Big Paws Only Dog Forums

So, some of you know how worried I was about leaving the "kids" for a week or so. Well, my Grandmother asked me to stay here and live with her for a couple months. So the dogs (along with all the other animals) will be cared for by my parents. I'm scared crapless!

I know their basic needs will be met (food, water, shelter) I'm just worried they won't get the physical and mental stimulation they need to thrive. Especially Sky! I've told my Flyball coach she's more than welcome to keep working with him, or just letting him run around with the other dogs but I don't think she'll have time with her 5 month old BC keeping her on her toes. My step-dad may take them for the occasional fair-weather walk, which Sam is content with but I need some ideas on easy ways to keep Sky busy and thinking during the day.

Gosh, I am totally in worried mom mode right now. But I know that people, especially family, have to take priority over dogs. But I feel guilty because these are animals that I have taken responability for, and I feel like I am abandoning them.

Moni! Your rats are super beautiful! They make mine look like little mongrels! I think Despearoux (sp?) is coming home with me. His coloring is so nice! The Pink Eyed White is also super cute! They all are!

ZC- Hairless aren't born furry, all rats are born naked (hence the reptile owners' term "pinkies") and most start growing fur around a week old. But when you breed a rex coated rat to another rex, you get doubles rexes, and they grow a full coat by around 2-3 weeks, then slowly loose it again. (There are other circumstances where a double rex can be produced, I think) At adulthood, double rexes can have varying amounts of fur. My girl Mambo is a DR, but she has very little hair.

Moni, it's funny that you have a hairless named Tembo. My next girl rat is going to named Tempo, to go with Mambo.  They'll have to be little rat friends. It'd just be too cute... Tembo and Tempo. 

Moni I didn't know you kept rats! Cool! Don't you just love the hairless?

Brittney- Nope! I've heard of it and I'm so excited to try it once the weather is nicer and I don' have to try so hard to keep them warm. Do yours like it?

Ditto, ZC. Plus, even if the actual cloning didn't have bad affects, why would you clone a dog that died of cancer? 

Okay, they're still way big, so use the scroll bar until I re-size them again.

 

Ok, so I re-sized them all in Photobucket. How do I get them from there to here?

CongRATS! Haha, I'm funny.  You'll love having them again, I'm sure. Post pictures of course when the baby comes home! You should message me the name of the breeder/website!

If I may be so bold... Would you consider getting two? Rats are VERY social, and although they love humans, they really do so much better with a rat friend or two. Plus, I always use it as an excuse when I can't decide between colors! 

Julie, just do it! What can Rob do, run away and scream like a little girl? At least you'd have comic relief.  

Keiko sounds just like my cat. She stalks them, licks her lips then looks at me and walks away.

I totally hear ya on the littler box too! Just imagine having 2 boxes, one of which is for a rabbit who poops and pees in it faithfully (thank goodness) then digs in it. Litter and little rolly poops all over, and one dusty, stinky rabbit. Hence her name! Haha

So I just got word that not only is there a hairless litter due next month, but there are TEN rats looking for rescue from being snake food. (but they're all hooded   )So needless to say, my colony is SO growing in the near future.