Horsefeathers!

I can't believe I'm going there, but here goes... I'm really hesitant to say that someone can't properly care for and socialize 30 dogs (chaining issue aside). I can't imagine doing it, but then again, a lot of people can't imagine doing it with TEN dogs (which I currently have) and I [u]know[/u] that can be done. Some people believe 3 is too many and that they couldn't possibly get enough one on one attention. I think it all boils down to a matter of perception. I also kind of view "working" dogs (though I still do disagree with some forms of "work" involved... just for the record) differently than I do pets. I don't necessarily believe that all working dogs and their "packs" need to be in the house lounging on the couch 24/7. It's not the life I want for my own dogs, but they are all simply pets with no other purpose than to keep me company, so inside lounging on the couch 24/7 works for us.

[quote]Did you ever think that maybe small dogs act that way because they have to make up for thier small size by seeming tough.[/quote] Since I don't believe that dogs perceive size in the same way we do, I'd say no. This is just me, but it seems to me like if a small dog perceived a larger dog as a threat just by its mere presence, he wouldn't run at it snipping and snarling, but rather would stay away. I'm scared to death of spiders, but I don't run at them and try to act menacing just because I see one. I don't but it. I still think it's because owners, whether unwittingly or not, encourage that "cute, take no junk" aggressiveness. The other question could be... did you ever think that maybe so many people are down on small dogs because irresponsible owners have encouraged aggressive behavior in them? [quote name='Mei-Mei']It is not acceptable for ANY dog to snap at people. Once again, the point of this thread was that SOME dog owners think it's cute when their dogs misbehave.[/quote] Exactly.

They eat just as good as I do. Frapuccino and Pop Tarts (pastries) in the mornings and Dr. Pepper and doughnuts in the afternoons. They share it with me. 8)

Nah, they don't fart. We just blame it on them. :oops:

The second one... I know him! His name is Forrest and he lives with two other Goldens named Hunter and Chloe. They're called "Treasured Trio." That lady that owns them (Elizabeth) does the most wonderful picture/caption stories with them. I remember when she first posted that on our other board. Our Forrest is famous!!

If it makes you feel any better, I woke up the other morning with a mauled up dead bird on my bed. We would never have known it was a bird if it weren't for the feet dangling from it when hubby picked it up. :-? Hope Coal's feeling better. :)

[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XQAfA5QeCN2tHh8uddOCf5QrZl8Cqht3DqSKEUlT6wDXELZJZ2QqbWi84EQfrDKw8uJC!fw80utXpx3LyanLZEuJozC0TNi5Xqrt5mb2ukAENRadpMvzJsPMxAPvgyPu*Pqy8hnUhz8/rantonoff.gif?dc=4675407362522562729[/img] I'm certainly not offended at all! It is one of my biggest, hugest, most major, holy moly pet peeves of all time. I absolutely can not stand it when people think aggressive behavior in small dogs is CUTE. I see it allllllll the time in our vet clinic. People laugh when their little beasties are lunging and snarling and snapping as if it's just the most endearing behavior. I've always been as hard on my small dogs as I have my big dogs in regard to training and socialization (well, when I knew better... have to admit that I didn't think much about socialization until several years ago... was just the average pet dummy :oops:, but have NEVER encouraged aggression in my small dogs ). I've fired groom clients in the past who believed that *I* shouldn't mind that their little beasties were trying to sever my fingers. I don't mind working with special needs or nervous dogs who just need some patience and reassurance, but screw the people who think it's part of my job to have my face gnawed off and actually encourage that behavior. Bah! Have you ever watched any of the "Funniest Video" shows where people are giggling hysterically as they try to reach for a remote control and this little monster is foaming at the mouth and just daring them to touch it? Not in THIS house! My little dogs are not allowed to antagonize my bigger dogs and they have certainly tried. Yeah, it's something I find hugely irresponsible and annoying. I love small dogs... well mannered, well behaved small dogs. What's so sad is that most of these monsters are created rather than "born" that way. What are people thinking?? [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XwARA68eb!v8wiTGjuby4ZzhTlcsIAussVoO91ZPVwE0O662MsvnvXS9wNddl1h8ARXmDUYjhTmKfLFVOhRHxciafzNA1C71u*w5tJpKTF5GNd1S!bBhYvixY0DfK9xBjG*TpH5hXzo/homer%20doh.jpg?dc=4675407362494670893[/img]

