I am amazed by my dog. He is almost 60 lbs now, bigger than he is suppose to be. For those who don't remember when I bought him, he is a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Shar Pei mix, and he probably has some American Pit Bull Terrier in him somewhere. He was a pound puppy about to be put to sleep for overcrowding at the local pound.
I have had some amazing pets in my life. Champ is my 4th dog, and I am amazed how much they become a part of your family.
What types of pets do you guys have? I am thankful each and every single day for the impact my pets have had on me. I honestly believe I am a better, more caring person because of them.
I think I will make this a "story" thread, and post some of my favorite memories of my dogs. Does anyone else have any cool stories about their pets, or any thoughts on the bond that seems to grow with them?
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
I can't remember not having a dog.
We currently have Jaromir Jagr a very old Golden Retriever. He turned 15 on December 31st. He's the sweetest dog that ever walked the planet. He amazes us on a daily basis. He's on meds, yet he still bounces like a puppy when we get those milk bones out.
Baxter, our old Pit-bull/Lab mix. He's over weight. Poor guy. He looks like a cow with miniature legs. He's been on a diet for years and gets plenty of exercise. He's not a diabetic, we checked. He’s just a big boy. A really good, big boy.
Our latest addition, Sid the Kid, was to adorable to pass up. We were in Hobby Lobby and we were shown this adorable, angelic puppy, he was white with ice blue eyes. He was the last of the litter. His mom is a purebred Catahoula Cur and his dad , who was only seen from behind, appeared to have been a white boxer. Of course, we both said yes and the kids didn‘t argue one bit. He's almost a year old now and his white coat has mellowed into a light tan and his eyes have turned into about the same color as his coat. He's a beautiful, wild, energetic dog. He's got webbed feet and he jumps like I've never seen a dog jump.
He hates bugs. He’s chewed us out of house and home. He’s seriously chewed and destroyed more things in his short time on earth than the kids collectively through the years.
He’s not high energy, he’s super, ridiculous, high energy! He’s eaten two mattresses, a sofa, a cell phone, numerous dog beds and blankets, pillows, shoes, socks, rugs, toys, books, magazines…you name it, he‘s tasted it. I LOVE him. I’ve never had a dog quite like him.
My kids definitely tease me about loving him the most.
I do love my dogs. Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Evolutionary imperitive, we raised dogs/wolves to help us hunt and it stayed that way.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Love the dog names Tammy.
I had a Cocker Spaniel, Simba, that we had to put to sleep last year. She was very much a member of the family. The first and only time I've ever seen my dad cry was when we went to the vet with her that last time. She acted like a puppy until she got into her teens, but she never lost her wits. She was damned smart and sneaky. Our favorite memory of her was the time she got out of the house (we should have called her Houdini for all the escape attempts she made as a pup) and chased down the mailman, who went to mace her, but when she got to him, she rolled over to be petted. She loved attention.
Strangely, she didn't like clergymen though. The only two times in the 15 years we had her that she ever growled at someone was when my cousin, a youth minister, came over, and when the pastor from my grandfather's church stopped by. We always thought that was an odd, and amusing, coincidence.
She was sweet, and lovable, and not a week goes by that I don't think about her and miss her. We're thinking about getting another dog for my mom this summer before I move out. Simba really kept my mom company more than most of us realized until after she was gone.
My surrogate dogs for the moment are my best friend's. She has an ancient Border Collie, Callie, a ten year old golden retriever that I love very much, named Dizzy, and they just got a golden puppy, Chassis. Every time I go over there I miss my own dog, and want to get another one, but I just can't afford it now.
I think there's something special not just in the fact that dogs require so much of us in the way of their basic needs, but that they require so much emotional attention as well. They're obviously emotionally needy, and they validate us by showing obvious satisfaction when we lavish them with attention. Plus, they're fun, adorable, and loyal.
Dog stories tend to get me a little misty-eyed these days, probably because I still miss my own dog. Hachiko's story, in particular, always gets to me whenever I read it.
