kelpiegirl

They are all very different. One caveat though, just because a pup seems to be all business (tail down, focused), doesn't always equate with he/she being able to take the pressure needed to form a good working dog.... Damage can be done without even knowing it. Sounds like Devon is cool though As to Daisy, I would say she's pretty normal We need pics next time!

With the popularity of the program "Hoarders", I got to thinking the other night, about the dog people I know (myself included). What do you all feel is the line between lots of dogs, and hoarding? Is there a line? Is there a clear deliniation? I bet if you ask non-dog people, there would be no distinction.... My feeling is that if you have the resources/funds, and time to handle the # of dogs you have, and give them a quality life, whatever that may be, then, I believe that you are not in the hoarding realm. The other thing, is that I have been watching "Pitbulls and Parolees" lately, and this woman and her band of helpers have about 200 Pitbulls at the rescue. I can't help but wonder if this is a bit "over the top"- meaning, this woman has got to be so overwhelmed every single day- is this a life for HER? Has she lost herself? What do you all think?

'Tis true then, everyone has their own "plan" I feed twice day, even though growing up, we always fed the dogs once a day- at night. I have two dogs who get acid reflux, or some such issue if I don't feed twice a day. I have one old boy who is big, and I can't imagine giving him just one meal (it would be near 4 cups at a time), and the youngsters, well, they would just DIE if I only fed once per day. Would be nice though....

Once? Twice? Just curious. I thought everyone fed twice a day, until recently.

I am so sorry. I know you loved him so. Please know that we all shed a tear for anyone who loses a dog who brings with them so much love, loyalty, and strength.

Read that the other day. I see both sides of the issue, but know, unfortunately, in the end, the ranching way of life will be lost to atvs/mountain bikes and hikers.

So great that they got them back. Now, it's time to do some surveillance, and find that truck with the two miscreants. Losers.

Notwithstanding any physical issues, if your dog is dropping bars due to the handler's motion, then the dog needs more work on jumping. You need to do jump chutes, and you need to have him learn to jump irrespective of what you are doing. Eventually, after a long while, you will need to get him to learn to be ready to get direction in the air, for the next direction he will be headed, but right now, he needs to walk before he can run, if you know what I mean. Jump chutes work wonders with many chronic bar droppers. Once he is reliably keeping those bars up, then you introduce the handler, but with OUT hard direction changes. You need to go slow, and re-teach him to jump clean.

You know, as I get older, and more entrenched in the dog life style- you know, spending lots of time with dogs (more than with people in some cases), I have come to learn that no dog is 100% trustable. Some may be. But, I chose to err on the side of caution, and prevent, rather than react. It's a lot to ask dogs to handle strange people in the house, and then, have those strangers behave like they are one of the pack, if you know what I mean. It happened. Nothing to do about that, but what you can do, is prevent this in the future- and do not allow your dogs to be unsupervised, with strangers. When you are getting food ready, or that sort of thing, keep him with you, and instruct everyone to ignore the dogs. I some times use the word "shy", as people seem to get that better- they think of shy children, and how you can't push yourself on them. Also, dogs many times prefer quiet, so a nice crate, with something to chew, will probably trump keeping tabs on myriad visitors...

My answer would be to see how the dog works

In my opinion, there are two issues here. One, the state of the pups- the living conditions, and socialization, or lack thereof. The second issue is that these pups are not with the original breeder, and the person holding them may not have full information. There is no point speculating, but I always say this- go with your gut. If you get to a place that offends your sensibilities in a large way, just turn around. You could always contact the original breeder, and see what the story is.

ACK!!!!!!!! Send me that kitten, or a clone NOW!

How is your pup? Did she have the surgery? I know that PRAA occurs in just about every breed, regardless of the lines. Like I mentioned, applaud you for trying with her.

Recently, I decided it would be good to teach Lucy how to shed, since she will have to do this eventually My friend took Lucy and I under her wing one day, and showed us the basic principles. But, like most things, this sort of fell into the get to some other time heading. Anyway, the other day, a bunch of us got together, and I was working Lucy on driving. Sheep were tired, and heavy, and leaning on her, so I thought this would be a good time to try and shed. So... I got my sheep settled at my feet, my dog at the proper distance, and I proceeded to mimic what I have seen my trainer do so many times. And, it worked. I basically made the sheep stay off me, and since my dog was being calm, they weren't clumping. I then bent down and called her in, when I saw an opening. She came right in, and we walked that sheep all over hill and dale. Just today, I said what the heck, let's see if that was a fluke. This particular group of sheep needed more settling, and once we got them sort of stopped, I again mimicked what the people who know what they are doing do, and got my sheep calm, facing either my dog, or to the outside. I called her in. She came, and segued nicely into driving them off with nary a command. ??????? We are team plug along. We just plug plug plug. How is it that we could actually do something succesfully more than once in a, well, long time? I may have to try this again soon, just to make SURE it isn't some collossall fluke...

In reference to a dog getting neutered, and FOUR pages of bluster that follows

Weird. Seems like this topic is being haunted by a Poltergeist. First, the fact that said dog peed in the vet's office- not a big deal. I have, on occasion had several of my dogs do this. It happens, it isn't exactly free of other dog smell, and a fun place. Second, watch the scrotum- some dogs can have complications where there is a bleeder in there- a blood vessel was not adequately crushed, or ligated, and you can have a build up of blood, which can be major in some instances, and must be dealt with with promptness. Third, keep him quiet for now- do what the vet tells you to do, and look for issues with the incision- undue swelling, redness, and pus. Fourth, dogs will embarrass you sometimes, not matter what you do. I have a Boxer who one day, while at a dog show, walked up to a girl I didn't really like, and lifted his leg on her. Luckily it was raining, and she was wearing her Frog Togs. Anyway, good luck with your boy

I would make sure he is drinking enough, that should take some of the hardness away

I would write a list of questions to give to your surgeon (and let him take it, so he can take his time to answer). Heart surgery is risky in anyone. So young, but pups can be fighters. Regarding the esophagus, that may be true. You will find that pups in litters who have defects, may have other, unseen defects. I admire you for being strong, and helping the pup. Please keep us updated.

That's just great!!! I am glad you gave both another try, and well, now you will have to, um, "find" another dog to work

Thanks for that Laura, NOW.... I get it

That's a new way of looking at it Deb, thanks. Now I won't have such a knee jerk negative reaction, I hope.

Well, it harkens back to people referring to dots on the Border Collie's heads, and that being called the off switch. Visual? Hard to articulate, just feels like it dumbs down the dogs. To expound, it implies that Border Collies need that switch, and without it, they are nuts. When, in fact a good working dog is not a crazy animal when not working, regardless of the presence of that switch.

"Should I take my city dog to sheep? And if I do, and she shows talent, what then? Will her life be a sucking void if she can’t do herding more than, say, once a month?" That was the initial question... Of COURSE chasing small animals is not the trainer's fault Allowing a dog to chase sheep is. Um, that "off switch" term, I have to say, annoys me.

Wouldn't #2 be the trainer's fault? Maybe I have been lucky, but I have found that trainers that I have gone to DO protect their sheep, first and foremost. I have never worked with a trainer who allows a dog to run amuk.

Regarding turning on the predatory instinct- it's always been there, and would probably have been turned on anyway. Sheep work requires obedience, basically first and foremost. That in and of itself should get you a dog who "joins up" with you, and yearns to listen, and the reward is working, not chasing the sheep. I don't agree with Anna's assertion about exposing dogs to sheep, knowing that they won't continue. I do know that dogs have memory, but they also live in the now, and they don't, I can assure you go to bed crying every night that they can't work sheep. If you keep your dog occupied, both mentally and physically, then you should not have a dog that chases livestock (your fault anyway), and a dog that is happily adjusted to a life without sheep. Many of us started our time working sheep on a bit of a lark, and have become entrenched. Many have not. I say take a lesson with someone good, and go from there.