courtnek

Ok just my take..... The statement that "all dogs did not start out as purebred" is basically incorrect. Genetically, all dogs started out as wolves....Purebred wolves... they mated only with each other, and carried on the same genetic lines from generation to generation. They did not mate for a certain look, or size, or ease of coat care. They mated for strength, speed, intelligence and pack allegiance. Harshly said, but the ones who didnt cut it, died. period. and the lower ranks are not allowed to mate at all. Only the alpha, and occasionally beta, couples were allowed to mate. This is natural genetics; based on "survival of the fittest". Yet it is what man originally based his genetic tampering on. Take the best traits of one dog and mate it to the best traits of the other, and try to come up with a litter of as close to perfect dogs, suited to their purpose, as they could. Purebred dogs originally were bred that way for a reason. It was much less looks back then than it was a job that needed to be done. Labrador Retrievers were not originally from Labrador. They were from Newfoundland, and are a cross of Newfies and possibly(?) another water dog from Labrador. No one knows for certain. Their purpose? To swim out to the fishing boats and retrieve the fish nets, then swim them to shore where a team was waiting for them to collect the fish. So I guess this was a form of retrieving, yes, but they did not start out as bird dogs. Because of the work they had to perform, the were bred with short, oily coats to protect them from the cold water, thick massive heads and chests, so that the heavy fishing nets could be attached to their chests and be dragged through the water and the thick neck to protect it from being damaged by the weight. Originally, the kept their dew claws (for climbing up on shore) and had slightly webbed feet to assist in swimming. This is just ONE dog, but you'll find that all of the original purebred's had a purpose, a job to do. Over time, man kept breeding and rebreeding, trying to perfect the breeds and they formed all of the societies known to day to keep the dog true to form. However, with few exceptions, most of the dogs no longer do the work they were originally intended for (there are exceptions, of course. Labs are still bred for hunting and field trials in some places). So we are keeping them purebred for different reasons, now perhaps for temperament, or guarding capabilities. After all GSD's originally guarded sheep from wolves, not police from criminals.... My point here is that I have no problem with someone trying to "create" a dog to serve a purpose (I am a big fan of the Golden Lab, for Assistance work) and if someone wants a "cavoodle" for temperament and coat, that's fine. HOWEVER!!!! A dog is not truly "purebred" until it has multiple generations of litters behind it. Like 60 years or so. I think it is wrong to cross breed these dogs, call them purebreds, and sell them at outrageous prices, when the gene pool has not even begun to be sorted out yet. Justs my take. I have to agree with the others who believe that these so-called "breeders" are not just in it for the quick dollar. Genetically, these dogs are not yet "purebred" and wont be for many many years.

DP is correct. If you are going to be gone for 6 hours a day, I would start at 6 months and older. This will make housebreaking (if not broken already) much easier, and less stressful for the dog. A 6 mo. old puppy is still a puppy, but you do lose some of the "instant bonding" you would get with an 8 week old puppy. However, you can get it back, and yuu can bond forever to an older puppy, it just takes a little more time. It also depends on the puppy's circumstances prior to your adopting it, how it will behave. Try to get a complete family history on it before deciding. Good Luck :D

I have to agree with all of the above. The "best" dog is one who was purchased/adopted by a family or person who thought it all out beforehand, realized the kind of dog they have and what it's needs are, and knows that it will need to be loved, well fed, protected, trained, and well cared for. To date I have had: Purebred Golden Retriever Irish Wolfhound/Lab Mix (fostered) Alaskan Malamute/Border Collie mix Purebred Tibetan Mastiff (fostered) Lab/Germ.Shorthair Pointer Mix (still have her) Golden Retriever/Yellow Lab Mix Purebred Foxhound (new family member) You can see that none of these dogs are exactly the same, none of them are a specific type of breed. About the only place I havent gone is Toy breeds, but that's because I like big dogs better. So maybe "best" is the wrong term. Did you mean "favorite" perhaps? Under "favorite" I tend to favor hunting/bird dogs, because their personalities suit me and my lifestyle.

[quote]To-hyper dogs scare me, especially if their big! Thats why I'm scared of most Labs.. I've met only hyper ones... I love the calm ones who wag their tails and lay their ears back to get petted [/quote] Actually, in the case of Lab's, the hyper ones are less likely to bite than the calm ones, UNLESS THE DOG HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OBEDIENCE TRAINED. A calm Lab who has not been obedience trained is usually either frightened, or cautious. Labs are naturally hyper around people because they like everybody (providing they were properly raised) and want all the attention they can get. If living in a loving household and well treated, they inevitably end up getting spoiled rotten and want everyones attention all the time.... Of course, it is always better to ask the owner first if you can pet their dog, and watch the dogs body language. I dont know that I would trust a calm Lab with it's ears back....that's not a good sign in a Lab....happy labs usually wriggle a lot and have their ears pointed as "up" as they can get them (being floppy) and pushed forward a little in curiosity.... :D

