The Ultimate Dog Thread

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

Self explanatory, I will begin

[SFAWFD 1]

Dogs drowl and CATS RULEANDBAN!!!!

[HubDub04 0]

/thread.

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

Dogs drowl and CATS RULEANDBAN!!!!

I want my Xmas gift back from you

[SFAWFD 1]

peace offering?

[Randy Reed 0]

My step-daughter just got this cute little gal, Leli Cocker/Bischon mixA customer had this cute little guy, tame as bunny.This what you look like after getting caught in the cookie jar.Aww, heck, why leave the cats out and cause all this division, "Can't we all just, get along?"

[CBass1724 1]

I've got these 2 little ones at home. I used to hate little dogs until my gf and I got a chihuahua. Then we got the 2nd one. They are actually really awesome.

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

[hank213 1,824]

friggin awesome!

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

[vonteego3 0]

No cool words on it, but I picked this guy up tonight... initially the plan was to take him to the Humane Society, but my wife has fallen in love with him already... #5!

[aadams_22 3]

my pooches

[vonteego3 0]

A little backstory on that last picture I posted, and a request for advice... I was gonna start a new thread, but then I decided it would be better to post it here because a) most dog people will read it anyways, and B) my new threads always disappoint.I have 4 dogs, and I've tried to talk my wife into a 5th on a few occasions... she usually agrees, and then backs out before we go through with it. 2 of mine are shelter dogs, one a stray rescue, the other saved from a trip to the shelter by my wife before we met. After a few small problems between 2 of the pups getting along when I first got back from my deployment, things have been perfect between the 4 of them... they all get the attention they need, they're comfortable with their position in the hierarchy, everyone gets to sleep where they want, they play all constantly, etc.So today, I'm driving through a particularly crappy neighborhood looking for strays, mostly as a reminder of the 50k or so a year killed by San Antonio. I always consider picking them up, but never do. I'm driving along, and I see a dog that I've seen before on the side of the road, so I turn into a parking lot a little further up the street so I can turn around. As I'm turning around, I see another dog walking in my direction, whom I've also seen before. I call him, his tail starts wagging, and he comes right to me. I pick him up and put him in the car, then text my wife a picture and tell her I'm gonna bring him home so we can take him to the shelter in the morning.Once I get him home, we go through all of the introductions, and he gets along very well with 3 of them, although we haven't let the 4th get too close because he has a history of aggression with strange dogs and he tried to go after him when we first introduced them. In time, I'm sure they'd get along, because they're both incredibly sweet when relaxed... the fact that this new one isn't fixed yet can't help the problem, I realize.To the point... my wife decided she wants to keep him. I like the idea, because he's a great dog, but then I think about the fact that I gotta put the well being of the other 4 first, and can't force them to sacrifice ANYTHING. I'm stuck between this being a great thing for this new dog being lucky enough to find a perfect family and being accepted vs. this being a loss for the others due to possible attention loss, being a little more crowded, blah blah blah. Is it possible to give 5 dogs the attention they need? These dogs aren't like many dogs, because they're more like kids... they come before EVERYTHING else.

[El Guapo 10]

A little backstory on that last picture I posted, and a request for advice... I was gonna start a new thread, but then I decided it would be better to post it here because a) most dog people will read it anyways, and B) my new threads always disappoint.I have 4 dogs, and I've tried to talk my wife into a 5th on a few occasions... she usually agrees, and then backs out before we go through with it. 2 of mine are shelter dogs, one a stray rescue, the other saved from a trip to the shelter by my wife before we met. After a few small problems between 2 of the pups getting along when I first got back from my deployment, things have been perfect between the 4 of them... they all get the attention they need, they're comfortable with their position in the hierarchy, everyone gets to sleep where they want, they play all constantly, etc.So today, I'm driving through a particularly crappy neighborhood looking for strays, mostly as a reminder of the 50k or so a year killed by San Antonio. I always consider picking them up, but never do. I'm driving along, and I see a dog that I've seen before on the side of the road, so I turn into a parking lot a little further up the street so I can turn around. As I'm turning around, I see another dog walking in my direction, whom I've also seen before. I call him, his tail starts wagging, and he comes right to me. I pick him up and put him in the car, then text my wife a picture and tell her I'm gonna bring him home so we can take him to the shelter in the morning.Once I get him home, we go through all of the introductions, and he gets along very well with 3 of them, although we haven't let the 4th get too close because he has a history of aggression with strange dogs and he tried to go after him when we first introduced them. In time, I'm sure they'd get along, because they're both incredibly sweet when relaxed... the fact that this new one isn't fixed yet can't help the problem, I realize.To the point... my wife decided she wants to keep him. I like the idea, because he's a great dog, but then I think about the fact that I gotta put the well being of the other 4 first, and can't force them to sacrifice ANYTHING. I'm stuck between this being a great thing for this new dog being lucky enough to find a perfect family and being accepted vs. this being a loss for the others due to possible attention loss, being a little more crowded, blah blah blah. Is it possible to give 5 dogs the attention they need? These dogs aren't like many dogs, because they're more like kids... they come before EVERYTHING else.

I want to make sure I've got this right. Then new dog #5 is not fixed? And dog #4 is aggressive w/ strange dogs, but it seems like he gets past it.So if that is the case, fix the new dog, slowly introduce them, if it works great, if not take him to a shelter where they wont destroy the animal. Its what you were going to do anyway. And as far as giving the dog attenting, 1st he has 4 other buddiies to play with now and a little less atteniton from you is better than the alternative.

[vonteego3 0]

I want to make sure I've got this right. Then new dog #5 is not fixed? And dog #4 is aggressive w/ strange dogs, but it seems like he gets past it.So if that is the case, fix the new dog, slowly introduce them, if it works great, if not take him to a shelter where they wont destroy the animal. Its what you were going to do anyway. And as far as giving the dog attenting, 1st he has 4 other buddiies to play with now and a little less atteniton from you is better than the alternative.

I think I failed to be clear on this point... I know that, without question, keeping him is the best thing for him. He's stumbled into the ultimate dream dog home. My concern is for the other 4... they're my family, they're the ones I've already made the commitment to, and I don't want their quality of life to be diminished even a hair.

[El Guapo 10]

I think I failed to be clear on this point... I know that, without question, keeping him is the best thing for him. He's stumbled into the ultimate dream dog home. My concern is for the other 4... they're my family, they're the ones I've already made the commitment to, and I don't want their quality of life to be diminished even a hair.

It really depends on how much time you really spend w/ your dogs, if you pet each of them 30 minutes a night and curl up on the couch then maybe its not the best for them

[GWCGWC 83]

You do realize that you have 4 dogs, right?

[troyomac 0]

Dogs should be able to spell. Them spelling like cats is pissing me off.

[vonteego3 0]

You do realize that you have 4 dogs, right?

Yes. My wife reminds me everyday. "Adam, you do realize that we have 4 dogs, right?" I was all ready to take this one to the shelter, though... she wants to keep him because he has a cute underbite.

[sandwedge 30]

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

vonteego,I have some experience here as my mother owns her own business training dogs. All of her practices are with positive reinforcement rather than things like choke collars and such. On a sidenote, that Dog Whisperer guy is very bad. He trains only domination which can cause huge problems in the future.Getting the new dog fixed should be a priority if you are going to keep him. This reduces much of the aggression factor in dogs. Secondly, have you tried taking the dog who has aggression issues with strange dogs to situations where he can experience this? Socialization does a great job in modifying the behaviors. Is there a local dog park you could go to? Do you have friends with dogs where you could socialize yours with theirs?There are also some great books out there on positive reinforcement training. Patricia McConnell is one author that immediately comes to mind.Finally, kudos to you for saving strays from shelters. My mom has four dogs, and all of them came from the local shelter. It is so great to save a life and also see how love and good training can bring out the absolute best in "man's best friend".

