lsailor

Yeah! They are still some sane people out there!!! :laola:

I can definately see where they'd be good at ratting. Mine will dig a hole to China in the backyard if given the chance looking for something delicious underground! Yep...there's a reason Terrier is in their name :Dog_run:

[quote name='DivineOblivion19'][quote name='Debbie']Dog Fancy April 2005 (the magazine) just came out with types of dogs that are best suited for certain life styles...... [u][b]Young Family Seeks First Dog[/b][/u] [u]Top Picks;[/u] Collie (smooth/rough), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Pug, Boston Terrier [u]Worth A Look;[/u] Affenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, Dachshund, Labrador Retriever, French Bulldog[/quote] ... I don't think a Corgi would be good for a first time dog owner...[/quote] I completely agree. I'm not sure these choices make much sense for a young family (assuming that includes kids!). - Corgis tend to try to herd children (read: nipping heels!) - Cavaliers are awfully fine boned to stand up to rough play with kids, if you have nice, calm kids I'm sure they're great with them - Dachshund...well...they don't put up with much and the ones I know won't hesitate to let you know when they're annoyed - French Bulldogs, as an owner myself, I can say they need LOTS of attention, they cannot withstand a lot of exercise or they'll overheat, they potentially have expensive health problems, and I don't think they'd make a great first dog as they are stubborn & are very slow to potty train. I think a rescue GSD might be a good choice. You would definately have to make sure they are good with children. They tend to be dominant dogs so training would be a must, and they are highly intelligent so you'd have to make sure they'd be busy :kciuki:

Try organic plain yogurt and a Breathalicious (if you can find them where you are), they are like Greenies, but have herbs & chlorophyll to aid digestion. Hope you dog feels better soon!

The rarest I've come across are a Thai Ridgeback (who looks quite a bit like my boy Beckham!), Dogue de Bordeaux, and Pharaoh Hound. We live in Southern Orange County, CA - my French Bulldog is pretty rare around here, I've only come across 2 (other than mine & her sister).

Just checked out that kennel and I must say their dogs are gorgeous and look EXTREMELY athletic. Wow! I wouldn't want to stumble on to their property by mistake judging from the shutzhund (sp?) pictures! :shock:

OMG! That pic is too funny! I definately have to visit that site now :laugh2_2:

I think Bulldogs are fantastic! They are fine in an apartment/condo/townhouse type situation as they require minimal exercise and are fairly calm dogs. They do require quite a bit of attention from their family, so if you want to leave them for long periods of time, they probably aren't for you. The main drawback would be the potential for high vet bills since they are prone to some serious health problems (as are most purebred dogs). I have not met a dog agressive Bulldog, but they do exist. But, if you're just looking for a slobbery, gaseous, sexy, wrinkly, lazy & hungry friend - a Bulldog might just be for you :) BTW - Adora's (my Frenchie) breeder also breeds "English" Bulldogs, send me a personal message if you would like her info!

Highly trainable, large dog, good with kids? I would really suggest looking in to a Great Dane - they are FANTASTIC dogs and are relatively low-key, gentle, intelligent & obedient. You'd just have to spend a fortune in dog food! :)

I think a "Sporting" type dog would be a great fit based on your description. What about a Brittany, Viszla, Weimeraner or German Shorthair Pointer? Or some mix of those? I'm sure up in Minnesota (?) there are probably more than few of the 'gun dog' type dogs at the shelter or in rescue. My best friend growing up had a German Shorthaired Pointer that her dad had as a hunting dog and he was the best playmate for us. We had a great time with him - he was intelligent, gentle, patient, silly, and sturdy enough for us to roughhouse with. :great:

In my very biased opinion the cutest have to be French Bulldogs, APBT, Bulldogs & Bostons - how can you resist their silly smiles?! Impossible! Sorry, couldn't choose just one :) But really all puppies are cute...Bassetts with their floppy ears, Boxers with their smooshy faces, Great Danes with the gangly limbs, mixed breeds...yep - love 'em all!!

