Leema

Not according to this source: http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/amino-acids/taurine.php I don't know whether I agree with 'vegetarian dogs/cats' or not - but I would like to know why cats cannot survive without meat? (As taurine can be derived from eggs [which I don't consider to be a meat]...) And I was under the impression that all essential amino acids (that is, ones that cannot be manufactuered by the body) can be derived from animal products? Curious to know. The two URLs I was going to post have already been posted. EDIT: To say that, by 'animal products', I mean not nesscessarily MEAT but milk/eggs... Hope that made sense...

Our Chow Chow once grabbed the ankle of my uncle when he decided to come into the backyard when no one answered the door (why? I don't know). Before hand, the chow had made plenty of awful, scary growls and barks, but I don't think he LOOKS very scary. My parents had a boxer called Cassius (just like every other boxer?). He would sleep in my parents room. One night my dad was on a shift and came home at an 'unusual time'. Apparently, Cass went absolutely ballistic, barking and carrying on, but it wasn't until my father spoke that he realised who it was that he became calm once more. As for my border terrier, I wouldn't trust him to be anything heroic. :p He lets off a very scary growl for such a little dog, but does so while walking backwards. I agree with the general idea that a big, noisy dog would probably be scary enough.

Undescendent testicles are not a big deal, unless you're trying to breed them out. If they're not there, they get dug out (of the abdomen) and removed, and that's the end of it. So don't worry, just remember to ask your vet to check him out. They might be there, just you've missed them.

The latest I've heard of a dog's testicles dropping is at 7 months (but I'm sure some people would experience later), however, I believe, if testicles had not dropped by 8 weeks, the chances of them dropping at all are greatly diminished. Yes, your dog's testicles still may drop - but if they're not there at 5 months, I very much doubt that they will at all - though it is possible. Just out of curiousity - why do you want your dog to be entire (i.e. have two testicles)? Your best bet is to, when he next needs vaccinations, ask the vet to check to see if both testicles are there. If one or neither are there, then the ones not descendent are best to be removed if cancerous. If there is just one there, you may choose to keep that one so that you still have a 'male dog' (e.g. he develops as an entire dog, with all the hormones released by the testes). Hope that helps?

Here's an image I nabbed off google that shows where you should feel... You should be able to feel them at 5 months. It's possible he has 'sucked them up' if he's in a stressful/excitable situation - but I am assuming you are at home, so that is unlikely. I very much doubt that you'd be able to see them - when my dog was 1 year old (or there abouts) he was desexed, and his one testicle that was down was hardly visible. Don't stress if you can't find them. Whenever you next go to the vet, ask him to have a feel. If neither or only one is there, you should get him desexed to remove the chance of testicular cancer.

I've heard that the top of a pen would work as a marker - or muffling the clicker in something. Some dogs are scared of the volume. Thanks very much, K9, for answering my questions! I'll continue to watch this thread to make sure that I totally get it.

Though some people have responded to these questions, that I asked on pg 15 (I think), I would really appreciate K9's responses to these questions. If it is the same as I've already given, that is satisfactory. Just would like to know if this is the case or not.

Yep - I'll let you know once I make it. I'll post here.

When Mac went for Delta dog to visit nursing homes and stuff, he didn't pass. He was scared of: "stumbling, shuffling mock woman". So put 'weird walking people' ( ) down... Mac met a little girl on crutches yesterday and didn't like that at all. Mac did not meet enough kids when he was younger, and doesn't 'know what they are' now. This is a great list - I'll make a page for it, like a checklist for puppy buyers to print out and check off what their pup has experienced.

Ewwwww! Ellz. Mac is an inside dog, and smells somewhat (not a normal doggy smell - I think borders have a different smell). However, he only gets bathed about 2 times a year, after he is stripped. I like his coat to be harsh, and when I wash it it goes a bit soft. I never wash him before I strip him because it's too hard to 'grab onto' and so to strip. Plus, he hates it. I have to lock him in the porch before I put the water on in the laundry sink - otherwise he runs off and hides/dodges. We've got the system now! I normally get someone else to feed him the whole time so he's more interested in that than jumping on me.

Okay, here is the actual article that I got the dog door thing from (as an action for establishing/maintaining pack leadership): http://www.phouka.com/dogs/dog_pack.html (Author: Katie Rourke) In regard to the dog/wolf 'house raised'/'wild raised' interest, I recall reading this scientific study with interest: www.eva.mpg.de/psycho/pdf/domestication_in_dogs.pdf The abstract of this document is below: (Any errors in this quote are my doing, as I'm typing from the article rather than copying and pasting from the PDF file.) Just thought this might be interesting - though off topic.

yogibear: I've read a book by Diane Bauman (Beyond Basic Obedience, I think is its title) and she doesn't like 'setting her dog up' to always get things right, and she believes that dogs that learn to 'think on their feet' initially are the best at then 'thinking on their feet' when the situations are unusual. However, of course, K9's neutralisation system (as I understanding) makes everything so unappealing that this would not be a consideration. I haven't read the book - have considered buying it but is very expensive. However, I've had some contact with the author but don't feel like have indepth knowledge - enough to explain it all, that is. The 'lying at the door thing', as explained to me as being the dog saying "I don't want the door to be here. I want to go through the door." In saying this, the dog is not respecting you as alpha as it is trying to 'undermine' the strategies your implement - which is the door. In other words, the dog is saying that the restrictions that you implement (that is, the door) doesn't matter to the dog. I hope that made sense. I don't know if I actually agree with this or not - but it's what I have heard, and I was wondering if K9 agrees with this or not - and whyso. Erny: That is a very good explaination, Erny. I understand completely. Thank-you!

Thanks for the interesting discussion, K9. I've read the whole thing, I think. I have a few questions for you - which I ask because I'm curious about using your methods and not because I disagree with you (wanted to make it clear!). You've said the alpha is supposed to be the 'be all and end all'. (Which I understand and agree with.) How does isolating puppies from 'the pack' compare to pack life 'in the wild'? (As, obviously, 'in the wild', pups would be with the adult dogs and not by themselves.) Where do your other dogs come into the pack structure? Do your dogs have a structure aside from you? You've said that you do not encourage dogs to 'think for themselves' (work on solving puzzles) as it is a form of stress, but I have heard of people who encourage dogs to actively partake in puzzle solving in order to activate the dogs mind, discouraging boredom and so problem behaviour, and also 'mold' the mind to be more receptive to you. One particular believer in this is Mogens Eliasen. What do you think of Mogens Eliasen's ideas? This page specifically about his brainwork book - http://k9joy.com/BrainWorkForSmartDogs/index.php?camp=1975 His entire site: http://k9joy.com/ I am not sure whether your adult dogs are allowed to interact with one another when they're not home - do you worry that, having not had lots of experience with other dogs, that they may fight? Or do they simply not pay enough attention to one another for this to be a consideration/concern of yours? I have heard, suggested in the past, that if a dog lays at a door that you've closed or something similar he is rebelling against your alpha-ism (...word?). Do your dogs do this in their desire to be with you? Do you believe this is them threatening their alpha-ness? Is it possible for dogs to perhaps 'pretend' to not be fixated on you, as so they may return their attention to you and be praised? (e.g. dog sees bird, dog runs up to birds, turns around and comes back to you - just to get your praise) Thanks so much for creating such an interesting discussion. :rolleyes:

MacDogald's DogAge is 11.3! That's 4.3 years younger than the average DogAfe for MacDogald's breed. Lost marks because he eats poo! Haha. Thanks for a link. It was fun.