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Messages - shine

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1
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Posession Aggression...HELP!!
« on: March 20, 2008, 01:01:45 pm »
When I joined this board several months ago, I posted about Bodhi showing posession aggression toward Ribbit, our Cocker Spaniel mix....and now things seem to be getting worse.

I am ashamed to say that we weren't very proactive in dealing with this situation when it first arose.  The problem seemed to be only with Ribbit, and we figured he was part of the problem....he is notoriously grouchy (typical Cocker), growls alot and attacked Bodhi a few times when he was a puppy and got too rambunctious.  Our way of handling this has been to keep them apart during potentially dangerous times.  I know we should have handled it differently, but we took the easy way out because we life is busy and hectic and we were nervous about them having another fight.  Avoidance seemed to be the easiest solution.  Unfortunately, I think this has helped cement in Bodhi's mind that no other dog should be around food or toys in his presence.....a nd this week he has shown aggression to two of our other dogs...

First, I was sitting on the couch eating Chinese.  Only Bodhi and Rio (our lab/beagle mix) were in the room...the other four dogs were in their kennels in the basement.  Bodhi has never shown any aggression toward Rio....but suddenly he lunged at her snarling.  It scared her to death and she squealed and ran away.  Bodhi didn't persue her....it seemed like he just wanted to scare her off more than actually attack her.

Then, I was feeding the dogs in the basement.  I let everyone out into the yard but Ribbit...becau se of his past problems with Bodhi I keep him in and give him his food in his kennel before I let Bodhi back in.  After I fed Ribbit I let the others in....and Dolly got close to the table where their food bowls were sitting and Bodhi went after her.  She also ran away rather than fight, and Bodhi didn't go after her. 

With Ribbit, things are much more tense.  Bodhi has a fit if Ribbit gets near any kind of food....whethe r it be a bowl of dog food or groceries that we are putting away.  He will go after Ribbit if he gets near him when he has a toy.  They are usually okay together when I am handing out treats, but if one drops on the floor they will fight over it...so I keep ahold of Bodhi's collar.  Lately I have been paranoid that they will fight even when there is no food involved, because Ribbit often growls at Bodhi anytime he comes near him.  Ribbit rarely backs down, and this rapidly escalates things and turns into a full-fledged fight. 

I'm really confused about what to do.  We had a trainer come out to our house a few months ago....he didn't give us many ideas.  Said we should drill a big eye-bolt into the kitchen wall and short leash Bodhi to it while we are eating.  It's an idea, but I don't think restraint is the same as training.  We live in BFE, there are no other trainers within 60 miles of us. 

Bodhi is so huge.  I am afraid he could kill Ribbit without even trying.  His size also makes him very hard to handle during a fight...he is stronger than me.  And since he is not even two years old, he still has Puppy Attention Span issues....when he gets jacked up it's hard to get his attention to train him.  Ribbit is also a problem.  He's always been testy, even with us....he will snap at us when we reprimand him....I think he would need to be muzzled to be thoroughly trained. 

Any tips, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated.  I can't let this get any worse....can't let Bodhi think he can go after the others for being around food or toys.  I am starting to get paranoid....he has never shown any aggression toward other dogs in public, but when I took him to the vet a few days ago I wouldn't let him sniff the other dogs for fear that he would attack them.  I'm sure my tension is affecting him as well.  What training techniques can I use to curb this posession aggression??

2
Games & Jokes / A Few Funnies!!
« on: March 04, 2008, 11:21:22 am »
My aunt sent me these this morning.  Her taste in humor is generally much cleaner than mine...this is probably the first time I have ever posted "clean" jokes...but they made me chuckle:

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said "I have an announcement. It appears we have a case of gonorrhea here at the convent!"
"Thank God," muttered an old nun at the back of the room "I am so tired of Chardonnay..."


and another:

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.Sudden ly, her husband burst into the kitchen. "Careful," he said, "CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my gosh! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! They're going to STICK! Careful. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the! salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!" The wife turned to him and exclaimed in exasperation. "What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?!!" The husband smiled and calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving."

and my personal favorite:

A man was sitting watching TV when his wife's car came screeching into the driveway. She jumped out, ran into the house and yelled, "Honey, I won the Lottery!! Pack your bags!!"
The husband jumped up and down smiling and waving his arms and exclaimed, "WOW! The Lottery! What should I pack for...the beach or the mountains?!"
"It doesn't matter," his wife replied. "Just get out."


LOLOLOL!!


