<p>German Shepherd Dog. </p>
<p>And no, we don’t eat the chickens, but we do enjoy the eggs. :)</p>
<p>Gracias. :)</p>
<p>Sorry about that YDS :)</p>
<p>Our GSD/rott dog was a wonderful baby dog. Neighbor kids used to try to ride her like a horse. Dog had more patience than I will ever have.</p>
<p>I was never allowed a dog as a child, so as a result I have had 7 in the past 26 years. Our current crew consists of 2 wire haired fox terriers (the male is 9, the female aka head b!tch is 4) and our “baby” is the 10 month old Bernese Mountain Dog I came home to find waiting for me last May. The male terrier is my constant companion when I come home; she is far more independent. Together they have made sure our yard is chipmunk, rabbit and squirrel free, while occasionally taking on the blue jays and the errant raccoon or possum.</p>
<p>Knowing that Berners are notorious for joint problems due to their size, we got pet insurance for the first time. We chose a plan that does not cover routine care, but will be there for anything serious.</p>
<p>I like to think we are running an experiment to see what happens when a Berner (known for being gentle, lumbering couch potatoes) is raised by terriers. So far the results are a little scary. He jumps, runs, bounces with them step for step - fine for them, they’re 20 pounds, but he is 125 easy. Most gorgeous face I have seen on a pup so it’s hard to complain.</p>
<p>Great idea for a thread!</p>
<p>We are on Golden #2 now. Golden #1 was as close to a human as a dog can get. She didn’t like other dogs, had great manners from day 1; never counter-surfed, jumped, barked, chewed; she was an angel, and people told us she was one in a million. She died at 5 from lymphoma and we never thought we would get another dog. After one year of coming home to an empty house we brought home Golden #2. She is a naughty naughty dog. In her first few years she chewed 2 electronic car keys ($200 each), a tax refund check, all the knobs off the cooktop, countless pot holders, reading glasses and several pair of my daughter’s shoes. Working dog indeed! But she is a clown, she loves all people and dogs. Even dogs that hate other dogs seem to love our dog. Her energy prompted us to get off the couch for agility classes, twice daily walks and weekend play dates with other dogs. Our social life has improved dramatically.</p>
<p>I’m curious, who watches your dog when you travel? We are fortunate to have someone to exchange dog sitting with, but I’m not sure what we would do if we ever have a scheduling conflict.</p>
<p>I got my first dog about 10 years ago, immediately post-divorce. My ex had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel which my kids had gotten attached to, so we got a Cavalier puppy from a local breeder. Cutest dog ever! I never thought I’d get a dog, let alone become so smitten with one, but he is such a sweetie - affectionate, easy-going, cuddly - follows me all over the house. Everyone who meets him falls in love. I sometimes wish I didn’t have to deal with all the walks (first thing in the morning and after I get home from work) especially in less than nice winter weather when I would rather stay inside and not have to brave the elements, but when he jumps up on my lap, puts his head on my knee and snuggles down for the evening, he more than makes up for that.</p>
<p>I also have a Havanese like Crittermom. I bought VPI for him during his first year but then I cancelled it afterwards. He is healthy but maybe I should probably look into getting him health insurance. </p>
<p>I am wary of the side-effects of anesthesia just for teeth cleaning so I haven’t used the vet for that procedure. Instead, I do it myself. Once or every 2 days I use dental wipes or brush his teeth. I bought some dog tools to scale his teeth once a month. He is so sweet and patient enough to lie still for one hour while I do it. </p>
<p>Yalemom, what does the vet do in an anesthesia-free teeth cleaning? Is the dog awake? I don’t think my dog will let anyone poke his teeth for an hour except me. I can see him struggling to break free.</p>
<p>My Havanese is a good guard dog as long as he is inside the house and no one can see him. This is because he sounds fierce when he barks and growls. That said, when anyone takes him out for a walk, he will happily let anyone pet him. He doesn’t bite at all. So, as you can see, he is an ‘all bark-no bite” dog.</p>
<p>I confess I bought him clothes. A shearling coat, a waterproof coat, a couple of shirts, a reflective vest and snow booties that are useless. I also have Halloween and Santa outfits for him.</p>
<p>One day, when he was about a couple of years old, I discovered a small lump on his back while brushing his coat. I freaked out and thought it was some sort of cancerous growth and scheduled a same-day appointment with the vet. I was embarrassed when she discovered that it was just a tick and she promptly removed it. </p>
<p>My dog sort of looks like a huge rabbit when I see him running in the park. It is not because he has pointy ears but because he sort of looks like he is hopping-running.</p>
<p>Sometimes, I wish I was my dog.</p>
<p>A friend has told me that in her next life, she wants to come back as my dog.</p>
<p>Right now, we’re down to one dog - a dachshund named Sammy. Our “chorkie,” Missy died a couple of months ago. :(</p>
<p>I hate to see short-haired dogs out in the cold. They must be freezing! My doxie doesn’t mind wearing a sweater or his “smoking jacket” (a silly name that my H concocted to describe his “fancy” coat.)</p>
