BS: Our pets favorite things

Subject: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:19 AM

The common and expected things our pets love are wonderful enough but there are those things that are so unique that it becomes a well spring of amazment.

Kevetch the cat would bring her kittens and put them on my pillow so I would wake up with kittens on my head in the morning which was a real treat for a 5 year old.

Natasha the cat would find spare change all over the house and put them in my shoes unseen.

Rocky the flying cat would land on your shoulder at any time and any place with the gentle deftness of a dove - and most favorite was to rest in the hood of your parka and go all over town be it the bank or grocery store.

Boris the cat would straddle the toilet when I had to pee. Once in the dark I could not hear a splash, I flicked on the light and there was Boris.

Rocky II the cat liked to hold deer at bay until the deer would make a whistle like scream.

Grommit the dog likes cracking good cheese and to put her snout in my hand and breathe through my fingers until asleep.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Peace
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:19 AM

Ginger's favourite thing was his pecker.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:36 AM

Faulkner loves to watch/listen to hockey games with us because he gets a treat when our team scores, and he knows to listen to the announcers' voices as the play develops and gets hotter. He also knows-- when the goal-buzzer sounds-- whether it's a goal for our team (home game) or for the enemy (road game for us).

Now another funny thing he's been doing all year is that he often lies down to eat his supper. He stretches out like a cat with his paws extended and nibbles over the edge of the bowl to pick up the large, semi-soft kibbles. He also will take one out and toss it around the room to play with it, like a cat with a mouse. We didn't teach him eaither of these; it's just his thing.

He's always been a front-paws crosser when he gets comfy, but now he's crossing the hind paws sometimes, too.

And lastly, he's developed a yen for sleeping outside, and for refusing to come in at night. I'm working on retraining that behavior, because he gets barky in the middle of the night, or whiny if it's damp (he has shelter out there). His pack (us) sleep in the cave (house) at night and that's one angle I'm using-- he's very pack-cooperative in his basic orientation. Yesterday I made him stay up all day, only one short nap, because I think he's got his days and nights mixed up from too much daytime inactivity and therefore too much nocturnal activity. Tonight he'll get not only the bell cue and treat reward when he comes in, but an invitation to sleep upstairs in OUR part of the cave, as he does whenever Hardi is away overnight.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 11:34 AM

Grommit watched the movie about sled dogs but isn't a hockey fan.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 11:39 AM

Bentley the miniature wolfhound likes our bed best. He lies upside down with all four (considerable) limbs in the air, snoring loudly, next to his person while he drinks his morning tea.

Paws

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: The PA
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 11:56 AM

Fly, border collie - eating horse poo
Red, horse - breaking wind in time to trotting !!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 12:02 PM

Why is that, our border collie eats poo too

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Sooz
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 12:18 PM

So does ours! Sticks and balls are her favourite though.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Scoville
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 01:24 PM

Apart from food?

My dog had a rubber carrot that she absolutely loved until our friend's corgi mix destroyed it. We got her a rubber gooney bird to replace it but it apparently did not have the cachet of the carrot and she never really took to it.

She also used to love rope bones. I need to get her a new one. She would grab them and shake them to "kill" them, and was always asking to play tug-of-war.

In the non-toy department, she loves her fuzzy oval bed. Sleeps in it until the weather is just unbearably warm, and it's completely solved the problem of a hairy white dog sleeping in Mom's best dark-green velour armchairs.

* * * * *

We tried all kinds of toys for our cat and then discovered that all she really wanted was a wad of paper on a string. Go figure.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: skipy
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 01:54 PM

Simba loves things with wings! Sadly.
Charles loves his bed & din dins!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Greg B
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 02:40 PM

Boots, the cat--- curling up near a favorite person and taking a nap,
ambushing (or being ambushed by) a favorite person, the minute the
door opens and that favorite person comes home. A good purr. And a
bite of sushi--- just a nibble. Playing with his nephew, Simba (his
'mini-me')

Peanut, the cat--- a 'night visit' to get his ears scruffled. That
and the play laser dot.

