abker17

Oh I love Berners! :D They're so rare around here though. :(

Happy Birthday Zebra! :D

Abby- Border collie mixed possibly with Akita. Cracker- Malamute/Sheltie and who knows what else. :lol: She's an all american mutt.

LOL demons or not they're still so cute! :lol:

Oh awsome Shara! :D It looks great!!!!!

----- Original Message ----- Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 3:20 PM Subject: link to sudden aggression issues- crossposted Permission to crosspost We recently had a very strange event that I think we should share around the rescue community: Young (~2 years) male, a Lab mix, came into our program with a "questionable" background. He may have been aggressive toward some children, maybe not. We kept him for a good long while --- months of fostering in our premier foster home, with no problem -- and placed him carefully, with a single mid-age man who absolutely adored him. We also, as we do with all our dogs, tested him for Lyme. He had it; we treated it; case closed-- we thought. Everything went very well after adoption -- he was the star of his obedience classes, a frequent alumni visitor to our clinics - for over a year. And truly adored by his adopter. Then, over a year after placement, Mojo became suddenly, erratically, and seriously aggressive: literally attacked visitors to the home, people at the vet's waiting room, etc. Terrifying . Very sudden. Totally inexplicable. He was returned to us with genuine heartbreak from a very loving adopter. Mojo then went to our regular vets and was a totally different dog: bared teeth and growling to anyone who approached his kennel, lunging at other dogs when being walked, etc. We figured that whatever was happening with him, he had become implacable and started a TDC (Tough Decisions Committee - something we "convene" and that is open to anyone with an interest in the dog when we think that euthanasia might be an option). However, someone at the vet's office said that perhaps we should test him for Lyme. Huh???????? They had had a regular client of theirs come in recently with similar, out of the blue aggression, and it turned out that was the problem - puzzled them, but seemed to be the case. Okay -- hey, we'll try anything -- so we had him tested. He was high positive! Fine, we started treatment while we continued to figure out what to do with him via the TDC. Almost immediately, however, once the antibiotics were begun, the Mojo we knew came back!! He was himself again -- bouncy, happy, a bit neurotic, but not at *all* aggressive! The staff at the vet's was amazed, but all confirmed this change. We didn't believe it; and the veterinarians didn't believe it .... BUT a thorough search of the Internet turned up a number of studies and anecdotal observations indicating that in some dogs (and in some humans!!) the primary symptom of their Lyme Disease can be sudden, irrational and serious aggression. Well, we've known for a while to check the thyroid levels of dogs that show aggression that just "doesn't fit". Now we have added testing for Lyme as well. And we have --- results not yet in -- another dog that we placed over a year ago who has been returned because of out-of-the-blue aggression ... and he has also tested high positive for Lyme! We've sta rted treatment and will be monitoring his response. So --- plug this in to your protocols. It's worth checking out. I spent the day today with Mojo ... and he truly is just the same dog we placed over a year ago. (We've let his original adopter know -- because he vowed that it had to be *something* causing this behavior. But he cannot take Mojo back because his roommate, one of the people attacked, won't even consider it. For the record, there were no skin-breaking contacts in any of these attacks, but plenty of fear and we consider them as serious as if they were full-fledged bites.) We actually have additional insight into this because one of our volunteers (human) has had Lyme Disease. Took many months for her to be diagnosed, and once she was, she learned that it's a VERY nasty bug that really remains around permanently, waiting for a chance to "crop up" again. When we place Mojo again (and our TDC unanimously agrees that w e should do this), we're going to explain the background, these amazing events, and require that the adopters have him tested every six months, whether or not he's showing symptoms. We have no idea whether that will work or be sufficient - we're rather flying blind in this -- but it seems a rationalapproach. I'll post again if we learn more from the second dog (also a Lab mix). But based on what we know now, it is a real possibility: Lyme *can*, in a few rare cases, cause aggression, aggression that can be reversed. Thought some of you rescue people out there might like to know about this!

I'm glad to see California going in that direction, I hope it helps and if it does that other states will follow. [quote]Then again, arguably the single worst offender in our area as relates to pit bull overpopulation is a show breeder who wins ribbons right and left. This person produced 569 puppies in 2001. Christ.[/quote] :o

:lol: Very cute.

