Carolk9s

Have you talked to you son and if gf and let them know how you feel? Of course Ford may take to being the only pet in the household just fine or he might need an adjustment period. If they will be able to meet his 'affection' needs when they are home, might all be ok. Perhaps they will consider getting a second kitty to keep Ford company? You could stress to them that at any time they feel Ford is not happy and would be better off coming home and staying with you, the door is open. I know this is hard for you, you have grown to love Ford and don't want to see him go!

Merlin is stunning! I love his brindle coat, those ears and yes of course the TAIL! I bet he expresses many things with that tail, happiness, excitement, joy, being tired, submission to Monte etc. Merlin definitely has star quality!

[b]The subject line is exactly how it is printed in todays Richmond VA newspaper. GOOD Pit bull press but a sad story too as you will read.[/b] Here's the link followed by the story. [url]http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781927094&path=%21news&s=1045855934842[/url] "The dog is shot and killed while defending his family from three masked intruders." "Three men wearing ski masks burst through the back door and into the kitchen. The first man drew a gun and ordered Travis Rappold, 21, his girlfriend Amanda Searle, 18, and their three friends to lie down. Enter Rock, Rappold's 75-pound pit bull. The dog jumped up from his seat at his master's feet and ran out from under the table toward the armed assailant. "They yelled 'get that pit' and I yelled 'get him, Rock,'" said Rappold, recalling last Sunday's incident at his apartment on Rossmore Road in South Richmond. Backpedaling, the gunman fired once, striking the dog in the chest. Rock kept going. The intruders fled through the back door and scattered. Rappold shut the door before Rock could keep chasing the three men. Moments later, the injured pit bull collapsed as he tried to crawl to the second floor bedroom where he slept. Rock died in Rappold's arms before he could try to administer first aid. "Nicest dog in the world, but he was 75 pounds of muscle and pretty intimidating," Rappold said Thursday. Rappold had rescued Rock from an abusive situation only a year before. When adopted, the 5-month-old pup "was just skin and bones," Searle said. "Travis saved him . . . and he came back and saved Travis." Richmond police Detective Kevin Hathaway said the victims likely would have "been assaulted and robbed, if not killed, if it were not for Rock, who gave his life defending his owners from harm." No arrests have been made in the case." Contact Samuel Spies at (804) 649-6331 or [email][email protected][/email] The newspaper has a photo of Rock, he was black with a white chest and white feet.

This was last weekend, March 26th and 27th. Candy and I had a WONDERFUL weekend of agility. We were at a place I don't much care for and the weather was cold and damp but thankfully it was all worth in the end. The trials were held indoors at a horse center. Lots of attention stealing scents all around! Saturday morning we Q'd in AKC Novice Jumpers with a clean run and a 3rd place ribbon. A friend of mine was pretty impressed with Candys weaves, she did them perfectly and in good time with her nose firmly to the ground the entire time! We NQ'd in our standard run that afternoon, she was going wide for a jump, I called and called, she curved in but clipped the bars and knocked them. What the heck, we finished in style. Sunday morning, we Q'd in jumpers again with one refusal. She got right up to a jump and suddenly veered off to sniff! Ah well, still had a good run, did her weaves better than the previous day, and got a 4th place ribbon. Sunday afternoon, it had been a loooong day and a loooooooooong weekend. I was tired, I think she was tired of waiting and waiting and not being allowed to run amuck. I was getting stiff and sore, just wanted to try and get around the course without losing her to go visit the ring crew. Well, she pulled an awesome run out, she ROCKED. I probably micromanaged her a bit more than needed but she never lost focus and we had a fast and furious finish. Our time was 'only' 4th best but I am so thrilled still with that final run of the weekend. We truly ran together as a team. She now has two legs towards both her Novice Standard and her Novice Jumpers titles. There are two photos of her taken by the trial photog, start here [url]http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=09Y6000O020018&start=0&album=0&adjust=-1[/url] and click NEXT for her other one. Lots of other great photos of other dogs too.

geez, I must be a bad mom. I have yelled at my dogs on more than one occaision....and thats just in the last month! Not that my dogs care very much, Candy all but gives me the paw. I threaten to get a big stick and beat her into the ground, she verbally sasses me. Hm, somehow I don't think she takes me seriously! But really, even if she does, she is quick to forgive as soon as the liver biscotti comes out. Now Brittany IS soft, a raised voice makes her nervous. Over the years she has learned that she does not have to run and hide, I am not going to hit her. Jesse does not hear me so with him it's a moot point.