[vonteego3 0]

vonteego,I have some experience here as my mother owns her own business training dogs. All of her practices are with positive reinforcement rather than things like choke collars and such. On a sidenote, that Dog Whisperer guy is very bad. He trains only domination which can cause huge problems in the future.Getting the new dog fixed should be a priority if you are going to keep him. This reduces much of the aggression factor in dogs. Secondly, have you tried taking the dog who has aggression issues with strange dogs to situations where he can experience this? Socialization does a great job in modifying the behaviors. Is there a local dog park you could go to? Do you have friends with dogs where you could socialize yours with theirs?There are also some great books out there on positive reinforcement training. Patricia McConnell is one author that immediately comes to mind.Finally, kudos to you for saving strays from shelters. My mom has four dogs, and all of them came from the local shelter. It is so great to save a life and also see how love and good training can bring out the absolute best in "man's best friend".

lol... Cesar Milan is an easy #1 on my "If you could punch anybody in the face, who would it be?" list. The fact that he's so popular is a sad statement.Public places... yep, we have a dog park not too far away. We don't go there anymore, though. Why?Labor Day 2006, I found Sidney (the pup with the aggression issues) at the dog park. He had probably been hit by a car probably sometime in early August, and his owners decided they didn't want to take care of him anymore, so they took him to the dog park and dumped him, hoping some sucker would take him home. When I found him, his back left leg was severely dislocated from the accident, he hadn't been fixed, and he was fearful of other dogs because they'd pick on him since he was injured. I took him home, planning on giving him to a friend because I lived in an apartment and already had 2 dogs, but I fefll in love with him that night and didn't give him away. I took him for surgery the next week (his leg was dislocated so badly that it was impossible to move it back in to place... they had to perform a femoral head ostectomy) and got him fixed at the same time. We started going back to the dog park that next week, and things were going well for him, socializing with everyone, etc. Then one day, my former buddy's pit bull viciously attacked him. Since then, we stopped going to the park and have mostly just stayed away from other dogs ever since, with the exception of 2 other strays I brought home for just a day or so, neither of which he liked. Because of him feeling the need to protect himself, he is more proactive and will attack before someone attacks him, regardless of size. He seems to dislike terriers most... from rat terriers up through pit bulls. He's about 40 pounds, but won't hesitate to go after a dog 3 times his size. The fact that he's probably a Jindo doesn't help either, since this is the kind of behavior expected from them.We're taking the new dog... Colby's his name... to the vet today. Fortunately, my wife is a teacher, and she's off for the next few weeks, so we've got plenty of time for them to get used to each other.

[rivergirl 2]

My Baby.............

[Buckeye Hughes 0]

lol... Cesar Milan is an easy #1 on my "If you could punch anybody in the face, who would it be?" list. The fact that he's so popular is a sad statement.Public places... yep, we have a dog park not too far away. We don't go there anymore, though. Why?Labor Day 2006, I found Sidney (the pup with the aggression issues) at the dog park. He had probably been hit by a car probably sometime in early August, and his owners decided they didn't want to take care of him anymore, so they took him to the dog park and dumped him, hoping some sucker would take him home. When I found him, his back left leg was severely dislocated from the accident, he hadn't been fixed, and he was fearful of other dogs because they'd pick on him since he was injured. I took him home, planning on giving him to a friend because I lived in an apartment and already had 2 dogs, but I fefll in love with him that night and didn't give him away. I took him for surgery the next week (his leg was dislocated so badly that it was impossible to move it back in to place... they had to perform a femoral head ostectomy) and got him fixed at the same time. We started going back to the dog park that next week, and things were going well for him, socializing with everyone, etc. Then one day, my former buddy's pit bull viciously attacked him. Since then, we stopped going to the park and have mostly just stayed away from other dogs ever since, with the exception of 2 other strays I brought home for just a day or so, neither of which he liked. Because of him feeling the need to protect himself, he is more proactive and will attack before someone attacks him, regardless of size. He seems to dislike terriers most... from rat terriers up through pit bulls. He's about 40 pounds, but won't hesitate to go after a dog 3 times his size. The fact that he's probably a Jindo doesn't help either, since this is the kind of behavior expected from them.We're taking the new dog... Colby's his name... to the vet today. Fortunately, my wife is a teacher, and she's off for the next few weeks, so we've got plenty of time for them to get used to each other.

Another sad story of people having no clue when it comes to animals. These are the reasons I hate the mall pet stores and people buying animals for Christmas. The newness wears off and they decide it's someone else's problem. I can't say enough, great job you are doing just saving a few. I think if we had more people like this is in the world it would be a much better place. You might research the teachings of Patricia McConnell and see if there are some things you could do to help Sidney out. And I second your feelings on Cesar. I hate that he gets hyped as a "Dog Whisperer" because his teachings are so detrimental in the long term health of animals.