Dogs

singing to dogs

[wyweb]

I sing to my dogs sometimes.

I was born and raised on a farm in southeast Kansas and dogs were always part of our picture. They ran loose and they watched everything. Dogs don't miss much either. They're on top of it considerably faster than we are, even when we're standing right there.

I sing to them at times, especially the pups. I sing to all of them but the pups seem to like it better. I can put Sadie to sleep singing to her. She's 80 pounds now but when I brought her home she could dang near fit in my hand. She slept on my chest at night. She still likes to climb all over me but she's too big now....

I can't sing well but if it's soft and it's quiet even Roscoe tunes in. Roscoe is a Rott and he has attitude issues. Sadiegirl is a Black Lab pup. One year old in January and still pretty goofy. She took her cues from Roscoe for the first year but is now starting to show some independence, coming into her own, barking at noises in the night, stuff like that.

I love dog stories. I'd love to hear yours too.

[wyweb]

and they actually hunted dogs!

That's basically confirming what I've suspected for a long time anyway... that cats have little friggin' sense.

That cat lit into him like something totally bat crazy and he had no clue how to defend against it.

I've seen cats go crazy. Hell, they've gone crazy on me before. They've got claws too, and aren't bashful about using them.

They weigh friggin' 10 pounds though. I can toss one across the room and bounce him off the wall if he gets busy with me.

I did a site a while back for a guy in Oklahoma. He bred cats and they were bigger than normal. I can't think of the name right now but I'll look it up and get back. 20 - 25 pounds each.

Roscoe could chew two of them up at the same time. All he has to do get ahold of you so unless you wanna dance it's a done deal. You do NOT go toe to toe with this boy. He takes care of business.

I've watched him fight. An accident. He got out of the yard one day and there was a pit coming down the street. I got bit twice trying to break it up. Once by the pit and once by my own dog.

I can't remember what those cats are called. They're big though.. smaller than a lynx but way bigger than ordinary house cats.

attack cats

Is that actually an accepted definition somewhere or are you just throwing that out there?

[wyweb]

Red River Bobis.

That's what the name of those cats were. They'd smoke an ordinary cat if they wanted to. Roscoe could smoke two of them though. At the same time. I wouldn't let him. Not if I could help it anyway. They could put his eye out. I will not let him fight. He's my boy and I don't want him getting hurt.

Once he gets ahold of you he shakes his head one time and you're done though. He's got the size and the weight and the strength to do it.

The pit was running loose. It was several days. I'd actually called animal control to come get him but they couldn't get near him. It was an accident. I was bringing groceries in the house and left the gate open. Roscoe got out. He likes the streets. He's a gangster. He took a full grown pit down and was in the process of kiling him when I grabbed him by the neck and pulled him off.

Then the pit bit me in the ass as I was carrying Roscoe home.

Some days you can't win.

Cat fantasies are okay Bill. Roscoe wouldn't even want to fight your cat though. He's not interested in snacks.

Another reason I like him.

[tbear]

and they can be silent as well

Not Chiquita!
She was brought up, from a puppy, with 3 kittens and two young girls (5 and 7 years old).
She barked whenever someone came past our casita in the campo or approached the gate. Little did anyone know she was dying to say hello and get a good petting. And I wasn't about to tell them, LOL,
Don't get me wrong, if any 'iffy' characters came by she instinctively knew and her bark changed with an added growl.

I was, of course, very vigilant with her. Always advising my girls and their little friends not to play rough with her, for instance, not that she would attack them, she was just very strong and fast!
She spent many days guarding the girl's dolls in their prams, of course, never touching them, which lead to her great interest in babies in prams, much to the consternation of many a mum.
Needless to say, she never ever bit nor nipped anyone.

As you suggest, if you let your dog know what the limits are and what is expected of them and satisfy their needs, they will behave themselves out of respect to you.

In her later years, I often took her with me to work as a general builder. Many of the houses were large with large gardens, so she'd take a quick tour of the garden (once finding a ball, lost for 3 years, which she presented to the astounded owner) then she'd settle down until it was time to pester me at lunch time and home time, always 15 minutes early.

She was rarely allowed in the house (bad storms only) but had a kennel, modeled on a casita, LOL, which offered good protection in our mild climate, here in Spain. So she would lie across the door threshold just to be involved.