[quote name='Kat']some people are just very badly socialised and bred. You were so much more civil than I could have been![/quote] I love it! I agree, this fellow is obviously from bad stock and I would stay far away from him. Sounds like he has a poor temperament and I would not even reply to him, might just encourage him to be more aggressive (rude). Pity his poor dog.

whoo hoo, just voted for Jackie and she has a nice lead! We have to keep it up all week! Go Jackie, go Jackie!

Kat, My heart aches for and for Meg. I hope you find the answers you deserve and soon. Perhaps he does not want Meg to see you so that she will work for him? Does he really think a dog will so quickly forget the person that they love and that loves them?

Jesse will sometimes sleep so deeply and soundly that I can come in and he does not stir. The girls are jumping up and down, running back and forth, and he does not move. He is fairly deaf and if he's in a deep sleep, does not hear a thing. Let me tell, my heart just about stops. I have literally walked over to him, bent down, and watched intently to to try and see his side move up and down as he breathes just to be sure. I have even gently put my hand on his side, he does not move. In my head, 'not yet not yet not yet not yet' eventually he will SLOWLY come up out of his sleep, crack one eye open, and I can breathe again.

Voted for Jackie! She is tied with the Pom for now. I can see that Deuce, who is a cutie, will be tough competition. Gonna have to work hard for this win everyone!

I believe Bongo will tell you when he is tired and has had enough. I know just what you are going through, Jesse is having more age related physical problems cropping up. I was telling a friend just the other day, when Jesse no longer has any desire to try and impress the female dogs we meet up with, that will be a big turning point. Please give all your dogs a hug from me, especially Bongo and tell him what a GOOD BOY he is.

Congrats on your upcoming marriage! I would take Buck over to Scotts house EVERY chance I get. Walk him around the yard, walk him around the neighborhood. Let him get to know the scene. See if you can get something the c@t has slept on, something saturated with his scent. Get Buck tired and as relaxed as possible. Let him smell the item and talk soothingly to him, what I'm thinking of is for him to associate the smell of the c@t with being relaxed. I know, a moving c@t is a whole 'nother ball of wax! First time Buck and the c@t are in the house together, have a closed door between them. If Buck sniffs and gets excited, ask him for some attention/obedience with nice treats and calm but happy verbal praise. If Buck does not seem to care, again with the warm, happy praise. If Buck tries to eat the door to get to the c@t, I don't know! Just some random ideas, hope you get more info and something does the trick.

aha, I understand now!

I don't understand, are these normal aged puppies going through normal teething? If so, Why would their baby teeth be pulled?

[img]http://www.helpingudders.com/Lead_files/BTcollar.jpg[/img] They also have Aussie, Beagle, Border Collie, Corgi, Doberman, Eng. Springer, German Shepherds, Goldens, Labs, & Pugs You can designate a breed rescue to receive a portion of your purchase price for the collars and other merchandise here also. From here [url]http://www.bsdrescue.com/[/url] click on the link to 'Helping Udders' at the bottom of the page.

Good luck convincing Tiggie that she does not have pups on the way! I have heard this can be a stressful time for a bitch, not to mention stressful for the owners!

I am somewhat fanatical about keeping my dogs fit, my family and friends know the first thing I am going to do is check their dog for ribs! 8) If I can't find 'em, they get the 'glare' from me. I am a 'full figured' gal myself but I'll be danged if my dogs are going to be fat! I had my work cut out for me with a friend and her now deceased Golden Ret. I had told her that her dog needed to lose at least 10 lbs. Her vet thought the dog was just fine. You could not FIND that dogs ribs so matter how hard you tried. I kept up my gentle persuasion :wink: and she finally started her boy on a reducing plan. After he had lost about 5 lbs, her vet told them he needed to lose some weight. Duh! I will admit my Aussie mix girl could lose 2-3 lbs, she has always put on weight terribly easy. I've had her thyroid checked and that is fine. As soon as my flu is all gone and it is a tiny bit warmer in the am, we will be going to the park for daily walks again.

