Friday, July 31, 2009

Agility in San Francisco?

Does anyone know of any agility training grounds for dogs in San Francisco?
Thanks.
Answers:
The Bay Area agility enthusiast's website: bayteam.org
Agility sites: http://bayteam.org/wiki/portal:events...
I'm in the SF Bay Area and I'm training in agility. If you'd like to chat, get trainer referrals, or anything of that sort, just e-mail me at agilitypawsibility (at) gmail (dot) com.
Look on the akc website for agility clubs or training clubs and they should have information on classes in your area.
Good luck to you! :)

Agility Equiptment?

I bought this some what nice agilty set, that came with: a fold up tunnel, some cheap weaving poles, a really cheap high jump, an ok pause box and other stuff. The tunnel is the only thing that works the best! I got it so that I could teach my golden retriever, Mona, some agilty. I don't want to go pro or anything, but, just for fun! I wanted to teach Mona myself. But, I was woundering, is there any good agilty equiptment out there, that, is good? I don't really care how much it is, but, some good websites would be great! Also, just so that you don't give me the same link of what I already have, here is the cheap agilty set that I was talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/kyjen-dog-agility-...
Thank you SO much for your help! Also, you can check out my Yahoo! 360 account! It's ALL about Mona! Thanks again,
~ Future Vet
Answers:
Try http://www.carlson-agility.com/index.php...
http://www.himmlisch.com/agility.htm...
http://www.pacngorec.com/
www.affordableagility.com
www.agilityforless.com/
www.max200.com
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseac...
Try Ray Allen.com. They have a lot of agility equipment.
Some stuff you can get by with cheap things. Jumps for example don't have to be heavy duty. Other things such as A Frames you want to be very well constructed.
I live in the Chicago area and found someone who makes A frames, etc. It was a little less than other places, but there was no shipping charges. Check around that way.
I can't remember who I got my tunnel from, but I remember the company was in Canada and also made vents for mines (same stuff).
First I'd try J%26J Supplies. The other place to try is Clean Run.
Try these places gor agility euipt.:
-Petco
-Pet Smart
-Craig's List
I'd also Google search it too. You may also find some good search results on Ask.com.
Hope I helped! Good luck! 鈾?

Agility dog breeders in NY?

I'm looking for a good, pure breeder (Border collies are mostly what I'm looking for, but any breed will do that is built for agility) in NY (I'm from Tomkins County, anywhere near there would be great) who may or may not have puppies currently for sale. Any additional info on what breeds are well suited would be great. I would like to find a puppy within 6 months from now.
Answers:
Don't know any breeders in NY, but about breeds: You got the breed right: Borders dominate agility competition. Pyrenean Shepherds are an up-and-coming breed that I think are going to become the Border Collies of the smaller classes.
Other popular agility breeds are Shelties and Aussies.
Remember that you're living with this dog too, so don't just buy a dog because it excels at agility. Also, it's mostly at the highest levels that these breeds dominate. At your regular agility trial, every breed participates. And with the new AKC competition that has the top dogs in every breed, you can even go to the nationals with Basset Hound or Chow.
I think Lisa's advice is great. The best way to find breeders is to go to a trial and chat with the people. Who isn't eager to talk about their dogs and where they came from? :-)
Good luck and have fun!
Are you looking to compete in Agility?
I would go to an Agility trial, and talk to people there. Don't crowd, or annoy, but do ask questions, when people appear to have a free moment. Most people will be happy to answer your questions, and talk to you about the sport.
Go to AKC.org-Events to find an agility trial near you.
Good Luck, and have fun! :o)
A sheltie was the first dog to ever get teh MACH title. We all call it teh "MACH 1 dog". LOL Actually, there are often young dogs that would be a smashing agility candidates in rescue. I now of a tri male in rescue right now that would be fantastic. Go to www.assa.org and click on the rescues list. Good luck.
can also try www.cleanrun.com for a calendar of agility events.. more agility orgs out there than just akc!
yes, Shelties, BCs, Aussies...and many NICE mixed breeds. My daughter has a field-bred Lab that is tearing up the BCs out here on the west coast at the Nov/Open levels so far!
How about the BC rescue in NY

Agility Classes--Benefits?

Besides the obvious fun I'll be having with my dog, what are other benefits (for my dog) in enrolling my dog in agility classes? I've just enrolled him in the class after our obedience training. He is a miniature poodle and he'll be turning 7 at the end of the year. I've had him for 5.5 years now; we got him when he was 1.5yr. I hadn't taken him to classes until this last recent obedience training and he did well. The instructor thinks he's ready for agility. Will the agility classes help him stay healthier and such because of the exercises? Or help his mind stay sharper as he grows older?
Answers:
Well, the regular exercise is great for keeping an aging dog healthier and younger. However, what people often forget is that older dogs have brains - agility will keep your dog younger because he's exercising his mind.
My going on 10 year old greyhound is learning new things all the time and he thrives on it. His latest "trick" is finding treats that I've hidden around the house. Keeping in mind that these aren't scent hounds and this isn't what they were bred for, he's doing incredibly well and having fun doing it!
I don't know about keeping his mind sharp, but it will help keep your dog in good shape. It's also lots of fun for you and the dog
Had a real shy dog. Was doing obedience class with him.
They started a agility class. And said this should help. It did!
And he loved doing it a lot.
And think about what the dog has to do. He has to think his way through the course. It is not the same all the time. Thinking keeps your mind sharp. Even for people.
You should never quit learning.

AGHHHH! my mother pisses me off help!!! she is trying to kill my dog!?

well my mother just took my chihuahua a bath and i told her not to because she was cold i could tell cuz her fur was cold and her nose could she get sick? and then she brushed my chihuahuas teeth with toothpaste what if she swallowed it!! aghhh she maked me mad and she gives my chihuhua human food like apples and she said she wouldnt do that help she is stupid!
Answers:
Wow, I can tell you really love your dog. I love my dog too.
I'll tell you what I do with mine and maybe that will help you see things a little differently.
He gets a bath every week, no matter what. I just make sure he is dry and I don't let him go outside for a few hours after just to be sure. (Doesn't a nice warm bath or shower feel good when you're cold? And don't you just feel better when you're clean?)
A little toothpaste won't kill your dog. They need their teeth brushed just like we do. They can get the same dental problems from bad oral hygiene that humans can. Or worse. If you're concerned about the toothpaste, suggest to your mom that you guys get some toothpaste JUST FOR DOGS at the pet store.
As for the apples.I give my dog an apple EVERY day. He loves them! And carrots, and all kinds of other vegetables and fruits. No onions, though, they'll get bad gas and onions can make them sick. But, fruits and vegetables are great for dogs. Especially apples, carrots and blueberries.
You should NOT give your dog stuff like chips, sugary foods like donuts or cooked chicken bones (they can shatter when the dog chews them and get get stuck in their throat or intestines).
The very best thing anyone can do for their dog besides love him/her and feed him/her is WALK. You should walk your dog every day, twice if possible. And not just to the corner and back. They need excercise just like we do. Walking gives them a chance to sniff and, it may sound crazy but it is true. That's what dogs do.
You should watch The Dog Whisperer. Caesar Milan say,"Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim and dogs gotta walk!"
I hope I helped!
If the weather and water are warm and you dry the dog well it won't get sick. But the human toothpaste is a big no-no, it can make it sick or worse if t gets too much. The apples are fine, my old dog used to love them. In fact if you shred up an apple and let it go brown it becomes homemade pepto bismol, same ingreident they use. But most human food is bad for them, even some fruits and veggies like grapes, onions, or raisins, and of course yeast bread and chocolate are big no-nos.
call animal cruelty officers on her.
Well It seems there is no cure for stupidity... I can't help you with your mom.. All I can suggest is you educate her and point out reasons why these things aren't a good idea and hope she gets the hint.. Maybe a huge vet bill would cure stupidity? Maybe not.. But helping to educate her might help some..
She used human toothpaste to brush the dog's teeth? Maybe you should give your dog baths and brush it's teeth so your mom isn't even tempted to do it. Also when she gives the dog scraps of human food ask her not to because it is bad for the dog. Be responsible for your dog and take care of it so your mom doesn't have to and you can protect it.
tell her your dog isn't a human and teach her the right way to take care of your dog she will understand hopefully and leave your dog alone.
I don't think she is trying to kill your dog , but is just maybe taking car if the dog the wrong way . Under no circumstances should a dog eat or swallow tooth paste , because there is some kind of ingredient that is harm full to dogs but not humans and in rare cases can kill a dog .
And a apple here and there won't hurt the dog don't worry.
P.S. don't call your mom stupid she just don't know better .
dont let her touch your dog put it in a room and lock her out of it!
I don't think she is trying to kill it, sounds like she is trying to help you take care of it. Are you not cleaning or brushing there teeht? You can brush dogs teeth but you should use dog toothpaste, and its ok for them to eat apples.
Wow, you really shouldn't have to babysit your own mother, I feel kind of bad for your situation.
Well, dogs won't get sick because they're cold from a bath. In fact, no one does, it's a myth. Sicknesses are caught from viruses. She may get hypothermia if you didn't wrap her in a blanket and heat her back up, however.
The toothpaste incident...brushing your dog's teeth is a wonderful thing to do, but not with human toothpaste!! They have specialty toothpastes for dogs, keep an eye on her because if she did swallow it she will either pass it or vomit.
There are many human foods dogs cannot have including chocolate, honey, pork, ham, eggs, and many more. Your mom needs to know not to give her any of these.
Hey, do not dis your mom, she is NOT stupid, you are showing your immaturity by talking like that.
There is NOTHING wring with giving that dog apples. The only fruit that is harmful is grapes/raisins, the only toxic vegetable is onion, of course, no chocolate., so says my vet
Many other foods are just not a good idea, like sugar, any form of pork, anything that is fatty and spicy. they will not kill them, but they will get really gassy from these foods, and may get the runs too.
If the weather is warm or hot. There is nothing wrong to bath your dog. Apple is OK for your dog as long as it is not big piece. I don't know about toothpaste.
She may just want to help with the dog. You can talk with her, edicate her, explain why you think she should not do that. But there is no way to call Your Mom stupid.
Actually I don't think her intentions are to kill your dog. Take her with you on one of trips to the vet and let someone who maybe she WILL listen to, educate her. Apples won't hurt in moderation. Actually it can be a fun toy while it cleans your dogs teeth. Stress to her that raisins are very toxic. As far as the bath as long as your not bathing her or any dog in sub below weather she should be just fine. If it makes you feel better dry her the best you can but my dogs run crazy after their baths and that warms them up and dries them as well. =)
she won't become sick from the bath if shes not exposed to extreme temperatures until shes dry. or a good rub with a towel will help her circulation get back up. your mom is very wrong using human toothpaste, she can get really sick from that. maybe you should take over the primary care for her? good luck
yeah, it cannot have human toothpaste. And if the dog gets a bath the water needs to be warm. afterwards its a good idea to dry her with a blowdryer on low. is there any possible way to keep the dog away from your mom? Have you tried talking to your mom about it? maybe you can involve your mom but teach her the right way. instead of human food for the dog have your mom shop at petco for really neat dog treats and doggy ice cream. that way she could still feed the dog treats every now and them. best of luck ; )
first off.. chill out.. Chihuahua's need regular bathing.. and they shiver at the slightest scare.. it have to do with their body size.. not regular human toothpaste.. not so good.. but their is special beef and chicken and other flavored types just for dogs.. the only problem with ours in fluoride..
Now as for fruits.. dogs can have fruits.. no grapes though! or onion.. there are lists on-line and available through your vet and its actually healthy treats for them.. helps digestion and adds shine to coat..
is it that she's caring for your pet.. or just her giving the dog attention thats getting your pants in a bunch..
While taking a bath make sure the water is warm but not too hot. Make sure you towel dry/use a dog hair dryer. human toothpaste=NO! animal toothpaste=ok. animal toothpastes don't have any harmful ingriedients and are ok to swallow. They come in yummy flavors like liver and beef :-) Apples are ok for your dog but your dog should also be eating a high quality dog food. But, lots of human food like onion, chocolate, grapes/raisins, and some others are toxic.just make sure the food is ok for your dog before letting your mom feed it. good luck ... p.s. you really don't need to call animal control on your mom like others said ...do you really want your mom to get into lots of trouble? and what she is doing isn't cruel, it is just a bit stupid and once you correct that, it should be ok.
are u sure ur not overreacting a little? give ur mom a break, she's just try to help. apples won't kill a dog as long as there not too big to swallow. =)
Well I don't want to sound like a b****, but, if you would do it she wouldn't have to. Anyway, the only thing I see that could be a problem would be the toothpaste if it is for humans. You should not call your mother stupid.
It's lovely to see such a little prick like you calling her mother "stupid".
BTW , "apples" are actually good for your dog.
Your mom may not know much about dogs... Try getting her a book or a on line printout on what NOT to do or give a dog...
Also go to the pet store and buy a special toothpaste for your dog. Your mom is just trying to help and unfortunately doesn't have a lot of knowledge on dogs.
About the human food, I know what you meen. My parents do the same thing so, I made a list of human foods my dog can eat like rice, chicken and on. I also gave them a list of human food dogs cant eat like chocolate, grapes and so on
Your mother is a caring, wonderful woman. How dare you call her stupid?

