~Anne~

It states they are working with the council. Has the council supported the removal of the dogs financially? If not, then they should. The council is saving a lot of money by allowing a private organisation to clean up something they are ultimately responsible for.

What a bizarre thread. The concept of the thread is totally lost on me.

That looks like it would be really handy Andisa.

Would the Maltese be inside with its anxiety issues and the staffy outside? Maybe they should look at crating both inside or sectioning off an area for them inside? (assuming they get a second dog). Might they be just adding to their current issues if they add another dog?

I've seen dogs react the same as what you are talking about. I believe they are submitting to a leader. In the case of a trainer, they have knowledge of behaviour traits and temperaments as well as other clues that would allow them to assume leadership control in a short period. Many dog owners have no conceptual understanding of canines or their behaviour and so they would lack the ability to assume a respectful leadership role in such a short period of time.

I chose this one because I actually took your recommendation Rebanne from the thread in General. I know. Stunned or what. :laugh:

I am always happy to do a home check on weekends on the south coast also FYI.

I purchased a cordless dremel and it came with a little kit of attachments. http://www.dremel.com/en-au/tools/pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=1100 I had Boof's nails trimmed yesterday by the vet so now I'll try to keep them trimmed with the dremel. Oliva is undergoing more dental work on Tuesday and they will do hers while she is under as he it too wriggly for anyone to hold.

Again, it's Murdoch's trashy rag. (Insert rolling eye emoticon). The Daily Telegraph and its 'journailists', and i use that term very loosely, shouldn't be taken seriously. His papers are best used as for starters.

Anything written in the Murdoch comedy club rag is not eligible for serious discussion. I'm surprised anyone bothers to read that trash anymore.

I can take a "3rd world war with a dobermann having its nails clipped" video for you if you wish :laugh: I d like to see that Mon! :laugh:

Perhaps we should have a weekend of 'hold the pug down while we dremel'. I can't even imagine holding Oliva. She is such a wriggle ass even when you just say hello. You can't pick her as she wriggles so much she is likely to fall out of your arms. She definitely isn't a cuddly pug... She's a I've got ants in my pants pug.

I'm sorry SweetcavsRMine. Rest in peace Bow Wow.

Lamb is apparently good for weight gain. I'd imagine puppy food also would help.

Yes, this is what I was referring to earlier. I meet their needs so they chose me as their leader and one they want to be close to. They've definitely formed a bond with me. Interestingly in our house it is changing. My husband is currently the main caregiver and I've noticed a change in their responses to both of us. Boof though still prefers me more so as I am the one that will pet him and show him constant attention when he seeks it. Olivia, for reasons unknown to me, still seeks out my husband but mainly when he is missing. If he is in the same room as me she'll be nearest to me and asking me to play. If he is not home she will often go to the front door am wait for him. Olivia has a few strange actions that I don't understand. She often sits on the other side of a barrier, for example the coffee table, and just watches all of us. At other times she sits in the hall looking down on the rest of us in the living area. The hall is a few steps higher and is usually unlit at these times. She's a strange little dog sometimes.

I'm sorry you feel that by my not sharing the same opinion as you makes you feel I am dismissive of what you feel. You are actually being dismissive of my thoughts and you are turning a discussion thread into a personal grievance that you appear to have with me. I am not being dismissive or indicating you or anyone else is stupid. I contributed to the thread and actually indicated my clear understanding and empathy saying that I'd like to think I was Monte's chosen one. I was questioned on my comments and I responded to them. You've chosen to take everything ive said perisnally. End of story. Attributing human abilities to a non-human form is anthropomorphism. Love is a complex human emotion.

