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Carolk9s

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Everything posted by Carolk9s

  1. Forgot to mention, the two older dogs are quite different and always have been in their nutritional needs. Jesse as a youngster had to have 8 cups of dry a day and was still lean. I tried different foods, always feeding a food for a minimum of 6 months to see how he would do. When he was about 5, I switched him to Science Diet. The results were very pleasing, he finally put on some decent weight, his coat and skin improved tremendously and it worked well for him for the next 4 years. I was also able to reduce what he needed. Brittany, poor girl, put on weight very easily. She was put on Science Diet Lite by the time she was 3. She was an active girl too. Her max was about 2 cups a day, less when she was training for agility as she got treats during the training. Now they are both on Pro Plan Senior, Jesse gets just over 3 cups a day and Britt gets 1.5 cups a day. Candy the busybody gets about 1.5 cups a day of Pro Plan Adult.
  2. $95 for 17kg of pro plan! I am stunned! Darned good thing it does not cost that much here, I really like Pro Plan and feed it to my 3 but if it were that high here, dont think it would happen. You have my sympathy at that high cost. I add a dollop of plain lowfat yogurt to their breakfast each day. They also love raw carrots and cooked green beans. In the evening meal, the older dogs get Missing Link w/glucosamine. Mine get the occaisional fruit as a treat, Jesse looks at me like I'm crazy but the girls, especially Brittany, will eat just about anything. Never have had a problem with runny stools but the fruit is generally a small amount. Brittany is very fond of banana and honeydew melon, she also likes strawberries. Recently they all have had some raw summer squash, Britt chomped hers, Candy played keep away with hers, Jesse spat it out and walked away in disgust.
  3. Carolk9s

    Breeding Question

    [quote name='Guest']She is 20 mns old. I do not want to bring her in early I heard this will help them if they are late for heat. And she is late almost two months late. Yes I have a good stud dog. She may be like my other female and only has 1 heat cycle a year. She is a black lab. :lol:[/quote] From this post I made the assumption that you are planning on breeding her when she comes into heat. I do apologize if my assumption was in error. If you do plan on breeding her when she comes into heat, she's too young. I don't care if SOMEONE has been breeding dogs for years and years, does not mean they are a responsible breeder. I am NOT saying you are not, just that years of breeding gives no guarantee. A first time breeder can be very responsible and a decades long breeder can be irresponsible. When there is an unknown quantity in the picture, and a question is asked about breeding dogs, some of us here will assume that there is an educational need and offer advice, even unsolicited advice. You can read the advice, mull it over, decide if any of it has merit, discard it if you wish, whatever you choose. That is your right. I can only hope that YOU look at the situation honestly, without begrudging well meaning advice, and decide to breed in a responsible manner. While I am not 'anti' breeding as far as dogs go, I would personally support a 1 year moratorium(sp?) on ALL dog breeding with the exception of dogs bred for seeing eye duty or other such specific needs. Aint gonna happen of course! In the vast majority of known breeds, there is NO dog so special, so perfect, so in demand that the loss of their genes would forever ruin the breed. However, breeding dogs without proper health clearances and without regard for the proper matching of attributes has hurt many of the breeds we love.
  4. Carolk9s