Aggressive Jack Russell?

I have a 3 year old male Jack Russell Terrier (named Rebel, the name fits) who is extremely aggressive. When it's just my family in the home, he's usually pretty nice, unless he gets something he's not supposed to have.
When he's around people who have other dogs he gets vicious and will bite if they come near him.
We're afraid that one time he is going to go after my niece or nephews who are young kids.
He's an intelligent dog, he just has some trouble with aggression.
Is there any way to stop him from getting so mean all the time?
Answers:
obedience class and a very good trainer. Ask your vet for a recommendation - or friends - and get thee and thy dog there QUICKLY!! A good trainer can show you how to deal with this immediately!
SWAT FROM A ROLLED UP SUNDAY PAPER!
You can change his behavior, but I do not recommend doing this yourself. Aggression is a tricky thing and can be caused by many things and if it is mishandled, it could get worse.
Find a good trainer that specializes in aggression to help you.
You should call a dog behaviorist for help as soon as possible. He has to learn to stop being aggressive, because it could get him killed one day. Look for one in your area, and possibly consider taking him to private obedience classes.
Jacks and Rat Terriers are aggressive little dogs. Although if they are socialized at an early age they aren't too bad. It sounds like your dog is trying to show the others who is the king dog in your house. Most dogs will show the others who the pack leader is in any home. There is a pecking order that dogs follow. There is the Alpha male and the Alpha female. When there are no other dogs in the home the only "child" will think he is the alpha. Unfortunately he will also try and take over your spot as boss too. Jacks are extremely smart dogs and can be trained to settle down when other dogs are around. I would like to offer you a suggestion. I would buy the book by Ceaser Millan called Ceaser's Way. It's a good book and talks about how dogs act in their normal manor and how most dogs think. You can also visit Ceaser's website for information on training your dog. Another good book to read is How to Speak Dog by Coren. This book talks about the body language of dogs and how other dogs relate to each other. It also talks about how you can difuse a situation such as you are describing. As does the book by Ceaser Millan. I hope you get the problem with your dog worked out. You just need to show him who is boss and also socialize him with other dogs.
Put the dog through obedience training. The trainer will know how to handle the dog. It will get used to being around other people and their pets and will get the proper correction from the trainer. I suggest getting a gentle leader as well, go to the pet store they will have it. It's more humane than a muzzle and gives you maximum control over your dog.

Aggressive Dogs - At the Dog Park?

I took my adult, female, beautifully trained, Bernese Mtn Dog to a new dog park. I opted not to bring the 7 mos old pups until I knew the park better. My girl did her normal ambling around, eating blackberries off bushes, with a small amount of socializing (she's a people dog, not a dog dog). When we were heading out I stopped to talk to a friend (both of us still watching our dogs) when a woman came in with a Rat Terrier and a Chi-mix. The Rat Terrier ran off to play, the Chi decided to worry at my girl.. barking, snarling and lunging at her ankles. My girl gave me the "darn kids" look. I asked the owner to control her dog and she said "Its not like my dog can hurt yours!". We got into a discussion about the fact that not all dogs are as tolerant as mine. All the while the Chi is continuing (I do not touch other people's dogs without permission because it leaves me at professional liability). My girl lies down.. the dog worries at her head and my girl GROWLFFFFS (BIG BARK)
Answers:
I would have given your dog a great big hug--she sounds like a charmer with the patience of a saint. My Tibetan Mastiffs are the same way--big and with a bark that would shake the depths of h*ll--but they are such teddy bears. People are for some reason afraid of big dogs and think little dogs can't hurt anything, but my experience has been like yours--the problem is the clueless owners that want to blame everything on somebody else and never take responsibility for their ill-socialized and ill-trained mutts. I'd just about had it with dog parks until I found one near us that charges a small yearly fee--you wouldn't believe the difference in the kinds of people that come to a paid park vs. a free one. That few dollars seems to eliminate a lot of irresponsible dog owners, and we've had nothing but good experiences at this park and now it's the only one we go to. If you don't have one near you, consider opening one... Sorry for the grief. Wish I could give you better advice, but people like that are best avoided. If your dog had even nipped at hers, you'd probably be facing a law suit right now. Take care.
you did the right thing she is such a moron though
next time just leave and try not to get into an argument
i love how tolerant your dog is she must be such a good girl
in no way is she "dangerous"
Sounds like the other person has the problem dogs, just avoid her. Good job training your dog to not react to agression easily.
I would have told her she shouldn't have let her little termite torture my dog and that she was just telling it to stop the only way that she knew. Just because her dog is little doesn't mean that it should be allowed to harass bigger dogs. No one likes to be tormented or taunted.God bless!!
Step on the chi's head by accident. I know it's mean and cruel, but those dogs are so worhtless. And i apologize to any Chi owner's out there that absolutely love their dogs, but they're not dogs. They're just little rodents that bark. I would have told the woman that you asked her nicely to control her dog. If she fails to comply, then her dog got eactly what it deserved. Even if it is less than what was really deserved. Either way, I would continue to go to that dog park. If it ended up in a court of law, I think the jury would rule in your favor. Unless they're a bunch of rodent lovers.
Kenny, 2 yr old JRT/PRT mix.
Genny, old girl Chesapeake Bay Golden Retriever/Chow mix
JoJo, Lhasa Apsa (RIP)
Marcello, Lhasa Apsa (RIP)
Small dog owners tend to be very defensive and protective about their dogs around larger dogs. I would have told her if she cannot control her dog at the dog park, you will report her to the owners. No dog, big or small, should intimidate others that are there to enjoy the park.
i don't really care for dog parks for that very reason.
owners who are ignorant are the ones who usually take you to the courthouse when their irritating dogs get hurt because the owner isn't paying attention or in your case just being plain idiotic.
i feel sorry for you. maybe in the future you can find out what time she usually brings her dogs so you can go before or after.
i think you did everything you could. even though she says her dogs can't hurt yours, yours can certainly hurt hers. your right, if it had been a less tolerant dog her dog could be dead right now. even the most well behaved dogs have their limits. unfortunately something bad will probably have to happen before she gets a clue.
good luck in the future.
i would not have talked to her and if she persists, simply go walk your dog with your friend about 50 feet ahead of her. If she continues to follow you say "what the crap lady? i moved so you wouldnt freak . why dont you leave me alone?" and walk off.
You handled it well by speaking to the owner. She obviously knows very little about dog behavior and sounds like a very arrogant person. Hindsight of course is 20/20 but if you could have thought to say 'no, your dog can't hurt mine but mine is subject to bite the head off yours, now please, we need a little space'.
you did the right thing some people think just cuz their dogs are small they don't need to be controlled it takes a bigger person to walk away from people like that she a moron and you have a real well behaved dog so feel good about yourself and your dog
first off, your dog sounds beautiful; BMD are gorgeous!
I think your dog behaived great in that situation. It was the woman who had the bad dog, not you. all your dog did was tell the stupid yappy dog to shut up... i guarentee if it was some other dog that the chi was barking at, the dog would have fought back.
Good job on your training with your dog!

Aggressive dog?

