Canine companions

Canine companions (Full Version)

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Vendaval -> Canine companions (9/8/2008 11:56:20 AM)
To be fair for all the CM dog lovers here is a thread about your loyal and devoted and terribly spoiled puppies, dogs and favorite bitches. I prefer the larger more mellow breeds like retrievers and shepherds. One of my dogs was a cross between the two and was great for fetching, herding people and playing in the lake or ocean. My oldest brother had a huge black lab/bloodhound cross that was a gentle giant and very protective. A previous partner's family raised Great Danes and they were very regal. What are your canine companions and their stories?

Aneirin -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 12:41:32 PM)
I had a welsh border collie when I was younger, the sort of dog you could not trick twice and as it got older, tricking it once became difficult. It went everywhere with me, even when I started work, building sites , it was always there and became a friend and guard to all my friends.We could trust it to guard tools, as there is nothing more unfriendly than a collie when it curls it's lip. For some reason it never liked the police and they got the curled lip just for the hell of it. I used to take it mountaineering with me, if a time came where the dog despite it's ability to climb started to worry, in the rucksack it went, just it's head hanging out, where it was happy. If I got a dog again, it would again be a border collie, it would be good for rounding up the cats around here. Oh, because of the creature's intelligence, it was trained as a SARDA dog ; http://www.sardaengland.org.uk/

LaTigresse -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 12:52:10 PM)
One of my favourite subjects! Right now I only have three in my house. Two were rescues that were special needs. The biggest and oldest is, Lauren, a 60# female shepherd mix that was born on a farm that a mentally challenged guy owned. Her mother was kept in a large pen with about 30 other dogs. There was no socialization with humans at all and she was rescued when the man died, she was 4 1/2 years old. Even though the shelter fostered her in a home for a year, she was still a mess when I brought her home. She would not leave the pantry except at the end of a 20 foot lead for months. Now, 3 years later, she is much better though still very jumpy and nervous, especially around men. Her favourite spot is the middle of my bed, cuddled with her best friend, Quigley the cat. The second largest is, Sandy, a 45# female shepherd/chow/coyote mix that I brought home at 10 months of age. Very sweet dog, also a bit shy and ellusive around new environments and people. She tends to be a bit hard headed and difficult to train. She works best with reward and encouragement rather than any discipline at all. Even a harsh voice will shut her down and send her running. She is my sweet sofa snuggle puppy. The third canine is Sophie, or Sophia Marie when she is in trouble, which is ALOT! A 10# miniature pinscher/papillion mixture I brought home as a 6 week old puppy last November 27 in a moment of insanity. As far as she is concerned she rules the world. Her ears are ginormous and so is her attitude. She is the clown of the house, she makes the big dogs back down, the cat heads for higher ground because she likes to run and bounce off of him (he is about 13# with a really low centre of gravity), I end up laughing until I almost cry and the male human of the house is totally wrapped around her little paws. Hardass macho ex career military man whom I asked to hold her while I cut her toe nails said this... "I don't want to because I don't want her to be mad at me..."

girlivy -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 1:15:37 PM)
Jake... A most noble and just all around silly "dum de dum" Type Yellow Lab/ Shepard mix. 125 pounds..So many wonderful stories. He was on his way to the pound when I was blessed to have found him, and had him for 13 years. Very smart, and such the actor! He would develop a limp at times, when he knew he had done something against the rules. When at the river, he would dive underwater and bring oysters to me. I watched him push the screen out of our 2nd story window, hop on the awning, then the top of the jeep, only to rest at the front door awaiting for my arrival home, it only took 2 times in "timeout" for him to brake that habit :) We would play hide and seek in the yard, where he would run into the center of the blanket and i would cover him, then run off and hide, when he would get out, he would find me (eventuialy) and both of us would run back the the "homebase" the blanket to do it again. He loved and welcomed all the other pets that my kids or I would bring home throughout the years, well, loved them as much as he could after testing them by tempting them with his toys. In his later years, running and fetching became very difficult for him, but we still managed by rolling the ball across the floor to eachother, and me trapping the ball and pretending to sleep (by snoring), in which he would bark to awaken me to continue to play... I can not say enough about him, he has truely taught me way more than I've learned from some people :) They are all so very special! ![sm=thanks.gif] for this thread