I like all dogs (even the two chi's next door who just wont shut up ever :D ) but I have to admit I will judge HOW TO REACT to the dog (not the dog itself, per se) by how the owner is handling it (or not handling it in some cases). I see too many dogs like Rotties, and Pits, and Dobie/s and GSD's sporting the studded collars and being led around by guys who think they're tough.....you can usually see the attitude problem in the owners face long before you can detect it in the dog. I will stay out of their way, because I dont trust how the owner may have treated it, or "trained" it..... However, I also see people walking Pits and so on, just regular everyday people who dont appear to have the tough guy attitude and I will stop and talk to them and pet their dogs. Maybe MY attitude is wrong, and I'm being a little prejudical, but I feel better safe than sorry. The guys (*and girls*) with the bad attitude posture tend to have dogs that are less relaxed looking as well....body language can tell the whole story instantly.

I am sorry for this. Seizures like this can be anything, epilepsy comes to mind. How did they test her? The only real tests for epilepsy are neurological. It sounds like an epileptic attack, especially since she had stopped by the time you got her to the vet. Only neurological testing will tell for sure, and there are drugs that can be administered, along with training, to slow down and stop the seizures. I wil tell you what I know about epilepsy, but you need to have a neurologist confirm what I say. PLEASE DONT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!!!! Epilepsy is caused by a problem in the brain. Our brains diagnose and confirm everything that is sent to it by sight, sound and smell. Epileptics seem to have an issue with the sight and sound part. Their brains dont diagnose and process the info correctly, and that causes the seizures. The brain does not know how to react to certain stimuli, because of problems with some nerve endings, and they end up basically in "panic mode"... the brain doesnt know how to interpret the signals, and it goes into "shutdown" causing the seizures. The best example I can quote is a man, perfectly normal otherwise, who started to have epileptic seizures on the bus, on the way to work. It was a new job, and a route he had never taken before. After much work with his neurologist and docotr, it was discovered that on this bus ride, they passed a bunch of houses with white picket fences. His mind could not deal with the continual "flashing" caused by the ride and the fences. Kinda like "white line" hypnosis on the highway... (caused by the whte lane lines flashing as you drive) They had him change his route, so that he would not ride past the fences, and his epileptic seizures stopped.... if he is proven to have epilepsy, you may just need to change what he sees day to day...and there are medications for it too... Do not take this as a diagnosis. Your dog needs to see a neurologist.

Duck's a Golden, isnt she? They are known for that. They arent trying to run away, per say, but they follow their noses wherever they lead. I have a Lab and a Foxhound, they do the same thing..... It's the hunting dog/bird dog in them I think. They catch an interesting scent, they're off.... :)

too funny Goo!!!! Jarvis didnt like them either.....and we had one of those 7 year cicada deals here while he was alive, where they all hatch at once and there's hunderds of them on all the tree's....and they buzzed constantly.... he would bark at the trees but wouldnt go near them.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks Carol, I'll check out PetCo tomorrow for some earwash. It really is funny - Freebee is glued to her and licks her ears whenever she can. I think Freebee would have made a good mom dog...she licks my feet if they're dirty, (I walk around barefoot alot) my shoes, my hands, anything she considers unclean. If I have just washed off the counter, she checks it out. Poor Laurel is being followed around and "cleaned" whether she likes it or not. She doesnt seem to mind though. I wonder if they cleaned each others ears in the foxhound pack???? thanks

I live in a small city. Dogs are not allowed to wander around off leash, and I wouldnt let them anyway because I live on a fairly busy street. I have a huge fenced yard, and they can run there to their hearts content, but when outside of the yard they are always on a leash.

What's a good thing to clean dogs inside ears with? Laurel's seem dirty, and they're floppy, and they need to be cleaned. Freebee keeps trying to lick them clean....it's pretty funny.... but I need to know what to clean them with thanks. Katy

oh yea......Freebee loves water in every and all forms...rain, pool, creek, lake, pouring rain, more pouring rain - she'll even stick her head in the shower. I dont know about Laurel. It hasnt rained since I got her.... :)

[quote]More useless facts, lol. [/quote] thank you. There is NO SUCH THING as a "useless fact" I didnt know until I asked.. you guys are THE BEST!!!!!

I am glad your breeder has those clauses in her contract...that means she really cares about the dogs and will rehome them if you dont work out. I got Laurel from a Rescue Society with the same clauses. I had to sign a contract (legally binding) that if she doesnt work out with me, I will bring her back to be rehomed. I will follow certain procedures in her care, they can check up on her whenever they want, etc... I have no issues with this. I am glad they are working this hard for dogs. I have emailed and called since I got her, and they have given me good advice on how to deal with her. I have never had a hound before, and she is really shy and timid. They have given me advice on what to do to make her more comfortable, and less timid, and it's working. I am glad that some breeders and rescue societies are taking the time to CARE....

