Taurus and Jada

I have a question for those of you who have had your dos since they were a puppy, seen them grow, and they are now a little older. I was mostly wondering at what age did you notice you're dog was starting to slow down? The reason I am asking is because I have noticed some drastic changes in Taurus in the past few months. He's not the same dog he once was. My husband is convinced that it's because we had him neutered at an older age, and he thinks we should have left him intact... He was very afraid that neutering Taurus would "change him" , and indeed something has. He is uninterested in people anymore. Before when we would pass someone on the street, he was all wiggle bum, and so excited if someone extended their hand to pet him. Now he barly gives them the time of day. He will sniff their hand and thats it. He has also just recently become dog aggressive ( at the age of 4 years old) and territorial ( he was never like this until about 4 months ago, around the same time he was neutered) Ussually when I come home from work he is allready standing at the front door by the time I turn the key, and he's jumping up and down... so thrilled someone is home. Now he doesn;t even get up off the couch to come greet me. If I take him fo walks, he cxomes home afterwards, lays down, and is so tired... after a 30 min walk... He's used to getting lots of long walks so this is upsetting to me. My question is: Is this just Taurus getting older? Is it possible that he would age like this in such a short time? Is there something else that could be causing this? At what age did you notice a change ( if any) in your dogs behavior as they aged?? Thanks, Kara

I agree that they're another fad.... just what the APBt needs... more fad breeding. I do not like the look fo them at all... I beleive the ADBA is the only club that allows merle in the colour standard.... :o

[quote name='newfiemom']Okay...I'm jealous. jada is a very good dog. She patiently waited for her cake. Even though my gang do have good manners, there is no way that they would have been that patient. Happy Birthday Jada!!![/quote] :lol: We have been working very hard on our "off" command. I make her lay down everymorning when I set her food down. I make her wait... sometimes 5 secs, 2 secs, 15sec.... I mix it up so she never knows.. shes getting quite good at it now, as you can see!!

We made Jada's birthday cake tonight!! Taurus and Jada both loved it... [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YwCMA7wfwFWyZX3KIpYNFU1mYJxufsfLPL8jtFm6zM*LuXWZw2tyCFGjhNinr2aPjq0wd!CWwcvT06vHMvoo6GyifrxWJ5iN96*r4drFGFpNppXC9WXI4K7EWQJu0l2H9lNwQG7TaaYuNj!HkmJ8bA/bday%20cake.JPG[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0ZwCMA3shQwHB22lNsTiAM2h*s*aPQOdAM7NKLaM5BgIRxYT8xsmAqidrMGwVZP1tLyb!YDAxNlWGdUBCnJFidxiU!CGPqmfp4smlazSJ*4zXK8IYzcwyz1h7!kEDLlkWIoavJoIKC4CGDIdewOxCRw/jada%20enjoying.JPG[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0awAJA2sifG0gRxK8MNsFLyv9F!Bt8uqL6c42c6duRtZLLMReIMlA8ac6KG5fF81Zum2n9YOcNJfR3ZGMveFc8lwJFXpxDtqAM*UqNGH*bRrwAXqW1x!vLafLU6TZmR!ZQSV0cgWGZCZc23Oa*NKvLQf60lHaNO3T/looking%20at%20cake.JPG[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0cAAPA4ok90!I6sEI49Wi2*FNIoacY*lT!QWpidkrbRSeukoMVlk4sXVHhJIRGgwQDooqukbS9tKuiF5iNmPWRHuF9lDVmOJzZSrw5OiT2dqz*pdOghSSe5IioxWcvT*Q78qpSJBcGQ4lSeNSee7BHPxyO2wuwshyKGNvbXBhdGk/Taurus%20enjoying%20cake.JPG[/img]

