bk_blue

They're a good idea. Rinny is so arthritic that he wouldn't be able to pull them off either... he'd just have to put up with 'em!! :wink:

what about "the wild thing"? :roll:

Bones are kind of scary... I do not let Blitz have a bone unless I can watch him. He has on occasion had splinters (cooked, yes I know it's bad and that's why I don't do it anymore) bone lodged in his teeth ie. blocking his throat that we have had to get tweezers and pull out. He's been going fine on bones since he was little and has never had any health problems, so either the bones agree with him or he's got some horrid impaction waiting to happen. I give him Dentabones sometimes, they clean his teeth and won't get stuck anywhere. :) They are expensive though and he demolishes a large one in about 30 seconds so he doesn't get them very often! I have also heard many horror stories about rawhide. :(

LOL BK doesn't like toys... he likes human stuff like tins, plastic milk bottles, my watch, garden hose, concrete, charcoal from the fireplace, the axe, books, the rubbish bin, the fence, footy scarves, the coffee table... :o luckily he's grown out of all these things (except destroying fences). He LOVES to bark and paw at the vacuum cleaner too when it's on.

:o It is not necessary to chain herding or hunting dogs up for most of their lives... not if you have a secure yard or area where they can stay. It's just as bad to chain a Kelpie up as it is to chain a Cairn Terrier up; both need exercise and companionship and are not going to get it sitting on the end of a rope for the rest of their lives. My great grandfather and his father bred Pointers for hunting and they were not chained nor were they kennelled (except to sleep), they had the run of a fairly large backyard and were taken out regularly to be used as gundogs. These dogs were by all accounts excellent hunters and great with children and other dogs; there are numerous photos of my father, as a toddler, sitting and playing with the dogs. I have no experience with chaining dogs but would imagine it would cause fear aggression; a chained dog is at the mercy of whoever comes along, be that humans or other animals... and not always friendly ones. Certainly aggression can occur in any situation but chaining does not do anything to help the situation. There are many horror stories about chaining that other forum members will no doubt fill you in on. Johnny, what is your personal experience with your dogs, if you have them?

Thanks guys... does the world really need another lap dog though?! You could understand if it was a working dog created to do a specific task, but you can't get a mi-ki to herd sheep or hunt badgers can you... :-?

Yeah, they can herd... ummm... teacup Chihuahuas? 8) And... does anyone know what a "rare" Mi-Ki is?! [url]http://minipickensraremi-kis.50megs.com/[/url] :-?

[quote name='newfiemom']Nikkigirl, It is better to alter later for obedience and working dogs. I have read that if you do it too early for a working dog, they stay in that puppy stage and retain that "Attention Deficit Disorder" for ever..[/quote] So that explains why BK is a hyperactive nutcase when he should be acting middle aged... :roll:

How sad... :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Bk must be part Pit too... back in the days of high school I would have to go to bed at a reasonable hour and whenever I shut my door to go to bed Blitz would sit outside my door and whine pitifully until Dad made him come back and sit on his blanket. Then he would go outside and jump up at my window instead! Even now if we are in the loungeroom together he will get up off his bed and come and sit at my feet. Tomson likes to follow me EVERYWHERE, even to the toilet, when I am at Grandad's. He doesn't do this to anyone else, I thought initially it was just because I was the visitor but apparently not, I am the lucky object of his attention... :roll:

Poor dog. Is there any tactful way you can educate this family about responsible pet ownership without damaging the business relationship? Or to hell with it, just go in there with printouts of the hundreds of stories of animal neglect complete with sickening photos. :wink:

Guy is a beautiful dog. His leg looks sore though :(

GREAT book. :) There is also a sequel written by Robert C. O'Brien's daughter which is called RACSO and the Rats of NIMH, or something similar. Would look at them but I have lent them to the girl I babysit. Both should be on the reading list of every child along with Charlotte's Web, Watership Down, Wind in the Willows and most of Roald Dahl's books!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

OK while browsing through the Trading Post I spotted two mixes that would look rather odd... :-? St Bernard X Blue Heeler (this one is courtesy of ACA puppies, "as seen on Burke's bloody Backyard")... "solid strong pups" apparently... hmmm whatever... :o iwhat would happen if it had the size and strength of a Saint with the herding and nipping and intelligence of the Heeler? (not to say Saints aren't smart K! :wink: ) Bit of a potential disaster maybe? and... Pug X Shih-Tzu.... wouldn't it be really ugly? Like a longhaired rat with a squashed in face??

Hope it all goes well! :D

Oooh, here's another one: Pomeranium (hee hee, like a flower) Pomerian (Champagne, anyone?) :roll:

Shepards instead of Shepherds is another annoying one. And so is dropping the second "L" from Russell ie. Jack Russel St BERNards instead of St BerNARDS (although there is a school in my area called St BERNards which funnily enough has the St BerNARD as its sporting emblem!).

Oh Eric I have tears in my eyes... :cry: it's so heartbreaking to hear all the dogs crying out for attention. I wish some people would wake up to the fact that a dog is not like a car that you trade in for a newer model when it no longer performs as well as it should, or gets too annoying to look after... I feel desperately sorry for all those old dogs, puppies get adopted quickly but the poor old codgers are left to die in those cages and why? because people want to travel or move house or get a newer dog... maybe they should have thought of the 12 year lifespan of your average dog and what that involves before buying one in the first place. :mad:

LOL I am pleased to know there are other loonies on here :lol: If BK could talk he would be Bart Simpson, or some other smart alec. ;) "Don't expect ME to go and get the ball, I've just had a bath." "Do ya think I'm sexy if I stretch- like this?" *sticks bottom up in air and looks round at me* "Why can't I pee on your flowers? They're ugly and they smell!" "Toilet water tastes good, don't shut the lid." "I'm so cute, every car will stop for me if I go on the road." "I didn't escape Mum, I was getting to know the neighbourhood." "I'm huuuuungry." "I'm tiiiiiiiired." "I'm boooooored." "You're sitting on MY couch!!!"

:lol: Was your mouse called Timothy after Timothy Frisby? (Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH)

I can't see the photos! :(

Great news Bensam and well done! :D :D If you have any email adds handy PM me and I will fight for the cause too... or I could look them up I spose... :wink:

:o My dog is an escape artist as well... but I don't tie him up... in fact that's why he's not living with me at the moment- he knocked down 2 fences and ran away in a week, so he's at dad's while the new fence is being built. (it's actually finished now- yay! :D - I'm picking him up tomorrow.)

Why some people get dogs and then put them in cages all day every day or on chains, without any human or canine interaction or a chance to exercise is beyond me. What is the point of having a dog then?! :evil: