Was this dog abused at a boarding program?

Karen

Long story bear with me.
My best friend has a 1 year old boxer who is rambunctious. The dog likes to jump on people mainly to play and lick you but she can actually knock you down. Its difficult to walk her since she loves to run fast instead of walking. She doesn't bite but since she is a big boxer her playfulness comes across to a stranger as an attack. My friend knew that it was best to get her trained. She hired this guy and his plan to train her was do a 2 week boarding program that is followed up with private lessons her house. Now when she came back the dog seemed different. The follow up private lesson worked well and the dog obeyed command of sit and no. But she still had the habit of jumping up on people. She called the trainer and he said that she needed to be firm. He took her again for another boarding training this time for one week. When he brought her back I saw the dog a little skinnier and a little mopey. I sensed something off and more so that dog seemed aggressive when at the sound of loud voices. Especially if the voice is of a man. Even the sight of other dogs she started barking and jumping around more that usual.
I was at my friends house feeding the dog because my friend was running late and the trainer was coming over to check on progress and to determine if she needed more training. When the trainer rang the door bell the dog went towards the door ( door has glass window top to bottom) I don't know if saw him or smelled him and she just jumped towards the door very aggressively and broke one of the windows and started barking like crazy Almost as if she was going to attack him. The trainer calmed her down and spoke to her sternly and she sunk down.
Now I have never seem this very odd to me. I relayed this story to a coworker and he said it sounded like he might be training her to be in a dog fights. I told my friend I was concerned about her dog. And we looked for signs of physical abuse but haven't seen anything. Its just her behavior is odd. Any one have a clue? Is this type of training program normal even?

Answer
I answered a question about sending dogs away to be trained. And thank you for proving my point.

Most "professional" trainers don't have time to properly train your dogs with positive methods, and then proof them with corrections...so they skip the positive teaching phase and jump right into Koehler style yank and crank corrections training. SO what you end up with is a dog who comes home fearful, hand shy, or fear aggressive.

As far as her being used in dog fights, your friend is an idiot. What the heck does a dog being scared of the guy have to do with dog fights? Are there you know...100 bite marks on her? If not, what the heck makes her think the dog has been fought? Another example of somebody talking and not making any sense....

So now that that stupidity is out of the way, lol. The problem here is, this dog has had this guy herk and jerk her around and force her through a makeshift boot camp style obedience program that she's too weak minded to handle. It may have worked on a bunch of 2-5 year old working dogs destined to be Military Working Dogs, but that kind of harsh training on a bubbly boxer was obviously too much. NEVER send your dog off to be trained. No good trainer in the planet accepts fly ins or even drive ins to train. They'll work with you and show you how to work your dog along. You may be able to pay for group classes and get taught things step by step, or even better, personal lessons and learn new things to teach your dog and old problems to work up on every week. No real trainer will train your dog for you. I may pre-train a dog and sell it, but guess what, you're going to have to learn how to handle it, and if at all possible come here for a few days and walk through the training and timing of different things.

The dog technically hasn't been abused, but your friend's pockets have been...she's been duped by Hank & Hals You Bring 'em and We'll String 'em!!!

Mitt Romney used to put his dog in a carrier on top of his car for long trips?

Pedro

It was a full size dog, but he said it was happy up on top of the car for a 12 hour trip. Does this make sense if the carrier is securely attached, or is it a bad idea?

Answer
With the dog on the roof, the luggage must have been INSIDE the station wagon. Why would you prioritize that way? Because you knew from prior experience that your dog was a poor traveler that would vomit or have diarrhea. So if you cared about your dog, you would leave it home with a petsitter, friend, or family member, or else board it - unless you were too cheap to put your dog's comfort ahead of the padding in your wallet.

In addition to the discomfort of the wind rushing past, dehydrating and chilling the dog, who would be sufficiently confident that the straps would hold? If a suitcase falls off the roof rack, it's a problem and a potential traffic hazard; if the crate falls off, it's a dead or seriously injured panicked dog and a far more serious hazard to other drivers.

When this incident was in the news the first time, Romney supporters pointed to it as proof that he is unflappable and resourceful. What it proves to me is that he lacks the ability to empathize with the suffering of others, and puts his own desires first.