shyhuzzy -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 1:20:56 PM)
Great Danes have my heart, but presently have a rescue mutt that is awesome protection, small enough to go and big enough to get attention though he is 75 Lbs he seems small after having Danes for years, but would not trade him for anything. Shy

Hippiekinkster -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 1:25:13 PM)
I now have a little Shih-Tzu that a friend brought me two weeks ago. We're still getting used to each other. He follows me everywhere, though. I gotta give him a bath later.

coupleowl -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 2:51:06 PM)
We have a pitbull named Ravage. He is just the cutest little guy in the world. Ravvi is our best mate. We let him off his leash when out in the park (No leash laws here) and he doesn't stray to far. Ever notice that by having a dog when out in public everyone happens to be an expert on them?

Lynnxz -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 2:55:41 PM)
I'm not allowed to have a dog in my current appartment, so a few times a week I take my truck and go pick yp my parents dog, Missy. She's an overweight weimeraner- a little on the elderly side, and has a bladder control problem when she lies down, poor baby. I'll take her swimming with us, and to the dogpark... and through the McDonalds drivethrough, where the employees always feed her chicken nuggets and fries. ^_^

Aneirin -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 2:56:35 PM)
Is there any truth in the suggestion that dog types, tend to reflect their owners ?

smilezz -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 3:01:27 PM)
Hi Vendaval, I am in the waiting process for my baby Elsa! she is a 4 week old Newfoundland. The Breeder will let her go in several weeks, but it's maddening waiting. I have had Golden Retreivers in the past, one of the most loyal dogs I have had. I have never had a Newf before, so lots of reading has been done. I live in an area that caters to Dogs. Most of the parks here have and are Dog parks. It's funny to walk downtown and just see dogs with their owners sitting outside at one of the local coffee shops. I have been told that Elsa's Dad weighs in at roughly 180ish and her Mom weighs in around 165.........BIG PUPPY! grinz I can't wait!! I wish i had a story about her that I could share, but I am sure I will in the future. I can share this............I have not even seen her yet and I already love her! Happy Monday! -smilezz-

SilverMark -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 3:14:42 PM)
In My home there is a female cat Addie,2 outdoor cats(both spayed) , Fuzz, and O.C. (short for Orange Cat) and then My dog Earl. Earl is a long haired miniature dachshund. His total goal in life is to become the world's most well fed, least active long haired miniature dachshund and he is slowly achieving that goal. All 3 pets are spoiled, happy, family members and not likely to change much. Earl (I live in Georgia and I think it is a state law or something that there be at least one Earl in every household) is a wonderful companion and even though he tends to be a bit lazy in his "old age" wouldn't trade him for the world! Have no idea why, but for some reason I would love to own a Boxer, have never owned one, rarely been around one but still, would love to have one.

