DogPaddle

Our neighbours had one, stunning dog. He once lept over the railing on their deck, continued his arc a good 12-15 ft/3.5-4.5m across the yard to land, pouncing on a rabbit none of the rest of us had noticed. (Poor bunny :( ) But what a stunning display of athleticism from this obviouse sight hound. :D

Just a thought: Sometimes its hard to proove unprovoked if you aren't right there when it happens. My mom had a cockapoo, Joe, sweetest dog ever. My mom also babysat toddlers, children and infants. They tugged on that dogs fur, stole his biscits and drooled on him. He was as good as gold. He wouldn't even take their cookies or cherios even if they left them right in front of him. One day he was out in the yard and all of the sudden we hear this kid (9)let out a howl. We come, she accuses Joe of biting her for no reason, she has a scratch or welt, we are quite concerned, the neigbour leans over the fence at tells us this little girl (who is normally fairly trustworthy) was for some unknown reason stepping on the dogs front feet while pulling up on his ears! If the neighbour hadn't cleared the dog . . .

I always hear this argument: Gamebred dogs are [i]more[/i] stable. Just my opinion and observations here but: Your chance of getting a human agressive dog or an unstable dog is equally low when you get a dog bred for generations by responsible breeders who breed for temperment (amongst other things.) You don't need a gamebred dog to have a stable dog. The only reason to have a gamebred dog, as far as I can see, is to have a dog that is "game."

Sorry to hear about Zebra. Tyr has fourth grade HD (as bad as it gets) and osteoarthritis in one hip that started at 6 months. He gets on just fine with his weight kept down, regular but moderate excercise, and Glucosamine and Chondroitine. He rarely ever needs aspirin. Keep Zebra happy and comfy till you can afford the sugers (and afterward of course) I'm sure it will work out fine.

You could try some of those online dog breed choosers or selectors. [url]http://selectsmart.com/beta_dog/[/url] [url]http://sy.adiho.com/ASA/Controller?sysid=4&appid=9901[/url] [url]http://www.ivillage.com/pets/tools/breedselector/?arrivalSA=1&arrival_freqCap=2[/url] [url]http://www.showdog.com/Breeds/breedselector.asp[/url] [url]http://www.about-dogs.com/dog_breed_selector.htm[/url] [url]http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/dogselectapet.html[/url] [url]http://animal.discovery.com/guides/dogs/selector/selector.jsp[/url] [url]http://www.ckc.ca/default-refresh.asp[/url] I don't personally know much about Pugs. Maybe K can make some suggestions on Bulldogs in general, I understand they require special care.

Hillside wrote: [quote]I am NEVER staying over at HF's.[/quote] What you don't think you'd look good with purple hair and a marker adorned face. I'm sure her pack of dogs wouldn't discriminate against you based on it. :D

Thanks, I'll look into it and check for suppliers in my area.

Hey that looks pretty good, I'll have to keep an eye out for that for the kitties and maybe as canoe fare for the dogs.

Kavik's coat thinned out for the summer - I know that is perfectly natural. The thing is it looks toooo thin, but only on his underneath and chest. Anywhere there is white I can see the skin clearly. It must be more comfortable for him but it looks sortof wispy/mangy (not actual mange) Is there something to do about? Should I bother? And what do people who show dogs do in the summer when their dogs coats are thinner, it must be a challenge to fluff them up?

You can make them by knotting embroidery floss. My freind makes them for her dog in a variety of patterns but they not good for pullers and you have to wash them and/or make new ones once every 4-8 months.

Does she have light coloured hair, it won't dye here hair otherwise but even if it is dark her skin will still dye nicely but will loose its colour faster than hair will. We only did it once worked ok, next time I would use as much Koolaid as I thought I could without gummy up the nozzles. See the guy clued in when he saw the colour running around his feet so he wasn't in the colour wash long. Let me know how it turns out. Also - She doesn't wake up when you draw on her face?!?

I signed but when I checked the list I wasn't there. :question:

[quote]I see Maura Grab her around the neck and hold her.at the obvious look of surprise on my face, she says "Betty likes to chase cars...." [/quote] Oh dear a car-herding sheep! :lol: Border Collies everywhere are shaken to the core I'm sure.

