| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: The kindness of others never ceases to amaze me
I too, was offered a paw print in clay from the cremation service - and I was thrilled to get it!! Only days before the Last Trip To The Vet - I had been thinking that I wanted a paw print from Ike, who had these crazy-big paws like a polar bear...LOL!! But in his final months, he was just getting "crotchety" and didn't want to be fussed with and I didn't think it was important enough to fight with him over it. I don't know what Nabi paid, but it was only $6. Hangs on my kitchen wall and makes me smile every time I look at it :-)
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/18/13 03:10pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: The kindness of others never ceases to amaze me
That is just the sweetest thing ever!! She must be a pet owner and knows the sense of loss....
I had to giggle at Bella's paw prints (plural) - I got one of those clay pieces, too - but Ike's massive paw fills the oval....LOL!!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/17/13 08:24pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
Really - when you think about it - puppies are amazing. We've had Ben one week now. He's met gobs of new people and new "brothers". A new house and a place called "work". Sleeping quietly by himself in a crate. Learned to potty outside and to tell us when he needs to do that. Learned the words "Ben", "come", "no", "outside", "go in the house", "car", "potty", and "poop".
No wonder they sleep so much - their brains must be ready to explode!!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/16/13 07:42am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
... I was referring more to treats and the idea that "People food makes dogs sick," ....Ya mean, things like doritos and oreos???:@
ROFL!!! Nacho Cheese Doritos is definitely a "powerful treat" at MY house!!!!! That's how I knew Ike was losing his hearing - he no longer snapped to attention at the rustle of a Doritos bag :-(
I found Ben's weakness: hot dogs! One training session with teensy bits of hotdogs, and he now has a passable "come"!! I am now officially more "interesting" than sticks/bugs/dirt/leaves/barkchips, etc :-)
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/15/13 08:16pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
Thank you, Rita! I'm now learning that he may be cute, but he turns into Satan's Spawn around 4 PM.....LOL!!! Jack finally had enough pestering and gave him the big-full-toothed snarl that said "back off, kid - or you're gonna be sorry!"
Ben read THAT one loud and clear :-)
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/14/13 02:47pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
 |
RE: Beware of Michelin tires
I bet the tires were uncovered for some period of time during their life.
Speaking as someone who's driven through the Elkhart area many times, I can attest to seeing SCADS of chassis sitting in the sun, waiting their turn to be made into motorhomes. Especially one like ours: 2003 chassis and 2004 date of manufacture; although I have to admit that when we put new tires on our Class C, the 9-yr-old Michelins looked brand new; had deep treads at 45,000 miles; and we were so happy with them that we bought them again.
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/14/13 10:37am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Remake Movies
I just read a review of the Superman movie that said it's "blah" - weak story line bolstered by over-the-top computer generated special effects.
I think Tonto is riding the popularity coattails of Jack Sparrow. But if I remember my Spanish correctly - "Tonto" means crazy and nobody does crazy like Depp? LOL!!
Personally, I'm weary of CG special effects. They are so overdone, that instead of intense - it's just "silly".... "yeah SURE the plane crash-lands in the middle of a city and the hero's vehicle inside is able to burst through the nose of the plane as it goes up in flames". yawn
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/14/13 10:21am |
Around the Campfire
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
It's not just portion control with people food. It's type, balance, percentages and how complete the final diet is. Calcium/phosphorus ratio can be way off if someone supplements "just a little" meat in the diet. Trace minerals and normal vitamin levels are usually way below optimal levels with the owner created diets. 80% of my clients don't know or take the effort to educate themselves (with correct information) about proper diet.
And this is why I was concerned about Ben eating PUPPY food. I'm sure there's certain things in there that are important for his healthy growth.
Re: treats. I think what a lot of people don't understand, is that a dog only cares that he got a treat. Even if it's the size of a grain of rice - a treat is a treat. I take regular soft dog treats, or hot dogs, or chicken, and cut them into teeny bits about 1/4" x 1/4", which for a dog the size of Ben, is like giving a 5-yr old child a whole icecream cone!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/14/13 08:24am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
He's a beautiful pup. You said he was half poodle... what is the other half? Do you know? Did you adopt him from a Shelter or Rescue?
He came from the same breeder who raised Jimmy - they're both Mini-Australian Shepherds x mini-Poodles. Yeah - expensive mutts ;-) I have owned Aussies for almost 40 years and love the breed - but the poodle cross hopefully gives them a longer life and seems to knock down that Aussie aloofness-with-strangers. And they don't shed - not that shedding is a deal-breaker, because I own a Cattle Dog - the sheddiest dog ever!!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/14/13 08:14am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
Put all your dogs on the puppy food, if necessary and add a little water to increase its aroma. A healthy dog won't starve itself.
Put the food down for 15 minutes (you might have to segregate the puppy behind a baby gate at first so the others won't help themselves). If not eaten, take it up and save for the next meal. He's eating 3x daily at his age anyway, right? Hunger should win him over soon. During a hunger strike - no treats!
Yeah - but he's not hungry because he has access to the big dog's food. I leave dry food down 24/7 - it's the easiest for us (and kindest for them) with our crazy work schedule. Yeah - I know about "planned meals" making it easier to housebreak a dog - but I have the luxury of taking my dogs to work and can watch Ben for any sign that he needs to go out - and bless his heart, he's VERY clear that he needs to go. He's already housebroken, for all intents and purposes.
But the food issue is working itself out: this morning, I just put puppy food in a dish (special dish!) with a little warm water - no additives - and he ate about half of it. Then I offered the other half to Jimmy - which made Ben go "Wait a minute - that's MY food!!!" so he ate a few more pieces before he walked away.
The Iams is almost gone - I now have a bag of their "regular" food which I'll work into his diet.
