DogPaddle

That's very clever mouse. Kavik always watches any self grooming I do with keen interest and seems very curiouse, sounds like a good way to introduce a dog to nail clipping.

Cystic ovary syndrome is caused when the egg is not fully released, causing cysts on the overy that do not release or go away. When this happens repeatedly - polycystic overy syndrome, it can relate to an increased chance of ovarian cancer. It also precludes procreation without fertility drugs, can be painful and is linked to high blood suger and obeisety.

I agree. Just step back and listen to the concept: When I want my dog to come I throw a chain at him. That does not sound good, humane or logical, here is a simili: When I want my kids to come I throw a brick at them. I mean I don't hit them directly so its ok, right. . . :roll:

All I know is if you want to minimize the effects you should reduce the carb intake of the dog, ensure their blood suger remains as stable (and not high) as possible, give them appropriate excercise, keep extra weight off. This is not first hand info, just something I heard from someone who heard from someone so please double check with a vet.

Hmmm 4, 8, 9 and 10 would require some work for Kavik, especially 10, he has a few issues with being seperated from me. It would be very nice to get his CGC though, we could train and do 4, 8 and 9 but 10 may be really tricky, any suggestions. Tyr would probably be fine accept he tends to like to gently taste the hand that pets him. :oops: Zaphod . . . well Zaphod is young and exhuberant, I reserve judgement on him until he's at least 10 months. :lol:

I trim Kavik's once a month mostly for aesthetics and so he is used to me doing stuff to his feet. His feet don't get a chance to stink because he gets a bath at least once a week because he is always finding neat things to step in and in general wear in his fur that I don't approve of like - mud, speggeti sauce, cat food, dog food, dog doo, mud, pasty drywall, baby food, Tide, mud etc. I swear he explores by stepping on things. :roll:

I have heard of variouse methods and reasons for temperment testing puppies. Cradleing with their feet a few cms of the ground. - Trust, Stability Tossing a ball to see if they give chase. - Drive Walking away to see if they follow. - Social Attraction Pinching skin between toes. - Hardness/Sharpness Picking up by scruff of neck. - Harndess/Sharpness/Dominance Pinning on back. - Hardness/Sharpness/Dominance What do you all feel about these, especially those who have bred, shown extensively, proffessionally trained or rehabilitated dogs? Do these tests actually prove anything? Do these tests cause any harm or unnec. suffering to the puppy?

Strange - people are more eager to great Tyr - our now 70lb GSD/Malamute cross (who could look fairly wolfy too) - rather then Kavik a 35lb BC or Zaphod a 20lb Lab/BC cross pup. Maybe they can just sense that Tyr is a big teddy bear.

Be careful, someone out there will see that and decide those could be a rare new breed they could market, of course they would throw in a little poodle to make them hypoallergenic. White Dalipoo Cats - $800 a pop. Of course the breeding program could be a little challenging. :D

No pre existing condition check here either. It costs more to insure some breeds including Boxer, Chow, Dobe, GPyr, Irish Wolfhound, Newfs, Old ESheepdog, Rottie, Schnauzers, St Benard, Airdales, Bull Terriers, Bulldog Breeds, Bassets, Bouvier, Great Dane and Mastiff Breeds. Full premium coverage here costs $56.45 to $74.85 per month.

Work on your stand and stay commands alot while playing with his feet and nails. Make it fun, give him treats. Start by clipping one nail at a time. Do not use a muzzle or restrain him unless you have no other options because once you do this you set the process up to be a battle forever more and he is going to fight you from the second you put the muzzle on.

[size=7][color=green]HI![/color][/size]

Kavik's right rear leg used to kick outwards when he walked when he was a puppy. Vet could find nothing wrong and thought it was just a puppy gait thing. Kavik seems to have outgrown it, maybe you'll be lucky and it will be the same sort of thing. Mention it to the vet but don't worry. Is he a large (mix) breed dog?