Ho hum, Getting that tingling feeling inside.
Loved her to bits, as did anyone who met her.

[incrediBILL]

Cat fantasies

She was 20# of bad tabby. If she were still alive I'd bring her over for a "play date", my money's on the cat. More than likely both would head to the vet when the smoke cleared.

Trust me, she was no ordinary cat. Rode with me all the time in the car like a dog, no silly cat carrier, even walked on leash. People were always giving me crap about that because it made their dogs go nuts seeing me and a cat walk down the street.

I had no fear, for kitty was near LOL

[wyweb]

Tbear

she was just very strong and fast!

Oh and they are. Dobermans are lightning fast. Quick on their feet. Alert. Fast burners.

They can be in your face before you even know they're there.

I would have liked to have met Chiquita.

I go to the "bark park" a lot in my city. I take Sadie and Roscoe. Roscoe stays on a leash but I let Sadie run. You can do that there. It's a way to get your dogs socialized. A converted baseball diamond. You take your dogs and a lawn chair and a cold drink and let them run. You sit with other dog owners and compare notes. It's fun. It's good for your dog and it's good for you too.

[wyweb]

I had no fear, for kitty was near

LOL.

If she were still alive I'd bring her over for a "play date"

Roscoe would have had no interest in having a play date with a cat. As long as she tread lightly he would have sniffed her butt once and then crawled back up on the couch, or under my desk, which is his favorite place to be.

Let's be realistic. Cats fight like girls. Their only major weapon is their claws. Their hiss. Their scream. They're like women. That's okay. I'm not dissing cats here okay? Please understand that. A 20 pound cat is not gonna take out 100 pound Rottweiler though. I'd give you any odds you want on that one.

She might draw blood but that's just gonna piss my boy off and then he'll really get busy.

There wouldn't be a fight. First of all I'd never allow it and secondly Roscoe wouldn't fight her, not unless your cat got belligerent.

I doubt your cat would have done that though. She would have sized my dog up in about a second and a half and realized she was outgunned.

More than likely both would head to the vet when the smoke cleared.

Nah. Roscoe might need a stitch or two but I could probably just tape it up. There wouldn't be enough of your cat left to take to the vet though.

You know I respect you Bill. I've been all over your blog and your stuff on spiders has kept me informed. No disrespect intended here. Your cats whole head would have fit in my dogs mouth, and that's exactly what he would have done. Then he'd shake his head a couple times and the game is over. It would happen just that fast too. Your cat might get in a lick or two but all that would do is piss Roscoe off. Once he gets ticked off I can barely hold him back myself.

Let's don't talk about cats and dogs fighting anyway, I mean unless you think there's more to be added here.

[wyweb]

This thread makes me feel all warm inside.. Thanks wyweb.. Am an Animal lover at heart so I am really enjoying it.

And thanks for that Green_Grass.

That's kind of warming too.....

[wyweb]

A couple more things to say and I think I've probably gone as far with this thing as I can.

If you're wanting a dog, or any pet for that matter, look into organizations that rescue them. Be a rescuer yourself.

Spay or neuter them. They'll live longer. It's a proven fact. There are other health benefits as well.

Make sure they're current on all shots. This should be done anyway but it's absolutely mandatory if you take them out with you at times. Which I like to do.

Socialize them. Make sure they're exposed to other animals, other people. It pays off. You have a calmer animal on your hands.

And do not get an animal unless you're willing to make a commitment for the next 15 or 16 years.

And Bill I appreciate that. The PMs. I wish I'd have known you in KC. I know a little bit about your career and I would have loved to sit down with a couple beers and pick your brain for an afternoon.

I will get to PubCon one of these times. Maybe we can talk then.

[bluntforce]

Cats and dogs, always a subject to bring out the emotions of those who have preferences.

I have an adopted Carolina Dog (yes, it's a breed), and a couple of feral cats, one of which is similar to incrediBill's description of an attack cat. On the first trip to a new vet for frequent cat repairs, the vet didn't fully absorb my warnings that the cat was dangerous. Now the vet uses anesthesia on the cat prior to repair jobs and he (the vet) appears to have healed up nicely.

We still warn people who visit not to touch the big cat, some listen, some don't. The animals all appear to be fairly happy living together, although the dog doesn't move near the big cat. Probably a learned behavior, although I'd like to put it down to intelligence.

