Lokipups

:o I'd be very leery with those ads in the papers for puppies, something like 75% of those ads are actually brokers for smaller puppymills. You'll get there to look at the pups and be told that they're just doing the owners a favor watching the pups, and the parents are not on the premises. The mills essentially pay people to do the selling for them when they have excess "stock". Stock- what a lovely thing to call another living creature :evil: .

Hailey's a Husky, correct? If yes, then you really made the right decision. And as Mydogroxi said, your dog, your rules! You know your dog better than anyone else, so don't worry what anyone else thinks. Besides, peer pressure is [i]so[/i] eighth grade :lol: ! And I love them Northern breeds too, shedding, attitude prone, hairy monsters that they are :thumbs: ! :scared: <-- This is a Husky if ever off leash and unattended :lol:

Try to remember that if you're in jail for choking the snot out of someone you'll have to find someone to take care of the dogs :P :lol: .

:( Dear god, that poor dog! And how much you wanna bet his former owners thought it was "cute" :evil: ?

Here is a link to Florida's puppy lemon laws, [url]http://www.malteseonly.com/lemon.html[/url] she should be covered by them if the dog is just around 1 year old.

Here's one I was involved with less than a year ago. [url]http://www.siberescue.com/Common/NJBust.html[/url] This was a BYB gone out of control, I've never seen anything like it. Here's a pic of one of the pups that was pulled, she now lives with a wonderful family after staying here at Casa De Doggy to be rehabbed [img]http://img21.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Lokipup/Dog%20pics/000_0008.jpg[/img]

Unfortunately vets get none or very little in the way of behavioral and training education, they have to focus on the health of about a dozen different species, so it really doesn't allow them to learn about specific animal behavior. And that's what keeps me in business :lol: . But really, try and keep them separated as much as possible if you absolutely must keep them, separate crates, feeding, and training times, you'll be grateful down the road if you do. But rehoming at least one of them would still be better, I know it's awful hard to do, but it would be the right thing to do if you can't separate them in your home. The problems will really start to show around full maturity, anywhere around 14 to 18 months of age depending on the breed.

For starters, one should NEVER take littermates, that's a whole lotta trouble right there. In all honesty, you would be doing the right thing if you rehomed two out of the three, and give the pups the opportunity to grow apart from each other. Littermates, unfortunately, will bond very tightly to each other, making it very difficult to train them to work (train) for you. You'll almost always see one pup looking to the other for guidance, when it should be looking at you instead. And then there's the fighting issue. Two male littermates now at 5 months will have some noisy clashes, but when they hit maturity at 14 to 16 months, you're going to have some all out battles for dominance. And then throw in a third one, one of them is going to be badly hurt, and very dog aggressive for the rest of it's life, which isn't fair to any of them. You didn't say what kind of breed, but if it's a purebred, there are rescue groups that can help find excellent new homes for them.