Puma, the cat--- his Mommy, or to be left alone

Simba, the cat--- playing with his uncle Boots

Oliver, the horse--- a nice shared breath, or a five-o'clock shadow,
or a roll in the muddiest mud or the dustiest dust in the pasture,
followed by a full on thoroughbred run

Jinks, the horse--- carrots, to please a person, carrots, a good practical joke involving the water trough and an unsuspecting human,
bran mash

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 02:50 PM

YES The laser dot!

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 03:45 PM

Empty 16 oz soda bottles. All the dogs
Boudicca the Cat--to tease the dogs. She half thinks she is a dog anyway.
Yentle the Cat--To sleep or pretend to sleep, and be above all the uproar. She is great at ignoring most anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 04:16 PM

SEamus loves soft toys. Not the ones that you can buy for dogs, but the chioldren's toys. I've just filled a bag with them at the thrift store, for $2, and he'll get a new one as soon as he destroys those that are out. We have to play tug o war with them and then he just lies and chewa them or uses them as a pillow to sleep on.

Until I stopped him he also liked purse diving and to go after the yarn that was was working on at any particular time. He still tends to have his nose into SINSULL's purse - she indulges him where I won't.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 04:22 PM

Raven the kitty has a fixation on the pink bow on my purple nightshirt with the pictures of sheep on it - but only when I'm wearing it!

Shadow kitty will rip cauliflower off the fork twixt plate and mouth if you aren't carefull...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 04:26 PM

Only the shadow knows    why

Grommit always keeps the basketball from going out of bounds.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 05:18 PM

For Amos Moses cat (now deceased) it was green olive juice/brine. No intrest in the olives, just the brine. It was not safe to eat them around him.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: mandotim
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 05:26 PM

Olly the Jack Russell terrier; squaring up to much larger dogs (and watching them run away), chasing seagulls on the beach, 'helping' in the garden, killing rats very efficiently when he gets the chance. Lying behind people on the back of the sofa and snoring softly into their ears.
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 07:54 PM

Jazz-min's theory is that EVERYTHING is a cat toy (including her peoples' ankles and knees). And Sabine is her special cat toy and Sabine doesn't like it one damned bit.

We've also entered the era of scootched up rugs. I'll walk one way through the house and straighten them, then walk back and have to do it all over again. Cat toys.

Jazz is young, of course. A year and a half to Sabine's 9. Jazz's favorite game is "chase the kitty" -- another thing Sabine doesn't like. What she doesn't know is the rules say, first Jazz chases Sabine, then Sabine chases Jazz. Repeat until Jazz is worn out. (Never.) Alas, Sabine just thinks Jazz is being aggressive. So swats her then hides under the bed. Or goes outside and won't come in if Jazz is around.

Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 05:43 PM

Pup 1 loves any and all toys that Pup 2 might have at the moment. Pup 2 is growing and learning that she can hold onto things and Pup 1 can't take them away so fast. Still, Mama and Papa see to it that Pup 2 has her own special toys in the car, a space where Pup 1 hates to be.

Pup 1's all time favorite toy is a twisted rope toy that is tan and white in color and flavored with the essence of peanut butter. Pup 2 has a bright yellow dachsund toy dog that squeaks and has bright blue words embroidered on it's side that say, "BE HAPPY." 'Tis a sweet sight to see a large breed pup chewing on something so dainty.

WMP

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 06:43 PM

I once had a cat whose favorite toy was any used tampon applicator. She would fish them out of the wastebasket in the bathroom, and bat them around on the floor, or carry them to any part of the house. Liked the smell, I guess. It was a bit embarrassing to have a guest find one in an odd place. We eventually solved the problem by getting a wastebasket with a lid.

Another cat loved the smell of my armpit. He would shove his nose right up there and nuzzle and purr. If I didn't watch him, he would start chewing on the cloth of my t-shirt or whatever I was wearing. Occasionally he would find a dirty t-shirt of mine and chew or suck on it. I don't think he ever did any damage to the fabric, but I would find it moist from his saliva. Only one spot interested him: the armpit. OK, two spots.

