courtnek

And WHY, I have to ask, is it ok, even encouraged, for cats to be mousers and rodent killers, but if a dog does that suddenly it's vicious? In the wild they are both hunters. I have one of each. The cat is by far more dangerous than the dog around people. He has been known to take a nip out of your ankle if you didnt feed him when he wanted to be fed. The dog gives him a WIDE berth as well.....even though she outweighs him by 62 lbs..... :o

That's what I'm worried about. They are dog agressive, we all know that, but is it tied to genetics? no one knows that for sure.... either way, they are NOT bred to be people aggressive, in fact, quite the reverse usually, but ill-treatment of any dog will make it mean. Unfortunately, there are too many people who believe that dogs are just like people, and if your dog is mean to other animals than it has to be mean to people as well. It's a mindset that makes me want to slap some people upside the head..... Like people who believe that if your dog kills a rabbit, or a squirrel, it then has "blood lust" and will never be tame again....The fact that hunting is instinctive to them doesnt seem to get through to them. My girl has killed squirrels, and mice. Does that mean she is vicious and cant be trusted? This is the same "logic" they are using to ban the Pits. I am very happy about the ruling, but suspicious of the new desire for "genetic sampling" they suddenly want.....

[quote]Courtnek: In both my dog books, it says that through evaloution, dogs became omnivoures, but I will agree with you. Thanks...it was 11 at night and I just posted what my dog book said... Sorry for the confusion... I stand corrected.... [/quote] Dont be silly - no need to apologize at all. I was just trying to explain the need for protein in a dogs diet. There are a lot of people out there who believe that dogs dont need meat, because look at all the commercial foods with little or no meat in it. But people created those foods. Like I said, if given the choice, the dog will choose meat. Wolves still have a functioning appendix, and it is now believed that the appendix in people was originally meant to kill off bacteria from raw meat....I dont know if the appendix stsill functions in dogs (have never heard that it didnt) but if that statement is correct about it's usage, it would show why nature prefers them to eat meat. It is believed that over time our appendix's stopped functioning when we started cooking our food. Grains are basically carbohydrates - "instant energy" as it were. They metabolize down quickly into sugars, which raises your blood sugar way high, like for a race, or a fight/flight situation. Meat metabolizes slowly, and stays in the body longer, which allows for the long haul instead of the short energy high. Wolves would need it to survive - the hunt isnt always successful and they can go days without a meal. If the kill is big enough, they will eat their own body weight in meat at one kill. This will hold them over till the next successful kill. Dogs generally get fed every day, so the huge intake of meat is not necessary, but because of the way they are designed, they do need meat protein to be healthy. I dont believe we have yet bred that need out of them. sorry for the lenght, and Rowie, no need to apologize! :D

I find it interesting that this came out right about the same time we saw that post asking for APBT's and AST's to donate blood for "research"..... I wonder if someone intends to try to take on the Supreme Court Ruling using genetics..... I'm too suspicious, I know..... :o

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: She needs to go to Westminster.... LOL

ok let me amend that, for clarification. ALL dogs will chase anything that runs, flies, or attempts to escape. This is what nature instilled in them. However, a well fed dog may chase, and even kill, prey, but will not eat it because he doesnt need to, he is well fed. You cant stop their natural instincts...it's what they do. Some like to hunt just for the fun. Pointers and retrievers will always be bird and squirrel saavy...that's what they were bred for. You cant really stop them, and not feeding them meat is bad for their health and well-being. They DO NOT become more aggressive if fed meat. if you are the alpha in their household...

ALL DOGS ARE CARNIVOROUS!! THEY ARE DESCENDED FROM WOLVES!!! Tell your dad that meat protein is necessary for proper kidney, liver and digestive nutrition. Dogs do not have a natural "taste for blood" - that "taste" comes into play when they kill something for food, and eat it. This only happens when they are not well fed in the household, and they have to fend for themselves. All dogs will chase, and attempt to kill, wildlife. You cant stop that. But unless they are hunting because they have to, most of them kill the prey and leave it,. or bring it to you. Feeding them a vegetarian diet is not good for their health and will not stop the hunting instinct. In fact. it may encourage it, because they need meat protein to be healthy.

DAMN!!! as soon as I see those pictures, I want one - and you're too far way!!! :(

so DP, where has Pik been? Does he not like us anymore? :lol:

[quote]We'll make a Newfy out of him yet!!!! [/quote] Zaphod the rescue dog!! WOO HOO!! Actually, if you really were in distress, you'd be surprised at what a dog can do, even if freaked out by the waves. He just might have been able to rescue you if you needed it!! :D

At 7 years old the above replies are right - he could be getting incontinent due to age. 105 is a good sized dog. He may also be upset about something, or even ill. I think a vet visit is your best bet. He could have a urinary tract infection, or a stomach parasite.

