imported_Cassie

One more thing! :lol: I would also during this time (while you are socializing Rufus) teach Rufus to say hello to local children etc. for example when Rufus sees a child and gets excited and you have taught Rufus "by me" I would at that point when Rufus is sitting ask children to come over and pat Rufus...always advise children to pat a dog from under the chin never to come down from above and pat the dogs head...this can be a very dominant gesture for any dog...and some dogs may even react negetively to a gesture such as a pat on top of the head. Have Rufus sitting beside you; give a child a treat and have the child come over pat Rufus and then have the child give the dog the treat.

I'm just wondering if Rufus is trying to chase moving objects as well as barking at them?? If Rufus is trying to chase moving objects and barking as well...first you have a herding breed which is bred to chase moving objects :wink: and also dogs are basically predators - they do get excited when they see some thing moving...especially bikes, children, small dogs (small dogs are more apt to bark at larger dogs but run away just far enough so they are out of reach)...they will mature into big chasers such as moving cars, motocycles etc. When some thing moves quickly a dog is genetically programmed to pursue ..they are convinced some things that move may be food...if it seems scared (runs away) then its fair game to chase....what you have to teach Rufus is the things he likes to bark at or possibley chase can come back and bite him! :lol: of course your not going to have some one bite your dog..but, you have to startle your dog, teach Rufus that some things are unappropriate to chase or bark at....good things to chase and bark and get excited with are balls, and other play toys that you use during play time.. First you should teach Rufus to sit by your side and give it a command...some people like to use "by me"...have rufus sit in front of you and use your left arm holding the lead...tell Rufus "by me" and swing him around so she is sitting by your left side....go over this command until rufus does it on his own. Then after you have the command down pat have some one help you to build distractions...have a local neighborhood child come out on his bike or skate board, and be sure he has an object which makes a terrible noise...for instance a can full of rocks; as long as the object makes a really loud noise that will startle rufus...have the biker ride by, when rufus goes to chase or bark at the biker have the biker stop suddenly and give this noise or yell no very loud....tell Rufus "by me" ..this will basically teach Rufus that not all things that move quick are prey objects....some of these things may actually be dangerous..dogs do not want to chase things which are dangerous..."by me" command tells your dog what to do when it is startled...soon the dog will start to associate the command as safety from scary things. Good luck with your growing boy...post more pictures as well...we would love to see him as he matures. :D

[b]Quote by Dogpaddle[/b][quote]Oh Cassie, did those all happen to you are were you a witness in some - I hope so, that's a lot of bites[/quote]. No, these attacks did not happen to me...but I was there to witness them. It's pretty scary when some one has been bitten especially by a big breed like a Rottweiler and they are holding their face together. one of the Shepherd attacks actually happened at a local dog show to a judge! :o the judge looked over the dog and started walking away the Shepherd lunged and bit the judge on his bum! I didn't check to see if it was bleeding, we took his word for it. I also watched in one of my obedience classes as the obedience trainer tried to help a women put her Rottie into a down position...the dog attacked the obedience trainer. The APBT, bit a fellow worker at the Vet clinic....it was in for boarding.

Talk about drool, I have 4 Newfoundland dogs...there aint a dry wall in my house! :lol: The worst thing about a Newf is they have soooo much coat especially around the neck....the drool falls down and is held in this fur...its hard to hug a Newf. I have a hard time getting ready to go out some where especially a place I have to look neat and tidy...I have gotten out places only to find a big peice of goo hanging from the back of my skirt...or once I had a big peice of goo in my hair...I did not make a good impression with that date and he never called me to ask for another date! :o the worst is I didn't know it was there and I have never had a chance to explain to him what it was.....I don't know what was my date thought it might be in my hair! :o They drool constantly...not just at meal time....and its not just normal drool...its gooby and sticky...I have actually flung some across the room and hit people with it (you have to have good aim for this trick) not many people see the humer in this game such as I do :hmmmm:

[quote]Cassie a swelled tummy looks cute on a pup but it can be nasty worms as well as a hernia can't it...ALL the pups in one litter we saw looked lovely and plump and well fed...every single one was infested with worms[/quote] K, I should have been more specific regarding the hernia...an abnormal swelling some what like a rounded knob which protrudes from the belly...not just a swollen belly. Alot of puppy's are born with worms, at the Vet clinic I work at we always worm the pup's with the first appointment.