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What to do with neurotic dog?

bjare s

Since a pup he presents with GI problems to the tune of approx 4000.00. Hard to house break or crate train. Severe separation anxiety. Finally at 6 mos took to professional trainer to board (2mos 3500.00) still not consistent...trainer not pleased and she is world renown. Said dog may have lineage problems. More vets (about 2500.00) and then neutered(500)...dog worse. Whines constantly, if in car, whines if I don't move when he wants...have moved to new home...dog worse..now eliminating when he wants...even if he has been outside...eats soap bars, insists on lapping toilet if he saw you go and now at 2 years he is just worse than ever. Last night after my daughter showered and lotioned to prepare for bed he raised his leg and urinated on her. He constantly smacks his mouth so much I could throw this 110 lb psycho out th window. I have shown and raised many dogs. But this one is about to be put down by me!!

Did I mention he can't eat anything but. Rice and pumpkin or he has major diarrhea with vomiting?
Help....I am trying to keep his retarded arse, but he is affecting our family.

Answer
Sounds like a lot of work. Every dog is different, just like people. If he has GI problems and canât help going to the bathroom when heâs got to go that is not his fault and makes him a special needs kind of dog.

If he has separation anxiety but you took him to a trainer to board â away from you â thatâs probably why it didnât work. YOU need to work with him on that. When he gets clingy donât indulge him, ignore him. And Iâm sure you have a routine when you or others in your house go to leave (putting on your jacket, shoes, grabbing your keys, lunch, etc.) Take these items out or put your jacket on etc. and walk out at random times, even when youâre not really leaving the house but just going outside so that the dog doesnât always know when you are actually leaving. Keep doing this for a while until the dog doesnât react to you leaving.

Some dogs are very vocal. The separation anxiety and/or that could be why he whines.

As far as eating soap bars; some dogs eat random things â My boyfriendâs dog kept eating the keys off my lap top. My dog eats toothpaste if he can get it. Both dogs have also eaten cat poop out of our catsâ litter box or feces they find outside, so the drinking out of the toilet thing isnât all that weird. Gross, yes, but not uncommon.

Try to work with your dog and be CONSISTENT, don't slack off or give up, or he will not learn. Also take him for daily bouts of exercise because to exert all that mental and physical energy, a dog needs regular exercise, at least two half an hour excursions (walks, jogging, bike joring, etc.) a day or more is best.

If long-term and consistent work with your dogâs problems still donât help, it may be possible that your dog is special needs and you can accept and work with it or try to find a professional-type dog person that knows his needs and can take care of him.

NEED HELP!!! I have to make an believable experiment with Dogs!?

Q. Design a believable experiment you could do with a dog (that hasnâl t already been described in class) to test one of these hypotheses:
1)Dogs know how gravity works
2)Dogs learn the meanings of words as quickly as a two-year-old child
4)Dogs can understand human language syntax
5)Dogs show evidence of insight

Describe the experiment in detail including the stimuli, the testing apparatus, what will be measured (e.g., response time, accuracy, looking time), and the different conditions that will be compared.
Explain what conclusions can be drawn from this experiment


It can't be something already done..... i.e. It needs to be original!!
another option is:
Dogs selectively share with humans (not with other dogs)

Answer
1) Do you have a cutting board that slides out from under a counter top? Slide it out and grate cheese onto it. The dog should watch the cheese fall and look under the board for the cheese. It knows it fell because it's trying to find it...therefore it understands gravity.

(P.S. My dog is 13 years old and still can't figure out why there is no cheese under the cutting board. LOL! She's proof that, while sweet, Labradors are dumb as rocks.)

2) Play "find". Dogs can learn the names of all your family members as well as most of their toys. Start with people because it's easier. Everyone sit in a circle. Say, "Find Mom". Then Mom starts calling the dog. Praise lavishly and repeat. Then do another family member. When every one is "done", start calling out names. That person should sit quietly until the dog indicates them, then praise. It takes a few tries...just like a human 2 year old.

