courtnek

damn.....I am VERY sorry to hear that. Not alot we can do about nature except prepare for it.... My heart goes out to all of those injured or killed by Isabel... :angel: :angel:

LOL@Hillside!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[quote]OES= Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail) [/quote] K, you like to throw monkey wrenches into my thought processes!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: what in the WORLD is a "bobtail"??????

I'm not a big fan of clothes for dogs, but if I lived in those temperatures I would have coats for both Freebee and Laurel - short haired dogs need a little extra protection. Those styles were cute. :)

[quote]Dogs that have allergies often don't even eat much, because they of some reason know that if they eat "A" the result will be "B".[/quote] Not necessarily Crested.... I had a dog with food allergies, who ADORED his food and continued to eat it even tho it caused him both ear infections and constant itching.... It took 4 visits (and numerous expenses) before the vet tested for allergies and found them positive..... My point is that it wont hurt to have the skin/scratch tests done, just to make certain. And it may save you a lot of money in the long run... :)

They had put out warnings that the hurricane could have spawned tornadoes in the area....In some ways, tornado's are more dangerous, because they whip up out of nowhere and the wind speeds are incredible.... and you get little if any warning..... plus the spiraling twisting action rips everything up in their path.... what a mess... hurricane and tornado's at the same time.... at least tornado's dont last too terribly long before they dissapate... I hope everyone is ok and back to normal now. :angel:

I have my first hound now. I have found already that if you bend the rules, they take advantage of it (there's another post about that) so early training is not going to hurt - yours has the same sad eyes mine does, kinda tugs at your heartstrings, doesnt it? He is just beautiful.... :D

[quote]K wrote: I suggest you go out into the yard and "Bay" right along too...she might appreciate the company! Actually hounds really do appreciate that, every now and then when sally, sandy & rocket get into a barking match I play with them, they think it's the best thing in the world for mom to join in. Although I only do this in-doors, I don't want the neighbors calling the men with the white truck and sedatives. [/quote] actually, my neighbors already are ready to call the men in the white coats. they think I'm nuts already - 2 dogs, a cat, and 5 teenagers. (only one of which is mine...but the other 4 live here most of the time anyway) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[quote]It really sounds like she has settled in very well. I knew you would be the best Mum for her [/quote] THANKS VERY MUCH Malamum...every bit of encouragement counts.... I have never had a hound before. I keep researching, and come up with new things every day. I have "over-indulged" her in bending the rules, I found out from a site I never seen before. They are really pack animals, and you have to use the pack rules to govern them. She lived in a kennel with 30-40 other hounds, very little human contact except for the handler which would take them out to hunt. Once or twice a week. So their only training is in the pact instincts. At least I'm familiar with those!! I wanted to make her happy here, accept the household life, so I bended the rules, and being a pack dog, she took FULL advantage of it!! :D Now I have to "demote" her a little, before she gets out of control. That wont be hard, she's really still living by my rules, but I have to enforce them. and that's hard, because she has those "sad eyes" that make you just want to give in...DAMN!! I set myself up for these things, but honestly, because of how she looks, and her age (she's 7) I know no one else would have adopted her. I AM a sucker for a hard luck case, and I WILL make this work...she's really a good dog. She licks me awake!! The first time she did that I said to myself "YOU'RE STAYING HERE WITH ME!!" and she is...no matter what... I will NEVER return her....

[quote]Though Mom regrets that it happened, she feels it was a valuable lesson and perhaps the young 'un will NOW realize that there is a proper way to (and not to) handle dogs.[/quote] I think mom (and you) are right. Revving a dog up and not expecting consequenses causes these issues. They are pack animals, after all... and the revving up is what caused Freebee to be so anti-dog and un-people socialized.....my ex is responsble for THAT....

I think I UN-Omega'd her too well....She was very timid (Laurel) and I have been giving her extra priveledges to get over it.... NOW she goes outside and bays at the world..every sound, every kid playing in a yard....hmmmm.... I think I need to rethink my strategy here... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I agree that a shelter may be your best bet. As a novice dog owner, you may not want to deal with a young puppy, that needs constant attention and constant trips outdoors to be housebroken properly.... Like I said earlier, you may walk into a shelter and fall in love with the perfect dog....

apparently all the flac got to them. It's no longer an accesible item.

