courtnek

before you muzzle him, give him a treat, make him sit, etc, tell him he's a great dog, then muzzle him and tell him again he's a great dog. you dont want him to associate the muzzle with going to the vet. also, let them take him in. Muzzled he cant hurt anyone, and he will feel no need to protect you then. Good luck!!

and Labs and Foxhounds!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Cruiser is beautiful!! the Dane was nice too, but Cruiser should have got it! :D :D :D :D

GOOD JOB!! I hate to see dogs running loose near big roads...it makes my heart sink to my shoes.... (I feel bad for the coyotes. they live in the forest preserves, but there is a major 4-lane road between them) :angel: :angel:

no tylenol either. it doesnt affect all dogs, but tylenol and adult aspirin, in some, can cause kidney failure. 1/2 a baby aspirin would be all I'd give, and check with your vet first just to be sure. their tolerance to pain is much higher than ours usually. I;m very leery of human medicines for animals, thats just me...

Is prednisolone the same as prednisone? a steroid? that's a thought.....I have heard of people using steroids for excessive allergy/itching problems. I never considered it for a dog ( :oops: ) Does it have any/bad side affects? Thanks Ess about the sig. I love that picture... 8)

IMO, she is not horrid for wanting to let him go. He is not happy, healthy or content. If the doctors cant find out what's wrong, and treat it, I dont believe he should suffer. Possibly if HF has no answers, check a holistic site. that;s all I can offer... :( :( :(

RT is right on with her answer. Your pup is definitely over-submissive. I would do exactly as she said about the housebreaking, but I would like to add something about the submissiveness. I have an overly-anxious foxhound. It took quite a while, but she is finally becoming more outgoing. first off, dont pick your pup up if you can avoid it. Instead, make a habit of sitting on the floor by her to pet her, off to the side. avoid reaching for her head, like RT said. approach from the side. on a floor level, she will feel less intimidated by your size. slowly, over time, sit on the floor and pick her up and set her in your lap, then give her a treat for a reward if she doesnt submissively pee. look away from her as you do this, so she doesnt feel threatened. find a fun game you can play, like fetch, or tug of war, and let her win every other game. build up her confidence little by little, and the submissive peeing should stop. good luck :fadein:

My guess is she is hearing something you are not. Is it the same time every night that she starts? or right about the same time? She could even be smelling something outside. some kind of nocturnal animal, raccoon or possum or something, that may be scavanging near your house. Make sure there is no trash or food remnants on your property - my old dog got skunked because my son left the trash on the porch instead of putting it in the container. as far as noise, you could try leaving a radio on...if you can sleep like that. give her some other noise to concentrate on. Even a fan might help. Something is making her bark, and my guess would be something outside she is alerting on.

***SWEETNESS!!!**** what a CUTE NAME!!!! :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:

now Kat, dont get upset please, but I am going to harangue you for not reporting it. You should have gone straight to the police, and whatever kind of AC you have, and filed a complaint. that's not just an aggravation, a dog pooing on your lawn or whatever, that's a dog who, if the owner is not taken to task, WILL do exactly everythng you told the owner it would do. And a child could become very frightened by being lunged at like that, and try to run. You kow what happens then....turn the cow in please.... 8)

I like the book idea. especially one with pictures. Some people can learn by reading but others need visuals to work with the reading. This could just be a pride issue. your co-worker doesnt want to admit she doesnt know what she's doing. I see that all too often. And to ask for help means she's just proven she doesnt know. It's a vicious circle. Thats why I like the book idea. good luck. I hop you get through to her.

congratsMouse!! worth the wait, huh? :D :D :D

I agree Bentley. I musta missed the "dirty looks" part - thats uncalled for. I just know that Free will take on any dog she feels is trying to be more "superior" to her. She has "attitude, plus." so yes, I do steer her away, but I dont hold the other dogs owners responsible. I cant pick her up, she's 75 lbs. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

truepit, try to understand something. Most of us believe in rescue. I personally have no problem with breeding, if the breeder really looks into and follows all the medical necessities to insure the dogs health. Some people are against it at all. I can empathize, there are SO many dogs in shelters that need homes. But breeding will go on, no matter what. In the case of APBT's I DO NOT believe they should be cross bred at all. I truly think the cross-breeding is a big part of the current problem. they dont have the bite inhibition that purebred Pits do. yes, they may be animal aggressive, but in their truly pure form, they are not people aggressive. If you are truly looking out for the best interests of the breed, then more power to you. But expect some flak (try not to take it too personally) from people who have seen the nasty side of the coin. dogs being put down JUST because they are Pits. Dogs in shelters, with no hope of finding homes. Pits abused, starved, fed gun powder. We here have issues with all of that. Please understand, you will be grilled about some of it, but its not nasty. Its just concern. we hate to see any animal suffer. I understand the chains you use, if the dog can truly pull 1000lbs. no average chain could hold it. I have to ask, is a fence not better? or do yo have to keep them seperated? I know some of them have to be seperated.... Help me, and the others who dont have dogs who can pull 1000 lbs, understand. and welcome to Dogo.