[b]Dog bites that involve broken skin/bleeding.[/b] 8 Rottweilers, 2 American Staffordshire terriers, 6 German Shepherds. As far as attacks I was not witness to but happened in my area. 1 American bulldog 3 Rottweilers. (actually killed a little boy) 1 APBT 1 Chow Chow I also agree that especially when working with dogs you should know how to read a dogs body language, I have taken courses on dog aggression and behavior ...I also work with dogs daily in a Vet Clinic, boarding facility and grooming facility...some dogs barely show any body language before an attack...mainly Chow's and Akita's...I have seen some Rotties where the only sign they are going to attack is the eye stalk...the head lowers then the attack. All dogs can bite, but, the degree of the bite and the scars they leave are quite different when it comes to a large breed verses a small breed...I know one man who was biten in the face by a Rottie and is still under going appointments with a plastic surgeon, another lady was biten by a Chow and had to undergo plastic surgery. I also beleive people should do their research before obtaining a breed learn their behavioral conformation and possible motor patterns...although motor patterns can vary within breeds. Learn what the breed was orginally intended by man to do...for instance most terriers where bred to kill rodents and small game...not just point or retreive, but kill. Dachshunds (standard) were breed to hunt badgers....badgers are mean little creatures. Rottweilers were bred to drove cattle where they actually had to chase and nip at the cows hocks to keep them moving. Some breeds are more dominant than others and require a dominant owner...a submissive owner can make a horrible situation for all involved.

Once you have decided on the breed you want... I have listed just a few things to look for in a puppy (and what to avoid!) -The belly should be flat - A swelling suggests an umbilical hernia -check the toes and nails to see if they are all there and check the nails to make sure they look normal (no infections or broken nails) -If you decide on a male puppy, make sure bothe testicles are down....if the puppy had 2 undecended testicles then it is monorchid, if only one testicle has descended then its cryptorchid...neutering is a must, and it is more expensive as they have to open the pup up to find the testicle - some times it can be way up in the abdomenal area. -the nose should be moist and clean. A wet nose is fine, but a discharge of any colour coming from the nose is a concern. -The eyes should be clear and bright, discharge, squinting or redness can indicate disease. -Ears should be clean and odour free. Mites and infections will cause debris to accumulate in the canals and on the flaps. Redness, thickening and odour all indicate disease. -Skin and hair coat should be glossy, luxuriant and skin free of debris. Good luck in your search and let us know what you decide upon. :wink:

Although I do not own a Bernese Mountain Dog myself a friend of mine breeds them. She has 8 dogs at the moment (adults, no puppies at this moment)...she has them do carting etc. and of course she shows them. We also have quite a few Bernese which come into our shop for grooming...they are lovely dogs.

I am so sorry, my Rottweiler has HD also in her left hip...how ironic! I also wanted to mention it is not just BYB's which contribute to HD...it happens to reputable breeders all the time...even with screening and never having had HD in the back ground it can still show up in a litter of pups. Some times in large breeds it can be caused by much more than just hereditary...some times due to lack of exercise while developing etc...things like this happen when you try to keep a dog locked in a purebred...the gene pool starts getting smaller and smaller...all kinds of hereditary diseases pop up...and when you breed against one disease another will take its place. I am very sorry to hear about Zebra having HD...and I hope every thing goes well with the surgery....I have heard nothing but good things about total hip replacement. this way you and Zebra can have a long and active life together.

