Recent Posts by Lnkaye

Topic: General / Where do the candidates stand on animal issues?

Hi!

Here is a link to the Humane Society's animal rights report card for all of congress thru mid-term:

http://www.fund.org/pdfs/110th_midterm_humanescorecard.pdf

You can look up the presidential candidates by their state.

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / The importance of FIBER in a dog's diet

Pogo's had issues with her anal glands being impacted in as little as a month for at least a year now. A previous blog told about her big flushing a few months back at her Vet's. Well, after 3 months, she's totally clean and empty (hooray). I'd like to share with you the simple methods I used for success. The Vet said she needed more fiber in her diet (I was supplementing with pumpkin--canned). When I told him she was on Merrick canned and Merrick dry (very, very low in fiber content), he wanted to do what most Vets want: to put her on prescription Dr.Hills Science. I resisted because I don't believe in the ingredients of lots of corn and wheat for the fiber content (10% max). So, what I did was put my sweet Pogo on Blue Buffalo Weight Management which had 7% fiber, the highest of all non-prescription kibble. I supplemented with daily treats of sweet potato (dehydrated) which were also high in fiber. Well, her visit to the Vet yesterday indicated totally empty anal glands and a loss of weight(1 lb.). I am so happy that we have this under control and I wanted to talk about this because fiber is very important in most dog's diet! I'm sorry that I switched to Merrick more than a year ago, but I didn't know how important fiber is to a dog's health.

Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / how to get my dog to walk next to me

I have found in my experiences with many dogs that using a harness does stop the dog from pulling, especially IF THEY ARE USED TO HAVING THAT PRESSURE ON THEIR NECKS with a collar and lead. They've learned successfully in the case of a collar and lead, that a pull on the neck gets them to where they want to go and they become "comfortable" with that pull feeling. I have never been pulled by a dog (of any size and weight) who has a harness on. Just has been my experience with this area.

Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / how to get my dog to walk next to me

A normal body harness does not hurt dogs if they are fitted properly. My preference is the "Sporn" harness as it tightens and loosens as necessary to help teach the dog how to leash walk nicely. Other harnesses are fixed in their fit, other than the Premier Easy Walker (pricey), where the leash attaches to the front chest of the dog.

Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / how to get my dog to walk next to me

jehingr--- please be assured I was not denigrating your advice as being anything less than advice. There are two philosophies to training dogs: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. The method I outlined works in a positve reinforcement way: good behavior: good things happen. Don't pull on your leash and you will eventually go where you and I want to go. Popping a lead attached to a collar to a dog's neck is negative reinforcement: if you don't stop this it will hurt you. I am only giving the poster of this thread another option. My phrase "positive emphasis" refers to this philosophy of training, not that it is the ONLY way to train, but it is a choice that has become the most popular method of training used today.

Topic: Fun / How to photograph a puppy:

That was really cute! In many ways, sooo true. A good laugh!

Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / how to get my dog to walk next to me

Hi,

There are several other approaches to this with a more positive emphasis. When your dog pulls, plant your feet on the ground and do not move until YOU ARE READY TO. Most dogs pull because they have been used to being in "charge" of where and when they go. In order to teach "heel" requires lots of patience and training, again if you want to train in a "positive" way, then you must do the first thing I mentioned and then use a very tiny treat (reward) to guide your dog to where you want he/she to be in a heel. When you stop, if he/she stops, then give the reward. Border collies are very smart and should learn this behavior really quickly. If you want a shortcut to this problem, use a "Sporn harness" or similar. Most dogs do not like to have their bodies pulled or restrained and will go along nicely. I personally do not recommend the head harnesses as most dogs become freaked out and depressed with them while taking their walks. A walk should be a bonding, good time between a dog and their master/mistress!