[Old_Honky]

I used to have a dog but after three times having to fight off big dogs that the owners never put on a lead because they think they have control, and finally when one of these beasts literally ripped him a new ***hole and we had a big operation and long recuperation to get him back to a reasonable condition, I decided that in future I would become a cat person. They are far less trouble than dogs and when a cat is nice to you it's more rewarding than a dog which is always pleased to see you.

One of my cats Badger often chases foxes out of the garden even when they are three times her size. I should imagine she could take a small dog out fairly easily but not one of the big aggressive ones.

[wheel]

Dogs. What's the point again?

[wyweb]

Dogs. What's the point again?

It's about love baby. It's about having a friend for life. It's about singing to them and having them sing to you.

Wheel, I'm starting to wonder about you....

[Jon_King]

>>Wheel, I'm starting to wonder about you....


Nah, he's just being squeeky! :)

[wyweb]

And BTW Jon, I enjoyed our phone conversations.

Hope to do it again soon.

Jeff

[wyweb]

Dogs. What's the point again?

Let me elaborate a little further.

The point is that animals are important too. To me they're vital. I literally can not imagine a life without my dogs. They depend on me, and being able to provide for them gives me a sense of satisfaction. It's more than that though.

I don't have kids anymore. I wish I did. My dogs are my surrogate children. They give me something to protect and to defend and I like that feeling.

It's a known fact that pet owners live longer than non pet owners. Studies have shown it. Having an animal in your life prolongs it. They keep you calmer and there's a lot to be said for that.

The whole point of this thread was to illustrate my appreciation for dogs.

[edited by: lawman at 12:18 pm (utc) on Mar 3, 2011]
[edit reason] Spelling [/edit]

[Jon_King]

All right, you are drawing me into this converstion...

We have a refridgerator magnet that reads:

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

- Anatole Franc

[wyweb]

@Jon

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened

Could not agree more.

There's a few others I like too.

"The measure of a society can be how well its people treat its animals."
- Mohandas Gandhi

"Animals have a life of their own that is of importance to them apart from their utility to us. They are not only in the world, they are aware of it. What happens to them matters to them. Each has a life that fares better or worse for the one whose life it is"
- Dr. Tom Regan

And perhaps my favorite:

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
- Will Rogers

There's more here:

[inhumane.org ]

[SevenCubed]

Perfect timing, speaking of soul awakening, read the story about this little pup. [ctv.ca ] Notice the city name too? Sulphur -- if he made it back from Sulphur he's got a good future ahead :)

[wheel]

I love my children like they're children. Animals are mostly for eatin' alongside taters. Dogs don't make the cut either way.

We've got a dog. I didn't want a dog. My family wanted a dog. I eventually relented and let them get a dog - under the condition that it was their dog. If in two years time I was feeding it and walking it, then it was my dog. And remember the part where I don't want a dog - so any dog of mine was going straight to the vet to be put down. Despite the long term emotional neurosis this has likely caused in my kids, 6-7 years later the kids still walk and feed the dog every day :).

[wyweb]

There's another point too, since you asked wheel.

If you don't have a soft spot in your heart for any living creatures that are less capable than you are, there's something wrong. Just dead wrong.

Dogs at one time were capable. They could feed themselves. They could protect their young. They could protect themselves.

We stick them in fenced yards now though. They have to rely on us. That makes them less capable.

so any dog of mine was going straight to the vet to be put down

That actually doesn't surprise me about you.

I'll bet you're a blast at parties.

"Hey I killed a dog today."

I'll bet that one goes over big.

[akmac]

Come on Wheel, that was harsh.

[SevenCubed]

Oh there's an even deeper meaning to the name Wall-E he has been given. Interesting, I wasn't aware of the Disney movie. [disney.co.uk ]. Read the "about" link on the front page. Cute, what a beautiful symphony of coincidences.

[wheel]

Come on Wheel, that was harsh.

Harsh? I've looked after a dog for 7 years, how harsh can that be?

The problem isn't that I'm harsh with dogs, I'm not. It's that some people are unable to associate reality with owning dogs. It's OK to love a dog, but don't get all confused like they're people, or children. They're not. And in my world, equating animals with people is the same thing as putting people at the level of animals.