    Breeding Question

    Would this be her 2nd or 3rd heat? She may not have stabilized yet as she is still young. Talk to your vet. I will add my concerns about breeding her too, I know you did not ask this but it's a subject I'm very passionate about. Please think long and hard about WHY you want to breed her. What is the point? What to you hope to get from this litter? Is she a hunting dog? Are you matching her to another good hunting dog? Or is she a show dog? Are you matching her to a stud that will compliment her attributes and lines? How about the health clearances? She's too young to have her hips certified free of dysplasia, that is done when they are at least 24 months old. Hip dysplasia is fairly prevalant in labs. I feel strongly that if we are going to help create life, we must try our utmost to create HEALTHY DISEASE FREE LIFE. If she is a beloved pet, do you really NEED to breed her? Do you know how many labs and lab mixes are looking for homes? Checked petfinder lately? Do you have puppy homes lined up? Committed puppy homes? With people you would trust to be the caretaker of one of your girls babies? For their entire life? Too many people get a puppy cause it's cute and adorable and gee then the pup grows up and is full of energy and needs far more exercise than they ever considered. Oops off to the pound with you, you are too big you make the house dirty you knock stuff over you bark you shed you chew we're having a baby and suddenly there's no room for the dog. Off my soapbox, flame suit standiing by! :D
  5. I so sorry to hear that your beloved Goober dog has gone. He was so lucky to have spent some time with you and been loved so much.
  6. When Brittany was a wild pup and first moved in, I had dents in my head from all the newspaper smacking I had to do. She was the dog that would actually chew on the corners of the walls, a VERY busy little girl. A friend of mine used to remind me daily, 'you said you liked a challenge, you got one!' [img]http://members.toast.net/agilk9s/Britt_Bowl.jpg[/img]
  7. I [b]DO[/b] think some punishment is justified here. What you need to do is roll up that newspaper, smack yourself on the head a few times, and say 'Thats what I get for not watching my puppy!' LOL, just kidding there unless of course you like that advice! 8)
  8. Are some heartworm disease preventatives available without a prescription? I use Heartgard, I either have to get from a vet after the dogs have had their yearly test or get a prescription to send in. I have been getting it via the internet for a couple of years since I can save so much money. I get my dogs tested at the vets, she writes a prescription for me and I can fax it in to the company I'm buying from. I have heard some concerns on my belgian list tho about the safety of buying online. Is the product up to date, is it stored and shipped properly etc. I haven't had any problems at all but it's something to consider. With multiple dogs, the difference in total cost is substantial but I do not want to toy with their health to save some bucks. Here in VA my dogs stay on Heartgard year round. I also get Frontline online, again the savings are fairly substantial.
  9. I have also read what Aroura said, there is sufficient biotin in the yolks to make up for them having the white part. I give mine raw eggs, usually Sunday is my 'big' breakfast day. I will crack one whole egg, then add the whites of two more, thats my part of it. The remaining two yolks and one other whole egg get whipped up for the dogs. I do cook my portion! The little yella dog chases her bowl across the floor to make sure she gets every itsy bitsy drop of egg.
  10. I have also thought of having an emergency kit near the door in case an emergency evacuation was necessary. In this kit I would have a couple jugs of water, dry food in sealed plastic bags to last 2-3 days per dog, copies of shot records and registration and a first aid kit. I keep leashes in my van but it would not hurt to have extras in the kit. Now if the van is not smashed and the roads are passable, I can drive to a safe area and none of the above would be critical. Otherwise, might be a lifesaver, just need to get a little wagon to pull it all in. Hm, maybe should get a pulling harness or two so dogs could pull wagon.
  11. You're right, this is something to be aware of. If the situation is that NO ONE can get to my house, well, they have the doggie door and water both inside and out but I'm afraid thats it. Otherwise, if it's just that I cannot get to them, a co worker has keys to my house and the food bins are labeled as to what each dog gets fed as well as Jesse's medication info. I have also written up an authorization form for this co worker so that if, for instance, I am in a car accident and the dogs are with me, she is allowed to take them with her or to the vets office. Of course family also has keys to the house and a similar authorization letter from me. I know that if any orders to evacuate came down, my dogs are going out with me, I cannot understand when people evac and leave their pets behind. I know that children and other people come first but there is no way I'm leaving my dogs behind. If it's not safe for me to be there, it's not safe for them either.
  12. Carolk9s