My APBT mix had his tail docked before I found him when he was 10 wks old. I have had lots of people ask me why I docked his tail and what breed he is (he looks like a Pharaoh Hound/ABPT mix - prick ears, docked tail). It looks like someone put a rubberband around his tail - I have no clue what breed they thought he was or if they were just idiots! It doesn't make much sense to me why someone would dock a mixed breed dog's tail except if they were trying to pass it off as purebred. Why anyone would dock a pit bull's tail is beyond me, except that it was common for their tails to be docked in the late 1800's when the breed first came to America (most likely to keep it out of the way for fighting - how nice of them! :( )

I watched it once and that was enough for me! What a goofy show...and I'm a reality TV junkie! My thing is, the ending of the show is STUPID. I realize the premise of the show is that it is a contest to find the best home for the main dog. But to me it doesn't make sense that only one of the 3 families that wants a dog end up with one. If the show producers were really concerned about rescuing animals, they would show the 2 families that didn't "win" the main dog going to a shelter to adopt a different dog. Just my 2 cents :niedowiary:

Glad you liked it. I hope that all of these animals and their guardians make it back safe & sound soon! I have a major crush on "Sarge", probably because he looks a bit like my (big) baby Beckham :iloveyou:

I'm not sure if this is already posted... I was given the link to the most amazing site that helps soldiers get the animals that they have befriended overseas the veterinary care they need and transports the animals home to the soldier's family. Thought I'd share the link if anyone was interested : [url]www.militarymascots.org[/url] :thumbs:

[quote]2. they are still not coming forward with all of the information about why pets died from a specific batch of "go natural" brand dog food that was produced at the merrick plant for the US market.[/quote] Yikes! When did this happen? I'm not sure I've ever heard of "Go Natural" dog food, but I can see why! I had always thought Merrick to be reputable and I often give their treats to my babies...now I'm worried! :o

I 2nd Izzy's suggestion to get another hound. Beagles are definately happier in a pack, why not look at a Beagle rescue or the shelter? I frequently see Beagles at the shelters where we live since they are a popular breed around here.

I feed Beckham the Merrick canned foods on occasion. I don't specifically remember seeing bone in the Turducken, but I know they are selling a new canned food called Wing-a-Ling or something like that, that contains an actual chicken wing (bone and all). They supposedly do something during cooking that makes the bone soft and easy to digest. It makes me a little nervous, so we haven't tried that one! You might write them and see what they say about the Turducken... :question:

What are your opinions on these products? I have heard both positive & negative things about them and am feeling confused... :confused1:

Those games sound great. I never would have thought of those on my own. Can't wait to try a few of them out :)

It appears that this misinformed, ignorant woman is part of a group called SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation), that align themselves with the likes of the ALF (Animal Liberation Front). Think PETA with weapons. They're 'special'. [url]http://www.nocompromise.org/issues/17nz_poultry.html[/url] :stupid:

[quote name='courtnek']I have both of mine on no-pull harnesses, which is different from a standard halter. The theory behind this harness is that it wraps around their front legs and attaches under the collar on their back. so when they pull there is no stress to the neck at all. it pulls in on their front legs, stopping them in their tracks or they will fall. [/quote] We have something very similar called the Sporn Harness, I believe they do carry it at PetSmart. I purchased mine online from Jeffers. For us, it has been a miracle product. I tried a martingale (didn't deter him), a Halti (he thrashed around like a fish on a line) prior to buying the Sporn. While it doesn't completely eliminate pulling for us, it does reduce it to a manageable level where I'm cursing a lot less now on our walks. :cool1:

[quote name='DogPaddle']Trip to the beach for a splash with any doggy freinds and a steak?[/quote] That one sounds like it might be the ticket. There is an off-leash dog beach within 20 min. driving distance and I have never even taken Beckham there. I'm sure he'd love it. BTW - if any of you have specific game ideas or recipes for doggie treats/cakes, I'd love to hear them Thanks :D

Added my signature - thanks for posting the website :)

[quote name='Seijun']In a recent article (which I've gone an lost) One PETA freak commented saying he thought the 9/11 attacks were GOOD because now all those people won't be around to eat cows and chickens. (FYI, he also thought the holocaust was good for that very same reason). ~Seij[/quote] Wow, that's really special. I hope there are no Jewish members of PETA! :stupid: I really like the suggestion of throwing milk and eggs at them. That would be sweet. Ooh! And then we can unleash our oppressed, enslaved pets on them to clean them up. :wink: Personally I'd love to see a whole pack of pit bulls licking milk off of a crowd of PETA members. Now that's a good time. :laola: