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Messages - smsmith

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16
Groans, Gripes, Brags & Boasts / Re: Congratulations Tsu Ling!
« on: July 24, 2006, 03:13:06 pm »
Very beautiful indeed!  Congratulation s -- a triumph indeed considering Einstein was up there for so long.   ;)

Happy to see a new face.

17
Discussions & Information on Grooming / Re: Double coats and shaving
« on: July 14, 2006, 12:39:01 pm »
Quote from: Tajsa on July 14, 2006, 11:29:18 am
Their coat is made to protect them from the sun and bugs. It also helps regulate the body temperature. I personally don't shave Kiah. She does pant a lot in the summer. Just make sure the dog has plenty of water and shade.

The panting is what made me question the shaving thing -- even shaved, he's panting a lot.  Another reason to have thick-furry dogs above the Mason-Dixon line, I guess.


18
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Re: Einstein's cure for barking (& other undesirable behavior)
« on: July 14, 2006, 12:37:34 pm »
Well if you could see the way he avoids water -- except to drink!  He's TERRIFIED of it.  Which, of course, is why it works  :)

19
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Re: Einstein's cure for barking (& other undesirable behavior)
« on: July 14, 2006, 09:44:52 am »
Quote from: KFC on July 14, 2006, 09:42:17 am
I have to say that I keep a water pistol fully loaded in my house.  It only took one time of squirting Kaila to stop her unwanted behavior.  Usually you just have to bump the water gun and then the manners are immediately remembered.  You are looking at it the wrong way when you are thinking of it as a threat.  I look at it as the two minute warning bell. 

I guess I'm humanizing the dog again, huh.

Thanks

20
Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Einstein's cure for barking (& other undesirable behavior)
« on: July 14, 2006, 08:54:13 am »
For several weeks, Einstein had sporadically started barking in the middle of the night (usually just about the time I had drifted off again).  Finally, it occurred to me one night about 2 am, that he HATES water!  I went to the kitchen, grabbed a measuring cup and filled it up.  I went to the front door (where he stands guard against the cats parading by at all hours) -- told him to stop barking (which he ignored) -- then tossed the water on him.  HE WAS SURPRISED!  He tried shaking it off -- then became very submissive. 

Best of all -- he didn't bark anymore that night.  Or the next night.  I was beginning to think I'd taken all the spunk out of him, but occasionally he'll start barking at odd things happening in the neighborhood.  When I tell him to stop, HE STOPS.  I keep the measuring cup on the front porch -- couple of times I've had to grab it to remind him. 

It also works when he's out in the front yard and I'm ready for him to come in the house.  If he balks, all I have to do is show him the measuring cup and he comes running.

I wouldn't ordinarily have resorted to threats, but that bark of his would wake the dead -- specially  when it's completely quiet in the house.  I don't want to reinforce his fear of water either, but I haven't had to actually get water on him again. 

His new attitude toward discipline has greatly improved my life -- and consequently his.  He even moves when I'm trying to get in and out the door. 

I wonder if could start marketing water as a miracle cure for recalcitrant dogs.  :)

21
Discussions & Information on Grooming / Double coats and shaving
« on: July 14, 2006, 08:43:48 am »
The other night I was watching the dog show on Animal Planet.  One of the judges was talking about double-coated dogs and why you shouldn't shave them because the outer coat of hair helps them regulate their temperature. 

I've kept Einstein shaved since early Spring, but lately I'm noticing he pants a LOT, even in the house (I keep it at about 78 degrees during the day).

Has anyone ever heard of any research done about this?  Should I let his coat grow out so he can stay cooler?


22
Newfoundland Discussions / Re: My dog is smarter than me!!!
« on: July 14, 2006, 08:40:31 am »
Somehow this doesn't surprise me. 

Since Einstein, I've really been trying to see things from HIS perspective.  What seems to be childish behavior, as in "not matured intellectually", could actually be the secret for humans to be happier -- using ALL your instincts, taking things as they come, letting go of things that are past, etc.

So even though they LOOK and ACT like babies, they have the benefit of gabillions of highly tuned taste, hearing and sight instincts helping them assess every situation.

Sorry -- just started getting really philosophical here.

23
Collars, crates, & other cool things / Re: What kind of collar does your dog wear, and why?
« on: July 14, 2006, 08:31:22 am »
Einstein wears two collars -- usually.  One, a red nylon collar, for holding his tags and for when he sits in the front yard (chained to a post!).  Second collar is half nylon half chain -- for walking.  I put it up high on his neck, right behind his ears and walks very well -- especially the first 10 minutes when he's RARING to go. 

