The dog musing/vent thread

[pinkspore]

The decision doesn't entirely fall to me, I just have the final say. Officially I have Uly through a rescue that is run by a single person, unofficially I have him through a private rescue run by a different person. He was pulled by a third person, and transported to me by a fourth. All of these people have been part of the discussion and no decision has been made. If we do ultimately decide to euthanize him I am sure I will take some criticism.

If he were a drivey dog with a mouth, I would have no problem.placing him because heelers are mouthy. If he were a fear aggressive dog with predictable triggers I would have no problem placing him. Instead he is a lethargic dog that sometimes fires almost randomly, and in each and every situation I have growing uncertainty how he will react.

He is absolutely gorgeous and everybody loves him and wants to pet him. Three months ago I let everybody pet him because he seemed to enjoy it. Now I say no because I'm not sure what he will do. I don't know if my vet will be willing to prescribe anxiety meds for him because he seems so relaxed in her office, she was suggesting making him a therapy dog.

I am still certain he would be a lovely dog for the right home, and if Brisbane wasn't so miserable I would probably decide that my home was the right home. I'm just not sure how I'm going to find someone with dog-nerd-level skills who wants an unpredictable dog with no drive.

 

[StillandSilent]

While visiting my mother a small pile of turds was found on the floor. Felony (my kitten) was found near them and blamed. I claimed it was her dog. My shining momentcame whe I grabbed a paper towel, whipped the turds off the floor and yelle "I know they aren't Felony poops, because hers have feathers in them!"

Yeah, so apparently I'm the person who waves poop around.

 

[stardogs]

I don't know if my vet will be willing to prescribe anxiety meds for him because he seems so relaxed in her office, she was suggesting making him a therapy dog.

I'd want to try anti-anxiety meds before euth, personally. Can your vet be brought in on the situation and you explain exactly what's on the line and WHY meds are needed? Surely she will want to give you more ammunition for the issue.

 

[Dogdragoness]

The decision doesn't entirely fall to me, I just have the final say. Officially I have Uly through a rescue that is run by a single person, unofficially I have him through a private rescue run by a different person. He was pulled by a third person, and transported to me by a fourth. All of these people have been part of the discussion and no decision has been made. If we do ultimately decide to euthanize him I am sure I will take some criticism.

If he were a drivey dog with a mouth, I would have no problem.placing him because heelers are mouthy. If he were a fear aggressive dog with predictable triggers I would have no problem placing him. Instead he is a lethargic dog that sometimes fires almost randomly, and in each and every situation I have growing uncertainty how he will react.

He is absolutely gorgeous and everybody loves him and wants to pet him. Three months ago I let everybody pet him because he seemed to enjoy it. Now I say no because I'm not sure what he will do. I don't know if my vet will be willing to prescribe anxiety meds for him because he seems so relaxed in her office, she was suggesting making him a therapy dog.

I am still certain he would be a lovely dog for the right home, and if Brisbane wasn't so miserable I would probably decide that my home was the right home. I'm just not sure how I'm going to find someone with dog-nerd-level skills who wants an unpredictable dog with no drive.

What do you mean by "no drive"? Not judging, merely curious.

 

[pinkspore]

I would define "drive" as willingness and desire to do something. Uly is motivated by a few things, but if he can't have them that's OK too. He's motivated by treats, but if he drops the food or can't find it right away he forgets about it. He'll chase the ball for about three throws, but if it lands out of sight or bounces over the fence he immediately loses interest. He likes to follow me around, but if I close a door or step over a gate he'll just lay down and go to sleep. Nothing gets him excited to a state beyond slightly fidgety, and he is seemingly perfectly content with not getting what he wants.

 

[Annabell]

Why is it that most cattle dogs I see are overweight? The breed is supposed to be rather stocky and muscular, but there is a difference between that and overweight. And yes, I am perfectly aware that you can feel Fable's ribs when you pet her. She is a dog, not a whale. /endrant

 

[ThatCrazyGroomer]

Ugh!!! I agreed to watch my sister's dog whole she's in Vegas, from the 13th to today. It's almost seven o'clock and they've JUST LEFT. This dog drives me up the wall. My sister has done plenty of trick training with her, but no obedience, and the dig has seperation anxiety like there's no tomorrow. She has done nothing but whine and refuse to eat anything since she's been here. I know it isn't the dog's fault, but I'm so ready to be rid of her, and frankly, pissed because I have doctors appointments all day tomorrow, then a much needed date with my husband in the evening. We won't be here all day and the dig cast go to my parent's house where mine will be because it's "too far for them to go to pick her up". Um. Why?! The best part is I'm not even getting paid for this crap and I'll be exhausted for my appointments tomorrow because I'll be getting up around midnight so she can pick the dog up.
Never again. I don't mind watching dogs for clients, because they pay, and they're generally considerate, but I will NEVER dog sit for family again. Never.

