Cheetah

She is gone and yet she'll never be truly gone - she will stay alive through your memories. At least the poor girl's suffering is over... Trixie wouldn't want you to be sad...even though I know you can't help but miss her. It sounds like you're in shock right now (who wouldn't be?)...but as the days pass it will get easier to deal with (although the pain will never go away...). Try to remember the good times you had with her and take comfort with your other doggies. My thoughts go out to you :cry: :cry: :cry:

The majority of my house has wood laminate flooring. No problems with it getting scratched up by my dog...but as alicat said, you shouldn't have a problem if you keep your dogs' nails trimmed. I always make sure to keep my dog's nails short, so no problems. Only problems the wood flooring has encountered is my brothers... :roll: Of course for durabilty, nothing beats good strong tiles. My kitchen and a couple of rooms downstairs have tile...the stuff is like solid rock. Only downside is that it's so expensive!

yeah, I can't wait for spring! I'm closing my eyes now, imagining the smell of spring and fresh grass...and a growing gentle warmth - OR NOT! We're supposed to get snow late tomorrow afternoon into Tues. morning, gunna snow through midday, 6+ inches expected (not too much, but just enough to get outta school! SNOW DAY! :D ) Kiger is ADORABLE plowing through all that snow! He looks like he's lovin it! :D

well...$135 sounds a lot more reasonable when you compare it to $70 or $80 an hour! (ouch!) I guess it really depends on the area that you live in. For my area, it seems that $135 would be considered an average/fairly reasonable price. Also, I just got an email back from the Riverside Dog Training Center. They have a 12 dog limit per class with two instructors per class. Sounds like you at least get a quality class with a fair amount of one on one attention. I've pretty much made the decision to sign up at Riverside for the end of March class. Can't wait for it to start! :D Also, Malamum - I don't plan on stopping after 6 or 8 weeks! I'll probably go through the intermediate and advanced classes (hopefully the price won't go up for higher levels...) and then just continue practicing, hopefully competing in some fun agility trials (don't plan on getting serious..)

I'm not sure how large the classes are...I'll email both of the training centers about it. I do know that for the Riverside training center (8week/$135), they allow a max of 10 dogs in the advanced class. But they don't mention a max for the beginner and intermediate classes. Also, each class is held by one instructor. At All Dogs Gym (6weeks/$135), i'm not sure if they have one or two instructors for each class or how many are in each class. But as I said, i'll email them! If anyone is bored and wants to check out the two training centers i'm considering, go to: [url]http://www.riversidek9.com[/url] (this one's more local to me, and the cheaper of the two) [url]http://www.alldogsgym.com[/url] (click on dog sports) Just look around and and give me your opinion of the quality of the classes. All Dogs Gym seems to have some very well qualified instructors, but they are also much bigger...which could mean I'd get less one on one time.

I was originally planning on signing Roxie up for an agility beginner class on Feb. 25...then I found out that 6 weeks of classes cost $135. It sounded like a bit much to me, even though that particular dog training place is the biggest, and probably the best, in New England (although it is 30 minutes away...) So I looked around and found another class in my town that starts end of March with 8 weeks of class for $135...well, at least it's more for my money (depending on the quality, but they seem like an okay place). Just wondering, do these prices seem a little steep to any of you who have taken agility/dog training classes?

[quote name='humboldt505']physically, your breed looks like a large breed. what i mean is, by looking at a close up photo you would think they are much bigger than they really are.[/quote] I was thinking the SAME thing, humboldt! In a close-up, that little guy could probably look like a 50+ lb. dog! By the way, great pics! Growing up to be a very handsome young guy :wink:

wow, that gave me goosebumps! It's amazing the way dogs have that sixth sense. Your dogs definitely deserve a treat :icecream: , courtnek, but also, GOOD JOB to you trusting your dog's instincts! Relieved to hear that everything turned out okay, but I hope this guy gets caught soon before someone else isn't so lucky... Dogpaddle - it was interesting how in your story, your dog stealthily crept up against the wall instead of blindly running and barking...it's almost as though they can smell the evil in the air...eery...

