tdierikx

I also have a camp dog that sheds about as much as the Lab - and hers is much finer and harder to get rid of... grrr! I'm brushing them pretty much daily and sweeping/vacuuming up the hair almost as regularly, but they still drop bloody hair everywhere... *sigh* T.

Unless you have pups available for adoption - then you get myriad calls wanting to get them as presents for family members... *sigh* T.

I heard this on the radio this morning... totally appalled! Maybe the old man and his furry friend might like a walking buddy with a larger dog to deter people like that in future? T.

I have one Lab, and it's sheeding season... how do you deal with more of them Tapua? T.

I have found that "doggy smell" is more often related to diet than breed or coat type. My mother is a complete neat freak, and I have dogs that shed coat all year around. My Mum is happy to abide by the fact that the dogs live inside and sleep on my bed if she comes to visit. She does go a little OCD on the cleaning though... lol! I suggested that she may be more comfortable staying with my aunt (her sister), and I could come over and visit with them both. Two happy older ladies, and I don't have to spend a week cleaning my house for my mum's comfort... *grin* When I was looking for a new couch, I got 2 the same (well, gotta have matching furniture) - one for me, and one for the dogs... if friends come over, I sit on the dogs' couch, and they sit on mine. The dogs know they aren't allowed on mine unless invited, so visitors are a bit more comfortable and not sitting in dog hair... errr! T.

We've had people offer to pay more for an undesexed dog... doesn't get them very far... *grin* T.

It's your house, your dog, and your rules.... they don't like that, they find somewhere else to stay. It really is as simple as that. T.

Wise advice... well said spyda62! The fact that you can't change the past is very true - whatever happened in the past cannot be "taken back" - we just have to focus on making sure the future is better. Dogs are not humans, and their "reasons" for certain behaviours are myriad. As noted here by many, their perfectly well raised dogs have certain peccadilloes that are baffling, and from no "fault" of their upbringing. I think that sometimes we lose sight of that fact and anthropomorphise a little too much when it comes to our furry friends. T.

I still think the body language on the Rotti should have given pause - and note the body language on the "intruder" when he was in with the Rotti - didn't take his eyes of it the whole time. The Rotti was the best "guard dog" of the whole bunch I reckon. In my house - unless you know my dogs, you ain't coming in... and it's not the 2 bull breed ones you need to be worried about. T.

Knowing the "cause" for certain reactions is nowhere near as useful as knowing how to identify the triggers to that behaviour... and then working out how to negate them as much as you can. T.

Absolute GOLD!!! Stunning shot! T.

Hmmm... just checked my vet wrap supply... I have a darker green one... you want? *grin* T.

"I care more than others" Tarope? Interesting assertion but hey, whatever rocks your boat. From where I sit there's a quite a difference between being compassionate and being speculative. You don't need to know a dog's background to care about it. I have seen rescue dogs whose owners are so busy feeling sorry for them that they can't get past excuses for behaviour and actually deal with it. Pity is a poor substitute for action, particularly when the behaviour is dangerous. Shyness, timidity, aggression - all of these could have a range of origins and frankly WHY a dog behaves like it does isn't necessarily key to how to fix it. As a well known behaviourist remarked at a conference I was at some time ago said "if we put as much energy dealing with behavioural issues as we do into labelling their causes, there would be a lot less problem dogs in the world". I can think of a raft of reasons why a dog might be aggressive but frankly the technique for managing that aggression isnt' going to vary that much. I'll give you an example. Rover growls like mad and will snap if a treat or bone is given and a dog or a person gets too close. It's clear Rover WILL bite if pushed so the owner backs off. "Poor Rover" says the owner, "he's a rescue dog and I bet he was starved or had to fight for his food with other dogs". "THATs why its so precious to him". Nope, Rover is a good old fashioned resource guarder. Would have been born that way and perhaps its been exacerbated by interference with food. But starved? I recall Sue Sternberg commenting that she saw far worse cases of resource guarding in well fed surrenders than in starvation cases. And in the end the treatment is the same. Don't make excuses for it. Manage it. And wonder why the hell a severe resource guarder was rehomed in the first place. In my experience most challenging dog behaviours are genetic or caused by what the dog didnt' get (socialised, attention, training). The resource guarder I know that put 20 stitches in its owners arm never missed a meal in its life. So my view? Speculate about your dog's past to your heart's content but acknowledge that there are many causes for some behaviours and that abuse can be but one of them. Ignorance and indifference are far more common. They, along side with poor temperament are probably far more likely than abuse to be why a dog has issues. I think it's best to keep an open mind and remember that dogs don't dwell in the past. It's their futures we can make happy and that's what we should focus on. *LIKE* T.

I came home one day to a strange ladder up at my kitchen window... we figured the would be burglars didn't count on 3 Rottis in the house who most probably just sat there staring at them as they looked through the window - and took off so fast that they forgot their ladder... *giggle* T.

I wouldn't have been comfortable about the body language the Rotti was showing... they don't normally warn you before they bite (from my own experience having owned a number of them). I wonder what happened when the guy tried to leave? T.

One of my dogs will give the whole "I'm a big vicious guard dog routine" when a stranger comes to the door or back yard gate. Another will back her up making scary crazy faces. Usually this is enough for most intruders to have second thoughts. Both of these dogs will actually tart up to you and demand cuddles if you come in. The one that you'd think is "friendly" when I'm not home most certainly won't be - and she won't warn you either... The puppy will probably want to kiss you though... *grin* T.

Congrats to whomever has him now... I'm assuming that it's glemhaith? This is the best news yet for this little man. T.

You could try Andrea at Companions for Life... she does Maremmas too... http://www.companionsforlife.com.au/ T.

By pulling out the gun and pullung the trigger, this cretin was intent on killing someone... that his aim was bad and he killed a completely innocent bystander should not be a "mitigating factor" when passing sentence. Our legal system really needs an overhaul when one gets only 5 years or so for not only taking one life, but completely destroying those of the people who loved him. T.

Is your current dog desexed or not? Male or female? Plays nice with others? Can be taken out in public without acting the complete loon? (it's a Lab thing sometimes... lol!) Does he/she guard food or toys? All things to consider when looking at getting a second... or third... or more dogs... *grin* T.

Poor Jolie... Luka's head is bigger than her bum... lol! T.

Awesome news Rach... T.

Here's my cousin's dog in her life jacket... T.

Good luck today Bella... Hugs to you while you wait for the call to say she's just fine Nic... T.

It's relatively normal for pups to get a bit loose after worming... but it can also depend on the worming tablet/treatment you use. I use Fenpral or Canex for my foster pups, as I find they are not as hard on the gut as Drontal (for example). I also try not to vaccinate and worm on the same day, as that can sometimes overload the little ones' systems causing any number of undesirable effects. If his stools are getting firmer over time, then I'd not worry too much about it - especially if he's behaving normally in every other way. T.