BS: Our Amazing Dogs

Subject: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 14 - 03:03 AM

I found lots and lots of lovely threads about dogs but I decided a more current one would not come amiss.

My little Chinese Crested Hairless dog watches television actively. (For that matter, he even reacts to a still picture of a dog)

Anyway, evening before last we watched a Nature about how different species interact with each other and with other species. In the process they followed a pack of wolves and as wolves do, from time to time they howled. Sometimes a whole cacophony of howls.

Now, Ellery does not howl. I didn't even know that he could. But that night he had a dream.

I woke to the lamest howl ever emanating from the little guy. I even put my hand on him to see if it was really coming from him, and it was. Two howls and he was finished. He never even woke.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 03 May 14 - 03:12 AM

How fascinating Ebbie! He'd obviously taken the wolves programme into his mind enough to make a dream out of it. Our cats differ. Only one watches TV and reacts to it, the other two don't seem able to see it.
We clean a holiday barn near the Norfolk coast, and yesterday two couples arrived with FIVE dogs. They were gorgeous, two Labradors, a golden retriever and two Jack Russells. I adore all animals, and they came flying over to greet me as they were let out of the two cars. My husband was a bit scared, but patted them as best he could. But our groundsman who mows all the lawns and tends to the big pond was there. He's a real Norfolk chap, very dour. He sighed, looked up to heaven and muttered, "Bloody shit machines!"

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 14 - 03:47 AM

Now, my Shih Tzu, Ralph, is very good at sleeping and eating. He was named after Jackie Gleason's character, Ralph Cramden, from The Honeymooners. Need I say more?

Oh, yes, and he knows how to look cute when he wants food....

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Musket
Date: 03 May 14 - 04:05 AM

When you get an ex racer from a greyhound sanctuary, they waffle on endlessly about how little exercise they actually need, how placid and quiet they are etc etc.

They never mention how much or how often they fart.

Yesterday, as part of our touring holiday in Scotland, we went from East Fife to Aviemore, a distance of 130 miles or so, and only the last bit on what you might call a fast road. The windows were being wound down on average every 10 mins.....

The charcoal based treats that are supposed to help don't work. They are a con.

And whilst I am on my soapbox, a word about dog ice cream.... Non dairy, etc. Honey and carrot flavour we bought him. Which sadistic swine of a chemist decided to put aloe vera in it? Also known under it's other name, senna.

I had a full pocket of poop bags when we started that walk.......

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 14 - 02:07 PM

My Ellery could use a bit of your Ralph's hair, Joe.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 03 May 14 - 02:13 PM

Joe, your Ralph looks absolutely adorable.
Musket, I think nearly all dogs have a wind problem. We have a very respectable Ladies Group in our village, and we meet round people's houses in turn. We were at a Scots couple's place, and they had a beautiful old and fat pale golden retriever bitch called Isla. As we took our seats she made a tour of everyone to be patted. I thought I could smell something, but most of us are ancient and have uncontrollable wind from time to time. A woman was giving us a talk about Reflexology, and my goodness that dog let rip almost constantly. Like an Airwick-from-hell the smell kept coming. The owners didn't seem to notice, but we surreptitiously protected our noses with our hands. The air seemed to turn a yellowish colour like a London smog. I didn't even fancy a scone afterwards, and we all made our excuses sharpish and rushed for the open air.
But she was a very bonnie dog.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 14 - 03:55 PM

I was playing cutthroat pinochle one day. As usual, my dog lay obediently at my side- one could not ask for a better dog in public.

I became aware of an odorous substance wafting among us three at the table. Mind you, I like the two gentlemen with whom I was playing cards but I don't know them well enough to joke around with either of them about their personal habits. Besides I could not tell from which of them came the smoggy blanket. So I kept my face straight and said nothing and so did they.

That evening I was in my apartment reading on the couch with Ellery at my side when here came the same aroma. Horrors. They probably thought it was I.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 May 14 - 04:03 PM

We used to have a dog named Scrapper. Great little dog -- whenever he felt that my brothers or I needed "female companionship" (beyond that of my mother, my sister, my grandmother, or my twice-great aunt) he'd run right over to the neighbors and fetch us some. Of course, at 9, 8 and 6 we just played tag or something with the neighbor girls.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 14 - 04:20 PM

Last month I had a bout of pneumonia which put me in the hospital for a few days. For 10 days or so before I was diagnosed, well before I felt really sick, my little dog walked right by my feet, rather than frolicking about as usual. The night that my friends took me to the ER, Ellery took one step at a time down the stairs just as I did.

I've decided that I need to look at my dog to see how I am. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 03 May 14 - 04:49 PM

Hope you're feeling much better now Ebbie. Pneumonia isn't good!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: JennieG
Date: 03 May 14 - 05:42 PM

Ebbie, just as well you have Ellery to keep an eye on you!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 May 14 - 06:07 PM

We have a rescue dog. A little 12 pound chiweenie. That half chihuahua and half dachshund. He came to us with the name Oompa but we quickly changed it to Buster. Mostly back with some white spots ob his toes and his chest. He's the fastest little dog I've owned. He sleeps in his own bed most of the night and then slips under the covers about 4 in the morning. The first time I reached over for my wife and got Busters paw instead was a bit of a shock. And he loves bananas.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 May 14 - 09:03 PM

Ellery, too, is a rescued dog, Wesley. Probably due to the fact that he needed expensive surgery, he was in the Humane Society for more than 8 weeks, until I just couldn't stand it any more.

(Thanks, Eliza and JennieG, I'm fine now. Just this week I got my energy back.)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 May 14 - 09:36 PM

I see lots of Service Dogs, both doing their job and in training. The most recent was Raven, who was in training -- a Great Dane, and I mean Raven is BIG.

Always ask before you touch someone's dog. It might be working.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Janie
Date: 03 May 14 - 11:23 PM

WE just lost our darling old girl 3 days ago. A rescue mutt who came into our lives just over 12 years ago. Every dog we have ever had has always been the best dog we ever had. Her included.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 14 - 12:36 AM

My pitbull Cinnamon turned up as an injured stray nine years ago this month. The vet thought she was 1 to 2 years old and had been hit a glancing blow by a car that threw her face-first into the ground and broke her front teeth between the canines. She had been bitten by something, probably another dog, and she was covered with ticks and fleas. But she was so sweet and smart, and I kept her. Advertisements for an injured pit bull didn't bring any response, and in addition to the vet bill I had to replace the stockade portion of the fence on the property.

Our catahoula/blue heeler mix was also a rescue, from the Humane Society. Cinnamon craved other dogs to play with and would break out of the yard, or when we walked she would strain to meet other dogs being walked. In September, after Hurricane Katrina, the shelter put the "local" dogs on sale so they'd have room for some of the Katrina dogs. Cinnamon by then had learned to walk on a leash, and I picked a dog I thought would be good then took Cinnamon down to meet her. Cinnamon is a gorgeous red nose American Staffordshire Terrier, and I didn't leave her in the truck while I waited to sign the papers (it was 100^o that afternoon). The staff were making everyone who wanted to adopt answer questions - "do you really want a dog, or do you just feel sorry for the Katrina dogs?" "Do you have a yard for a dog?" "Do you know how to care for a dog?" etc. As I waited my turn Cinnamon lay quietly on the cool concrete floor and wagged at people who approached to pet her. Some people crept around the room, fearing she would be the pitbull on the news and tear them limb from limb, others asked if I was giving her up for adoption. There is such a range of feelings about these dogs, but for me, she is the smartest dog I've ever owned, and is a total sweetheart.

My turn came to talk to the volunteer and she could see that my dog was well-behaved and well-cared for, and I was looking for a companion. We filled out the papers without all of the questions. When Poppy finally came home (after they spayed her) she wasn't allowed to run around for an entire week. Cinnamon was outside and knew Poppy (originally named "Sister") was in the house and was dying to meet her. Poppy couldn't go race around, but I compromised - I got a folding kennel and at night I put Poppy in it and let Cinnamon in the house, and she would sleep leaning up against the wire to be next to Poppy.

Zeke, my big goofy lab, came to live with us because his original owner, my best friend Susie, was critically injured as a pedestrian struck by a car in a parking lot. She was four months in the hospital and rehab, and Zeke had been a handful before she was injured. We'd met every morning to walk for a year or more, and over time Poppy finally accepted Zeke as a friend (she used to snap at him). Cinnamon adored the big galoot. After a few months we formed a routine - Susie would walk to my house and we'd eat breakfast and drink tea while the dogs ran around like crazy in my 1/2 acre yard. He started coming to stay over the weekend with us when Susie took her husband down to Houston for his cancer threatments. And he stayed with us for 2 weeks when she took Ray on one last good family vacation. Ray died in October, and Susie was hurt in January.

