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Post by Ozarks Tom on Sept 3, 2016 2:14:00 GMT
For some reason I'd like to talk about dogs. I've had dogs all my life, starting with a chow/lab mix when I was 2 years old. Best dog ever, fiercely loyal, smart, and seemed to be a mind reader to boot. The name I knew him by was Rags, I don't know what his original name was, but he got his final name when he tore the mailman's pants to rags. He was a bit more territorial than was most, in that we had to read our own electric and gas meters, get a PO Box, and when I wasn't delivering papers we didn't have have one. I lost him to a lowlife dog catcher when I was 15, who shot him in front of our house after missing him with his catch stick. What happened to the dog catcher is a whole other story.
Now we have 3 dogs, a Great Pyr, a "walk-up" mutt, and an Anatolian. We consider the Great Pyr to be a blessing, we'd just bought 5 sheep to start our flock and couldn't decide on what animal to guard them with. We'd heard donkeys are great at it, but they don't differentiate between coyotes and domestic dogs. We'd looked into Llamas, but wondered if we could handle an animal that big if it got contrary. We investigated different breeds of livestock guard dogs, but with sheep already on pasture couldn't get a pup to protect them, and wondered if a rescue dog might have too many problems. Then, a neighbor who had sold her Alpacas and was moving to Hawaii asked if we would take Driver, a two year old with great instincts and a gentle nature. We're surrounded by coyote packs, but in 5 years we've never even seen one. He's not part of the flock, but he guards the perimeter fence all night, so as long as they're inside the fence they're safe. Driver, being a pure blood Pyr, he has hip problems. Before we started giving him arthritis medicine you could see his pain in winter.
So, we thought we'd better get a LGD pup for Driver to train. We'd met some preppers who had both Great Pyr and Anatolian LGDs who'd bred a half Pyr/Anatolian to a pure blood Anatolian female. Last November she had 10 pups, 3/4 Anatolian. We picked him up the first week of January at 8 weeks. He was so small he could walk through the mesh of our field fence. My wife wanted to name him Chuck. Chuck? Nope, his name is Turk. Yesterday he stood on his hind legs, put his paws on my shoulders, and looked down at me. We must be feeding him right. He's learned his job, standing just behind Driver as he barks at unseen coyotes with the voice of a bass singer on meth. Scary.
But, he doesn't give any guff to our little "walk-up" mutt, she keeps him in his place. We found her in our flower bed one day, snarling and afraid. The vet said she was about 12 weeks old. Someone had booted her out, I guess figuring all country people love animals and someone would take her in. Well, she hit the lottery. She had over 300 ticks on her, tiny little buggers that would have killed her in another day or two. When we put her in the bathtub to scrub the ticks off she started whining, so my wife said "it's all right Princess, we'll take care of you", and she had her name. We figure whoever had her must have had kids that tormented her, as she barks and snarls at anyone under 4' tall. I doubt she'd bite, but we don't let her around youngsters just in case. I've told the story here of her traumatic homecoming after being missing for 10 days, so I guess she's twice blessed.
We try not to spoil our dogs, but we have had comments to the contrary. Just because we make their dog food with pork roasts (yes, plural), brown rice, and pureed veggies 6 gallons at a time to mix with their dry food, keep them groomed and their ears clean doesn't mean we're overdoing it, they'd do the same for us if they could.
So, tell us about your furry friends.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Sept 3, 2016 19:04:34 GMT
Speaking of dogs, I ran across this interesting bit of information. When you praise a dog, it's listening not just to the words you say but also how you say them.
That might not be huge news to dog owners. But now scientists have explored this phenomenon by using an imaging machine to peek inside the brains of 13 dogs as they listened to their trainer's voice.
The reward pathway in the dogs' brains lit up when they heard both praising words and an approving intonation — but not when they heard random words spoken in a praising tone or praise words spoken in a flat tone, according to a report in the journal Science.
"Dogs process both what we say and how we say it in a way which is amazingly similar to how human brains do," says Attila Andics, a neuroscientist at Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary.www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/08/30/491935800/their-masters-voices-dogs-understand-tone-and-meaning-of-words
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2016 20:33:46 GMT
I've been blessed with having dogs my whole life. The love of my life, Chase, came into my life in 2003 when the humane society I was volunteering for got a call from the county pound that they had a JRT they had just picked up. I agreed to foster him and after a short adoption that didn't work out I decided to keep him. Chase was a hunter. I lost track of the number of raccoons, opossums, ground hogs, etc that he treed and dispatched either on his own or with our help. In 2006 a neighbor ran him over in our driveway. Broke his leg and he was on leash duty for 6months. During my divorce in 2010 my soon to be ex wasn't going to let me take him. Mainly just to hurt me rather than any love for Chase. Finally after arguements and his sister getting involved on my behalf, Chase came with me.