One of our current cats loves rubber bands. He will play with them, and eventually chew them up and swallow them, and puke them up again. We try to keep rubber bands away from him.

The other cat likes twist-ties. (Does everyone call them by the same name? I mean those little plastic- or paper-covered bits of wire that are used to seal bread bags, etc.) He doesn't eat them, but I have frequently found them in the cats' food dish, especially when the food dish is otherwise empty. It's a bit hard to follow a cat's logic: Cats like to play with their food especially if it's alive. This can also likes to play with twist-ties even though they're not alive and you can't eat them. Therefore a twist-tie is, symbolically, food, and belongs in the food dish? Or maybe putting a twist-tie in the food dish is a magic charm that makes food appear later?

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 06:43 PM

As long as the chewing toy isn't the floor/door/wall trim, dishwasher, carpets.....pleae tell Sir Fagin that. Sure, IF we catch him he catches hell....but most times we don't catch him.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 07:50 PM

Currently, Bandit's favorite thing is me. He barks at Jason for hours when I leave for work. His second favorite thing is running on the beach and playing chase with other dogs.

Caitlin the cat's favorite thing is food. ANY food. Runners-up to food are writing utensils and rabbit-fur mice.

Scoville, Clancy Dog's favorite toy ever was also a rubber squeaky carrot and nothing ever quite replaced it after it got run over by the lawnmower.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Joybell
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 08:12 PM

Jack Russell -- Elle likes to attack her food with fearsome growling and a graet show of running ambushes. Even better when we pretend, "foot will get it". Her favourite though is sheep poo, possum poo, rabbit poo. Scraping shheep poo of the road with her teeth delays our walks somewhat.

We used to have a cat that just adored the banjo. She'd sit on any banjo-player's foot for hours with her eyes closed in a sort of trance. When she had to be sent to cat-heaven True-love played his banjo as she went off. I hope there are banjos where she's gone.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 08:45 PM

How very forgetful of me. Young Pup 2 absolutely adores empty water bottles and little plastic kitty cat balls, the kind with the bell inside. She plays catch with herself and then breaks the ball into pieces so Mama can clean it all up, great fun to watch for Pup 2, I'm sure!

WMP

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Alice
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 10:02 PM

Leo likes walks. Jingle of the leash makes him go crazy by the front door.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 10:13 PM

Ching-ha my siamese cat, her favorite thing is my husband dave. When he comes home at night from work after eating, she has him trained to sit on the floor with his back against the sofa so she can climb up into his arms and put her paws over his shoulder. She expects him to support her feet with the croof of his arm while he reads a book. Come bed time, she drapes herself across his neck. Good thing she has always been a small cat. he calls her "baby" because of her small size and when she sleeps on his neck, she is referred to as his "baby scarf".

My younger female marmalade cat who is semi-feral - her favorite thing on earth sadly was our dog Puppers. We rescued her when she was 3 weeks old and the dog took it upon himself to be her parent. He licked her clean, washed her ears and used to let her sleep on top of his head with her paws wrapped around his muzzle. When she got older, she liked to curl up to his belly. They were such good pals. It's very sad now that Puppers is gone. His kitty kat friend still sleeps on the dog bed and scratches us if we try and move it.

When Puppers was alive, his favorite things making up new dog games, the rules of which only he knew at first and younger female dogs. He was neutered at 5 months of age (cuz he was humping pillows) and never mounted girls but her sure was a ladies man. he had a pack of female admirers at the Dog park and seemed to know just how to play up to the ladies. he liked his girls tough too, Pit bulls, Bloodhounds, terriers and Viszlas.

I miss my dog. he was MY favorite thing after my husband

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Becca72
Date: 21 Apr 07 - 01:16 PM

Mara Jade, no longer with us, loved to play with coins. She could hear a penny hit the floor from anywhere in the apartment and would come running. I often found them in my shoes (maybe a cat invented penny loafers).

Madmardigan, 9, loves his momma. He is my shadow and is always where ever I am. He also likes tortilla chips and will steal them directly from the bag if you don't keep an eye out.