I got a call from Susie's daughter on January 12, 2012, around noon, telling me that Susie had been hurt, and would I mind going up and getting Zeke? They'd arrange for a kennel for him, but for now, could he stay with me? Of course! We all loved Zeke, and after a couple of weeks her son apologetically said he'd make arrangements to board Zeke. I told him there was absolutely no need, he was happy with the girls and he wasn't too much for me to handle (he used to break out of Susie's yard and go looking for dogs to play with, he wandered into my yard when I originally met him, and through him, Susie). I got a Gentle Leader head collar for Zeke and he walks perfectly with us now.

I took Zeke down to see Susie when she was able, but she is kind of like a stroke victim, weak on the left side (they did a craniotomy on the right and she wore a rubber helmet for months until they put the bone flap back in May of that year). Zeke knocks people over in his enthusiasm, and there came a day when Susie called and tearfully said that she was going to have to find a new home for this dog. I told her that if it was anywhere else than my house everyone would be very unhappy. So Zeke lives with us, and Susie's grandson makes play dates - he comes to get Zeke and they go play in Susie's pool.

Susie still wanted a big dog, she just couldn't have a young big strong pushy dog. A co-worker of mine with inoperable cervical cancer had three dogs and was in hospice when she finally announced that she needed to find them homes. I'd told Susie about them because I knew they would need a home, and because they were sedate dogs. Susie had expressed interest in at least one, though it turned out that she ended up with all three, plus her daughter just had given her a little King Charles Spaniel rescued from a ranch where a horse took exception to the dog and kicked her.

Someone spoke for the golden retriever, so Susie and I picked up Bug and Piper at my friend's house. Puddin' wanted to get in the truck also and didn't understand why she wasn't going also. That home for Puddin (the charismatic golden) fell through and she was so unhappy in a foster situation that she made herself sick. The friend who was managing the adoptions asked if Puddin could visit the other two, and I spoke to Susie about it. We decided that Puddin needed to come to stay, that if she just visited they'd all be unhappy. So she came to live with the others. Facebook video of Puddin reunited with Piper and Bug. At the time they met, none of the dogs had ever been around a big swimming pool, only a child's wading pool. Sorry for the noise and the chatter on the video. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 May 14 - 03:01 AM

What a wonderful reunion! There is no doubt in Puddin's mind that she is home forever. Thanks for sharing the video, Stilly. Sweet, sweet.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,McMusket
Date: 04 May 14 - 03:06 AM

One thing I forgot to mention about our Rio. We love the little bugger to bits.

He comes and lies on the hearth rug in my study and let's me tell him all my problems. We agree on courses of action for everything from equitable access to cancer screening across England to whether to risk planting potatoes yet, in case we have more ground frost to come.

Yesterday he walked up two mountains, covering over 10 miles and to be fair, this morning we had to literally push him out for his morning piddle.

The farting is insignificant compared to everything else about him.





(His predecessors, mongrels, farted too. But trust me, they weren't in his league on that score.)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: eddie1
Date: 04 May 14 - 04:10 AM

When we had our beautiful Golden Lab, Sheba, I got a lot of laughs when she farted and then whirled around to see where the hell the terrible stench was coming from!
Didn't help the stink though!

Eddie

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Musket
Date: 04 May 14 - 05:27 AM

My bugger's too lazy to jump up even. He presumably holds his breath...

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 14 - 04:17 PM

We had a German shorthaired pointer who used to walk over and want to nuzzle at your lap when you were sitting on the couch reading. Upon being told "no," she would go quietly to the other end of the sofa, climb up very slowly, and creep down to where you were lost in your book. Suddenly you were aware of having a dog's head resting in your lap. Which was fine, but she also had the problem Musket describes - a fart was more often than not what got your attention, not her gentle breathing as she slept on your lap.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 May 14 - 09:08 PM

Nigel.

MWDR = MidWest Dachshund Rescue.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 May 14 - 09:59 PM

Good luck to Nigel.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: BrendanB
Date: 05 May 14 - 08:59 AM

We have got a rescue dog, a saluki called Millie. When we got her she was terrified of everything and everyone. It took a long time but she gradually learned to trust people and got happier. Now she is very laid back and calm. She is however very talkative. She looks at you and grumbles until you go and stroke her, she tells you when it is time for her food and sometimes she just chunters on for no apparent reason. She is beautiful and we love her to pieces. She has slowed down a bit now (although she is still quicker than most dogs) but when she was younger her speed was breathtaking. I will never forget the feeling of despair the first time she took off when we were on the beach. She was gone in seconds. Fortunately she came back about two minutes later, ran in a big circle and then came to us with (I swear) a grin on her face.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 14 - 10:37 AM

Then there are the Oneida Dogs. Sorry, but I can't get a link to work -- that's our local newspaper!!!

Oneida dogs reunited: Adoptive families gather in Boise to share successes

By Michael H. O'Donnell [e-mail] | Posted: Sunday, April 20, 2014 2:45 am

    Scarred, starving and neglected just one year ago, pit bull terriers rescued from the scene of a triple-homicide near Holbrook had a big reunion with their new owners in Boise this month. They're called the "Oneida dogs."

    Eighteen of the dogs adopted by families in the Boise area met at the Idaho Humane Society complex April 5 to share stories and take photos.

    "It was amazing," said Hannah Parpart, communications and outreach director for the Idaho Humane Society. "Everyone had a great time."

    Parpart had prepared a slideshow to share with stories about all 18 of the terriers that found homes in western Idaho complete with photos taken by their adoptive families.

    Among those attending were Tracy White and Jenn Graham and their rescued pit bulls, Gilbert and Dottie.

    When Dottie arrived at the Humane Society she was 28 pounds underweight and suffered from a heart murmur due to a congenital defect. Today her weight is good and she is on an exercise and medication regiment to keep her going. When Graham adopted Dottie, she joined three other pit bulls at the Graham home.

    "She loves to play with the other dogs in the home," Graham said. "She's a social butterfly and very sweet."

    Dottie has also been asked to play the role of mother to pit bull puppies that Graham takes in temporarily as foster care for the Humane Society.

    "She was a mom so she does very well with the puppies," Graham said.

    Where Dottie was once limited to the length of a chain on ranch 25 miles west of Malad City, she now takes car rides wherever the Graham clan goes.

    "She loves to go in the car and she gets to go a lot of places," Graham said. "She loves to go to the shelter."

    Parpart said it may surprise people how much the rescued dogs have no fear of the shelter in Boise — a place that made their new lives possible as they were examined, treated and fed.

    "It was so nice seeing the 'Oneida families' and all those dogs together," Graham said about the reunion. "They were so healthy and happy."

    While Dottie was an older adult dog, Gilbert was about two when he was adopted by the Tracy White family. Shannon White works for the Idaho Humane Society and it was her mother who took Gilbert in.

    "He's doing awesome," Shannon White said. "He loves to go camping and has become best friends with mom's miniature schnauzer and coyote mix."

    Gilbert doesn't just socialize well with the other dogs in his adoptive family, he mixes well with other dogs at large family reunions the Whites hold often. And because Tracy White splits time between Grandview, Idaho, and Winnemucca, Nev., Gilbert's world has been expanded tremendously.

    Shannon said the transition wasn't easy for Gilbert and many of the other pit bulls rescued from the ranch in Southeast Idaho.

    "A lot of them became very demanding," she said.

    In the case of Gilbert, he had a habit of grabbing his leash whenever he was anxious.

    "We used that to teach him coping skills," Shannon said. "He was afraid of new stimuli during the night time."

    The Whites discovered that as long has Gilbert had a toy or leash he could hold in his mouth, the anxiety went away.

    "The biggest thing was building trust with these guys," Shannon said about the Oneida dogs.

    Now that Gilbert has found his happy place, he has actually helped raise a litter of kittens at the White household.

    When all the adoptive families gathered at the Boise shelter, they formed a big circle with their rescued dogs. And the owners made plans to repeat the reunion again next year.

    "It was very emotional and nothing short of amazing," Graham said. "It was a new beginning."

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 14 - 10:47 AM

Oh, and the Vicktory Dogs.