He went to work with me everyday from 2011 to 2013. He traveled to baseball games, vacations, everywhere I went. In 2011 a cancerous tumor was removed from his stomach. In 2013 he suffered a stroke. He kept bouncing back tho.
In March 2015 he stopped eating. A trip to the vet diagnosed him with inoperative liver cancer. He was the best and I miss him every day. I would gladly give 10yrs off my life to have him back, healthy and happy again.
Gracie, came from the shelter in November 2014 as a 16wk old pup. She's a blue nosed Pitt bull who's a love bug and a handful all at the same time. She adored Chase while he ignored her except when he needed to discipline her. She loves people and is a hit at ball games.
Gizmo, came from the shelter in August 2015. Another JRT. I cried when I saw his picture and wondered if I was being fair to Chase's memory. When I visited him tho, it was love. He's my protector. No one can touch me, including my husband without him voicing his displeasure. Lol. Typical JRT. Full of energy, spunk and a hunter. He and Gracie are best buddies.
My dogs are my kids. I'm blessed to have them. Just wish they could live forever.
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Post by fordy on Sept 3, 2016 22:29:27 GMT
.........I'd like to have a small dog to partner up with ! But , I simply can't afford the fee's that vets charge for the basic maintenance items most dogs require . So , no doggey for me . , fordy
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Post by gapeach on Sept 3, 2016 23:22:16 GMT
Fordy, I don't know where you live and am not asking you, but around here there are many Vets who offer shots at local drugstores, pet stores and even at Walmart parking lots at a very low price. It is hard for us too to afford Vet's fees but I do a lot of reading on the internet and taking care of my own dog when she gets hurt and when she is sick. I am not going to hesitate to take her to the Vet if she is really sick but I treat her myself if she has an upset stomach that does not run on for days. Our vets have always told me to give our dog Tums if the tummy is upset, and Immodium when she gets Diarrhea. I also know how to bandage her and put antibiotic creams on her when she gets a laceration. I treat her for allergies too. We give her good food and she is very healthy.
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Post by popscott on Sept 3, 2016 23:59:45 GMT
Gus the Donkey is our guard...
As my wife runs a doggy rescue, we have any number of rescue dogs at any given time, with maybe 30 max at our peak. Personal dogs we are holding at 9. I have buried many a friend and can say there were a few that might be considered special, but all in all, they each had their own unique personality and charm.
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Post by gapeach on Sept 4, 2016 0:13:37 GMT
I love dogs, all kinds. It really hurts to lose them. The only good think about losing your Best Friend is that you can love again. \
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Post by mnn2501 on Sept 4, 2016 17:26:11 GMT
Patches, our previous dog (gone for a few years now) was a rescue from the Humane Society. She was an escape artist and a runner. She also loved going on walks and she knew what the leash in my hand meant.
One time, shortly after we got her, she dug out under the fence. There were apartments behind us where we were living at the time and she started running down the long fence line. I had seen her when she was just crawling under and grabbed the leash and ran out, holding the leash up so she could see it, I called her name. She turned, saw the leash and came running back to me, cause she knew that meant she got to go for a walk.
Hey, I didn't say she was a smart dog.
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Post by gapeach on Sept 4, 2016 18:12:50 GMT
Our Sammie was a rescue, very neurotic and has a lot of anxiety. She is much better after living 4 years with us but she will always have high anxiety. She is really bad about lightning and thunder. She has instinct too to know when the weather begins to change. She is very loving to us and our family but still is wary of strangers. For almost 2 years she was a fence digger. We tried a lot of things in the backyard to reinforce the fence down about 12 inches to stop her but no shock because of her anxiety. Eventually she stopped even attempting to dig out and now she will not go outside anymore unless she has to potty. We are lucky though that she was completely housetrained when we got her. We never have to worry about her going in the house. We tell we will give her a treat if she goes to potty and she does.