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/13/13 10:05am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
And we have SUCCESS!!! A little (like 1/4 tbsp) roasted chicken mashed into his puppy food did the trick!! Hopefully, once he learns that "special meals" come in special dishes - I'll be able to get him to eat plain old puppy food...LOL!!
And you'll all love this: he had been nibbling dog food at work all day long. I had taken him outside a dozen times, knowing that consumption was going to result in a poo at some point, right? Nothin'. So we leave work and get home - and I offer the open door to go outside and play. He and Jimmy tore around the yard! As I stood on the deck, I could hear the buzzing of a thousand Jet Skis...hmmmm....wait?! I looked up, to see a swarm of BEES directly overhead!! Grabbed Ben, called Jim and ran inside. He squeaked at me to go back out and I said "no" - and he deposited the entire day's-worth of poo right at the door. (bang head on door)
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/12/13 07:49pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: Cholodin supplement
The "whuuut" thing makes me smile, a knowing grin.
Petey is back to the "whuuut?" stage from the "I have no clue about anything, sleep 99% of the day and get lost all the time" stage. After a day shy of two weeks I would say that is a significant improvement.
WOW!!!!!!! Yes it is, and that's awesome!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/12/13 12:21pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
Hmmmmmmmmm.... if you gave Jimmy some of the puppy food, might that encourage him to try it?
Or has he tried it and not liked it?
Tried that - Jimmy thinks it's just fine :-) It's what the breeder feeds all her pups, and Ben lived on it for a week until he met us and the Iams....LOL!
I'm making a bit of progress - Ben just ate a teeny piece of hamburg; and looked for more :-) I think I'll try smashing some Iams chunks and mixing it with his food so he can't just pick out the good stuff.
Regarding another comment: I prefer that my dogs eat people food in addition to their dog food.. For starters - it gives me a "powerful treat" - a reward for really good behavior. The backbone (IMO) of a "Bombproof Recall". It also gives me something to feed a dog who's not feeling so great. Or to hide medicine. Or to clean up what the grandkid dumped on the floor....LOL!!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/12/13 12:12pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: Boondocking pet dangers
Don't forget that large grazers (elk/moose/antelope/deer) will gladly stomp a dog to death!
I have let my dogs run offleash under certain conditions (nice mowed lawn while parked at a Cabelas...LOL!) but while boondocking - I would keep them on a leash. They can sniff and explore the world in a 6' circle around my legs.
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/12/13 11:57am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
So Ben (like most dogs) doesn't like me to blow on him - but sits in front of THIS (fan), watching it oscillate.....
http://i41.tinypic.com/jtbh8p.jpg
Don't mind me - I've just forgotten how funny puppies can be!
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/11/13 02:56pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
Inga, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. She does the happy dance whenever she thinks food is about to appear!
I know this has not helped with your problem, but I'm sure some of the dog food gurus will chime in here soon!
I've never had a dog/puppy who won't eat yummy people food! Jimmy will eat ANYTHING - even weird-for-dog-stuff like lettuce and raw cauliflower; but it seems to me that right at first - he was hesitant to eat anything other than his dog food?? Then he got to be a certain age - and everything was delicious.
But like I say - Ben IS eating - just not getting the good "puppy stuff". If I could "doctor" a bowl of puppy food in the morning and at night so he'd eat it - the rest of the time he can go ahead and nibble at the big dogs' food.
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/11/13 02:53pm |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: Cholodin supplement
Ooops - double post
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/11/13 11:13am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: Cholodin supplement
I'll keep you posted as we continue the supplement if you are interested.....
*I* am interested. This is one of those things that most people can ignore - until it's THEIR elderly pet.
Ike had been having moments of "WHUUUT????". He'd be out in the yard, and I could wave at him to "come" (he was pretty much deaf) and he'd just stand and stare at me like he'd never seen me before. After about a week on the YAH - I wasn't getting that response; he was back to his happy-face "Sure! I'm coming" look. But I also needed to pour the food to him - he was consistently 73 lbs all his life (and no - he was never fat - he was just a huge Aussie) and the last time I weighed him, he was down to 56 lbs, in spite of the "special meals" he got twice a day; plus snacks and regular dog food.
Now I'm started to see that same "whuuut??" look from Jack.....
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/11/13 11:08am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: Blind Dog
One bit of advice: I got one of those inexpensive "assist" harnesses for my Aussie who was getting wobbly in his old age, but still insisted on sleeping upstairs with us. The harness was just a "girth" band with handles - worked fine going up the stairs; but going down, it could slip back around his hips if he fell forward. Which still gives you control, but they sort of don't like that....
I always meant to sew a strap that would have gone across his chest, so the harness couldn't slip backwards. But 90% of the time, he could bunny-hop down the steps on his own - the harness was just there so I could catch him if necessary. And he LIKED it (must have given him a sense of security?) - would not use the stairs until I put his harness on.
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/11/13 10:56am |
RV Pet Stop
|
|
RE: New puppy Ben moves in!!
And now I need help: Ben won't eat his puppy food :-( It's good stuff, too - Wellness Puppy (dry). (I had to drive 60 miles to buy that...ugh) He REALLY loves Jimmy and Jack's food - plain old Iams Chunks which we grabbed because we couldn't get to a store that carried the Diamond Naturals I normally feed. So he's certainly eating - just not the stuff he's *supposed* to be eating.
He's still at that "I only eat what the other dogs eat" stage. People food is spurned - it's not like I can taint his puppy food with a bit of soup (tried that). Cheese is uninteresting. So is ham. Tonight we're grilling burgers and I'll attempt a bit of that....
So at what age do they start sampling other foods? Or maybe I can find some wet puppy food.... (another 60-mile drive...)
|
Deb and Ed M
|
06/11/13 10:43am |
RV Pet Stop
|
