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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?
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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. Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Blayne Bradley
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posted
Evolutionary imperitive, we raised dogs/wolves to help us hunt and it stayed that way.
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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.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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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.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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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.
Posts: 3950 | Registered: Mar 2006
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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! Posts: 325 | Registered: Aug 2002
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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.
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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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.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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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!
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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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 Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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!
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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"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.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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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.
Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
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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.
Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
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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.
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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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!
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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.
Posts: 315 | Registered: Dec 2005
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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.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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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.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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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.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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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. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
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. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
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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.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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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. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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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. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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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.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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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.
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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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.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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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.
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[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?"![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[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.