:B-fly:

Couple suggestions: 1. Go to the vet and get a flea treatment and be rid of the fleas once and for all. (You will probably have to treat the house and bedding, carpet and furnitere in paticular with a spraybottle solution as well.) 2. Bathing is not always the answer. Some dogs loose alot of vital oils from their fur and skin after being bathed and it makes them itchy. 3. When you do bath the dog use a conditioner (one without a high waxy content) this can restore moisture to the skin. You can also find shampoos for itchy skin for dogs, they are just mild. We had a very well behaved cockapoo that had a bought or two of dry skin and we used a mild/itch free dog shampoo and then applied Body Shop banana conditioner and left it on for 1/2hr (this is where the well behaved comes in) and then rinsed WELL and that seemed to help him. 4. Always rinse WELL. 5. Use a dog food with a slightly higher fat content or add other food supplements such as egg, vitamin dog gravies, plain yogurt (not low fat) and banana, etc. What do you currently feed? Have you checked for allergies? 6. Switch to a mild clothes detergent, stop using carpet powder if you use it, monitor use of fragrences - they can be found in everything: cleaning supplies like furniture polish or surface cleaners or floor cleaners, bounce sheets, air fresheners.

Get baby gates - lots of them. The dog should not be out of you or your fiances site unless it is crated for fastest house training results. The puppy went off to the bedroom to go so likely it didn't want to go in the house in front of your fiance. If puppy is always more or less in sight and can't get off to a bedroom you stand a better chance of success. If this fails to resolve the issue a crate and a schedule are the key - let me know if you need to know more.

That is so nice of you to offer Carla. I wish I was anywhere nearby so I could join you in the search.

You betcha! We can drop into Millaway's after for Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters too :drinking: !

I don't paticulary like or dislike cats. I love MY cats.

Well gee, if a chain works so well, why not a shoe or a wrench or a brick? If you want to give them a "tap on the shoulder" use a squirt gun. If you want the dog to think your magic give a verbal correction in the instant before it does something wrong - Kavik thinks I'm a spooky Godlike being because I know what he's thinkgin. if I tell him to stay and he starts thinking about getting up his body language changes and I can correct prior to him actually standing up, he thinks he's being corrected for [i]thinking [/i]about disobeying. If you want the dog to think you are the better dog (meaning bigger, faster, smarter) have the dog trail a lead in the house. If the dog goes to bark at the door you might not be able to catch him but you can probably catch the lead etc. The result - dog already knows your bigger and smarter, the dog already knows you bring the food but he used to think at least he was faster but now you can magically catch him from accross the room - You are one hoopy frood! (and obviously the alpha)

Way to go!

Yeah! Was it hard? How many in your class? How many passed? What did you have to do on the test?

I voted yes BUT - I think that dogs that are viciouse, repeat biters, seriously ill/injured or otherwise have been determined to be unadoptable need to either be homed in humane permanent kennels with large outdoor runs and indoor components and with lots of toys, bedding and changing stimuli or they need to be PTS. This would mean that most of the dogs in this situation would need to be PTS. I also think there needs to be a push for way more foster homes, way more spay and nueter, licencing and inspection of breeders (sorry I know this will make people angry but there are way too many irresponsible breeders out there and you can just blame them.) I also think that if a dog has been at a shelter more than 4months they need to be evaluated regularly to see if they are suffering in their current situation - if they are a solution needs to be found, if no solution can be found and the dog is really suffering the shelter may have to consider having it PTS.

Were you fetching with the bone earlier? Some retrievers develop a retrieved item possessiveness, you should calmly work on training this behaviour out of the dog. Throw an item, walk up to the dog, take the retrieved item, praise, throw again, if he growls or snaps when you take it, tell him no calmly and wait 5 min before you throw it again.

Do you have space, a crate, leash, collar, toys, training devices and info? Who will walk the dog, who will feed the dog, who will clean up after the dog? Will you be taking the dog to obedience, will the classes near you let your daughter attend/handle the dog? Got any names in mind yet?