As far as most northern breeds go and Chows and Akita's, the worst thing about these breeds (coming from experience of having to work with them!) is they are hard to read. The tail is always up and the ears are always erect...they can be unpredicatable due to the fact of their body language being entirely different. The owner of our grooming facility will not allow any of the employees besides herself to work on chows or akitas...we do groom alot of Siberian Husky's & Alaskan Malamute's we have never had any problems with these breeds...well, except that they hate water and screech the whole time through the bath...but they are usually OK dogs to work with...another problem dog (as far as working on) is the American Eskimo Dog; every single one of these dog which comes into the shop (and boy are they getting popular) they are the happiest little dogs - until you do some thing they don't want you to do - then look out! As far as Lhasa Apso's are concerned - many people tend not to tell new owners that these breeds where orginally bred to be guard dogs. They can be problem dogs, very dominant at times...many people treat them like cuddlely little teddy bears and spoil them...not a good idea for a Lhasa...we have tried to counsil new Lhasa owners of the importance of obedience and rules (nothing is free rules) they never listen then years later they end up complaining to us as the dog has started biting them when ever they try to make it do some thing it doesnt want to do etc. I also agree that people should make informed decisions before purchasing a dog...learn about the breed, in the wrong hands any dog can be horrible, I have seen wonderful people purchase the wrong dog for them and their life style and it ends up to be a very sad ending...especially for the dog.

Mom to many, I certainly understand the hardships farmers go through due to the ignorance of alot of dog owners. I love my dogs, but, my dogs are secured in a huge kennel...I have most of my back yard fenced off with 9 ft high fencing (I doubt very much my Newf's would even tackle trying to get over a 2 ft fence! :lol: but, I do have a Rottweiler also) it is the owners responsibility when they obtain a dog to ensure they have the proper confinment for the dog....fencing in my opinion is the best way to ensure this. Mistakes can happen, but, if they happen over and over again it is no longer a mistake...it is carelessness! although I do emphasize with the parents of the children which were subjected to having their dog shot in front of them...that was uncalled for on the behalf of the farmer...but, if this is some thing that happens alot...the boxer getting loose over and over...running down and chasing the cattle and causing them undue stress...perhaps the farmer was finally at the end of his rope. What makes me mad is the people who live in the country who just let there dogs run loose all the time...because they have decided that it is an unspoken rule that it is ok to do this....you see many people advertising...."to give away to a good country home for a dog that needs space to run" - :o ...shouldn't that be reworded to "to give away to a good home which can provide proper restraint for this dog, perferably some one with a huge fenced in yard for a dog which requires alot of exercise"....or "some one who will actually walk the dog and give it the exercise it requires." I live in the country and although I do not have livestock I do hear alot of people bitching about other people's dogs running loose all the time. Some owners are so thick headed that they actually defend the fact they let their dogs run free...because they live in the country. The saddest time is the winter when the snow gets deep and it forms a layer of ice on top...the deer have a hard time in this weather...then you have a bunch of dogs running loose which will chase these deer, while they are running on top the deers are plunging through and loosing strength...they finally die of exhaustion...that is sad and it happens alot... I would also really be interested if this was the boxers first offence at running after the livestock...or if this was a frequent problem. I feel very bad for any dog that has been shot...but, most times there are 2 sides to every story. I do want to stress that it was a very cold hearted thing to do shooting the dog in front of the children...now, that was uncalled for.

I'm so glad things are working out...don't be too upset for Laurel being a little on the shy side...some dogs just need a little more time to adjust to their new home...other dogs (like all of mine) just seem to be very forward and make themselves at home right away. The only thing I have ever found about most "hound" dogs is they are very in tune with their noses! :lol: Good luck with your new addition....my opinion is the more the merrier.

When I used to feed kibble, once or twice a week I added canned Sardines packed in water to the kibble....my dogs went crazy over the sardines...plus they are getting omega 3 fatty acids...I also added canned wild Alaskan Salmon to their food including the bones...salmon also is high in omega 3 fatty acids...I tend to stay away from fish like Tuna.

