imported_Matty

[quote]If parents don't want to worry about their kids being around dogs, keep them out of petsmart and the other FEW places that dogs are allowed[/quote] Does petsmart only deal with dogs? :o If they sell other pet supplies and a child has a kitten or a turtle, the child has every right to to buy presents for the pet. They should certainly be going to petsmart. As for using petsmart as a place to socialize your dog. It would be perfect for a young pup who has not set its personality yet. It would be wonderful for a pup to be subjected to disarray and rushing children. If you are dealing with an older dog which is iffy, then any bad situations you expose it to will not improve but the dog. It will set it back even further. I perfer positive controlled situations for socializing dogs. I know quite a few people whose children suffer from a condition called ADD. The children are very hard to control if not doped up on medication. The parents have a very difficult time controlling the kids. I always try to think of children as being young and experimental. They will test parents to the limit. I understand when a parent has a hard time controlling their children. especially this day and age. In a perfect world all parents would have perfect obedient children, in a perfect world all owners would have well behaved dogs. We don't live in a perfect world. I always expect the unexpected from children no matter the situation.

Here is some info [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1556&articleid=405[/url]

[quote]Matty wrote: I thought every hill billy down south had a blood hound this is not true???? That is how I always pictute a bloodhound, sitting faithfully beside its owner who is drinking moon shine with a big rifle in his arm. All this while he is rocking in his rocking chair. Hey, we DO have internet access down here and some of us can even read.[/quote] I did not intend to sound mean with this statement. I guess I was just thinking about the beverly hill billys (the show on TV). The first of the show shows the star hillbilly with his blood hound and rifle. I thought it was just kinda funny. I was not steriotyping. No offense was intended with this statement. I was trying in a weird way to be funny :oops:

I have an unpopular view on this :oops: If I had a child in a local pet store where people brought their dogs in while shopping, I would [b]assume[/b] the dog was stable and is not going to be upset by commotions and people who may rush up to the dog. I would only take a stable dog which does not react to rushing children or people who approach my dog in the wrong manner. I do not expect to teach every one in the world how to approach dogs, and I do not expect them to learn by having my dog snap at them or show fear. So for my own opinion. I would not take a dog into a public area where unless I was confident the dog was going to handle every thing properly. :wink: don't mean to be on the other side of the fence.

You might find this article interesting. [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=848[/url]

[url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1606&articleid=451[/url]

Read this..very long :wink: Dr. Fosters & Smith [quote]Choosing a dog Do You Want a Purebred or Mixed-Breed Dog? Should your new dog be a purebred or a mixed breed? For many, the answer to this question is obvious because subconsciously they are only thinking about purebred dogs. The thought of having anything else never even enters their mind. When they were growing up, their parents had English Setters so they automatically look for an English Setter. It is ironic that many future dog owners seek out a purebred without any idea of what breed they might want. They never consider a mixed or "Heinz 57." Before you leap into a selection between the 145 or so currently listed and officially recognized breeds, you need to understand the differences and pros and cons of a "canine blue-blood" versus what is often referred to as a mongrel. There are differences between purebred and mixed breed dogs, but they are mostly in what the buyer wants or perceives. Several hundred years ago humans started with wild or free-roaming canines and brought them into their lives. Originally, they were used to help us with our work. In various parts of the world, different basic models as to shape and size were used for these initial transformations into domestication. Over the years, dogs have become less important as a working partner and most are simply thought of as a companion. Regardless of their role in our world, from the very start we have continually tried to alter the dog's abilities, behavior, size, shape, color, conformation, etc., to fit some purpose or goal that we had. This was done through selective breeding. At some point in time, a standard is established and these animals are sanctioned as a unique breed. With the stroke of a pen on an official looking document, they are transformed from a mixed breed to a purebred. Possible advantages of purebreds: If you are seeking a dog and need it for a specific purpose, you may be better off choosing a purebred that has been selectively bred with those traits in mind. While it is often said that any dog can be trained to do anything, you may be wiser to use the years of experience and efforts of others than try to start on your own. For example, someone who is interested in showing, herding, hunting, scent work, or other specific tasks would be better off choosing a dog from one of the breeds that have been devoted to those specialized fields. Through generations of selective breeding, these traits have been refined and strengthened well past those found in the general population of dogs. For some people, their choice as to which dog they should get is based on their own physical makeup or problems. If a respiratory condition or allergy means you should not be around dogs that shed excessively, you should select a breed that is appropriate for your own health. Certain kinds of dogs are well known for their non-shedding characteristics. In reality, they do shed, but generally much less than typical breeds. Examples are the various Poodles and Schnauzers. In these situations in which a specific physical trait such as the amount that an animal sheds is important in your dog, it is probably better to choose a purebred. It would be very difficult, if not impossible to predict, the degree of shedding that a mixed breed puppy will display as an adult. Some dog owners find certain dogs more attractive than others and simply must have one that looks like that. It would be foolish for them to choose a different breed or one of mixed lineage. If someone knows what they want their dog to look like as an adult, but are starting with a puppy, they need to choose a member of that breed to ensure they get what they want a year later. Some dog breeds are known for having certain personalities or behavior patterns. You can select one that matches yours or what you would prefer to see in your pet. Golden Retrievers are known for their laid-back, calm personalities. To some, that is the perfect dog. Others, however, would prefer a more out going, excitable dog. Still, others might want an animal for protection of their home. Certain lines of some breeds have been bred for this type of work and are therefore a natural choice. An excellent book that describes the various breeds is "The Complete Dog Book" by the American Kennel Club. It can be found in most book or pet stores and catalogs. Buying a purebred animal in no way guarantees what you will get. It may increase your chances of matching you with your goal, but that is all. Some advantages of mixed breeds: Keep in mind when thinking about purebred dogs that many man-made alterations in the basic structure and behavior from the original historical canine model have brought along some disadvantages. Some dogs, especially those with short noses that at times seem to be pushed back into their heads, may have difficulty breathing or giving birth to their puppies naturally. Excessively large or giant breeds usually have shorter life spans, often by several years. Breeds with excessive skin folds are generally more prone to bacterial skin infections. In other purebreds, harmful or unwanted characteristics have arisen. Whenever breeders select for one trait they may unknowingly select for many others. Hip dysplasia is a degenerative and often severely debilitating disease of the hip joint of dogs. It is transmitted from one generation to the next through genetics. This condition is rare in wild dogs. Any condition that decreases the overall ability of a wild animal to compete in their world is quickly eliminated through natural selection. However, through human engineered selective processes, this condition has become common in several breeds. Breeding has, it would seem, unknowingly potentiated the genetically transferred information that controls this disease. Today, concerned and ethical breeders work very hard to eliminate undesirable traits from their breeds. They truly care about the animals they produce and their future. When considering your choice between a purebred and mixed breed, do not forget the cost. Purebred puppies have been known to cost $300 to $3000 depending on the particular lines and breed. Mixed breed models are usually free or go for only a small adoption fee. In some households, this can mean the difference between getting a dog or not. We promise you, the child that receives his first puppy will rarely care about his color, hair coat, size, or the price paid.[/quote]

