The Pet Thread

[DL335D]

Wow...she's a boss lady. I'm positive your lady and my boss pug would be great friends...

[Lady Jane]

Talii didn't see her shadow. Early spring!




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[Dang3r]

Bibo is a bit evil if someone exposes his belly

[stein_325i]

Finn's enjoying the snow before its all gone.

[TXSTYLE]

I am happy to report that our first week with Zaya has been much better than expected! She has aclimated quickly including potty training and a steady decline in barking and crying at night or when alone. I followed steps I watched online and from the Breeder. I am also very happy that she loves the particular food choice I selected for her: NUTRO Ultra Puppy. The Breeder was pushing what most breeders do, Life's Abundance. After reading several unhappy owners reviews, I decided it was a hard pass. I highly recommend the NUTRO Ultra to anyone. Especially new puppy owners. The poop isn't very stinky and the consistency is easy to pick up. Her first visit to our Vet says she's in excellent health.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

I am happy to report that our first week with Zaya has been much better than expected! She has aclimated quickly including potty training and a steady decline in barking and crying at night or when alone. I followed steps I watched online and from the Breeder. I am also very happy that she loves the particular food choice I selected for her: NUTRO Ultra Puppy. The Breeder was pushing what most breeders do, Life's Abundance. After reading several unhappy owners reviews, I decided it was a hard pass. I highly recommend the NUTRO Ultra to anyone. Especially new puppy owners. The poop isn't very stinky and the consistency is easy to pick up. Her first visit to our Vet says she's in excellent health.

Adorable, how big is she expected to grow?

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Adorable, how big is she expected to grow?

Thanks Stein. Only 8-9lbs.

[TXSTYLE]

Any suggestions for hair cuts for those of you who regularly groom your pets? We are using mobile Grooming for less stress and exposure.
She received a shampoo and blow dry but she wouldn't allow the Clippers. Groomer says may take her getting a little older.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by Turkish Pickle

I've always wondered this, why is it bad to pet a service dog?

It is always wrong to pet or interact with service dogs, or to try to get them interested or responding to you. This is because they are working, and it is important to not distract or interfere. Petting, feeding, etc are activities that are for off-work time, and it can confuse the dogs, or weaken their training (and it is really hell for the person who is needing the service dog). A major part of the training is to ignore this, other dogs, noise, etc.

Of course, some people just slap on those vests, and then trot their untrained dog around for pets and admiration, or to show off how clever they are to be able to take their dog into stores/restaurants etc. It is obvious they are seeking the petting/attention, but still wrong to give it. This is even worse b/c it makes people think that a service dog is a glorified pet, and will potentially lead to less public support or restrictions for these animals (so not petting here is a form of shaping the asshat's behavior more than for the dog).

Originally Posted by Littlebear

He isn't mine, but yes, he doesn't like unsolicited touching!
I respectfully ask him, and he is fine with that approach.

Murf

This is really a bad move for an aggressive dog, even if it seems like a nice karmic way to either keep people away, or let 'em get what they deserve (believe me, I get it). You are putting on a formal/official symbol that basically says "I'm specifically trained to be safe". I think this makes you a special kind of liable when he finally chomps on the idiot who deserves it for petting a service dog (and boy does it give real service dogs a bad reputation when untrained dogs in vests act badly).

I work with a local training program, and many patients who use service dogs; this is a very real problem for them. If you want to be supportive, act as you would if they were in a wheelchair or had a cast on (i.e. don't make a big deal out of it, but be accommodating if you can; and don't touch unless asked to).

[Littlebear]

I agree with most of what Maynard said above.
But a real service dog will have a vest saying just that. It will not say 'Do Not Pet", which does not denote or connote training. A service dog should not be running & playing in the dog park with his "working clothes" on. Hominids do need to be educated about this.
This particular dog is fairly old, has never bitten, but does not enjoy dominant petting. He is not aggressive, but he can scare people. I appreciate it when an owner tells us this, just as I appreciate a dog with a muzzle if needed.
Onslow wears the below collar, but it is invisible because of his mane (his breed is in the AKC 'Working Group"). They still won't let him into the supermarket!

Murf

[Sara]

Would it be wise to bring a dog like that to a public dog park? If it were to bite because someone didn’t read or see the vest, is the owner still liable? Children don’t read vests and pet dogs all the time from what I’ve seen, and would you have to ensure everyone at the dog park can read English? That would be my fear.