Mikey, 1, loves playing with hard, round poop. His own, usually...he will bat it around the bathroom floor for hours. He is also very affectionate and will launch himself at me when he feels it's time to be held, no matter what I'm doing. I either catch him or lose a layer or 2 of skin.

Sheldon, 1, loves anything with a string on it. He will chew through the string to "liberate" whatever toy is being held captive. I bought them a toy hamster that "runs" across the floor when you pull the string. I caught Sheldon sitting on the hamster and pulling the string with his teeth (all the while the hamster is vibrating under his butt) trying to chew through it before it could retract all the way.

All 3 of my cats love the laser pointer. That is hours of entertainment for everyone in the house.

The 2 younger ones also love to play in water and we have a game of rubber ducks floating in a full kitchen sink that keeps them pretty busy.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 10:14 PM

... [Faulkner's] developed a yen for sleeping outside, and for refusing to come in at night. I'm working on retraining that behavior, because he gets barky in the middle of the night, or whiny if it's damp (he has shelter out there). His pack (us) sleep in the cave (house) at night and that's one angle I'm using-- he's very pack-cooperative in his basic orientation. Yesterday I made him stay up all day, only one short nap, because I think he's got his days and nights mixed up from too much daytime inactivity and therefore too much nocturnal activity. Tonight he'll get not only the bell cue and treat reward when he comes in, but an invitation to sleep upstairs in OUR part of the cave, as he does whenever Hardi is away overnight.


UPDATE:

The above strategies worked well but were not foolproof... Hardi had to augment them by going out in the dark to tell F what a "BAD DOG" he was for not coming in when called. The next several nights F came in without that part, then he tried to go back to the "make me do it" approach. But we're not only smarter due to being human-- we're MUSICIANS, and musicians have-- AMPS.

Hardi has now chastised him twice by remote-- aiming his small battery-operated amp at the window that overlooks the dog yard. If F doesn't come when called and cued, he gets a round of BAD DOG, and he jumps up onto the dog porch and comes right in! And is of course rewarded and praised.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Bee
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 10:49 PM

Young Tommycat (almost eight months) likes two of my sweaters more than anything. He wants to sleep on them if I'm not wearing them, and wants to snuggle and lick them when I'm wearing them. His favourite thing to do is to lure me outside with piteous mews and ATTACK!, which consists of a hundredmileanhour dash at my leg, wrapping his front legs around my calf, and kicking my ankle with his hind feet, then running away so he can hide behind a clump of weeds and do it again.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 06:35 AM

Luff was a red colorpoint oriental (read: red point siamese) who took to Karen immediately and I became chopped liver when she and I first met. During the remainder of his life he was totally devoted to her. When Karen went to bed she had to lay on her left side or he would howl until she did. He'd go under the covers, turn around and come back up and lay on her arm facing her and purr with one of the loudest purrs I've ever heard.   This is how Karen went to sleep EVERY night for 5 years.   He died young from FeLeuk which he acquired as a kitten. Everyone told us he wouldn't live very long but everytime he sneezed we went to the vet and he did well till the last 2 weeks and then he went fast. Completely unique in so many ways and now almost 20 years later both Karen and I cry at the very thought of him.

I have had a lot of wonderful and very devoted dogs but Sissy may be the biggest "Daddy's Girl" I have ever had. I could write a book............Currently she has become the biggest Fritter Hound extant. Actually she's a Weimaraner but she goes on the weekly shopping trips and the first stop has to be Tim Horton's where Karen and I get coffee and Big Sis has an Apple fritter. This could account for her loss of a young and girlish figure as she's now just shy of 90 pounds! She has to back out from between the van seats as she can no longer turn around! I have GOT to put her on a diet but she's really going to miss those fritters.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST,Dog Trainer
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:47 AM

"Hardi has now chastised him twice by remote-- aiming his small battery-operated amp at the window that overlooks the dog yard. If F doesn't come when called and cued, he gets a round of BAD DOG, and he jumps up onto the dog porch and comes right in! And is of course rewarded and praised."