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Post by 7thswan on Sept 5, 2016 1:54:05 GMT
Dogs are the # 1 people in my Life, and I've had many. My Angel was my soul mate, yes my DH knows he is my life mate but my Angel, well he is a portal for the Truth in my world. I can't say enough. Today, my just recently blind because of diabites old Rotty named Shady (Shadow of Magic, Magic, another rottie ,long gone), Shady is having fear issues with when I leave the room and with our young rottie, he's afraid of baby taking his food. Well, I gave Shady a couple of cold cooked burger pattys and he gulped one. He was chokeing to death and I had to do the heimlick on him ,twice. The second one did the trick. I learned how from a doggie first aid book. Leave it to me that anything I learn,life has to test me. I had to help one of our cows once after I fed her some pears.... I could tell many storys of my Beautiful best Family members, and I will but I've had a long day. I'm so glad you all love your Pups like I do, all Dogs are Angels.
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Post by Foghorn on Sept 7, 2016 3:55:43 GMT
I have much respect from our canine friends and companions. Although I see this symbiotic relationship for a thousand reasons in which I will not bore the masses. And... without being incredibly loud and extremely close I believe those dang cats are involved here to. But, as for the dogs. I think their friendship is a gift like few others. Dogs never needed man. Cats simply tolerate us. But we have always been in need of them throughout time for various reasons. I have always been of the opinion that it is not we who choose them but that it is them who for all of there short lives choose us. I miss all of my friends who have gone. But each was with me right when I needed them. The photo here is an ink sketch I did of a dog who was referred to as my brother. (*I.E. ONLY CHILD ) His name was Bailey "Bad-Boy" Einstein. Registered thoroughbred. Funny thing is his parents were both black labs. Bailey was yellow with a pink nose? Any how... Crazy old dog. Miss him dearly just as I miss all of my friends. Could write books about this alone. ~ Foghorn
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Post by gapeach on Sept 8, 2016 0:05:51 GMT
Labs are such good sweet dogs and so good with children. I love your sketch.
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Post by farmrbrown on Sept 8, 2016 1:20:29 GMT
Too many stories to bore people with or tire my hands with typing them, LOL. But another thread jarred a memory I wanted to share from my youth about unexpected rewards and friendships ................ countryconservatives.proboards.com/thread/3089/new-versatile-gun-dogWhen I was about 9 or 10, my dad had recently sold or gave away the last of his bird dogs, he was working too much to hunt anymore. My granddad suddenly called to say he found a stray hound in the forest with his hunting buddies and no owner could be found. The dog looked pitiful, he couldn't take her but could we? "Sure, drop her off." Bonnie was maybe 3-5 years old, and probably a mix of beagle, coon hound and others. She was so shy and scared it took awhile just to pet her without cowering. We didn't know anything about her except she was hungry and lost and scared. She eventually regained her trust, with lots of love and was loyal and protective to a fault. Let's just say we had no unwanted solicitors at our rural house and her M.O. was to lie in the hedges and wait until you were halfway between the car and the front door before she let you know you were in BIG trouble, LOL! She wasn't mean if she knew you and I think she got blamed for things that she didn't do, or did because the other person was up to no good, like "borrowing" a bike when no one was home. After a neighbor lost a chicken, my dad decided she had to go, unproven or not, he didn't want trouble with the neighbors........and it was better if they didn't have any reason to come back, if ya know what I mean. He called my granddad again and asked him to help. Since he was on his way to go deer hunting, he came by and got her. mind you, she had only been a yard dog for the last year or two and no one ever saw her hunt a thing. Grandaddy called a few days later....... He got to the hunt camp and there were several other hunters with their dogs. The next morning Bonnie jumped the first deer, almost bringing it down herself and proceeded to lead the pack baying and running it right to the guys. She was relentless the whole weekend, everyone got their limit and every other hunter only wanted to know, "Where'd you get her and how much? I want that dog!" I still get a tear of joy, because although I never saw her again, and cried when my dad made the call, I knew we had done right by her in every way. (Shoulda been an Andy Griffith episode)
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Post by Foghorn on Sept 8, 2016 3:21:40 GMT
Thank you gapeach! I had this blown up and printed on canvas as Christmas gift several years ago for my mom. Labs are wonderful creatures.
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Post by Foghorn on Sept 8, 2016 3:25:59 GMT
Great story farmrbrown. We had a coon-hound we adopted after catrina. He was an amazing character I have to say. We called him Souper Man. He protected my family as if they were his own.
~ Foghorn
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