imported_raven

Well, have you been at the vet yet? Quite honestly even with all time of the world, I don't think, I could raise 10 puppies properly.

[quote name='rotten_two']i don't agree but i usually never do haha. i don't see ridgeback in him. as it happens i have a rr in my cgc class and 1) the ridge is absent and 2) just not the same structure.[/quote] As someone already pointed out earlier, even pure bred Ridgebacks don't necessarily have the ridge. What reminds me on a Ridgeback are the wrinkles. The fur seems a bit light. I'm not quite sure how big a Rat Terrier is or how it looks like, but it sounds awfully small and I just can't quite imagine the happy couple if the father is to be a Rhodesian Ridgeback?! :niewiem:

[quote name='ciampam']It is not that I wouldn't keep the puppies trust me I would. I live in the country and have plenty of space for all of them... I am going to get her fixed... Thank you...[/quote] Space is not the only thing required for keeping dogs - especially when you risk having a litter of 10... :-?

I would say - you are, too! Great job, you both!

Thai Ridgebacks have a black or spotted tongue

[quote name='JackieMaya']Sejun wanting to completely cut herself off from people is SO unhealthy! Her depression will only get worse this way. I wish her well.[/quote] We don't know that. Different people react different. For all it's worth: We only know that we are capable of feelings when we love and when we hurt. One is not possible without the other.

[quote name='Seijun'] But dogs can also be born to fear humans. Some poorly bred dogs actually grow up fearful of humans. On the other hand, I have seen properly socialized wolves that would greet even complete strangers. ~Seij[/quote] Seriously - do you not see the difference between a dog being born to trust human to wolves who are born to fear human? If a dog fears human, something went wrong. If a wolf likes human something went wrong as well, technically speaking - as it is the exception and, I hope you agree, should still be the exception.

[quote name='Seijun'] BTW, if it IS true that dogs are "essential" for the health of some mentally ill persons, could it not also be said that a wild animal could do the same job? I do consider my wolf hybrid to be very helpful to me when I am depressed. ~Seij[/quote] Why - I believe they could. And I believe that owners like you truly care for their animal. It does not change the matter that the wolf is _not_ made for that whereas the dog is.

[quote name='Seijun']You could use a walking cane though. You don't need a dog. You are right though, they make our lives easier. But easier does not equal needed. Food and water is needed. Dogs are a want. Getting something to make your life easier is no different than saying you got it because it is more novel. But wait, haven't you guys already said that pets for novelty is evil? [/quote] Ok, now we are picking the last straws, don't we? Again, the difference is a dog is domesticated and a wild wolf is not. The dog is bred to enjoy, to need the companionship of human whereas a wolf is born to fear human. Wheter or not we essentially need dogs, they have been our companions for thousands of years and when we talk of insticts - their instinct is not primarily to fear human. To argue wheter or not a guide dog or a explosive searching dog is essential or not - I find this weak. [quote name='Seijun']Ok, new idea: What if we did ban wild pet animals? Which should be banned?? Who decides what I can and can't have? Should we ban only dangerous ones? How do we decide which ones are dangerous or not? Do we just ban the ones that have killed the most people? How is this unlike banning the dog breeds that kill the most people? ~Seij[/quote] There is an idea and discussion point. To be honest - I don't know. In some European countries, dogs that apparently 'kill most people' are banned. I put this in paranthesis because of course, the list of banned dogs represent so-called fighting dogs and a lot of issues go together to make them top of the list. Anyway - how about this definition of allowed 'domesticated' animals: Includes all breeds of animals which have been in their breeding modified to be in human environment, close to human and human handling. :oops: I wish my English would be better...

[quote name='Seijun']I'm not trying to turn things around. I'm just tired of being told I can't have a wild animal for my enjoyment. You guys do it with domestic animals all the time, unless every pet you have ever owned was a rescue... ~Seij[/quote] The difference between DOMESTIC animals and WILD animals is: DOMESTIC animals are meant to be in the companionship with human (and yes, every animal I've ever owned is a rescue and always will be...) Furthermore: Just because a wolf looks happy (?) how can we really tell, it is unless we studied them for years in the wild personally? They may get used to being in the situation where they are - but does that make them happy? A bunch of pictures of supposedly happy looking wolves are not going to convince me, that this is a fact that wolves can be happy in human companionship. [quote name='Seijun'] What is your opinion on "domestic" cats? They can live, and even thrive on their own and without human intervention. Feral dog packs have been found living in the woods, in the wild. Could that be evidense that dogs and cats (cats especially), belong in the wild? Like wild animals, if they are born and raised in captivity, that is the only place they can live. But also like wild animals, if they are born and raised in the wild, they can live there too. [/quote] Just because it works one way, doesn't mean it works the other way as well. When I say that wild animals belong in the wild where they can support themselves I am not saying that domestic animals cannot support themselves in the wild. But even packs of street dogs look for a friendly human touch and they will not move away from your side when you once pet them. I doubt that would happen with a wild animal. Jack London's stories are great - and to imagine, that a wild animal would respect and love us, is a great feeling - but fictional non the less.