The "average " rating of dog intelligence puts most dogs at about the learning level of a 3 to 5 year old child. The mre "intelligent" breeds, (BC's, Poodles, Goldens, Labs) rate a little higher. Average for most dogs is equivalent to a 3 year old child. I dont believe any of it, personally. I've seen dogs reason things out that some adults couldnt, but those are the stats.

I too am very sorry Mouse. She;s had a good life, and now just needs you to stand by her when it's her time to go. I KNOW how hard it is, and you always think "What if?..." afterwards, but know that what you did is right. Sometimes we have to make the hard decisions for them. Be at peace knowing that you loved her her whole life (SHE knows it, that's for CERTAIN!) and know that we are all here for you. You're doing the right thing Mouse. And we are all offering shoulders to cry on for you..... I still miss all of mine...but I think, when I get to the rainbow bridge, imagine the welcoming comittee.... Know that you are in my thoughts and my heart goes out to you. :angel:

glad to hear Miles is ok!! WOO HOO!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

and thank God there were as few injuries as there were. Glad you're OK Sheltie!! it sucks without power, I know. We dont have hurricanes, but we do have our share of tornados, and when the trees come down the power lines go with it..... :drinking:

I am a lazy typer - lol GSD = German Shepherd Dog BC - Border Collie GSP = German Shorthair Pointer GR = Golden Retriever LR = Labrador Retriever (altho most people just type "lab") RR = Rhodesian Ridgeback (sp?) APBT = American Pit Bull Terrier (or just Pit) AST = American Staffordshire Terrier (also called AmStaffs) and some shortened forms, like Lab Newfie = Newfoundland Saint = St. Bernard Golden = Golden Retriever Dobie - Doberman Pinscher Rott or Rottie = Rottweiler BSL = Breed Specific Legislation BYB = Back Yard Breeder I am sure there are many more, but that's all the ones I can think of right now... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Freebee, in "excessive cleaning mode"...... [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/53/39/91395339xLvvfX_th.jpg[/img] she just wont quit...poor Laurel...

OH LORD!! there is a barkfest going on - listening to Laurel baying and the beagle across the street baying is TOO funny.... They bay differently, her's is high pitched and his is low pitched, Freebee is barking her usual "dont **** with me" bark, and all the dogs in the neighborhood are in an uproar... I wonder what's going on? Probably a stranger in the neighborhood...This is not a neighborhood for prowlers, or burglers, ALL the dogs are on alert all the time... And theres a dog every other house for two blocks, once you get past mine. Around mine, there is a dog EVERY house.....

another cute one - for a while she was mor comfortable on a lead... [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/57/43/91395743kldPCP_th.jpg[/img]

and one more - my favorite [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/83/77/91398377RbSLnW_th.jpg[/img] she gets along SO WELL with Freebee!!!

OK here goes - hope I do this right - I'm picture-posting illiterate: [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/10/25/91391025WeDjBi_th.jpg[/img] [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/14/40/91391440PPODco_th.jpg[/img] [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/16/14/91391614pQVoFG_th.jpg[/img] [img]http://thumbs.webshots.com/s/thumb4/9/24/4/91392404IiSiHr_th.jpg[/img] [img]http://community.webshots.com/s/cache1/couploads/80370241.jpg.tmp?2166[/img]

The third one on the list also listed a Foxhound, I must have missed it the first time I read it. So I guess I have chosen the "right" dogs for my circumstances..... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: They'd be appalled to know I have also had an Irish Wolfhound, a Tibetan Mastiff, a BC/Malamute mix (*HE* was definitely unusual)!!!! I guess I didnt follow the guidelines, huh? :lol: :lol: But having trained so many dogs for other people, you can make do with any dog, providing you understand IT'S need and supply them.... :D

So far she is doing really good. She is still afraid of my son (she was very timid, and the loud noise that him and 5 other male teenagers make scares her) but he has been gone this weekend, and she's opened up. She wakes me up when she wants to go out by kissing my face, she comes back usually when called (unless she's scared) and she's running and playing in the yard with Freebee. I got pictures of her, and I'm going soon to pick them up. Then I'll TRY to get them posted, but I really have issues with picture posting. I got to hear her bay for the first time today. Freebee was barking at the gate, someone was walking their dog right outside my house, and she joined in and BAYED at the top of her lungs!! I have never heard that sound before, the Beagle across the street bays much differently.... It's a neat sound....It's very melodic, and the tune raises and lowers. Like she's singing a song.... Pictures soon!! (I hope....) :D :D :D :D