kiwisub12 -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 3:29:32 PM)
I was downtown Little Rock, on a Sunday, with no one around. I was sitting in my car with my door open, turned to shut the door - and a huge black dog was sitting between me and the door. I was a little scared until i saw that tail sweeping the street. I took her home, cut three grocery bags of mats off her (made her tail look really odd!), and turned her bath water brown. She was obese, and cost me $100 in vet bills and was the most loving dog i have ever had. Being on a good quality dog food took care of the obesity and when she dropped the weight, the arthritis got so much better that she didn't need her medication. My theory was that she was kept in the back yard and given a self feed with really cheap food. My kids and i would take her and the other dogs to the dog park - the others would run amok with the other dogs and she would run from one person to another for pets. There were people who would be somewhat taken aback at having a big black dog sitting infront of them with her paw on their knee, but give them a few minutes and she would have them around her little paw. She is the only dog i know that everyone who met her wanted to take her home. She would sleep with me - but she had to have her back to me - because of her doggie breath, and the whole running when asleep thing. I don't know how old she was when i picked her up, i just know that she had a grey muzzle, and worn teeth. She was the most gentle thing - our half papillion/terrier would straddle her and try to hump/dominate her, and she would very patiently wait until she was tired of it before she would get up and walk away. She would jump up and catch sparrows in mid-flight, and let them go - a bit confused, a bit soggy, but alive. We had to put her to sleep this week, she wasn't eating and sleeping and had an abdominal tumor. I have been very sad, and miss her so much. My only consulation is that if heaven is where we meet all the people that we love, then she will be there. She was a true personality, and i loved her.

BlackPhx -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 3:30:44 PM)
If they do then Komodo and I reflect each other. He is a 150 Lb male Akita and pound rescue and would follow me into hell and back again I suspect given half a chance. He hates when I have to go somewhere without him and I am working on service training him (the hard part is getting a brace handled harness) as he braces me as I move around the house. I don't have the best balance and can't always feel what I am walking on, but let me stumble even the slightest or have trouble getting up from a chair and Komodo is there. He doesn't bark when someone comes to the door, but he is right there with me when I open it, or his head is peeking out the window to watch the person, but the powers that be have mercy on those who yell at me. He will get between us and move the other person back, the entire time smiling and wagging his body. Get stubborn about it and he becomes far less nice. He still challenges Master for the Alpha male position apparently feeling that if he can't stay with his female and protect her but instead goes off for weeks at a time and doesn't even bring home fresh meat, that I need a better alpha..Him. He can't figure out what I see in such a poor provider (hehe), and he will grab for Masters side of the bed anytime he thinks he can get away with it. Like most Akitas he can be very stubborn, is smart as a whip and good natured though he loves Pitbulls with or without gravy..training him has been a dream and nightmare at the same time. He will only perform behaviors a certain number of times before growing bored and getting the "and we are doing this again WHY?" attitude. This means having to keep them fresh and limited in performance time if he is to learn. Keeps one on their feet to say the least as chasing balls and squeaky toys ain't in his reward choice. Treats and wrestling he loves for learning something new, but trust me, when the dog weighs almost as much as you do..wrestling is interesting. Ebony the old lady of the house was also a pound rescue and is scared of everything even her shadow. I was almost not able to adopt her as she was labeled an animal killer..supposedly having attacked a pig, horse, chickens and 3 dogs. We are talking an 85 lb dog that cringes when you pet her, apologizes for wanting water, to go out or eat and hides at any loud noise. 8 years after adopting her you would swear that I beat her bloody night and day from the way she reacts to people and hands... If I ever find out who owned her before I got her..I will make sure they are just as afraid of life and hands. She has reached the stage where life is no longer comfortable for her...and we can see the handwriting on the wall.. I hate that wall poenkitten

xXLithiumXx -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 3:52:33 PM)
I have a pack. Two red pits, a 4 year old female and a 6 month old female, no relation, sadly. I have a Female Black lab that is 3 years old, and a total hooker, she gets into EVERYTHING. I also have a 7 month old male Aussie Shep pup. He is the charmer, we call him Big Daddy and he curls his lip like Elvis and wags his nub. He's my daughters dog, and is loyal to the death. But I sneak a little lovin' in on him when I can. The pits are my babies, both of them spoiled rotten and about as viscious as a baby bird, though they will bark and make all kinds of noise when given the chance, the pup sounds like a Wookie when she wines, it is priceless. For all the bad press Puts really are awesome dogs, very loyal, very loving, great family dog, I wouldnt have any other breed, ever. The lab is the husbands dog. I adore her because she looks like black velvet, but she is rotten. She eats anything that will sit still and chases the rest. Shes a food bowl hog, and runs the others off. Her tail is a lethal weapon, but the same can be said of the Pits (neither are clipped in anyway other than sexually) shes a bed hog, but she loves my husband, and that is a task. Maybe they reflect on us...I really couldnt say, I dont remember what life was like with out my pack.

