CoRayBee

Very cute! I have one of "those." When she was about 6 months old she started sticking her nose into her water dish and blowing bubbles, so I should have known that she would one day graduate to getting her whole head wet...and beyond... I've seen her submerge her entire self a couple of times- no incriminating photos yet because I was so surprised that I completely forgot about the camera in my hand...

Hi all, I have to go away for four days at the end of May, and there isn't going to be anyone around to dog-sit. Putting Barra in a boarding kennel is not a problem in itself (I've done it before) but the snag now is that she hasn't been vaccinated in a couple of years. I have called multiple kennels and the unanimous answer to my "Will-you-take-my-dog" question is "no." My question to everyone is this- what to do with an unvaccinated dog? I had considered pet sitting but I know Barra would not take kindly to a stranger invading her home. I REALLY don't want to vaccinate her any more- she's 9 years old and I don't want to subject her system to it- but I suppose I will if I have no other choice but to board her. If anyone has any suggestions (or knows of a place in the Lower Mainland that will take a dog that's not up-to-date on her shots) I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

Magazine subscriptions, you ask? -Dogs in Canada -Working Border Collie .........and 'Street Rodder'...

I don't know the whereabouts of any of Barra's littermates, sadly. But Airbear's Lou is related- his granddam is littermates with Barra's sire Roy. So I guess that makes them second cousins? Something like that. ...did I get that right, Kristi? lol

Originally posted by Kyrasmom: I'm trying to keep this in context, but we have a 17 week old puppy who is growling and being defensive, and as per another post, barking in excess. This description doesn't sound like the puppy in the original post. What, exactly do you mean by 'being defensive?' The suggestions we've offered can only be with regards to what's in the original post. From the description it sounds like the o/p's puppy is not being defensive; rather, it sounds like a confident, possessive puppy who believes she is higher rank than most of her family. There is nothing wrong with that in itself- I've had very submissive puppies and I've had one who pushed every button possible (and when she was finished pushing those buttons she invented more.) It's just what some puppies do. BUT..it needs to be properly handled right away if the people involved don't want to end up with an out-of-control dog a year from now. (...and if a person does not know what an 'alpha roll' is, it's much better not to try it. Trainers are all over the board on whether this actually works.) IMO puppies need crystal clear rules and, when necessary, discipline. They also need an equal amount of praise and affection. I hope I didn't come across as harsh- that wasn't my intention. It's just very sad when people choose not to do their puppy-raising homework and then give the dog up when it becomes too much for them to handle. Hopefully this won't be the case this time.

I agree with Natalie...not every dog would be comfortable on the top rung of the social ladder. Barra is top dog but defers to me in just about everything. Your puppy needs to learn asap that she is NOT in charge...of anything. Everything in the house belongs to YOU, most importantly the toys and the food. Here is a great article you may want to read. While I don't necessarily agree with the auther on every subject, this one is spot-on IMO. Hope it helps shed some light on things. Good luck. http://www.leerburg.com/puppygroundwork.htm

Originally posted by Lunar: Any ideas on how to convince an old, stubborn man to change?? Keep plugging at it!! If I can convince MY hardheaded father to switch from Purina Dog Chow (not to mention stopping the yearly vaccines) anyone can do it. Patience is the key!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........................that sounds like my kind of meal. Only thing I would change is the fact that I'd most likely have TWO cans of Irn Bru.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best, IMO....don't go to dog parks. IMO people are asking for trouble if that many loose dogs are in the same area at the same time. A good portion of dog owners don't know the first thing about obedience and 9 out of 10 wouldn't know what to do to prevent a fight. (This isn't aimed at anyone, please understand- it's just an unfortunate truth. Most of us don't ever think we'll be in that sort of situation so it just doesn't cross the average dog owner's mind.) I'm fortunate enough to live in an area with plenty of alternatives to the off-leash parks. We meet up with our share of other dogs and their owners, everybody says hello, and then we're on our way- the dogs are not forced to remain in close quarters with a group of strangers. Rant finished...sorry about that. Just my two anti dog-park cents.

Great pics Kristi, and I quite like the one you took of Mac. What restraint he's showing.... And congrats on your first time out! That's always the hardest- from now on trialing ought to be a breeze, right?

Hi Sheena, Sorry to hear about Glyn! Is the pain on the same side that his surgery was on? I found this link for you- maybe it will help diagnose the problem (or help you find out what it's not, at least.) http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.p...&S=0&C=0&A=1755 I'll let you know if anything else comes to mind...poor guy. My fingers are crossed.

Hi Sheena, Sorry to hear about Glyn! I found this link for you- maybe it will help diagnose the problem (or help you find out what it's not, at least.) http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.p...&S=0&C=0&A=1755 I'll let you know if anything else comes to mind...poor guy. My fingers are crossed.

I agree with pretty much everybody else here! I worked at an animal hospital for many years and can't remember keeping a routine neuter for any longer than overnight MAXIMUM. You are well within your rights to check out other clinics because it sounds like you're being taken advantage of. ...as an aside, is it true that PETA neuters pets? Am I the only one who thinks that sounds completely contradictory?

