Dog Owner Chat V. 5

[mother-hen]

hello -- i'm new to chicken smoothie, but happy to see this thread! i own a miniature schnauzer named boo and i'm considering fostering dogs after this summer. anybody have experience with fostering?

[.Middy.]

Octavia got to move some guineas around today. My neighbors birds keep getting into my pasture, so I let O move them back whenever they do 😂 I can’t wait to try herding for real!

Ru- Thank you! Edgar is looking great too! Love his coat! Isn’t Mal just beautiful? In a slightly terrifying way? Lol I love her, she got sooo excited to see me yesterday it was so cute.
It was gross! Like come on, if you are gonna show your dog atleast give it a good grooming first.
I’m hopig she will be a nice all around dog. I’m not huge on straight working lines myself, performance bred is where my heart lies lol. Nice all around dog that can do just about everything is my favorite.

[Flossie]

Poor Lacey is after tearing both of her ACL ligaments. (both back legs.)
We, thankfully, caught it at an early stage. She can still put weight on both legs and doesn’t mind you touching them.
She’s on cage-rest for a few weeks, and has an appointment to see the vet again next week.
The vet has given us some medication for her. One is for her ligaments specifically, and the other is for preventing arthritis.
For now, she cannot jump, run, and has to be on a leash for garden trips.
If there’s no improvement, we will visit a specialist in about two weeks. He’ll take x-rays and tell us where to go from there.
Fingers crossed she doesn’t have to have surgery.
As a lot of you know, Lacey is a very active dog. This’ll be a long few weeks, but here’s hoping it’ll all turn out well!

[ru.]

@ru.

Edgar is such a handsome boy! its been a while since I've seen a golden! no one where i live have goldens and its a shame because they are such good dogs!

Thank you so much! I love him a lot! It's hard for me to believe that 2011 was so long ago and that he's as old as he is now.

What breeds are most common where you are? Edgar is the only Golden Retriever in my town, haha! If you count the next town over (which is a 30 minute drive) then there are two or three including Edgar.
Since it's a rural area, most people have border collies, heelers, or other similar mixes.

@Middy:
Thank you! I finally found a food & protein source that works awesome for him. He was having off & on skin and coat problems for a long time until we figured out that he is sensitive to chicken and corn. Is coat is so shiny and soft now and he doesn't itch anymore which is what was most important to me. He put on a little bit of weight at first but we are finding a good balance again. 😊

Malinois are incredible dogs! I love them but I think they will always be a little bit too "much" for me unless I get really in Schutzhund or something in the future. I love to see them and hangout with them though, haha!
Like BC's I think that they are on a level all their own.

I have to agree about pure working lines, especially with BC's. I find that they can be a little bit too wired when they're not on the job, from my experience. However! There is a good reason why all of the ranchers that I know have them as their cowdogs. They are incredible on the job!
That might just be a BC thing though haha - good at whatever they do!

When does Octavia start herding classes? (:

@Flossie:
I'm so sorry about Lacey! :(
I hope that it isn't too severe and she is able to recover without surgical intervention. I don't know about with dogs, but with people it can be a difficult recovery.
My thoughts will be with her!

[BananaBean]

@ru.

the dogs most common around my area are daschunds and other small dogs, lots of elders live in my are so lots of little yappers! also pitbulls and bullys are very common!

[Imzadi83]

@ru. - I know, I often wonder what Gumdrop's DNA test would have shown. She looked like a Cairn/Fox Terrier mix but who knows. I don't even know what her mother looked like.

Edgar is gorgeous! He looks very distinguished with a little grey.

@Flossie - Aw, poor Lacey! Give her a gentle hug for me.

@.Middy. - Look at her go! What great instinct. Personally I'd welcome a guinea invasion since they eat ticks. Plus they're the neighbors job to take care of, lol.

[Temper]

Its been a while since I posted pictures here! We’ve done a lot but I’ve been so busy I just haven’t had time.
-
Agility pics. We should be trialing soon!
-
Aaaaand conformation win pic. I don’t think I ever posted this here. His topline is complete garbage in this picture because I stacked him wonky. Oh well. It’s been a good year so far, and lots more shows to come!
He’s living proof that sighthounds can do it all

[kishu.]

hi!! i am planning on getting an akita inu. i've done lots of researching and i've been preparing myself
for a few years on getting this dog breed. this will be my first time training a dog basic obedience.
any tips??

