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Pets
Jul 6, 2014 19:47:16 GMT
Post by Chris on Jul 6, 2014 19:47:16 GMT
Love my pets I do.
The Avatar is Titus my Alaskan Malamute and I also have a white cat called Lee Roy(my big listening session pal) and a Horsfeld Tortoise called Floyd.
It's certainly rubbed off - the eldest used to be a zookeeper and looked after Edinburghs famous Pandas as well as various carnivores.
Anyone else got a cat that leaves your legs dead because they won't move for so long and you can't bear to disturb them?
Pics will be added when I work out how. And yes I've read how to do it but I'm thick.
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Pets
Jul 6, 2014 20:08:54 GMT
Post by ChrisB on Jul 6, 2014 20:08:54 GMT
Meet Merlot - so called because he's French and he whines a lot. He's a Brittany.  |
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Jul 6, 2014 20:16:16 GMT
Post by Chris on Jul 6, 2014 20:16:16 GMT
Good name! I'm not seeing a pic though but that's maybe just here.
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Jul 7, 2014 11:02:43 GMT
Post by MikeMusic on Jul 7, 2014 11:02:43 GMT
I'll have to post pics of our 5 mutts
My avatar is Fred, wire haired Dachs.
Passed on many years ago now. Great little guy
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Jul 7, 2014 12:01:19 GMT
Post by pinkie on Jul 7, 2014 12:01:19 GMT
My sister has Brittanys Chris. She's on her 4th - a rescue from Spain called Luvia (pronounced Lubia), and another callled Mouche . High energy dogs!  |
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Jul 7, 2014 12:16:33 GMT
Chris likes this
Post by pinkie on Jul 7, 2014 12:16:33 GMT
OK Meet the security team - Rommel and Keisha  |
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Jul 7, 2014 17:51:47 GMT
Post by ChrisB on Jul 7, 2014 17:51:47 GMT
You're telling me! The thing is that their origins are from breeding the little French spaniels with the English Pointer/Setter aand because of that, they have the single mindedness of the Setters with the mad crazyiness of the spaniel! And they like to run.....by golly, they like to run! |
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Jul 7, 2014 19:14:32 GMT
Post by Chris on Jul 7, 2014 19:14:32 GMT
Rommel! My mate had a scorpion called Rommel. He was also a very good soldier.
Good to see plenty dog lovers here - Titus is my 3rd dog now,I had a jet black Staffie(Bronco/Bronx) and a rescue Alsation/Collie cross. Mrs Chris is a big animal lover as well so it's all good.
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Jul 7, 2014 19:22:37 GMT
Post by pinkie on Jul 7, 2014 19:22:37 GMT
We didn't call him Rommel. We picked him up at 16 weeks from a breeder who had taken him back because the owner couldn't cope - and they'd called him Rommel. It sort of stuck, although we got some funny looks on one of our early walks when some German tourists walked by and we were yelling "Rommel, Rommel, come here Rommel" Keisha we picked up at 24 weeks from UK GSD Rescue. She had also been too much for her original owners, who were advised by a behavioural specialist referred by their vet that the only thing that could be done with her was to put her to sleep. Fortunately they opted for asking UK GSDR to rescue her instead, and I got her for my birthday! They are both soppy!  |
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Pets
Jul 8, 2014 0:18:40 GMT
Post by papahemi on Jul 8, 2014 0:18:40 GMT
This is Poppy (in my avatar) she is the latest in a line of dogs that I have had, all rescue dogs. I would not be without one. We also have a cat, Oily. She was feral, but adopted us, instead of the dump where she was bought up. Our Neighbours have a German Shepard, Po. He is lovable and affectionate with those he knows, but awfully intimidating to passers by. They got him and a matching bitch after their home got invaded, but the two of them just played all day and night, so they adopted out the bitch and now Po is lonely, but does his job.
Poppy is a Labrador, Huntaway cross, she should have a very deep bark - but she is shy and will only exercise it when she is concerned about a bouncing rubber ball.
