Tralee

Hi mcboxer. spell check! suppositories. correct. They should hand them out regularly to some DOLers though I suspect a few use them regularly.

Hey Divine Angel. I would investigate, or would like to know, if a milk diet would be appropriate. I know that milk is not recommended to people with diarrhoea. The correct toilet habits are crucial at this stage in a pups life because their digestive, excretion and urinary systems are still developing and can be damaged too easily. I think we need to come up with a satisfactory solution.

Hi taintz. The professionals can be part of the problem sometimes. I think that is what Divine Angel was saying. Which is why we always have to be so sceptical. Personally I loathe it. You can't trust anybody. It's a right royal pain in my cyberspace.

Thanks Divine Angel. I'm looking forward to that. I should start keeping a diary: of Jasmine.

Hi Divine Angel. Certainly advice that you get from a Vet. which causes you to question it is going to create a quandary. Maybe you could get a second opinion; from another Vet. or two! I have heard that long term use of processed foods have been found to cause health problems. And I have the same concerns.

Hi Whisper. Your pup couldn't have a better owner even if you're not an expert. You have done some serious thinking, and now you can look at your problem from a number of different perspectives. Whenever you decide; today, tomorrow, a year from now; it is your decision and I am sure you will do whatever you think is the best thing for your dog. Including PTS if it comes to that, and I hope it doesn't.

Excuse me whisper. Hi anne. I'm sorry if I haven't introduced myself. Your points may be Valid, but counselling and guidance about how to manage dogs must surely be about giving the owner hope and encouragement without condeming them for a lack of knowledge or experience. Why are people on this forum unable to expand their vast knowledge and experience to communication on a human level without repeatedly talking through people to the dogs? People don't want to hear others continually intimate that they are idiots and must defer to, and consult professionals. Maybe; if all else fails. Whisper, the best way to learn how to live with a dog, and get a dog to live with you, is to simply just go and do it. Chin up. PS Say high to your pup for me.

Hey Whisper. Obviously you are responsible enough to use a leash appropriately and if I was your pup I would think I was in good hands. I would think that you will need to confine your pup, instead of teathering him/her or muzzling it. If people see a muzzled dog they will think it is vicious and act accordingly. The dog will want to please them and will act vicious. There isn't a single person here who would support you using a muzzle. A crate is an escape proof compound, whereas a pen also blocks out sights and sounds. I think your mum is justifiably concerned but if you believe in you pup (and if anyone knows this dog it is the closest one to it) then you have to go in to bat for him/her. Listen. If you can get your dog to behave for six months then you have a cured dog. You could just remind mum that it's a dog, not an angel . And we aren't angels either. I hope this helps.

Hi Whisper. Well, your dog is still a pup, so there is some training ahead for both of you. The powers that be are wiser than credited for enacting the 'leash laws' for in this instance they have saved your bacon. So, I wouldn't be too hasty to condemn your pup. The leash laws were enacted in the first place to protect the public, and in this instance they have done. But more importantly, where we are concerned as dog owners, they were enacted to prevent unnecessary heartache from the inevitable result of an unforseen dog bite. Dogs are unpredictable and the wise are aware that they can be provoked out of their normal character. Sometimes dogs just act like dogs and bite. I would view the situation as a perfect opportunity for you and your pup to get going on reinforcing and extinguishing the behaviours he/she needs to have. Babies and dogs are an explosive combination. Dogs recognize that a baby is just another pup, albeit a human one. I suggest you keep that in mind. I would expect that you must pen, crate or muzzle (as a last resort) your pup until you are confident he/she will behave. So, get those babies to work for you, socialize your pup, keep the antecedents positive and your pup should not have any cause to feel threatened. And good Luck.

Hi Fin. When you say pup, I'm thinking really young dog. Let's say I sent my pup to you for 'creche', or 'kindy' or 'preschool' and when I came to pick it up at the end of the day you told me: "Today we started learning the long down." ;) Would you want your human baby subjected to such ABUSE? Or would you want your baby to have time to grow, be happy and show you its love? I suggest that you let the pup be a pup and when it needs to learn the 'long down' (you will know when its ready) then you can restrain it "lovingly". My God Fin. Be careful. And if you have doubts about what to do with your dog, then you should do nothing.

Hi Divine Angel. If Jasmine isn't frozen like a statue during bath time I would be very surprised. And very interested to know if Maremmas have an uncharacteristic lack of concern for bathing.

Hi Divine Angel. I always washed Bindi the Beagle all over. Used to turn him into a big white cloud. I'd rinse the soap off with jugs of water; the last rinse clean water. However, I always cupped my hand over his eyes so that the rinse water never went in his eyes. We never had a problem.

Hi stari. ;) Gee stari what a scare. I hope your pup gets well soon.

Hi Rozzie. 17 is a good innings. P

Hey Reeda. The a word is anthropomorphic which is the tendency to project human characteristics on to animals, inanimate objects or God for that matter. Its hard to tell what the lecturer was on about without a copy of the transcript. I suspect you may have picked up on a case where he meant something like; in these situations or given these particular conditions. Otherwise he would have to posit a completely new paradigm. But to the question of the hypothesis that dominance in dogs does not exist, you have to remember that it is only a suggestion at this stage. IMHO I would challenge the lecturer since although he may dismiss dominance, he would then have to exclude submission as well. You can't have one with out the other. There is definately a posture in dogs that appears to be a dominance-submission pairing. Animal behaviourists first observed a pecking order in Chickens and then generalised it to all animal groups. Sure it's anthropomorhic but it is undeniable that something is happening in animal groups, eg. gorillas and such, whether they would say it is dominance if they could talk we don't know. The important point is it has helped in the management of our animals and untill something better comes along; and I don't see your lecturer having offered anything that is more helpful, it will have to do.

hey Elise. "Son, when thou fallest sick, do not neglect thy own needs." (Eccl 38,9) It's a beautiful emotion, and every tear is an angel. "The night is far on its couse; day draws near." (Rom 13, 12). They bring us love in ways we cannot understand. GB