[DL335D]

^100%. If I knew my dog could possibly bite I would definitely muzzle it and I would never bring it to a dog park. An aggressive German Shepherd badly attacked my boxer puppy at a dog park. I saw red and broke the Shepard's rear leg. To be honest that Shepard is lucky I didn't kill it. Don't put dog owners in that situation.

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Would it be wise to bring a dog like that to a public dog park? If it were to bite because someone didn’t read or see the vest, is the owner still liable? Children don’t read vests and pet dogs all the time from what I’ve seen, and would you have to ensure everyone at the dog park can read English? That would be my fear.

I think assumptions are being made. Prospect Park has a large & active dog owner population. We even have a dog advocacy group, "FIDO". We try to keep our park free of disruptive dogs, & people. Our off-leash rights are not guaranteed, so we police ourselves to a large degree. Someone always wants to take our off-leash hours away....
Almost any dog can "possibly bite" (how did you break the dog's leg?). I don't think "Do Not Pet" is an aggressive dog, & I haven't heard of any complaints. But some dogs don't suffer aggressive hominids too well. Better to warn these people than to not.
There are many people in Brklyn, many not too good with dogs. This is not the fault of the dog. The dogs can fight, which can lead to legalities (Onslow bloodied a Pittie this year, and sent a Rottie to the vet prior, with the owner trying to collect $$ from me). I've gone to court to get a dog out of the park.
I've been bitten breaking up dog fights, but dogs that are aggressive towards the hominids aren't tolerated, & are eventually driven out.

Murf

PS: Remember what Lucy of "Peanuts" fame said to Snoopy: "You're a dog & you'll always be a dog!" If a hominid can't handle that, maybe they should have a cat.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

Any suggestions for hair cuts for those of you who regularly groom your pets? We are using mobile Grooming for less stress and exposure.
She received a shampoo and blow dry but she wouldn't allow the Clippers. Groomer says may take her getting a little older.

We take ours to a local groomer. We used someone who was a personal friend previously that would come to the house but we weren’t crazy about stray fur on the patio or the quality (evenness) of her cuts. Best suggestion is to ask around friends and neighbors who they use, especially if they have a dog the same or similar breed to your’s. In between “major” haircuts at the groomer, they get baths and nail clips at home or at the groomer. Usually they are bathed every 2-3 weeks. Grooming with a “major” haircut is usually about 4-5x / year, and I try to time some before we go to Asheville where they tend to get filthy so shorter hair is best.

Congrats again on the pup. Beautiful little girl!

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

(Onslow bloodied a Pittie this year, and sent a Rottie to the vet prior, with the owner trying to collect $$ from me).

I'm assuming Onslow is your dog? I hope all dogs were okay.

This is the exact reason I don't allow anyone to pet or ride one of my mares. I don't take her on trail rides with other horses outside our own herd. She's nasty towards anyone and any horse she doesn't know and I don't have insurance that covers if she were to bite, kick, or throw someone or someone else's horse. I'd rather not be sued.

She sure is a looker though

[Sara]

Samantha's glamour shot

[Littlebear]

Yes, Onslow is my present Samoyed. All dogs survived! Onslow was attacked by both since he is very macho-alpha (or as we say, the lead dog in the sled team). But he is well trained, & for good measure wears an obedience collar. He also has great hair armor. The Pittie owner shook it off, the Rottie owner, not as well.
I'm glad you know your horse; if you don't know your animal, you are asking for trouble! They can almost be as bad as hominids....

Murf

PS: My sister had a horse; I couldn't even have a go-kart....

[Sara]

Horses > go karts Should've asked your parents for a gelding!

My second horse is the complete opposite of her momma. She is the sweetest, most lovable mare. She used to lay in my lap as a foal and nap. She still thinks she's a lap horse I've raised her since birth, so I'm sure that has something to do with how sweet she is

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Horses > go karts Should've asked your parents for a gelding!....

Well, way back then I wanted a Mustang!! (Boss 302 preferably).

Murf

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

We take ours to a local groomer. We used someone who was a personal friend previously that would come to the house but we weren’t crazy about stray fur on the patio or the quality (evenness) of her cuts. Best suggestion is to ask around friends and neighbors who they use, especially if they have a dog the same or similar breed to your’s. In between “major” haircuts at the groomer, they get baths and nail clips at home or at the groomer. Usually they are bathed every 2-3 weeks. Grooming with a “major” haircut is usually about 4-5x / year, and I try to time some before we go to Asheville where they tend to get filthy so shorter hair is best.

Congrats again on the pup. Beautiful little girl!

Thanks buddy!

[Lady Jane]

Training a Husky 101.


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[BMW003E]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Training a Husky 101.


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Also appropriate for Samoyeds.