Sanvean

I doubt I'd use it, as neutering isn't a very complicated procedure in the first place. However, I -do- wish there were some alternative to spaying! When my kitties were little, the thought of them having total hysterectomies, which would be very major surgery for people, worried me very much. Of course, I had them done, and they were fine, but I worried a LOT!

There's a Web site at [url]www.neutersol.com[/url] -- here's some info I just copied over: Unlike surgical castration, puppies treated with Neutersol

Heh. I gave up on the squirt bottle, as it didn't seem to discourage my kitties anyway :) I figured, they do what they want while I'm away...they might as well do it while I'm home! :-?

Poor Titus What a heartbreaking story.

[quote name='mydogroxy']i heard about this shot a while ago. the information i read said that the shot essentially atrophies the testicles so they don't produce anything. i don't believe it has the behavioral effects of traditional neutering, ie. lessening aggression, cutting down on humping and roaming, etc. since this is so new, and doesn't really cut down on unwanted behavior, i would probably opt for the traditional method.[/quote] I would think that it would have the same effects as surgery, as the end result of both procedures is the same -- the amount of testosterone is drastically reduced.

Love this one! Just e-mailed it to my fiance :)

Maltese: I'll only change it if I can do it while cuddling.

It seems like a lot of dogs like the poo of other animals. My foster dog, Betsy the beagle, liked to eat horse poo (as do two other dogs I know, one a Dobie and one a lab).

I recently met some Chins at a dog show -- they are such darlings! I agree that a bigger dog is best for now, though; when your kids are teens, a small dog might be a good choice. (You can have something to baby for when your babies are grown up!)

Lhasas and shih-tzus can look quite similar as puppies, IMO. Most of the shih-tzus I know are very friendly, while most lhasas are more reserved, but perhaps that's different overseas.

She sounds so darling! Can't wait to see photos :)

Don't feel bad about plucking the hair from her ears. I do it to Macy and she doesn't appear to be in pain at all. She's very good -- and it definitely helps her ears stay cleaner.

Oh, that makes me ill. Maybe you could get your niece a "present" of a good book on dogs?

It's just amazing how much infighting there is in the pet-loving and rescue communities. Everyone has their own idea about how pets should be raised/bred/treated/trained, etc., and SO many people are eager to point out what a horrible, abusive, evil person you are if you don't do things 100 percent THEIR WAY. I'm glad I found this board, which is much more relaxed.

Here's a site that may help: [url]http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/agg_dog.htm[/url]

Awesome! Which ones did you get? I'm reading "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training" and am enjoying it despite the name :) Macy and I are learning clicker training, and she is doing very well with it!

One dog Name: Macy Age: 5 years Breed: Maltese

when she's playing with one of your kitties, gets pinned, and has to be rescued! I about died laughing when this happened...I was home at lunch earlier today, and Macy and Janie (one of our kitties) were playing together. When I looked over, Macy was on her back, her little face peeking out at me from underneath Janie's orange fluff. I shooed Janie off her (after I stopped laughing) and am SO sorry I didn't have a camera handy!

Macy does this every now and then. I was mystified at first, because she doesn't have a dominant bone in her little body. The vet and a couple of other friends think that she might just be confused, because she wasn't spayed until she was 4 years old. (Before we got her.) Perhaps it was something she was used to doing when she was in heat, so she's just used to doing it. I just tell her "no" very firmly and put her down.

I totally sympathize...my mom also has a very selective memory (part of why I moved out when I turned 18 to go to college and never came back!). I agree with the others. Hiring a local teen (or maybe even a retired person) who is home during the day to take Cosmic for a walk would be a great solution and probably fairly affordable.

Great post!

About Maltese (from bhejei.com): Many believe that the Maltese originated on the Isle of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. However, evidence presented in the Maltese Dogs: Jewels of Woman, (Miki Iveria, pub: Maltese Club of Great Britain) and other sources suggests that the Maltese did in fact originate in Asia. Evidence of dogs resembling the Maltese have been found as early as 5000 - 2000 B.C in ancient drawings, art and writings. Assuming the place of origin of the Maltese to be Asia, the tiny dogs probably made their way to Europe through the Middle East with the migration of nomadic tribes. The Isle of Malta (or Melita as it was know then), was a geographic center of early trade and explorers undoubtedly found ancestors of the tiny white dogs left there as barter for necessities and supplies. Maltese were favorites of the Greeks and Romans of old. There are many drawings in existence portraying small, long-haired dogs on pieces of Greek and Roman pottery. Maltese were first imported into Britain during the reign of Henry VIII. They were certainly favorites in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. By the middle of the 19th century the breed was well established as a pet dog in Britain, and when dog shows began, the Maltese were featured among the early exhibits. Many of the Maltese in the US today trace their heritage back to English imports. You can read the breed standard here: [url]http://www.bhejei.com/standar.htm[/url] My personal observations: They are loving, friendly and cuddly little dogs. They adore being with their people at all times. They get along well with other dogs and with cats.

What pieces of crap! :grab: I did notice that DBI doesn't allow right clicking now, though -- thank god!

Yes, definitely check out shelters (or Petfinder, which I mentioned above -- many shelters and rescue groups post their pets there). I agree that an adult can be MUCH easier for a first-time dog owner. However, you will want to make sure that it is good with your kitties. Puppies can be less frightening to a cat, but of course, they're MUCH more work!

I am SO happy you are doing your research :) So many people get a pet based just on looks without thinking about what the best dog for them is. Here are a couple of quizzes you can take: [url]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm[/url] [url]http://www.ivillage.com/pets/tools/breedselector/[/url] You can then check out petfinder.com and see if there are any rescue dogs in your area that fit your criteria :) If not, or if you want a puppy, please check out this link on how to find a reputable breeder: [url]http://www.frii.com/~phouka/puppy/bdr_frames.html[/url]