[quote name='pitbullEmily'][quote name='Taurus and Jada'][quote name='sashagirl']I was born and raised in Florida... I have never seen snow in real life! :o[/quote] you poor , poor soul !! lol here you go! [...My dogs love the snow... I've got tons more pictures at home , but I'm at work right now. I'll post some more when I get home at 5... .[/quote] my little boy grew up in Texas and he's not so sure... [img]http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL258/1423320/3425724/42043970.jpg[/img] [img]http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL258/1423320/3425724/42044098.jpg[/img][/quote] ohh.... he doesn't look too happy with the situation... better get him inside!! lol I thought Jada wouldn't like the winter, but she loves the snow more then Taurus. I found another snow picture of Taurus... ( are you getting sick of seeing his ugly mug yet?? [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YQD7AosfAkBjlGyUDqaU2Mso6HYtxC8ClpfjCD*xJ7Ao8LR5K7vWaHhrzsPQyCnSf1Q9wouDi2DN2e7gXmrbDxi5JbcV6gr2kzAYhxEDw8V!x4TF7ehC01ZkyjWsH4tGB1AjkDCrBB0HmfFft5N9RA/Proudboy6.JPG?dc=4675468351832128580[/img] brrrr that looks cold!

[quote name='sashagirl']I was born and raised in Florida... I have never seen snow in real life! :o[/quote] you poor , poor soul !! lol here you go! [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aACqA!Igb85lCRoUgD5adNb3NTZj!aPaw0j6R5N8jCCUgDpKRiKaBe6*Xj2dx3pyq9T955Tt04pgxM8WKJrC0qK29TbbQwMYWaoSyGTpxT7Q1i8cLU99mPM4tHzdb7JxhlA0TJd6PYUa5KDejJbOImxsYS80LjAg/UPTHESTAIRSROOAT.JPG?dc=4675473319626221937[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aQAJA4chFg31Vpx4uO!*u1bS8XIfAt8!kqAF*JQP!4ZI8wpYcHF*ss116YY!tR*n9dNhLy9vx7mV*IXOSAloYwnkjQwhWRt8I!JlV7g40rKjxEBHzGBUZ05k9eazp24g34tlA7MffztlHgceIABCL6tYtXWJk7je/Havin%20a%20taste.JPG?dc=4675476965631680908[/img] My dogs love the snow... I've got tons more pictures at home , but I'm at work right now. I'll post some more when I get home at 5... As far as the weather goes... here in my neck of the woods (Southwestern Ontario), the weather hasn't been able to make up its mind at all this summer. On Monday it was hot as all bloddy hell.... 29 C ((and with the humidex it was 36 C), and now today its only 17 degrees C???

[quote name='sashagirl'] [size=2]Here Taurus, time to come home with me... I have lot's of steak for you... mmm mmm good! Who's a pretty boy? [/size][/quote] Taurus says" mmmmmmmmm... I love steak... got anything else ?? " [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aQDrAochFg31Vpx4uO!*u1bS8XIfAt8!kqAF*JQP!4ZI8wpYcHF*ss116YY!tR*n9dNhLy9vx7mV*IXOSAloYwnkjQwhWRt8I!JlV7g40rKjxEBHzGBUZ05k9eazp24g34tlA7MffztlHgceIABCL6tYtXWJk7je/Havin%20a%20taste.JPG?dc=4675476965631680908[/img]

[quote name='pLaurent']LOL - my dog too feels "All Stuffies Must Die!" but has never had a problem distinguishing them from children. :D[/quote] :lol: guilty here also!!! No stuffed animal has ever lasted longer then 5 mins in my house...