4) (hehe - forgot 3)
4) Do you watch Funniest Home Videos? A few weeks ago, the winning video was a dog that ran under the bed when the owner said "Do you want a bath?", then ran to the door when she said "Do you want to go for a walk?", then back under the bed when the bath was mentioned again.
Another experiment.
Say, "GOOD DOG" in a mean tone of voice. Watch the dog. Even though you praised it, it still cowers at the mean tone. Say, "BAD DOG" in a happy voice and the dog is all waggly tail and happy again.

5) Well, there are stories. Not "experiments". Stories of dogs that understand death, dying, cancer, miscarriage, carbon monoxide/gas leaks...? Stories of dogs that bring sick/dying owners their toys to cheer them up.

Traits that dogs share with humans:
A sense of duty. Dogs in law enforcement and other dogs with jobs can't "retire". They'd rather die working than settle down to life as a pet. There are hundreds of stories about K-9 cops working while hurt and shot.

I'll try to think of others and get back to you.

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Dog Birthday Party Ideas?

Emily

My dog's 2nd birthday is coming up fast, and we're going to through a party for him and all of his puppy friends. I'm just looking for ideas for the party. Anything helps, I'd love a recipe for a dog safe cake, but I also need ideas for activities, party favors, things to have on hand just in case, etc.

He is a chihuahua, but there will be dogs of all sizes, including huskies, pit bulls, other chihuahuas, little terriers... So, any activities should be easy for any dog to do.

Answer
Pet Birthday Party Ideas

Decorations

If the festivities are for Fido or Fluffy, draw paw prints leading to your door with sidewalk chalk. Then cut pet-appropriate shapes out of poster board (bones or fire hydrants for dogs, fish or mouse shapes for cats, etc.) and hang them from the ceiling or from trees if you're having the party outside.

And don't forget to decorate the pets themselves. If your pup digs dress-up, go ahead and put on the dog with a party hat or even a tuxedo shirt or tutu. If not, give man's best friend girl's best friend, courtesy of a collar studded with diamonds (okay, rhinestones). If you're celebrating a feline, stick to the fancy collars (leopard print, perhaps?), since most kitties don't care for fashion shows.


Tips

If you're throwing a pooch party, by all means, invite your pet's canine pals as well as their owners. Just keep the guest list small and the party time to two hours so the dogs don't get too stressed with too many animals around for too long. Plus, you need to know that all the guests play well with your pet as well as other dogs, so save introducing your Rex to your new buddy's Spot for another outing. Should you invite compadres without canines? Only if they're rabid dog lovers who absolutely adore your pet.

Hold the party in your fenced-in backyard or at a nearby dog park for less muss, less fuss, but be sure to indicate an alternate date or location in case of bad weather. And keep lots of pooch poop bags on hand for any presents your pals' pets may leave behind.

If you're celebrating your kitty, limit the guests to just your family â cats prefer to keep to their own turf. Likewise if the party's for your iguana, hamster, cockatoo, clownfish or tree frog. While you and your immediate relatives are no doubt devoted to your animal pal, your human pals won't likely be as psyched about partying with your pet.


Activities

No matter what kind of pet you have, build in time for playtime. Get dogs' tails wagging with fetch or tug-of-war. If your party's in the dog days of summer, fill a kiddie pool with water and let the canine guests go for a dip. Let Kitty chase a piece of yarn or a flashlight beam in a dark room for feline fun (just expect a catnap for both of you afterward).

For a dog party, have a pet parade, particularly if the canine guests came in costume. You might also hold a talent show where old dogs show off their new tricks. If there will be kids at your dog's party, paint their faces to look like a puppy's.

If kids are attending, have them woof, meow or otherwise "sing" "Happy Birthday" to your pet in his or her own language. At parties just for your pet and your family, take time to present your pet's presents and play with them with him or her.


Food

Keep your top dog (or cat) top of mind when planning your menu. For a pooch party, make puppy chow (or, as Chex calls them, Muddy Buddies), the snack food that looks like Purina but tastes a lot better, and serve it in small dog bowls personalized with each pup's name in paint pen so their owners can take them home later. Add hot dogs with all the fixings and a bone-shaped birthday cake and you're set for human food.

For your canine guests, offer dog biscuits and other treats from the pet store or a pet bakery. Just make sure to keep the pooch food on a separate table from the people food, since some doggie delicacies can be easily confused with human ones.