I need help are 7 month old mix dog that we bottle feed is vary aggressive.She is half blind. My mom and dad said if she does not get better soon she will have to be put to sleep!!She attacked two of are dogs today,And when we walk pass the couch she growls at us and jumps of,Rachel
Answers:
Hi. I hope that I can help you. I own two german shepherds and have had issues with aggression in the past. There are a couple of options... first of all you need to get the dog on leash all the time and make him/her come with you whereever you go and walk him at least 2 times per day (30-45 min walks). You also during these walks not allow him to walk in front of you, this establishes that you are the boss and make the decisions. Also, you need to take the dog to some sort of training class and commit to taking it seriously outside of class. It is really hard to break a habit but with positive reinforcement for good behavior and no response to negative behavior the dog should relize that if it wants attention it must do the "desired behavior". TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING! I cannot stress enough being consistant at home and outside the home. I know it is not an easy solution but it is proven that a well trained dog that know boundries and rules of the house is a balanced dog and will consistantly be a better pet.
Why are you bottle feeding a 7 month old dog?
If your parents don't want her, find her a home with some one who can care for her -- don't kill her just because your parents are tired of her.
She has poor sight -- this is probably the reason that she's aggressive, although, 9 times out of 10, it's the owner's fault.
Sorry Rachel -- I can't help you, love :(
I would suggest that you look into finding a behaviorist that can help you address your dog's issues, or otherwise, if nothing can be done, find her a new home, with an experienced dog owner who can work with her and manage her special needs.
Best of luck,
-Purr
Half blind, on the couch, where do you want to start? Get her off the furniture and in a crate. Dogs on furniture equals dog on your level of stature, is that true? OB classes that emphasize real corrections for any aggressive behavior. Half blind will be dealt as soon as she gets in the crate and has a structured environment to function in. Do it now, before it's too late and she becomes another statistic.
Blind dogs need special care and training. as many things might frighten them and cause aggression. You should talk to a professional and get advice as well ask your vet to recommend a good book about raising a blind dog. these are special issues maybe there is a forum of people that help specifically for this issue. Your dog needs to feel safe and secure. She probably would enjoy have a crate,a place she feels safe that is her own in the house. Maybe bells on the other pets so she doesnt get startled by them. Try this link
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blinddogs...
Heres another to rescue
http://www.blinddogs.com/

Aggressive dog behaviour?

I can take my neutered 9 year old male cocker spaniels full food dish away from him without any aggression, when i try to take a piece of paper he is chewing on he snarls and bares his teeth in a most aggressive manner
Answers:
Spaniels are actually the dogs most likely to bite you, so be careful with this. I suggest you speak to a trainer and behaviorist immediately. This kind of aggressive behavior can worsen if not nipped in the bud from the beginning.

EDIT: Sorry, that came out wrong. What I meant to say is that spaniels have the highest bite record, so a professional who is familiar with the breed might be able to help you to curb aggressive protective tendencies. I have nothing against spaniels. Every breed is different...some being more food-aggressive than others, some being more protective than others etc. (both of my dogs have strong prey drives...typical with the terrier breeds, but good training has helped curb it) I did not mean to insinuate that spaniels are vicious.
Uck, I hate cocker spaniels, but I'm not going to let my opinion be biased.
Sounds like perhaps he's being protective over something that's "his"
See, YOU give him his food and his bowl, so that's showing your dominance over that particular item, but you have not established dominance over that piece of paper, or other toys.
If this were my dog, I would slap it across the face.
But that's my method of training, others don't agree with that.
It's called resource guarding whether it is with food or another object. Either way, it is aggressive behavior and he needs retraining before he bites you or some other unsuspecting person. Call your vet for a recommendation for a trainer that can help with resource guarding issues. It takes time and patience and can be a tough problem to solve.
i think the next time kristin does something wrong she should be slapped across the face. you need to put a stop to that soon before an unsuspecting person gets bit and you have a lawsuit on your hands.
ps. let us know when your dog has had enough of your abuse kristin and bites you.
Aggression is often misinterperted. To be sure that you really have an aggression case on your hands you need to be evaluated by a professional.
If the growling is in mean manner, it actually sounds like resource gaurding, which is differnt from aggression. Just b/c she doesn't gaurd her food, doesn't mean she wont gaurd some stuff. My guess is that you don't like her to play/chew on paper, so every time she gets it you take it away (where as she gets fed dinner everyday, no matter what...she doesn't get paper to chew on everyday). Therefore, when she gets the paper, it has a higher value than her dinner. So there is a couple of ways to work this out. You can allow her to chew on paper more (as a reward), b/c it is not going to hurt her. You want to train a STRONG "drop it" command. (When she is playing w/ a toy, get a treat and stick it under her nose so she can smell it. tell her "drop it" and have your non-treat hand on the toy. She will have to let go of the toy to get the treat. do this A LOT until she will drop a toy (eventually anything) for the possibility of a treat). If you have a strong drop it command, then you lower your chances of getting bit (b/c you are not trying to take the forbidden item from her mouth). You should also train a "leave it" command, which means pull your nose away, and you use this command BEFORE the forbidden object is in the mouth. (This is more lenghy to explain. Take a treat, so it to your dog. Say "leave it" and close your hand in a fist around the treat. Wait for you dog to give up trying to get the treat. when they do, give them a treat from your OTHER hand. This way your dog learns that he is rewarded for leaving the forbidden item alone. Work up to being able to have your hand open the entire time, then the food on the floor, then with other objects.) If you teach a strong "leave it" then you can stop your dog from getting the paper to begin with.
http://www.diamondsintheruff.com...
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/834...
http://www.clickersoultions.com...
These website will have very informative articles about how to handle resource gaurding and basic training.
BTW...there isn't one breed that is more likely to bite than another. It really just depends on the dog and there personality.not a breed thing.
I hope this has helped!!

Aggression after trying to breed? does this make sence?

Does anyone know much about breeding dogs? Back in May i took my dog to a breeder who apparently had lots of exp as did her friend. Anyway come to find out my dog could careless about the female...my dog stayed there for one week and yes the female was more then ready as she kept backing herself onto my dogs face.
My dog was just like whatever. She told me that it's normal to get involved so they practically tryed to make them do it. Two strangers touching my dog.
After i got him back about a month later he starts being aggresive twds other dogs?
He's being neutered next mon and i have found a behaviouist that i think ill hire. But she had told me that whatever happened at the breeder is why he's being aggresive twds other dogs now.
Im so mad! My dog LOVES dogs and loves to run and play and now certain ones he's getting snarley with.
My trainer reasures me that we can correct this behaviour though.
But does this sounds right why he'd all of a sudden tun like that.
Answers:
Yes, it is VERY common for males that have been bred to become more aggressive with other dogs, especially other males. Usually only the top dog in a wild pack would get to breed, so since he has been bred he figures he's better than the others.
if someone was trying to FORCE your dog onto another dog it easily could have scared him. dogs like to do things on their own time and for whatever reason he was not interested in the female. you shouldn't have allowed the breeders to do that. god only knows what they did. they could have hit him or hurt him in some way. this is not common. my grandmother bred dogs my entire life and we never had them be aggressive after wards. the breeders themselves must have harmed the dog.
I usually go to sleep.
Sounds like maybe he got hurt while trying to breed the female... OR in playing with her, she nailed him or something.. Being handled during breeding isn't going to make a dog aggressive.. But the fact that he had been bred, would make him more aggressive to other males.. Breeding tends to give them a big head so to speak.. Since alpha male is the one that breeds, he might be going around telling the other guys just what he has been up to lately.. This is why if you have a pet male, you should neuter him rather than allowing him to learn male behaviours.
I'm not sure they caused it, but bad handling during a prospective breeding certainly didn't help the situation. You didn't say the age of your dog, but aggressive behavior has a tendency to start cropping up around age 1 and continues to worsen as the dog matures. Neutering him ASAP should help. If, it's possible, get it done before next month. Getting the behaviorist/trainer to work with him should help - just make sure he uses firm but non- violent methods. Good luck.
he just didn't have a good experience i guess and remembers all of those dogs. being seperated from you, and strange people poking him around.. Why are you trying to breed a dog- don't you know how many dogs there are that need homes without six more puppies being added to the mix?
I don't think the people made your dog aggressive, it was just time for him to mature and he probably would have soon been aggressive with or without the breeding...
But, if you would have neutered him when he was younger you may have been able to avoid all this. Thank God, you are getting him neutered now and working with a trainer.
Its good that yu dog is being neutered. I don't mean to be offensive but although he has balls and testosterome some dogs are just not that driven to mate. Your dog sound like it may hve been physically hurt by the breeders. I would suggest going to a vet to make sure there is no bruising and prehaps se a behavourist or slowly start intorducing your dog to other dogs as if it was a puppy all over again. start from scratch
More and likely it was the breeders that mistreated her. Breeders don't really care about the animal, all they wont is the puppies so they can make money. And they will tell another person anything if it will gain more money. Sorry for the situation. It sounds like you learned, so try and spread your bad experience with others and maybe they will learn.
First off, the female needs to go to the male's house for breeding. The dog may take a few heats before it understands the process on his own. To force him will frustrate him, he is already in a bind because he is not on his own turf, and he has strangers handling him. This is all bad news. Normally, the new male will greet his ladies at his own house and if they are receptive, they will stand and help him figure out the right end, be patient and he will wear himself out learning, but enjoy himself and want to keep trying. That he wasn't interested is a mirror on how he viewed the whole procedure at that time and his opinion should have mattered and been the bottom line. Dogs are very sensitive and can be trained real quick to not breed, be afraid to breed, or be very hostile and agressive, such as yours. I'm glad to hear you have a trainer to help him, neutering is the best for him at this point as it would be really tough to change his mind on the breeding subject now. He's hating other dogs because he associates them with his frustratingly bad time. Good luck and hopefully, he will have a nice , happy life ahead of him with your care and attention!
This breeder sounds *extremely* shady. Good breeders do not take someone's pet, in this case your dog, and breed their animal to it. It seems like their could be more to this...why did you get involved in this breeding if you know nothing about breeding dogs? Potentially there is now going to be another litter of dogs who will need homes, and another group of sweet dogs will be put to death because someone chose a puppy from the internet or the newspaper or some backyard breeder (sound familiar?) instead of the animal shelter. If you haven't shown your dog in a competition or had extensive genetic tests done, which would ensure that the litter could be excellent, healthy representatives of the breed, then this woman is a backyard breeder and you should have NOTHING to do with her. So now there's more dogs coming into a world with too few homes, and your companion has suffered somehow. Whatever led you to engage in this irresponsible act?! I imagine she paid you for this studding affair...well, I hope pimping out your dog at least got you the money to pay this behaviourist.
Thank you for loving your dog and working with him, and THANK YOU for getting him neutered. I hope that he returns to the companion you knew prior to that woman's assault, and I hope that you will not again contribute to the numbers of animals dying in pounds and shelters.