Of course, there's my friend Cole. When Cole was a kitten he was shot with 37 air gun pellets, including having his eyes shot out. Friends of mine adopted Cole and had him as repaired as possible. Within a couple of weeks in his "forever" home Cole had escaped from the kitchen area where he was kept and had learned to negotiate the stairs to the basement and the second floor. Now grown, NOTHING gets past Cole -- he can literally hear a feather played across the floor. (No, the unmentionably foul scum who "did" Cole were never caught; I pity da fools if they ever are for there is a long line of people waiting to "talk" with them.)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: gnu
Date: 05 May 14 - 12:31 PM

Wonderful stories.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 May 14 - 02:38 PM

Over the years I have adopted many animals from local 'pounds' and Humane Society facilities. I too have found that most of these animals are not afraid to re-visit those places. Maybe it is because those facilities were their first rescuers?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 05 May 14 - 02:44 PM

Oh rapparree, how utterly WICKED to shoot at a little kitten like that, and blind it. I've never heard anything so dreadful. I'd have literally torn the person limb from limb.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Claire M
Date: 06 May 14 - 07:01 AM

Hiya! Used to have a dachshund, Fritz. He was gorgeous. Used to bark @ his own reflection, loved fruitcake, chicken & chocolate (dog =/=owner) & let me put my arms round him & kiss his nose.
Then we had a collie, Sam, who weed on said dachshund's head & used to go "woooo" when he wanted a walk. It wasn't a dog howl, it was a human sounding wooo – we couldn't work out why for ages. Mum used to ask him if he wanted a walk, then say "OOOOO you do, Sam -- yes you do, OOOOO he does" & he was copying the way she said OOOO ! Clever Boy! Got collie now, Merlin, who worries if I cough. It's if he knows I need extra help.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 06 May 14 - 02:38 PM

Love the name Merlin. I reckon our pets, both cats and dogs, know a lot more about us and our feelings than we give them credit for Claire.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Amos
Date: 06 May 14 - 07:41 PM

Maggiue Darlin Dogg, whose secret identity is Mudflanks McFuzzbutt, has been a complete joy to my life ever since I retired and she arrived. We exchange opinions telepathically.    She has a really ironic sense of humor, but has unbridled enthusiasm when it comes to fun and edible treats. Smart, comely, well-mannered, well-built, conisdeerate and cooperative. And, an endless source of humort and affection. Who could ask for more? She's a half-breed Ridgeback, the other half being unknown, possibly beagle. She has four or five distinct graceful paces. Her coat is ticked with reddish gold, and she has the most persuasive built-in mascara. ;And RUN? Oh, my, you should just see her go!

What a complete bargain of joy!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 May 14 - 02:32 AM

I play music several times a week with a woman here at the apartment house community room. Yesterday I was packing up when Ellery began barking at a nearby wall of the room, not frenzied and not growling, just barking. In between his barks he looked over his shoulder at me.

Hmmmm? What's that about? (He is not a yappy dog.)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 May 14 - 03:05 AM

That's a bit spooky Ebbie! I've had the odd occasion when one of my cats has looked at 'nothing' late at night in the house, his fur bristling, and given a low 'growl'. Frightens the life out of me! Wonder if they see things we don't?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 May 14 - 03:17 AM

Our current dog is mostly black lab.
A rescue dog we think about 8 when we got her two and a half years ago, so ageing now.
She is so happy now and constantly shows us her love.
She was depressed and fat when she came.
She would not go in the garden by herself for fear of being shut out. She had horrible callouses on her elbows from lying on hard ground.

A different animal now and a joy to share our lives with.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 May 14 - 09:36 AM

That's absolutely lovely Keith. It's uplifting to hear of an animal whose life is enormously improved thanks to someone's kindness and love. What is her name?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 May 14 - 09:50 AM

Miz Eliza, should those who shot up Cole ever be found there is a long line of cops, animal welfare workers, and general people waiting to discuss the matter with them...it being in the Chicago area they would like to see them fitted with a "Chicago overcoat" after the discussions are complete. Knitting needles are the least of the topics for the discussion.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 May 14 - 09:51 AM

She now knows she is Poppy.
She did not respond to the name we were told was hers.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 May 14 - 09:56 AM

She sometimes lives up to her name with little "popping" noises, but no competition for Musket's old greyhound.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 May 14 - 10:31 AM

A Chicago Overcoat, Rapparee! Excellent suggestion! If Shariah law applied, he's have his own eyes shot out.
I wonder if Poppy refused to acknowledge her 'real' name because she associated it with suffering, Keith? I once took in an emaciated stray cat, a poor, scared and vicious tabby hanging around in the snow in our garden. I was very patient and eventually he surrendered and came to live with me, and grew quite plump and calm. I called him 'Solo'. Not long after, a neighbour told me he was 'Oscar' and his owners had simply moved away and abandoned him. (Cruel) I tried him with 'Oscar' and he actually hissed and shrank away. I never used that name again, and he remained my Solo until he died of old age.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Musket
Date: 07 May 14 - 12:34 PM

I wish my bugger made popping noises. I'd have time to evacuate the street. No. The bugger is into silent but violent butlers revenge farts.

You got lucky there Keith. Popping is almost pleasant.

Our Greyhound was from a rescue place but one specialising in ex racing dogs. The life they lead as racing dogs is cruel by domestic standards but wouldn't fit the abused category your pet must have suffered from. I take my hat off to people who give a dog a second home.

Dogs give so much love back and bring out the best in us.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 May 14 - 01:06 PM

Our local garden centre allows a lovely chap to bring his rescued, re-homed greyhound and collect for the charity that takes them in. His bitch is a brindled one with beautiful markings. I spend ages patting her and talking to her, and slowly but surely she starts to lean against me until she's nearly horizontal with her whole weight against my legs. She gazes up into my eyes in ecstasy, wearing a comfy knitted woolly jacket that the chap's wife knits for her. Apparently she's terribly lame and can't walk far, after being raced to the end of her 'usefulness'. I always contribute as much as I can to his collecting tin. I'd love to adopt one, but of course with three cats it would be highly disastrous!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 May 14 - 02:01 PM

They do Musket.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 07 May 14 - 02:58 PM

I don't know Eliza. My greyhound would love to share a house with three cats. Both cats would keep fit. In fact the cat would

Oh...

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 May 14 - 03:49 PM

Exactly, Musket. The man and I always laugh and he says, "Those Siamese cats would make three nice sandwiches for her!" It's a pity, because I took in an emergency temporary cocker spaniel bitch not so long ago. Her owners (a horrible South African couple we used to clean for) announced they were going away for the whole weekend and were just intending to leave her tied up in their yard with some water and some dog biscuits. I was horrified and said I'd either call the RSPCA or have her myself. They didn't much care, so I brought her home. Our cats were quite calm surprisingly, and she was jolly, and not nasty to them. I cried absolute buckets when I handed her back. They gave her away soon after. I just hope she found a good home. Her name was Pela. I felt she loved me too. Oh dear... (tears...)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Janie
Date: 07 May 14 - 11:44 PM

They are creatures, just as we are creatures. Because of our long and mutually satisfying/beneficial association over thousands of years of coevolution we often "grok" across species lines in ways that seem magical or mystical from our species-centric point-of-view. Via magical and mystical to the extent it furthers our appreciation of the connection we have with these other species. Let us always respect they are different species and our connection with them is likely perceived differently on their part.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 May 14 - 11:09 AM

A friend of mine will be doing a lot of dog sitting in the neighborhood this summer as various people take trips. He was looking for more work a couple of years ago so I started putting out the word about his helpfulness here (working in my garden, taking out trees, etc.) and a couple of other neighbors took up the cause and now he says he is quite busy. He still does a lot of yard work, but the real treasure is that he's trusted (we've known him for a long time) and he likes the dogs. Theses neighbors know him because he has done a lot of their yard work and occasional painting and dry wall, but the dog sitting could be a real calling - people will pay substantial sums to let their animals be cared for at home while they're away.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 13 May 14 - 03:11 AM

Mind you....

My dog isn't completely amazing. Oh, his food in to dog eggs out ratio never ceases to amaze, and his noxious qualities are already mentioned on this thread.

But you know what? He is totally crap at poker.

I thought the poker face expression would be an advantage but no.

Every time you deal him a decent hand, his tail starts wagging.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 13 May 14 - 03:22 AM

I absolutely adore Paul O'Grady's 'For The Love Of Dogs' on TV, featuring the long-established Battersea Dogs' Home in London. He's surprisingly upbeat and not too sentimental. It's very heart-warming to watch as a dog finds a new home after treatment and care by the staff. Far too many people get a dog without thinking it through. A dog needs plenty of human contact and interaction. It can't be left for hours on end alone, shut in a yard, house or garden. It needs long walks (not just a quick trot to the corner and back) It needs grooming, worming, de-flea-ing, inoculations, training. It's a lot of work and responsibility, and ignorant spur-of-the-moment buyers cause a lot of suffering and often abandon the animal later. Thank goodness there are kind and sensible people (such as those on this thread) who understand dogs and are prepared to take in a poor needy rescue dog and give it a new and happy life. Lovely, lovely dogs! (And cats!!)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 13 May 14 - 02:10 PM

What does amaze me are the expensive breeds that are abandoned, not that any animal should be treated that way whether it is a thoroughbred or mongrel. Whatever is it that makes people neglect, mistreat or abandon dogs after spending a lot of money to purchase them in the first place? The cost of dogs, care of the dog or license fee hasn't deterred this from happening still.

