Horsefeathers!

Oh, crap, hang on.

[quote name='courtnek'] HF... has dogs with issues, problems and 9 of them. that is a pack, plain and simple, and need to be controlled with pack rules. [/quote] Err... 10 of them. Not that I'm counting, anymore. :oops:

JM, I've been stalking you. Was hoping you wouldn't catch on. :P

That DO scares me! :o [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XwBoAJgejefQQ94maG*ZHHu8RbsTNH0*yXcwNr0VlFZBObPYkmzzfemcVeXiFjare04NOzSk*MoRhtvVGRyo6TA8Gk**y!nPyQc4nC*vhFy8q4Fc3sPp0JkmiYv1dDEJHfqCuIRDnKQ/Brunette-14.gif?dc=4675524557844799584[/img]

And here is archived analyses on most dog foods available. If you look down, you'll see there is page after page covering brands of dog foods. This is good reading once you've learned how to interpret labels and ingredients. Lot of reading, I know, but well worth it IMO. [url]http://www.mordanna.com/boards/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=dogfood[/url]

If you're really wanting to start learning how to read dog food labels and how you can get the most bang for your buck, an excellent site is [url]http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/[/url] . If you look to the left, you'll see an index of lots and lots of articles that cover the ingredients in dog food and how to analyze them. Lots of good reading there. We couldn't even begin to touch on how to interpret dog food labeling adequately in a single post here. Good luck!

You should not be intimidated by debating. The best thing would probably be to avoid the topics which disturb you rather than have people stifle their opinions for fear of "offending" someone. :)

[quote name='Tammy'][quote name='Horsefeathers!']Cinco... I think they were, er, rhetorical questions.[/quote] That's okay I answered them all myself then decided that I was to long winded and just left what I posted.[/quote] I almost answered them and then thought maybe I was the only nut that was taking it literally. :oops:

[quote name='bk_blue']Thank you Malamum. Finally someone with a bit of common sense and a total lack of self-righteousness.[/quote] HEY! I'm not self-righteous. I'm just very, very important! :o *indignant snort*

Cinco... I think they were, er, rhetorical questions.

Malamum, for what it's worth, I'm with you. I haven't really known how to respond to some of the hot topics lately. Things just aren't as black and white for me as they apparently are to a lot of others. There is no hidden meaning behind that statement... I only mean that I am probably not as knowledgeable in these areas as those responding. Either way, I don't know what to think. In some of the things (many, many things, lol) you listed above, there are so many "right and wrong" ways to perceive and handle any of the above situations. For example, I could never leave my dogs unattended outside all day while I'm away at work for several reasons, but that's not to say it isn't an ok thing for others in other circumstances. It's the same way that other people could never stand to see a dog crated for several hours, but it works for us. I'm still having a hard time trying to swallow the whole "game testing" thing and that has been a hot button for me in the past, but I'm trying hard to open my mind to the fact that I could be missing something, even though I still have some pretty strong opinions about it. I just don't believe in absolutes, and these boards have taught me humility, if nothing else. I mean, there are lots of "right" ways to do things depending on each set of circumstances, I suppose. It's been interesting reading lately, sure enough, but I'm lost on how to respond to most of it, so I mostly don't. I don't know enough about genetics and breeding to respond to Kiwi's thread, but right or wrong (second heat vs. two years), I have no doubt that Kiwi meant well. I also have no doubt that K means well with her passion about animal welfare. It's just hard to know how to respond... especially when I don't know what to believe. The bickering and arguing really hasn't bothered me, though. I have to be honest and admit that I love debate (not to be confused with personal attacks on character) and I like that people here who are longterm members and even somewhat friends can stand up to each other and disagree, even if vehemently. I can respect people who are willing to stand up against anyone, friend or not, to state their opinion. I just don't know what it is lately, though, that has made some of these opinions so strong or so close to the surface. :lol: I'm as passionate about animal welfare as anyone, but I reckon all any of us can do is the best we can with the "knowledge" (perceived or real) we have of right and wrong. Anyway, all that to say I totally get what you're saying. There is no one set of rules for every dog in every home.

You rock, Tammy! 8)

Oh, ok.:D [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XgAAAAMfpAdqqlKR8xI34YmQamS6h*kMSA2SN8ZMOuCrlmB7c15UA7zS13ybjvz4xbXFLryDJQaxHOdG2!clTPKxv2t!9Er0AmS6XaeZRinEEaiSPilhLdJ3MfA8wLJ*DGE4FvLhHgY/imnottense.gif?dc=4675520580493898355[/img]

[quote name='ESSlover']TeeHee! His ears look so funny! :lol:[/quote] You pickin' on my dog? [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YQD9An4fETuPoHbo*VO*k6YkVsjsui1KYGfqoPb3PGet0mEYsc71EksSfApXuugKjHdt1Ms4!cD27pQV8nrn8YVZknB6yGFk4PNVETW6hMPPMLk7zrkCZt!LVCb7b*3l10Eh!1mfQ7ox*yHMV6s4HA/crying%20girl.gif?dc=4675436072349453090[/img]

