Lokipups

[quote]Lokipups wrote: Bottom line, ASSess-A-Pet is just a program for overcrowded shelters to take the easy way out and assuage their guilt for PTS so many good animals. I kind of take offense at this - what do you suggest these shelters do? If they don't temperment test - how should they choose? What's to be done about the overcrowding? I'm involved with rescue with the breed of my choice in an area where there are many overcrowded, impoverished rural shelters and where the education, and quality of pet-ownership, and responsibility is so low as to be non-exhistant. People who critisize selection by temperment testing seem to stop short of being able to suggest reasonable alternatives. There is no magical supply of foster homes ready and waiting to spring forward and take all these dogs, much less foster homes with the expertise to work with problem dogs. This isn't my imagination, it's the sad reality of rescue. Sue Sternburg may not be perfect but, I have yet to see any better alternatives. [/quote] Aussies, I too work in rescue (Siberian Huskies) and have been involved with shelters for a long time. What I take exception to is not the fact that temperament testing is done (because we must determine if there are any behavior issues before adopting out any dog), but using it as a means to an end with shelters that call themselves "no-kill". Did you know that any shelter can call themselves "no-kill" and still PTS dogs? If any dog fails the Assess-a-Pet, they are automatically discounted in the yearly euthanasia totals, as if they never existed. And if they're a "no-kill" shelter they can qualify for grants and funding? That is where I find it to be a farce, to use Assess-a-Pet to qualify as a "no-kill" shelter, and still kill thousands of animals. I have far more respect for the shelters who euthanize because of overcrowding and are honest about it, particularly because their choices are made so difficult. Temperament testing has it's place, but abusing it to fail dogs and to be eligible for funding is abhorent.

Deb, as far as I'm concerned, that scene with Beau was the nail in the coffin concerning her "expertise" :roll: . Even non-dog people who watched it couldn't believe what they were seeing. I don't know about you, but I don't need no stinkin' rubber hand to figure out if a dog is a resource guarder :-? , just put the bowl down and take a step closer to the dish. If the dog's commisure starts to move foward, then it's an issue. Most dogs are pretty honest about they way they feel if you just look at one closely enough. And resource guarding is one of the easiest problems to fix too. Bottom line, ASSess-A-Pet is just a program for overcrowded shelters to take the easy way out and assuage their guilt for PTS so many good animals. Not to mention the fact that it's very profitable for Ms. Sternberg as well. The infamous rubber hand on a stick costs about 4 bucks to make, and they charge 30 for it :crazyeyes: . Not to mention the seminars, conventions, grants from Maddies Fund and the like, evaluations at her kennel, etc. Adds up very nicely I bet.

Crazy, go to her website for Rondout Valley Kennels, and then go check out her former employees site. If you can get ahold of it, also watch the HBO documentary "Shelter Dogs". [url]http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/c_adams/[/url] I have seen the almighty Sternberg live, and I walked out of the lecture with about a dozen other trainers :evil: . What she did bordered on animal abuse, and what she knows about canine behavior you could fit on the head of a pin and still have room for angels to dance :evilbat: .

Nobody will bash you for making that decision, and I applaud you for doing it, I know how hard it is :( . I don't know where in MA you are, but here's the link for the Northeast Rottweiler Rescue group, maybe they can help place her. [url]http://www.rottrescue.org/[/url]

[quote]Y'all better watch your selves now! You know what you have been told before about saying bad things about SS! You know she and her baby lawyers are lurking on each and every message board and yahoo group that says anything negative about her.[/quote] GOOD! I hope they read every bit of criticism while lurking, and frankly if they don't like it, too bad :evilbat: .

Whenever I see a dog sniffing and scratching in one particular area in the house (or outside even), I look for an infestation, usually termites.

When an adult dog who's already housebroken starts marking in a new house, the first thing I tell the owners to do is to get a blacklight (can be purchased at novelty stores and some hardware places) and start sweeping the light at the ground. Old urine stains will show up under a blacklight, so you can go and hit those spots with an enzyme cleaner like Petzyme or Nature's Miracle.