I plan to get another dog as soon as I can afford it, and am in a stable enough situation to properly care for one.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
It's not just dogs we can feel a bond with. I miss Bernie-bunny He was the sweetest rabbit. He'd do happy dances around the house. He loved it when I laughed. Even after I tormented him with medicine, he'd sit next to me begging to be pet. I think it's easy to bond with animals because they aren't really judgmental. They are just so sweet. I always feel comfortable around most animals. Now I have 3 hermit crabs and several caterpillars, some pupa in the fridge and I'm waiting for some pet crawfish.
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
Animals also share many physical features with children, which we are evolved to find adorable and entertaining. In addition, they generally offer unconditional love and are often soft and have sooting/funny activities, so it's hard not to like them.
Posted by JenniK (Member # 3939) on :
Our dog Champ is the nuttiest dog I have ever known! He does amaze me with his antics, and sometimes terrifies me with them. One day he was laying on the couch next to me, rolled over on his back of course, so that I could pay him his tribute (aka rub his belly). He had fallen asleep , but was rudely awoken when he sneezed. This sneeze caused him to loose his balance (his head was lolling backward over the edge of the couch while he slept), and tip over. He managed to do a complete back flip by squashing his nose into the floor and the rest of his body followed. It was the most graceful, terrifying thing I have seen him do. I was certain that he would break his neck during that acrobatic move. He just planted his feet underneath him, cocked his head slightly to the side, and looked at me as if to say "why did you wake me up mommy? Is it time to play?"
Somehow, I can't remember him not being a part of our little family. He scares people because they think he is a Pit and will attack them, but all he wants to do is make friends and play, or get them to scratch his back/rub his belly. I tell people we meet for the first time that he is a lap dog who takes up 2 laps, and that he would deal with an intruder by knocking them down and licking them to death! He is definitely a goofball, but he is our goofball! Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Those humans who were not so constructed as to feel an irrational love for small, whiny concatenations of uselessness did not pass on their genes.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
My mother is a dog person. There have always been dogs in our house. When I was a pre-teen, my mom discovered flyball and agility so, for her, pet ownership is more than having a furry companion to watch tv with. She now focuses on herding trials and her and my father recently started building a home in the country where she can own a small flock of sheep.
Despite being raised in a dog-obsessed household, I never quite inherited the love like the rest of my family. They have all participated with my mom in her dog activities at some point, but I was more fond of putting on my headphones and reading in the corner whenever I was dragged along to dog shows. I do, however, house-sit for my mom atleast once a month and love playing with her newest puppies. But I lack her patience and often find myself overwhelmed and stressed out (with the exception of one of the female puppies who is quiet, calm, and incredibly obedient. Even so, if my mom offered her to me I wouldn't take her.)
I do have a parrot, Jade, who I've had for almost thirteen years now. Recently, she stayed at my mom's house for a week while I was moving homes. I was genuinely surprised by how much I missed her. She knows how to push my buttons and she can screech like no other bird I've met, but she has a fun personality and I'm used to having her around.
When she passes, I don't think I'll get another pet. I work so much that its hard to give an animal all the attention that it needs to have a happy and active life.
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
Currently we have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Two of the dogs are pit bulls, Flip (my wife found him at a dumpster and he was so starved that he couldn't walk right and he looked like he had flippers) and Starla (Napolean Dynamite reference). Our newest rescue is a whippet mix named Daisy (we just think she looks like a Daisy). We have two cats Precious and Shadow. The cats are cats and want to be petted on thier terms. They are very different than the dogs. Dogs can be very amazing companions. Daisy is going for her test to be a therapy dog this summer. We barely had to do any training with her as she has the right instinct towards people. We have taken her to a hospice facility a few times (unfortunately for our benefit, and later for training with permission) and she is amazing with patients and visitors. She knows when to happily exude energy and almost wag her hind end off, and when to simply sit and be petted. We have been thanked many times for bringing her in. We have helped so many of our friends understand their dogs better. We have been in really big pack walks. I've walked 8 dogs by myself from time to time. I can't imagine a life without dogs. Yes, they can be a lot of time and effort but walks can be a very great way to drain energy and also help your own fitness!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Those humans who were not so constructed as to feel an irrational love for small, whiny concatenations of uselessness did not pass on their genes.