Kitty parties call for fish â fish flakes for the guest of honor and filets for the humans. You might also set out bowls of Swedish fish and Kit Kats for your people and catnip for your pet. For a purrfect kitty birthday "cake," give your cat a can-shaped helping of Fancy Feast with optional mayonnaise frosting.


Drinks

For a pup party, offer people water, a Salty Dog or a Red Dog or Southpaw Light brew, making sure to stick a bottle in a doggy bag for a little hair of the dog the next day. Give the Rovers Bowser Beer, a nonalcoholic, noncarbonated beer for dogs made with malt barley and beef broth (no, we're not kidding).

For a cat party, whip up a punch bowl of Tom and Jerry, and serve water or milk flavored with chocolate malt powder or vanilla syrup. Just save the milk for the humans, not your feline, since many adult kitties are actually lactose intolerant.

As a final flourish to truly pamper your dog or cat â it is their birthday, after all â pour a Bark Vineyards' varietal (a nonalcoholic "fine wine for the canine and feline" made with meat juices) over their food. Cheers!

Question about DIY vaccines for dogs?

Erin

I'm going to order the combo vaccine for my dogs and do it myself. They already have their 3 year rabies, and have already had a physical exam done this year. I'm just unhappy with my Vet right now and want to save myself the hassle and money of them doing it. I'd get charged another exam fee, a travel fee since they are a mobile Vet, on top of $20 per vaccine.

My question is about vaccine manufacturers though. I'm ordering from Dr. Foster & Smith, and they have 3 different manufacturers for the vaccine I'm looking at. Does anyone have any recommendations on which to go with?

-Canine Spectra 7

-Solo-Jec 7 Plus

- Univac 7

I would love to hear from people who have done this on their own!
You actually don't have to go through your Vet for combo vaccines. In my State you only have to go through them for the Rabies Vaccine, which they already have. I'm very comfortable with my dogs and I have no worries about it.

Vaccines are actually very easy to administer. Vets would like to make you think otherwise because they want you to pay them to do it. Many Vets also don't tell you that doing vaccines EVERY single year can be very harmful to your pet and shorten it's lifespan.
I've done so much research on this, I know what I'm doing. My question is about the manufactureres (and I know for a fact that many Vets use these manufacturers), so please don't answer if you can't help with my question.
I also wish people would read my question. My dogs have their rabies shot, have had their yearly exam @$45 a dog, have been tested for h/w and are on prevenative!

OBVIOUSLY I take care of them and they are not being kept from the Vet! MY pets see the Vet more often in a year then some do in their whole lives!
I'm beating a dead horse here... but yes, I have done my research! I've spoke with my Vet about this too! Dr. foster & Smith requires you ship 2 day air, so they are shipped properly and I have no worries about that. I don't really care if another Vet will accept my vaccines, the rabies is the only one even required here and that has already been done by a Vet.

My dogs are big. A Belgian Malinois and a GSD. We take them for walks in the woods, and we also live near a wooded area where there are racoons, skunks, opposums, you name it. I feel that Lepto is the right choice for us, and I wouldn't even do it if they were small. I already know that small dogs can react very badly to it. Some people really need to just answer my question or don't say anything at all!

Thank you to those who have actually answered my question! I REALLY do appreciate it. :)
And P.S. $20 a vaccine + $45 for another exam= $65 x 2 dogs = $130 + a $20 travel fee = $150!!!

So it is way more econonomical to do it myself! Thanks
Thanks for the tip felicia! I will do that.

Answer
I have vaccinated my own dogs/horses for years (excluding canine Rabies and Bordetella which has to be done by a vet). In the state I moved from most vets would willingly sell vaccines OTC, but in the state I'm in now they don't.

I have never purchased vaccines from a catalog.

I get my vaccines from a very busy local Co-Op feed store. The things I am careful about is that I don't want some vaccine that's been handled improperly (allowed to sit out at room temp for a day). Those become basically worthless when given (leaving the dog poorly or completely unprotected). For me personally.. I worry about them getting hung up in the mail system somewhere and/or sitting in a warm post office over the weekend. I like our busy co-op because they have a high volume of farmers / ranchers in there and I believe if they had problems with their vaccines people wouldn't be trusting them to buy their vaccines from them. I take a cooler with me and have an ice pack in it. When I buy them.. they go right into the cooler and when home if I don't give them right away they go into the fridge. Most always I give the vaccine the same day I buy it.

