Dog tales -- and how do you feel about dogs?

Love dogs. Their owners, not so much.

Most people are absolutely terrible at understanding how to train their dogs. And many people fall in love with a breed's looks, without recognizing that breed may not be suitable for the owner's environment.
 

Lewkat said:
I love Dobies and do not trust Pitties at all.
Click to expand...
This is a VERY misunderstood breed and it saddens me to hear what you said.

My daughter and one of my boys both have pitties. They are lovely dogs (both rescues and one had been abused to the point of starvation…nothing but skin and bones.) Absolutely amazing with all humans, children, babies etc.

But see, bully breeds and pits in particular can be dog-aggressive. If you don’t understand that, then it’s easy to assume that they are vicious, period. And they are NOT! They are the best family dog!! ❤️ BUT they have to be paired with another dog/dogs who aren’t dominant or anxious or otherwise triggering for the pit bull.

Again, if you don’t know that, then you’re gonna have all kind of trouble. My daughter’s pit Dixie, lives with 3 other dogs with zero problems. He also sleeps with the kids and the cats, mothers every single puppy rescue my daughter takes in, and is a fantastic family dog.

I HATE that the breed has such a bad reputation! They don’t deserve it.
 
Well I found a video I took hanging out in the back yard at the start of the pandemic with my last two dogs to pass, Heidi, the G Shepherd/heeler cross and Smokey, the Aussie/heeler cross. I do miss having a heeler around but thankfully Smokey's example instilled in my new, now 2 year old McNab, Ember some of the better heeler habits. Like him she walks directly behind me on a long walk, occasionally coming abreast of me to check things out.


Then there was this one taken by the cute little girl you hear gushing over how cute they are together. Mine is the slightly younger black and white female, her new friend is an Australian Shepherd. Smokey can be seen taking it in back where I'm standing with the little girl's mom. He didn't immediately appreciate Ember's puppy charms but gradually she wore down his resistance.

 

Everyone knows I love my pups, and everyone buys me treats for them. So I just have to buy their daily staple food. All three were strays I adopted. Otto in the center indulged too much and is now overweight. I would like to place him on a diet, but feeding the dogs separately? Easier said than done. I adopted Otto at 64 lbs. and now he weighs 85 lbs.

Crossing the street this morning, a driver stopped and observed us. Then he opened his window and praised how calm my dogs are. I told him my secrets: (a) they are my 24/7 companions and are feeling 100% secure; and (b) dogs adjust themselves to the temperament of their leader. I am a calm senior, and the pups adjusted themselves likewise. Also larger breeds are usually calmer than little yappers.

In my room they would sleep all day long if I did not kick them out into the garden every two hours (and then after only 3 minutes, they start barking, "let me back in." Their main exercise is going walking with me.

IMGP0190.JPGIMGP0189.JPGIMGP0173.JPGIMGP0192.JPGIMGP0195.JPG
 
Last edited:
packleader said:
Everyone knows I love my pups, and everyone buys me treats for them. So I just have to buy their daily staple food. All three were strays I adopted. Otto in the center indulged too much and is now overweight. I would like to place him on a diet, but feeding the dogs separately? Easier said than done.

View attachment 314833View attachment 314831View attachment 314838View attachment 314836View attachment 314834
Click to expand...

Very timely. I’ve been one to just feed kibble for years and years. But when Heidi started to fade I started supplementing with broth, chicken or tuna and more recently premium canned food. Generally I feed my one remaining, 38 pound dog a cup of a good kibble with broth and little freeze dried chicken in the morning. In the afternoon second feeding I give her a bit more than half a cup of kibble with a third of a can of can of good stuff about the size of those in your last photo. The amount seems right but I still think about how to improve her diet.
I wonder what people do who have looked into it more than I have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top