Against It??

backyard breeding, irresponsible owners, dog fights, abuse, over breeding females, anything along those lines? tell me what you think! im completely against everything and more that whats listed above. help spread awareness! animal cruelty can NOT continue! im on a mission to try and make this possible. thanks and please star!
Answers:
Oh, man am I against it. Animal Control in my area is sick of me because I report EVERYTHING!! I have AC on speed dial! People need to start realizing that dogs are living creatures and if you see one being mistreated IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT IT!
Quit breeding your dogs while 3-4 million are put to sleep each year, and for the love of all that's holy spay and neuter your pets!! I hate to hear people say that they are not responsible for the breeding because it was an "accident," Well, if your pet isn't fixed, what the **** did you expect? Dogs and cats don't restrain themselves when they get the urge. They are animals and will mate for crying out loud.
I better quit before I get really mad, but yes, I agree with you.
Yes I am against it.
Totally against it!
Why? I make alot of money breeding my cavabugpoos (it's hard work having cavaliers, boston terriers, pugs, and poodles in my barn!), then I see the ones who aren't runts (noone wants a dog that's not the runt now a days) to pitbull fighters to use as bait.My 20 females get bred every heat- and they don't complain- they get fed once a week after all- I deserve to profit off them.
Being sarcastic... Who will come here and disagree?
I am with you all the way. I have two pit bulls, whom I love dearly, who are socialized and well bahaved, who are constantly training, who love kids and people and other dogs...and yet, my state is facing a possible breed ban right now. The real problem is these backyard "breeders" (I use the term loosly), overbreeding, and irresponsible owners. I am sick and tired of seeing people parade their pits around like trophys giving them names like "Killer" (the name of my male before I adopted him) and "Felony" (the name of my female before I adopted her)..talk about perpetuating the stereotype.
In addition, I see too many questions on YA about sick pets and what to do. Is it not obvious? TAKE THEM TO A VET! Unfortunately, if you suggest that in your answer, the asker will promptly tell you that they can't afford to. Well, IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE VET, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A PET!
And then you have the morons who don't alter their dogs, and come on here asking if the dog is pregnant, or in heat. Does nobody research these things anymore? Are there really so few advocates of spay/neuter programs?
There was one guy who posted a question on how to breed pit bulls for sale over the internet. I think selling dogs over the internet should be illegal to begin with but this guy had also posted three other questions asking what to feed a pit puppy, how big will it get, etc. Another dog owner who knows NOTHING about the breed he owns.and he wants to breed?? ....surprise surprise.
Sorry for the rant.I'm just soooo passionate about this!
I love breeding my mutts that I bought for 3000 a piece. It's fun!! I haveno idea what I am doing though!! Should i start breeding them at 6 months* duh!!
People are dumb and cruel. They breed dogs so they can make "easy " money. I am totally against all of the above.
My husband and I just rescued a dog that the owner has had for 2 weeks and she wanted to go and tie it up somewhere and leave it.
She said it wasnt house trained when she was told it was.
It's been at our house for 4 days and has gone to the door and whined everytime he's needed to go out. He's sucha good dog. I hate irrespons. owners!
I'm with you. The irresponsible owners thing really gets to me. I've had intact dogs/b*tches for 20 some years now and have NEVER had an accidental breeding. Its not that difficult to quarantine a fertile dog... you just have to care enough to do it.
I am so totally against that it is like evil what some people do. poor dogs how could people treat them like that I can not stand people like that.

After spay !??

1. how can i make my dog stop running all over the house
2. i KNOW for a fact dogs gain weight after spay
will she remain the same if
1. i feed good quality food [wellness]
2. feed 1/2 of whats recommended on the back of the bag because my dad insists on feeding her a little bit of boiled chicken or turkey eveyday [his dad was a vet]
3. have 3 walks a day [30-45 min each]
Answers:
Hi there! So your girl had her big day :) I wish her a quick recovery!! They tend to bounce back very fast, so it is quite difficult to keep them quiet for 7-10 days after the surgery. Here are my recommendations:
1) I always recommend that people crate their little ones after the spay. The crate will act as a safe, quiet place where she can rest and is forced to relax. I had two VERY active pups spayed the same day at my work and I kept both in their crates for most of the day for a week after surgery. Obviously, I would let them out to stretch their little limbs, eat, and go outside. Get her a yummy Kong, Nylabones, or Natural Bones to keep her busy. Ice cubes are also a favorite. I know it will be hard for you to keep her in the crate, but know it is only temporary and it is in her best interest. You would hate for her to tear those stitches!! That means more anesthesia and a longer recovery along with more pain meds and an antibiotic.
Leash walk ONLY! Even if you have a fenced-in backyard. You want to keep a very close eye on her. Do not allow her to jump up on you, furniture, etc. That can easily stretch and break those stitiches.
No walks over 7-10 minutes (I would wait atleast 3 days after her spay to start walks). If you do decide to walk her, walk slowely and look at her for clues when enough is enough. You don't want to push her. Plus, the incision will be sore.
2) Yes, dogs do gain a little weight after a spay/neuter, but it is very mininal... we are talking on average 1-5 pounds at MOST. I would not stress over the weight gain at all. Just exercise her moderately, feed her a high quality food, and love her to pieces. Neither of my girls gained more than 2 pounds post-spay.
Wellness is a good food. I also recommend Canidae, Innova, and Timberwolf Organics. All are a great choice.
With the high quality food, it is not necessary to "add" anything on top of the actual kibble. If you dad insists on adding something... about a tablespoon a day of plain yogurt is excellent for girls to eat after spaying. Especially, because on the side-effects of spaying is a possible UTI.
Three walks? Wow! Good for you!! I wish I had the time :) I walk my dogs a good 30 minutes each morning and again for 45 minutes at night. With these big breeds you have to walk 'em while it is cool out!!
Good luck!! Your bundle will be just fine!
1. To stop the running, you need to increase the training and exercise. Walk or run her 30 min. (once or twice a day). Spaying will not change energy level. So your walks should help this also.
2. Feed the equivalent of the low range recommended on the dog food package. Normally, 3 cups of dog food is about 1400 calories, which is enough for a sedentary person !
It is better to keep your dog on the lean (not skinny) side, because she will live longer, so 50% less food sounds OK.
1. Do you want your dog to lay around all day? What do you mean 'stop running all over the house'?
2. Feed your dog what is recommended by your vet. Don't give her 1/2. A little bit of boiled chicken is not going to make up for the calories and nutrients in a good quality dog food. Also, depending on her breed, she may not require that much walking everyday.
1. Did she do this before the spay? Spaying does NOT make your dog's energy levels go up. If she was not running around the house before spaying, just give her some more exercise.
2. NO, dogs do NOT gain weight after a spay. I am just telling you this and you don't have to believe me but they do NOT! If your breeder told you that, that breeder is NOT reputable. If your vet told you that, even worse, I would switch vets NOW.
1. good that you feed her high quality food
2. do not feed her 1/2 the amount. dog food has things tha boiled chicken and turkey don't have. If you do feed her turkey and chicken, lower the amounts or SLIGHTLY lower the amount of dog food, not by 1/2!
4.I take it that your dog is a high exercise dog? That's good that you are exercising her a lot, she will overally be more healthy.

After bug bombing my house, what should I do?

I am working diligently today to prepare my house for bombing tomorrow. I suddenly have a flea problem after having a flea-free indoor dog for 10 years, thanks to stray cats that roam my yard. I am treating my yard today, but will be bombing my 2000 sf house tomorrow. I would prefer not to open my kitchen cabinets (not a place fleas would likely live, right), but I want to open dresser drawers and closets, as well as lifting up sofa and chair cushions, right? If I do this, am I going to have to wash all of our clothes in the closets and drawers? Who would have time for that? Please advise. I know I will need to vacuum afterward and mop and wipe down surfaces, but it's the thought of having to wash and put away clean clothes.
Answers:
Make sure that it is safe for you and your dog to go back in the house and keep the dog safe. The label should say how long to keep people and pets out of the house. I would say if you get big bomb stuff on your clothes it would be safest to wash them all. The label might say something about it. As long as the clothes don't smell bad I wouldn't worry about washing them if you don't have time.
Lick all the counters?
I had this same problem. But I didn't open any drawers or closets, and I got rid of the fleas! So I don't see any need do all that, unless your dog was in the closets or drawers! Hope this helps!
only if the smell is too strong for you to take.maybe wash a few items as you need them and a few more with each load after that.

After being neutered?

just a few questions i asked the vet but was so happy my boy was back that i didn't hear the answers fully! :)
how long does it take for his wound to heal?
when can he have a full on run that he loves alot?
when can i take off his e-collar?
he had his operation on friday morning and now it's sunday.
thank u
anything else i need to keep in mind?
Answers:
Hi, good to hear that you have your dog Neutered..thanks for saving life..
As i have just have my male dog go for Neutered, his vet told us to wear him the e-collar for 10 days.. to let the wound to heal up..as well to 'don't' let him lick his wound..
For the first few days don't let him contact with the other dog,
to avoid virus,as other dog might lick his wound..
Actually it take around a week to heal up his wound,my dog heal up in one week.
And also don't let him run or jump around for the first week is the best..
Does his vet give him some pain killer?
Some dog need pain killer.
if he is in pain pls take some pain killer from your vet..
Hope this will be helpful.. anything else pls add detail for us to help you..
And last.. pls give him lot of love of care all the time he need you by his side..
Add detail: As for the stitches it will drop out by it self.. the vet told me so..and it true,my dog don't have to go back to clinic to remove the stitches..i wonder your side is it the same?
I would leave the E-Collar on for at least 2-3 days. I know it's hard to watch them with it on lol. Also - they aren't supposed to run for about that long either - it could irritate the site. The wound should heal in no longer than a week. Seems like he feels good but if he was running etc he probably wouldn't after long. When my dogs were done (at the same time) I just kept them quiet on their bed in a kennel for the 1st day and gave them lots of loves. :)
well wheni got my dog neutered it took 2 weeks to heal but its diffrent for every dog. i wouldent let him run or any thing like that for at least a week.if it was me i would wait longer. but its totally up to you. good luck.
Leave the dog inside for at least 1 week, it takes about 10/ 14 days for the wound to heal properly. Don't take the collar off as the dog will lick the wound causing it to swell.
I did all the wrong things with my dog and he suffered, his willy swelled up really badly and the scar opened up. He suffered and it was all my fault.
You need to leave his E-collar on until he's fully healed. When you're with him and can watch him, take it off to give him a break, but it's important that he not be able to lick the site. It gets itchy when it starts to heal and that's when he'll want to get at it. And no, you have to keep him quiet for at least a week so he doesn't tear stitches. Also - it's very important not to let him get the area wet. Does he go back to have stitches out? That would be about 10 days following surgery.