And a good thing, KoM, or we would have never survived adolescence Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I am a sucker. We just took in an 8 week old German Shepard puppy.
The person who had her has a daughter who ended up being deathly allergic to dogs. The daughter's face swelled up, and she had trouble breathing, so they HAD to get rid of the dog, and quick. They know I love dogs and they know Champ loves other dogs, so they asked JenniK if we wanted her.
She is currently beating the crap out of him despite the fact that she weighs less than 1/8th of his weight.
I am sooooo screwed. I don't want a complete puppy who still needs potty trained, and she will be big when she grows up. Big means expensive.....
But she is soooo cute! And Champ really needed a playmate. Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Ha! Kwea, you just started this thread to get us all "awww, we wuv our widdwe fwiends" so that we wouldn't go "Sucka!" when you told us about taking on the puppy! ;-)
Teasing aside, good luck. I'm about to go spend a little over a week pet-sitting at my brother's zoo, um I mean house. They originally just asked me to cat-sit and said they'd kennel the dogs, but I told them to leave a couple of the dogs that get along and aren't too high maintenance and they can kennel the other two. So I'll be watching an aged arthritic neurotic border collie who will spend the whole time rolling a ball at me and staring holes in me like, "lady, don't you get it??" and another lovable mutt who thinks she's a lap dog. And a couple of cats who will mostly ignore me.
I'm a sucker for my Merlin kitty, but I've already written far too much on here about him!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I had no idea they were getting rid of this puppy. I had NO plans to get another one, let alone an 8 week old puppy.
She is beating the crap out of Champ, and has been for about 2 hours now. She has a cry while attacking that sounds like a couger, I kid you not.
Jenni wants to name her Meetu.....as in Oh Oh, take me too! But her original name is Bella. Not sure what name she will end up with as she already listens a little bit to Bella.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
"Neurotic border collie" is redundant. Its an unspoken trait of the breed. Since I'm house-sitting five of them next week, I would know. The best command my mom teachers her dogs is "game over." Otherwise, that whole ball-rolling nonsense would go on for hours.
Right now we're trying to train our dominant female puppy to not sit on her siblings. I get up to use the bathroom and come back to find her with a sibling pinned under each front arm. And then she'll climb off, go sit in her bed, cross her front paws, and stare at me with big puppy eyes. I really do love that evil manipulative b*tch.
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Love the dog names Tammy.
Thank you! It's a little risky naming your beloved pets after certain people. We almost named him Big Ben. %$^&* I'm so mad at that man right now.
Last year left me more than a little upset at the vet we choose to use when we moved to Huntsville. They're outrageous. We had several issues with the older dogs and different costs involved with having a new puppy. I feel like the biggest sucker confessing to have spent over $2,000 on our pets at the vets alone last year. I didn't spend that much on my children's medical expenses (thank goodness).
Now that things have calmed down and I have time to think before I take them in again, I'm going to actually tell the vet that I only want the bare minimum when I go in for shots, pills, etc. They charge on every visit for a "well-check" and the list just goes on and on. They make me feel guilty when I don't take them up on any "suggestions" they have while we're in there. When I get back home I always realize that if I'd of stood my ground, my pet would still have been very well taken care of and my pockets would be a little more full of the money that I just gave the vet.
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shanna: "
Right now we're trying to train our dominant female puppy to not sit on her siblings. I get up to use the bathroom and come back to find her with a sibling pinned under each front arm. And then she'll climb off, go sit in her bed, cross her front paws, and stare at me with big puppy eyes. I really do love that evil manipulative b*tch.
Sid does that. He goes over to Baxter when he's laying down and just sits on his face. Baxter will move his head and Sid will just reposition his bum. It's hilarious. He does it over and over.
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
Tammy, I spent a lot more than $2,000 getting Flip's ACL repaired. There is most likely more than one vet around and I would keep shopping around until you find a vet that you really like. We've learned to do a lot of things at home too which can help.
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
DarkKnight - yikes. I can understand why that would cost so much. My costs were just general office visits, random issues, meds and vaccinations. Crazy. I'm shopping around!
How's Flip now? Daisy sounds amazing!
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
My poor little Sam (an Eskie with a teeny-tiny bit of poodle mixed in -- just enough to make his ears flop over instead of standing up straight, and making his tail into a straight-up flag instead of a nice curl over the back tail) is sick. He's a year and a half old. In two weeks he has lost two pounds (that would be like 25 pounds for me in a pound-to-bodymass ratio). The vet says he has small bowel diarreah (which, by the way, is really, really stinky and really, really prodigious). Sammy could possibly have pancreatic or liver problems, malabsorption of his food, or about a dozen other things, which also include cancer. I am really, really hoping that the antibiotics clear up whatever it is, and that it isn't worse than just an infection.
I really don't know what we'll do if he has cancer or anything really bad. The $250 bill yesterday just about killed us, especially with three furlough days getting ready to wipe out my paycheck for a while, and my husband being out of work. I'm worried.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
I actually got insurance for Trixie. It is not that expensive.
PSA: A friend of mine discovered the hard way that macadamia nuts are very toxic to dogs. Her puppy is okay now, but it was a close thing.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Tammy, I go to the vet at PetSmart, I think they are called Banfield, and they are wonderful. I have never had such good service at a vet office, and they are affordable. I bought the wellness plan, and I pay $19 a month on a debit card. It covers all routine tests, and all wellness visits. I can bring Champ in whenever I feel like it and it costs nothing extra, unless he needs something unusual.
Surgeries of course are not covered, but still, all routine shots are, and THAT pays for itsef the first year easily.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I checked into the Banfield Vet near our home. The issue I have is with having to pay for an office visit when all I really need is a shot given. They explained that the reason they have to charge for that visit is because the dr. is the one who has to give the shot. Fair enough. I know there are techs out there qualified for this though, right?
Today I called a Vet that I've heard many good things about. I was thrilled to hear them tell me that I didn't have to pay for an office visit if I only wanted a shot given and nails clipped. I just pay for the services given. I called our current vet and was a little smug in asking them to fax our dogs records to this vet.
I understand the value of well-checks, I have kids. I know every once in a while, just to make sure, to be on the safe side, you go get checked. It was getting beyond ridiculous at the other vet's.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I got the health plan tough them, and never pay for any visit unless there is something really wrong. ALL of the puppy's shots cost more than the plan itself, so it's a win/win for me.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by kmbboots: I actually got insurance for Trixie. It is not that expensive.
PSA: A friend of mine discovered the hard way that macadamia nuts are very toxic to dogs. Her puppy is okay now, but it was a close thing.
I had it. Decided to self insure instead. $10 a week goes into a little account. It really isn't that great of a deal if you are paying insurance from the time they are a puppy. Most real medical problems won't come up for a decade. I know, there are still emergencies that can arise. The full plans look like they cost over $500 a year. $5000 over 10 years. More, because the premium goes up as the dog gets older. So many companies offer it now because they are so profitable, meaning they don't take much of a loss per premium dollar they take from you.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kwea: I got the health plan tough them, and never pay for any visit unless there is something really wrong. ALL of the puppy's shots cost more than the plan itself, so it's a win/win for me.
I would call it a scam if Banfield is your vet. Think about it. They inflate the prices of their shots so you will buy their insurance.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
What do the regular shots cost at Banfield without the plan? My vet costs about $250 for all of the annual shots, about half of what I was paying for insurance.
I really think Banfield is running a scam here. Comparing their web site with VPI's (VPI pet insurance is who I used to have). VPI is actually insurance, optional reimbursement of maintenance visits, but primarily for catastrophic occurances. Nothing on Banfield's site says it will cover anything like cancer of getting hit by a car.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
It depends on which plan you choose. I took the basic, and it's total cost is about what the shots for a puppy cost. The difference is that you don't have to come up with the cash up front, and you don't have to pay for a lot of common things that can go wrong, other than the meds. I also never have to pay for an office visit, ever, which means if my dog is barfing or really seems sick he can get checked out regardless of my financial state that week.
It's not really health insurance, although it does cover one set of x-rays a year in the case of injury, IIRC. It also covers common labs tested, deworming, and gives you a 10%-20% discount on all other services.
It's not a scam, though, particularly when you get a coupon for the initial fee. Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
quote: How's Flip now? Daisy sounds amazing!
He's doing great! He's pretty much back to his old self. On cold damp days he does favor that side a little but Flip is almost 11. So far except for sleeping later in the morning and relaxing a little more after walks he is in very good health. Daisy really is an amazing dog. Her instinct for people's dispostion is incredible. She knows when to be very submissive and calm and when to wag the entire back half of her body as people approach. In July is her 'test' to be a therapy dog. I can't even begin to describe the personal benefits of seeing how happy she makes people just by visting for a few minutes.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kwea:
It's not a scam, though, particularly when you get a coupon for the initial fee.
How much is it? The web site doesn't give prices.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Yeah, Champ has the personality for it, but still is a little wild. Not insane like he use to be, but he gets SO happy to meet people he forgets to listen sometimes. We are still working on it, but having a new puppy in the house is helping him to calm down a little bit. He plays like crazy for hours at a time with her, but then wants to chill out with us after.
DK, good luck with her test! Let us know how it goes.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I paid $50 to join up, and pay about $17 a month. I had a coupon though.
I just found out that the girl who gave me the new puppy is a lying b#$*h. She said her daughter was deathly allergic and had to be rushed to the ER because of allergies to the dog. But today I ran into a guy with a beautiful Chocolate Lab/Hound mix, and he was going up to that apartment to GIVE THAT DOG TO THEM.
She must have just not wanted a puppy, and I can see why. She wasn't potty trained, and she whines all the time, and you have to let her out to pee at least every 3-4 hours.
But still....don't LIE to me to get me to take her.
So I went to the apartment office and talked to the person I know there. She is sending a past due notice to that lady for $600. $300 per pet, even if she got rid of (gave to me) one of them. The fee is due as soon as you bring in the pet, regardless of how long you keep it.
It's GOOD to know people. Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
So, $204 a year? Not to bad I guess. I pay about $250 a year for all of the shots at my independent vet. Less when it is not a rabies year.
But I also get the lyme vaccine, that a lot of pet owners don't bother with.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Yeah, and I get free office visits, and if he had not been fixed it would have covered that too. And it covers one set of x-rays, plus de-worming, and gets me a 10% discount on any other services.
My wife works at one of the largest drug compounding labs in a country, so our pets get their meds at 10% over cost if it can be made there. Champ had Demadex Mange when we got him, an the Ivermectin was a LOT cheaper through her work than at the Banfield, although Banfield was comparable to other vets in the area.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Keep in mind that there isn't a yearly fee, it's just a one time of between $85-100 normally (without a coupon). It also covers spaying or neutering, which isn't cheap.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
My little puppy is now a 36 lbs beast.
She goes in to get fixed next Wed.
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
We had to put Jarmior down last Friday. Poor guy...he'd been through so much. He's not in pain anymore and he had a great long life. We still miss him so much.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I am sorry, but at least you got to have each other for years.
Meetu got fixed today. Gunny, I hadn't noticed her being broken. Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I'm way jealous somebody handed you a German Shepherd puppy Kwea. When I finally move to a place that has dogs I am SO picking one up.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Yeah, she is great. It was very, very tough at first because we were told she was 6-7 weeks older than she actually was, so we expected too much from her.
She is really getting better, and she is a blast. Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I will post some new pics soon. Meetu is almost 40 lbs now, and is almost as tall as Champ, who is about 2 years old now.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
My favorite theory is that we like animals that cuddle. We eat cows and chickens, laugh at the moronic turkey yet covet any animal willing to lay next to us for warmth. Most cultures dont eat cats and dogs unless they are really hungry, and both have had long documented histories with humans yet your most loving and loud purring cat is willing to eat your dead body.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
A lot of cultures DO eat dogs and cats, IIRC. But I do think there is something to what you are saying. I love it when my dogs come up to me and curl up against me. Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Trixie turns up her nose at ham and chicken. No way she is eating me.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
kmbboots, thank you for that. That oft-repeated "fact" has always seemed rather dubious to me, but now I know why! Spoiled picky eaters they are.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Leave em cooped up in your apartment for a couple of days with a corpse and they have to choose between thier own poo (which for some creepy reason they can eat and not get sick) or eat you.
Your cat is a picky eater yes, but is it dumb enough to die of starvation waiting for the nieghbors to report that funny smell? I dont think so.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Eh. There is a giant,open bag of kibble next to her bowl. All she has to do is knock it over to eat for weeks. Plus, she would alert the neighbors.
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
Cats can live for weeks without food or water. The cat could eat the other creatures that come in to feast on your corpse too.
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
She would have so much fun chasing the vermin!
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
While we were on vacation, my parents stayed at the house with the kids and the dogs. My mom forgot that when everyone is gone, Sid, the 1 yr. old Catahoula likes to go into our bedroom and sleep on our bed. She shut the door when she left him home alone. He tried to eat it open.
He chewed a two foot gap into the door molding. He paid for it by having extreme intestional issues. Thankfully he didn't have any blockages, he just puked his guts out both ways for two days. His intestines were inflamed and MAD. Do you think he'll equate the pain with wood chewing and not do it again?
He's been on Hill's Prescription Diet Dog food for the past three days. The first day he couldn't have anything to eat at all until 5 p.m. and then only after he kept a cup of water down for an hour.
That stinker almost gave me a heartattack. Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
My brother and his wife just got an 8 week-old shih tzu. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. I LOVE her. Her name is ruby because when she goes into the sun, her beautiful brown fur looks like a really brilliant red.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by kmbboots: Plus, she would alert the neighbors.
I must know, how?
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
She is very vocal. She already sits in the window (I am on the first floor of a courtyard buliding) and "chats" with anyone going in or out. She can be very loud when unhappy.
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
I love my pup. He's coming up on two years old now, and is costing us an arm and a leg because his pancreas doesn't produce any enzymes so we have to provide it for him, and it costs a fortune. But he's wonderful. As long as we can afford it we'll be keeping him. We have a nightly ritual that I really love. When it's time to go to bed we'll take him out, then when he comes in hubby and I kneel at the foot of our bed (one on each corner) to say prayers and pup comes running in and puts his front legs and paws up on the bed as if to pray with us. He gives us both kisses then lays down while we pray. It's really sweet. Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tammy: Do you think he'll equate the pain with wood chewing and not do it again?
Nope, dog brains don't work that way. It's the same reason why yelling at the dog after you've found he's knocked over the trash while you were gone doesn't work. Dogs are incredibly good at reading people - he'll know you're upset about finding the trash can on its side. And he'll look sad and pitiful (i.e. guilty) because he doesn't want you taking your anger out on him. But he can't connect the act of joyously rummaging through the trash with the trash you find on the ground hours later. Two completely separate things, with no connection.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Yep....if you catch them in the act, at that very moment, they get it. Otherwise, they are sorry they upset you, but they don't know HOW they did it or WHY you are upset.
I have to remind myself of this whenever I find an "accident" from the new puppy. I want to stop, and I am angry, but swatting her even 5 min after she did it will only confuse her.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Sigh. My INSANE cat is at it again. He attacked me twice in the past 5 days merely because I was not doing what he wanted me to (namely, ignoring him and not providing food on demand).
This is the cat who was on Prozac for this kind of behavior. He got ever so much better and has been off it for a long time now, but now he's on Prednisone for heartworm (it's basically a prophylactic to prevent an allergic reaction/anaphylactic shock when the heartworm dies -- heartworm is a whole different, um I was about to say can of worms, well, anyway, it's different in cats than dogs and they can't kill it).