[quote]First of all, I'm NOT in favor of any breed specific legislations, BUT I do see Akitas in much the same light as the general public sees Pit Bulls, Rotties and such. To be totally honest, there are two breeds of dogs I am afraid of and Akitas are one. I hope this breed NEVER appears in a popular movie or becomes popular because the idea of Akitas being acquired and owned by novice pet owners scares the heebie jeebies out of me. I'm not going anywhere with that. It was just my own reflection and, I reckon, to see who else I could p*ss off ("don't you know that all dogs are a product of their environment and training and[/quote] I completley agree with you Horsefeathers.

rufus You live in the UK huh? I live in Canada....I'll get my Canoe out tomarrow and start paddleing over....hopefully I'll end up on the right shore. :lol:

It could be some thing as simple as an ingrown hair or a wart.... But; I would definately have it looked at by a Vet...

Sad, but I have never seen a retired show dog pushed aside...actually when the breeders I know retire their show dogs they become housedogs!!! yeah!!! thats when they receive extra loving and attention...the dogs used for show are usually kept in the kennel and its a hectic life for them travelling from show to show...crate, run around ring, crate, home, kennel, groom, crate, show blah blah blah...don't take them for a swim it may ruin their coat...what if they get into salt water and get hot spots, what if they come up lame...keep them safely away from all harm! of course, I own show dogs which are in their prime, and they go every where with me.... :oops: the breeder kinda shakes her head and warns me they better be in shape for the next show! So, the retired show dogs I have seen (and I know alot of them!) end up being house dogs and get to sleep with their masters etc. its the best time for most. My freind has 4 retired Newf's she has as house dogs...they have a doggy door out into a huge compound about 1/2 acre with trees etc in it...they have a grand life....end of show life means more freedom and no worries of them going into local lakes for swims or going into the ocean.

I can hold my Rotties skin about 3 inches she is 4 and about 6 inches off my Newfoundlands necks! and they are all full grown... some dogs are just not tight skinned and naturally have loose skin around the neck...look at the Shar Pei... :lol: alot of Mastiff dogs also have alot of loose skin. I go by the age of the dog as to how much more growing they have to do...a large breed dog usually reaches is maximum height at around 1 year of age (give or take with different breeds) but, most large breeds do not fill out in body until they are 2 years of age....meaning the chest etc.

Yes there certainly are different speices of fleas, here is an article for you to read: [quote]Fleas are insects and thus belong to the order Siphonaptera which means 'wingless siphon,' an apt description. Worldwide, there are over 2,000 species of fleas. They prefer to live separately and do not interbreed. Fleas are important because of their direct effects on animals (and people) and because of the diseases they can transmit. Some of the more important fleas include: Xenopsylla cheopis is commonly known as the rat flea and is the carrier of bubonic plague. Known as the 'Black Death' in the Middle Ages, bubonic plague killed 200 million people. The name "rat flea" implies that rats are the preferred dinner, but your dog or you will do. Cats are not safe either. Echidnophaga gallinacea is also known as the Tropical hen flea or the sticktight flea. It prefers to feast upon birds, but will also dine on animals. Pulex irritans is the human flea. Strange enough, this flea also likes swine. However, if neither pigs nor people are available, it will feast on cats and dogs. Ctenocephalides felis is the domestic cat flea, but it actually prefers dogs. This is the most common flea that affects cats and dogs. Ctenocephalides canis is the common dog flea. Despite its name, it also feeds on humans, cats, and other animals. All of these fleas have their preferred hosts, but all will feed on cats and dogs. With such a huge range of fleas that can and do feed on cats and dogs, it is easy to understand why their numbers are so difficult to control.[/quote]

Good for you, can't wait to see pictures of Laurel and Freebee together!