After back surgery What is the best method of sling walking my dog?


Answers:
I have a belly belt for my dog - its good but thers a lot of stooping as I'm tall %26 my dog is only 15inches to the shoulder - I've reciently seen an intresting kind of front body sling that covers the intire front half of the dogs body - I haven't tried it as my dog was a bit to chesty for the size they had to fit him ... If your dogs rear end isthe part needing support - I'd probably go the bely belt rout - or use a towel under him %26 hold at it on a leasthe top ( not as secure though ) I believe Outward hound has a belly belt they sell ?? when walking your dog in a 'sling' make sure you have oyou dog on leash also - its kind of difficult to cordinate bit keeping your don on lead ( short ) %26 controled- allows you to adjustits pace so the belly belt doesnt end up around its knees i fi iit tries to run off ! Good luck !
There are specially made slings to assist with walking or you can use a towel or sheet looped underneath the dog's abdomen to support the hind-legs while it walks with the front legs. Also, if your dog doesn't regain it's ability to walk again, there are specially made carts to help them be mobile.
Petco and other stores have slings that you hold up on them and your dog walks along. the vet may have them. You are going to carry a lot of your dogs weight. So try to have two people for the first few times you walk your dog, they get heavy quickly when your not used to carrying that weight.
Here is a site that may be able to answer your questions:
http://www.handicappedpets.com/...
If you only need temporary help, you may be able to find lightly used equipment on ebay or craigslist.
what did the vet recommend?

After all the puppy shota?

when will ti start being a yearly thing?
i look at the paper some shots are due in may march july
GR ?
Answers:
Puppy vaccinations are given at 8, 12 %26 16 weeks of age for distemper/parvo/canine hepatitis/adenovirus-2 and 20 weeks for rabies.
Lepto, parainfluenza, lymes and kennel cough (bordatella) should NOT be given to all dogs/puppies..only to those at high risk of exposure.
Coronavirus, adenovirus-1 %26 giardia should NEVER be given to ANY dog/puppy.
The next booster id due ONE year from the date of the LAST vaccinations. After that they are NOT done yearly but rather every 3 years.
Please check out Dr. Jean Dodds and Dr. Ron Schultz sites also the above protocol is the recommended one by the AAHA/AVMA and all 27 vet schools.
Alos in the november 2006 issue of The Whole Dog Journal there was an excellant article on vaccinating.
i would ask the vet
Most vets will send you a note when the shots are coming due once they go yearly after the puppy shots so as you can make an appointment to get it done. They won;t expect you to keep going month after month unless it's a ripoff vet. They usually do it all in one 5 in one or 7 in one shot.

After a wash how much should u wait till u wash ur dog again?

i do it monthly...
Answers:
All really depends if your dog is actually dirty or not! http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/groomi...
I do it monthly, also. I'm not sure if you can do it more often than that, but I do know you shouldn't wash them too often or you'll ruin their coats. But it's possible you could wash them every 3 weeks, but that's just a guess.
It depends on the dog and breed. I have heavy, double coated dogs and due to swimming and showing, they need to be bathed frequently. Other breeds may not need bathing that much. You must always keep in mind over-bathing which can dry the skin and coat.
There is no blanket policy on how often to bathe your dog, and there is no need to turn it into a HUGE debate!!!!
look. if you want people to think you're mature and know what you're talking about stop acting like a brat. stop posting questions about onceagain. if you don't like the answer be mature and just don't listen to it or pick it as best answer. you want to wash your dog once a month go for it. as long as you are using a mild dog shampoo or baby shampoo. and are doing the bathing at least 2 days before or after flea product application, and the dog is not having any dry skin issues from the bathing. fine go ahead. but please stop with this childish nonsense posting. in order for people to believe you are mature you need to act it.
monthly is good if they are outside pets, if inside, 3 to 4 times a year is plenty, to much shamppoing eill give the dog dandrif
depends on if the dog is a indoor or outdoor %26 what breed (long or short ) my dogs are pits %26 they spend time 50/50 I bath them every month %26 a half
That depends on how often they roll in something that sinks!
But normal conditions we bath our dogs, once a month. If your dog produces lots of Lanolin ( make their hair smell bad, but makes hair repeals water), twice in a month.
You just don't want to dry out their skin. Use a shampoo that fits to their type of hair,ie oily.Avoid the perfume type
I've been told by a dog trainer that twice every year is enough but I wash my Chesapeake every couple of months as she spends a lot of time in the field and the reservoir. Hey Cagney, chill. It's just petqna.com s.
it really depends on how active your dog is. every 3 to 5 weeks is what i heard, unless of course the dog become dirty in between that time.
At the least, once every two weeks is sufficient.
Yeah, it's different for every dog. Basically if you pet him and your hands feel scummy...it's time for a bath.

After a female dog has puppies,,,how long do you have to wait to have her spade?


Answers:
As long as you keep her away from any males, I would wait until she weans the pups.
You can use a spade at anytime on her. I suggest you wait until the puppies are eating solid food though. Then do it.
My Vet recommends getting the female spayed when the puppies are 3 months old. This will be in the middle of her cycle. Apparently it gives the hormones time to settle after the birth and should not be done before this.
You will have to wait until all the pups are completely weaned and her milk dry up a bit. One the pups are 8 weeks old I'd wait at least 2 to 3 weeks after that. Remember your dog will go back into another heat 6 months after her last heat. It doesn't matter if she had pup or not.
after the pups are weaned. you don't want her going in for surgery and away from the pups for long.
ask your vet to sched an appt for you the next time you bring in the puppies for a check up or shots... or just call now/or monday to set up your appt. they will know the best date to make the appt for

Advise for my husky, since was 9 weeks she eats only once a day and not much..?

I need somthing for the appetite, i'm trying vitamins, but nothis has change..
Answers:
what are you feeding her? If you are only giving her dry food try mixing it with some moist food. Maybe she is bored with the food. you could also get some of that gravy they sell for dogs to put on the dry kibble.
Your vet will be able to determine whether your husky puppy is underweight. Best to check with him/her WRT how much your dog should be eating for proper nutrition, growth, etc.
At that age, and with that subj.. that's one best for you and your vet to discuss.
she needs to be dewormed
What brand of food do you feed? You should be able to feel the ribs, but she should not look under weight and dogs are not full grown until and around the age you say your husky is she/he should just now grow into her body and start to fill out.
Purina one is just has alot of filler to make them feel full try Chicken soup you can buy it online. Have you tried giving fresh treats like apples, carrots, it alot better for them than vitamians I own and breed boxers and they love fresh treats, you can als cook white rice and mix it into ground beef to add weight along with giving real butter slices (not a whle cube but a few slices a day)
You can try and give her cottage cheese, low salt chicken broth to her food. Even cooked chicken %26 rice would be good. Nutocal supplement is good for getting an appitie. Hope this helps...All the best;~)
If you leave the food out all day, she will eat when she is humgry. We had a huskey for a number of years and that's how he ate. When he was hungry, he ate and when he wasn't, he didn't.
It could also be because of the heat that makes her less hungry. Dogs, like people, don't eat a whole lot in the summer time.
If she is still not eating when the fall comes, check with your vet, but for now, if food is available, she'll eat it when she gets hungry.
maybe it too hot ,for you dog right now, try feeding him at night ,when it cooler, and maybe use a better food, like rice, fish mixed with vitamins,
maybe you need to take him out on long walks ,i bet that will do it ,
Give her a a good exercise to make her more hungry burn some calories. These dogs are working dogs and need a job.
Give her 60-90 minutes of daily exercise.

Advice sought to alleviate Golden Retriever's skin allergies! vets in Japan have been NO help!?

My poor Golden has terrible allergies and he suffers, is there any ointment or herbal baths that can be recommended? Baking soda? WHat can I do to alleviate his suffering?
Answers:
1. Have you changed dog foods? I learned from friends %26 brother that corn (major dog food ingredient) causes bloating and allergies, digestive problems. My brother's Lab stopped having seizures after they put him on lamb %26 rice (no corn) diet.
I know this isn't your dogs' symptom, but my point is Allergy, and whether dog tolerates the food.
2. Salmon oil. Available in capsules in some health food stores, or get online at jefferspet.com (search under dogs).
The pet one comes in liquid, and price is reasonable.
This REALLY helped a rescued dog heal her skin, fur, eyes! The company claims it clears up skin conditions when other oils %26 supplements don't.
3. don't know if you are doing this, but use oatmeal baths or try the Aveeno brand liquid soap. There are also many shampoos and medications for dog skin on the Web site i listed above, for skin conditions.
apples
I use NEEM shampoo; a natural herbicide etc
what the hell does apples mean? srry, sbout ur dogs allergies, i dont think there is anything i can do u help u. but i hope the website below helps!=)
try to find a natural food... read labels... as for the itchys... i use and oatmeal bath. make sure it gets up under the fur... do it once and see if it helps..
some animals are sensetive to oatmeal as well, wo just be careful..

Advice on puppy nipping training and play biting?

