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Archive through June 22, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Jun. ~ Aug.: Hairball Haven ARCHIVES: Dogs (ARCHIVES): Archive through June 22, 2005 users admin

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Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Monday, June 20, 2005 - 10:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Supergranny, Queen of Eternal Mischief (aka Lucee Lu) is adorable!! I love her shiny black coat and curly-q tail. She does look like a handful...go Lucee Lu!!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 1:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Supergranny!!! Do you know how much I love puggly wugglies?!?!?!! Ask Vee!!! Lucee is a total cutie pie!!

Virtual snuggles to Lucee!!!

Supergranny
Member

02-03-2005

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 2:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lucee takes all compliments and attention as her due. But she did have a bad night last nite. We had a violent summer storm go over, knocked out electricity on both North and South Beach. Our frenchie Sophie is 8 and figures as long as her mom & dad are calm she just snuggles in but it was the first thunder and lightning in Lucees short life. First she gave short growly barks and then she figured it was bigger than her so she wanted to get as close to me as possible. That didn't make it go away so she started trying other beds to see if the storm would stay out of those rooms. It was so sad cause she was so worried. She didn't shake but just kept alert and kept wandering around. Ordinarily this baby does not get up from our bed until morning and all this was around 2 am. She does not like the dark at anytime. Anyway we felt so sorry for her and she is getting lots of love and reassurance from us.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 6:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Gus is a cutie and Lucee looks like she feels like velvet, what kind of dog is she, a sort of pug? (flowers look very nice as well, no wonder she is intrigued)

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 6:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have been having an issue lately with Oscar, he will be six months on Saturday (already!) and is scheduled for his neuter on the 28th, I cancelled his earlier appt., I wondering whether that will help with this behaviour.

At work I have a baby gate up and sometimes when people come to the gate he tries to grab their hand in his mouth and gives a little growl, mind you he does this other times as well to people to play , rarely to me and does not bite just grabs, but as it is an office I want him too stop! Any suggestions. I wonder whether he thinks he is protecting me. My bosses' mother is making an issue out of this while proclaiming loudly he tried to bite me, he tried to bite me. (secretly I'm saying good dog in my head, snicker snicker)

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 6:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am going to tell you a dog story. I live in an apartment building and we have a lot of dogs. In New York the law is that you must have your dogs on a leash and of course you have to clean up after your dog. Now in my building there is a couple that drives everyone in the neighborhood crazy, they dont care about rules. They have a dalmation and a yorkie. The darn yorkie is never on a leash and loves to attack any dog it comes across. The Yorkie has attacked my dog at least once. My dog of course is a sweetie and is terrified of little dogs.

Now my sister, lives in the apartment building next to mine. She has a dog too, a sweetheart, a chow shepherd mix, very very large. Katie however, doesnt like other dogs, you leave her alone, she will leave you alone -- that is her attitude with dogs. She is a lady, but doesnt suffer fools gladly.

So this mornig, Katie is going out for her walk, and who comes racing out of my building, the yorkie and the dalmation. The Dalmation is on the leash but the yorkie, nope. The yorkie decides he is going to attack Katie-cutie (our nickname for her). So the Yorkie charges at katie.

what does katie do? She picks the yorkie up in her mouth, gives it a shake and then spits it out.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
hmm, Jasper did that once years ago to a JRT that lived in our building as well (no leash as well). I must say that for months he turned the other cheek ignoring this dog as he yipped and yelped and bit him on the back legs. I figured he finally reached the end of his leash. No damage done, but the JRT never came up to him again

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
no damage done on the yorkie either and I am betting someone learned a lesson.

Supergranny
Member

02-03-2005

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I love pet stories! We had an airdale who was attacked by a herd of barking dachsunds. Jackson just lifted his leg and wet them down. They all scattered. I could not stand I was laughing so hard. I swear Jackson smiled. I would have a dog of every breed if I could talk my DH into it. Lucee is a black Chinese pug and she does feel like velvet.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 8:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thank you supergranny! I almost, well you know laughing so hard at your story. Good for Jackson!

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jasper, I don't know what to do about Oscar grabbing the boss's mother's hand, but I can tell you it is deadly serious and needs to stop if she is proclaiming loudly, "he tried to bite me." Bosses' mothers have a LOT of clout.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hopefully, Maris, the Yorkie's owner learned the lesson most.

Living in the city, I get so annoyed by owners who walk around with their dogs off leash. Don't even get me started on the folks who don't pick up after their dogs, either. Grrrr.

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 12:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Juju is right, Jasper.. he's going to be a big dog and he just can't get away with biting.. you need to nip that in the bud. Huge "NO" and if he even thinks about it again, something more drastic.

With my labs I was taught to instantly hit them with a fist, coming up right under the jaw.. jarring and gets their attention. Has to be an immediate correction, of course with "NO!".

With Labs, if you are serious, they must be soft-mouthed so they cannot mouth anything..

I'd talk to the trainer you went to for his puppy class to get ideas that work with his breed, too.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 9:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Not this one Juju, my point being she makes a mountain out of a mole hill (on everything), I know exactly what he did and part of the problem with her is she reaches at him over his head so he tends to grab up at her hand. That being said I do not want him doing this period, he always is reprimanded but I have not gone so far as giving him a whack in the jaw. That is a method I did use with my rottie, but Oscar is rather shy so I am not sure the same methods would work on him. I don't want him becoming even more reserved. He is out with me all the time in public places and the grabbing thing he does only to a few people he sees regularly, there is always a first time though so it needs to stop. He did the teething phase and then he did not grab or mouth at all for about 6 weeks now it has started again. I know my friends full grown Akita mouths and I hate it so this is something I definitely do not want. I'll have a chat with the breeder for her advice. I was told with Berner's that some of them can be very sensitive to a hard reprimand, I'll just have to keep working at it to find some middle ground, just afraid he will become fearful. It took many weeks at puppy school for him to come out of his shell and interact with the other dogs.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Is he grabbing or mouthing while growling (i.e., playing), or is he snapping/growling?

Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jasper, this is a serious issue, I agree. Especially, in an office setting. I don't know much about the Bernese, but I do know what has worked with Ollie. He used to think he was greeting you if he could hold your hand or fingers. Not hard, but you knew he had it. You are also at a disadvantage because Oscar most likely feels that the area where you work is 'his' domain, too, and he needs to protect it and you. You need to sort out 'which' issue you're dealing with and it could be both. <all dogs are psycho, I swear!:-)>

The Sussex is sensitive and stubborn. No amount of forceful training is going to work on them either. What I would start doing, again, is kind of what we talked about before...holding his bottom jaw down and saying a very firm, not loud, but firm, "No bite!" Put the back of your hand, little finger side, all the way to the back of his jaw and hold the jaw for about 2 to 3 seconds. Repeat this EVERYTIME he mouths anyone.

Our breeder has a pup from a litter she had last year who won't let anyone but the new owner into their car. He nipped at another breeder who reached into the back of the Land Rover at a show. This is a well-mannered, normally very docile dog. He sees the Land Rover as his domain and is very protective of it! This is an environmental issue they are working on. I think, with Oscar, it's both environment and protection of you.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yankee, no snapping is involved, I'm sure he is just playing in his mind but like Sea said he is going to be a big boy and it is intimidating to have him play like that and not everyone likes doggie kisses, lol. It comes across most times as hey what do you think you're doing pat me scratch me love me and he does not bite down, but I do need him to stop doing it.

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kstme, I had thought about the protective issue at work as well as it is at the office door that he has done this the most.

I think what I'll do is start on your method (yes we have been here before!) and I will talk to the breeder and our vet about it has well. I think the clip in the chin will be one of the last things I'll try just because of his personality. A few weeks of reinforcement on your method and we'll see how it goes. Thanks for everyone's input, I'll keep you posted.

I'm lonely today, I had an appt at 10:30 so I had to leave Oscar at home, way to warm to have him in the car. Feels odd driving to work without him.

Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 11:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jasper, I'm sure we used, 'Ouch' before, but since this is a different issue, the command changes. Thought I'd better mention that. :-) Keep me posted!

I know what you're going through :-(, it's always hard not to have your buddy with you! You are so incredibly lucky to be able to take him to work!

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jasper, I think you have great advice and of course the best is to work with someone who really knows the psyche of the Bernese, plus Jasper as an individual.

Labs are sweeties but as a breed not overly sensitive (but there are exceptions and you have to know your dog) and with some of them you have to "get their attention".

And I know all too well how the outside person can misinterpret the intention of the dog, but if it ever comes to an actual bite, no matter what the person did, it is the dog and the owner who gain the bad reputation and can suffer consequences in some areas, such as having to be muzzled in public (ACK!)

From my few experiences with Bernese at dogs shows, they are great dogs with fabulous temperaments, as are labs.. but of course your careful training will keep him in good graces.

(the boss' wife sounds like, uh, well I'll just say "pfft!", but you have to deal with that type).

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 12:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
In other doggie news, the dog bite case I am involved with, the owner has hired a lawyer and is trying to fight his charges.Under the dog owner liability act they were going to impose a muzzle and leash limitation on him as well as an inspection of fencing, he's decided to fight this for some reason. This was in court on the 6th. The dog has been loose twice that I have seen since that day. This greatly concerns me with the amount of kids around. So it appears this will drag on.

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 1:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That is a big concern, Jasper. Not just kids but older adults. My dad used to walk his little dog and he had a really bad incident where two huge dogs (one a German Shepard Dog) were loose and out of control (their owner was "walking" them)) and they went for his small dog and of course Dad tried to protect his dog and ended up falling on his knees.. he was in his late seventies at that time and in good shape for his age, but...

He finally started carrying at least a long stick or a gold club, just for protection. As I recall his dealings with animal control were less than satisfying and he was far too absorbed in worries about my mom's health to really follow through.

He may have also been bitten and I think was advised to not get between his dog and the attackers, but, try telling that to most dog lovers about their own "kid".

Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 4:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That is too bad Sea, yes my first instinct would be to throw myself between them as well. Fortunately for us this county jumps on these cases and follows thru with everything. The same day I was bitten, Dec 23, animal control gave me the number of the prosecutor and informed me that they had already been filled in.

Obviously these people could give a hoot what their pet does.

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 5:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
YAY for your prosecuter!!

Yeah, I'm sure they don't care at all; some people seem to get a macho rush from the bad acts of their dogs. Not at all fair to anyone else, even the dogs.

Supergranny
Member

02-03-2005

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 8:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jasper I went back and was looking at the dog pictures. (I remember people by their dogs). What a beautiful Bernese you have. Oscar, cool name. I am sure you are familiar with what they were bred for...busy dogs that needed independent thinking to do their chores. It is just hard to figure out why he is grabbing hands. I have always had cats until this last year, and have used squirts of water to train them to stay off counters, tables, etc. (Anybody with a cat knows they aren't going to get close enough to a misbehaving cat to reprimand them) So I just used squirt bottles of water to stop the dogs barking. For some reason they don't seem to connect the water with you. They recognize the bottle but I don't get blamed or get that cowed reaction from the reprimand. I hate seeing a dog or any animal cringe. And the dogs will turn around and go run thru the sprinkler so go figure. But for me a firm no with a squirt of water stops the behavior. Has this worked for anyone else? I even used it on my umbrella cockatoo when she ate the woodwork. Of course her brain was so small that 30 minutes later she would try tasting the molding again. But that's another story!