    dog showing

    I've never shown a dog in conformation but I'll share some advice from the agility ring. Have fun with your dog and no matter what happens in the ring, know that YOU are taking home the BEST dog in the world.
  13. I agree with check at the shelter! Many a mix there will be partly one or more of the breeds known for their watchdog capability. Also, I believe that once a rescued dog realizes that he/she finally has a HOME for good, they are quite willing to defend their new place. The best watch dog at this house is Candy, the little blonde busybody. She's part lab, part terrier, part ???? She's very alert and will sound the alarm with gusto. This of course tells the older dogs that somethings up, Brittany rarely barks so when she does I really want to see why. Jesse will bark if someone comes in the yard and he's rather imposing to strangers. One poor kid just trying to sell magazines ran like heck when I opened the door and he saw Jesse through the screendoor glass grinning at him. And yes, Jesse was just grinning at that point. He was curious not ferocious but I can understand why the kid thought otherwise.
  14. Just a little correction to the above, Cardigan Welsh Corgis do NOT have their tails docked, just Pembrokes if need be. To remember the difference, Pem broke their tails. Cardigans, well think of a cardigan long sweater.
  15. Teacups, hm. I'd be scared to have them around me! Not that graceful. While there are certainly purebreds that are dubbed Teacups I don't believe (as has been noted) that they are eligible for showing in AKC conformation due to size ranges. I also have seen and heard many times that teacup sized dogs are prone to a greater proportion of health issues related to their tiny size. I DO NOT KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. Just what I've read here and there. Just a personal opinion/musing, should dogs really be bred down so small that a guinea pig could whup 'em? LOL
  16. My 'non expert' opinion is that as long as your dog is not limping, favoring, showing signs of pain or distress, just warm, there is nothing to worry about. You might want to massage the area a bit to help dissipate the heat and muscle energy. My dogs chiro vet said that if I feel heat in an area, it means there is tension in that area. She suggested I massage that area on my dog to relieve the tension. Jesse BSD gets warm along his lower back, I give him a massage which he adores and then I can get a decent stretch out of him. If we exercise, our muscles get warm, makes sense that the dogs does too.
  17. Thanks Lyn for posting that boxer agility site, it was awesome! I like how the site was laid out with links to boxers on specific obstacles. You know, Melli with the full tail, it was interesting to see how she held that tail on the downside of the A-Frame and on the teeter. Of course dogs whose tails are docked as pups have been used to its lack so its not an issue. Still interesting to see how she used it.
  18. [quote name='Smooshie']Speaking of German Boxer standards.....I was just recently on an Agility site that had pics of German bred Boxers competing ....I noticed that not one of them was docked...they all had full tails!...I wonder if this is becoming the standard there,or if it has always been that way??? I wonder if its acceptable in conformation shows too, or just in obedience/agility Boxers? Its interesting...they look like a totally different breed with a TAIL :D[/quote] Lyn, I would love to visit that site and see agility photos, do you still have the link info and would you be willing to share? thanks!
  19. Kong, I wish I had a definitive answer for you. What breed is your dog? Do you know if 'great importance' is given to the tail? I know it's part of the overall package of course but perhaps it does not matter that much since the rest of your dog is obviously high quality. I wonder if it would be possible for you to speak personally with a person who judges your breed after judging is over or even not at an actual show, then you could ask for that judges opinion as to how severe he/she feels the little 'variation' is. Heck if the little kink in the tail would not detract from your dogs ability to do whatever they are bred to do, maybe it doesn't matter. Best of luck to you.
  20. [quote name='Underdog']Why does almost everyone here thinks that docking tails and cropping ears are painful??? (snip) As for Carolk9s, I think you have been rude and try to force your opinions if they dont agree with you.[/quote] Gee, and I thought we ALL were voicing our opinions. Um, aren't you voicing your yours above? I do not believe I have been rude, I have NOT attacked anyone on a personal basis, I have not directly called anyone childish or told them to 'grow up'. I have kept those personal opinions to myself. I did apologize for a post that I felt was out of line. If you want to paint your dogs toenails shocking pink, go ahead! I wouldn't but this is not something that would be regarded as causing pain to your dog. If you want your dog to sit at the dinner table and eat with the family, go ahead. I cannot FORCE anyone to agree with me, I cannot FORCE anyone to change their way of thinking. I can hope that someday, someone, somewhere will consider others OPINIONS on matters that do cause an animal pain for something that is simply not necessary. I will continue to speak out as I feel in regards to what I perceive as animal cruelty, you may skip my post if you find it offensive or not in line with YOUR way of thinking.
  21. Yeah Stiff, I know. The reason I alluded to health benefits was simply in response to Beagle being critical of those of us who spay and neuter, lumping those procedures along with ear cropping in regards to pain caused to the dog. I feel it is silly and spiteful for anyone to compare the two.
  22. oh that's what happens when I read a post like Beagles right after speaking to an irate pc user who needs training wheels on her office chair. Ok, I do wish to apologize for my rudeness in my previous post regarding Beagles threat to leave. It was uncalled for.
  23. Goodbye Beagle! See ya! Won't miss ya! I won't go into all of the HEALTH benefits of spaying and neutering. Jesse BSD was monorchid, one testicle retained. According to his breeder and the vet office, eventually his body would treat that as a 'foreign' object. There was a higher risk of cancer to leave it in. Even with dogs that have normally descended testicles, testicular cancer risk is eliminated by removal. Spaying your bitch, greatly reduces or removes the risk of mammary cancer. What real, tangible health benefit does tail docking and ear cropping provide?
  24. Thank you Gooeydog for posting that site regarding the white dobe. I was fighting with myself to 'leave it alone' and I'm glad you provided a link. Anyone even casually considering a white dobe needs to read that. Perhaps read it twice.
  25. [quote name='beagle88']Oh give it up allready! It is the owners choice. Purely 100% OUR choice. If you do not like it fine don't like it. But I do like it. There is no need to agrue over it because we will never come to a happy decision. I have no more to say on this topic other than this is a forum to share opitions and now since we have done so lets move on![/quote] You are right, we will not agree on this issue. As this is a PUBLIC forum I was merely expressing my viewpoints, just as you are free to express yours. I do not apologize for my strong belief in opting NOT to cause your companions any undue pain.
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