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Jul 8, 2014 9:28:43 GMT
Post by MikeMusic on Jul 8, 2014 9:28:43 GMT
Far too often the lazy answer is
"Put to sleep"
I remembered recently, back in the late 60s that a friend had a Lab puppy, very boisterous.
Went to visit,
where's the dog ?
Put to sleep as too much to handle.
After watching many Dog Whisperer episodes and experience of dogs myself there is very little reason to put a dog to sleep, apart from laziness and stupidity of humans
There are ways to handle and letting them grow out of manic puppy phase
Our Rosie was a gorgeous JR/Staffie cross as a young puppy.
When she was about 6 months old we had a war zone for a while with much older Nellie.
Controlled that and have kept an eye on her for most of the time.
She has quietened down a lot and even this weekend seems to have relaxed even more.
Would defend us to the death I reckon
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Jul 8, 2014 19:38:36 GMT
Post by kember on Jul 8, 2014 19:38:36 GMT
My avatar is a picture of Ebo, our 13 year old Norwegian Elkhound.
Elkhounds are a medium-sized breed of the Spitz variety. Used in Norway as working dogs (if you have moose to hunt). They are highly intelligent, courageous and sociable. They do not need as much exercise as many other Spitz breeds but can go all day if that is what you are doing.
We adopted him 18 months ago from the estimable Elkhound Rescue Fund.
Peter
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Jul 9, 2014 9:01:34 GMT
Post by MikeMusic on Jul 9, 2014 9:01:34 GMT
Top man Peter I like all dogs, especially nice ones 13 is going some for an Elkhound surely ? You must be doing a lot right there |
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Jul 9, 2014 10:40:28 GMT
Post by kember on Jul 9, 2014 10:40:28 GMT
Top man Peter I like all dogs, especially nice ones 13 is going some for an Elkhound surely ? You must be doing a lot right there Mike, Yes, they can last until they are fifteen or so. Regarding care, apart from funding the vet's holiday island in the Bahamas, just careful diet (his kidneys are starting to fail) and gentle exercise. I had to have him castrated earlier this year as his prostate was playing up, so his favourite leisure activity has been curtailed but he still seems alert and happy enough. The key thing is that these dogs need their people around. I adopted him when I took the plunge and became self-employed. He lies by me while I work and I have time to take out for several small walks a day and three big walks a week. BTW, it took me 28 years to convince my wife to get a dog and she is now a total convert - completely soppy about him. Regarding his age, I knew what I was letting myself in for when I adopted him but I couldn't stand the idea of his seeing his days out in a kennels, despite the fantastic care he was given there. His previous owner had been ill and had then died, so the poor dog had had two long spells in kennels by the time I took him on. The Rescue Fund is a great charity and I'd encourage anyone who can provide the attention to adopt one. But be warned, they can be very boisterous as puppies/youngsters. And they are very independent - you can see them deciding whether or not to obey a command, so they need firm leadership. Mine had already matured into a quiet and generally placid dog, although like most of his breed he is a thieving git: if you leave bread or chocolate out it will be gone. He will eat anything apart from lettuce, a bit like me:). Peter |
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Jul 9, 2014 12:01:35 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 12:01:35 GMT
Can't let you dog lovers hog this space. Our four cats are all very different. First is Bert. He is boss cat. Big and butch and as soft as they come - but only in private. He sleeps on our bed, the others sleep downstairs  Then we have Titch, a recent rescue cat in his favourite position. Still titch in spite of his appetite  Then we have Orange.fr and Zebedee. Orange is the hunter. We hardly need to feed him at all. Keeps the local mice population under control single handed. Zeb is 18 now and getting very frail. Can't be long now I fear but that is life after all. They tend to squeeze together on my lap most evenings.  |
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Jul 9, 2014 12:45:29 GMT
Post by kember on Jul 9, 2014 12:45:29 GMT
Gordon,
What a fine lot!
Affection for cats and dogs need not be mutually exclusive, even between the cats and dogs in question. As a boy I had an alley cat (Fred) who would nestle up against Matilda (our boxer/Great Dane cross) and sleep for hours. Fred would lick Matilda's ears in return for warmth!
