courtnek

I would have said Staff or Pit, too. But the grey fur is definitely Weimeraner....he's so pretty....and this story is so sad.....would your husband let you foster him till he can find a home???

I would foster him, just to see how they get on. I have a friend who owns three of them, and she works all day. They occupy each other for the most part. you could get them tug toys to play with, and set up a light they can herd. She entertains hers by having a rotating light going, and when they feel like herding they herd the light. She also has an aquarium that they spend hours watching the fish swim in. She also leaves the TV on animal planet all day. Seems to work, she doesnt have any major issues with hers, but she exercises them for two hours every night and alot of hoours on the weekends. Fostering will tell you if this is a go or not.

also, alert your version of the ASPCA to raid the place. They often find these dogs in terrible condition and can shut them down on that point.

In the states there have been people who parade around in front of petstores handing out flyers and wearing A-signs ( a cardboard sign attached to front and back of your body via a hole for your head) that alerts people going in and out to the puppy mill problem. If you hand the flyers out without insisting, and let people read the sign, (MUCH better when there are pictures on the sign) it often changes peoples minds about buying from pet stores/puppymills. The down side is that if the owners ask you to leave, you have to. But you can still get the point across in the time you can stay out there. Also, if you are on the street, and not on the pet store property, they cant do anything to you. I dont know what your laws are like there, but it has worked here. good luck

Starfox, you may have hit on the problem, square on the head. Dogs pick up on all the tension in the household, and they do react to it. He may be stealing things for security, because he can feel how tense everyone around him is. Even you, if your home is unstable. Freebee was very tense when my x- husband lived here, and we would fight. She would go hide. When my son and I argue, she tries to get in between and break up the "fight"...but she was afraid of my X, and wouldnt intervene. Getting him out of there may be the best thing for both of you. Good luck :D

Hooray for mouse!! that's 4 - Mouse, would you happen to know a pic hosting web site that is free? The one I was using shut down.... Thanks. :D

He pretty much runs the show, because he's faster, can attack and run, and the dog cant do anythng about it. Freebee just kinda takes it, but she is a very nice girl anout the whole thing. She could eat him if she wanted to, if she could catch him. She has stood him off on occasion, cuz he'll walk by and swat her for no reason, and she'll stand up and bark at him... he ignores her and keeps on walking. I have had quite a few cats in my day, but NEVER one as arrogant as this one..... :D

As most of you know, I have a female lab mix and an old, stuck-on-himself, ill-tempered cat.... The cat can only have dry food, since wet food of any kind (even people food) makes him throw up - he has a thyroid disorder, so he's fat as well.... Freebee was out in the yard, and I got her dinner ready, which consists of dry food mixed with a little bet of wet to make it tastier....and keep her coat glossy... I went down to let her in, and the cat already has his face in her bowl, trying to lap up the wet food....You'd think she'd go ballistic, someone else was eating HER food.... Does she attack? does she snarl? NNNOOOOOO...she's scared of him... she nudges him out of her bowl and starts to eat, he gets mad and swipes at her with his paws.....she ignores him and shrinks a little, but continues eating. It just cracks me up....she outweighs him by 60 lbs. but she wont do anything to upset him....it's just hilarious.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Angel, if you want to print/quote anything I say, feel free. It might help your case some to let them know that the lab mix they think is so friendly is NOT- all dogs, like people, are individuals.... change the mindset a little..... good luck!! :D

Kiger, I saw K's post before I saw yours, so here's my reply again pretty d*** cool! I remember learning that studying my wolf thesis, that they tend to avoid looking at humans directly in the face. They dont look at the alpha directly either, unless there is a conflict or the alpha approaches them for socializing. Dogs staring at each other directly n the face generally mean to fight. So somehow they must have overcome natural instinct and learned that people like to be looked in the face. And from that, they learned that we use visual signals much more than any other kind, and they adapted to that as well. I can see how that skill helped in breeding bird dogs, and guarding dogs. Follow masters eyes, see where it takes you. I let Freebee out, and I stood in the yard looking supposedly at something. She watched me for a minute, trotted over to where I was looking (a spot in the back of the yard where a tree branch is down) sniffed around, found nothing, looked up and TILTED HER HEAD TO ONE SIDE !! (that's her confused look) like she was saying "WHAT are you looking at?" I always have to test every theory on my poor dog....LOL

and you know what's REALLY annoying? My dog is a lab mix and everyone assumes she is people friendly and they can let their kids run up and wrap their arms around her.....NOT!!! she doesnt like strangers....and she's not crazy about small children either....but once again, it's the whole media "labs are wonderful family dogs and good with children..." crap.....their kids might actually be safer hugging a Pit - although there are others here who know more about that then I do.