Praise after chastisment is confusing to humans, let alone a dog. If he won't come until you add force (Yelling in a negative way = force), there should be no praise. Praise comes for doing something they should have done.

If you are speaking of a pup the idea is to SHOW the dog what to do (without the fear factor) and then praise him. For example: Teaching a dog to shake hands. Say "SHAKE." Take the pup's paw and pump several times and excited praise the dog and offer a small reward. Repeat until dog has it.

Your example would look like this: Say, "SHAKE." Show the dog. Say, "SHAKE." Yell loudly at the dog (causing fear) for not following command unti lhe does as you wish. Reward.

This makes no sense. There is no need to use fear as a way in training a dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 10:28 AM

GUEST,Dog Trainer, we're already working with a training system and I am not asking for advice. Nor is this a thread for giving advice.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST,Dog Trainer
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:55 AM

Oh gee GREAT Susan. You are SO wise. The Mudcat Fairies are even wiser. It is good to use LOUD amplification to TRAIN your dog to COME when YOU call. It would be WAY too difficult for YOU to move YOUR girth OUTSIDE to actually WALK the dog INSIDE. I am SO glad YOU have AMPS. It sure is a GOOD thing that DOGS don't have MORE sensitive hearing than YOU. Otherwise the DOG'S hearing might be DAMAGED by the LOUD amplification of HARDI'S screaming of "BAD DOG!!!"

Seriously, why in God's name would you use an AMP to get a dog to do anything? That is cruel and unacceptable care of an animal.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 28 Apr 07 - 05:57 AM

Try not to anthropomorphosise animals. They hate that.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 11:13 AM

Try not to anthropomorphosise animals. They hate that. I agree. Faulkner is happiest (and most cooperative) when we appreciate his very excellent dogly nature, and work with it instead of suppressing it. I'm sure Pavlov would take a different approach. :~)

His new favorite thing is the new treadmill. I wasn't on there 1 minute when he decided it was his new, favorite toy. He'll have to learn how to wait for his turn, though. :~)

I think this may actually supplant his love of ponying around the yard with Hardi's lawn tractor-- he just loves to go where we go, even if we're not really going anywhere. "Going for a run? Me too me too me too me too!"

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 01:51 PM

.... and I forgot until Hardi reminded me, Faulkner loves to cross-country ski, too. Especially between Hardi's feet, pulling him along-- for short stretches, not like mushing. That must be why he took to the treadmill so quickly; thus the cue he'll learn for it is, "Go ski?"

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: ranger1
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 04:15 PM

Bandit's new favorite is the soccer ball we fished out of the ocean last evening. Nothing like a little beach salvage to make a dog happy...

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST,Walker
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 08:34 PM

My dogs love to sit and watch me on the treadmill. The cats, however, prefer to sit on the BowFlex in comfort as I walk along. I remember when I first got my treadmill and the dogs saw it move up (as I increased the incline).   Their little faces were priceless! Now if I could just get the puppy trained to ride along in the kayak, I'd be set!

Animals on the treadmill are a no-no at our home. Walking with the leash is the puppy's preferred method of walking along if we are away from home, otherwise she (actually they) are content to walk along with me.

And living near an ocean? That sounds WONDERFUL! I'd trade my treadmill in to be able to walk along the beach on a daily basis with my dogs!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Greg B
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 09:21 PM

"Try not to anthropomorphosise animals. They hate that."

That's true. The cat was just laying on the couch, smoking a cigar.
He grabbed the TV remote from me, demanded a martini, opened up a
volume of 'The Cat in the Hat' and said those very words.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 May 07 - 07:21 PM

Faithfully following the pack-mentality training system that so outraged "Dog Trainer" has proven quite happily successful. (The dog run Faulkner inherited on our rented property, alas, has no human-sized entry point; thus we must rely on the dogs to come in at night despite the numerous nighttime country temptations.)

Faulkner, who is a very smart dog that knows what place he wants to occupy in the pack, has chosen to come in cheerfully, promptly, and cooperatively every night. He continues to receive a food reward most times, and gets to come sleep upstairs with us periodiocally. The two times we used the amp (with its "booming" 5 watts "blasting" through closed storm windows a good distance from the dog run outside) have been sufficient.