What is the answer? Luckily rescue centres do match up prospective owners with dogs to find out if the home or owner is right for the temperament or disposition of the dog but do independent breeders do the same as thoroughly? People can seem convincing but after the dog is taken home then I presume that the breeder just has to hope that all will be well.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 13 May 14 - 02:51 PM

Hello there Patsy! I agree that it's strange how much people are prepared to pay for a pedigree dog, then neglect it and cause it to stray and/or suffer. That cocker spaniel I mentioned above was a pedigree bitch and probably cost about £500. I also dislike this silly fashion for little chihuahuas and toy Yorkies bought by trendy girls who only want to dress them in clothes and stick them in their handbags. The owners obviously just can't imagine how the dog feels.
When I bought my two Siamese kittens (brothers called Minty and Murphy) as companions for my old Siamese Smokey, the breeder sensibly came to our house to see exactly where they would be living and check that I knew about their needs. I admired that and didn't mind at all. She also told me to contact her if I found I didn't want them (as if!!) and she'd take them back. Cats and dogs have needs, feelings and affection to give and receive. They aren't objects or toys.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Nov 16 - 07:00 PM

This thread has been asleep for some time. Some Mudcat threads , it could be said of them, let sleeping threads lie, as with sleeping dogs. Some dogs anyhow.

In the time this thread has been asleep, dogs have gone their way to the Rainbow Bridge. Sadly, so have some of their owners. Happily, some Mudcatters have dog companions that they didn't have the last time this thread was up.

I live in a no-pets apartment building, but I like animals, and I get vicarious enjoyment from the pleasure that people, and the dogs who own them, reciprocate in, or however one says that.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 12:33 AM

J-boy and I had to have Bandit put to sleep at the beginning of August. Beau came to stay at the end of September. It was a very long eight weeks in between dogs. Beau is probably mostly terrier, some beagle, and many, many other things. I doubt there has been a purebred in his lineage in a very long time. And that's the way I like it. I've been telling people he's a Tennessee Brat Terrier. Some get the joke, some don't. He's about a year old, and around 30 pounds. Both the youngest dog I've ever owned, and the smallest. He's a lot of company, very much a little scamp, very bright, and he keeps me laughing. He and the cat are working things out. He tries to stay out of her way, she reminds him every so often with a hiss and a slap that she's the queen of the castle, thank you very much. I have caught them snuggling several times, though, so I think they'll eventually get along fine.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 04:23 AM

Nice to have this thread pop back up! I love talk about dogs and to hear others' stories.

My Ellery, now 8 years old, is getting along fine. He had severe separation anxiety (he was already two years old when I got him but had evidently never been taught that it's OK to be alone sometimes) but keeps improving- he will now go spend time in a different room from me and just check on me from time to time. Mostly, if I can't take him along when I leave, I have a friend who takes him in, and he's fine with that.

One peculiarity he has: food is not a motivator to him. In fact, he usually has to try a tiny bit of food - and I mean, tiny! - before he decides after a couple of bites that it is, #1, edible and #2, good.

He responds well to voice and nuance, a smart and affectionate dog. I just wish I could tell what he's thinking when he stands in front of me and stares into my eyes!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 09:01 AM

The original thread was about our pets. It was huge and was started many years ago.


Ellery is thinking Food? outside? walk? common lady food? walk? anything? common make my day. surprise me. Walk? outside? drive?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 09:13 AM

com-on lady

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 11:23 AM

Well, Ranger1, now that you and Beau have been introduced on the appropriate thread:

....WTF happened to Beau's back?! You posted elsewhere about sores and deep wounds?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 02:51 PM

Dogs help veterans cope with PTSD

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 02:56 PM

The vet in Tennessee told the woman who fostered him that they were hot spots. My vet isn't convinced that's what they really were, but they were mostly healed when he arrived. My suspicion is that they may have started out as some sort of bacterial infection, as he was being kept in an outside pen that was, according to his foster mom, a sewer overflow. He may have a couple of small bald spots due to scarring, but they have healed cleanly, and most of the hair has grown back.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Felipa
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 06:50 AM

recent news items in Britain and Northern Ireland

Cornwall: Walnut the whippet wasnt well at the exceptionally old age of 18. Owner carried Walnut for a last walk along the beach before euthanasia and hundreds of well-wishers brought their dogs along as the story was spread by social media.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-37955748
There are loads of articles and videos on line - local Plymouth media, UK national papers including the Mirror, Guardian and Telegraph
Contrary opinion:


Dog in Northern Ireland saved child who got into the automatic clothes drying machine (by alerting the child's parents). http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2016/11/15/news/boy-five-injured-after-climbing-into-tumble-dryer-783864/

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 04:23 AM

A poodle I had for many years watched out for me. On occasions when a group of us would go to an old swimming hole not far from home she was fine with just watching me from the banks. At a certain point, however, she always decided I had been in long enough. She would swim out to me, grab my swimsuit by the strap and tow me back to land. I would remonstrate with her but never scolded her for it. Thought maybe she knew something I didn't. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 10:05 AM

Perhaps those farting dogs need different food, probably with less fiber in it. Ask the vet.

Ebbie, have you had both of your pneumonia vaccinations?

Ranger, thanks for the pictures of Beau.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 02:04 PM

Not surprised to hear of the existence of a pets thread.
It has sense to me that dogs, as well as cats, would have pet/owner threads of their own, as there are so many pets/owners specifically of dogs and cats.

The trouble with doing a Mudcat search for threads on pet cats, is that somehow it brings up dear departed Catspaw and his possums.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 04:23 AM

leenia, shortly after I had the bout of pneumonia I got a shot. Not sure if it is the newer one or not. Should call.

keberoxu, yesterday I was talking with an acquaintance about animals and the ethics of eating them. He admitted that he has had horse and cat but not dog. (That's how he talked.) He argued that there's nothing inherently wrong about eating dog, that it is meat, and that if one were starving, one wouldn't hesitate. I agreed that there have been circumstances where one couldn't blame them- historic, desperate North pole explorers, for instance, but that 'eating dog' per se, is beyond the pale. Anything that is capable of feeling love and devotion, etc, etc.

Which brought up vegetarianism. Which brought us around to agreeing that probably we don't need to eat mammals. Sheesh.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 05:03 AM

Borzoi's in the Amazon
Hairless dogs in Alaska
We need friends everywhere
but come on.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 11:34 AM

Ellery, my hairless dog,is a rescued dog. He was allegedly born in Florida and brought north by his original family. The only reason I adopted him was that I could no longer bear a little dog like that sitting alone in a concrete cell for more than 8 weeks. I'm sure that the reason he wasn't adopted earlier is that he needed expensive surgery on both his hind legs, and most families' budgets can't justify spending that kind of money.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 02:45 PM

We lost two dogs this year and still have the amazing third. Old Faulkner went to sleep in August and is pushing up lilacs at our Ohio retirement cottage. Younger Biscuit (beagle/bassett) was re-homed thru the no-kill shelter where we'd gotten her; she found a new home as a single dog within 2 weeks, and is deliriously happy.

Newbie the unadoptable pit/shep/rott mix (little, 50 pounds), is the Only Dog now, and at our age may be our last.

Newbie's claim to "amazing" is her companionship skills and smarts. She also loves car rides and hanging out IN the car while I do stuff, so is ideal for my activist life nowadays. Perfect size for the car, and only eats cats now very seldom (prozac). Yesterday she showed bully-dog stubborness (the upside), by effectively and perfectly recalling all her September steering commands (applying these from scooter training to walkering). Pulling as requested, turns as needed.

OTOH her prozac seems to have erased "fetch" and "go get," pending retraining. I'll take that over dead housecats any day.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Thompson
Date: 20 Nov 16 - 02:37 AM

My dog Bríd is a rescue - she rescued me when she arrived, full of joy and naughtiness as a three-month-old pup, and has been equally full of that joy for the last 16 years. She's a Borderline Collie - her mother was three-quarters border collie and a quarter labrador and her father was pure border collie.

She's always been scarily bright; one time when she was around two, I drove out to Greystones to sit on the beach and have a read and bring her for a walk. I lay down and read for a while, went and threw a ball into the sea for a while for her to race in and swim for it, had a long walk along the beach, sat down again in more or less the same spot. It was windy, so I decided the hell with this and we walked back to the car.

It was at this stage that I discovered that I'd lost my car keys. I tried to work out where on the big beach I'd been sitting and lying, and went back there. No sign of the keys. Bríd was romping around, and totally illogically I turned on her and scolded her - "If we don't find my keys I can't drive home!"

Bríd looked up at me, looked down and started sniffing, then started digging - and up cake the keys from under the sand! You can imagine the praise, and the happy, proud romps!

She's always stayed downstairs - I have asthma - and always slept halfway between the front and back doors. But last year she started sleeping pressed up against the front door, so we moved her duvet up there; the reason - old age had made her almost deaf.

Bríd still loves a walk, and romps creakily when she sees me reaching for my coat, but a walk for her now is about 50 metres before she comes back and sinks, exhausted, on to her duvet in front of the stove.

May I add my voice to those suggesting to bring a farty dog to the vet. There are some breeds that are naturally flatulent - I remember an aged labrador belonging to friends who made dinner a nightmare by the combination of barking endlessly till treats were thrown and lying down and farting like an army band - but there can be physical causes like worms and some serious diseases, so I'd be inclined to consult a good vet.