Stubby the APBT World War 1 had just ended on the day that Stubby marched proudly at the head of the 102nd infantry as they passed in review before President Woodrow Wilson. Stubby was an American hero. He was also a brown-and-white American pit bull terrier. Mascot and member of the 102nd, the young dog had served his men and his country in 17 battles in France. He had saved hundreds of lives, and his loyalty and courage had inspired thousands of soldiers. Now he delighted the president with his customary salute, a paw raised ceremoniously to his face. Stubby was destined to become the most decorated war dog in U.S. history. But he was just a scrawny stray puppy when Private John Conroy picked him up on the campus of Yale University in 1917. The lonely young private was at Yale for training before being sent to the European front. Soon he and the pup were inseparable. When deployment orders came, Conroy managed to smuggle the patchy pup aboard the troop ship bound for France. Once aboard, Stubby quickly won the hearts of all the men of the 102nd. They even taught him to perform his trademark salute by raising his right paw to his face. When finally discovered by Conroy's commander, the little stray was so beloved by the troops, he was allowed to stay to keep up morale. But once in Europe, Stubby had to grow up fast. Within weeks of their arrival in the European theatre, the 102nd was under fire on the front lines in France. And it was there that the young pit bull began to really prove his mettle. Stubby reached the trenches of the front line in February 1918 in the midst of a horrific battle. Although the dog was never trained to cope with such nightmarish conditions, he calmly endured a mounting barrage of shelling for the first 30 days. In fact, Stubby's caretakers were amazed by his cool under fire, and absolutely stunned when he voluntarily ventured out into the battle zone to seek out and comfort wounded soldiers caught in the crossfire. News of the little dog's heroism and fidelity reached the French village of Domremy, and after the fighting subsided, the women of the town presented him with a hand-sewn chamois coat decorated with Allied flags and his name stitched in gold thread. (1) During the next 18 months Stubby carried messages under fire, stood sentry duty, and helped paramedics find the wounded in "no man's land". He gave early warning of deadly gas attacks and was credited many times with saving his entire regiment. When Stubby found and helped capture a German spy who was mapping a layout of the Allied trenches, he was awarded the honorary rank of Sergeant. When seriously wounded by shrapnel, he was sent to the Red Cross hospital for surgery just like any other soldier. Once recovered, the gutsy pit bull returned to his regiment and continued to serve until November 11, 1918, the day the war ended. Upon his return to the U.S. after the Armistice, Stubby was greeted by a wildly cheering American public. Recognition of his valor came from all directions. Named a life member of the Red Cross and the American Legion, he was awarded many medals including one by General John J. Pershing. Called to the White House several times to meet Presidents Harding and Coolidge, he led more regimental parades than any other dog in history. Stubby spent his final years with John Conroy the beloved soldier who had rescued him so many years ago. He died of old age in 1926.

Well I too had been subjected to the media hype behind pitbulls, so when I first met my husband, I must admit that I wasn't thrilled he owned a pitbull. It didn't take long though before I fell in love with Taurus. I love the breed, however, I am still young, and I would like to own several breeds throughout my life. I think that each breed has its pros and cons, and I don't feel that any one breed is "perfect". There are a few breeds I would like to own before I settle on "the one" 1) APBT 2) Presa Canario 3) Rodesian ridgeback 4) Weimeraner ( SP????) 5) Staffy Bull 6) American Bulldog 2 down, 4 to go!!

Thanks alot for the replies... I appreciate it. I am just an overly protective mom I think, and I worry too much. Most people do not think she's too thin, but I just want to make sure she is getting enough food/ nutrients, and that she is a healthy weight. Thanks again for the advice and help, Kara

