (other than MINE) could handle group attention like that, but some dogs cant and people just dont understand...

[quote]I know it seems like this is a happy ending but you should see what a fearful boy he is,these were BYB's and they ruined him I worry that one day his fear will get him into trouble,he is very well trained and I always have him under control but I have to be so careful with him and strangers[/quote] Ellie, Laurel is still very fearful, of everyone but me....I ordered some herbal therapy calle "Rescue Remedy" which is from the Bach files... they have been used alot with pet therapy for fearful dogs and have a good reputation. I'm going to try it on Laurel and I'll let you know how she does....

[quote] Mouse his hips look a bit dodgy to me [/quote] "HIS hips"? and he's wearing a hula skirt....I dont know, Mouse, I think there's mored dodgy about him then his hips.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[quote]and I often wish the same option were available for humans. [quote] AMEN HF.... My mother died of colon cancer, and was wishing for three months prior to her death that we would "let her go"...the laws in this state dont allow it. she was in pain, incoherent, and just wanted peace.... at least, we have the option to give that to our pets if it becomes necessary... [/quote]

Star, I would have the vet check him over. There may be some underlying cause of the sudden aggression. It may be nothing, he may just be cranky from the collar, the cage and little exercise, but better safe then sorry. There may be some pain he cant tell you about... And definitely tell your mom to stop petting him when he growls, that's only reinforcing his bad behavior. A stern NO!!! and then turn around and ignore him completely, so he doesnt feel gratified with his growl. Tell her to stop doing whatever it was and just leave him on his own. good luck!! :)

I agree with RNP - no, I dont expect the world to learn everything there is to know about specific breeds. I DO expect them to research their dog-to-be before they get it. And I DO expect them to not mouth off platitudes from things they have heard on the news, or from friends, when they have done nothing to see all sides of the story. Or the breed.... My dog is a good example of this. She is a Lab Mix. She looks like a black lab. She DOES NOT like small children, she DOES NOT like strangers, she DOES NOT like most other dogs....but wait..she's a Lab right? Likes everyone, good with children, perfect family dog...NOT..... yet I hear people all the time saying "OH LOOK! It's a LAB!! you can run over there and pet it...." A little education goes a long way, especially when you're dealing with an animal....with teeth... It is up to parents to teach their children, whether they know anything about dogs or not, that it is not safe to approach a strange dog without the owners permission....and it's up to dog owners to KNOW their dog and it's traits and characteristics and idiosyncracies.... "There is a vast difference between HEARING, and LISTENING..."

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: Crystal, all I can say is I'm sooooo sorry. We thought it might be head trauma, I am sorry to hear it was true. My thoughts and hugs to you and Becky. You fought the good fight, did the best you could for her, and she will await you at the bridge... My tears go to you. Katy

shoot him. Save the taxpayers the money of a court cost. Then he wont be able to mentally abuse the kids anymore, either.... :evilbat: :evilbat: :evilbat:

I need some help... someone posted once about an herbal medicine to help dogs get over fear... Laurel was sleeping in my room. Kyle came in to close the door (I was snoring) and she jumped up and bayed in his face - not more than 6 inches away. He reacted intinctively and threw her away from him, and she tumbled and knocked the lamp over and broke the lightbulb. It didnt hurt her, but the noise and the confusion has scared her worse. He is very sorry, he was just scared she would bite and pushed her away... but the damage is done, so I'm thinking maybe the herbal calming stuff will help....I dont want to start on doggie-prozac if I can avoid it... thanks.

boundary training is very necessary and very viable with some dogs. You also need to work on her recall, with a 25 ft. lead and some treats. let her roam as far as the boundary line, then call her while backing up. If she doesnt come first call, give a tug on the line and keep calling till she comes to you. You can reinforce boundary training this way as well. When she does come, treat her a make a big fuss out of her. The point is to make her think that coming to YOU is the best thing in the whole world! HOWEVER....(there's always a down side) my Lab mix has been recall trained and still will not come back if something catches her fancy. Some of the hunting breeds are very unreliable about recall, they follow their noses. In that case, if she falls into this category, you can set up a runner. It's basically a wire line attached to the house and maybe a fence, or a garage or shed. Something the dog cant wrap itself around. You attach a long 8 to 10 ft lead to the dog, and attach the lead to the wire. the dog can run up and down the wire and out to the length of the lead, and still stay in your yard. Note - this is not an all day outside thing. Just for playing and pottying...it does not prohibit other animals from entering your yard and bothering your dog, but it;s good if someone is watching and for short play periods.

[quote]she may be a total prep and a blond[/quote] Shara, I'M a blonde..... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I agree. She doesnt seem to know her place, and she is being overly protective of the puppies, which makes me think the owner is not handling them and they are not getting "people" saavy.... Professional help would be the way to go...the owner needs to be trained on how to react and interact with her dog.