You indicate your dogs are mature so I always go with the full combo Distemper/Parvo + Corona etc. My personal dogs are large so I always go with the 7 way. There have been reports in years past that the 7 ways were causing to much stress reaction in the tiny breeds so people backed off to the 5 way.

Fort Dodge and Vanguard are manufacturers that I always look for but it doesn't mean the other brands are bad. I'm just a creature of habit.

Always CHECK the expiration date on the vaccine before you buy it.

ADDED:
evsrin
There are little stickers that you can peel off of the vaccine bottles. Keep those...put them on a piece of computer paper. Under each set of vial stickers write down the date you gave the vaccines, and the dog(s) - name, breed, description & age - on each page. I have never had a boarding facility (or my vet) not accept those as valid proof of vaccination.
.
ADDED #2
You're welcome Evsrin.
Legit -
I have a dog file in my file cabinet and I just keep everything all in one place to keep it easy. I even lay my dogs rabies tags on my scanner and make copies of those in case they lose a tag. Since most dog parks require that your dogs be vaccinated (and occasionally ask for proof) I do keep an envelope of pertinent dog vacc copies in there too. Easy Peasy..
.
.

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What countries in the world require a passport for a dog?

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labrador_l

I plan to go on vacation to another country and I would like to bring along my dog. What countries, do you know require that a dog should have a passport?

Answer
Very few.
You obviously don't understand the difference between the "Pet Passport" used to allow qualifying dogs to travel around the European Economic Community and the British Isles, and the passport-with-visas that a citizen carries when travelling abroad.

EVERY nation places health requirements on livestock and plant materials that people wish to bring in to the nation, in order to keep out viruses and insect pests and bacteria and ticks, etc, that the nation is so far free of. In the case of dogs, the usual requirement is an inspection and blood titration by a vet licensed by the nation's Ministry of Agriculture BEFORE the pooch gets on the ship or plane (my X litter got born in Britain because the pregnant German brood failed one of the titrate tests so was refused access to the plane she was booked onto), and a thorough inspection on arrival. Clean countries such as Australia and NZ then require that the pooch spends a session in quarantine, unless the pooch arrives after a residency period in the other, or Britain, or Hawaii, or Scandinavia. (Points out how few truly clean countries there are, biologically, eh!)

So you need to write down the order of the countries you intend to travel through (which might be none, if you fly non-stop from home to the destination country), then contact either the embassy/consulate of each country you propose to go through, or your own Agriculture Dept, and find out the regulations for entry into each country from each preceding country.

A blind person can have the quarantine set aside for their guide dog, but no-one can have it set aside for a pet dog.

Unless you live in that "Pet Passport" area, I reckon that you'll need to find a top-quality boarding kennel for your pet while you are away travelling.

â Add http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_GSD_Source to your browser's Bookmarks or Favorites so that you can easily look up such as rescue groups, feeding, vaccinations, worming, clubs, teething, neutering, size, diseases, genetics.

â To ask about GSDs, join some of the 400+ YahooGroups dedicated to various aspects of living with them. Each group's Home page tells you which aspects they like to discuss, and how active they are. Unlike YA, they are set up so that you can have an ongoing discussion with follow-up questions for clarification. Most allow you to include photos in your messages.
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
"In GSDs" as of 1967

How can I stop my dog from licking and jumping?

browneyedg

My dog loves to lick everyone and all the other animals. I love my dog to death, but after a while it can get annoying. We can't even pet the top of his head without him licking your hand. I've tried to hold his mouth closed and say no, or tap his nose and nothing has worked. It just makes him want to lick even more. He also loves to jump on us when we get home. Even if we've been gone for a few minutes. We've tried telling him no and pushing him off us, but that hasn't helped either. He's a very loving dog and I don't want to scold him just for trying to love us and show affection. Does anyone have ideas on how I can get him to stop?