[quote]The solutions proposed by people on this board basically consist of "everybody should be responsible" which is a pretty thought, but repeating it over and over won't save a single pit bull life.[/quote] Actually I think most people on this board believe in actually enforcing the already existing laws, like leash laws and ect.

Thank God that's not real! :lol: I thought it was pretty funny too. :lol:

Ok I really think this topic should be locked. I honestly don't think think that Rabid is willing enough to be educated, and obviously we're all fed up with him anyway and not really willing to educate. This just seems to be turning into a flame fest. Rabid has said some VERY inflamatory things and to me it looks like he is just trolling. So please someone lock this so we can get back to the old dogo. Rabid if you REALLY want answers to some of your questions there are plenty of people here that probably will still explain their point of view to you, but first learn to have a little respect.

LOL congrats on the puppers! :iloveyou: I hope to see some pics! :)

Everyone's dogs are very cute and have good judgement too! :D :wink:

Congrats! :D Good luck with that, sounds like a lot of fun!

[quote]*Note 2 self* Fling off bra and grab that glass of tea BEFORE flipping on Dogo, or you'll be uncomfortably bound and thirst to death before ever getting back up.[/quote] :rofl: :lol: :lol: :lol: :roflt:

[quote]sasha--Ive seen that so many times, and its far from funny[/quote] NOW THAT'S FUNNY! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[quote]Another one bites the dust. :wink: [/quote] AHH now that song is going to be stuck in my head all night!!!! *starts singing lyrics* :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

Yay another topic to fill with funny pictures! :lol: :lol:

:lol: I'm a member at the pit bull forum too and I don't have one. But I eventually want to get a pitters! Hoping for around next year. *crosses fingers*