Topic: General / Dog DNA Testing: Breed analysis

I have been watching several companies that do DNA testing for breed analysis to find out if they have more than 100 breed dna profiles. Specifically looking for the Plott Hound, which I am almost sure makes up a good part of Pogo's heritage. Well, just to let all you MDS mutt lovers out there know: Canine Heritage (Metamorphix) just completed their breed list to include over 100 breeds. They were one of the very first companies with the test. They use a cheek swab (no Vet needed) and results come back in a month. I just now ordered Pogo's test. Cost $119. I'm really excited to get the results! Anyone want to place bets on Pogo's report?

Topic: General / Breeding Dogs for the Right Reasons

Thanks Rob & Hershey. Is it possible to close a thread when it gets too emotionally heated? Typically a moderator would evaluate this and make the decision. Since you're the moderator, I believe it would serve the MDS community to end this thread.

Topic: General / Breeding Dogs for the Right Reasons

I never intended to say that nail polish on dogs was for the "show ring", but my intent was to illustrate how dogs are treated for one's ego. I see no value in nail polish on a dog. I also disagree on the dew claws. They do help a dog when he/she needs to turn sharply while running. If they were not necessary, they would have naturally disappeared thru evolution. As far as cropping/docking ears, I still stand by my comment. All hunting dogs would therefore need to have their ears cropped/docked. It is done to show off a particular breed as a fierce fighter. Why crop and dock ears of a family pet that would not need to hunt for it's master? It's all about human egos. Also, then all "hunting dogs" would need their ears cropped/docked! I cannot imagine a lab with cropped ears! What about the foxhounds, beagles, and most other dogs in the hound group which are well known for their hunting abilities? I guess the new "beagle" of the future would look docile with his/her ears cropped/docked. I cannot buy this at all. You seem to believe that dew claws are vestiges of days gone by. Why do you suppose dogs are born with them? Why do they still have anal sacs? Why do they need their canine teeth? Do you suggest that we re-engineer dogs to do away with these things because they don't have the uses that a modern domestic dog requires? There is absolutely no reason to crop/dock companion/pet dog ears. The show ring will not accept danes, pinschers and others unless this is done. That's the irony of showing dogs, IMHO.

Topic: General / Breeding Dogs for the Right Reasons

I've been trying so-o-o hard not to get into this forum, but I've finally given in (hehehe). As some of you may already know I tend to be very opininated when it comes to doggies. Talking about show dogs, rescues, BYB, etc. is getting too hard for me to resist. Yes, I agree on birth control for dogs, yes, on show dogs usually done for the human ego, yes that puppy mills are equated (in my mind) with dog fighting rings, etc., etc. One aspect of showing dogs that gets me really riled up is the deliberate maming of body parts, like docking doberman's & great dane's ears, removing dew claws (which aid in protecting the legs from injury during running turns), to name just a few. What about the use of cosmetics on dogs, such as fur dye (chalks), nail polish? All for show?

I personally sat in on a dog behaviorist evaluating a dog from a rescue group, that had been a twice a year mom in a puppy mill for 4 years. The dog had only known hay, barn stall/crate her entire life. She was cast aside by the owner because she was no longer fertile. Never had any interaction with other dogs (other than her pups) or humans. She was scared of everything! Could not settle, paced. The bahaviorist (who loves dogs and has 4 of her own..all rescued) told the two ladies from the rescue that this girl would never be a good pet without alot of loving hard work and that unless they can give it to her, then they should not adopt her out to anyone! She will be miserable and any family that adopted her would be too. That was my first hand experience seeing a bitch from a puppy mill. Okay... now I've ranted enough. I just paralyzed my typing fingers (lol)!

Topic: Fun / What would you do????

I agree. If she promised you new Nikes, then so be it. Enjoy them while you can and then see what happens. I'm sure you'll still get din-din!

Topic: Fun / New Dog Breeds Recognized by AKC

Topic: Fun / Where did you get your name?

Pogo, 'cuz she jumps just like a "pogo stick", oftentimes without warning! She's almost 4 years old and still jumps high!