Here's a nekkid to the skin, no frills, no fluff, purebred Standard Poodle. Looks nothing like the dog in the PetFinder ad. :-? [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YAAdA7kek*UhJNSjCczJkHlJqIMZFLIceatfZwShFlIkwCqyJZseeAHgXx472Gx1U6dXz5rQUv5LW2Q8aICzOkqWFN6n8HNsQnm003iluUbgQ2n800k3y*KL5hFS!NYHDnjEKFb7QSzXcpECTW96aQ/Perry%20pose.JPG?dc=4675400218523457213[/img]

I adore puppies... as long as they belong to someone else. It must be so much fun to interact with these little Energizer bunnies and then get to send them home to mom and dad. :)

I don't have insurance for mine and haven't ever really considered it. I don't know what premiums run, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be practical to try to afford premiums for ten dogs. Besides, I'm very lucky that my vet lets me carry an account. I get discounted services as well as being able to pay on time if I need to. We also keep a credit card for emergency purposes only, so I think we are covered. I just don't see it being worth it to try to get insurance on ten dogs.

No problem! 8)

[quote name='DogPaddle']Thanks HF. I may give orange a try this Halloween. Do you have a suggestion for a safe and mostly temporary orange dye?[/quote] DP and OG... the most temporary color I have any experience with is sidewalk chalk. I don't know that it comes in orange, though. Maybe you could experiment with a mix of colors until it looks kind of like you want? What you'd do is soak the chalk for a bit in a glass of warm water to soften it some. I've had much better results with the Crayola brand rather than the cheaper no name stuff which is more brittle and crumbly and doesn't color so good. The Crayola is supposed to be non-toxic and it applies pretty good. Anyway, you need a lot of elbow grease. You take the moistened chalk and just swipe swipe swipe the areas you want to color. Then take a slicker brush and brush it through. Then swipe swipe swipe and brush some more. The more you do this, the more vivid the color will be. Anyway, that's about the most temporary thing I have any experience with.

Here 'em are! [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XAD2Agwe2LFCnfKyacun1FKavHJJWURMf2v7GhVQbtPIJeTA28ufrDJrBKsQSwIzCBaNJSGwJMJa3xIy6FAqB3ooH*hdRapYFJTHn0zK*8TTl5Xk2vIg5ILWCU5ypcmZKEVtuN0EJPc/creative.jpg?dc=4675458350169985231[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XQAAAD4e5cVCnfKyacun1E4Bu7Qcp9sanC!SYHvC!YI6wZWQi8M19a7DjNXTkDnlIq2I8DTqJ448V9MKG!xvRb!18wt9tjOIYNNtFdnU0nd4q0mYgSgzER2qaS4HX47M7FJq*nIJWT8/creative2.jpg?dc=4675458350222904000[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XQD2Aj0eksVCnfKyacun1JMgkP7GjdbDujlSVzjVLUaq1NZz3jR08wG8uHh8auf5bdvl4wSlGI9srkcUTVn6kRUXNNp8cXCflRNZI5yN45Mx5TcpMBzGBtQYDmJDlW0lL4cLUAAnaZo/creative1.jpg?dc=4675458350195834571[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YwDhAh0g6HxCnfKyacun1JcH2*CrtYQDfaqlGs5hpeqqRnrZM71QdJz7eHbN1cJh4PybXjkUBdfMS2vPQO*iwznmPOu!8j8cJKm7b!w9weO1Or*qZGjNd1yh!J5MuX8JVji9V3yF5ys6rVp48TwDOw/creative%20Dawn.jpg?dc=4675458356586793630[/img]

Hold on, I'm looking...

[quote name='pollysmith']Well its my opinion that all creatures look best in the colors they were created with.[/quote] I disagree. One of my little dawgs looks stunning in holy moly hot pink. 8)

[quote name='DogPaddle']I have thought about temp. dying Kavik's white blaze red or orange for Halloween - thought it would look good with the black, but I'm afraid it will turn out pink or something.[/quote] You might want to shoot for orange then. Getting a true red on a dog can be kind of tricky and it's very common to end up pink. Then again, it's just hair. It'll eventually grow/wash out. :P

To be honest, some dogs you hate to "lose" and then there are those you will be glad to see go. :oops: Just meaning that some are easy and some are... a handful. :wink: I'm the world's worst at not wanting to let go, but I finally had to get a grip on the reality that, as my resources are maxed, I'm depriving other dogs of an opportunity for a second chance when I can't take any more in. I would love to just keep them all (I've never fostered a dog I didn't fall in love with... even the ones I was glad to see go). In a way, I think we tend to over-analyze and think that no one else will ever be able to love and care for the dog the way WE do, but the dogs usually adjust just fine. It's something I'm still coming to terms with, but I'm getting there. My most recent foster, Peaches, is the absolute apple of my eye. I will be heartbroken if she ever does find the perfect forever home, but by the same token, my immense love for her is why I know she'd do much better in a less chaotic (fewer animals) home where she could be the center of someone's attention. I hate the very thought of losing her, but I love her enough to let her go to the right home. It's never easy "losing" them, but you eventually learn to let them go and look forward to the next challenge. It's kind of bittersweet when you see them doing so well in their forever homes... kind of like you're glad they're doing well, and secretly a little jealous that they're doing so well without you. We want them to do well and we want them to miss us at the same time. :oops:

K, here's an article that CarolK9s posted last year (or the year before?) about melatonin use in sound sensitive dogs. I've been doing this and it does help with mine. Seems to help settle them without sedating them. [url]http://www.peoriahs.org/melatonin.html[/url]