*Deep breath* 2 Standard Poodle fellers named Perry and Pauly-NO 1 Toy Poodlet girly named Peanut 3 Lhasa Apsos (2 boys and a girl) named Fred, Devin and Missy (Misdemeanor) 1 Black Lab(ish) named Tucker Dedicated 1 Mini Schnauzer boy named Simon 1 Doberman Pinscher feller named Rocco 1 (nearly forgotten :oops: ) Chihuahua dude named Chico 5 cats (3 males, 2 females) named Half Pint, Li'l Bit, Snowball (black cat... blame the hubby :-? ), Butthead and TomCat. We have occasional fosters through here as well. Oh, there are two goldfish that have been here for about 7 or so years that are still unnamed. :oops: I had two ferrets, but the last of the two died a couple of weeks ago. They both lived to about 10 years old. :(

I like it as an alternative food and it's much more readily available than Canidae or Wellness, or any of those. When I can't get my regular foods, I will buy it. For whatever odd reason, though, my gang is not that crazy about it. They aren't generally picky dogs, but they don't eat the Chicken Soup food with the same enthusiasm as the other foods. Dunno why. What's even stranger is that my cats do not care for the Chicken Soup brand of cat food, either, and all but refuse to touch it. :-?

Good going, ladies! 8)

When I started my grooming biz, I wanted to call it "Doggy Style." I decided against it. :oops:

[quote name='Mutt_Lady']Hi Horsefeathers!!! We have the yellow pages here in Canada too! I'm guessing its made its way around. :wink: Thanks for the ideas and suggestion! I'll be sure to use a name with A...and actually, about that, I looove your idea!!!! Do you mind if I use it? I like "A Dog's Day out". It doesn't have to be just walking it could be pooper scoopering and stuff too..that's why I LOVE it!!! I might change it a little to "A Pet's Day out" or some thing along those lines. Do ya care?? Thanks bunches dear! :D:D[/quote] I don't mind a bit. They were just suggestions, but if you can use them, go right ahead. I'm glad if I was able to help. :)

I have had similar problems with Pauly in regard to food. He can be very "demanding" about his food. We have two designated feeding times each day and they usually have half an hour to eat, though it NEVER takes anyone that long. It is very important to me to know that I can take anything away from my dogs. I'd worry that if I can't take their food, I wouldn't be able to take away something they truly shouldn't have, but may have acquired. I don't know if it'll help you, but with Pauly, he has to earn every single meal. He must sit, stay and wait indefinitely until I give him his food and then he was initially handfed each and every single morsel when we first started this. He didn't just have an entire bowl to himself. Now he does get an entire bowl, but he still must sit, stay and wait. When he gets pushy, he doesn't eat. He will sometimes sit and growl or jump up and run in circles. The first time he growls, the bowl is put away and we try again a few minutes later. If he persists, he just flat out misses that meal. By the time the next mealtime rolls around 12 hours later, he's much more cooperative. He's also the type of dog (sounds similar to Coal) that we absolutely cannot use any kind of negative reinforcement or punishment. Butting heads with him and demanding, or trying to punish him only makes him more afraid and more aggressive, so we have to be very matter of fact about it, not angry at all. Kind of like "oh well, guess you're not hungry, see ya in another 12 hours." That's what we want him to think he's saying when he growls and complains... that he's not hungry. It's really working. Coal sounds like he may be similar. Pauly also has a problem with having his bowl handled while he's eating. I do exactly what Courtnek was saying. I keep a kennel lead on him when he eats. That gives me total control. When he is eating, I will instruct him one time to sit. Of course, he often doesn't the very first time, so I'll give a bit of encouragement with the lead by raising his head and tell him again. The lead is to keep me from actually having to reach for his head while it's in the bowl *just in case* he were to snap. He hasn't, but he growls and I like that failsafe. We do this a few times during the meal and it doesn't take long until he willingly lets me reach for his bowl while he sits and waits. I usually pick it up, praise profusely when he doesn't complain/threaten and immediately put it back down while he sits/stays. It's a work in progress, but he is really doing well. I don't know if this dog ever had to worry about being hungry, but he is very food oriented, not only worrying about his bowl, but constantly "scavenging" for food all day long. I'm sorry if I'm overstepping any boundaries, but I really do think it's a very necessary evil to be able to handle Coal's food at your will and not his. I'd hate for him to get hold of something he shouldn't have and you have to be afraid to take it from him (dropped medications, sharp objects, any number of dangerous items). That could be a potentially life threatening situation. Also, as Courtnek pointed out, I really don't think you'll want to have fresh meat and other foods lying in a bowl for hours on end. Just trying to help. Take what you can use and leave the rest behind. :wink:

[quote name='cdreid']Understand that there is no detectable difference between a pomeranian and a wolf. [/quote] I can detect a LOT of differences between a Pom and a wolf. :o Before I go debating, I want to know who I'm talking to. Isn't it you who said you have wolves and wolf mixes (deliberately bred by you if I understood right)? I never did find out if you are in rescue, or just enjoy the company of these animals enough to acquire them. I certainly do believe that wolves are outside animals, but I can't imagine thinking they're better served chained in someone's yard. I'm not picking a fight. It just makes it much easier to debate someone if you know where they're coming from. So far, I've given you zero credibility just because of this, but I'd sure like to be told I'm wrong and that you are part of some sanctuary that saves them, or anything other than just someone who thinks they make great pets and should be bred to dogs for more great pets. I'm just having a hard time trying to justify chaining wolves in someone's yard and why that's a good idea. That's even if this was you at all. I don't really remember who it was, but I *thought* it was you. I apologize and will stand red faced otherwise, especially if you addressed this in another thread elsewhere and I just missed it.

Ok, keeping in mind that I'm certainly no dog expert, I'll just toss out an idea or two. Maybe you are giving her mixed signals? I'm thinking that maybe she is not quite sure now what to expect of you. It might be like "ok, I am on the bed... am I here to protect her, or will she protect me? am I going to have to start actively finding my own food, or is she still in charge of that, too?" If she's anything like one of my more "insecure" dogs, he needs definitive routine and predictability and he needs to know that I am in charge in the sense that I will provide him with protection, food, all of the things he wants and that he doesn't have the added burden of wondering who's in charge. He doesn't WANT a higher status. Perhaps Laurel is actually more secure in her lower position and "promoting" her is more responsibility than she is comfortable with. Pauly is like this. He is so easily intimidated (but will react by biting if he's extremely afraid and feels cornered), so I tried to help boost his self esteem (I thought) by putting him up on the bed and playing with him, or spending time with him there while watching tv or something like that. Not there to sleep, but just to spend a little time. Pauly makes tracks to get off the bed. It's as if he feels way out of place there and will be very nervous acting for a little while afterward. I really believe it's more "responsibility" than he can handle and he just wants me to run things and him be the ever so goofy blind follower ("yes, ma'am, anything you say, ma'am, just please don't hurt me..."). Maybe it's the same for Laurel. It sounds like she may be getting mixed signals. Some dogs are just more comfortable without the added "responsibility" of higher status within the family (pack). I don't know if I'm making sense, but I know exactly what you're talking about.

I know it's there, but I don't fully understand it, either. Not only do mine do the feeding time thing and the waking up thing, but they do seem to know when hubby is on his way home. I don't mean in the routine sense. If he's gone into town, or doing something that is out of the ordinary, they will become frantic BEFORE he ever gets near the house. There is no way I can be giving them a cue because I don't even know he's there. He has to be at least a couple of miles away when they start barking and getting frantic. He says they do the same if I'm gone and come in unexpectedly. I could understand this during routine comings and goings like work and things we do every day, but how do they know we are on our way when it is NOT a routine thing? When I took an eight hour trip a few weeks ago, no one had any way of knowing when I'd be back, but my husband said they started barking in the front window several minutes before I got home. That always puzzles me.

And mine is that the prevention can often CREATE the problem. The only dogs I've ever seen in our clinic with impacted glands are the ones who've had them diddled with throughout their lives. Beside all that, even if I believed that it should be done routinely, I think it's a vet problem, not a groomer/owner problem. I don't think people should be fooling with anything INSIDE a dog no matter how easy it's supposed to be. I've assisted on enough spays and neuters to comfortably say I think I could do that easily as well, but I'll leave that to the vets, too. :wink:

Here's a tip that might help. Whatever name you choose, try to find something that starts as close to the beginning of the alphabet as possible. Something like "A Dog's Day Out" or "A Dog's Best Friend." Those are just examples. The reasoning behind this is that it will put you closer to the top of the list of names in the Yellow Pages of the phone book (if you have that? I really don't know if yellow pages is a international thing :oops: ). That can be a big help for new businesses because many people flipping through the phone book just start calling numbers in the order they come to them and if yours starts with an A, you might be the first person they call. :wink: Good luck. :)

It really depends on the type of mange. There's demodex and there's sarcoptic. From what I understand, generally all dogs have demodectic mites to some degree, but certain things can trigger the outbreak, like compromised immune system, stress, that sort of thing. Demodectic mange can be passed along from mother to offspring, so it is hereditary, but that form of mange is not contagious. Sarcoptic mange is very contagious, not only to other dogs, but can be passed along to humans (scabies). Dips are one method of getting rid of mange and seem to be the most common (though to me that stuff smells right like gasoline :-? ). Some people use ivermectin for mange and sometimes dogs are given Revolution.