Kool Aid How to Dye Your Dog 1. Do suitable allergy test. 2. Mix 10-20 packets with 2-4 cups of water. 3. Apply to dog, this is eaiser with a spray bottle set just above mist. 4. Work in, massaging. 5. Wait 10 min. - don't let puppy lick self unless you want tounge dyed too. 6. Rinse. 7. Repeat if colour not vibrant enough. Note does not dye Manically. Or you could try the college roommate trick. For this you need: At least 5 packets of koolaid A showerhead with removable front cavity A showerhead and shower you don't mind permanently purple (or green or whatever) Steps: 1. Take front off shower head. 2. Open packets. 3. Empty packets evenly into showerhead cavity. 4. Spritz with just enough water to dappen to think paste - no runniness please. 5. Reattach showerhead facing. 6. Clean up after self. 7. Hope roommate needs shower before you do. :wink:

I understand being afraid of certain breeds. My mom is afraid of any dog over 20lbs, except mine :D . No paticular reason for it she just is scared. HF - I also have always felt a bit hesitant around chows, probably the only breed that makes me feel that way. Ironically, we just found out recently that the vet thinks Zaphod is lab/chow or half lab half chow/pit but I don't know if I feel any different about chows in general yet. Kaleb et all - I definately agree that there are a number of breeds that should be experienced handlers (or prepared new handlers with extensive support from an experienced handler) only.

With all the people who come and go in my house the rules for the dogs sometimes get neglected so the boys do beg, Zaphod more than Kavik. To sort it out I have been trying this. Their large crate is right below where I generally eat, in fact my knees brush the crate. I sit down and start to eat and tell them go lie down - if they lie down in the crate (which is fairly likely because it is so close) I slip them something and finish eating, if they have stayed in the crate I slip them another treat. As this is reinforced I plan to move the crate further and further from where I eat and eventually eliminate the first treat. Already if I walk through the house with a plate Zaphod skitters for the crate although currently he runs into it and then runs right back out unless I tell him to go back but still its an improvement. (My greatest challenge is making sure everyone else in the house doesn't "untrain" the dogs. Makes me so mad, my brother is the worst for this and is the one that always complains about the dogs not being as well behaved as he would like . . . ACK! :evil: ) I'll let you know if it works or backfires on me.

[quote]Hello... can't someone just post on here... without being labelled?[/quote] Certainly you can post here. Will people have opinions, responses, questions, agree and/or disagree with what you post? You bet. No problem - right? If you feel I've labelled you AND if for some reason this offends you then you have my sincere apologies. But if you came here to slag some breed or start a long thread on the destruction of a breed, you aught to know that some people will be annoyed. Now its your perogitive to post anyway and that is cool but its other peoples perogitive to be annoyed and thats cool too. If you came here to share a paticular point of view or specific point than all the better, and that is what I want to know. Do want BSL? Do think there are irrisponsible breeders/handlers? Do you feel this breed has traits that need to be corrected through breeding? Have you suffered a loss/injury and need to share?

[quote]Why is it when someone disagrees, it's arguing or slagging? [/quote] Maybe its just me but I think the majority of folks here aren't slagging, there may be politely arguing their point but that's good, right? I respect people voicing their opinions, good for you all. And, because I firmly believe complacency is complicity, I understand why people are voicing these opinions now and I have to say that I stand firmly against dog fighting. I have no problem with temperment testing as long as it is humane, and I don't think dog fighting is humane. If that's the only way you have to test for a trait then its time to stop worrying about that trait because its not worth it, IMHO. I know I've said it before and that people disagree with me (which is cool, people disagree) but, breed standerds change when there is a proven need and there are many, many non-game dogs out there who are tenacious and perfectly trustworthy around kids and adults.