I have a 10 week old Lab/Collie female puppy. She very quick to pick up on certain things (crating and housebreaking has done wonders with her) but she doesn't seem to pick up on any of the nipping training I've been trying. My girlfriend and I play with her often and take her for many short walks every day so I don't think it is lack of attention or pent up energy. I've been trying the "Make a loud sound like 'ouch' and stop playing with her for a few minutes" method, but if anything she seems to be getting worse.
Should I keep going with this method and eventually will she outgrow it? Or does anyone here have any advice on better methods?
Answers:
One thing to remember with the current method you are trying, is that you need to do the "ouch" or "ow, ow, ow" in a high pitched tone, that sounds as a litter mate would if your pup hurt it. This particular method is best suited for reducing bite pressure, but will not always end the biting/nipping of play for every puppy.
We also used the scruffing method, along with the one you are using now. This is done very much the same way momma dog did to your pup as discipline when she was still with her litter.
When puppy takes to biting/nipping, you gently, but firmly, grab her by the scruff of her neck (the back of neck), lift her front feet off the ground, shake gently and in a growl sounding tone, say "no bite". When puppy relaxes in your grip, it is a sign of submission, and you can then release puppy to the ground and attempt proper play again. If puppy is persistent with the biting, end the play time for about 15 minutes and try again. This is to be done EVERY SINGLE TIME a bite or nip occurs. NEVER allow just one or two to go unaddressed, or you will confuse puppy as to what you expect.
Always remember that your hands are not the toy. Never encourage play biting of the hand, but rather always use a proper toy to play with puppy.
This takes time to accomplish, but using a combination of both methods worked well with our Border Collie (a breed notorious for nipping). These methods, both, were suggested by our vet and our obedience trainer and we found a combination to be very effective.
I agree, there are no bad breeds, only bad owners. We have a BC, with young children, and have never had a major issue. It has to do with training your dog properly and your children. People incapable of training their dogs and children to get along and behave properly when together, merely say not to have dogs around young children. Shows a real lack of commitment on their part really.
Right above your question, there is a search engine
(Search for questions)
In the search engine, type "puppy biting."
There are lots of similar questions that have already been asked and answered.
Good luck !
Do not allow it, Collies are notorious biters, my sister was mauled by a Collie, 31 stitches to her face, nearly lost an eye.
I would NEVER have a Collie, especially around kids, hopefully the Lab part will dominate , but you must quell the nipping "in the bud" so to speak. I would use the trusty rolled up paper, is not violent, but the sound scares them, and gets their attention.
You can not use your hands to play with a puppy. They don't understand your hands are not toys. Do not play rough with the puppy. Always have a toy to play with, if the puppy bites you say owe and put the toy in it's mouth, as soon as it bites the toy tell it what a good puppy it is! Do this every time and you shouldn't have any more problems. Do the same if you find the puppy chewing on something you shouldn't, just put a toy in it's mouth and praise it for chewing on it. When it's older and understands your words, then you can start playing rough with it and it will understand to to bite hard or get to rough. It will understand owe! Best wishes on a happy family!
Usually to stop the puppy chew you must get a bit physical. All you do is place your thumb over her tongue, holding it down, while you are grabbing her bottom jaw. then, do not give her any attention for a while. go back to her and start to play and love on her and continue to grab her jaw when she start to bite.
I do not believe there are "bad" breeds, just bad owners, and sometimes bad genetics from inbreeding. We've had collies before and where wonderful pets. They were beautiful, and loyal. And very good with children. Not all Collies bite. If they're trained properly, they don't. She will outgrow it. I've heard they outgrow it once they stop teething. I'm having the same problem with my german shepherd. In the meantime, repetition is key. Every single time she does bite, thell her no. She'll catch on. Both Labs and Collies are good, smart breeds. Good luck.
A Lab/Collie? that sounds like a great mix. :)
Collies are outstanding dogs, not a mean bone in they're body. I've had a few and they've nipped as puppies too. I guess its because they're in the hearding group and its their natrual instinct to herd. But once she matures i'm sure she'll grow out of it, because i guess its part puppy play too.
Good Luck!
I have a website all about Standard Poodles and there is a page about puppy biting and nipping. Check it out, it might be helpful
http://www.standardpoodlesusa.com/biting...

Advice on cutting pooches nails?

First, is this really nessary?
Second, her nails are black, if I do decide to trim them, how do I know where to cut? (I'm afraid I'll cut too low)
Thanks!
Answers:
Yes you need to trim your dogs nails! They can actually grow very long and when they do they curl and can grow into the paw pad, causing a major problem. If you don't want to do it, your vet or grooming can do it for a minimal charge. If you decided to do it yourself, be sure to purchase nail trimmers from a pet store along with a a product to stop any bleeding (silver nitrate, Quik Stop, stiptic pencils,etc). Only take off the tips of the nails since they are black. If they are long already, I definitely would let a professional do it first. Good luck!
yes its necessary. walking on concrete helps a bit too. you need to keep them short when they are black so the quick doesn't grow too long. just trim them a little at a time. plus it gets the dog used to having their feet touched. make sure you have quik-stop in case you go too short. or you can file them.
u can get them cut at your vet or your local groomers!
it's very necessary every couple weeks. if the nails are black, only cut to where the nail is flat. it's pretty hard to explain on the computer. next time you're at the vet, have them show you so you can understand better or take the pooch to petsmart and have them show you.
blacks nails are tricking to do. but if you walk your dog on concrete regulary of have a patio in your yard they spend a lot of time on them chances are you wont have to cut them at all..you dont want to cut them to short, if you do they will bleed alot and its not easy to get it to stop. so if you must just trim 1/4 inch off them when you think they are getting long..
Nails NEED to be cut every 6-8 weeks. Some dogs nails grow faster then others. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they are too long. If you don't feel comfortable clipping them, then don't do it. Usually groomers will charge ALOT less then vets do for cutting nails. I'm a dog groomer and I see alot of nail neglect. Most people do not realize how much pain their dog is in when the nail starts to curle into the pads. Call around local groomers, they should never charge over $10.
Just do a tiny bit at a time - my dog's nails are black too. Have a vet tech or groomer show you how next time you're at the vet or in Petsmart.
Of course cutting nails are necessary. They can get ingrown toenails and be in a lot of pain and get infected.
You can have the vet or a groomer cut the nails.
When you go there make sure they show you where to cut the nails to.

Advantage Flea control -- dog got sick?

This is gross, but a few days after putting advantage on my 6lb, 12 year old pom mix, he got terrible diarrhea and threw up a few times. Has anyone else experienced this? He is eating the same food, hasn't gotten into anything, has no fever...Help!
Answers:
Yes, it happened to my 12 year old Papillon. Maybe we shouldn't put it on older dogs. I used it on my 6 year old dog the same day and she was fine. My Pap had all that your dog had and a stroke. My vet told me that reactions are rare but can happen. I never thought of the age factor until I read your question, thank you. Hope your baby is better very soon. All the best;~)
Most dogs are going to have reactions a lot faster than that. Are you sure he didn't get into anything. Have you taken him to the vet?
Don't assume it's the advantage. Take your dog to a veterinarian. Regardless of what is causing the symptoms, he will need to be treated to avoid dehydration and death. Those little dogs don't have much in the way of resources.
The fact that he's so small AND old just makes his situation worse. Don't wait too long to get him in.
talk with your vet.
perhaps he can help?
I don't have an answer to your question but had to tell you that if your Avatar is a picture of your dog...he is soooooo adorable--post some more pics of him! (:
PS: What is his name?
Advantage has not done any testing on the use of the product on geriatric pets. I would call the vet right away.
I have heard of this when dogs were able to lick flea control products on themselves or each other. It requires immediate attention,call your vet!
I gave my poodle a pill for fleas and it made her have seizures but i later put the flea medicine the vet gave me to use that goes between the dogs shoulder blades and she did fine on that. My vet says there are certain flea medicine that can't be given to some dogs such as beagles and Shelties as it can kill them so be safe as the other have said and take your dog to the vet if you love him and I'm sure you do, just to be on the safe side.
Flea medicine has to be administered by weight and most people who treat their own pets don't always do this. I hope all goes well for your pet.
Well unless he licked it off then I don't think it has any internal side effects. It says to keep anything from ingesting it so maybe he licked it? As far as I know spot ons only have external side effects such as hair falling out.
did u put the advantage on right? maybe he licked it off? dogs are smart b/c if they eat something that doesn't suit their bodies, they throw it up. if he's still having diarrhea/vomiting don't feed him for 24 hrs, just give him water. after that, feed him some plain rice to settle his stomach.

Advantage Flea control - didn't work at all?

About 10 days ago I opened a new package and applied the recomended dosage to my 2, 8 month old border collie puppies and to my 13 year old border collie. 12 hours later the dogs were going nuts with fleas the next day we redosed them. things were quiet for a while but now the fleas are back in less then 2 weeks! Anyone eles have this problem? I think I got a bad batch. the company where I ordered it said that the dogs have built up an immunity to the product, I said " they are only 8 months old and have not been dosed that much. I am in Fla and it is terrible hot and I know the fleas are probably breeding like mad but I would think once they jump on dog they would be killed, At least that was the plan. Wonderd if anyone had a bad batch theroy too.
Answers:
We had a bad batch 4 our dogs. My mom applied it and just and the fleas never went away. But the way Advantage works (all flea meds) is the flea can only bite once then they die. What we did was order it from a mag instead of outta the store and we sent it back for a new box because it never even attempted to work. It's hot where we live so what we did was use flea dip on all the dog (we should've done the retarted cat cause she gave my dog fleas again!! grrr lol) ok n e way then we waited until the dogs dried off then put Frontline (we use that) It has worked so far and we put some on the cat too! lol hope you can help your puppies. (1) more tip you may wanna switch products and (2)you could even get the next size up and put it on there because we have smaller dogs but we use the 80 lb. thing for them. It actually does them some good
I have an awesome vet. She recommends Frontline. During the summer months = peak flea season, I take my cat in once a month for a Frontline treatment and also a dose of an oral flea control medication called Cap Star. This combo works really well.
Well, first of all they're TOO YOUNG FOR ADVANTAGE! This flea control can actually toxicate your pups! Go to your vet and have them give the pups something and get ALL THE TOXCINS OUT OF THERE BODY!!
The dogs didn't build up an immunity, the fleas did. It can and does happen. By the way, never ever double dose your dogs - that can make them sick.
Go to your vet and get a pill called Capstar. This will kill the fleas on them at the moment. Then vacuum your house and upholstery thoroughly and keep it up. Next month, switch to Frontline. You can go back to Advantage in a few months. It's good to alternate the two products to avoid the problem.
The only place I've heard of bogus Frontline and Advantage has been on e-Bay. But if you don't like who you bought this batch from, try online at Doctors Foster and Smith. They're reputable.
Fleas have to bite the dog to die. Sounds like your dogs are constantly coming into contact with new fleas. You will need to treat your yard too.
I just discovered a great product to treat my dog for fleas. It is called Happy Jack Flea Dip II (two). You can dip the dogs and also use it to treat the yard and carpet. It can be used every two weeks on the dog to break the cycle of fleas. We've done the two dog treatments and are flea free! We bought it at a feed store or Tractor Supply.
It is possible for the dogs to build immunity. I switch back and forth between Advantix (fall/winter) and Bio SPot (spring/summer).
Try Bio Spot and don't forget to treat your house as well.
Carpet, furniture, bedding, etc.
Why don't you try bathing the dogs in Orange Oil and warm water? The product TKO orange oil, among other things, is great for killing fleas on dogs. Fill the bath or tub with a few inches of warm water, add a cap full or two of orange peel oil until the water turns just slightly milky. Put a well rinsed dog into the mixture and starting at the neck pour pitchers of the mix over the dog. If the water turns black, empty and repeat once more. Rinse dog well and avoid contact with the eyes as the oil may irritate slightly, like orange peels do. Not only will they be fluffy and flea-free, but they will smell great too and WAY cheaper than insecticides!
Flea products will work when given the chance. And you applied to much to such young dogs>%26lt; The products made for pets can only do so much but if its such a infestation on them, then your home is probally bad, as soon as they die on the pets there getting right back on them from your home. I would recommend treating the house to, all the bedding, along floor boards, and such, ask your vet about proper procedures on how to do this safely exspecially for the 2 month old.
I did have the same problem but it wasn't a bad batch. My vet actually explained to me that the advantage only kills the adults and that any eggs that are left can hatch and they can start mating soon after . My vet recommended to me to buy a pill ($2 or $3) that kills the eggs and any remaining fleas within 24 hrs. and then allows the advantage to really start working.Unfortunately I forgot the of the pill name but your vet should know.
I hope this tid-bit of info is useful to you.
As alot of people have said the fleas may have built up an immunity, their the ones biting it not the dog.
Try swapping products frontline is great, frontline combo or plus also helps tokill flea eggs.
The problem when it is hot weather is that's the ideal environment for fleas to hatch in.
You may get rid of fleas on your dog but for every one flea on your dogs i dread to think how many maybe in your carpets and soft furnishings.
Apparently flea larvae can remain in carpets etc for up to 26 yrs (not sure if 26yrs is true) until the environment is right for them to hatch, IE hot, warm weather.
You def need to treat the house as well.