Answer
Two Issues: Jumping & Licking

Jumping - fairly easy. He wants to get up to your face to say hello.
1. When you come into a room, you can try kneeling at his level and see what he does. He may not jump, but may still lick. We'll get to that in a moment.
2. For the people who don't want to kneel, turn to the side or turn your back. That is a calming signal, according to Ian Dunbar and to Turid Rugaas, that dogs use to communicate... don't jump.
3. When the dog calms down, and doesn't jump, then praise him immediately. If he jumps, stop petting and turn, again.
4. If you want, you can without attention, until he sits, but pet and praise immediately, when he is quiet... and before he has a chance to get frustrated and bark... If he barks, try to ignore him, because if you pet him, then he will learn that barking gets attention.

Licking
This is easy to stop, but difficult to reduce. I let my dog lick me, because I didn't want it to stop completely.
1. Treat this like nipping, and use bite inhibition techniques. This means that when ever the dog licks, you yipe! as if hurt. He will startle, and stop licking. He will probably come back to you and try to apologize for injuring you. Pet and praise him.
2. If this works as described, then consider carefully and precisely when you want him to lick and when you don't. For example, you may not want him to lick your hand as you pet him. Then, while you pet him, yipe when he licks. If he stops licking then praise him and continue petting.
3. However, yipe a second time and stop petting, if he continues to lick.

Be aware that this is a powerful and effective training tool, but it can be wielded like a 2' x 4' board. Use it carefully and precisely, because you can stop him from licking completely... And most owners like the love and licking ... in appropriate doses.

I still use this method to communicate with my 7 year old Golden, and it is a great communication method.

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How do I get my dog adjusted to being at a kennel while I am away?

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Lesley C

I am going on vacation without the family dog this time. She has never been in a kennel. We are flying out of town for three to four days over the holidays but cannot take her on the plane and don't want to drive 15 hours with a dog to our destination. Plus many hotels are not dog-friendly.

Answer
Just inspect the boarding kennel before you leave your dog there, and provided you are happy with what you see (and smell!!) and feel comfortable with the owners etc., go on your holiday! Believe me, she's not going to fade away in 3/4 days in any case, much as she'll certainly miss you. Dogs in kennels actually have loads of things to occupy them - if only the other dogs. But there's always lots going on in kennels and my experience (I've worked in Boarding Kennels) is by the time they are shut in their beds, they zonk out. Many kennels will take their boarders out for walks during their stay too.

If you don't like what you see when you check the place out - move on. Some kennels are better than others, but if the boarders in there when you visit look happy and well cared for (water bowls topped up etc.), you have nothing to worry about. Honestly.

ps If you are seriously worried that your girl won't cope with Boarding, have you considered having a home-sitter in to be with her in your own home?

What countries in the world require a passport for a dog?

labrador_l

I plan to go on vacation to another country and I would like to bring along my dog. What countries, do you know require that a dog should have a passport?

Answer
Very few.
You obviously don't understand the difference between the "Pet Passport" used to allow qualifying dogs to travel around the European Economic Community and the British Isles, and the passport-with-visas that a citizen carries when travelling abroad.

EVERY nation places health requirements on livestock and plant materials that people wish to bring in to the nation, in order to keep out viruses and insect pests and bacteria and ticks, etc, that the nation is so far free of. In the case of dogs, the usual requirement is an inspection and blood titration by a vet licensed by the nation's Ministry of Agriculture BEFORE the pooch gets on the ship or plane (my X litter got born in Britain because the pregnant German brood failed one of the titrate tests so was refused access to the plane she was booked onto), and a thorough inspection on arrival. Clean countries such as Australia and NZ then require that the pooch spends a session in quarantine, unless the pooch arrives after a residency period in the other, or Britain, or Hawaii, or Scandinavia. (Points out how few truly clean countries there are, biologically, eh!)

So you need to write down the order of the countries you intend to travel through (which might be none, if you fly non-stop from home to the destination country), then contact either the embassy/consulate of each country you propose to go through, or your own Agriculture Dept, and find out the regulations for entry into each country from each preceding country.

A blind person can have the quarantine set aside for their guide dog, but no-one can have it set aside for a pet dog.

Unless you live in that "Pet Passport" area, I reckon that you'll need to find a top-quality boarding kennel for your pet while you are away travelling.