My dogs have been pretty spoiled in a way during the last week, I have been home. I am trying now to get OVER the danged flu and have not been to work since the 18th. Does not look like I am going in tomorrow either. I was going to try, but we have some nasty weather headed our way. It's a fair hike in from the parking lot, I don't feel up to such a hike when just walking across the room leaves me gasping right now. Would be nice if the weather was in here quick enough and was bad enough for the office to close BEFORE I call in sick, then it won't be one of MY days being used! 8) I have not even done a speck of agility for almost two weeks, now ya know I'm feeling low! :P I am ready for spring and I am ready to be over the flu. The dogs have gotten resigned to the fact that I am not taking them out even though I am home, I wish I could, they NEED a run at the park.

Geez Kat, this guy REALLY sounds like a loon! I am so sorry to hear of this latest idiocy and threat to your happiness with Meg. You have my total sympathies, I wish I could come up with a once and for all solution to the tug of war.

Both of my girls have eagerly volunteered for critter control. Brittany has always been my 'first alert' system that there was a stray mouse in the house. No rats thank you very much, just mice! Some time ago, I was out back working on something, I noticed Candy trotting about, tossing her head up, stopping, then pouncing, then starting the whole routine over. I started walking towards her, she snatched up something from the grass and trotted off, I yelled DROP IT, she did, it was a mouse. Told her what a great smart wonderful clever girl she was and lets go get a cookie! She pondered this idea for a moment, thankfully she wanted the cookie. Gave each dog enough to keep them busy and quickly disposed of the dead mouse. I think using pbt's or other willing and able dogs to try and reduce the rats on any city is a great idea, as long as the dogs are properly cared for and vaccinated. While a dog may get bit, most dogs dispatch vermin so quickly and enthusiastically that the vermin has little chance of getting a bite in.

Nothing like good ole fashioned GREED! Of course he calls them a new 'breed' and of course there are those who will believe him and shell out big bucks to have one of their very own. What a shame for the dogs. And boy howdy, that there ABC, American Breeders Club must be a quality registry right? Ha! Hm, wonder what his 100% health guarantee actually says?

I have a Groenendael, know in the AKC world as a Belgian Sheepdog. You can see LOADS of photos of him on my website. I have often wondered if the Groenendael and the Mudi shared some common ancestry. My site is at [url]http://members.toast.net/agilk9s/[/url]

I believe I read that it is not the dog hair but the proteins from the natural shedding of skin that ALL warm blooded animals do that triggers allergies. Perhaps some dogs are indeed less likely to cause a reaction, but I have to ask, what are you going to do if your baby does turn out to shed and cause allergic reactions? It would be a good idea to plan for that NOW and take steps that will enable you to keep your pup and live in happy harmony.

Great news! I'm glad Meg is with you, where she BELONGS.

Good idea, lets remember we are all friends here. Even a responsible breeder can have an oops litter. Ya know, stuff happens. A RESPONSIBLE breeder then makes sure that each and every puppy from that oops litter is given the same consideration as pups from a carefully researched litter. I know of a person I consider very responsible who had such an oops litter a couple of years ago, she's been breeding for 35 years and this was the first time it had come around to bite her. She was mortified. Said that would teach her to judge others for the very same thing. Some females have silent heats, there is no indication at all that they are in season. My friend had no reason to suspect that her girl was even close to coming in season. I have made MANY mistakes with my dogs, things I look back on and scratch my head at my stupidity. Does that make me irresponsible? For the rest of my life? Surely I was irresponsible for a moment, or naive or just hard headed. Overall, I think I'm fairly responsible and try to learn a bit from each knuckleheaded mistep I have taken.