while I realize its an old post, she has a valid point. I never considered that maybe people were less scared of the big dog and more concerned that their own dog may misbehave. I have led Free away from dogs, rotties and Pits and shepherds, cuz she is just the type of bitch to start a fight. I personally think she has PMS sometimes....I wonder if those people thought I was afraid their dogs would attack her? I was more afraid she'd get nasty with them. she's not small, but she's not nearly as tough as she thinks she is.... :roll: :roll: :roll:

were the outside dogs raised outside? The reason I ask is that, before I got my foxhound, I would never have left a dog stay outside all day. But she was raised outside, in a kennel with a pack (retired hunter) and doesnt WANT to be inside. At night both dogs come in and stay in. when I'm not home both dogs are in, unless my son is here and he lets them out. But she doesnt want to be inside. When she comes in, she wants to eat. If its not eating time, she wants straight back out, and if you make her come in she harrasses you til you let her out again. I dont have doghouses or kennels, but I do have a huge fenced yard, and she seems much happier out there. The lab will stay out with her, something she would never do before. didnt like to be alone I guess....there is shade under a huge blue spruce pine tree, and water is always available. she just started this this summer. she doesnt like winter, so it wont be an issue, but now while its nice out she does not want to come in.

TOO FUNNYYY!!! I wouldnt let my son get a puppy for all of the above reasons...10? uh uh...no way.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: no tents. maybe they're hanging out at the gate? :lol: :lol:

you are all gonna be amazed. AC called me today, the same guy that came by when a neighbor reported Laurel as possibly abused, because they had never heard a bay and it sounded "painful" to them. (It's painful to ME...doesnt that count? :lol: :lol: :lol: ) anyway, he said that there are a lot of people reporting "abuse" issues trying to get the reward from that group who is trying to get REAL abusers jail time for their actions. !!!!!!! people sometimes make me sick!!! he said he told them that they needed PROOF of abuse, and they said "go get her isnt proof?" he said he said no, it isnt. they responded "so what's the point? I reported it. Do I have to camp out in the yard there?" and he said "ma'am I wouldnt do that. that's tresspassing..." :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

if you want to do the work, there are ways to "make" a perfect spot for the runners. get 4 of those green "chicken wire" posts. they get sunk into the ground and they have "grabbers" on them for attaching the chicken wire. get a 4 foot piece of heavy duty plywood, (4 ft wide) and drill holes in the sides 2 inches from the outside. the plywood will have to be primered and painted to prevent weather damage. sink the posts as deep in the ground as possible. at 1 foot intervals in fron of the plywood and in back. 1 foot from the front, two feet at the back. that braces it both front and back at equal measures. you want an alternating brace. place the posts firsts, and then drill your holes. the ones that will be in the "back" you will have to drill holes closer in. then attache the plywood to the posts with zip strips. yes, zip strips. I have a metal "decorative" gate that closes off the smallest portin of my yard, where I couldnt put wood because the neighbors complained. I have these chicken wire posts, and zip strips, holding that gate in place. It wont move. Zip strips are impervious to weather, wind, and children unless they are walking around with scissors. attach the painted plywood to it with zip strips

my foxhound has some of the same issues. She startles easily, normal house noises make her bay, and she growls if she hears something and cant identify it immediatly. She has never bitten, but she does look confused when the "thing" that upset her has been identified. Her peripheral vision has issues. even though she is a hound with a fabulous nose, she still depends on her eyes for identification. my vet said she would be less startled if blind, because then she would have to depend on her nose for everything. so I would have visual checked as well. Since this started out in the yard, and she had foot sores, possibly some kind of venom insect? maybe wasps or hornets? He may have stepped on one and freaked because he felt the pain without seeing the attacker. good luck HF and best wishes to you and your pup.

**SIGH** she has 5 altogether. From 4 different fathers. that should tell you something. I think she's one of those people that tried to hold her marriages together by having kids. it didnt work. Morgan (the nephew) had an abusive father, and at least Sis had the sense to get out of that one, but I think the damage was already done. Morgan has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, and Sis didnt understand that overindulging him (to make up for his dads abuse) wasnt helping him. He needed strict discipline. She doesnt understand that kids WANT discipline, no matter how badly they balk at it. You kinda have to go with your gut. Is what he wants ok for him? is he mature enough to handle this want? it's a balancing beam, and she didnt balance it well. we were both physically and mentally abused by our father. I went in for counseling. She didnt. Maybe thats the difference, I dont know...I think that has a lot to do with why she raises her kids this way. and why she's had so many husbands. that's amateur psychology, but I just feel that is the reason.