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Wellness - dog food

Wellness has been around for quite some time. Typically this dog food was only available in smaller stores that only sold "holistic" dog food. The food is a super premium type, with all good ingredients and no wheat, corn or soy. The protein is "animal" and is listed as the first few ingredients. Wellness is a division of Old Mother Hubbard. 

Topic: Support And Suggestions / Doggie Dollars

Hey Dwain,

That's odd, we had nearly if not exactly the same doggie $ before yesterday and then yesterday, and now today! That's really weird! I mean how coincidential can it be that we are the same in our piggy banks?

Topic: Support And Suggestions / Doggie Dollars

Yesterday my doggie dollars was up by about $30 and now today I am down about $60 from where I would've been at this point in time. I've been saving my $ for a big spending spree and now I only have $20. It doesn't seem to be fixed yet!

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / PROMERIS FLEAT & TICK WARNING

Dwain,

Are you familiar with Advantix K9? I've used this for Pogo since 2005. Being in MD, it needs to be applied year round (as well as Frontline Plus). Pogo has never had a flea or tick plus it repels mosquitos very effectively. It is administered monthly (by size) and runs down the length of the spine. It is also waterproof (bathing/swimming). I highly recommend it especially with Lyme Disease and Black Nile diseases affecting dogs in our area.

Topic: Puppies / Puppy age?

Typically, smaller breed dogs mature faster than larger breed dogs. Generally then, 1 year is considered more of the average. After that, dogs don't grow in height other than "filling out". Of course we realize that behavior wise, many dogs mature around 3 years old. For purposes of the contest, however, it appears that the young puppies are easily identified as really cute 'cause they're "puppies". I would suggest up to 6 months for this special puppy cuteness. Most dogs don't grow much after this age anyway.

Topic: Puppies / Shoe Fettish

With a new puppy, it's all about "management". Of course a puppy will want to chew shoes; that's the nature of their learning about their environment. Actually, there is some nutritional value to shoe leather! Anyway, remove the shoe rack out of Logan's reach for now. Teach him the "leave it" command if you want to do "positve training". If he stops doing something you don't want him to do with the command, then feed him a tasty treat. What you need to do is figure out how you want to train Logan. There are many methods out there, but I believe that the "positive"  one is the right way to go. It creates a wonderful relationship between you and your dog.

Topic: Puppies / Puppy Feedings

Hi,

How old is the puppy? What breed or predominant breed? If the puppy is less than a year old, the rule of thumb is to feed 3 times daily (puppy food only!). Sometimes the smaller breeds can be fed twice daily after 6 months. Good luck with your new puppy.

Topic: Support And Suggestions / dogs and the right one for you!

Thanks Olie for sharing your thoughts on this subject. I totally agree with you. However, I do have another point to make which can be best described by an experience a neighbor of mine had with her daughter and her daughter's dog. The dog was adopted from a shelter, a very sweet dog. At the time their daughter wanted this dog as her very own and promised to care for it, etc. Well, after a couple years, the daughter became a full fledged high schooler and became too busy with "boys" to be able to give her dog any time at all. Her mom told her that if she didn't care for the dog, it would have to go back to the shelter. Well, after a couple of months, that is exactly what her mom did, brought the dog in for adoption. How sad! So.. another question for you to ask yourself is can this happen to me? Afterall, the teen social thing is a very strong tug and only you know how much you are commited to caring for this dog for the rest of his/her life.

Also, there are small dogs available at shelters, but don't get a puppy as mentioned above. Good luck to you.

Topic: General / profiles not loading?

Hi y'all--- I'm having the same problem as mentioned above using IE7. Haven't tried it yet with Firefox.

Topic: General / profiles not loading?

I don't know... this fella looks mighty guilty to me! He's checking the bugs out!

Myspace Avatars

Topic: General / profiles not loading?

I'm going through these in IE7 rather than firefox. Here's what I've got so far:

--RileysMommy

--shepGrl182

--boogerface

--luckyboo

--Astrid

--Parker21

--Kathyintexas

I'll bark again if I come across any more.