But he doesn't get martinis, as the cats have clearly reserved them. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST,Dog Trainer
Date: 03 May 07 - 08:10 PM

It seems to be that you think you are an expert on everything. You clearly have the *right* answers to everything or so you think. Dogs have much more sensitive hearing than humans. Do you not understand that? I feel badly for your dog. I hope it soothes his poor little ears to know that you are *right* enough to feel the need to boast about it here. Oh boy. Goodie for you.

It also seems that if the opening to let your dog out at night is not large enough for you to fit through, perhaps you should put a leash on the dog and walk him around yourself. Wouldn't that add to your athletic workout schedule that you babble on about? I'm sure a walk out the door wouldn't have been too taxing for you. Again, I pity the dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 May 07 - 11:04 AM

I pity people who "out" themselves every time they post as a Guest.

I pity people who are so focused on flaming ME, even in a thread celebrating our pets' proclivities, that they can take no joy in the progress of a dog.

I pity someone who calls themselves a "Dog Trainer" who tries to train dogs online, even dogs with whom they have no training role.

I pity any so-called "Dog Trainer" who would clearly be incapable of dealing effectively with any dog's human owners and who probably has a long list of personal and professional failures that they blame on everyone else around them who has not cared to work with them.

I pity people who would rather try to train people like dogs, than treat people like people and enjoy dogs as dogs.

I pity people who not only project their need to be experts about everything, onto other people, but who have made a career out of getting endless degrees.

I pity people who complain and complain about me, to find that no one is listening because the whole community already knows more than I do about their history of shit-stirring, whiny bullshit.

Have a nice day. And oh yes, the director of the local PSPCA is waiting for your call to report the dog abuse-- and the dog yard he has seen and found more than adequate for the dogs who use it, and who trusts us to foster dogs.

Better yet, call our Bishop. Again. :~) Better yet, he'll be here next week. Do join us for lunch!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST,Dog Trainer
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:00 PM

Lady you are off your rocker, completely off.
I do pity the dog. I do take joy in the knowing (as much as one can online) that he is doing what you want and hopefully his hearing was not destroyed in the process.

I'm not sure what the bishop business is about but it appears that you have some serious issues with someone else who apparently disagrees/has disagreed with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: ranger1
Date: 04 May 07 - 08:47 PM

Bandit's favorite thing lately has been doing impersonations of Harry Houdini. The stubby-legged little scoundrel has pulled off three escapes in the past three days. He is way too smart for our own good...

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's
Date: 04 May 07 - 08:53 PM

Apparently my dog likes her freedom. Our fence fell down last weekend so she hasn't been allowed loose in the yard. She's out on a tether right now and looks incredibly insulted that I think she needs to be tied up like . . . well, like a dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Donuel
Date: 04 May 07 - 09:14 PM

Grommit looks 100% border collie BUT she is half rotwieller/shepard mix. Her brothers looked big and wooley but she is sleek black with a white lighting bolt and is just as quick. She likes walking on two legs for 10 second intervals.

She will speak and hush on command. The bark is on the far side of huge.
What creeps me out about her is when she gets something really good to eat. Just like a shark her eyes kind of go black and the white of her eyes bug out. It really looks like a shark's eyes when they are about to bite. When they do bite down the eyes close. I can take food out of her mouth without any angry protest but the look in those eyes is the stuff of nightmares.

If anything she is too affectionate. She can not tolerate seperation.
When she was an excited puppy she did injure me jumping up. It still hurts but I declined the elective surgury.

She will not tolerate strangers in the back yard unless they have spent some time in the kitchen. I do not tolerate the aggressive herding displays but I know one can't remove all the herding traits that were specificly bred for centuries.

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 May 07 - 02:17 PM

Last Saturday Jazz-min woke me by licking my nose. I don't know if she was just walking past my face and couldn't resist or if she figured that if she woke me gently, I'd pet her. With Jazz, it could be either.