Oooh... Uuuuh.... back to the subject? :P

[quote name='TDG']raven, yes, i did all the work myself. and thanks for the offer, but i don't need help translating - i'm german! :)[/quote] I almost thought so! :D Gute Arbeit! Ich kann die Informationen wirklich brauchen, da wir gerade von Purina One (nicht schimpfen) auf ein anderes Futter umstellen (momentan sind wir bei Innova Evo). :drinking:

[quote name='Seijun'] Like I said, people own them because they like them. This can be PROVEN. How do you PROVE that all wild animal pets "belong" in the wild? [/quote] This is in my opinion not a valid reason to keep wolves as pets. And there are NO wild animal pets. There are wild animals, period. And wild animals belong in the wild where they can support themselves. [quote name='Seijun'] Define a "place suitable for a dog." RESPONSIBLE wolf owners have large escape proof enclosures for their wolves. The wolves can run, play, and enjoy life. They may have been made for the wild, but they can still be happy in captivity if cared for properly. (Chaining and putting a wolf in a house or isolated kennel does not fall under the header of "properly"). If you are born to Eskimos, who have lived for thousands of years in colder northern regions, being sculpted to fit the land, does that mean that you could not enjoy living in Florida? [/quote] First: run, play and enjoy life? I do not pretend to be a wolf specialist, but since you are so keen on proof, how do you prove that your wolf is happy, when he has the possibility to run and play? In my opinion, it takes a lot more for a wolf to feel 'at home'. Second: There are many animals not made for other climates. I would not think, an ice bear would really be happy in Florida. Human are probably more adaptable, since this is the only defense we have from nature. [quote name='Seijun']Are you implying that if there are more bad owners than good ones, that this justifies abolishment of all ownership? Check my first post. I specifically mentioned that there is no way to tell if there are more bad wolf/wolf hybrid owners than good ones. For all we know, the number of bad [i]Pit bull[/i] owners could double that of good ones. We just don't know.[/quote] Since it is WAY more difficult to care for a wolf than for a dog, yes, I imply that there are more bad owners than good ones. And no, I cannot prove that, it is solely based on my opinion and some common sense. [quote name='Seijun'] So you're saying that my wanting to own Shilo (the low content wolfdog in my avatar) is nothing more than pure selfishness? That I walk her twice a day, taking several hours out of my day to be with her, cramming all my college courses into two days to spend as much time with her as possible, is just an act of selfishness, and does not have regard for her needs or well-being? What should I do, have her PTS? Throw her out into the woods so she will have to find her own food, probably starving to death or getting killed?[/quote] No, I am not saying your wanting to own a wolf is pure selfishness, I am saying you OWNING a wolf is pure selfishness and of course I do not mean that you let her go in the woods or have her killed. It is one thing to care for an already existing captive wolf or hybrid than to go out and breed them for pets or buy a wolf from someone who breeds them as pets. If you have done so - then yes, in my opinion you are keeping your wolf out of pure selfishness. I'd compare it to my aversion of breeding mixes. I have a VERY negative opinion about breeding two different kinds of dogs. But I would still always get a mixed breed. I get them from the shelter or from another place where they would die if nobody would take them in. In my opinion there is a difference. Same thing with the wolves. There is a difference between getting a wolf and care for it and get it away from a situation where it would die than actually go out and buy one out of sheer pleasure of owning a wolf. [quote name='Seijun'] Some places do require licenses. Fat lot of good that does. The people giving them out don't know what a wolf needs. Same for the people making the law... [/quote] I agree that regulations and a required license may not be the best solution. But in my opinion, it is better to have some bad laws among good ones than have no laws at all and allow Pete and Jack to own a wolf. [quote name='Seijun'] The goal of the responsible wild animal owner is not to domesticate their wild animal, but to experience and enjoy that very "wildness" that makes them so unnatractive as pets to most people. [/quote] Well, then enjoy it by observing them in the wild. Because that's where they belong.