I thought this might get through to Doglover, although I'm having my doubts :roll: ......... Purebred pets at shelters? You bet By SANDRA ECKSTEIN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ron and Ginger Anspaugh's dream dog -- a purebred English springer spaniel -- came from a pound in Jackson, Miss. Michael and Jody DuShane got their newest pug from a pug rescue group. Debbie and Gary Kazmier's show-quality black Persian cat was dumped with a cat rescue organization by a breeder who needed to get rid of some stock. Those are three of an estimated 1.5 million purebred pets taken into shelters each year. That's why advocates for animal rescue recommend people consider animal shelters and rescue groups even if they're looking for a purebred pet. And don't believe that all the animals in shelters are "damaged." Shelter workers say the problem is usually with the owners, not the pets. " 'We had a baby.' 'We're moving.' 'The kid is allergic.' We hear that every day," said Dorothy Wissler, director of Bartow County Humane Society, which works with the county animal control. "I've had unbelievable purebred dogs come in with their papers and even a receipt showing they paid $700, $800 ,even $1,200, for the dog they're dumping." (FRANK NIEMEIR/Staff) Ron and Ginger Anspaugh of Woodstock play with their English springer spaniel Jackson, who was saved from a Mississippi pound by a rescue group. (LAURA NOEL/STAFF) Photo of cat taken at the Atlanta Persian Siamese Rescue in Powerder Springs. Gail Miller, a spokeswoman for the AKC, said people often want registered dogs to have a better idea of size, temperament, length of coat and other details. She said most purebreds that end up in shelters are dogs bought on impulse from backyard breeders who sell in the newspaper, or from pet shops. But even if the dog has "papers," there's no guarantee it will look like the dogs they see at AKC shows. "Registration doesn't equal show quality dogs," Miller cautioned. That's why, unless someone is really interested in showing their new pet, a rescued purebred would be just as good -- and much cheaper -- than a dog from a backyard breeder. "We estimate that 25 to 30 percent of animals in shelters are purebreds," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States. That's out of the estimated 6 million to 8 million animals that land in shelters each year, about half of which get adopted. In the metro Atlanta area, it's estimated that 100,000 animals a year are killed, simply because there aren't enough homes. A check with Atlanta area shelters on any given day earlier this month showed many purebreds. Fulton County Animal Services reported boxers, cocker spaniels, and Rottweilers. Douglas County reported an Australian shepherd and Labrador retrievers and German shepherds. Bartow County had a miniature pinscher, a Lhasa Apso, and Jack Russell terriers. In addition, rescue groups specializing in one breed have cropped up across the country for almost every registered category of dog or cat. In the Atlanta area, there are dozens of groups or individuals specializing in specific breeds. Ron and Jody Anspaugh of Woodstock said they had such a bad experience with a cocker spaniel they purchased from a breeder that they decided to try rescue. A chance meeting with a couple who had two rescued English springer spaniels led them to Barbara Welty's English Springer Rescue America group, and 2-year-old Jackson. "He's been a fabulous dog," said Ron Anspaugh of his dog, which was rescued from a pound in Jackson, Miss. "He's so loving. He's been a real blessing to us." Debbie Kazmier said she and her husband have had similar experiences with the cats they've adopted from Atlanta Persian and Siamese Rescue. The cat rescue charges $50 to $100 for cats, while dogs usually cost about $100 to $275 from various rescue groups. But those prices include all shots, spaying or neutering and additional medical care,. "We make sure they're in great shape before we place them," said Brenda Megel of Southeast Pug Rescue and Adoption Inc, which charges $200 for a fully vetted pug. Not that you can just walk in, hand them $200 and walk out with a pug. Most rescue groups, and even some shelters, do extensive interviews and even vet, reference and home checks. Megel, whose group has an 8-page adoption application, said it's to assure that the dog and the home are a good match. "These dogs have been through enough," she said. "We want this to be their last home." Michael and Jody DuShane of Cumming said they didn't mind the process when they were trying to adopt their newest pug, Samson. They're so enamored of the rescue group idea that they now foster pugs that are waiting for their "forever home." "We just see dog after dog after dog come through and we keep saying 'Can you believe somebody dumped this dog?' " Michael DuShane said. "Why would you go through housebreaking when I can give you a 3-year-old that's housebroken, up to date on all her shots, spayed, and all for a fraction of what you'd pay for a breeder dog?" TIPS FOR FINDING A RESCUE DOG Care given to shelter dogs varies. Some, like Fulton County, include all shots, spay/neuter and even a microchip in their $85 adoption fees. Others provide nothing. But all animals adopted from a shelter are required, by law, to be spayed or neutered. • Investigate the screening process: Rescue groups often have extensive screening processes. Some even do home and vet checks. Most rescue groups have a good idea of their animals' temperaments because they live in foster homes, but some shelters also do temperament testing. • If it doesn't work out: Most rescue groups will take back a pet if the adoption doesn't work, and most require you return the pet to them if you decide not to keep it. Ask for their policy on returning adoption fees. • Save time: If you want a particular breed, some groups will allow you to get preapproved and then wait for the perfect pet. • Surf the Internet: Visiting shelters can be depressing. But the proliferation of rescue Web sites makes it easy to look for the perfect pet from your home. Try Petfinder.org, which can be tailored to your area, or your county shelter or local rescue groups. Go to [url]www.spotsociety.org[/url] for a list of Georgia breed and general rescue groups (including those mentioned in the story), as well as county shelters. For tips on how to choose the right pet, go to the Humane Society of the United States Web site, hsus.org The web has made searching for pets so much easier. Here are websites for some of the groups in this story, both purebred and general rescue groups. For a complete list of local breed rescues, shelters and low-cost spay/neuter programs, go to [url]www.spotsociety.org[/url]. [url]http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/0404/10pure.html[/url] Permission to Crosspost