Alternatively you're just trying to ruin everyone's fun. Also being self serving does not require high order thinking, this comes from the Id, the part of our psyche that says "I want it and I want it now" and is focused on fulfilling your basic desires. Dogs are perfect examples of creatures that rely on the Id which is why dog training is very reward based, that's not to say that dogs aren't capable of outwardly displaying signs of other more complex emotions like sympathy and love although why they do this I suspect will continue to remain a mystery. Ruin everyone's fun? How? I'm not the one questioning others or their beliefs and opinions. It is my beliefs and opinion under scrutiny here. Geez Anne, it was just a hypothetical question - none of us are offering up scientific studies to back up what we may have experienced. And the same could be said about people identifying a dog as their heart dog. They are just personal feelings and beliefs. I'm sure the dog doesn't have a clue about the depths of our feelings towards them. I doubt they understand love but they certainly exhibit signs of loyalty and protection and they certainly bond with some people far more than others. I have no idea why - hence the thread. Given we talk about dogs as companion animals there must be some emotional connection they make with us or they would exhibit the same behaviours with everyone who fed or patted them and we have all seen evidence that isn't the case. I am certainly not alone in ending up with a dog in my life that was never meant to be for me, but certainly seems to be the right thing for the dog. I was simply exploring that idea the same way we often explore the concept of heart dogs. Doesn't make scientific sense, but it may just exist! I never asked anyone to offer scientific studies. I simply added my beliefs, just like everyone else and just like you said yourself. My thoughts were then questioned and so I responded to people questioning my beliefs. And I'm the bad guy!? :laugh: Perhaps you might want to add the disclaimer that only people who think canines have the ability to choose a 'heart person' need respond in the thread. :laugh: As for anthropomorphism, it is exactly that. Sorry if you feel that is harsh. It isn't meant to be a negative or positive. It simply is what is being described in this thread.

None of that explains though why the person my basset is most attached to is a 3 year old who doesn't feed her, doesn't walk her and doesn't train her. All she recieves from my 3 year old is cuddles, most of which the dog instigates... Saying your three old is your dogs 'heart human' doesn't explain it either though. :) If your 3 year old walked into my house, my Boof would gravitate towards him too. Boof loves little toddlers and children. He'll immediately sit beside them. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and he hasn't grown up with really small children. I have no idea why he loves kids. My cat on the other hand ran and hid in a bedroom the minute a toddler came into our house. Dogs simply do not possess complex emotions. That is scientific fact. It isn't something I've made up. This thread is as good as any example of anthropomorphism I've seen.

So you don't believe dogs have an ability to love their people? They are just being pragmatic and self serving? Yes and no. I believe love is an emotion that requires higher order thinking. No, I don't believe they're being pragmatic and self serving as again, I believe both of these require higher order thinking. I believe dogs form attachments. I believe dogs form bonds. I believe dogs can show signs of depression in a clinical sense over the loss of something or someone they formed a bond with. But do they 'love'? No, I don't think they do. I don't think dogs look at one human over another and think 'Oh my, my heart human. How I love thee.' I'm sure my dogs gravitate toward me for several reasons, none of which are attributable to 'love'. I'm the main caregiver and the one most likely to play with them, feed them and tend to their needs. I'm the strong leader in the house. I do think it curious that Olivia shows a preference for males but I believe that is something that was formed in her earlier years or a preference for some other reason. Who knows. I am far from an animal behaviour expert.

Perhaps PM Rappie. She is a Vet and she is still young so her recollections of starting wages would be current.

Thanks everyone. His nails are really tough Andisa and I was wondering if some dogs have harder nails than others. I have Olivia visiting the vet this weekend so ill drag Boof along too and have them both trimmed. Ill then use a stone and be very careful with watching for heat build up. Unfortunately I can only do them on weekends which isn't helping my plan either.

This exactly. The absolute horror they have witnessed is unimaginable and still makes me feel sick.

Omg, it makes me feel sick to my stomach. That poor little child. The horror that mum and grandma will carry with them. How does anyone ever move on from this.

I'd like to think that Monte thought I was his heart human. But he was a dog. A dog I loved very much and one who relied on me to keep him going but he didn't choose me or think of me as his 'heart' human because he didn't have that ability. Sure, he gravitated to me but that was instinct because he knew I was his carer and he would get food, warmth and security.

Thanks. I've watched several Dobe videos and they all show a Dobe with short nails who just lays the while they're being done.