Can't wait to see some pics! Post many! :D

Roxie already knows how to heel and "watch me". However, although at one point (fresh out of obedience class three years ago) she could watch me for about 30 seconds....admittedly, I haven't used that command in a long while and she most likely can't hold it for more than a few seconds. I like the heel idea because instead of using force to turn her, i'm establishing my dominance and more gently turning her around. I'll have to start practice this for short periods of time at first, since it'll get very tiring bringing her around to a heel every other step...but hopefully she'll learn eventually! I think i'll also work on Roxie's watch me command again since she hasn't used it in awhile - shouldn't be too hard. Combining the 180 degree heel and the watch me sounds like a good start to keeping her attention on me and stopping her from pulling. Great suggestions, keep 'em coming! :)

Ever since Roxie was a pup, I've used a choke chain on her. However, after recently reading about how choke chains can cause damage to the trachea, along with neck and back strains when not properly used - I realized that I really needed to switch to something else! When Roxie sees something exciting or gets on a scent, she strains at the leash and I don't want her to hurt herself! Admittedly, I've given her a few good pops to get her to pay attention, and as a result she's kinda become de-sensitized to the choker. I know that the point of the choker was originally for the dog to pay attention to the "clink" sound...but Roxie has regressed :oops: and now it's become more of a power struggle! After doing a little research, I found that with training, prong collars are a lot more humane and safe than chokers since they distribute the pressure evenly (although chokers are humane when properly used). The reason that I turned to a prong collar was because I've seriously tried to train Roxie to stop pulling (for example, the be a tree, and turn the other way approach), but she's basically formed a bad habit and nothing really seems to help. So I bought a prong collar (after reading how to properly put in on and etc.) and it worked like a charm! After Roxie's first walk (today) on it, she's done very well, and whenever she starts pulling, I just do a 360 degree turn and then we continue going. It seems to be working well on the first day with very minimal physical effort on my part, but i'm worried that she'll become de-sensitized to the prong collar too and then that'll backfire! I understand that for the prong collar to work, you must combine it with training and not just let it be a power tool. That's kind of what i'm doing, but I'm asking if anyone has any other suggestions for training with a prong collar and getting a dog to walk on a loose leash with one. I know I should be researching training methods myself, but i've honestly looked and looked, and although i've found plenty of general info on prong collars, most sites that have trainers that actually KNOW what they're talking about will offer a $50 video on training with a prong collar! Also, if anyone knows of good training boards to post this question on, that would be appreciated to!

I got Roxie some pizzle a couple of weeks ago (damn, it is expensive!!) and she LOVED it...although it did smell kinda funny... But other than that, she finished a whopping 12" pizzle (yummy!) within 30-45 minutes and then started walking around looking for another! I was just wondering if pizzle is safe to leave a dog alone with in a kennel...I don't think Roxie got any big pieces off, so it seemed pretty safe - but I figured I might as well ask all you pizzle experts out there (gigi..lol) while we're on the subject of it!

Yeah...I guess that's a plus side...at least Roxie and Luka aren't the same sex, lol - that would be even more disturbing! :lol: But it does prove the fact that humping is really more about dominance than anything else (unless of course you really do have a gay dog! :lol: )

I'm pretty sure Roxie is alpha because Luka has a very submissive personality. Roxie took one of his bones and when he tried to take it, she growled and wouldn't let him have it! Poor Luka just kinda stood there after that, looking a little confused - but he let her keep it! I think Roxie *tried* to mount Luka once or twice, but when Luka was up there, I really don't think he was thinking a thing about dominace...

hmm...I guess we'll just have to, for the most part, keep the dogs playing in the basement or outside, Luka-pop. The problem is that dogs really can't differentiate between the living room and the darkest dirtiest corner of the backyard...so we'll just have to keep the dogs out of the living room from now on! We'll also definitely work on teaching them that the game ends whenever they start to put "the moves" on each other, and hopefully they'll learn! Personally, although a "catholic school girl" myself, i've really had pretty much no dealings with nuns (except the principle of my old school was a nun, but all the teachers were just regular people!), but from what i've heard, PMA is a pretty "sheltered" school...and I kinda understand where you're coming from...I think it might also be a little of a cultural difference (as you said). My mom has really *tried* to shelter me in a lotta ways...but we never had a problem talking about sex or anything. It's a part of life...and she's strictly against sex before marriage or using any protection (umm...); however, she never had a problem laying the facts straight...and dogs humping wouldn't be considered all that offensive in my household. Although we would definitely stop it...but then we would move on. I think this does have a lot to do with the cultural difference and also, just what you're parents personally consider "proper." Of course, I totally respect them, it's their house, and as I said - we'll try to keep the dogs out of the living room from now on! :wink: (sorry that was so long and I think I repeated myself...tired...)

