A little bit distracted

[Grant Lamontagne]

Sorry I haven't been around much, in case anyone has sent me any emails or PM's and I haven't responded yet- I think I am caught up, but if I missed anyone/thing, please let me know.

My wife and I have just adopted a 3 month old, 35 pound rotti/shepherd mix named Daisy, and she's keeping me hopping.  It should only be another day or two before I have her used to our routine here, and things get back to normal.

So far she's been pretty good, and our other dog Chinook is putting up with her.  I am sure he'll get used to her eventually, but for now he's trying to have as little as possible to do with this little ball of energy- and boy is she pushy!  I've been laying down the law, but she's already got Kim figured out, and with Chinook avoiding her, well I think she'll develop a hell of an ego.

Def

[BIG-TARGET]

Cute little pooch

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, she's a sweetheart, but now that she's more used to the house (spent yesterday sniffing around) she's decided it's time to see where she belongs in the pack and is getting pushy.  Fortunately, with all the dogs I've had, and my wife, I'm no longer a sucker for big brown eyes, and so she won't push me! 



Def

[Leatherman123]

Cute dog, Def! I have a Pug named Emma and she's the best!

[max6166]

  

[kent ct]

Good for you adopting that dog. I am sure the pleasure she will give you will be more than worth the lost time.

Richard

[Tarrodemierda]

Good for you adopting that dog. I am sure the pleasure she will give you will be more than worth the lost time.

Richard

i cant say it any better,the dog aint called a as a mans best friend without a reason.
we have four now,and three of them we have raised from puppies and one is adopted from estonian dog shelter,to give him better last days as he is old fellow.


u wont ever get a friend or human companion as loyal as dogs are.

[J-sews]

Congrats on the addition to your family Def, we knew it was only a matter of time. Better get her used to riding in the kayak while she's still young.

[NutSAK]

Congratulations Def!  It's always great to add another canine to the den.  She's beautiful--looks like a good mix.

[Grant Lamontagne]

My other dog Chinook is so far doing his best to ignore her!



As far as her coming from a shelter is concerned, used dogs is da best dogs! 

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Bloody nice wee puppy mate , I'm glad you and Kim relented, dog's need more owners like you

[ducktapehero]

Congrats!!! She's a cutie.

As far as her coming from a shelter is concerned, used dogs is da best dogs! 

I agree, I have 3 dogs and 2 cats and none of them were bought from a dog store.

[Tarrodemierda]

i agree with ductapehero.

its so fine to notice people givin home to those in need and not just chase after some expensive,made-for-profit dogs.
i think it would be vise to give home to homeless and mistreated dogs first and stop making new puppies.

[J-sews]

So what has the new pup been up to today? 

[Grant Lamontagne]

She's being as bad as pups get- a testament to a previous owner who can't train a dog, and to her spirit wanting to be dominant.  She will be great, but for now, she's biting anything and everything that comes near her.  You try to pet her, she bites you, you ignore her, she either bites you or the furniture.

They are just play bites mind you, not aggressive bites, so it's not indicative of a serious problem, and she's not likely to become a danger to people when she gets bigger, which is good.  However, those puppy teeth are sharp and I've got more than a few good cuts from her.  She is putting up a good fight for dominance, but it's one she won't win, at least against me.  She's already got the wife trained pretty good though!

Def

[jzmtl]

Bite the dog on the ear will establish your dominance immediately, really, I saw it in a movie once.

[Grant Lamontagne]

On the adoption application we had to fill out, one of the questions was how would we stop unacceptable behavior, and it had a list.  I was supposed to list the individual things I would do to stop each thing, like barking, chewing, indoor urinating/defecating etc.  When it came to biting, I simply wrote "bite her back."

It's a silly philosophy, but it works.  Dogs have communicated successfully with each other for years without the use of digital photography, spoken or written words, or YouTube, so it's a fairly simple code to crack, if the owner is so inclined.  It's all about learning to communicate the way a dog communicates, rather than trying to force your dog to understand your language.

A friend of mine chases her dogs around all day, lecturing them on what they are doing wrong, and the dogs have gotten used to doing what they want, and ignoring the odd sounds she's making.  She can't figure out why they won't listen to her.  I have tried explaining it to her over and over, since her dogs listen to me, but she simply can't get it.  While all dogs are trainable, it appears that many humans aren't.  That's an evolutionary advantage how?

Def

[Mike]

I hear you Def. Too many people try to communicate with their dogs as if they were human beings. You have to learn to communicate with them on their level ............ as dogs.

Mike

[Grant Lamontagne]

Which includes biting them back if the situation warrants.  But, like another dog, you have to be firm, but not damaging.  Get their attention, but don't hurt them.  It's a subtle line, but your dog will let you know when he or she has gotten the message!

Def

[Mike]

I agree, it's all about being firm, discipline, kindness, respect, lots of patience, and of course love.

Mike

[Tarrodemierda]

I hear you Def. Too many people try to communicate with their dogs as if they were human beings. You have to learn to communicate with them on their level ............ as dogs.

Mike

well our pibilll does get confused after i bite it back to his neck

[ducktapehero]

One of my dogs can be disciplined with just me raising my voice and giving him a stern look. He's my tender hearted one. The other one is a bit tougher, it takes me putting on armor and doing battle with him like a knight slaying a dragon. Sometimes he wins and I have to go back a second time. And I'm not lying. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Bringing this old thread back up because it's only fitting.  Daisy has never known a life without MTO in it, and today is going to be her last car ride.

We've been through a lot in the past eleven and a half years, and yet no matter what, she's been there for me. 

Now her back legs don't work and she can no longer control her bladder, and nothing can fix that, although Lord knows I wish it could. 

It's time to let her go, and I am absolutely devastated.  I raised this gigantic dog from a gigantic puppy and I can't tell you how gigantic the hole she is going to leave behind will be.

Def

[Vidar]

Sometimes being responsible and doing the right thing is both very hard and very sad. It sounds like it is time, and that you need to do this for Daisy.

You gave Daisy a good life, and I'm sure she has enriched your life in lots of ways too. That gigantic hole is matched by a gigantic ball of experiences and memories to look back on. Those will stay with you.

[comis]

Sorry to hear that, may she go with ease knowing she is surrounded with love ones.

[Top-Gear-24]

The moment every dog owner knows and fears...

I'm sorry to hear that it's your "turn" again, just remember that (as I'm sure you already know) the good memories stay in your heart and mind forever.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Sorry to hear that, may she go with ease knowing she is surrounded with love ones.

Go with ease?  Not this one.  She fought it all the way to the end, through two sedatives and all the way through the final needle.

We were all there for her, including the vet that fixed her eleven years ago.

Def

[comis]

Go with ease?  Not this one.  She fought it all the way to the end, through two sedatives and all the way through the final needle.

We were all there for her, including the vet that fixed her eleven years ago.

Def

RIP, *Sigh*  

[MadPlumbarian]

Oh man so sorry, I understand and feel you, when we had to have our golden put down it was a toll,, we rescued him at 7months from a abusive family, funny thing is he instantly turned into a family member vs a animal, and knew what not to do! But then came my problems with medical and the funny thing was he knew they were coming! So he turned into a medical dog, I’d be doing something, next thing I knew he was all over me trying to get the Mrs attention, and then I’d wake up with a strange feeling clean face, let alone the semi scratch marks on my arms from him holding me down.. then came the day,, he was just in to much pain plus the accidents, it was just time.. I just wish that one movie was true where the guy finds another dog, even a diff breed but it’s the original dog in mind years later,,
Sorry again, remember we’re all here with you, take care!!
JR

[Chako]

Odd that today was the day I went through my house and donated all the cat stuff I could find to the non kill pet shelter group. It took me a while to finally throw away the litter box.

My thoughts are with you.