In the case of a rescue greyhound, part of the problem may be demolishing food at speed as a habitual way of eating from being fed in a pack and having to eat fast before the others get your food. This means the dog gulps down air. If that's the case, you might be able to train her to eat more slowly by feeding her a bit, then waiting a little, then feeding her another bit, and so on, while keeping the atmos very calm.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: robomatic
Date: 20 Nov 16 - 02:09 PM

Most Famous Rescue Greyhound

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: leeneia
Date: 20 Nov 16 - 10:57 PM

Thompson, I love the idea of a borderline collie. And I love the story about her finding the keys.

What I learned about cat food may apply to farty dogs. Supermarket pet food contains plant fiber to bulk it up. This is not natural food for cats, and it irritates the digestive tract, producing a state of near-diarrhea. The result is a stinky litter box.

Buying better food, such as Iams or Science Diet, makes for a healthier cat and a nicer box. The food costs more per bag, but the cat needs less of it.

Worth trying with dogs, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 07:54 PM

Tired Beau tonight, a rare occurrence. Today, we had a walk, a run, and went to the beach. We have, through several not-terribly-scientific trials, come to the conclusion that 1 Beau = 5 other dogs.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 08:21 PM

A tired puppy is a happy one. Especially when he has the energy of five dogs. Sounds like a lot of terrier in Beau.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 08:33 PM

Oh, most definitely a lot of terrier!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 28 Nov 16 - 02:40 PM

One reason I don't have a pet dog is because I recall how badly it hurt when childhood pet animals died. But it's nothing against the animal.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Nov 16 - 02:44 PM

The joy outweighs the pain. Not to mention the mental and physical health benefits for me personally. In the short time I've had Beau, I've lost twelve pounds and an inch off my waist. And I've started running again. I'm also sleeping better, less depressed, and laughing more than I have in a long time.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Nov 16 - 03:27 PM

keberoxu, I used to take old/unadoptable dogs just to give them a happy ending. Worked and I loved each of them However, just about the time I thought I couldn't bear the pain of the inevitable loss again- usually within a year - I got an unadoptable youngish dog, a Cairn terrier just four years old. What made her unadoptable was that she had a congenital, inoperable condition where part of her liver had migrated through a hole in her chest wall. At age 9, that is where her cancer began- but oh, I had five good years with her.

These animals - dogs and cats - were all adopted through the local humane society. Interestingly, even though the normal cost of adoption through them is just under 100 dollars, I have not been charged anything for any of them. Good policy.

Just maybe that fact inspires other people to adopt older animals.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 03 Dec 16 - 07:46 PM

This is, if I can get it to link, one of my favorite happy-ending rescue-dog stories.

Do You Remember Miracle?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Dec 16 - 09:45 AM

It is amazing how good my dog is at trigonometry. What ever the vector angle I point to , Gromet can draw a mental line through solid objects to arrive at the destination. If its a treat she uses the scent but for angles under 40 degrees she uses dog trig.scent

She looks like a border collie but is part Rottweiler and like most dogs has an unerring internal clock.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Dec 16 - 11:58 AM

Lots of photos about with people decorating their pet dogs for Christmas, funny hats, antler headbands, and the like. Do any Mudcatters take photos of their dogs ornamented for Christmas? Or know of people who do?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Dec 16 - 04:34 PM

If this link works:
check out this canine version of Gloria in Excelsis Deo. (different than barking)

Badger the Border Terrier

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Dec 16 - 08:54 PM

I've yet to decorate one of my dogs for Christmas (I did once put a propeller beanie on Clancy the Wonder Dog, but I was also wearing one at the time), but I did have a little fun with my cat Kaylee this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Dec 16 - 01:48 PM

Of course, Tami, the cat thinks that the dog is to keep her company.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Jan 17 - 07:27 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 12:47 PM

How are your dogs enjoying this weather?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Jan 17 - 05:27 PM

Would you please, olddude, tell us about your weiner dog?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jan 17 - 10:59 AM

Well I took him out west with us over the holidays. He was a good boy on the five hour plane ride. However, upon landing i was walking him down to baggage claim and yup.. Hunched right in the middle of the airport. The guy behind me goes, well when a man has to go he has to go.. Yup I had clean up duty.. My wife says you brought him Lol.. Kids had fun having him playing with their dogs around the Xmas tree.. He also entertained the little kids behind me on the airplane. They kept petting him. Parents seemed to love it as the kids were busy

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jan 17 - 11:13 AM

Between my kids and one Ibbought to visit we had nine dogs Lol. Veterinarian daughter
Married a veterinarian

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jan 17 - 11:37 AM

My new dog is ocb he has a basket full of toys. He takes the one he wants to play with, then puts it back and gets another. I never had a dog that picks up after himself

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Jan 17 - 12:14 PM

Many thanks, olddude, is the dog's name classified info? If not, what's his name?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jan 17 - 08:23 PM

Obie won cannoli.... He is long and sweet Lol

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jan 17 - 11:32 PM

I have four dogs three wieners and a lab newfie mix who thinks he is a wiener dog.. I have one hairy wiener dog called hairy-it aka cousin it aka sasquash.. A black and tan wiener danke.. My Obie and the 150 lbs Gus Gus.. He doesn't answer to the first Gus hence Gus Gus..

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 09 Jan 17 - 12:54 PM

Although I prefer to skulk and lurk under my membername, it would be a good time to mention a dog in my past, making further disclosure of my own personal info.

During my childhood, my brother and his best friends came storming home from play one day, with a hound in tow: can we keep her? She had been dumped. Whoever dumped her, probably did so because she was gun-shy, poor lamb. Not only did she have a horror of guns -- even the sight of an unloaded shotgun, propped up against the wall in the corner, would freak her out -- but she lost it during thunderstorms and Fourth-of-July fireworks displays. She would shake like a little leaf.

Full grown, she was, and the boys named her Mickey for some reason. Although she greatly resembled a beagle, there was something else in there as well, probably more hound but a different breed of hound. Her eyes, for example, were not beagle eyes strictly speaking, with all that "eyeliner" effect; her eyes were "makeup-free" if you can imagine how that looks. Proportions were a little different as well: her legs were long and slender, and so was her head, more so than a purebred beagle. But the markings in her fur were classic beagle markings against a background of snow white. She shed something awful, bless her.

And she was so beautifully house-trained, by the damn fools who threw her away by the side of the road, that she ended up training us more than we trained her!

It was time for Mickey to go out and do her business, for example, when she told us so. From the beginning she had her own protocol and she taught it to us. She would head over to the door, and ... you'll never guess ... she would SNEEZE. Loudly, and repeatedly. All of us would drop whatever we were doing, and say, uh-oh, time to let Mickey out, and we would hurry to the door, where Mickey would dance around impatiently, and would zoom outside as soon as the door would open. Yes, it was embarrassing how well trained we were by that dog.   

I was away at university when the news was relayed to me. She had gone for a stroll along state route number [] which was a thoroughfare for trucks, from the Eisenhower regime. She was found by the shoulder, and a truck had hit her; it appeared that she died instantly and suffered not at all. I recall thinking: Poor kid, she got lucky, when none of us had the toughness to have her put down, she was dispatched quickly and painlessly in spite of us.

We will never have another companion like Mickey.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 09 Jan 17 - 02:04 PM

Hi Dan! Welcome back!

Keberoxu, thanks for the story about Mickey.

As for Beau, he attended his first ceilidh this past weekend, entertained the other guests, licked the two babies that were present, and kept his nose off the food table, even though there was a lovely port roast up there. The trash basket on the floor was a little more problematic, but after repeated reminders that it wasn't for him, he started ignoring it. He received many compliments for his behavior, including praise from a woman who used to train dogs professionally. He did cause an embarrassing moment when he peed on the floor late in the evening, but t may have been because both times that I'd taken him out previously he had just lifted his leg and gotten frightened by the plow truck going by and by one of the other guests scraping the ice off their windshield. Either way, I cleaned up after him and no carpets or upholstery were involved and it didn't seem to bother our hosts.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 09 Jan 17 - 08:55 PM

Nothing can make you happier than a dog and nothing can break your heart like a dog.. If my dogs are not waiting for me in heaven, I won't go

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Jan 17 - 01:09 PM

refresh, and thanks olddude et alia.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 11 Jan 17 - 12:25 PM

Was just reminded of former First Dogs, Bo and Sunny.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Jan 17 - 07:34 PM

Rapparee, earlier in this thread, saluted the Vicktory Dogs.

I just went to the Best Friends website because I needed a Vicktory Dog update.
It has been nine years since the rescue.
Some of the dogs actually were re-homed, adopted out.
At least a dozen stayed at the Best Friends sanctuary.
Presently, they are getting fed, walked, sheltered, medicated, and all the love and attention they need.
They are slowly but surely dying off. They were dying from the beginning, one at a time. Not all of the same cause; but in many cases the culprit was "babesia" which is blood-borne. Lukas and Tug, two heavily scarred Vicktory dogs who enjoyed some happy years at the Sanctuary, died of babesia. The latest is Denzel, the big black pitbull named in honor of Denzel Washington: babesia again.