I could only find this on the AKC website, there's no mention of miniatures being a no go, but maybe this will help. [b]Disqualifications Heights below or above the desired size range, i.e., 13-16 inches. Brindle color. [/b]

Yes, generally as a rule rescue groups (not so much public shelters) have a return clause in the adoption contract. Unfortunately I know my own rescue has found dogs that we adopted out in newspaper ads and Petfinder :evil: , but it's rare. And we've gone after those who have broken the contract successfully.

:evil: Lovely. I'll foward this to all the bully rescues around here as well.

Yes, it's fine to give Pepto. For his size, 2 tablespoons should do it. Although don't be alarmed if his stool is black the next day, it's a side effect of Pepto.

One of my alltime favorite movies (LOVE Christopher Guest flicks!), and I frequently find myself singing "God Loves A Terrier" :lol: :lol: .

HF, I'm so sorry too :cry: , it is like losing one of your own. And I like the "lock of love" idea too.

Good deal, stoonod got exactly what he deserved, just too bad it took so long. But more importantly HF, you can go to work with the puppers without having to worry about them anymore!

[quote]Is HE spaded? (that one REALLY confuses me...) [/quote] I've gotten that one too :roll: , my standard answer now is "No, she's shoveled". Goes right over most heads :P .

And what I find truly odd about a pitbull ban in Isreal is the fact that their national dog, the Canaan, is not exactly the most people friendly breed out there, similar in nature to the Chow. Thanks, but I'll take a pittie any day over the Canaan :-? .

While I have very little love for the AKC, they do have an excellent page for homeowners info, with listings of insurance company's policies. [url]http://www.akc.org/love/dip/legislat/insurance_chart0702.cfm[/url] I have Allstate myself, and almost lost my homeowners because I have Siberians in my house and they are on the list. But, according to them, I'm grandfathered because I've had Allstate for 20 years, and Sibes during those years, which frankly makes no sense to me at all :roll: .

Great pics, and such gorgeous dogs! K Posted: [quote]Do I need to start a S.O.R.C petition here [/quote] S.O.R.C? Society of Rubber Chickens :lol: ?

[quote] is not only a major waste of bandwidth, but it's also wasting time that could be better spent going out into the REAL world and actually doing something about the state of the pitbull and BSL.[/quote] [quote]despite Primmy's blathering, most of us do. We send emails, letters, etc. I think thats where a lot of the heat comes in. We ARE trying. its just a hard subject to get listened to.[/quote] Court, my comment was for the Primster, for sure not you guys :) ! (Can you tell I, too, have had a go-around or two with the wombat lover :lol:?)

While I have read this thread with some amusement, and some disgust, the bottom line is that Primrose is preaching to the choir. I would have to say 99.9% of the pitbull owners who frequent dog forums such as this are very caring and very responsible pit owners, so telling them to "do this" and "not to do that", and questioning every move a pit owner makes, is not only a major waste of bandwidth, but it's also wasting time that could be better spent going out into the REAL world and actually doing something about the state of the pitbull and BSL.

Nope, not bad at all. Kind of like the oral version of an e or citronella collar, icky and distasteful, but a deterrent nonetheless :wink: . I have up to 5 in my house and can't make it through a week without a fresh bottle of aspirin, how you do it amazes me :thumbs: .

OMG, that almost made me wet my pants I laughed so hard :lol: :lol: :lol: ! As someone who does Siberian rescue, I can definitely understand :lol: .

:angel: Those brindle and parti Poodles are gorgeous! I've never seen one in anything other than a solid either. But one question, and maybe Horsefeathers can answer it, are the corded Poodles a result of genetics, or do the cords have to be created when groomed :hmmmm: ? Either way, it's still very cool looking (I just wouldn't want to have to be the one to groom it :o )!

Annonymous, take your sanctimonious, self righteous attitude and shove it, I'm most certain she feels bad enough withoput you coming in here to comment :evil: . Sharpei sweetie, relax and take a deep breath, you may have acted out of anger and lost it for a moment, but believe me when I say Apollo has forgiven you already, so please forgive yourself :puppydogeyes: . Everyone has said or done something they're not proud of at one time or another, to learn from it and move on is now what's important :kciuki:

:lol: :lol: :lol: pshaw, we'll put you with the other 10%!