waffles

Good story! I can picture park rangers shaking cans of rocks at bighorn sheep and wondering why it isn't working.

This video might be helpful for your leash walking problem. I personally don't like to just wait for the pup to figure out where to be on a leash. If they go forward, I like to gently walk backwards calling them in a calm 'let's go' voice, clicking at the moment their mind chooses to turn towards me (not me pulling on the leash), when they get to my side and again when we start moving together in the same direction. Keeping things moving and fluid in leash training sets up a more positive experience for me. I get frustrated quickly by just standing and waiting. If the pups brain is really not with you (they're distracted), I like to ask for something else-long sit or down, then start moving again when they're more focused. I have never used the suggestions she makes in the below video but thought it might help you.

Very true Gentlelake. I have no clue what kind of experience Jimmyc has, so to assume he has none, doesn't have the time, and is not qualified seems silly. I never said that Jimmyc should apply now for these two specific dogs, but was pointig out in general how dogs of all types end up in rescue. A good rescue will refuse an application that is not suited for that dog and help the applicant find a more suitable dog. Any dog or pup from any place will require time, dedication, training, and so on. A benefit of working with a good rescue is that they will help find a dog that is best suited for your lifestyle and training abilities. It will make both the owner and dog happier with the right match.

Jac at GHF looks like a great catch for you (abca registered merle) and so does Punky at NEBCR. These are just two examples of adorable, young male border collies available. If you want a real young pup, get your application in to rescues now so that when they come up, you are already approved. You can also go to your local shelter, SPCA, whatever you have, and do the same thing. If you go to petfinder.com and type in your zip code, choose your breed, it will show all the border collies available in rescues in your area. Our local SPCA lets you put your name and number on a list for specific types of dogs (breed, gender, age) and with your application already approved, they call you first before the dog goes up on the public page.

This is the classifieds from the NEBCA site with some pups listed: http://www.nebca.net/classifieds.html If you are looking for a companion and not a working partner, Glen Highland Farm always has the most wonderful looking/sounding dogs available. Currently, many 1 year old's available. All looks and sizes. http://www.glenhighlandfarm.com/dogsavailable.htm I waited about a year to find my pup. Remember, they will be with you for a possible 15 years. You won't even remember how long you waited or how far you drove once you have them!

Yikes! Daily. I cannot imagine. We love thunderstorms here, watching them roll in, but we don't often get them. Mostly in the summer and the occasional thunder-snow.

Yes. My 98 year old grandpa lived alone for several years after my grandma died. Then moved into a wonderful assisted living facility. He was perfectly fine mentally and just a little hip pain, but walking just fine. But when you can't drive, your wife is gone, and you have outlived a child, I can understand the feeling. My other grandpa is similar, outliving two wives and a child, also in an assisted living place. Even with big families and lots of outings, it isn't quite the same. Both complained of being bored. Though, it is nice to hear them say they have lived great lives, accomplished what they wanted and are ready to go. I only hope I feel the same!

The price is kind of steep at $7+/dose. It would be helpful for those with only thunder phobia or only fireworks, especially dogs that are a danger to themselves during those times. But for sounds that happen often, it would seem cost prohibitive. Good to see another option out there though.

People living longer means a bigger drain on Medicare. More people in nursing homes and assisted living than even now is really going to add up. Once you run out of money the state picks up the tab. Plus trips to the hospital and medications and so on are billed to Medicare. I have one 91 year old grandpa alive and just lost a 98 year old grandpa in March. Living longer isn't always a good thing even if you are in great health. You outlive your entire family and probably feel like you are just waiting to go. Even a healthy 90-something can't do the things they used to do. My grandma also lived to 89, all three have said they lived great lives and would be fine going at any time. Living longer isn't all it's cracked up to be it seems be. Even if you slow aging you still are going to have health problems which of course is great for the pharma companies. They want you alive longer.

Was an owner with the dog? Did you get name, phone number? If he went to the vet, I would absolutely be looking to be compensated, more so for a deterrent for the owner to be more responsible in the future. A police report would be helpful or a report from animal control. In my area, there have been many stories like yours. Recently a dog on a leash dragged its owner over to a small kid and bit his finger off. The lady then left without a word! Luckily it made the news and the next day or so, she turned herself/dog in. Anyways, I would carry a cell phone, which is what I had to start doing when a dog was causing us problems. I finally called dog control (in the moment) after kicking the 100+ lb dog off of mine for the third or so time. Not sure I would want to carry anything I thought might actually stop a dog like that. The incident should be reported to hopefully spare someone else from what you and your dog went through. Best of luck, and I hope he heals quickly.

I am so sorry. What a painful situation. I would have done the same. I am sure Hazel was very happy to have had an owner like you in the short time you had together. You both were lucky to have found each other. Best of luck in your search for a future partner.

I wasn't going to post but my first thought was that most people would not put this much thought into their dog as rwinner has. Clearly, she is a dedicated dog owner, more so than the average person. None of us know this dog or what her medical situation may really be. I think it is kind of crazy to burden a rescue for a possible $10,000 surgery, when that money could save a lot of dogs. And also keep a foster home open to other dogs in need for the many months Hazel would need to recoup. It is one thing to spend your own money how you want and I know many rescues will fundraise money for pricey procedures to save one dog, but I personally would not feel okay knowing a rescue shelled out that much money for a dog that I placed with them. There are so many other dogs who could have been pulled/vetted/adopted, saved from euthanasia in a shelter for that money. Just my opinion, I know others would be okay with that. I have seen local rescues raise several thousands of dollars for just one dog's medical needs and that is their decision to make. One thing I wanted to touch on though, just something to think about and not directly related to Hazel possibly going to another home. Was the comment about her not being happy in a pet home after doing service work or somehow going on auto pilot and alerting to someone else's distress. Many dogs who worked for many years in the military or in police work (and former service dogs), retire and are placed in pet homes. I have known a few retired police dogs that were perfectly happy as just pets and never looked like they missed searching for explosives, drugs and so on. Many service dogs also are re-homed when they can no longer perform their duties to their handler and the handler is not in a position to keep two dogs. So with that said, it is very much possible for former working dogs in many capacities to retire into a completely new lifestyle and be happy. I am sure many here know retired sheepdogs who worked their whole lives and enjoy a pet home/lifestyle now as well.