 

[straw]

The decision doesn't entirely fall to me, I just have the final say. Officially I have Uly through a rescue that is run by a single person, unofficially I have him through a private rescue run by a different person. He was pulled by a third person, and transported to me by a fourth. All of these people have been part of the discussion and no decision has been made. If we do ultimately decide to euthanize him I am sure I will take some criticism.

My parents went through this in the spring with their last foster. They'd had her 8 months. She just was not a safe dog in the average home, and to keep her with my parents until the RIGHT home came along would have put our own family at risk - we have a lot of small kids coming and going through the house unannounced. The rescue told my parents there was no other foster home suitable for her and left the final decision up to them.

If you're the one in the trenches, so to speak, and you've put a lot of thought into the decision and exhausted the plausible options, I don't think anybody has the right to point fingers and say you did wrong.

 

[Dogdragoness]

Why is it that most cattle dogs I see are overweight? The breed is supposed to be rather stocky and muscular, but there is a difference between that and overweight. And yes, I am perfectly aware that you can feel Fable's ribs when you pet her. She is a dog, not a whale. /endrant

I have noticed this, and the breed as a whole seems to also be getting stockier, like too stocky, some ACDs I have seen (not all but some) are starting to look like halter horses, with huge necks and muscular bodies on small legs. It's getting to the point where I prefer the look of the ASTCD than the ACD.

 

[Annabell]

I have noticed this, and the breed as a whole seems to also be getting stockier, like too stocky, some ACDs I have seen (not all but some) are starting to look like halter horses, with huge necks and muscular bodies on small legs. It's getting to the point where I prefer the look of the ASTCD than the ACD.

I totally agree with you on this. It's like how a lot of labs have become much bigger than the breed standard calls for. The ASTCD has always interested me. Do you know if any breeders are in the US or Canada? I feel like it's like the Koolies where a lot of the dogs are still in Australia

 

[Ozfozz]

Anyone that lives in a warm climate want to take a Rigby for a few months?
She's totally unimpressed with this cold weather and snow.
First she wouldn't leave the house without her coat on, then she refused to run with the rest of the dogs on our hike.

Now the other dogs are sleeping and she's stacking toys on my lap and barking at me whilst I try to do school work.

It's going to be a long winter....

 

[Dogdragoness]

Anyone that lives in a warm climate want to take a Rigby for a few months?
She's totally unimpressed with this cold weather and snow.
First she wouldn't leave the house without her coat on, then she refused to run with the rest of the dogs on our hike.

Now the other dogs are sleeping and she's stacking toys on my lap and barking at me whilst I try to do school work.

It's going to be a long winter....

It's 65 degrees here now ant sunny!

 

[Ozfozz]

When we walked today it was 17 degrees with a windchill of -1

 

[pinkspore]

75 and kinda cloudy here in the land of no seasons.

 

[sassafras]

100% chance of snow overnight. *happydance*

 

[Airn]

Anyone that lives in a warm climate want to take a Rigby for a few months?
She's totally unimpressed with this cold weather and snow.
First she wouldn't leave the house without her coat on, then she refused to run with the rest of the dogs on our hike.

Now the other dogs are sleeping and she's stacking toys on my lap and barking at me whilst I try to do school work.

It's going to be a long winter....

We could swap. Gwen LOVES snow. And they look pretty similar... opcorn:

 

[Laurelin]

So Mia has this thing where she is sooooo cuddly every now and then. She will climb in my arms and nuzzle me and want hugs.

And then I realize she is attempting to get to my dinner. It works EVERY time though.

 

[Ozfozz]

We could swap. Gwen LOVES snow. And they look pretty similar... opcorn:

Hmm with a little dye no one would ever know :rofl1:

 

[Southpaw]

Poopsicle season is upon us.

Cajun was outside, I went to let her in when I saw her standing at the back door. Tail wagging and a very proud look on her face.... I noticed the turd hanging out of her mouth when I went to open the door.

Thank God she has a decent "out" command.

 

[JacksonsMom]

So Mia has this thing where she is sooooo cuddly every now and then. She will climb in my arms and nuzzle me and want hugs.

And then I realize she is attempting to get to my dinner. It works EVERY time though.

:rofl1: lol, sounds like Jackson. Just when I think he's being all nice and cuddly, I usually realize he has ulterior motives.