[lawman]

From TOS (not aimed at anyone in particular):

Always be respectful of other users

Please keep your language clean and decent. This include personal inflammatory language.

Flaming or personal attacks are not allowed or tolerated.

Let's all try to stay within guidelines.

lawman

[wyweb]

@wheel

I'm not the best guy in the world, okay? I'm 70K in debt, have personal issues with women both past and present that are almost overwhelming at times, health issues like you wouldn't believe. I'm not a nice guy if I don't like you either. I'll tell you to your face, in a forum post, whatever it takes.

If you're in my life, which dogs are, and you depend on me, which they do, I'll be there for them though. No taking them to the vet to have them put down just because they've become a friggin' annoyance.

I've had to put down dogs before. Advanced age and health issues and it was just their time to go. It was more humane to put them out of their pain. I held Little Bit in my arms while the vet gave her the shot and she went to sleep there. And I cried like a baby. She was a part of my family and she was gone and it friggin' hurt. She was 13 and it was getting hard for her to even walk. When she did she cried. Advanced arthritis. Joint pain. I should have done it even sooner than I did.

[edited by: lawman at 7:39 pm (utc) on Mar 3, 2011]

[akmac]

Thanks for the latitude Lawman.

Wheel, I don't have anything against you-I quite enjoy reading you and think we'd probably get along swimmingly based on the bits of your personality that shine through your posts. I only mean to point out that this a thread started by a man who clearly loves dogs, and saying that you would put down a dog for the reasons you mention - in this context- may be putting too personal a touch on your (dogs aren't people) point.

[lawman]

Believe it or not wheel understands your position and gets your point. Don't ask me how I know.

Now back to the warm and fuzzy. :)

[wyweb]

Thanks for the latitude Lawman.

I agree. I appreciate it to. I've taken some liberties in this thread because it is an emotional subject for me. And lawman let me get away with a little bit of it. Not much but a little bit anyway. You're a fair moderator lawman and I have a lot of respect for you. I'd like to meet you someday. Just to shake your hand. You do a good job here. Every time you've edited or deleted one of my posts it's been for a valid reason. And I don't ever remember arguing either. Maybe once or twice but it surely wasn't arguing effectively. This is your house and you make the rules and those rules are spelled out clearly. My responsibility is to follow them and I do try.

Webmasterworld is a heavily moderated forum but we need at least one of those. It's a safe place place for noobs to come and ask their questions. You scare a noob off and it's unlikely he'll come back again. Now you've just lost what could potentially be a valuable contributor.

I'm a moderator for the forum of a fairly large company. 182,504 members. The idea is to support the company and that means getting noobs involved. Make them aware of best practice, what program policy is, best selling techniques... That way they make you money. Scare them and they'll just go somewhere else. Quick to.

It's not always bad to light a fire under someone either. It promotes further conversation. It gets other people involved. It stimulates the thread.

And thanks for that also akmac. You nailed it right on the head.

warm and fuzzy

Back to dogs....

That's what it's all about really. That's what starts it and that's what sustains it. That warm fuzzy feeling.

Dogs were doing just fine at one time without us even being in the picture. They didn't need us. We needed them. They could guard our possessions, alert us to possible threats, work for us. We brought them in, they didn't bring us. Having done that though, having brought them in, they become our responsibility. Domestication implies responsibility. It demands it.

Dogs would rather have their freedom. They'd rather run. It was effective for them. We're the ones that took that freedom away.

Coyotes and wolves, both closely related to dogs, are good examples. I was sitting in the truck watching a coyote through a pair of binoculars one day and just out of the blue he nailed a jack rabbit in maybe a 10 yard chase. Then he took it home, which was where I lost him, and fed his pups. There's nothing wrong with that. It was unfortunate the rabbit had to die but that's what animals do in the wild. They eat each other.

Coyotes and wolves do well on their own. If we leave them alone anyway. Dogs would to. We haven't left dogs alone though. We've brought them in our house and in that act alone responsibility is placed on us.

These days a good portion of our society consider dogs as disposable commodities, like a box of Cheerios and once you've eaten them all you throw the box in the trash. I have a problem with that. Dogs give you everything they've got and they do it every day.

Give something back.

That's the only point I'm trying to make.

[SevenCubed]

I guess this thread has finished winding it's course so I thought this might be an appropriate closing story about the bond between a dog and a soldier... [ctv.ca...]