Before Ebo, I had two feline brothers from birth for fourteen years. They were very different characters and sizes and I was extremely fond of both of them. Sadly one succumbed to cancer and the other was mauled to death by our (then) Asbo neighbour's dogs shortly afterwards. The neighbour knew what had happened and did not alert us so the cat was left in shock and badly injured for eighteen hours before another neighbour found him. I didn't dare get another cat while I lived there. I never want to have to go to a vet again with another animal so badly savaged. But I'll happily get another cat in due course.
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Jul 9, 2014 13:33:23 GMT
Post by MikeMusic on Jul 9, 2014 13:33:23 GMT
Top man Peter I like all dogs, especially nice ones 13 is going some for an Elkhound surely ? You must be doing a lot right there Mike, Yes, they can last until they are fifteen or so. Regarding care, apart from funding the vet's holiday island in the Bahamas, just careful diet (his kidneys are starting to fail) and gentle exercise. I had to have him castrated earlier this year as his prostate was playing up, so his favourite leisure activity has been curtailed but he still seems alert and happy enough. The key thing is that these dogs need their people around. I adopted him when I took the plunge and became self-employed. He lies by me while I work and I have time to take out for several small walks a day and three big walks a week. BTW, it took me 28 years to convince my wife to get a dog and she is now a total convert - completely soppy about him. Regarding his age, I knew what I was letting myself in for when I adopted him but I couldn't stand the idea of his seeing his days out in a kennels, despite the fantastic care he was given there. His previous owner had been ill and had then died, so the poor dog had had two long spells in kennels by the time I took him on. The Rescue Fund is a great charity and I'd encourage anyone who can provide the attention to adopt one. But be warned, they can be very boisterous as puppies/youngsters. And they are very independent - you can see them deciding whether or not to obey a command, so they need firm leadership. Mine had already matured into a quiet and generally placid dog, although like most of his breed he is a thieving git: if you leave bread or chocolate out it will be gone. He will eat anything apart from lettuce, a bit like me:). Peter I'm surprised and happy a dog that big can go on for so long. Great Danes if I'm right average 7-8 ! We took on Ben, an American Beagle when a friend of a friend died. He was in a fairly poor way which got worse until we had one eye out, then he started walking on all 4 legs again ! Instead of limping on 3 That was good. Not so good was the mouth cancer he got. We had him for just 18 months. Really surprised me how much I missed the one eyed Muppet monster, still he had a good time at the end of his life. Was quite likely he would be put to sleep unless we took him. All puppies are 50% adorable and 50% nightmare PITA. Older rescues for us now. I found out only a few years ago that castration gives them longer lives. Wish I'd known before. I had the male hangup about chopping the bits off. Our old mini Dachs Puppy has to be almost dragged, by an enthusiastic Lucy, Jack Russell to the end of the garden for his daily constitutional. Happy pottering around the garden otherwise. |
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Jul 9, 2014 13:35:17 GMT
Post by MikeMusic on Jul 9, 2014 13:35:17 GMT
Nice looking guys Gordon
We cannot have cats our lot might kill them. Very uncompromising.
Chase off neighbours cats like a mad pack of banshees
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Jul 9, 2014 14:05:53 GMT
Post by kember on Jul 9, 2014 14:05:53 GMT
I found out only a few years ago that castration gives them longer lives. Wish I'd known before. I had the male hangup about chopping the bits off. Mike, +1 re hangup. I hope this only applies to dogs. If not, I'll not show this thread to my other half! I felt so guilty, he lived off steak for a week! P |
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Jul 9, 2014 14:16:50 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 14:16:50 GMT
Gordon, What a fine lot! Affection for cats and dogs need not be mutually exclusive, even between the cats and dogs in question. Absolutely, I like most animals but have always felt at home with cats as that was what I grew up with. I find their independence suits my personality. Most dogs I meet seem a bit desperate for attention. My cats feel very free to tell me to sod off if they are not interested at the time. Plus of course, cats are SO much more intelligent than dogs  |
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