â Add http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_GSD_Source to your browser's Bookmarks or Favorites so that you can easily look up such as rescue groups, feeding, vaccinations, worming, clubs, teething, neutering, size, diseases, genetics.

â To ask about GSDs, join some of the 400+ YahooGroups dedicated to various aspects of living with them. Each group's Home page tells you which aspects they like to discuss, and how active they are. Unlike YA, they are set up so that you can have an ongoing discussion with follow-up questions for clarification. Most allow you to include photos in your messages.
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
"In GSDs" as of 1967

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How can you file dog nails with a nail filer? it seems complicated!?

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silver win

I am pet sitting a dog who is very shy, the owner mentioned she had long toenails, indeed they are very long. I told them that during her stay, they will shorten a bit by playing on hard surfaces and long walks. In the bag with her stuff I found a nail filer for dogs. I tried it and there is no way I would traumatize a dog with this thing as it seems like it takes forever to just file one nail, indeed doesn't seem to do a thing! How do people use these things? she is already shy and fearful by nature, I would never want to subject her to that. Also, I am a pet sitter not a groomer. not sure why people expect me to file nails or give baths.
4her4life, I pet sit dogs, I am not a groomer and never advertised myself as offering those services, and it would be unethical for me do step over professional boundaries. What if her quick bleeds and she has a bleeding disorder? now I am per first aid certified, but that's a different story..
Also, you must keep in mind that when nails are so long, the quick is long too and it's incredibly easily to get to the quick, why should I do that when the groomers have been trained for that and have styptic powder on hand?

Answer
If you don't have a website, make one that outlines exactly what services you offer. On the website - and when you talk to people to weed out clients - mention that you do not offer nail clipping or bathing services. It's that simple. Just tell them you don't and move on.

Some people think that because you WATCH their pet, you can BATHE their pet (or offer other services.) And a lot of boarding places or sitters will bathe a dog, especially if it's dirty, before sending it home. It's not really that big of a stretch for them to ask - grooming, bathing and nail clipping in particular, are a part of caring for the dog after all.

As far as the nail filer that came with this dog goes, it's probably one of those POS "as seen on tv" things like the PediPaws. Right? All junk. Waste of money. A good nail GRINDER will take down a nail within seconds if you're using it properly. Some people even use regular dremels that you can purchase at Lowes or Home Depot, and they work great.

The nail grinder i use, when it's on the right setting with a new filer, will do all nails in 5-10 minutes tops depending on the dog. The longest part is sometimes maneuvering the paw to get the nail steady (especially on dogs with hairy feet). I also clip the nail, if it's long, to lessen the time i use the grinder.

Most dogs are actually okay with it, even fearful or shy dogs, once they realize that it's quick and painless. It's possible that this dog IS okay with it when the owner does it - or when a groomer does it with a proper tool.

how do i convince my parents to let me buy a pet dog?

manic_chil

they just dont like dogs but i love them.what do i do?

Answer
Unfortunately, it's your parents' house, your parents' money and your parents' rules - until you have a job and get out on your own. Ask them to let you get an easier pet to start and show them that you can take care of that properly. Maybe they'd let you get a rabbit or a guinea pig - they're not as much fun as a dog, but they're easy to keep, live in a cage, don't have to be walked or trained. You could volunteer at a local shelter - many of them love to have kids that can help walk, feed and socialize the puppies.

Dogs require a lot of time, energy and money to take care of properly. If the dog isn't properly trained, it can chew up your house and your stuff. If it's not housebroken, it can ruin your floors and your furniture. Your parents may assume that you'll get bored with the dog when you start playing sports and dating and go away to college. You can't keep a dog in a dorm or in most apartments. They don't want to be stuck taking care of a dog for 12 years if you can't handle it.

A good pup can cost $1000 or more. Even "free" dogs cost money to take care of. A crate, books and supplies can cost up to $300. Puppy shots are $200, then $100 a year for boosters. Annual Heartworm test and preventative medication $100. Professional trainer $600 and up. Going on vacation? Boarding kennel $40/day. Spaying? $250. If you can't afford to pay for a good dog, maybe you can't afford to maintain one either?

BEFORE you get any dog you should read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

If they ever say yes, find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there.

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