Lately she's also developed a tendency to curl up on my feet in the morning when I'm standing in front of the sink brushing my teeth, etc. Especially if I'm wearing the plaid floor length nightgown that then becomes a cat tent.

Coupla weeks ago when Tom and I were eating supper on the deck for the first time this season, Jazz (who is now allowed to go outside without a chaperone) leaped about halfway up a good sized tree in the center of the turnaround. Evidently it was the first time she'd tried that because she couldn't figure out what to do next. I tried to tell her from a distance to back down but she wouldn't. (Cats don't listen.) So I went over there and stood underneath her with my arms outstretched (she was up higher than I could reach) and talked her down a little bit. As soon as I could, I put my hands around her tush. She then relaxed completely (wow! she must REALLY trust me!) and sort of "fell" into my hands and I put her on the ground. The next day after Tom came home from work and let her out, he noticed that she was leaping up on trees again -- and trying out different techniques to get back down. She was PRACTICING!!! And she finally figured out what works best for her.

And a lot brighter than a lot of felinities who have called this place home over the years.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Helen
Date: 05 May 07 - 11:06 PM

A number of my cats - past & present - have a thing for broccoli. One of them used to get very excited at meal times when broccoli was on the menu. More excited than over fish or other meat-based treats.

Our rough-and-tumble boofy-cat, Leo, loves green beans, raw. If we are preparing beans for dinner then he has to have his share. He also likes the stringy bits inside pumpkins, the parts that the seed are found in. (Now that's weird!)

Quite a number of our cats, past and present, like(d) avocado. One of my previous cats started out owning a different human slave and then I was her foster-slave, and she started life with a backyard which had an avocado tree. The avocados would fall and ripen on the ground, and then split open and she would eat it.

My cats have two favourite toys which are very simple and inexpensive, and it proves the old saying about buying expensive toys. Most kids would rather play with the cardboard box that the new frig came in than many expensive toys, after the novelty wears off.

Aluminium foil balls are a hit. Just take a small piece of foil approx. 5 x 5 inches square, rattle it a bit to get the cat's attention, then lightly fold/squish it into a ball shape - loosely squished so that it makes an irresistable sound as it rolls across a hard floor. It will go fairly fast, and makes a great soccer ball for tack-tack-tacking across the floor in zigzags. An excellent tool for coaxing stubborn cats out of inaccessible places.

The other toy cost a few dollars at the supermarket. It is about the size of a tennis ball, with coarse string wrapped & glued around it as a covering. Attached is a tail a few inches long made of fluffy stuff and it has a few feathers on the end. Inside the ball is some catnip, and a bell so that it rattles as it rolls across the floor. The really clever bit, though, is that as it rolls the tail winds round and round in a fascinating and tantalising (for a cat) movement. This toy is also irresistable and very useful for luring them out of hidey holes, like under the house. Just rattling it brings them almost out to see what's happening.

One of my black cats has a habit of sitting on the bench behind and watching one of us preparing a meal at the other kitchen bench. When you are totally engrossed in the task she jumps without a sound onto your shoulder. She will stay there, moving forward and back as a balancing act as you walk around the kitchen too, until she gets unceremoniously dumped off. She hasn't done it for a while now, but I'm sure she'll resurrect the trick. She's 4 years old now, but still skinny. She's the only one who does that particular trick. She used to climb up my dressing gown when she was younger. It made no difference that I told her I am not a tree.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Our pets favorite things
From: Helen
Date: 05 May 07 - 11:29 PM

Bat Goddess, that reminds me of when my cat Morgan (the mother of Leo & Patchouli - the leaping-onto-shoulders one - and grandmother of Angelina & Thomas) ran up a tree when she was a few months old. Same scenario: too high for me to reach her, nowhere for her to go forward, and she couldn't come back. She lost her grip and was hanging by her front claws. I reached up and I couldn't even touch her feet. I kept saying, "Drop! Drop!" and somehow she trusted me and dropped neatly into my arms.

I know she didn't understand the word "drop", and she couldn't see me below her but my voice was enough for her to let go.

Helen