I thought every hill billy down south had a blood hound :o this is not true???? :lol: That is how I always pictute a bloodhound, sitting faithfully beside its owner who is drinking moon shine with a big rifle in his arm. All this while he is rocking in his rocking chair.

If its a hot spot it will be oozy looking (most times :wink: ) unless it has already started to dry up and get crusty. I try to dry them up by applying gold bond powder and shaving the area around the hot spot in order for it to heal. I have also heard of people using colestrum and applying it directly to the hot spot to heal it. When you have skin problems like hot spots its usually a good indication some thing is wrong on the inside of your dog. Check for food intolerances, allergies, fleas. You could probably shampoo your dog with a :wink: :lol:

Have you had him checked for fleas??? I would check his diet and see if he is suffering from any food intolerances as well. The skin is the first thing which shows problems of internal illnesses.

Read this :wink: [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1551&articleid=165[/url]

Heres a site for you. [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1593&articleid=421[/url]

Read this site, beware its VERY long :lol: [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1551&articleid=153[/url]

What a cute advertisment. :lol: :wink: [quote]I may look like an American Staffordshire terrier mix, but that's just my disguise. Underneath, I'm pure golden retriever. [/quote] They are basically stating the dog is a Staff X and referring to its personality as a Golden. Very cute :lol:

[quote]beat me too it [/quote] [b]DeafAussieLover wrote[/b] :lol: :lol: I have also heard of people using nylon socks, putting oats in them and soaking them in water. Then they rub the dog with the sock, the oatmeal juice is supposed to help itchy skin.

To me there is a differnce because for a two week old to be attacked by a dog I highly doubt it would survive. > starfox This is the reason I went on and on about how dogs some times play with their prey. The mouse that the dog was attacking and stalking did ended up killing it after playing with it for awhile. The little thing died of a broken neck. If your wondering why I didn't save the mouse, for one thing I am frightened of mice and disease. I also did not know the dog and I happened to be working in an area I could see the dog.

Its supposed to be soothing for irritated skin, or dogs who have allergies to shampoo

Holy Dog!! If you look at the picture of the white wolf in the picture in this site the simularities are amazing :o I feel so bad for that little baby, shame on that aunt for leaving a baby unattended with a dog. I have actually seen a dog attack a mouse, the dog played with it and chewed on it. The dog did not eat the mouse or go any further. We also have a problem with local dogs chasing deer in our province. The dogs will chase the deer, bite them on the hocks and flanks. Once the deer dies the dogs have no more interest. Its the fun of the chase and tearing and biting or the prey most times. [url]http://www.2lizards.com/arctic-wolf/[/url]

Yep, sounds like a BYB to me. Some one who keeps pups in wire cages and lets them walk on wire is not a reputable breeder. I would report this person. All dogs have the right to proper accomodations, love, walks and socialization. It does not sound as though many of these pups are getting proper care.