[quote name='Seijun'] BTW, to everyone who says wild should stay wild, just remember that is absolutely NOT a valid argument against wild animal ownership, as it is an opinion, and has no basis on actual fact. [/quote] Why is this not a valid argument? What is is the actual reason behind owning a wild animal? I understand and agree of course, that not everybody who owns a wild animal does that because he or she thinks it's cool. As I wrote in my earlier post, I do know people who own a wolf hybrid - and I'm quite sure it is one as they got him from a wolf sanctuary and they know awfully lot about it. And I do think, they love him and don't just think it's cool. They have to chain him at night, because he would tear the house apart. There goes one reason, why _not_ to have wild animals. Wild animals - and let's not talk about rabbits, birdies or fish - will never be as domesticated animals are. A wolf will always stay a wolf. If it can survive in the wild and is made for the wild, why should it be kept in a place suitable for a dog? I seriously fail to see the point in doing that. I would of course change my mind, if a wolf cannot care for himself or if someone (trained and with license) keeps wolves in order to gain knowledge about wolves so he can care for wolves who are wounded, etc.. I would also agree that there may be better wolf (hybrid) owners than some dog owners, but that does not make it better, does it? In my opinion owning a wolf or a wolf hybrid (or any other dog-like hybrid for that matter) is nothing but pure selfishness without regard of the animals need or well being. And I love wolves... Edit: If not making blank laws, how about making owning a wild animal an exception? Where someone would require a license to own a wolf? With proof of the necessary knowledge and space.

[quote name='drjeffrock']I have no doubt that Zeke comprehends the song. Kira used to ALWAYS give a "WOOF" whenever she heard the people in the commercial sing "Reeeeeecolaaaaaaaaaa." (Ricola)[/quote] I gotta train Simba to react on this one!!! As a Swiss dog, he should! :lol:

Just in time for my food search for Simba... :D TDG - did you do all the work? It looks great! Let me know if you need help with German translations... :wink:

Hell no! I don't think they should at all!!! Different dog breeds have different needs. If a border collie is listed as a lab mix, the dog will be back in the shelter in no time! I think, the way to go is public awareness, public awareness and public awareness. And bring dogfights and pet shop puppy sales down.

I think, at least in some states of the USA and in most Western Europe there are regulations about hybrids, wolves and other wild animals. I do know people who own a wolf hybrid and that animal is extremely beautiful. He is shy but as they go to the dogpark very often, I have never seen that animal even remotely in a fight or even acting agressive. That said I think, there is absolutely no sense whatsoever in owning a wild animal or breeding a hybrid. Even dogs who have wolfsblood mixed in only a few generations earlier are still 'difficult' dogs, not recommended for the average dog owner. When talking about dog care, one often hears 'wolves do this, wolves do that, the pack reacts like this...' but I think, it's clear that we cannot compare dogs to wolves in terms of social behavior. Breeding hybrids is even worse. You take the natural shyness of the wolf towards human and mix it with the dog's need for companionship. A wolf will _not_ just get used to people when he grows up around them. He will always be shy and it will always be strange for him to be among people. In my opinion Wolf hybrids or hybrids in general is nothing else than a money making business. There is no need for them at all. Wolves are way more beautiful in their natural habitat without human interference.

We received the results of the biopsy - it's dermatomyositis and may be caused by the vaccines earlier this year. :( Simba seems to have only a mild version - it may very well be, that, if he responds to the medication, he will never develop it again, it could also be, that he will have to be treated against dermatomyositis his whole life. The worst that can happen is that it will get worse, affect the muscles and we'd need to euthanize him. But it's not likely. This seems to be a genetic disease, affecting mostly Collies and Shelties but has been seen in other dogs. Simba is doing fine, a bit tired, maybe from the medication he gets, but it doesn't itch. I could imagine, that it hurts, though. :cry: We should see results in about 4 weeks. I wish it was not so long...

I found a small store not too far from us, who does _not_ sell puppies. They carry all kinds of good food, Innova, Chicken Soup, Solid Gold... :multi: I bought a trial size Innova Evo and Chicken Soup and got quite a few samples from other brands to try. We've tried Innova so far and Simba loves it. We tried to mix it with Purina One, since we did not want to upset his stomach too much, but he would separate the two and eat only the Innova!!! :facelick:

Simba just got diagnosed with Vasculitis. So far I found out that it is an infection of the bloodvessels, which can be vaccine related. But I don't know yet, how good treatments are... Does anybody know anything about this or has experience? Please help... I'm getting all nervous...

Thank you all for your tips. I definitely check out all the food. Purina One is actually the best food I found in PetSmart. Meat is first in the list and it contains brewers rice - it's different than the other Purina brands. I did not like the Science Diet's ingredient list but I found some treats from them which are not too bad. They at least do not contain sugar.

Unfortunately we only have one Mom and Pop shop in our area and they sell dog puppies. So I won't shop there... But I'll check out the brands you all mentioned. I recognize some as they are being sold in Europe, but I did not know that they were sold here as well...

I'll check it out right away - thanks!

Oh! Food dehydrator! Great idea!!!! Where do you buy Innova? PetSmart doesn't have it, do they? @Dione: I already do that - I usually put something 'healthy' in his food. He loves the tuna and cheese, yoghurt when it's hot outside and sometimes a tiny bit of peanut butter (but then my beloved fiance has to do it as I am allergic... :roll: )