[drift.]

I don't know why I've joined a chat for every one of my pets except dog???

This is Marvel - We found him wandering our pasture and just hanging out. No tags and his ribs poke out of his sides. He's definitely a sheepdog mix and super cute. We took him to the vet and he's still a pupper + growing

right, the only reason I'm on here is to ask if anyone else gives their small dogs regular size dental chews or the mini ones? I'm usually afraid my basset mix will choke (and he's still a pup) he's very small, about 6 pounds, so I give the larger sized ones. The reason I think he'll try to swallow it is because he scarfs down his meals and tries to eat anything and everything

hi!! i am planning on getting an akita inu. i've done lots of researching and i've been preparing myself
for a few years on getting this dog breed. this will be my first time training a dog basic obedience.
any tips??

What I've found works best, especially for larger breeds like an Akita is start with the most basic manner commands, it really makes it easier in the long run! In many ways, Akitas are not like other dogs. Akitas are often difficult for novice owners to "read" because compared to other breeds, Akitas don't tend to give the same kinds of signals about what they're thinking and feeling or what they're going to do.

The biggest challenges when training Akitas are related to the breed's tremendous strength, his tendency to be strong-willed, his typical aggression toward other dogs of the same sex, and his hunting instincts, which make him a threat to smaller animals. I'm not trying to scare you, believe me. akita's are very wonderful dogs; I'm pleased that you've done your research and you know what your getting in to.

Whether you are getting a puppy or adult it's helpful to get your new companion on a Schedule. Mealtime, pottytimes(for puppy)
and when it's time to go in his/her crate and or sleep. After your new friend settles in it should be easier to get your pup to focus on you. Puppies have very short attention spans, especially stubborn akitas. Short productive training sessions are what I recommend you do. I work at Pete and Mac's as an assistant trainer and there is one beautiful akita named Luna who comes in from a rescue to have obediance classes. They use a clicker and treat method with her, so you could try that?

[kishu.]

What I've found works best, especially for larger breeds like an Akita is start with the most basic manner commands, it really makes it easier in the long run! In many ways, Akitas are not like other dogs. Akitas are often difficult for novice owners to "read" because compared to other breeds, Akitas don't tend to give the same kinds of signals about what they're thinking and feeling or what they're going to do.

The biggest challenges when training Akitas are related to the breed's tremendous strength, his tendency to be strong-willed, his typical aggression toward other dogs of the same sex, and his hunting instincts, which make him a threat to smaller animals. I'm not trying to scare you, believe me. akita's are very wonderful dogs; I'm pleased that you've done your research and you know what your getting in to.

Whether you are getting a puppy or adult it's helpful to get your new companion on a Schedule. Mealtime, pottytimes(for puppy)
and when it's time to go in his/her crate and or sleep. After your new friend settles in it should be easier to get your pup to focus on you. Puppies have very short attention spans, especially stubborn akitas. Short productive training sessions are what I recommend you do. I work at Pete and Mac's as an assistant trainer and there is one beautiful akita named Luna who comes in from a rescue to have obediance classes. They use a clicker and treat method with her, so you could try that?

yeah, their behavior is really complex and it's difficult to read it.. especially for a novice dog owner. yeah, since they
were used as hunting dogs and guard dogs in the past, they still have that instinct in them. luckily, i do not have any
small animals except for dogs. i am getting a puppy, and i am very happy that he could actually socialize with my
other two dogs while he was growing up in the household. you aren't scaring me at all, since i've done lots of
researching.. so i kind of know what to expect when getting an akita. yes, they are such unique dogs!!

yes, puppies can get distracted by almost anything!! so i'm going to have to be firm, yet calm with the
puppy especially if it's a stubborn akita.that's so nice that you could stumble upon an akita aaaa!! and yes,
we were planning to take those training classes after the few weeks of getting the puppy involve
into those routines (bedtime, potty, mealtime, etc.). i got myself a dog when i was smaller and i knew
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS. it was one of my biggest regrets, and i'm doing what i can to
raise a dog that's straightforward and well-mannered.. and what i'm also expecting when
getting one. i'll try that method when i get the puppy involved in training!!

i really appreciate your advice!!