Typically if the vet doesn't let him dry enough before putting the collar back on, it will turn his white fur pink, but that's rare.


24
Groans, Gripes, Brags & Boasts / Re: HUGE VENT!!
« on: July 11, 2006, 03:55:19 pm »
3 cheers for not "accidentally" letting go of Gunther's collar while that kid egged him on -- a few minutes of being stood on by Gunther might have cured him from running around like an idiot in freakin dog park!

Einstein likes to sit in our driveway (I share with my neighbor).  He's on a chain -- long enough for him to run around, not long enough to get into trouble.  Neighbor's granddaughter & her friend (about 9 - 10 yrs) decided they wanted to pet him.  Great idea from 20 feet away.  Of course as soon as they get near, he's up and wagging his incredibly big tail, pouncing around to see if they'll play.  And the girls run in terror, only to try again in a few minutes.  After about 3 times, i have to go bring him in the house till they forget about THAT entertainment.

Kids without supervision are bad enough, but when the kid's mom is standing right there, .  .  .  THAT's the kind of mom who raises a psychopath.  No discipline, just rewards all the time.

I applaud your mom for taking the initiative -- when his own mother wouldn't -- telling him to get out.

Signed,
Don't do dog parks anymore

25
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Question for BIG Fluffy Dog owners...Great Pyrenees, Leonberger, Newfie
« on: July 03, 2006, 02:40:25 pm »
Goes back to his thinking for himself -- I'm not always sure he'll WANT to come when I call.  Most times, he's pretty happy to do what I ask, but there have been times when he refuses to get up (try moving 100 lbs. of white shaggy dog). 

This may all be greatly alleviated when we go to obedience training together.

I've only had him since January -- and he's changed 180degrees since then.

26
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Input please...
« on: July 03, 2006, 01:59:27 pm »
If you look at the black outline around the boston's leg -- the one up high -- you can it's been cut out of the original photo and pasted onto another photo.

What was the caption? 

27
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Question for BIG Fluffy Dog owners...Great Pyrenees, Leonberger, Newfie
« on: July 03, 2006, 01:55:02 pm »
Quote from: BlackGreatF on June 30, 2006, 05:48:22 pm
I am looking in the future for a BIG brother for Kuma.
I am curious about each breed.
I figure I will ask questions to these owners.

Well South Russian Ovcharkas are rather rare, but they are big and fluffy! So here goes.

How are these dogs as puppies?  Don't know -- adopted him at 4 years old.

How are their appittes (sp?)?  BIG.

Do they have rear dew claws?  He does.

Are they obident (sp?)?  OMG, my spelling is BAD :'(
   Self-reliant (translation:  does obey when he knows it's in his best interest)


Would you trust your furbaby off leash in the park?
   Nope.

Are they really hyper?  Nope

What are their weight?  about 100 lbs.

How tall are they?  34 inches at the withers.

How's the drooling factor?  Slight.

If you could change something about them what would it be?
   Nothing

Any agression? If any, what are they?  Nope

Any flaws in your opinion??  Flaws?  Nope -- just personality quirks that I have learned to accept (like deciding whether or not to be cooperative).

Your furbabies grew up and now they are grown, what should you have done while they were wee things that would have done him/her better now?  N/A

Did I leave out anything??
Please add...

THANK-YOU for your time  ;D

Ruta

28
Saint Bernard General Discussions / Re: Help - Tbone is itchy!
« on: June 30, 2006, 08:32:18 am »
 I switched Einstein to Evo which contains NO WHEAT -- and we use Malaseb shampoo.  It's cleared up his yeasty-red spots.  lately, we've both been itchy cause the weather here is going bonkers -- flooding one week, low humidity the next.

29
Meet & Greet BPOers / Re: Texas get together?
« on: June 21, 2006, 09:43:21 am »
Excellent!  Any suggestions on where to meet?

30
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: big and non-aggressive: top picks
« on: June 20, 2006, 09:44:32 am »
I third this.  After everything I've read about aggressive behaviour it seems to have two major causes:

1)  puppies taken from Mom too early
2)  anxious, fearful personality development (which of course, comes from being indulged/abused/neglected, having no discipline, and lack of exercise)



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