The one the rescuers named "Georgia," the brood bitch for whom the Vickpeople hired a vet at some point to do a thorough and professional job of extracting every tooth, bad or good, in her jaws, the better to forcibly breed her without her damaging the stud dogs (yes it means what you think), became something of a celebrity, with her big toothless pitbull grin. She was old and worn-out physically, and her kidneys finally did for her, but she was tenderly cared for until the end. Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Jan 17 - 02:14 PM

Of all the dogs that had to be accounted for, 22 of them went to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary nine years ago.
One of them, Oscar, was put to sleep this week. That brings the number of surviving dogs down to eleven, as eleven are now dead.
Oscar, as far as I know, was not afflicted with babesia. He was, however, taking pain medication on a daily basis, and all I can gather is that the pain was chronic, and the conditions behind the pain could be treated but not reversed. Oscar's adoptive owner stated that Oscar was having more bad days than good ones now, and that it was time to let him go while he could pass comfortably and with dignity.

Of the eleven survivors out of the Best Friends Sanctuary 22, I believe that four dogs remain at the Sanctuary. Meryl, a female, must remain at the Sanctuary for life, by court order. The other three are Willie Boy, Curly, and Mya: two males and a female in that order. It is questionable if Willie Boy and Curly will ever be adopted outside the sanctuary, with their anxiety and fearfulness. But they are being looked after as if the sanctuary is their forever home. Willie Boy favors the horse toy, a large rubber ball on a swing, which he will bump the way the horses bump it. Curly favors the office of the dog-area managers, and is a champion shredder of paper and cardboard boxes.
Mya excells at being a surrogate mother to puppies.

Here's a Best Friends Sanctuary link if I can get it to work.

Vicktory Dogs: some updates

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 02:37 PM

Ranger1, have you got pets in addition to the dog and the cat?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 08:12 PM

My friend had a pig called Chris p bacon

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 09:23 PM

Keberoxu, I don't have any other pets. The two I have are enough. I do have a fox that cruises the back field and a family of crows that visit the compost pile on a daily basis, but they're more acquaintances than pets.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Jan 17 - 04:10 PM

refresh

(Ranger1, I guess what made me think of the question, was seeing snapshots of that farm where the Highland cattle were. But those are someone else's animals, I understand that.)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Jan 17 - 01:59 PM

How goes it with Beau though?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 30 Jan 17 - 05:21 PM

My dog has swollen glands?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: olddude
Date: 30 Jan 17 - 07:06 PM

My back was hurting so I decided to take a hot bath with the massage jets on full. Well my dog nosed tthe door and jumped in with me. Ugh :)

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Jan 17 - 07:22 PM

Cannoli in the jacuzzi

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 30 Jan 17 - 10:00 PM

Beau is well, thanks for asking! Took a chance and left him loose in the house instead of crating him today and he was a very good dog. I may be able to get rid of the crate, which will free up a lot of space.

He's also been part of the Photo a Day challenge that I take part in. When I get the photos uploaded to Flickr, I'll post a ink to the album.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 31 Jan 17 - 02:47 PM

A very photogenic little long-legged terrier is Beau. Those photos will be a treat. Thanks Tami!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Feb 17 - 05:04 PM

Thinking of everyone at the Mudcat Café who is bonded to their dogs, whether that bond is causing them delight or whether they are suffering along with the suffering of their canine companions.

After all these years, I still miss Mickey the Bagel Dog. gulp.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: ranger1
Date: 06 Feb 17 - 12:17 PM

I dispensed with the crate for Beau last week. He's been mostly good, the first day, he ate a chunk off the cardboard cat scratcher that was hanging on the front door (and that the cat never used) and tore the loop that it hung from the knob by. I moved it to one side, and now the cat loves it. Go figure. And yesterday, I had to work a longer and different shift than I usually do at the market, and I guess he just couldn't hold it any more and peed in the bathroom. I give him credit, he was aiming for the cat's litter box, most went in, some on the floor that needed cleaning up.

We also took our first successful off-leash walk int he woods behind the house on Saturday. Thinly sliced hot dogs make excellent bribes/rewards!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Feb 17 - 12:58 PM

I miss having a canine companion...my housemates have dogs, and theres this insane cat that adopted me, for some reason...but its not the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Feb 17 - 01:54 PM

Thanks, Amergin, for disclosing your goodbye to Yoshi on the Uncomfortable Adventures thread. You have the gift of seeing your dog as she saw herself. And seeing yourself through her eyes.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Donuel
Date: 06 Feb 17 - 03:20 PM

Swollen glands mean lymphoma.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 06 Feb 17 - 09:13 PM

Donuel, your dog has tested positive for lymphoma?
Did I read that right?
What a blow. I'm terribly sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Feb 17 - 01:03 PM

When your dog loves you, is healthy, and satisfied with living with you,
every day is Valentine's Day.

That's even more true if it's a cat.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 14 Feb 17 - 11:03 AM

remembering the dogs

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Feb 17 - 01:57 PM

Ranger1, what about those photos of Beau?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Feb 17 - 12:22 PM

I still want to know if those Donuel posts from 30 January and 6 February mean what I thought they meant. I added two and two and got what I posted in response on 6 February, but was I completely mistaken?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Mar 17 - 12:47 PM

our dogs are still amazing

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 03:01 PM

Ranger1, how goes it with the new four-footed member of your household, now that he has got you in better physical shape?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Mar 17 - 02:18 PM

Mudcat says hello -- well, I say hello -- to Beau, Cinnamon, Obi Wan Cannoli, Gus Gus, and so many others.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 05:41 AM

What do people think of the Crufts Winner, an American cocker spaniel?
He has the strange name of Afterglow Miami Ink. Lovely dog, but I can't imagine him working with the guns in a muddy field, or crossing streams to retrieve game etc. His silky, flowing fur looks as if it needs a daily visit to the hairdresser to manage it.
The judge apparently used to breed this type of dog, so was he biased?
There's big money in Crufts - a Winner can command thousands in stud fees and advertising...

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 05:55 AM

I fell asleep during crufts
[I could only hear the wife saying "oh isn't it cute...!!!" so many times before i drifted off], and woke up just as the winner was announced...

wtf... it looked more like a cartoon sloth puppet... or a ventriloquist's dummy...!!!???

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 07:18 AM

I agree pfr, it was a rather strange-looking animal, and I felt its head was a bit small for the rest of him. I also feel sorry for the dogs who are groomed to within an inch of their lives for these shows, it must be horribly boring and tiring for them.

At the Royal Norfolk Show, they have a section for the Dog Show, but it's generally real working dogs such as terriers, cocker spaniels (English type) sheepdogs, border collies and the like. They actually spend their lives out in the fields and on farms doing what they do naturally, retrieving game, herding stock, catching rats and vermin and so on. I imagine they have happy lives.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 09:28 AM

I remember the year that Westminster was won by the beagle.
Don't know what the beagle was like in the field,
but he loved baying and howling at the audience.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Mar 17 - 02:52 AM

I missed seeing the show. I try to make it a point to see the Westminster show and that other one...

Speaking of working dogs versus the pampered house dogs reminds me of my old miniature poodle, a well-loved dog I had for many years. Mimi was a house dog but wise, loving and alert. My daughter and I have lots of stories about her.

Once I was at my brother's house, out in the paddock behind the barn. He had seen a rat and was dismantling a pile of old lumber where it had holed up. Yankee, his big Catahoula, was eagerly leaping from one side of the pile to the other trying to reach the rodent.

My dog stood by my side watching the excitement interestedly.

Suddenly the rat exited the lumber and dashed straight past my dog. Instantly Mimi's head flashed out and she grabbed the rat by the neck.

She held it until a moment later when my brother's dog bounded over and took the rat. Mimi surrendered it, obviously aware that the rat was the other's prize and that her role was making sure it didn't get away.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Mar 17 - 03:17 AM

I'm sure our domestic pets (dogs, and cats too) haven't really left their instinctive behaviours behind, it's very near the surface. A farmer we know demolished an old rundown barn on his land, with the help of his two sons and numerous terriers. The rats apparently were streaking out from the debris in their dozens, but the terriers went wild with excitement and got the lot within minutes.

At the Norfolk Show, they always have a lovely turn where an entire Hunt comes into the arena, about thirty foxhounds, and huntsmen/women in red coats mounted on beautifully-groomed hunters. They sound their hunting horns, and the Whip controls the pack while they bay all round the ring. I know foxhunting is cruel and I'm glad it's been banned, but that is always a lovely sight at the Show!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 14 Mar 17 - 05:22 PM

Yes, it really does wonders for a dog's self-respect when it can do what it was bred to do.