See PBYB we aren't so bad, just concerned so . . . are you gonna join Dogo? :D

Malamum wrote: [quote]our shower does opens out and Indy likes to lie in front of it - one day he would just not get up when I told him..... I thought I was going to be standing there all day. [/quote] :lol: I can just see trying to explain that to your boss. K wrote: [quote]Probably wondering why you dont just lick yourself clean...a much more water friendly aproach![/quote] Very true, much more environmentally freindly, once again my dogs are smarter than me. :D The best part is Zaphod would do most of it for me - normally its all I can do to get him to stop licking. Hazel wrote: [quote]he'll lick the watter off my legs and feet! [/quote] Look at that no need for towels either!

Is maize a type of corn?

Add some natural yogurt to her diet - may relieve the poo-eating. There are other products and methods for this as well. Switch from xpen to crate with crate being only big enough to comfortaly lie down/turn around/sit/stand in. If there is no where for her to go in the crate (without being in it herself) she probably won't. With this method you may need someone to come by and let her out for a half hour or so during the day depending on how long she would be confined. Crate training takes time and doesn't work for every dog but it is well worth it for most dogs. Note - You will probably need to start acclimating your pup to the crate before you leave her in it while your away.

If the dog spends almost all of its life outside it will not consider your house its den and will therefore be hard to house train. Most dogs are happier indoors with their family a good portion of their time anyway so move him indoors more. If the dog is indoors and you cannot watch him, put him in the crate or outside. (Dog should not be in crate more than 8-10 hours a day and preferably no longer than 7 - 8 hours at a time for an adult dog and if you want the dog to think of your house as its den you may as well apply those time periods to putting it in the yard too.) If the dog is quick and sneaky you may have to leash him to you in the house at the outset. If the dog is in the crate or in your site it will not be able to mess in the house and will therefor be broken of the habbit, also the more its in the house the more it will treat it like a den and keep it clean. If this is an adult dog training may take more time. You may also want to make use of a schedule to help the dog with this process. If this seems nec. you can pm me if you'd like about sched and use of crate in sched.

Glad you got your screen name back, and your post count too I see. On the subject of the bill - If you can determine the company call them and ask how much it was for and ask them to resend. If can't determine the company call all you billers and ask what the balance is and when the due date is and pay them as usual. Have you thought of internet banking it helps in situations like this as you can review prev activities and see when you paid certain bills prev. On the subject of the chewing - Get a crate for when you're not home. Watch her like a hawk when you are home - even putting her on a lead and keeping her with you if you must. Crate herwhen you way to busy to watch or can't have her on lead. Correct when she does the behaviour when she's in your site, when she's not in your site she won't be able to do it, eventually as she will not be able to do the behaviour she will be broken of the habit. Its just like potty training.

Seems ok. If your pup is doing well on it I'd leave it on it, paticularly if he/she likes it. If you are thinking of switching anyway: I would go for a food that has limited ingredient splitting just for simplicity - [quote]Chicken Meal, brewers [color=darkblue]rice[/color], brown [color=darkblue]rice[/color] [/quote] You see here the first ingredient appears to be chicken but the next two are just two different sorts of rice, likely the first ingredient is actually rice in general and then chicken - but not necassarily, unfortunately its hard to tell, again the food seems ok, you'll notice they have essentially done ingredient splitting with their chicken too -[quote] [color=indigo]Chicken Meal[/color], brewers rice, brown rice, [color=indigo]chicken fat, chicken[/color][/quote] I would avoid [quote]beet pulp, natural chicken flavor, rice hulls [/quote] but some people would certainly argue with me on those. In my own opinion beet pulp is too sugery although some manufactureres say they remove the suger and just use it for fibre which would be ok but how do you tell here, natural chicken [color=red]flavor[/color] is just plain scarey - what is it really that they are adding, rice hulls I'm split on fibre is good but often when manufactureres do they gaurenteed analysis the rice hulls contribute to the protien or calories or something (I'm not sure which) but the dogs can't really digest it so its hard to tell what your dog is actually getting out of the food. I freely confess to not knowing what these are or what they do but they are mighty high on the ingredient list. [quote]monosodium phosphate, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, . . . , choline chloride[/quote] Maybe someone else can help with those. Anyway, all in all, it is a pretty good kibble (assuming those ingredients I don't understand are ok.)