Darn, I forgot the "r" in your name!!!! :oops:

Some dogs are just not as confident as others....some dogs (for example my Rottie) when faced with some thing new is very confident and investigates...I also have Newfoundland dogs a couple of them were very fearful of new things...men would have one of my Newf's in a panic, a person wearing a ball cap would have another one hiding etc. the key is to build the dogs confidence & do not praise the insecurity by petting her or talking gently to her...this can be viewed by the dog as "my master is comforting me, so there must be a good reason...that thing will probably hurt me" building a dogs confidence can take a long time...one of my Newf's is now going on 8 years old...I have owned her since she was 15 months...she is only now displaying a confident nature, it amazes me that she will actually run up to strange people and want to be made of...that was not what she was like when I first got her...I never forced her to do any thing that made her uncomfortable...and people were always advised just to ignore her when visiting my house, she would hide in the bedroom for quite some time while my other dogs where out fussing over my company...some times she would quietly come out and sniff the person...but as soon as they tried to pet her she would run back into my bed room as if the devil was after her. It can take quite some time...and some dogs just don't have the confidence other dogs have....I found obedience helped a great deal...as I could socialize her with other dogs and people, but, she was doing activities she knew...like sit etc and this helped her focus on me and not the fact that there were threatening things surrounding her...she got lots of praise for doing her obedience well...I praised her success and when she was frightened of new things I just ignored it and went about every thing normally....my other dogs being confident have helped as well.

Isnt today the day you are going to meet your (possible) new dog? I hope every thing goes well for you...you would make a perfect home for this dog...I'm crossing my fingers that Freebee likes the potential new room mate! :kciuki:

Hey! I did kinda go into too much detail about the bones!!! :lol: I have just found in my experience of working with dogs on a daily basis at a Vet clinic....Lab's tend to have a problem with being overly enthusiatic about swallowing things! :o in the past year we have had a Lab mix come in about 15 times for different items it has swallowed and some items we have been able to have pass...but a couple of times the dog required surgery...the funniest time was when the dog finally passed the owners panties...they were bright yellow thongs with a smiley face on them! every one got a laugh over that one...I could never look at the owner with a straight face from that day forward! :lol: many of the Labs that require surgery have swallowed rocks (you wouldn't beleive the size of some of the rocks removed! :o ) and a few have swallowed raw hides and had blockages from them and peices of bones which they swallowed whole. As for the Lemon juice, what was recommended was the concentrated lemon juice you purchase for putting on fish...it comes in the container that looks like a lemon...it's in a squirt bottle so its perfect for squirting in your dogs mouth...it worked well for all the biters and mouthy dogs in our obedience classes...

Wow, what a situation! :o I too would be upset for the safety of my pets...but, also your girlfreind is not the one who should be responsible for putting up a secure fence. The more your neighbors dogs see your animals etc the aggression is rising and rising.... I would first speak with your neighbors, if they seem nice enough perhaps you could mention to them that perhaps the dogs either need to be kept in the house when not supervised...of course if the neighbors agree to this it will probably only last a little while...I would suggest also it would be really nice if they put up a much more secure fence...a fence the dogs cannot see through would be ideal...I have seen privacy fences made of wood which are great for situations like this. If the neighbors do not agree to this or if they do not have the finances to do so...then I would put up a privacy fence on my side and fill in the holes where the dogs have dug...some times if the dogs can't see what is making them excited then they will not try to dig underneath the fence...but, then again....some dogs just enjoy digging. I would definately do some thing soon before a "mistake" happens...it best to protect your self as some people are so irresponsible when it comes to their pets and they can't seem to see any problems. Where your girlfreind just moved in I would try not to get on the bad side of you neighbors by making accusations...you could even talk to the other neighbors who are on the other side of this "bad" neighbor and see what problems they have encountered. If worse comes to worse then I would definately speak with the local animal control agent just to get their opinion. Situations like this are unacceptable....