There is a breeder of border terriers with that philosophy, in Canada. One of her stud dogs never did well in the show ring during those pup years -- the show circuit makes a big deal of young dogs -- but excelled at "earthdog" events and rallies and the active stuff. Time went on, and the breeder entered this dog at a show in the Veterans class, since his age had advanced. He beat out all the other veterans, not by being a compliant show dog, but because he had a healthy self-regard from years of happy hunting, and because he had been well-bred and kept in top shape.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 10:32 AM

Ranger1, good to hear that you got through the blizzard in one piece. How is Beau doing?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 02:19 PM

Separated from Beau in a snowdrift!? No wonder puppy was unhappy. Tell more.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Mar 17 - 01:13 PM

Tami??

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 03:51 AM

Two labrador guide dogs at last night's session - far better behaved than some of the performers...

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 04:06 PM

What's new with Beau?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Apr 17 - 11:46 AM

Happy Easter, and I just met a service dog -- complete with red blanket/coat saying SERVICE DOG -- and his humans.
He is largely terrier, and a stocky muscular bodied fellow.
And I said, "Is he supposed to be working?"
cause he had his outfit on.
And he was straining at the leash trying to get past the person with the lead, and greet me.
"It's okay," they said. And chided him tenderly when he bounced on his hind legs and wanted my face. I had just washed, though, so my face didn't smell interesting to him.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Jun 17 - 12:57 PM

Dog days of summer ?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: leeneia
Date: 19 Jun 17 - 01:02 PM

Keberoxu, apparently there are fake service dogs, and that terrier sounds like one.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: leeneia
Date: 19 Jun 17 - 01:08 PM

Read a CBS story about a dog who saved the life of a little girl:


peanut

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Gda Music
Date: 20 Jun 17 - 12:23 PM

I did read about a magic dog
it was an ABRACADABRADOR

GJ

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Jun 17 - 06:57 PM

And a gentle but heartfelt congratulations to Acme's Cinnamon who killed a rodent while the Labrador watched.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Jun 18 - 06:34 PM

Well, I may never again be owned by a dog,
but I enjoy hearing about everybody else's dogs.
So, I refresh this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Mooh
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 09:27 AM

Many years ago Rosie The Wonder Dog with the occasional assistance of Cosmo The Other Dog would post here. They are both gone now, a few years apart, the former at age 14 by a twisted stomach (she suffered for a few hours before a vet could put her out of her misery), the latter was riddled with fast growing tumours but didn't suffer long. We now have Otis, a 90lb Lab/Golden cross who got the goofy of both breeds but is sweet and fun and obedient most of the time.

We like to have our dogs overlap in age so that we're never without. Having said that, Otis was terribly distraught when Cosmo died, moping about, wimpering, off his food, and constantly searching for him. In time he got over it, but we have to be careful still even mentioning Cosmo in Otis's presence.

I find dogs to be better company than most humans and I hope I never have to live without one. We're looking for a second dog now, probably a female, to be a friend for Otis.

Yup, when I don't sleep with the dog he's beside my bed. He licks out bowls and plates, isn't caged, and I let him bark at people who he doesn't trust. He sounds huge and mean but he's actually gentle and submissive most of the time. He loves to greet my music students as they come and go.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 10:35 AM

We lost Cinnamon last December, one of those trips to the vet you dread, but know the time has come. She was having so much trouble doing things, and was losing interest in regular food. I took all three for a short walk across the road to Cinnamon's absolute favorite walking place, the woods. She didn't sniff around as much as the others, but I didn't expect it. I took them home and put Cinnamon in the car and we went down to the vet, and the vet could see the time was here also.

Zeke and Poppy are companions but don't play together; Cinnamon was the official kiss administrator, offering up love frequently. These two will kiss me, but not each other. That third dog really was the lynchpin in the pack (me included in that pack). She also energized them.

The sheriff called me at work last month to say I'd left my garage door open, so I told him about the button inside the back door of the garage (separate from the house). I have a stall area in the garage around that door and the gate is kept closed to keep the dogs out of the rest of the area. I told him there is a stick to use to reach the button and don't worry about the dogs, they'll bark but they're friendly. But there wasn't a dog in sight. The entire time. These two spend most of their days in the house now.

Two weeks ago I learned of the city animal shelter putting all dogs on a $10 adoption fee because they were so over-crowded. The next step is the inevitable euthanasia, so I decided to act and researched the breeds and ages they had. I ended up coming home, after several hours in the hot, noisy, crowded, and stinky shelter, with a blue heeler mix I've named Pepper. She's about 3-4 years old, is a little over 40 pounds (could stand to gain about 5 more), has had puppies at some time in the past, was spayed about six weeks ago, is heartworm positive (as are most of their animals).

My vet saw her a few days later, says she's looking good, and says he can go along with the "slow kill" approach to heart worms. The shelter put her on a 1-month Rx of an antibiotic to kill a bacteria in the blood stream that the heartworms feed on, and they give the monthly treatment to kill larval heartworms. After a few months there have been no new young ones and the older ones have slowly died off. If she exhibits symptoms, then we think about the more expensive fast-kill vet method (that requires she not run around for four weeks as the worms are absorbed into her system).

So, Pepper is a pip. She and the others greeted each other at the door, the others are okay, though Pepper would like to be the main dog. There have been a few growls and a couple of snaps, but I think that is mostly past, because she knows I'm the pack leader (primarily because I control the food). I've taught her what the others already knew, to wait to eat until I tell her (the bowls sit on the ground until my "eat" command). She is trained already to the Invisible Fence, because we don't know if she's a climber or jumper or digger, however she got out or was dumped or whatever, we don't want to have happen again. A couple of months at the shelter was pretty rough, but Cesar Millan says dogs live in the now, and this sweetheart is certainly doing so.

First thing when she arrived, we walked out back so she could take care of business, then I put her in the tub because her coat was full of dandruffy debris and dirt. Mud flowed down the drain as I rinsed her. (Everyone is getting a bath today - there will not be joy in Mudville!) That evening before I fed them I took all three for a walk, with Poppy and Zeke on the double lead leash and Pepper on her own on the other side of me. She walks beautifully - like Cesar Millan himself has taught dogs. This dog has had attention at some point, was house trained (though she is a counter surfer), sits. And to Zeke's astonishment the next morning, when I threw his large black and white training bumper for him to retrieve, there was a blur of black and white that flew past me, past him, and grabbed the bumper from him and returned it to me! We tried a couple more times and she tugged the bumper from Zeke and returned it. There was one point when I threw it for Zeke and he sat, dejected, as much as saying "what's the point?" His depression is past, as we're working on sharing - I grab Pepper by the collar, call out "Zeke!" then throw the bumper, then do the reverse for Pepper to fetch. They're getting the hang of it.

For the first week, especially while I was training her to Invisible Fence, I kept Pepper in the hall bathroom at night so she wouldn't go into the yard without me, and she stayed in there while I was at work. What a change from the noisy shelter. She was okay with that, but after a week there was some crying that she wanted out, and the next morning I found Zeke, who usually waits outside my door for me, lying outside the bathroom door waiting for Pepper.

So she's loose in the house at night now, and when I'm at work. I leave my bedroom door open at night but the dogs know it isn't an invitation to sleep in there (unless there is thunder and lightning, at which time Poppy comes in to sleep). One morning midweek I hear the clatter of claws on the tile and Pepper's head pops above the mattress edge. "Where's Zeke, this is his job?" I ask her. Darned if she didn't turn around and head into the hall; moments later both Pepper and Zeke clatter into the room to tell me it's time for their breakfast.

Poppy is okay with Pepper, but she's a lot older and is also part blue heeler, so also wants to be my main dog. They are very faithful to their owners, that's why I got another blue heeler instead of another lab mix or pit mix. (I feared too many comparisons to Cinnamon if I got another pitbull right now.)

The new dog met the mail carrier the other day and was happy to do so, but a day earlier there was an unexpected knock at the door and there was a burst of dog barking at the door, they then came to bark at me in the office to tell me there was someone at the door. I opened the wooden door, leaving the steel and glass security door in place, and they barked a couple more times before settling down to hear the conversation, in which I told a guy who wanted to discuss cable versus fiberoptic infrastructure to get me to change my Internet provider, that he needs a permit to peddle in the village. I'm sure he had no clue as to why the four of us were so pleased with ourselves over our performance at the front door just then.

I think this about catches the Mudcat world up to my dog situation.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 11:06 AM

"I find dogs to be better company than most humans and I hope I never have to live without one. We're looking for a second dog now..."

And I'm in complete agreement with Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Jun 18 - 02:05 PM

Backwoodsman, did you say his name is Baxter?
How is life with Baxter the border terrier?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 01:27 PM

I'm only refreshing this thread
in order to
play the Name Game on another BS thread.

And that's a fact.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 06:26 PM

Newbie is settling into QUITE a nice service dog for mobility assists. She also is welcome now, with or without vest, at all my local stores. She has to come in not to help me there, but because I don't want her stolen if I leave her outside; also my loaner-car doesn't hold her crate AND it's often too hot to leave her anyway. There are security issues precluding leaving her behind for more than an hour or two. And she is needed when I'm using my scooter to get back and forth.