I follow what the CDC says to do: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html I am not one who thinks sound information comes from FB. People just post and re-share whatever without fact checking.

...laugh? That is what I do. I enjoy seeing my dog enjoy himself and don't get angry when he indulges himself (at least for this). I don't personally see the harm. I just take the hose and wash off his neck, where he usually gets the gross stuff. He normally rolls in deer, coyote and fox poop. Sometimes on dead moles and rodents in the field as well. If I see him do it, I do call him off. But many times he quickly goes behind a tree, or down a hill, and so I can't always see him when he starts.

The photos are not that clear but the last photo, her head shape looks reminiscent of a Boston Terrier. Her snout is pretty short and square looking in some of the photos. It is always harder to tell by just still photos.

A border collie can harass cats as much as a chihuahua, pit bull type and so on. Don't let the dog mistreat the cats, teach the dog to be respectful of their space, give the cats high places to escape to. Were you having problems with the pup and the cats before the test came back? I have known many pit bull type dogs that were well under 40lbs. She could easily have many breeds in her, say her parents were mixes and their parents were mixes. Her personality could be anything. Do you have more recent photos? Her puppy photos look almost toy dog and boston terrier like. It is really anyone's guess!

I don't really think a name on a tag helps dog stealers. They are just going to sell the dog on the street or FB/craigslist immediately anyway. i know many dogs who respond to their names just as much a "puppy!". I just think if a name is going on my tag it makes more sense for it to be mine. If I find something that is lost, knowing who the owner is makes sense and/or is helpful. Especially if someone moves or gets a new phone and doesn't update their phone number, a name could help find the owner.

I can't come up with a good reason in my mind that someone needs to know my dogs' name, if found. What I think is more helpful, is my name. When they hopefully call my number, they can ask for me by my name. I also feel that by putting "I belong to first/last name..." puts some kind of visual about the owner into the equation making them possibly less likely to keep or sell the dog. The riveted tags on the collar just have two cell phone numbers and town/state/zip since we travel. The text is nice and big that way. The attached tags say I belong to..., microchip # and phone numbers. At my old job, I was always amazed by how many people would put a tag on their dog that only had the dog's name...which is completely useless without phone numbers or address. So people know they found Spot and that is all.

I have seen many female dogs with the green line and think that is a great idea to identify a spayed dog. I don't see how tattooing a microchip # on a dog's belly is any good. I have never seen a vet flip a dog over and look at their belly or get down under the exam table and take a good look, parting fur, in a routine exam. He feels around and would not feel a tattoo anyway. My old cats, 14 years old, have an ID # tattooed on their inner thigh from the SPCA. They also have an N in an ear. Most people in the area know that the local SPCA's tattoo N and S in the ears of their dogs so it helps people to at least know to take the dog/cat to the SPCA if found. Now they microchip instead of tattooing the numbers on their thighs. Either way, it is not proof of ownership as anyone can say the animal was rehomed to them. The best solution is a well fitted collar with current phone numbers. After that, a microchip with current info and an obligation by all vets to scan new animals or new pets that an owner says they just acquired or are bringing in as 'found'.

My dogs wear tags with my cell and my husband's cell numbers on them. It is the fastest way to get a dog returned to you at any hour of any day (nights, weekends, holidays) as apposed to someone having to call a vet or go to a vet/dog control. I also put our names on the tags, and not the dog's name. I think most people put their phone number on their dog's tags, but also put other information such as microchip number, their names, town/address, and so on.

That is kind of scary and sad to hear. If I scanned for a microchip I would absolutely call the owners and would expect my vet to as well (and they do I was told). Tags can and do fall off (which is why I use the riveted on tags) but most people don't. A microchip is a great back up but they have many faults. I would be quite sad to hear someone found my pet and were nice enough to have it scanned but then no one bothered to call me, especially a 'pet professional' such as a vet's office.

I know you are in NY state too, try going to your county's health department website for information. This is from my county, scroll down a few pages and it has a report for animal cases of lepto: http://www2.erie.gov/health/sites/www2.erie.gov.health/files/uploads/pdfs/276.pdf Total confirmed cases in the last reported year (2009) was 32 out of 53 reporting vet hospitals.

Yep, looks like a border collie x australian shepherd mix. No one can tell you what your dog is except the person who bred him. Enjoy him though as he is super cute and will make a great companion.

Helicopter dog parents? Your photos look just like our creeks here in NY. We have a creek in the woods behind our property, most county land does as well where we walk the dogs. Yesterday was 70 so we took the dogs down to the bigger creek in the morning and they run and run, splash and play. I can't imagine not letting my dogs run or walk in creeks, it is a weekly/daily activity that the dogs absolutely love. Our dogs run daily off leash in fields, muddy/rocky/slate ground and their pads are used to that. Only once when we were in a park Levi cut his pad on broken glass (irresponsible people leaving glass behind). He did not even notice, as the water turned red! We just kept it clean and had him stay home for a few days to try to avoid it getting infected. It healed just fine without medical attention.

Just vaccinate your pup for rabies and she will be fine. Maybe things are different in Texas but my county had 1 dog test positive in the last 15 years. I am not a pro dog park person but avoiding them because of rabies is kind of extreme.