I disagree Barbiro - from my viewpoint, Rotties and Dobies and GSD's look more intimidating, because of size. Pit's are cute, I think. With those wide faces and square heads, they look like little weight lifters!! LOL I think that the public view of them is "inherited" from bad press. Pit's are not that large, and most people dont realize how strong they are, compared to the size of a Rottie or a Dobe.... But because of what the stupid ignorant macho "gotta have a tough dog" people have caused, they are seen constantly on the press as evil and dangerous.... back in my youth it was the GSD's and Dobe's that got all the bad press, then later on the Rotties..... I hope you can get this worked out Angel.... I hope you can get this worked out so you can bring your dog back....

maybe you and the other guy should make a point of bringing up the issue at the meetings, and try to make these people understand the misjudgement of Pitts and Staffs and GSD's and Rotties...Give them the breed specifics on the dogs, and show them that all the Pit's they see on animal planet are not normal household pets. You will have to divulge the fact that Pit's are animal aggressive, but point out that that is a breed specific and that they are very very good with people. Tell them the truth. maybe it will help? hope so

I personally dont think that people like that qualify as "human" - and I dont give a flying fuck what the liberals or government say... therefore, they dont qualify for "human rights" - cut off HIS appendages see how HE likes it..... :evilbat:

her kids could end up being Jeffrey Dahmers....abused animals and then went on to abuse people...

I dont have a URL anymore that I can post to. Paulsonator doesnt work anymore - he had bandwidth issues....

Nea, please understand - this may be a shock to you. The reaction you feel towards Bir is FEAR....plain and simple. Aggressive dogs bring out fear in people. You love him, yes, but you are also afraid of him. I was afraid of Alex when I first got him - he was not real sociable, he growled at my son and almost bit him once, and fear set in. I determined I was not going to be afraid of my own dog, and set about training him to stop thinking he was boss. Before I lost him, he ended up being the perfect dog, but there was that time when I was uneasy having him around. I rescued him from a bad home, and so his actions were understandable, just unacceptable. Bir needs some serious training and demotion in your household. A dog should NEVER growl or threaten his owsners, that is simply dangerous to allow. Get the trainer to demote him and show you how. His personality will improve right off the bat, guaranteed. I dont want to suggest that you demote him, because you are afraid of him, and he can sense that. The trained should be able to give you tips on what to do. Good luck with Bir - in time, he could end up being the model household companion - but it takes time, trust me. Good luck

thanks Gooey!!! :D :D Right after AI posted that Freebee wanted out, so I made her sit and stay (she knows stay with both voice and hand command - hand in front of her face as if to stop her) and she actually DID!! LOL I opened the door and was able to check that the gate was closed first. that's her favorite escape spot, since my son and his friends leave it open all the time. That was a great idea!!!

Thank you Malamum - I had forgotten to add the stay command - I actually taught Freebee that before recall, because she is a bolter.... the sit command is a good idea. I'll try that as well. as far as peeing, puppies have to pee more often because their bladders are not fully developed yet, like children. She could be playing you though, just making an excuse to go outside. Make sure she really is peeing when she goes out, if not, the suggestion of a bladder infection is a good one. Good luck

one more thing - after she has learned "general recall" you need to teach her "insistance recall" - it's a firmer command, a 'DO IT NOW!! I have a lab mix, and they are natural wanderers. The whole bird dog hunt and investigate thing.....her recall command is "FREEBEE, COME" in a kind of gentle but no nonsense voice. her "insistance command" is "FREEBEE! COME!! ***NOW!!!!***"(emphasis on NOW) the reason for this is that some dogs will take to recall and some will stil be stubborn. If it's not an emergency, and they come sauntering back, that's ok. If they are running across a major street, you need to get them back immediately. That's why you need to install an insistance command, no screwing around, come back NOW......