So every time I take her inside when I may not directly need her, I focus on training. Currently she's learning to tolerate being between the scooter and a narrow check-out lane, patiently, pressed snugly against the side of the lane.

Her official vest is helping reduce the number and insistence of folks wanting to pet her, and she's learned not to solicit petting when I take her to a lunch meeting.

I love scootering past a gaggle of store employees and hearing them talk about how pretty she is-- she's the prettiest ugly-gargoyle-face I ever saw, and it's neat to hear that others see that too!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 10:16 PM

On television the other night, while channel-surfing,
I stumbled across a dog show, don't know what show.
Gorgeous Australian herd dog, whatever breed that is.
Anybody else see that?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Nov 18 - 08:45 PM

refresh this thread

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Nov 18 - 02:58 AM

I'm pleased that 'The Dog Whisperer' (Cesar Millan) is being repeated on one of our UK channels. I've seen all his TV shows, but they still fascinate me.
His idea of the Human being the Pack Leader seems to work with unruly dogs.
I wonder how he's faring after his divorce and re-marriage to another lady. His first wife Illusion seemed to be a key figure in their Dog business. He lost a lot of money in payouts to her for the Divorce Settlement.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Thompson
Date: 15 Nov 18 - 04:53 AM

I love Karen Pryor’s book on animal training, Don’t Shoot the Dog. Very funny and useful.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Nov 18 - 07:39 AM

I think one of the most important things for dogs is enough exercise and walks/runs. I hate to think of a dog shut in a house all day, not walked much and feeling lonely and bored. I reckon it makes them frustrated and bad-tempered, maybe even vicious.

Logie and Molly are taken out very early each morning for about an hour's run over the fields around the village then again in the evening. They go to training classes twice a week (collie and spaniel, both are intelligent, purpose-bred breeds that need activity and 'things to do')
During the day, their owners are around and play with them in the garden. They do have a lovely life.

Molly seems to be a very popular name for a dog. I know three Mollies!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 11:13 AM

I remember, Senoufou,
how deeply concerned you were about Logie
before Molly came to live with him and his humans.
That story at least has had a happy outcome.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 11:33 AM

I have a new blue heeler as of June 2018, probably 3-4 years old, and she came with a set of skills that we are still learning about. She walks beautifully (ala Cesar Millan's training), sits, she now waits to eat like the other dogs, and she fetches! Wholeheartedly! I have two dogs that fetch and have worked out a system so they don't steal the bumpers from each other (she usually takes it from the larger Labrador retriever).

The holidays are coming and I have a few ornamental figures (wooden soldier nutcrackers) that are put on the hearth. This year I think they'll go on the mantle, to keep them from being dragged out the dog door like she does with some of the rugs, towels, and household objects she finds.

Her name is Pepper.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 11:41 AM

In August we rescued a mutt bitch that had found its way to a shelter, haggard, underweight, listless, shy, and looking like she'd just had a litter. She's beefed up a bit now, full of energy, and affectionate in the extreme. Apparently (from the shelter vet and our own vet) the thinking is she was used to make a couple of litters and discarded. She's a Rottweiler head on a Basset hound body, which is an odd look, but it seems it's a bit of a thing in designer dogs. No idea of exact age but maybe 3-ish. Doubtless had the first litter too young. She loves the aforementioned Otis

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 01:23 PM

A village resident was out walking 'Nellie' this morning. She's a teeny little thing, possibly Chihuahua crossed with a Jack Russell.

Her owner is young and rather tough-looking (ripped jeans, some facial piercings and tattoos) but when I started chatting to him over the summer he turned out to be ever so nice, and devoted to his dog. He lives alone in a rented place near the fields.

He looks more like a Rottweiler type of chap, but this little dog scuttles along beside him looking really happy.

Logie was indeed a bit of a concern keberoxu, as he was alone some of the time and Ruth-across-the-road used to take him out and feed him during the day, but now, sadly, her male owner has given up his quite physical work completely due to arthritis (he's not all that old either) and his wife only does three short days a week, so both Logie and Molly have human company all the time. The chap can walk quite well though, which is good for their dogs!

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 01:25 PM

actually it's probably an improvement in quality-of-life
for your neighbor to be walking his dogs rather than laboring,
too bad about the income though.

At least, Stilly, Pepper doesn't ingest the towels,
as your notorious Zeke does...

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 02:30 PM

Mooh that's such a sad story but with a very happy ending! She's lucky to have found you after her difficult life.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 07:41 PM

She does tear things apart, however. I've had a couple of dust cloths (rags from the bin in my laundry room) shredded and left for dead under the dining table.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Thompson
Date: 18 Nov 18 - 06:51 AM

Stilly River Sage, how did you train your dog to walk nicely on the leash?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 18 - 10:04 AM

I watched The Dog Whisperer back when I first got my pitbull, Cinnamon. She was out at the end of the leash pulling, out of control. He makes it clear that the walk is the dog's job and if you're pack leader the dog(s) have to walk beside you. So I trained her to walk with me, and then Poppy came along and I trained her. Zeke had been walking with us for about a year (owned by my friend Susie) before he came to stay, and he already knew pretty much from seeing my dogs with me (and once I put the Gentle Leader head collar on him he settled down to our routine). We lost Cinnamon, age ~14, last December and I adopted Pepper in June. The new dog seems to either already know or is a very quick study because she simply started doing what the others were doing. Someone had worked with her before she was lost or relinquished, she came from the city animal shelter with some skills (she's about 3-4, the vet guesses).

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Thompson
Date: 18 Nov 18 - 12:53 PM

Interesting! I must look at the Gentle Leader head collar. I think that's the name of the old harness I have from my lovely old dog, who died last year - but it's a harness that tightened gently on the chest rather than on the head. Very reassuring for a jumpy dog.
Presumably I'd get the small size for a puppy? He's doing pretty well, but LIFE IS TOO EXCITING!!! at the start of a walk. Perhaps I should tire him out with vigorous Fetch before walk time.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 18 - 02:25 PM

The thing about the Gentle Leader is that they can't back out of it, it fastens around the muzzle and behind the ears from a point under the chin/neck area. I use a backup of a simple chain that is clipped onto the leash with the head collar and is looped through itself and around the head. I think the clasp on the head collar may have popped open once or twice in the last dozen years (operator error, getting hair into it or not fastening completely). It's our system so I keep it up. All three dogs wear these collars. They all love walks, but when we get home the lab always makes a big deal of rolling around and rubbing his face on the ground or carpet.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Nov 18 - 03:26 PM

A couple of my dogs (Rosie and Cosmo) responded very well to the Gentle Leader but it has absolutely no affect on Otis the Lab/Golden cross, he is just too strong. He gets a body harness with the leash attachment on his back and sometimes a secondary attachment on his collar. Otis will also wear the harness for days if he has to but won't tolerate any down time in the Gentle Leader.

Whichever is used, fitting is key, and dogs change weight often enough (usually seasonally here) for the harness to require readjustment. Harnesses can loosen in use too. Or maybe I'm just fussy.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 07:12 PM

Well, Stilly got an LOL from me
on another BS Thread That Must Not Be Named
(advice is duly noted) for declaring,

"My Labrador Retriever just gushed into the room
and pounced on my lap ... telling me it's time for dinner."

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 01:12 PM

haven't heard, for days, about
somebody's lovely new rescue pet, a greyhound wasn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 01:30 PM

Yes Bonzo, how is Dreamy getting along?

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Dec 18 - 02:02 PM

Thompson has disclosed the name Oscar for his "demon puppy" elsewhere on the forum.
At least he isn't Oscar The Grouch (Sesame Street).

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Thompson
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 08:51 AM

No, no, he's Oscar from the Fianna, very doggy people. I got a Gentle Leader head collar and he's settling in fairly well to it, though every now and then he crouches down and tries to scratch off the nose bit with his front paws.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Dec 18 - 03:43 PM

Oh yes! The Fianna Fail and their magical wolfhounds!

I wonder how Bonzo3legs and his Dreamy are getting on.

And StillyRiverSage is ringing in the holidays
with three dogs, like last year, only
one of the three is a newbie.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 06:41 AM

It's Christmas, so we have had our annual surprise from Benny the labrador. Last year he demolished the cake, and ate half of it before we found him. We still have the vomit stain on our cream carpet.

This year he ate a whole box of Ferrero Rocher - the vet says we can expect him to vomit and defecate copiously, activities which are usually my speciality at this time of year.

Subject: RE: BS: Our Amazing Dogs
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 07:27 AM

We were sitting up in bed having our morning cup of tea when we saw a girl of about eight years old go by with a lovely large dog we'd never seen before. Same shape as a Dalmatian, but white with brown patches. He was pulling her along a bit, and she didn't have an adult with her.

Then, two minutes later it was like Groundhog Day, because exactly the same vision went past the window. Same girl, same dog, going in the same direction.
It took us a while to twig. There are identical twin lassies up the road; they've grown quite a bit since we last saw them. And they must have got two identical dogs!
Can't wait to see them again. This should prove most interesting!