[quote]No offense to your family Court, but some people should be spayed/neutered at birth [/quote] NO OFFENSE TAKEN!! believe me, I AGREE!! :wink:

[quote name='Smooshie']:o ..does your sister [i]often[/i] go around letting her unruly child smack strange dogs with newspapers??? Well I sincerely hope she has good medical insurance because that boy is going to get bit someday...and the poor dog will likely pay the price :-? Hmmm...I bet you had to restrain yourself from "smacking some manners" into the young lad with that very newspaper :wink:[/quote] **sigh** my sister lets her unruly kids do ANYTHING THEY WANT. She doesnt want to "break their spirit". (I have come close to breaking some of their little heads on more than one occasion). and I DID smack him, right before I threw them both out. I stood there and looked at him and said "Did you NOT hear me say 'DONT GO IN THAT ROOM' before I left? and his response? "It's JUST a dog, what's the big deal? dont be such a bitch about it" (this from a ten year old) He got smacked upside the head for that. sorry, but no little thieving, lying, overly aggressive 10 year old is gonna talk to me that way. and the theiving and lying had already been proven in court. He was supposed to be seeing a psychologist for his issues. Sis never bothered to take him, saying he was just "a little hyper..." :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: he was over indulged and under disciplined. "hyper" had nothing to do with it. that was many years ago. He has since been arrested multiple times for theft, drugs, etc. After I smacked him, I said to him "I dont know WHO you think you are, or rather, who YOUR MOTHER thinks you are (evil looks at Sis) but you are NEVER going to talk to me like that again. IS THAT CLEAR?????" and he apologized. He has never apologized to his mother in 20 years....

[quote name='Seijun']Hmm.. think about it this way.. You're walking along and someone you do not know is yelling at their large dog to "get" the smaller one. Wouldn't you be afraid it was animal abuse even if the dogs did not look abused?? Plus, I'm sure they expected you to claim that they were just playing, to them, they think you are just trying to cover up. (although, if it was easy to see that the dogs were playing, they shouldn't have threatened you. By playing I mean gentle wrestling or play bows with the happy puppy face on, not just wild chasing). I don't think AC could get you though, could they? I mean, if they can't find any sign of abuse and they see that the dogs obviously like each other, what can they do? ~Seij[/quote] I agree with you 100% now. At the time I was so upset I could not think rationally (which isnt unusual for me when I'm upset) and alternating between angry and sad. Now, in a saner light, I can see that it probably sounded pretty bad. Actually, Seij, the dogs are the same size, but I get your point. and thanks too HF. I think I made a bigger deal outta it than it was, and I can see how someone may have misinterpreted it. But, I have this on my history, and I am not the biggest truster in AC... I was fostering a Tibetan Mastiff who;s daughter had died, and she just couldnt handle the dog. He was the daughters dog. He was also very well trained, but had bonded to the daughter. I agreed to take him, since he was becoming a "problem child" with other people. One very very cold winter morning, (-15 without wind chill) my sister shows up at my door and says she needs to stay with me a few days, our mom had kicked her out. that in itself is a LONG story, but anyway, she had her then 10 year old son with her. and he is evil, plain and simple. although he is my nephew, I dont (to this day) think he has a decent loving bone in his body. So I said OK, BUT....I am putting the dog in my room, he is somewhat disturbed right now, keep the door SHUT and leave him alone. I should have known better. I was on my way to work. Two hours later, my sister calls and said the dog has been outside for two hours (IN THIS WEATHER? ARE YOU INSANE????) and AC had just posted notice on my door. (Y'THINK YOU COULD HAVE CALLED ME SOONER????) Anyway, I leave work and come home, and there is Luigi, out in the field behind my townhouse, looking forlorn and frozen. I was accused of cruelty to animals (since AC could see the dog, but he wouldnt respond to them and they couldnt catch him) and given a court date. It turns out my nephew had gone in the room, against my orders, and was teasing the dog. My sister openly admitted this, saying "he's just being a kid". He was smacking the dog with a newspaper, and eventually the dog snarled at him. So my sister put him outside. no yard, no shelter, not far from a road...in the freezing cold. I wanted to strangle them both right then and there. Luigi came to me, I threw my sister out and told her to get a motel room for the remainder of her stay. I knew the dog was not quite stable yet, which is why I put him in my room with water and a nice bed, and chew toys and told them to stay out and leave him alone. This kid does NOT know the meaning of the word "NO".... Anyway, I went to court. My mom went with me, and explained to the judge that I would never hurt an animal for any reason, and I had proof that I had been at work when all this happened. She also told the judge that my sister was not reliable around animals and that I was not in any way at fault. I guess she was my character witness. The charges were dropped and Luigi did find a good loving home. But that is one of the main reasons I have so much fear at being accused of abuse.