I've never seen a Jamaican goat run......lol She needs to learn recall, and it's the hardest thing to teach since running and investigating is so natural for them. Get a 25 to 50 foot rope/lead. put her on it and take her somewhere where there are lots of interesting things. I have found it doesnt work well in a fenced yard, since the dog knows it cant escape. Keep lots of favorite treats in your pockets (my dog responds to cheese) let her wander out on the line, and then call her. ONCE. If she doesnt return, gently reel her in, calling the whole time. when she gets to you, reward her with the treat. You are teaching her that coming back means GOOD things will happen. Lots of kisses, petting and treats as well. Make her sit when she gets to you, as an additional incentive. After a while she will understand that coming back is a GOOD THING - after she gets that down pat you can reward her with praise and petting, and wean her off of the treats. This wont happen in one day - you are taking away a natural instinct to run and roam. and replacing it with lots of love, but it takes time. NEVER yell at her for not coming back - that will only teach her to stay away more.

Johnson Baby Shampoo (not the generics unless the ingredients match EXACTLY) there is nothing more delicate than baby skin. and if it gets in his eyes it wont hurt. get the unscented kind. The rosey smelly stuff bothers dogs.

you can quote this there if you like Lemon Define "dangerous dog"..... ANY and EVERY dog can be dangerous, if not trained, brought up, and treated properly. Poodles are dangerous, Chihauhau's are dangerous, EVERY dog is dangerous under certain conditions. It is the owners responsibility to make sure their dog is trained and raised correctly. Would I choose a dog over my child? no. But I make certain my dog knows who is the boss, so my child is not in danger. When young, he was never left alone with either of the dogs we had. Now he is old enough to make the dog obey him, and there are no issues. Anyone who leaves a young child alone with a dog, ANY dog, including the "loving family dogs" like Goldens and Labs, is responsible for what happens to that child. Bully's, Staffs, Shepherd's, Rotts...they are all "dangerous"...like every other dog on the planet. They are no MORE dangerous than any other dog; f trained properly, and BRED properly, they make wonderful family companions. It is up to the OWNER to make sure that he both understands the nature of his dog, and that he takes the steps necessary to insure that his dog is trained properly, and properly cared for. It's commentary like yours that gives all these animals undeserved bad names. Bottom line, some people simply should not own certain dogs. As far as "dangerous dogs needing to be shot at birth", The lovable neighborhood "family dog" Golden Retriever here bit off half of a childs face.....he is now permanently scarred for life. Are you going to demand that all Goldens be shot at birth, too????? You cant decide on "good" or "bad" dependant on breed. or breed specifics. And I have nothing at all against Goldens. I owned one for 13 years, and have had a number of labs as well. It's not the breed, it's the people raising the dog.....

my lab/pointer mix lays like that, only she has her front paws "curled under" (and it looks EXTREMELY uncomfortable) I cant understand how she can do that - I would be in pain bending my wrist like that, but thats how she sleeps..... but yea, the back legs are out in "froggy" position...

The foster mom called last night, mostly to check me out - wanted to know if I had a yard, how big, did I realize this dog was raised in a pack environment, would I be willing to come home and let him out, did I realize that they roam and I need to watch the doors??? I just busted out laughing!! I have to guard the doors so Freebee cant escape, I am used to coming home to let the dog out when necessary, yes, I have a yard, yes, Freebee escapes whenever possible, even though she has been trained (repeatedly!!!) for recall....I told her when the pizza guy comes I put up baby gates to keep Freebee away from the doors...she asked, why, will she bite? and I answered "only the pizza....." By the end of the conversation we were both laughing - she sounded kind of hesitant at first, there are alot of things about this dog some people would not like, but he doesnt sound any different from my already irritating escapist, thief and yard-ruiner, so we're going to meet sometime this weekend. She kept stressing that "he's not good on a leash" but neither was Freebee - a no pull harness and a firm hand took care of that. I think we'll be ok, if she likes him....he looks so sad in that picture...