sunshian

This won't help you but it just reminded me of how my cat used to poop on the spare bed if we had visitors.....while they were sleeping....funny those people don't come to visit anymore... Who knows what happened. It will be interesting to see if it happens again. Might just be coincidence that it happened two times? or maybe the proper cleaning will help out.

LOl "angry little man" that really made me laugh!!! I always wonder what his deal is. Isn't he the one that tries to "fix" the relationships between the humans as well? Does he even have any training in the field of human relationships? I didn't realize he was Canadian either. that's unfortunate. What days/nights does Animal PLanet show Its Me Or The Dog?

I personally don't think playing tug = aggression. Although it might sound like it at times with all the noise that goes on while he tries to hang on. It took a while to teach him to tug in the first place and I hope to keep playing tug because...well....it's fun! And it's a great indoor game on these cold Winnipeg days. Anyway, SweetC I did make a big deal about the new tug...hmmm...i'll keep that in mind for next time! Haleigh I agree, it does build confidence. This once chicken of a dog didn't know how to play when I got him. Once he started to figure out the whole playing thing he's really changed...for the better! Oh well...he'll eventually give in to my requests to tug. ZoZo one of the reasons I bought a tug was because I want to take him to flyball and didn't want to show up with the itty bitty piece that was left of his "tug towel"...can you imagine? goodbye fingers! lol.

Some interesting takes on the subject. I've heard the dominance agrument before too. I never let Cedar win the tug game and neither do my kids (we could probably even discuss the pros and cons to that). not that i get to play it anymore (can you tell i love to play it too?) anyway. I also think it teaches them that when the game is done it's done and yes therefore practices on/off switch. thanks for your input! The question still remains....why only now will he not play tug with me...there's something about that tug toy..... I tried again today and this was really odd and funny. I have hardwood floors so I went to the area rug to give him a bit of an advantage. I show him the tug and say..."play tug". Instead he jumped "on" my massage table....like i'm speaking some other language. I'm sorry but on and play tug do not sound the same. so...i try again and speak very clearly "play tug". and he looks over at my massage table. what the? someone is confused here, and it's not just me. The only parallel I see is that my table looks alot like a hospital bed with blue/white sheets. Since Cedar visits someone with the same color sheets in the care home and gets to go "on" that bed.... but still, i didn't say "on"...lol. I actually might sound frustrated here but I'm not. I really think it's amusing and a bit of a challenge to figure out what he's processing. I don't know...dogs see color don't they? so he sees the blue/white and knows the first thing he gets to do with those sheets is "on". wow. so maybe I need a pink tug because we used to tug with pink towels? lol he's partial to certain colors? he doesn't like the white tug I bought him? lol picky dog. I think I might try again tomorrow and make sure my table is put away. or go buy a pink towel and experiment.

So, I find it very odd that Cedar my 2yr old BC/GSD will not play tug with me since I bought him a new tuggie. I used to use old towels as tugs but as you can imagine...we've run out! He'll still play tug with my daughter....and they really get into it! He really loves it when she gets his new tuggie out for him. He plays frisbee, catch (ball/snowballs), hide and seek, fetch, etc, with me but not tug. I just find it odd is all. If I bring it out he'll just sit. We even experimented a bit with it. My daughter was playing tug with him, I stood beside her and he kept playing, then we transfered the tug to my hand and he immediately stopped. isn't that odd? what do you think?

Today was such an amazing day I just had to share it with y'all! After waiting a couple of weeks due to cold weather Cedar had his first look at sheep today! Cedar is an almost 2yr old BC/GSD. He's been playing me like a fiddle...so obedient at home...pretending to listen...making like he was all big/scary around other dogs when on walks...he really had me confused. Well....today I saw his true colors shine (and he saw mine!) Guess who's boss now baby! It was a bit of a shocker at first...Mom's boss...or no sheep! The look in his eye when he saw the stock...we both knew we were in the right place...it was amazing! I couldn't have chosen a better activity...not only for him but also for me. Guess I really was too much of a pushover (although I didn't realize until today). We still have lots of work to do but we really took a big step in the right direction today in terms of training. Guess he just needed some stern training with an amazing reward...sheep! My cats seem really happy about it all too. He hasn't stared them down at all this afternoon. Actually, he's sound asleep at my feet...zzz....counting sheep....zzz.... Shian & Cedar

Does anyone else read this as protective instead of aggressive? Sounds like she feels she has to protect you.

My education is in the human musculoskeletal system which translates over somewhat. When you fuse a joint you are asking for another basket of problems. I would definitely look for 2nd and 3rd opinions and discuss with the vet in detailed depth what the pros and cons are of this surgery. There are times when it's better to leave a joint as is depending on how it's affecting their dog. There are many factors to consider. When did it begin? How does it affect the dog's daily existence? Will it improve the situation? Are there other therapies to try before surgery? This is only my opinion as I am not a vet and have not seen the dog...please keep that in mind. I work with humans. I think you're on the right track though by asking questions.

I make my own pet food. This is what I do. Hope you can take something from it. Cedar and my two cats eat a raw diet. The staple meat is seperated chicken (aka: MSM) that I buy in 20kg boxes from the local poultry plant. ($30 Canadian) I portion it out into containers after I mix in the pureed veggies and keep it in the freezer. If I fed them this everyday it would last 6 weeks. Organ meat/bones/extras I get from the local butcher. These items generally don't sell for much and you can probably work out a deal if you buy several at a time. The butcher will be happy you took them off his hands. Also when I'm in the grocery store I look for discounted meats. Just keep an eye on the expiry date. This is when I usually will buy beef/rabbit/bison/fish etc... Eggs we get from a local Hutterite colony...a flat at a time..cheap. Oils are probably the most expensive item I add into the diet but the bottles last a long time. Add them to the meals fresh as freezing the oils really cuts down their value. As for pre packaged dog food....I have no clue. I only bought it once and was in shock at the price. It takes DH and I an hour to make up a batch of homemade food that lasts over a month and is specifically tailored to my pets. The only downside is it can take a few times until you figure out what veggies work best for your dogs so keep a written record of what you mixed in their food in case they are sensitive to some items. Okay, I'm going overboard here...but it's because I love making food for my pets as much as I love making food for my kids! And the look in your dogs' eyes when you bring them home some fresh meat...priceless! To help you out...check out some books at your library or bookstore. I can't remember the name of the book that I used to start out. I'm sure you'll find one that suits you best as there are lots out there. The books will talk about important topics like transitioning your pet to homemade food and things like digestive enzymes. good luck!

Wow, you might have well just been writing about Cedar minus the possessiveness. Keep going, I think they can only get better! It just takes work on a daily basis. A little lesson I learned this week was to not move forward too fast....it set us back a few steps. So hang in there and work at Buddy's pace. Sounds like you've been making progress the whole time and I think there are plateau's which could be taken as a blessing because it gives you a chance to re-evaluate and consider new strategies for moving forward! Never a dull moment

When I was a kid my Old English sheepdog slept in my bed with me and my cat slept on my head. Now (a couple of pet generations later) I don't allow Cedar on my bed, he gets the floor beside my bed. I bought him one of those overly priced dog beds and he is quite happy there. My two cats sleep on me on the bed. They are the true rulers of the house. Sometimes they will be mean and sit on the edge of the bed and stare down at Cedar on the floor as if to say "loser". I deter them from it as it reminds me of the siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp.

I don't know if I missed this in any of the replies....what about libraries? or finding used copies of the dvd's?

Well, don't feel so bad. I'm sure you're not alone on this one, especially for us northern folk. Now that the weather is nice your pooch will loose her paunch in no time. We had weather cold enough a couple months back that shortened our walks and before I knew it the ol' boy had a little extra round the middle and so did I ! Didn't take long and it started to shed away.....i wish it was as easy for me!

Ha...I wrote a few months ago....I wish I was planting a few months ago! It was last spring anyway...almost a year ago. my how time flies.

I voted yes. We live in the city and Cedar's safety is my responsibility, choice made simple. What drives me crazy is when I walk him on leash and we run into an off leash dog (not a great mix!). I'm also not very fond of people who allow their young children to walk their dog. A few months ago my neighbor was in front of my house with her two labs when a neighborhood child lost control (dog pulled leash from child's hand) of the family dog which proceeded to attack one of the labs (in my freshly planted garden to boot!). That's as bad as letting the dog out of the house free to roam the city streets, not to mention what could happen if the child was still attached to the leash!!! The lab was chased to one of the busiest streets in our city...luckily a man snagged the chaser and chasee returned to owner...safely. That just reinforced why I do not walk Cedar off leash in the city and why my children are not allowed to hold the leash.