3
Good Grief...how could someone be so stupid and rude??  Would she go up to someone who was with their child and say "Wow, that is one of the ugliest children I have ever seen....I hope you don't love him too much or spend much money on him, because his ears are too small and his skin is the wrong color!" 

4
I cannot bring myself to watch the video.  I know it would haunt me for weeks.  This bastard should be dishonorably discharged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!!

As far as the public opinion backlash....I doubt that he cares if people are upset with him for murdering a puppy.  He probably likes the attention.  However, I'll bet it would upset him to know that people view him as a pathetic macho jerk with an incredibly small penis.  Many guys who do horrible things like this are overcompensati ng for insecurities they have about their size or prowess in bed.  They want everyone to think they are so "manly"...and it really bothers them when people see otherwise.  If you want to cause this guy any kind of emotional distress, include a small penis comment any and every time you mention him.  That is probably the only thing that will get to a loser like this....

5
Some of the most common reactions people have to Bodhi when I take him out:

"OMG, that's the biggest dog I've ever seen!!"

"Holy Cow...what is that?!?"

"He looks like a bear/buffalo/Wookie!!"

I've had several people argue about him being a Newfoundland.. .they insist he is a brown Saint Bernard, or a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.  One guy told me he was a judge in dog shows for years so he knew that "there are no BROWN Newfoundlands!".  I told him to Google BRONZE Newfs and learn something, lol.   


6
Newfoundland Pictures / Re: Isn't he cute???
« on: February 26, 2008, 11:00:34 pm »
OMG!  That really is Bodhi's twin! 

Tell me about your Newf....is it a boy or girl?  Name?  How old and how big?  It looks like yours is a bit older than Bodhi....hair seems longer.  Bodhi is not yet two years old so he still has a bit of puppy fuzz. 

I notice that your Newf has lighter fur on the tail and haunches as well....I didn't know if that was common with the Bronze Newfs or if it was just a Bodhi thing. 

How great to meet another Big Brown Dog!

7
Newfoundland Discussions / Re: I love my dog because...
« on: February 26, 2008, 12:18:15 am »
Damn, I feel guilty because I only listed things about Bodhi....now I have to add the other dogs....

Zildjian (our dalmatian) is a big goofball.  Not too bright, farts all the time, and refuses to let any of the other dogs have fun without trying to break it up.  She so desperately wants to be Alpha Dog, lol.  She is incredibly lazy....will sleep all day if you let her.  She INSISTS on having her favorite spot on the couch.  And when she relaxes she lets out this incredible drawn out GRRROOOOOOAAAA ANNNN, like "Oh, I've had the most stressful day....!".  But she is very affectionate, and loves to be hugged!

Dolly (weird hound mix) has the greatest smile I have ever seen.  If you say "Schmile, Dolly!" she will squint her eyes and turn the corners of her mouth way up....it is so hilarious and adorable.  She is my husband's "other woman"....unabashedl y worships the ground he walks on.  She is our prissy girly-girl, but has the most pleasant personality and is the most grateful rescue dog in the world....was less than 3 hours from being gassed when I saved her, and I swear she knows it and thanks me every day!

Ribbit is our grumpy, macho Cocker Mix.  He is so adorable people get stupid when they see him....looks like the puppies you see on calendars sitting in a basket of flowers....but he hates that.  He wants everyone to think he is Big Mean Scary Dog, lol.  He is the World's Greatest Lap Dog....just flops on you like a ragdoll.  And when he wants attention he gives you his best soulful, sad look....and then smacks you right in the face with his paw!

Stubby is our terrified Corgi Mix.  He was abused and seems to think everyone in the world is out to kill him, except Mommy, lol.  I am the only person he really trusts and the only person he will listen to.  But in spite of his fear, he is a spunky and fierce playmate....he can run like the wind and turn on a dime on his short stubby legs, and has a blast letting the other dogs chase him and then giving them the slip!

Rio, our geriatric Black Lab/Beagle mix, is my heart walking around dressed in shiny black fur.  She is without a doubt the most loyal and true friend a person could ever have.  She would die for me, I am sure.  I've never seen such pure love.  She is a Champion Tuggy Player....Bodh i will drag her across the house, but she won't let go no matter what.  She is incredibly smart and has a huge vocabulary.  She loves the water, and is First Mate on our boat.  Just the sweetest dog in the world!

They are all such wonderful and unique individuals, and I feel absolutely HONORED to share my life with them.....