Some of this article is good, and I can agree with, but when the guy starts going off about pit bulls.... :evil: Hounded- I love dogs, it's the owners that drive me crazy I was jogging on the Glover Archbold Trail in the District recently when a woman appeared on the path ahead, walking toward me with two large dogs, neither on a leash. One, a shaggy collie mix, lumbered lazily along and stuck close to it's owner. But the other dog, a Doberman Pinscher, bounded up the trail, all wiry energy, heading straight for me. It wasn't growling or barking- but it wasn't wagging it's tail either. The woman yelled, "Get back here!" but made no real attempt to restrain it. When the Doberman was about three feet away from me, it jumped up toward my face. Startled, I raised my left arm, and the dog bit lightly on my wrist. Not enough to hurt or break the skin, but enough to make me with I'd picked a different route for my run. Then it let go and trotted on down the trail. I jogged past the woman, glaring at her. She just shook her head a little and offered a not-very-sincere-sounding "Sorry." She was smiling slightly, apparently assuming that I found this incident as harmless and amusing as she did. But I didn't. During the last couple of miles on my run, I grew angrier by the minute. Not at the dog, but at the woman. Was it really possible for her to be so dense about how threatening her animal could seem to a stranger? I can't imagine that I was the first person her Doberman had menaced. Yet it seemed that she had concluded that granting her pets the joy of running free was more important than other people's right to use the park without feeling threatened. Maybe she had even deluded herself into thinking her dog's actions were quirky and cute, and that others would think so, too. Well, dog lovers, brace yourselves for a little harsh reality: Your pooches aren't as lovable to everyone else as they to you. I know this is a crushing though, but there are lots of people who don't enjoy being licked, sniffed, nipped or other wise greeted by your four legged friends. Those who do want to get to know your pets will make it obvious, I promise. They'll give a whistle and say "Here, boy!" I see it all the time- I even do it myself on occasion. But for the sake of harmony between the dog and non dog people of the world, can you please not assume that everybody's okay with having Fido up in thier faces? Keep in mind: When slobber and fur at close quarters are involved, it's important that all parties be consenting participants. Don't dismiss this as a rant of a dog hater. You couldn't be more wrong. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. My family always had one or two dogs and a few cats around the house. We didn't pull up a chair at the dinner table for them, and I guarantee that none attended a day spa for pets. But they all lived comfortable lives and enjoyed plenty of affection. My favorite was an adorable beagle who lived to 17 and often seemed my best friend in the world. Sometimes during those rough high school years, it felt as if that little dog was my only friend. In the afternoons after school we roamed the woods near my house, and on weekends we'd go camping. When my childhood companion died several years ago, I was crushed. I'll have a dog again some day, when the time is right. For now, I enjoy taking my parents' Dalmation for a walk when I visit them back home. So I'm hardly anti-dog. But let's be realistic: No pet, not even my beloved beagle, is more important than a person, and pets don't belong in certain places. I know lots of responsible pet owners who feel the same way. But too many people, particularly in urban areas, seem to have lost a piece of thier minds when it comes to thier pets. Maybe it's a symptom of the loneliness many feel in a big, impersonal city. But it can cause problems, not just for people, but for the pets too. I'm stunned to see how many people insist on keeping dogs- sometimes large dogs, sometimes multiple dogs- in small urban spaces. I live alone in a one bedroom condo in Rosslyn, and as much as I'd love to have another beagle, I wouldn't want to lock a dog in my place for 8 or 10 hours every day. I think it would be cruel. Not to mention messy. Which brings me to those who balk at the most basic responsibility of owning a pet. You know what I mean. Sure, picking up dog doo-doo is a demeaning task, but hey- if you insist on keeping a pair of greyhounds in the midst of 8 million people, there's a price to be paid. In densely populated areas, cleaning up after your pet isn't just polite, it's a public health matter (besides often being the law). And remember- every time a non-dog person soils a pair of shoes on what Fluffy left behind, you're just feeding the anti-dog fever out there. Even more troubling are owners like the woman at the park, who are oblivious to how frightening thier pets can be. I wasn't afraid of her Doberman, because I grew up around dogs and could sense from it's body language that it probably wasn't vicious. But if the dog had gone after a 3 year old in the same way, the incident could have been down right ugly. And what is the deal with the pit bull rescue crowd? Perhaps pit bulls really are gentle by nature, as thier owners claim. Maybe it's true that only bad people make dogs do bad things. But even if only bad people would use explosives to hurt other people, for instance, we wouldn't start making dynamite available at the local hardware store assuming that only demolition experts would purchase it, would we? Same with pit bulls. These dogs aren't suitable as domestic pets, so they shouldn't be promoted as such. Wouldn't the pit bull people do doggie-dom much more good if they spent thier free time helping people adopt less menacing, gentle breeds that fill local shelters, instead of defending pit bull "rights"? All these problems and others seem to arise from the growing phenomenon of people viewing pets as mini humans. What gives here, folks? Do you really think a cocker spaniel needs a doggie sweater to go for a walk on a 40 degree evening? Or that dogs like having booties strapped on thier paws? I've got some news for you: They don't. Animals don't need the same things from life as humans, and thier rights fall somewhere below ours. Trust me- your dogs are cool with that, as long as you treat them with kindness and dignity. (Hint: Dignity does not equal doggie leg warmers.) You and your pet will both be happier if you can come to terms with that. And if you use a little common sense when taking your pets for a stroll, the rest of us will be happier too. But for those of you who insist that your pooches be allowed to stretch thier legs and enjoy the wonders of the world unfettered by pesky laws and courtesies that should apply when you share small spaces with lots of people, may I humbly suggest that you look into a house in the country with a 10-acre lot. And a fence. Author's e-mail: [email]parksdan@hotmail.com[/email]

Well looks like I'm left with the 5th ban vote.... I really hope you don't leave Mei Mei. :(

Yes they are adorable! But these pups will definatly need a owner with experience. I hope they can find someone.

Abby- BEAN :lol: :lol: :lol: I call her this all the time anyways and she responds to it too. :lol: Cracker- Hmmm not really sure about her but just about anything is better than Cracker! Maybe Poofie. :lol: :roll: :wink:

Yay go Coal!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D (And Shara too, good job on the throws there :wink: ) Now I want some action shots!!!!!! :P

[quote]NEVER repeat the command Abker, it teaches her that she doesn't have to obey it the first time, or 2nd or 3rd etc.[/quote] I've heard this rule before and I've tried following it, but like Carol said in agility things are a bit different. I'd love to get to the point where I can just say it once though, and that's definatly a goal. Thanks for the suggestions everyone! :D