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: YEAH, thats the cut I meant..I guess I should caLL it a "SHOW CUT" but Fru-Fru is SOOO much more descriptive... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: It;s just me, but I always thought of that as a "girls cut", I dont think I could do it to a male.... Does it serve a hunting purpose? or is it show only? They were retrievers originally, and I just cant see how that cut would help....

I am against dog fighting in any form, fighting, rolling, matching, it doesnt matter. It's not fair to the dog. however: The majority of people know they cannot allow their "game" dog to be around other dogs unsupervised and sometimes even supervised. What you said here just shows how responsible APBT owners need to be. THIS, and not matching dogs (or gameness), is why the breed is where it is at now. We have people getting this breed because they are "tough" dogs before they understand the responsibilities that comes with them. [quote] I believe that the Pit Bull ended up in the state he is today because people know they are aggressive, and they cant differentiate between dog aggression and people aggression. I own a "tough" dog, that makes me "tough"...As I've said before, I watched the GSD, The Dobie, the Rottie, all go through this stage. When they lose their popularity (probably as soon as anothr "tough dog" comes along) then the number of bitings will slack off. [/quote]

I can relate to that. My foxhound (Laurel) was raised in a kennel with other foxhounds all around. She seems to have taken to Freebee ok though, although Freebee isnt a kennel raised dog. Congrats on your Standard!! I like them much better than the miniatures (probably because my neighbors had a really nasty one for many years) Are you cutting the fru-fru cut, or just letting him go au natural......

Never. My dogs go in our yard, in a brushy area that I leave that way all the time. There are wildflowers and stuff growing behind the shed and bushes too, and that's where they tend to go. I just let it work it's way in and act as fertilizer.

Not likely..... I;m at work all day, and they are all over here all afternoon.... She's getting better a little bit every day though

I feed mine Purina Lamb and Rice. Some peole dont like Purina, but it works good for my dogs. I mix it with a small amount of canned food just for taste and a little fat for their coats, since their both short haired. I also give them people food, like leftovers from dinner, depending on what it is. meat, rice, stuff like that

I train mine with both voice and hand signals, especially the "down" and "stay"....do you mean real sign language? Like deaf people use? or regular hand signals used for training dogs? I would LOVE to see a dog respond to real sign language!!! You could get a spot on America's funniest animals or something!! Or that best trained dog show....

Oh he is just adorable...I hate to admit it, but I had never even heard of Papillon's until the "Rufus" (Zyrtec, or something like that) commercial came out and I thought they were just the cutest dogs. I still do. I am becoming very familiar with "shy" right now, because of Laurel.....I'm really happy for you!!! :D :D

[quote]First as I am sure you already know as I have read your previous posts; you are a very knowledgable person when it comes to dogs[/quote] thank you. I thought I was, until I adopted Laurel. But every other dog I have owned/trained has had Alpha problems. not Omega problems. It's a whole new ball game. I am accustomed to training dogs, and teaching people, how to handle the "too-big-for-their-britches" Alpha dogs.. No one has ever brought me an Omega, so it's new territory for me. Live and Learn!! And I am... I have found that leaving a short lead on Laurel has helped. She seemed to resent being dragged out of her hiding places by the collar, maybe felt frightened because too close to the neck...but she is OK on the short lead. I can tug gently on the lead and she will follow me, and do what I want, instead of fighting the tugging on the collar...I learn as I go... I had major issues with getting her down the stairs by the collar, but once the lead is on she will walk quite nicely and peaceably... I have to pull her out to make her go outside, she does have to "go" but I got tired of having to climb behind the shed to get her out every night. The lead seems to help. She seems to feel more comfortable with it on....maybe, like I said, because my hand is not close to her collar. She appears to really like me,. wags her tail and such, but is still afraid of my son and his friends, which I realize will take time now. The lead appears to help, she does not mind being led around on it, and actually seems a little happier on it then led by the collar. Thanks EVERYONE!! I reallt needed some help with this one.... :D :D :D :D

Oh YEAH DL - the "dollup of Daisy" makes me just nuts..... :lol:

Rimsky, it doesnt state where you are from, so I will go with what I know for Illinois laws. There are leash laws here, dogs are not allowed to wander alone unattended and loose. The police are often "oh well" about dogs wandering around, they call animal control and they take care of it. The old fashioned "dog catcher" as it were. However, since these dogs have proven themselves a nuisance, and dangerous. you should call both the police AND animal control EACH AND EVERY time you see them wandering loose. Here, you can file a complaint anonymously. The police know who you are of course, they have hi-tech called ID, but if you request anonimity they have to respect it. Also, depending on the community, they cant trace cell calls without a court order since those numbers are not accessible to the general public. The more complaints you make, the more fed up the police and animal control will get, and they MAY actually do something about the issue. Hope that helps you :)