AnnaOfAramis -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 4:04:15 PM)
quote: I had a welsh border collie when I was younger, the sort of dog you could not trick twice and as it got older, tricking it once became difficult. It went everywhere with me, even when I started work, building sites , it was always there and became a friend and guard to all my friends.We could trust it to guard tools, as there is nothing more unfriendly than a collie when it curls it's lip. For some reason it never liked the police and they got the curled lip just for the hell of it. I used to take it mountaineering with me, if a time came where the dog despite it's ability to climb started to worry, in the rucksack it went, just it's head hanging out, where it was happy. If I got a dog again, it would again be a border collie, Ohhhh, this girl has always wanted a border collie! She is Welsh and they are seen so often on the hillsides with the sheep in England and Wales. They are so intelligent! However, she feels she would need enough land to have her own sheep (she looks after some on someone else's farm at present) if she were to get a border collie, so that the dog would have enough to keep it engaged.

missturbation -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 5:34:02 PM)
I have two dogs. The first is a 12 year old black and white border collie called Zak. He is my shadow and rarely leaves my side, he even works the pub with me. Unfortunately he is going deaf and blind and has arthritus. The second is Jake, an 8 month old cross border collie. Hes mainly white but has some blacky brown on him. He is absolutely bonkers. He had parvo when he was only 3 month old and spent quite a bit of time in doggy hospital. We still dont know if there are any lasting effects but we suspect he has brain damage from it as hes unresponsive to training and completely bonkers.

corysub -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 5:41:52 PM)
I have a Canadian Golden Retriever. They are mostly "white" in color versus the usual light or dark golden color. She is one of four goldens I have had over the years and probably the smartest and prettiest of any of the animals in my family. I swear, the girl can understand english. Whenever we talk about her doing something she seems to smile. Well...at least I think she is smiling....

Anarrus -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 6:00:25 PM)
I have 3 year old black lab named Buddha that I got a couple years ago through a dog rescue. Buddha's a super mellow guy and the best friend anyone could want. He's the 5th dog I've owned (all labs or lab mixes of some sort). I intend to get him a pal fairly soon and it'll most likely be another black lab. I'm addicted to them. It'll definately be a rescued animal. Getting a dog from a rescue is the only way to go.

TheHeretic -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 6:55:35 PM)
I had a rough moment last Friday. I was the first home from work, and my arctic wolf/akita wasn't there to greet me at the door. He is old, by big dog standards, maybe one black whisker left on each side of his face, his teeth are worn, and he is stiff when he gets up. The puppy still is penned in the downstairs bathroom while we are at work, so I let him outside, and called the old one. Nothing. I went upstairs, taking a couple deep breaths against what I might find. Nothing. Back downstairs, and a bit puzzled. The door to the guest room was open a few inches, and there he was, grinning as only a dog with white around the mouth can, and wagging his whole body. Hide and seek. I could fill pages about him. People will marvel at how well trained he is, but mostly, it is his own intelligence, and desire to please. He has never bitten anyone that I'm aware of, but he has told a number of people to 'stand still' over the years, and they all have. He once kept a druggie housemate's druggie friend trapped in a bathroom for two hours with one growl, yet he is gentle and loving with everyone he is properly introduced to. He came to me at a time of great chaos and transition in my life. When that day comes, I'm going to be a wreck for a while.

Vendaval -> RE: Canine companions (9/8/2008 7:07:07 PM)
Such wonderful stories everyone! [:)] And if your older doggie has arthritis you can ask the veterinarian for some MSM. It is now used to treat arthritis in humans too but was originally for the 4 legged beasties.

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