8
Newfoundland Discussions / Re: I love my dog because...
« on: February 24, 2008, 01:11:19 am »
Okay, some of the many things I love about Bodhi (if I listed all the things I love about all my dogs I would blow the server, lol)....

How he always manages to look like an explosion of brown fuzz, no matter how much I attempt to groom him

How he smells, even when he is damp and particularly ripe

How he smacks his lips before he falls asleep

How he rolls onto his back and sttrrreeeeeeee tches when he wakes up

The soft but prickly fur under his nose

How he throws his big paws at people in a sign of friendship, not knowing it is like punching them in the face, lol

How when he really wants something he will go through his entire repertoire of tricks (one of the has to work!)

How he wakes me up by smashing his big wet nose against my face

How is he such a big baby and comes running to me for comfort when he hears a strange noise

How he just shoves anyone and anything out of his way with his butt

How he will let me put my whole hand in his mouth to pull out something he is not supposed to chew on, and looks at me like "Awww, Mommmmmm...."

His sheer joy at sniffing around the yard

How he always waits to belch until he is right in front of someone, lol

How he puts his big head on my lap and stares up at me adoringly

How one look at his big fuzzy face makes all the things that are stressing/worrying/bothering me just fade away....

9
This looks like most of the pictures in our family album.  Every time I flip through it I tell my husband "I didn't get my love of animals from anyplace strange!".  I think the only pictures of my dad as a child without a critter in his lap were the ones taken at school, lol....and there are very few of me without our Irish Setter that I grew up with.   

It's a wonderful childhood quality to hang onto throughout your life, isn't it??  Aren't you proud?  I am!

10
One of my pet-sitting clients has two Corgis.....one is neutered and one is not.  The reason for this is that when she had the first one neutered, her boyfriend was so upset they got in a big fight and did not speak for days! 

We also have a friend who went through all kinds of complications after a tubal ligation because her husband refused to have a vasectomy.  Rather than him spending 20 minutes on an outpatient procedure and an afternoon sitting on a bag of frozen peas, she spent weeks feeling horrible and going back and forth to the hospital.  It was nuts (no pun intended, lol!).  I think she should have refused to give him any until he got himself fixed!

I guess I am lucky....my husband was all too happy to have our pets neutered, and didn't put up a fuss about his own vasectomy.  We had agreed to it while we were dating....then when we got engaged and were deciding on a wedding date I told him I was not walking down the aisle until he was snipped.  He made the appointment the following week.  Either he really wanted to marry me, or really thought I would be a horrible parent, lol!

11
Newfoundland Pictures / Re: Isn't he cute???
« on: February 24, 2008, 12:26:16 am »
Why yes he is and he wants to live with Auntie Julie. I think she should send him UPS to my house right now. LOL.

Seriously, though, he looks so nice to snuggle with.

He *IS* nice to snuggle with!  That's one of my very favorite things about him....that he loves to snuggle.  He just about smashes me when he does it, lol, but I love it and tell him "You make Mommy's heart sing!"!

12
Newfoundland Pictures / Isn't he cute???
« on: February 23, 2008, 05:22:37 am »
My latest picture of Bodhi lolling on the couch....one of his favorite things to do.  It was so cute I just had to share it....

13
The poll about spaying and neutering reminded me of this.  There is a company that makes prosthetic testicles for pets.  No, I am not kidding.  They are called Neuticles. 

http://www.neuticles.com/

I first heard about them when I was a Vet Tech and we got literature about them.  I've talked to several vets about them....they say the main customers for them are

#1 - Men (this goes without saying, lol)
#2 - Women who sneak their dog in to get them neutered and have Neuticles implanted so their husband won't know, lol

I have to say, I don't get it.  Like a dog cares whether or not it has testicles for the world to see??  But who am I to say......to answer the question in the other post, I had all my animals and my husband neutered!! LOL!!

14
I am always looking for indestructable toys.  Not for Bodhi....he is quite gentle...but for our Lab/Beagle mix, Rio.  She's the smallest dog in the house but has jaws like a Pit Bull, lol!  She will destroy a Kong if she gets enough time, and she beats all the other dogs at tuggy....they drag her across the floor, but she never lets go!

15
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: Favorite Art/Artists??
« on: February 13, 2008, 04:38:08 am »
Pyr4me....I didn't know you lived in Livonia!  I grew up in Ann Arbor...lived there for more than 30 years.  Been to Livonia many, many times.  Always happy to meet a fellow Michigander!

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