Dog Owner Chat! (for-fun poll added) (new chat)

[renki]

If you guys were looking to board your dogs, what would be some key 'selling' points?

I have a place that you can click onto their online website and punch in a user name and password and will pull up the screen to your dogs kennel. Will only pull up your dog if you have the user name and password they gave you, they change it for every costumer. That way if you were an old costumer you cant sign in to see someone else dog later on. The smell of the place is a major factor and tells me that they dont clean often, if I walk into a kennel or grooming area and it has this funk moldy poop smell I leave.
How often do the dogs get messed with is a major factor, and I dont mean let them out on the grass or with other dogs. I mean human interaction, because I tell them regardless of anything else I dont trust other peoples dogs. Not to let them near mine, and I do find out if my dog has been interacting with other dogs I show my butt big time. Yelling, and will go everywhere to ensure that a lot of people wont board with them anymore. For if I cant trust them on that simple task, how can I trust them with something important like meds.

Jelly
I had people do that with my bullmastiff, and what stopped them is when she would literally go through the fence. We got a white plastic fence and she would push a slat out and scare the living crap out of them.

[Dappled Sapphire]

Jelly
I had people do that with my bullmastiff, and what stopped them is when she would literally go through the fence. We got a white plastic fence and she would push a slat out and scare the living crap out of them.

Lol yer our fence is just chainlink about chest height
He could stand up and have his paws and head over the fence

[CuppaTea]

May I ask when you guys think it's best to get a dog spayed? She's 18 weeks old this Friday and we own a male dog so we don't want to take the risk. We hear people say to let her have her first heat but then our vet said to do it as soon as possible because it cuts down their risk of having feminine issues like cancer in the overys, but they have never owned a female dog, so I was wondering when any of you got your dog spayed? I want what's best for her as I don't want it getting done too early and ruining her heath now and as she grows up. :c
Thank you for any help in regards to this.

[Bluebird22]

May I ask when you guys think it's best to get a dog spayed? She's 18 weeks old this Friday and we own a male dog so we don't want to take the risk. We hear people say to let her have her first heat but then our vet said to do it as soon as possible because it cuts down their risk of having feminine issues like cancer in the overys, but they have never owned a female dog, so I was wondering when any of you got your dog spayed? I want what's best for her as I don't want it getting done too early and ruining her heath now and as she grows up. :c
Thank you for any help in regards to this.

Later the better! Most people wait until the dog is at least 18 months to spay. the reason for waiting is so the body can fully develop, growth plates can close at the right time, and the hormones can do their work. When you fix a dog early those hormones are taken away and the dog won't grow to their full potential. Yes, spaying early will lower the chances of canter in the overys, but the disadvantages have a greater chance of coming up. Here is an easy read about it. There are a lot, more, but I am wiped out and don't have the energy needed to go though and look them all up http://www.petsadviser.com/vet/pros-con ... -your-dog/
Maybe after a long nap I will...or maybe a "long nap" will turn into going to bed for the night lol

[sorbetkitty]

I've found the perfect thing to keep my dog tired indoors :'D
So you know those big tubes for posters? Well this one is a wallscroll tube and its cardboard. I put the end on my mouth and blow through it and make the "phbt" noise you make to play a trumpet- it makes her run around the house like a crazy maniac and I'm NOT kidding you.
Now she's just resting on the kitchen floor. She's definitely tired out. XD

[Cardinal]

May I ask when you guys think it's best to get a dog spayed? She's 18 weeks old this Friday and we own a male dog so we don't want to take the risk. We hear people say to let her have her first heat but then our vet said to do it as soon as possible because it cuts down their risk of having feminine issues like cancer in the overys, but they have never owned a female dog, so I was wondering when any of you got your dog spayed? I want what's best for her as I don't want it getting done too early and ruining her heath now and as she grows up. :c
Thank you for any help in regards to this.

I'm of the mindset that pediatric spay/neuter is an abomination. Comes with a whole slew of other issues like improper growth and even some behavioral issues.

I'll be waiting until atleast the 18 month mark with my lady. You can always call around and see if any vets in your area with sterilize her and not do a full spay. Sterilization in female dogs allows them to go into heat and have all the beneficial hormones, but not be able to produce puppies. It's something we're also considering.

[Lupen]

I wish so badly that Koda and Rylee weren't neutered so early. Both were done around two to three months old but seeing as they were rescues, I had no say. I would have at least waited a year and a half if not more.

[CuppaTea]

I know the issues that it would cause but every time we've gone to the vet she's said we need to think about getting her spayed before her first heat as it's best for her. It's just made me question whether it would be best for her if a vet has mentioned it a few times. I guess in this case it is true that some vets are just after the money.
Thank you for all of your replies. I'm very greatful! ^^

[Bluebird22]

@Morgana: I don't it's that they are "out for the money" but more out of a lack of education (Not exactly the word I want) about the subject. it has been taught that before the first heat is better, but that information is out of date and we now know the benefits of later spaying/neutering, however I don't think that they teach that in classroom yet.

Sophie's was done at 6 months, her old owner included it in the cost of her, but I was 8 at the time so I didn't really know any better. If I could go back in time with the knowledge I have now, I would chance so much stuff that I did. More socialization, better food, not spayed so early, better training methods (I was always positive, but I didn't always teach in the clearest of ways lol), and last but not least I wish I didn't use an invisible fence. Her pray drive is so high is she saw a deer or birds she would ignore the shock and go right through.

[Cardinal]

I know the issues that it would cause but every time we've gone to the vet she's said we need to think about getting her spayed before her first heat as it's best for her. It's just made me question whether it would be best for her if a vet has mentioned it a few times. I guess in this case it is true that some vets are just after the money.
Thank you for all of your replies. I'm very greatful! ^^

Personally I'd change vets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enPCZA1WFKY Its an awesome video by a vet on why its not a good idea. =) Its a bit long but very very informative and easy to follow. =)