Oh ok. I was mistaken, I thought Guest just wanted the dog returned. I wish I could help.... :cry:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: When I was in Portland, we stayed in suites with kitchens and fridges, so we bought food and kept it in the rooms. I kept all the plastic bags from the food store to wrap open food in. The first nite back from class all the plastic bags were gone...housekeeping had tossed them. I explained what I was doing to the front desk and they said they would tell housekeeping. The next day, I found an apology note and a box of chocolates!! However, since I'm a diabetic, I couldnt eat the chocolates so I called the front desk again and said, thanks, but please give them back since I cant eat them. The next day, I found another note and a bottle of Chardonnay. They have vineyards in Portland and it was one of their better bottles!!! I was astonished....All I asked was that they stop throwing out the plastic bags!! I wrote a note to the housekeeping supervisor thanking her. I can see how this would be confusing during shift changes....LOL

let me play devils advocate - is this such a bad thing? The person who refuses to return the dog? Is she being good to it, and keeping cuz she like it? I guess I need more detail. If the dog is in a decent home, why not leave him there? thanks.

WOO HOO!!!

that poor dog was abused. The idiots in tha article CHOSE to not see it. I HATE THE MEDIA!!!! :o :o :o

Nancy, I disagree!! I feed my girl Purina One Lamb and Rice, because the first and second ingredients are Lamb, and Rice. Rice has been proven to be good for dogs, and I believe meat is also necessary. As a primary ingredient. She is a mix, so maybe that's why, but she does EXCELLENT on this food. Her coat is glossy, her stools are good, she has no allergy problems with it. You can see her in my avatar. hER COAT glows!!! and did not do that before Purina One. Lamb is a good food for dogs, high levels of necessary vitamins and the meat proteins. and Rice is what my vet always tells me to feed them if they have a belly upset. I can only go on results, but these results are very good.

[quote]Many people may think their dogs are carvinoures, unyet they are omnivores to the core. They, unlike the cat, are able to live without meat (but they are likely to chose meat over veggie's any day!).[/quote] Hey Rowie!! How are you?? Just FYI - dogs being descended from wolves, which we all know, means they are mostly carnivore. They become omnivores in the winter when food is scarce, but if given the choice, they will choose meat. It's how their bodies were designed. We as people have changed some of those rules, and added vegetables and grains to their diets (along with a slew of things that arent good for them, like preservatives). They can live on this, but it's not what their digestive tract and and kidneys and liver were designed for. Their teeth are positioned the way they are for the grabbing and ripping of meat off a carcass. Sorry, but that's a fact. Also, the protein in meat encourages muscle and bone growth. The fat in meat provides the nourishment for the strong undercoat and resistance to cold and water. Every dog is different, since we have changed them so much, but I dont believe a veggie diet is a good thing for a dog. Most of those dog foods were designed for vegitarians, who cant stand the thought of anyone, even their dog, eating meat. If you plan on feeding it, I would definitely add meat, or meat protein (canned dog food maybe) to the diet to round it out. I feed Purina to Freebee, because the first and second ingredients listed are Lamb, and then brewers rice (which is good for dogs). I also add a small amount of wet food to her meals to promote the oily coat. Labs need the oily coat because they dont develop the thick undercoat necessary here in the winter. This is a meat-eating animal, naturally and hereditarily.

For an adult dog, it's doable, but not fair to the dog without companionship of some kind. I have a dog and a cat, and they are alone for 10 hours a day, but they keep each other company. I am also planning on getting another dog. It's NOT doable with a puppy. They need to go out every three or four hours.

yes, every year. The state requires the rabies vaccination - the rest are just for the safety of the dog. But believe me, if your dog got distemper, or some other disease, you would NOT be able to afford the treatment without insurance or lots of money. The annuals are MUCH cheaper.

It could be ok - if it's a new product on the market they will often undersell the competition to get their name recognized. The Hyundai was a good example - they now cost as much as a lot of US cars...

Sanvean and Danyel are right on the money. If you go to Petfinders.com they have pictures of the dogs, their ratings, whether they are good with kids, dogs and cats, etc. You will be required to fill out an application and meet the dog with all your family members, so they can make a good match. A lot of these dogs are fostered, which i feel is better for the dog. Good Luck, and THANK YOU for wanting to rescue. :angel:

first - dogs and cats are NOT natural enemies, as some people think. HOWEVER, a dog will chase anything that runs, and a BC will herd anything that moves. Including YOU! lol they are great dogs, very intelligent and lively, but as was mentioned they need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. The cats are grown up already I assume - you need to introduce them to your BC in a protected environment - I always use baby gates to seperate them, but let them see and sniff each other. This way they get used to each other without either one being injured in the process. There also needs to be a place the cats can escape to until they get used to (which means dominate - lol) the dog. A room with a baby gate in the doorway raised just enough for the cats to get underneath should do it. BC's jump tho, so be careful there. Good luck with your new dog!! :D

sounds like he has fleas Luka.....when the Hartz stuff wears off, get him on Frontline or Advantage - Iknow Frontline kills everything in the house as well....

talk to your vet, and BE CAREFUL with aspirin - some dogs it will cause kidney failure in.... :(