Adult dog is peing inside in winter weather?

My dog is 2.5 years old, she is a staffordshire bull terrier (female, obviously) and she has begun doing her business (not just peeing, unfortunately) inside often, (But not every time she needs to) even if she's outside all day. She doesn't like her kennel (don't ask why, it MAY be because it is second-hand) and so we leave the garage open so that she can run into it from the yard if it rains while we're not home. But because of this, she sits in the garage basically the whole time, AND DOESN'T PEE UNTIL SHE'S INSIDE!! That is, when we come home and let her in. If we don't let her in she basically brakes the door down.
You have no idea how frustrating this is, that she actually WAITS to get inside to pee. Any ideas how to fix this? I'm about to go nuts, guys!!
Answers:
Walk her and let her sniff where other dogs have gone before you bring her in. It's a simple fix.
Go on to the Cesar millan web site , he give alot of info on there , and you can email ,he doesnt always have time to get back ,mostky if you make the question short . He does 4 emails a month .
But you may be able to find something out on his site .
I would suggest going out with her as soon as you get home. Go out in the garage and make her come outside with you to potty before going in.
Sounds like she is your boss! You need to re-establish control and remind her of her place in the pack, starting with leash training. After you have fed her, take her out on the leash and keep her in one spot in the garden until she wees/poos. Then reinforce with praise and treats. I'd combine this with some old-fashioned obedience training (basics - sit, stay, off, drop etc). And I would personally shut the garage so she has her kennel and the yard available during the day. She won't want to soil her kennel, so that leaves the yard as her toilet. Good luck!
(Are you in Australia? Where do you live that's had rain recently?!)
She needs to be inside when no one is home in a crate. There is a strong possiblity a bird, bat or critter scared the beejesus out of her and she associates outside-pee=nasty attack bird. My GSD female would not potty after dark because the bats scared her. She grew out of it but was many months looking up in the dark..lol. All of the outside, either all the time or when no one is home, dogs I know are thundershy. When you get home TAKE HER OUT, and stay out there with her. Use a potty command, get busy, kick a bush, hurry up then reward with tasty treat when she goes. Bring her inside and if she has pottied just watch her, if she hasn't either crate her or tie her to your belt.
she is upset with you and since she can't talk you won't ever know what happened...spend more quality time with her and let her know you are there to take care of her...take her out on a leash each time after waking or eating and stay with her the entire time and refuse to go back in until she has finished...make sure she does both...some dogs do both several times a day so never think she is done until you've given quite enough time to have finished...once you gain her trust again she will behave better...i had a chihuahua who didn't like my neighbor...i could keep her outside and she would DO both and then go visit this one neighbor and she would still squat on the rug...i had to start leaving her at home when i would see the neighbor...there are times we wish our animals could tell us what the problem is, but they can't so we just guess and do the best we can...but always watch to make sure she is finished before going back inside and you shouldn't have any more problems...
Put her on a leash and walk her out doors, when she goes and only when she goes walk her indoors and stop by yea ole treat jar for a reward. I ask my Shepherds if they did pots and they give me their right paw to say yes, I then ask if they would like a cookie, again they respond by giving me the right paw and I give them the treat...if I take them out and only one goes...I bring both in and ask the same questions, the one that did not go has to answer now with the left paw for No in order to receive a treat also. Result over time is they always go outside because there is no rewards for inside...only disapproval and i can ask my dogs questions that can be answered with either yes or no and get the right answer believe it or not. But I will say I am with them all the time so constant interaction goes on, they are like two children that can't speak by mouth so have learn to communicate by other means...with time working with your pet and love as their biggest reward you can get I dog to jump threw fire for you so over coming your issue should pose that big of a challenge Good Luck, and love is key

Adoption placements, this really bothers me, does it bother you?

Question = "During an inspection of your home, to adopt a dog, what do they look for?"
Problem = The following two paragraphs posted by Vet Tech in her answer.
Some things I look for is potential hazards to the dog (exposed electrical cords, cleaners left out, holes under the fence, clutter everywhere etc.). I will not adopt any of our dogs out to anyone who smokes inside of the house (my personal decision), so I do look for that. I like to see that the family has carefully planned where the dog will be spending most of his time, where he/she will sleep, etc.
NOTE: Like Bambi.. I too bring one of MY dogs, Clara (she is VERY intutive), to the home visit to see how she reacts and the potential owners react. She drools (Saint Bernard), usually dirty from playing outside, and will welcome herself on furniture, as well. I like to see reactions too.
---
How do you feel you can operate off of your own opinions, shouldn't there be rescue policies to follow?
It has become about control
Answers:
There is policy to follow too. But in their defense there is also the inspection of the person that usually weighs a bigger amount than anything. I used to do home Inspection for a Golden rescue too some years ago and I did the exact same things they do now.
As far as smoking goes it has been linked to upper respiratorie infections in dogs too. I think it is a personal decision on the part of the inspector and if the home is exceptional in every other way. some do have it written into their policy. So it's up to the rescue and the person who does the inspection.
Ok no I would not allow my dog on someone else furniture because they are not allowed on mine. The purpose to bring the dog is to see how the people react to having the dog in the house and how the dog reacts to the house.
that in my mind is going a bit too far.
Nope, doesn't bother me in the least. All shelters/resuces have their own rules that they follow. So what?
Each shelter or rescue probably has their own way of doing it. Their own rules and things they look for.
I think that if I were going to train a younger dog to stay off of my furniture, I would not want someone else's big dirty drool monster hopping up on my couch uninvited. I would ask the owner to keep the animal off of my furniture.
I think it is a good idea to bring a dog though. Any dog that is used to people and gentle around children. Especially in a household with young children, I would want to make sure they treat well, or that the adult steps in if they treat the dog inappropriately.
Oh, also, you wanted to know, and they gave you an answer. If you were looking for a specific answer, you should have asked in a more specific place... say.. the shelter you plan to adopt from?
It's nothing to do with control, I do home visits, not "inspections".
My only interest is in the welfare of the dog,so I look for safety issues - will the dog be able to walk in and out or will he be secure? If they have a pool, will the dog ever be alone there?
If there is a fence, is it secure or will they always leash walk. No dog should be running outside free, it's too dangerous.
Do they intend to feed decent dog food? Do they understand that a dog sometimes requires vetting and will they provide it.
Are their children, if they have any, polite with them and with the dog?
Do they have some provision for the dog when they go away - a relative or a kennel?
We have a home visit form, the questions are standard, I don't make it up "for control" and I don't care if the house is rich or plain - just that they will love and care for the dog.
Most rescue dogs have already lost home, they do not need to lose another, so I look that the prospective adoptive home is a "forever home".
I also take a dog with me and watch the people's reaction to my dog. If my dog has an accident and they are upset, they obviously won't be able to deal with a dog coming in to their home - most dogs are nervous in a new home and need a few days to adjust - accidents happen. If the people have all sorts of rules "not on this sofa, not on this chair, not in the bed, etc", they don't need a dog, they need a stuffed animal.
It truly has nothing to do with control. I spend my own time and money and a lot of effort finding good homes for dogs, I WANT to pass a home when I do a home visit, but I need to be sure the dog will be safe and loved.
Look at it from this point of view, it has nothing to do with "inspecting" anyone or their home - it is my responsibility to be sure the dog will go to a good home, that's all.
ok I used to work for a shelter - this is what was important to check for:
1 Fully fenced yard of appropriate height (or enclosed dog run) - with shelter or house access... why? because tying dogs makes agressiive dogs and no fence can have a roaming dog soon...
2 Other pets - are they in good condition? too many?? are they fixed??
3 Where will the dog eat/sleep? this basically is so you can show people thoughts and ideas that may not have occured to them
the home visit isnt to look for electrical cords...its an opportunity to educate owners so they are better prepared...and check that certain things required (fences) are in place.
Rescue groups are run by volunteers. The rescue may or may not have criteria to look for or do on a home visit, but either way, they depend on the volunteer. I don't know of any rescue or shelter that has paid people to do home visits.
Frankly, I think most shelters and many rescue groups are too lax in their criteria in placing dogs and cats, so no, I don't have a problem with the above.