:D Well tomoorow is my baby's 1st birthday!! Im so excited ... we're going to be making her some sort of treat/ dog cake, just not sure what yet? Any good recepies??? Anyways, here are some puppy/ adult pictures of her. Its hard to beleive its been 10 months allready! I can't beleive shes 1 year old so soon!!! She is 26", and aprox. 100 lbs. We are concerned that she is too thin, because she doesn't seem to be filling out at all. Its sort of hard to see from the pictures, but you can see a few ribs,and spine vertibraes.... Anyways, enjoy! [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0bwDvApEjWOxvd8*iHCXKl4HWgNST8HJw9EvEW00JCvg4GzTbuFmrkbAwT9nf1cQbRyXn3*NA2Wr8f!NpJY5TyM0SIY7YVBAtKqAkr*E97OBlNrHHq7zcFloe9VBXBqI0dUTN7qrlGN!o3JqZRhFksY*JUURMMuq*/playin%20in%20the%20sun.JPG?dc=4675468351336129849[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aQDvAqEhExguwPYPKcxaofMa8l1l0h8QXxHRoIAtOBSCFpl8PAVriIoId6FjvFob6gYuEWnBlrLkzluBNlKflsguZTwltDrrAF*ZNaFqd1iJ5Ic6hsfYUPyNmOq4bR4mON!1SQJAKcafOspjreYfTJbEZT3**xIS/death%20by%20cute.JPG?dc=4675468351333366754[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0ZgD3AkQhO!1uuV7u!wrT3ET4QFI58s8XNOYWa0hwAM3co4YjpBRRSMlO4iu9DB*au2mlRZWlvFnTEfJbprfI7Jg6yU4TQnl7vH3MZndUviEREPTngwqjGURUBqmA1okGtP6E3*LFDY*Xvb5Mix62!g/curious%20lion.JPG?dc=4675468351325042471[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0awAAAMoiIpJI*AThYx3GlYO5Cm2GdkjWWDEO4bJN23p*!RzdHh0!RiS2AcSjRUzYqLSD74tVvK4Hn9NSnm0NdxAZ!2oJUHjTZM*C6o96fq46JoDhRoXg*jqp9cRE5sNcUDlGeI7Msuc3RXzSHs1H0lobPUz1NjFT/profile.one%20year0.JPG?dc=4675480472081068178[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YgAAAHsf0Dv3KJHLLePaX6itZ0*uXh!qd7t4JiUwYatIza*azkIkd0YdRwnYJ4XUncWy5nJQEaM8*GO*71Xk0Df9jnkAmqaZFnqUqGIEMTFglPMjVFJKYOQ8pn8V7LGhtyBUde7Ao0hGgo2bQqL05Q/one%20year.JPG?dc=4675480471864824529[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0cgD7Ao8k8lwgRxK8MNsFL57y4hLOVSB1yrV0z1BhvW37JVLRII9UBUzXPYmhd1R0E*Tdx!tAViU2sfZCgeIfaYbEH!ezeHhfLdh*q3oKx8B9QnOJoiWwkICf*StRLgqhHUAiQUCqjuSIp36cxvxRYcvA4YnRmK5g6k0a0j0oFBw/looking%20up.%20one%20year.JPG?dc=4675480471862040754[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YwDrAqwfdVD3KJHLLePaXwdUKYj0DfAb8PvtzKbVrWWWyaxhrycykJoKvcZ7h66ZhsOHEPcC2KVrzcZGo2i62Y2GpO0s0Szoo7a1DeKbO4OixelBSxHLduu4W2HF0hCXoYfaPiTMygARvDIuBEswkw/one%20year1.JPG?dc=4675480471867560582[/img]

I can very easily feel ribs and spine. I can even see some ribs too, when shes standing there. Thats why im concerned. The vet didn't seem too concerned about it, but she is real thin, I think, anyways!!

I am currently feeding Taurus and Jada Canidae. I have seen great results with it, and am very happy with how they are both doing on it. My question is, should you always just go by what the side of the bag says for feeding guidelines. I realize you must have to use your discretion sometimes, but Jada seems to need quite a bit more then what is reccommended. The bag says 4 cups for a dog Jada's size ( 100 lbs.) I am allready feeding her 5 cups ( 2 1/2 cups 2x day). I know when she is hungry, because in the morning, Jada will go to the cupboard where their dog food is and sit beside it, until I feed them. She will do the same thing at night when I come home from work. Lately, she has been going and sitting by it around 8-8:30 also. ( Feeding times are: 8am, and 5pm.) Should I be giving her more? She is still growing ( her 1st birthday is tommorow !! :peace: ) and i have read that overfeeding a large dog can put unddue stress on their joints, so thats what im afraid of... any suggestions?? Thanks, Kara

Jada has a black spot on her tongue also. She's had hers since she was a puppy though, so im not too worried. I would rather be safe then sorry though. I'd always rather "waste" $40 at the vet for nothing, then not waste it and find out it was something.

Welcome to the group!!! :D

Mine don't sleep in really wierd spots... just wierd positions. One sleeps in the bed with us, and the other sleeps on their bed. They ussually take turns, and who ever climbs up there first with me while Im watching TV at night is the one that will sleep up there. Occasionally I will wake up in the morning to find that they both have crawled into bed with us. This is hard to do though, as we only have a double bed, and Im 130 lbs, Matts 220 lbs, Jada is 100 lbs, and Taurus is 75 lbs!!! Somehow we all do it though!!! Their favorite spot to sleep is the bed though.... [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0ZQAAALAgZrLFYuiJpBDL5iFmnE6sfsHPwuG6UTASz6IZ*k9CI42DSkhqK9bSyeTuKx5tPzsnsAYx4q99BMQCbPubGSreUPhxu7fyAFQnrrEuqCKpsFKTBPsUSzU7vVZ2gnR!74HizJ2Xw*N9o9k7Jg/fast%20asleep.JPG?dc=4675474392436912935[/img] Doesn't she look so comfortable???