At any rate, the Prednisone makes him edgy. He's gotten in more fights w/ other cats since being on it as well. He doesn't fight w/ our indoor cats, but he does torment them more. I hate pumping this cat full of drugs, but I'm going to call the vet tomorrow and ask if he can be back on the Prozac while also on the pred, or if there is any other solution. The vet was quite firm that he stay on the pred for at least a year when the blood test turned up evidence of heartworm.
So the original question is pretty pertinent. Why do I feel such a bond to my pet? I love this little monster. Once I let him back in from his banishment in the garage he will come cuddle with me. I'm like an abused wife or something. "Oh, look how sweet, he didn't mean it." (Yeah he did, the little beastie, but I just don't know how to make him stop.)
Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Hope all works a=out for you and him. Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Thanks, Kwea. Got the prescription today, will start it tonight.
How's your pup?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Good. Once I realize the people who gave her to me lied about her age it got easier. I stopped expecting so much from her and that made it less stressful for both of us.
She is now well over 40 lbs, and is within an inch of Champs height, and Champ is over 2 years old. Champ still has about 20 lbs on her, so they beat the crap out of each other.
Champ is the real star. He deserves a freaking medal for not only putting up with her but loving her.
They are both awesome, and I am very lucky. Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by DarkKnight:
quote: How's Flip now? Daisy sounds amazing!
He's doing great! He's pretty much back to his old self. On cold damp days he does favor that side a little but Flip is almost 11. So far except for sleeping later in the morning and relaxing a little more after walks he is in very good health. Daisy really is an amazing dog. Her instinct for people's dispostion is incredible. She knows when to be very submissive and calm and when to wag the entire back half of her body as people approach. In July is her 'test' to be a therapy dog. I can't even begin to describe the personal benefits of seeing how happy she makes people just by visting for a few minutes.
How did Daisy's test for being a therapy dog go?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
The "little" puppy is now 56 lbs. At 8.5 months old.
I am SOOOOOO screwed.
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
quote: How did Daisy's test for being a therapy dog go?
She did AMAZING! I was even impressed at how she did and I trained her The test itself has a lot of sudden movements, loud sounds, and tasty treats thrown at her but she completely ignored everything as she should. She has great instincts for knowing her 'job' so that made the training go pretty easy. I can see her mentally shift into her working mode where she is very calm, moves a just little slower, and looks slightly submissive at all times. We have taken her several times to the hospice facility and we walk the hall a few times. Usually people will let us know with a look that they would like company. Daisy is just so great with her approach. She has her head slightly low, her tail wags gently and she approaches slowly to the person's hand. She gives them a sniff and a tiny nudge which puts their hand on her head. People usually do the same thing. They pet her head, then her big ears. Daisy will sit and very gently lean on them just for the physical contact. People always tell me about their dogs and how cute she is. Daisy knows when it is time to go without a clue from me. It is an amazing thing to see a dog bring a few moments of joy in such a sad place.
Posted by Rawrain (Member # 12414) on :
Necromancy and I have the most supreme hate of dogs, which no one else seems to share...
Cats win, I love my kitty :D Really fat missing half his tail meow =^-^=
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I won't hold that against you. Much.
Meetu, the puppy, is a lot of fun, but a lot of work too. She is a good dog now, and once she settles in she will be another great one, I think.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
(aka rub his belly). He had fallen asleep ![[Sleep]](graemlins/sleep.gif)
, but was rudely awoken when he sneezed. This sneeze caused him to loose his balance (his head was lolling backward over the edge of the couch while he slept), and tip over. He managed to do a complete back flip by squashing his nose into the floor and the rest of his body followed. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
It was the most graceful, terrifying thing I have seen him do. I was certain that he would break his neck during that acrobatic move. He just planted his feet underneath him, cocked his head slightly to the side, and looked at me as if to say "why did you wake me up mommy? Is it time to play?"![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Poor guy...he'd been through so much. He's not in pain anymore and he had a great long life. We still miss him so much.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)