Adopting a staffy and my parents are now not talking to me!?

i'm 27 with three children and i am adopting a rescue staffy and due to pick him up on sunday, we went and met the dog as a family before adopting him and was also vetted by the rescue centre, with home visits before adoption and after. i just told my mother and she has gone mental. purely because of the breed. i know the dogs history, as it has been rehomed three times since a puppy from the same rescue place to the same person and each time circumstance has dictated him to take him back, (he was out the house 14 hrs a day due to work) we've walked him, and he doesnt pull, walks by your side, etc. he's a beautiful dog and i'm sure the rescue place wouldnt adopt him out to a family with children if they had a single doubt about his temperament. how can i make my mother see its not the dog but the owner? she'd driving me mad!!!
Answers:
She is just going to have to meet him and see how nice of a dog he is...people have gotten so afraid of certain breeds of dogs that they classify the whole breed as bad when it is mainly bad ownership. Ignore her comments and facts cause when you look up dog attacks there are a lot of labs, terriers and other assorted dogs that you would never think of as being aggressive and hurting someone. She may always be wary of the breed but by getting to know your new dog and seeing how nice he is it might just thaw her out a little and maybe hopefully change her mind. I have the same reaction from my parents and other people, we have 3 kids and a rottie which we raised from a pup and she was born into a family with young kids...awesome dog, no aggression but still my mom is wary of her like she will just attack for no reason...my sister's jack russell bit my daughter cause she was following the dog around...my daughter can sit on my rottie and she loves the attention...it's all in the raising I say, and that is from experience.
sadly, since the terrable accident of new years, all familys tend to panic at the thought of any sort of dog that may resemble, a pit. Staffs are one of the dogs that are coming under the most assault because of it which is in deed a shame because staffs in fact are one of the best breeds of dogs i have found with kids. i would never leave a child unsupervised with a staff, but thats the same with any dog, chiwowa (sp?) jack russel, alsation, collie, all dogs should be supervised with children.
but, staffs truly are a great dog and i don't think the centre would have adopted him out to a family if he wasn't suited to one (as you said)
your family are going OTT but at the same time i can see why, i guess all you can do is, introduce them to the dog once you have it and let them see for themselves. take them on a visit to the rescue center to meet the dog BEFORE sunday so they have a chance to meet him before, let them see him interacting with the kids.
you have no way of changing their minds or opinions for them, but they should come round in time, just make sure you dont give them any chances to say "i told you so" lol
good luck with your new addition to the family :)
Staffordshire bull terriers are known as the "nanny" dog because of their tendancy to mother children. I have had two of the breed in the past (one from pup and one as a rescue) and both have been brilliant with my child.
BUT staffordshires do have lock jaw - ie if they bite down you can't get them off.
Don't leave your kids alone with him/her, don't let them tease it etc and just be careful.
They are a lovely breed and your mother is just being a worried grandparent x x
I wouldn't place too much trust in the rescue centre if they've rehomed with the same person three times? It doesn't seem quite right to me. Make sure you're 110% that the dog's fine with your children and don't leave him with them. I'd say that about any dog and children though.
I'd say your mum is going a bit OTT, it's your decision isn't it.
I hate it when people are breed bias, thank the media. The only think you can do is prove people wrong by being responsible. You might want to consider obedience classes, a well behaved dog speaks for itself.
Good luck with that...You won't be able to. She won't change her mind until she is good and ready. (Even then, she may not admit it) Once she sees how well behaved and how sweet the dog is, she may change, but that's a big "If".
Congratulations for going through a rescue!! (I have 4 rescues, myself!)
Have fun!
I'm sure when your mum meets him she will come round ,put please understand your mum as only got your families best interest at heart ,y don't you see if she will go and meet him at the rescue centre ? they have had bad press ,its just that your mum don't understand ,i hope you get sorted soon x
staffys have a bad reputation but in my job I'm yet to come across a bad tempered one,the ones Ive seen are sweet natured loving and play full its the owners of these dogs that mistreat them and they turn nasty,just tell your mum its your life your decision and you trust the dog,he deserves a life with a family that CARE for him like you do,
if your mum is worried about the reputation of them ,just tell her no dog is born viscous or aggressive its the owner that makes the dog like this,you will be fine and i hope he has a loving home for life with your family.
staffs are good around children
Tell your parents that you are adopting one of the most affectionate and biddable breed of dog. I am a grandmother and there are two staffies in my family, both adored by everyone. Good luck
Can't say I think it's a great idea to have any bull terrier around kids. People always go mad when you say it claiming that their dog would "never hurt a fly" but I'm sure the owners of the dogs that have attacked children thought the same of their dogs.
And I'm afraid I don't think it is just the owner with these types of breed.
I'm sure I will get lots of thumbs down for my answer but my friend had her face and neck bitten by one of these dogs and had to have reconstructive surgery.
most people panic but i rescued a staffy in october she is a darling i have three children and had staffys for 15yrs first rescue one thoe do it again once your mum meets him she will soon change her mind they are so so loving and explaine its a trail period and just give the dog a chance hope all works out i am sure it will would be such a shame for the dog to return to the dogs home
Why take even the tiniest risk with a dog like this when there are so many other lovely and more dependable dogs such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers etc., who have a known track record with children?
I can't understand it. I agree with your Mother I'm afraid. She only has your welfare at heart.
Why is it that when people want a herding dog - they get a border collie? Or if they hunt, they get beagles? Or use German Shepherds for guarding? Then when it comes to staffs and pit bulls they forget what the dog is bred for.
Your mother is sensible and hasn't forgotten what your dog was bred to do - fight bulls. As a result, they have the potential to cause the most damage when they bite - even while playing. Then there could be dominance issues, if the dog feels that it is superior to one of the children, there could be problems. I've seen many staffs, pitbulls, and american bulldogs who had perfect owners turn and cause disfiguring bites.
just send your parents emails of the dog playing with the kids and how happy they all are. maybe it will show them just how fond of your kids the dog is and will change their minds.
by the way sunkiss so do many other dogs, so why dont we just do away with all canines. come on it can happen from any breed. any dog with dominance issues will bite
I think your parents are being a bit extreme. it's your house, kids and dog to do with what you want. But saying that, a staffie attacked a baby in a pub garden in Dorset a few weeks ago, leaving terrible injuries to the baby's face, so be very careful.
the best dog to have with kids absolutely my sister has one and an american pitbull also three young children your parents obviously only see the bad stories and tar them all with the same brush
its wonderful your adopting a rescue dog and the fact its a staff should make no difference! your obviously an intelligent woman who will have the best interests of her children at heart, so you are not going to bring a vicious animal into your home! you know a bit about the dogs background, and you know he was brought back due to circumstance rather than his personality. as you say, you wouldn't leave any dog alone with your children. staffs are one of the only breeds of dog to be recommended to live with children as they were bred to live in the family home rather than a kennel. maybe reassure your mother that staffs are not the same as pit bulls. i have a staff cross and she is the best natured dog you could wish for, loves cuddles and is a great family dog! hope you and your new doggy family member win your mother round x
My mom feels/felt the same way. My roommate has a pit/lab mix - but he is stocky ans muscular like a pit. He's got the profile of a lb, but from the front has the "jowls" of a pit.
She met him, thought he was nice, then when she found out he was part pit, she had nothing to do with him the rest of the time she was visiting.
She came out again and spent time with me. I still have the same roommate and we still have the same dog. She warmed up to him soooo much more as she realized that he is even tempered and an absolute sweetheart.
Your mom is just concerned. The breed has gotten a bad name and so her primary concern is of you and your family. You can't blame her for that. I would probably be concerned too if my child adopted one - because in this day and age, you really just never know.
The only thing you can do - honestly - is show her. There is a stigma attached to these dogs. They need training, they need to know who is "boss" (that doesn't mean abuse!). Have a frank discussion with her. Explain how sweet and great the dog is, but ultimately, it is going to have to be "proven" to her. Once she visits and sees the dog I am sure she will come around. Regardless of breed, 99% of the people in the world respect and appreciate a well-behaved dog. It's hard to judge by breed when the dog is a sweetheart!
Keep up with training, never leave him with your children - because children can inadvertently antagonize a dog. Keep up the training - hey did I mention, keep up the training? :)
You are an adult, you have your own life, and you know what is best and what will work with your family.
He sounds like the perfect family dog! These dogs really do make wonderful pets.
I work in a grooming salon, and all the mean dogs we get are shih tzus, maltese, etc. Little dogs are the worst to have if you have young kids!
Hopefully she will come around. Staffies are very loyal and loving and he will make a wonderful playmate for the children. It will take a while for her to accept it if she ever does.
I thought they were a loving family dog...a watch dog...who watches his children?
Your an adult now who makes her own decisions...mom's gonna have to deal with it...she'll throw a fit at first, but if you don't give in..she'll fade off and leave you alone. Sounds like this isn't the first time mama's interfered...correct?
On the other hand her feelings are valid, she's just concerned about the safety of the kids.
Has this place REALLY given you the total back ground/history on this dog. To the best of your knowledge is there any history of aggressiveness/biting?
Ask the rescue about what screening tests they have done regarding this dog around children.
ASK POINT BLANK...have they taken this dog around children while being in doors with them, out doors, have the children tried taken the dogs food away from him while he was eating, pulling/pushing on him, messing with him while he was asleep.these are the tests they should be doing.

Is the rescue able to do this for the dog and for the safety of the children and him self?
Happy testing,
:)
I totally agree with Ice Queen. I love my staffy, she is the sweetest.
When I was younger, we adopted a young adult and still had the sweetest personality. They just want to love and be loved.
My mother had the same opinion when I decided to get my puppy two years ago. He is a Rotti/Am staff mix. I too have three children who were younger when we got him. They are now 9,10, and 14 . My daughter is old enough to watch her siblings and my dogs ( my other is an 11 year old St.Bernard/shepard mix) stay with them. My 9 and ten year old walk my dogs alone ( just up and down the road). I fully trust both my dogs with my kids, as well as anyone else. I do however would expect them to protect my children and us if need be. As I would ANY breed of dog! I am more afraid to have my kids around little dogs, as my step fathers little weiner dog snapped at me and my ten year old just the other day. Your mom will come around hopefully when she sees how loving the dog is.
I have three kids and have had a stafford cross (put-down at 15 due to illness) and a 9 month old pure bred Staffordshire Bull Terrier pup. You could not ask for a better dog around children. They are loyal, loving and have a great sense of fun! When we bought our first dog - before we even had kids - many family members expressed concern. Once they got to know the dog and see how much they love their human families these fears were soon banished. Since then my brother in law has bought one and my parents have looked into keeping one that adopted them.
Small dogs are more likely to bite kids than a Stafford. Most of the media reports of dog attacks will lay the blame on a stafford rather than finding out the real breed concerned. Much of the news footage show dogs that have less stafford blood than me!