Thanks for the replies... I have never had a dog thus far that has raised their hackles,, so i am a little naive as to what exactly causes it. Jada's fur is about 1 inch long, and when she is really worked up, they will be raised straight up, from her head to her tail. I agree that it is the whole package though, not just one thing that could cause a dog to be labeled " dangerous ". I was just wondering if it was something that I should be concerned about or if it's just Jada?? Thanks for the help! Kara

I have a question regarding this article. ( which I think is a great article by the way... :D ) Jada, our presa, often raises her hackles when she comes near another dog. Should this be something I should be overly concerned about? The reason why I am asking is because this article mentions a dog raising its hackles as dangerous. I always assumed that some dogs just raise them more often, which is the case with Jada. Alot of the time when she's in the backyard they are partially up, as she is always on guard of our backyard! When she is in a situation that she feels threatened or the need to be protective, she will raise them. I have no doubt in my mind though that she would never attack anything/ one unless they attacked her, and then she would stand up for herself, nomore though. She has been put in a situation where she was out front with me and a dog off leash came up onto our property. She trotted down the driveway barking at the dog and people on our property. She stood at the end of our laneway, hackles raised and barked at them... but did not leave our property, or go after the dog.... just protecting the homestead!!

We have some new neighbours who walk their sheltie off leash. The part that bothers me the most about it is that if their dog ran onto my front lawn and my dog was outside with me on its chain, Jada would certainly let that dog know it was her house. Because they have a sheltie and I have a big beast!! (lol dont tell her I said that, k??? lol ) my dog (s) would be blamed I bet. It was the same way in our obediace class. A lady also had a sheltie, but the rest of the dogs in the class were big. So everyone in the class would always been watching to see what their dog was doing, and keeping them on a short leash so they did not disrupt the other dogs. Well apparently this lady didn't think her dog needed to be paid close attention to. Her dog went right up to another dog and the dog snapped at her. Well the lady with the sheltie gives the other lady (who is keeping her dog in close proximity ) a nasty look.... HELLO!!! Just because you have a small dog doesn't mean you don't have to contain it the same as the rest of us!!!! grrrr..... it makes me mad just thinking about it..

Have any of you had any luck at the vets?? I hope they're all feeling better... I have an overactive bladder myself and am constantly getting bladder infections ( about 5 / year ) so I know its NO FUN!!! :( I hope they are all feeling better soon, Kara Taurus gives you all licks in hopes that it will cheer you up! :lol: [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aQClApQhlQ71Vpx4uO!*u1bS8XIfAt8!kqAF*JQP!4ZI8wpYcHF*ss116YY!tR*n9dNhLy9vx7mV*IXOSAloYwnkjQwhWRt87HXTy5Rbeod57b5V3l3h9Rim18*IKWlPMQxzGcaBW8CdbjL4tWO7QOunxGJ6yZP8/Havin%20a%20taste.JPG?dc=4675476965631680908[/img]

Well you must be very proud. Great work, both of you. I dont know how you didn't cry though, because I had tears in my eyes just readin your post!! :cry: This is something I have considered for Jada when she gets a bit older. She is pretty relaxed, and more then happy to sit there all day and let anyone pet her that wishes.... I don't know exactly whats required, but at 11 months, I know shes got a while before she could start ( I think anyways...)

I thought we should get her the tablets, but the husband thought we should get the liquid so we did.... :-? well I measured it out, and put it in her bowl.... man did I wish I had a camera... she sniffed it for about 20 secs before she decided to give it a try. She took the smallest little lick and made the funniest face Ive ever seen a dog make in my entire life. I ended up having to mix it with some stuff so she would eat it. After she was done, I also wished I had a camera because she had pick on her nose, and her jowels, and the front of her mouth... so cute... I had to laugh :lol:

Thats not silly at all. When we got married, we bought Taurus a tux so he could be in some pictures with us.... I think we bought his tux before I bought my own wedding dress.. lol It was the first thing we thought of, so if you're wierd for thinking that, then so am I ( and probably 99% of people on this board...) he he

Thanks guys, I was sure Id heard it was okay before, but I had no idea how much to give.... Kara