[quote]Of course it's ALWAYS taking a risk, I've already stated that the best you can hope for is better odds. There's nothing wrong with trying to achieve the best possible situation for your family. Especially if there are children involved who could be put at risk by bad judgement/or info.[/quote] And then what happens to that dog? A reputable breeder will not only take back the pup, but will no longer breed that line. Try and get that to happen with a BYB or (my favorite spin :roll: ) hobby breeder. A reputable breeder also makes sure the odds are the best, not a crapshoot with genetics. And a crapshoot is what it is with this craze of "designer dogs". And Horsefeathers is dead on, financial investment means squat, the risk with a rescue dog is almost nil, they live in our homes, get the best care possible, and are usually better behaved than that adorable Cujo somebody just spent a grand on at the petstore.

I second that, "The Other End Of The Leash" by McConnell is a great read. "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson is also a good, informative read. But if you really want the "bible" that covers everything, "The Applied Handbook of Training and Behavior, Vols. I &II" by Steven Lindsay is the most comprehensive guide to canine behavior, most professionals have it in their libraries.

[quote]"These pit bulls have tasted blood. They didn't kill these rabbits to eat them; they killed them for fun."[/quote] Yeah, right, like my Sibes wouldn't have done the same thing :P , along with just about any breed with strong prey drive! And yeah, to them it would be fun, it's what they're genetically programmed to do, like scratching an itch to us :-? .

:x Now, how absolutely pathetic is it when the ACO's and ASPCA's officers themselves buy into the line of BS that pitbulls (and I quote) "just snap, they can just snap at any time". Dade County has a pit ban that could cost you thousands of dollars in fines or the euthanasia of your pit, but you can kill and sacrifice animals in the name of Santaria without a problem :roll: :madgo: ? And I'm not knocking anyone's right to practice it, whatever blows your hair back, but that's having your cake and eating it too with the law as far as I'm concerned :o .

Ditto, wonderful pics!

We have the same problem around here with unleashed and stray dogs, and I finally learned my lesson the hard way a few years ago when I was holding a puppy class (guide dogs) in a park when someone deliberately let their vicious dog off leash at us :evil: . Long story short, I went and got a battery operated cattle prod, perfectly legal to carry in almost every state. I certainly don't want to have to use it and hurt another animal, but if it comes down to that, my own dogs safety is going to be put first, as well as my kids. If the prod is a no go, then a tatical baton or even a large stick will do.

Whenever a dog has a radical behavior change, a vet check should be the first thing done. She may have a possible UTI or kidney infection.

I have trained several, I do NOT recommend them for family pets, and honestly don't think they should be bred.

Learn something new every day :oops: , I had no idea there was a canine papilloma. In my line of work I only see dead stuff :P , I miss out on some of this stuff!

As far as I know, dogs don't get warts. And for sure don't use wart remover on it, the OTC wart removers are a form of salycytic acid, that'll possibly make some more hair fall out :o . Is it the only bump she has? How big is it? Feel soft and fluid filled or hard and scaly? It could be pyoderma, a common bacterial skin infection, just off the top of my head.

[quote]My problem is the mom....she resists everything I do, saying "he just wants you to LOVE him, why are you being so hard?"[/quote] Training the dog is a piece of cake, it's the owners who'll give you the most grief :roll:. And Courtnek, you'll be able to correct him a lot faster and see results immediately because you're not a pack member, he won't challenge you :) , I'd make book on it.

What side of STUPID do you have to wake up on to think this is a good idea :evil: ?

Arrgghhh, I don't have Showtime and I am dying to see it! :flop: And anyone who can deflate the pompous a$$e$ otherwise known as PETA is ok in my book :bigok: .

Another train of thought, small dogs can actually have more dominant traits than a large dog, simply because it gets away with behavior that we would never allow in a large dog. I tell my clients the same thing, "Don't allow your lapdog to do anything you wouldn't allow your big dog to do.". Dominance problems in small dogs can be curbed and controlled by using NILIF and obed training just like their larger bretheren :wink: .

Ooops, that was mine, forgot to login :-? .

Not to mention the fact that if they're overfeeding a puppy like that, it will cause joint problems from stress on the skeleton, and can possibly also cause organ damage from such a small body trying to get rid of the excess :x .