Well...you're forgetting something Luka-pop, I moved from NY to NH when I was 13, so I'm not all that sheltered...if ya know what I mean (not as conservative down there..!) Also, I think it depends more on the family. My 11 year old brother has known all about sex and etc. since he was 8 , especially with me and my other brother bringing home all the new "stuff" we learned from school... My parents wouldn't get that freaked out if they saw Luka and Roxie having joyride in the living room, as long as they aren't humping US! Of course we would stop them...but they're dogs...and it's instinct! But everybody's parents have their own standards, and since it disturbed your parents, we'll definitely work on stopping them before they go that far! :wink:

Roxie does this too! When she's on a walk she's constantly marking (never does this on our property though....strange..), then she'll sometime scratch her back feet a few feet away from where she actually "piddled". If she's on dirt...oh the glory...nothin like dirt between your toes! She really seems to enjoy this sort of "scent marking" and I don't think it really matters if she's a few feet from where she marked, she just wants to spread her scent all around! Another thing that's funny/strange is that she sometimes tries to pee like a "guy-dog" and she'll actually lift her leg a little against a curb/snowbank...odd...

Actually...a couple of times Roxie tried to be the one on "top", and I wondered about that because she's well, a girl...makes sense now about the dominance thing. But I think when Luka's on top he just thinks he's a real studmuffin :wink: , he's not as much into the dominance thing. Hmm...we'll definitely work on this next time we have them together, Luka-pop...and I think it would be best if we try to stop them before they get THAT excited. After seeing them go at it a couple of times, I'm starting to be able to read the hints when they're getting just a little too riled up. A strong no and a stop to the game (as Hazel suggested) will hopefully be enough to get the point across! But I don't think the spray bottle would work for Roxie...I can just see her turning around and trying to "eat" the water! Does the same thing with the sprinkler.... :lol:

I had the same experience! A year ago, Roxie had the same problem with her splint/bandage, it kept on falling off and she chewed on it a little...I did the same thing, bought athletic tape stuff from the drug store and it kinda worked temporarily. I also found that sometimes the people wrapped the bandage really tight and it stayed on...and other times they did a bad job and the splint fell off within a day! I was so happy when Roxie got her splint off (after 8 weeks) - it was a real nuisance! So...what did Kiger have surgery for? (as everyone wants to know!)

Also, I heard that they went through something like 8 lassies...and they were all boys! (or at least some of them were, i'm not sure if they all were) Just an interesting, random fact.

That was me above, forgot to log in on the school computer! :oops:

I think that hand signals work great too! Only thing is that you have to make sure that Luka actually understands the meaning of the word and isn't only responding to the hand signals. I usually like to teach my dog the command first, then I add hand signals once she knows the word. But if you don't mind always using hand signals, it doesn't really matter - as long as you're consistent! :)

I've read that one before, but it had the same effect it did the first time! *sniffle* very touching!

I think that the way people react to a dog with a spiked collar (especially on a "tuff" breed) might also have a lot to do with what kind of neighborhood you live in. Like if you live in area where dog fights are an issue - you might not want to get a spiked collar for a non-aggressive dog because people might take it more seriously! Other than that, I think that they can look cute on some dogs as more of a joke or for fun, but if I see some teenaged guys walking around with a pit bull with a spiked collar...it kind of bothers me how they think they're all such hot shots because they got a "bad dog"!

Just to let you know (and everyone else who doesn't), bonsai kittens are a prank! Go here to see the proof [url]http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/bonsai.htm[/url] Other than that, those are all really horrible topics that piss me off too! I wish there was more I could do to help stop it...