I had to watch this twice because I was laughing too hard the first time! =P Who knows what sorts of loony things lurk in the mind of the average domestic feline...for example, I would like to know just WHERE that one cat thought it was going to land when it leaped from the couch and hit the wall?!?

Dixie girl- LOL!!! Unfortunately, those of us whose entire houses are not covered in lino (sarcasm mode) still need the occasional stain cleaner-upper. ...and Natalie, I feel for you! :eek: After Barra barfed on my pillow while I was at work one day, I decided to keep my bedroom door shut tight. If she's going to inflict some ugly on a piece of furniture I prefer it to NOT be the one I sleep on.

Originally posted by MrSnappy: I vote for Folex. That stuff is amazing. Another vote for Folex! Although I have nothing against Nature's Miracle I find Folex works just as well, is usually cheaper, and available at more stores- around here, anyway.

Originally posted by Pearse: Why are breeders obligated to take dogs back? They're not. Plain and simple. No breeder forces anyone to buy their dogs. You buy it - you own it. You look after it or find someone who will. This is what I'm hearing: "Hello......yes, Mr. Smith. Oh...Mrs. Smith has passed away? Such a shame. Yes....uh-huh....no, I can't take Spot back. Why not? Well, he's your responsibility now, isn't he? ....What's that? You say your job has transferred you and you can't take care of the dog anymore, and do I know of anyone who could keep him? Nope, sorry. Hey, I'm just the one who took your money- what happens to the dogs I purposely brought into this world after I get paid doesn't really interest me. Yeah.....you say there's a dog pound down the block? Well, you do what you have to, Mr. Smith. It's nothing to do with me anymore. Have a nice day."

Diane... http://www.arnpriors.me.uk/

"Breeze doing manwork"............now THAT caught my eye. Welcome to the boards, Maggie, and I would be interested to know if you've had any success with your collies doing bitework (from an unabashed French Ring fanatic!)

Originally posted by Dixie_Girl: Hey all,,,,,,I finally figured out what AKC stands for! Another K-9 Cloned! ROFLMAO!!!

Originally posted by Lunar: "I have just two words for all those people out there who insist on entering their dogs in these beauty contests- "German Shepherd."" Would you mind explaining that? Sure. What I meant was that the dogs bred from Czech/DDR lines bear little to no resemblance at all to the dogs you see in the show ring over here. I mentioned the GSD because to me it is the most obvious example of what happens when you start breeding for looks. People looking for a Police service dog or a Schutzhund competitor avoid American showline dogs like the plague, and for good reason. The last time I watched German Shepherds in a conformation ring, it made me ill. The Winners Dog could not even stand up properly, but hey, it sure looked fancy prancing around the ring. There was one DDR-bred male entered, a gorgeous black sable powerhouse, and the judge all but ignored him. Up here, the CKC does not recognize border collies and I couldn't be happier. I cannot compete in obedience but I can still do pretty much everything else with a bc. Anyone that thinks that the AKC won't do to the border collie what it did to the GSD is fooling themselves.

Well put, Dixie Girl. I think, though, that after over 200 posts on the subject, if people's minds have not yet changed they never will. You can warn some folks until you are blue in the face but they are either too misinformed or too stubborn to get it. :mad: You are absolutely right- after all the quotes and research and emotion has been taken out of the discussion, let's make a list of breeds the AKC has improved. ..................? Can't name any, sorry. I have just two words for all those people out there who insist on entering their dogs in these beauty contests- "German Shepherd." ..and bobh, man alive, you sure showed us. Thank goodness there are enlightened, open-minded folk like you out there to show the rest of us the way!! I was happy with a physically sound, PRA-free farm dog that has never seen the inside of a show ring. Boy howdy, I guess I was wrong!

Ouch... Barra developed a hot spot after swimming a few summers ago- just started chewing and worrying at one spot on her side until her skin was raw. I did NOT want to use steroids or antibiotics unless I had no other options, so I tried a mix of apple cider vinegar and water (1:10) in a spray bottle, and it cleared up very nicely.

It's not just you. :confused: Aside from everything else, if the most important thing a website can list about the sire/dam of a litter is their COAT COLOR then I say put a big fat red flag on this one.

Originally posted by JBP: I would wonder about cholestatic disease *grumble grumble* I tried to Google this one but only came up with large animal (horse) cases. Wouldn't a bile duct problem have shown up on an abdominal ultrasound, though? I don't know for sure and of course never considered this while the u/s was actually being done. And yes, I have considered going to a holistic vet- there are a couple of fantastic vets within easy driving distance. I think that I will try to grin and bear it while she is on the antibiotics (no steroids- *shudder*,) get the bloodwork done again, and take it from there. I'll remember the Marin as well, and see if I can get some after she finishes the Vit E & Milk Thistle I bought last week. I REEEEAAAALLLY don't want to put her (and myself, heh) through the stress of an exploratory/biopsy if it's not absolutely necessary but this rotten dog is not your average everyday pet. Which I am sure most of you understand, right?...