Actually, the way Cassie summed up the whole thing is pretty much my opinion. I can only nod from the amen corner. I very, very seldom ever touch anals on a client's dog and then it's only on request and only very lightly and NEVER internally. That's vet territory and I don't care how easy it is, I ain't goin' there. It seems to be the ones who request it done each time that NEED it to be done. I've owned Toy breeds for years along with my big dogs and NONE of them have ever needed to have their anals done. My Chihuahua is 7 years old and I've never touched them, nor my 5 year old Toy Poodle's and unless I have a reason to, I won't. There is no smell, no scooting, no problem. To throw in another variable, my dogs are indeed kibble fed with the addition of some home cooked foods. Even more, we used to feed stuff like Ol' Roy and Dog Chow before we knew any better and even then never had problems with anal glands, probably because we didn't bother them(?) I strongly yet respectfully disagree that it should be a part of the regular grooming routine for ALL dogs. My ever so humble opinion is that anal glands are on the inside of a dog and that's vet territory as much as some of them like to pass it back off to groomers. I only work on the outside of the dog (yes, I include ears as part of the outside... I don't dig where I can't see). My vet shares my opinion and never recommends expressing anal glands as part of regular routine grooming. I've seen that the vet community as well as the grooming community is very divided on this. A groomer that lives near me once actually got up in the middle of a seminar on anal glands (of all things) and made a big stink (no pun intended) because she disagreed with the speaker so vehemently. This particular groomer is one who believes that any dog whose glands aren't expressed every time it's groomed will suffer impaction. The speaker was saying pretty much the same thing Cassie and I believe.

Or you could just install a rock garden... over the entire yard. I'm seriously considering it. :o

[quote name='Kat'] All sizes of dogs should have their anal glands squeezed every now and again to prevent impaction. [/quote] I respectfully disagree unless I'm misunderstanding. Do you mean ALL dogs of all sizes, or just that generally any size dog can have problems? The reason I ask is that none of my dogs have ever, ever had to have their anals done. I feel around back there all the time when I'm bathing (my own), but have never had one yet that required my attention. It seems to me that dogs that start off having their anals done when they don't really need it (note: I realize some do... just pointing out that it's done often when it doesn't need to be) end up needing help with it their entire lives. I thought raw feeding and BARF was supposed to discourage anal gland problems. I know it sounds like I'm being sarcastic, but I swear I'm not.

[quote name='charles'] Reminds me of rush liimbaugh land more than a place for pet lovers. [/quote] UGH!! Now that's just wrong. Comparing us to Rush is hitting below the belt. Geez! *shudder* [quote name='primrose']Well, since you are all about education, perhaps you can tell us how your dog whom you describe as a chow/wolf mix (of course a lot of people who think that they have "wolfdogs" just have mutt dogs, with no wolf content at all) came to have a son in the first place. Did you breed this fear biting supposedly wolf/chow with the neighbor's shar pei? Why? [/quote] *sniff*sniff* I smells the potential for another great debate. Actually, I thought about the some of the same points that prim just brought up. I say let it fly and move it to debates. [quote]Angel is my 4 year old jet black chow/wolf. [u]People freak at the concept.[/u] John is her son. He's chow/wolf/sharpeigh and about the size of a small horse. [/quote] I know it kind of freaks me out. Want to enlighten me as to why it shouldn't? I ask this in a sincere manner and not as a smarty britches. It can be moved to debates if need be. 8)

[quote name='Anonymous'] or go to that place and ask if anybody heard of me.[/quote] Yo, has anyone ever heard of "guest?" For some reason, that touched my giggle bone.

[quote name='wandering']That kinda stuff is what you call fun? :-?[/quote] No, some of us like to kick puppies, stuff kittens in mailboxes, or kick walking sticks out from under little old ladies and things like that. :P Ok, ok, I'm just kidding. Geesh... *snort*