Allie+Tess&Kipp

Because her dog is the problem. My dogs are not the problem. ETA: I live 1.5 hours away and have to travel by ferry. If the ferry were shut down (happens often in bad weather -- snow, fog, wind all can shut it down for the day) I would not be able to get home. She lives 20 minutes away--no ferry. Her dogs would be home alone for about 2 hours. Mine would be home alone for about 10 hours, and there is a chance I would not make it home at all if the ferry were shut down. My dogs are crated when I am gone. Her dogs have free run of the house and a dog door. My dogs never bother my dad's allergies. Hers do every time. Also, my parents LIKE my dogs. They WANT them to come. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

Sorry, I do ramble on a bit here. My mother-in-law has two Boston terriers. One is fine. The other one is a pain and won't leave my dogs alone. At Thanksgiving, he just never quit and my dogs never got a break from him bothering them. I already know her dogs would be fine left at home alone. For when we visit my parents to do Christmas stuff, I would prefer she left her dogs at home. My parents do not care either way, but would prefer my dogs to be comfortable instead of completely stressed out. I know she will be offended no matter what I say, but I want to make it sound like my dogs need for her dogs to stay at home and not that it is some personal thing. My dogs get really stressed around this dog. It is obvious with panting, hiding, resource guarding of people, etc. -- none of this is usual for them around people they like, especially Kipp. I can sequester my dogs in the bathroom, but this is not fair. They are not at fault in any way and they are miserable in there, away from everyone, and even worse is how my mother-in-law's dog taunts them from the other side of the gate in the doorway. My mother-in-law would never consent to putting her dog in the bathroom. To top it off, my dad is allergic to dogs. My mother-in-law never bathes her dogs so my dad ends up with a huge allergy attack whenever he is around them for more than about 10 minutes. I wash my dogs the night before we visit and he never is bothered by them. I can't bring this issue up, though. I could probably have my mom ask my mother-in-law to leave her dogs at home this time, and she may take less offense to my mom asking. But it is not my mom's issue, it's mine, so I don't like to ask my mom to do that. It might be more polite to have it come from my mom, though, since it is her house? And if I am the one to ask, how can I put it so it is polite, even if it does offend her? I've already had to ban the problem dog from my own house, since he marked all over everything last time he was here. If he comes here, he has to wait in their car while they are visiting. Needless to say, she is not pleased with that. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

Aww. Such cute pups!! I hope you can find them good homes. Glad to hear nearly all of them are spoken for! Actually, my two (3 years and 2 years) are STILL massive handfuls. But with such intelligent dogs, it is not hard to teach them what you want, and housetraining my two was very easy. I think it is generally recommended to wait until a pup is 6-8 weeks old to take it away from the litter. Puppies learn a lot from each other, and from their mom, but if you can keep the puppies together (even if you have them without mom around) until they are 8 weeks old, that would probably be the best. For housetraining, I highly recommended this article: http://www.bcrescue.org/housebreaking.html That covers all the information you need to know and it is a very quick read! Both my dogs go potty on command and I must say it is a very handy thing, especially when it is pouring rain out! Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

I do! Though I am thanking a goddess, but it's pretty much the same thing. I LOVE to go outside, and now I have company every time. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

That's lovely! Thank you for sharing. Happy 3rd Thursday in November, everyone! Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

Tess, my shy and submissive dog, will growl, snarl, show ALL her teeth, and bark with all her hair standing up -- on command. One time while walking the park, I had stopped to tie my shoe. Some shady character was approaching and Tess started her alarm barking. I turned around here was the shady character leering at me. I said "GO AWAY!" and Tess went completely berserk, lunging, barking, growling, teeth flashing, the whole bit. The shady character spun around and RAN the other way. I gave Tess a cookie. Good dog. Glad you made it home okay, Beth. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

My dogs have their own spaces in the back of the car, and they don't have a window to stick their heads out of... Tess is obsessed with cars and will lunge at them as they go by, so she has to lay down in the car. Kipp just watches the scenery go past, so he is allowed to sit up. They have to have separate spaces because Tess does not like being stepped on.

Tess had ZERO interest in fetching for a long time but is now a passable fetcher of things, but only certain things and only if I stand in the right spot in the yard for her to bring it back. However, she LOVES tug games so if I throw a cloth frisbee (a tough one), she will bring that back ASAP because she knows she gets a brief tug game every time she brings it to me. I have to keep the fetching toys very special and for fetch games only or else Tess is not interested. Kipp has been fetching anything thrown for him since he was about 8 weeks old. I have to hide all the round objects or he won't stop. Fetching is great exercise but if they get too obsessed it is not such a good thing. My two have lots of games they play with me in the yard and in the house, and we do tricks, etc. too, to keep some kind of well-rounded thing going on. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

You might also put this in the rescue section... Have you contacted any GSD or Husky rescues in the area? They might know of people looking for a dog... Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

If you do a search for "breeder" in the subject line of past posts, you will find a wealth of information. Most suggestions revolve around going to sheepdog trials and talking to handlers there. I'm sure other (and more helpful!) people will be along shortly. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

Poor kitty. I hope the medications help and he is able to return home soon. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

This has always been my favorite of the contradictions. My dogs wear collars all the time. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

I'm sorry to hear about Ike. But I agree that you should treasure the happy memories you have and not fret over switching foods sooner. Glad the Canidae is working out. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

Tess half lifts one leg when she pees. She actually gets farther off the ground that Kipp does most of the time. If Kipp lifts his leg too high (happens often!), he immediately loses his balance and runs off, glaring at whatever he peed on like it was at fault. I laughed out loud the first time and he was very offended. Now I just keep my snickers to myself. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com

What a cute pup! If he tolerates you petting him, you can introduce the brushing gradually as described above. When he is tired from playing or perhaps when he's busy eating a meal, brush him the one or two strokes ONLY and praise him, happy voice, etc. Both of my dogs run when I get out the brush. I get less attitude about it if I use a brush or comb that is plastic (and thus a bit more flexible) than one with metal teeth. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com