<p>The anesthesia-free cleaning is a trip to watch! A local pet store schedules these guys to come in one or two days a month and you sign up for a time slot that works for you. </p>
<p>So first I have to say I had to stifle a laugh because the dental hygienists wear the same kind of smock outfits that they do in my dentist’s office, and masks too! They had dog beds set up in the back room and a little dental tray tables right next to each bed, with all the kinds of dental tools you see in a human teeth cleaning. The hygienist sits on the floor on the dog bed with her back straight up against the wall (so she forms like an L with her body). Then someone helps the hygienist roll the dog onto its back and positions it lengthwise between the hygienist’s legs (so the head is at the hygienist’s crotch and the legs are down with the hygienist’s legs. </p>
<p>So I guess it’s key that the dog is completely on its back and the hygienist keeps it there by squeezing her legs against the dog’s body. Apparently (this is what they told me, and I certainly saw it with my own eyes!), when a dog is forced onto its back it triggers almost a trance-like state because this position is the most vulnerable, submissive position a dog can be in: on their back, unable to move, belly totally exposed. </p>
<p>Now, my dog’s tail was not moving, she was not happy, but she also was not trying to escape, it was almost as if she was hypnotized, it was so weird!! And they really went to town with the scraping and the picking, etc, she used all the tools on her tray. It took about 55 minutes and as soon as they allowed her back on her feet she was a happy and perky thing.</p>
<p>I have since employed this method when I have done the routine brushing we do at home and also once when I had to administer a dose of doggy Kaopectate after she ate god-knows-what on a walk we took and had the serious trots. It works like a charm!</p>
<p>Obviously this probably doesn’t work for all dogs…and some of the stories about some of the dogs on this thread makes me think no hygienist would let some of your dogs near her! :eek: :eek:, but I think for some dogs it’s a great alternative, especially retrievers and other breeds that can get the laryngeal paralysis later in life from decaying teeth draining down into the larynx (this is what happened to our first lab, who lived to be 15.5). Also there comes an age where any kind of anesthesia is not recommended, so if you can get your dog used to this kind of cleaning, then as they age they’re accustomed to it and it’s not terribly traumatic.</p>
<p>Our 10 1/2 year old Corgi, Sadie, is neurotic and barks at any other animal she sees, including cartoon animals on TV. She hates thunder and hot air balloons. She loves to eat, chase balls, eat, cuddle, eat and nap. In hindsight, we should have named her Hoover as she can suck up the tiniest of crumbs. She and my husband are inseparable. We have really worried lately that her age appears to be catching up with her. She’s been to the vet several times in the past few months, mostly for skin issues and to have her teeth cleaned (yikes, $$$). We’re taking her in again tomorrow because she’s been wheezing and, last night, while playing with her, DH said he felt a lump in her neck and also one on the side of her face. I am hopeful they are just benign cysts like one of our previous dogs developed later in life.</p>
<p>" Our new goof ball labradoodle puppy does something that none of our other dogs have ever done. She barks at people and animals on television. If the screen just has a menu, or lets say a landscape…no barking. But when other animals or people are on the screen and if they are talking or barking, then she gets vocal. Does anyone else experience this? "</p>
<p>So funny ! My male corgi, Archie barks at dogs and horses on TV…there is also a pharmaceutical commercial with an elephant that sets him off</p>
<p>I have two corgis that are the loves of my life ! I never really bonded with my golden retriever like I do them…I just love their personalities , quirks and funny personalities. I am so tuned into them and they me. It is funny how my female who is super intelligent knows whether or not I will take them into the car to go out with me, or I will put them in their crates…I find it fascinating . Stella and Archie love everyone who comes to our home , but Archie bonds more with men than women . Stella reserves her love for me first and anyone else after…I never thought I would become so attached to dogs , but that is one of the things that makes life interesting…you never know !</p>
<p>I’ve been wanting a corgi for some time now. Are yours Pembroke or Cardigan?</p>
<p>Sadie is a tri-color Pembroke Welsh Corgi.</p>
<p>Destruction list for our first golden: 1 sofa, 2chairs, 5 pairs of Ferragamos shoes, umpteen pairs of underwear (only female undies which were pooped out in a day or two), She peed on a rug every time we went out…and she loved us fiercely. </p>
<p>A week after we acquired our youngest golden I was diagnosed with breast and thyroid cancer. My two goldens guarded me all day.</p>
<p>How are your corgis with kids? As a pitbull mama, I know better than to stereotype but I’ve heard that corgis can have territorial issues with kids. Any truth to this or just a dumb rumor? My partner wants a corgi more than anything (except kids- he wants kids more) so it’s something we’ll have to consider.</p>
<p>Romani, our corgi loves people, young and old alike. She thinks everyone who comes to the house is there to visit her.</p>
<p>I hate to break it to you splash mom, but your Corgi could be right. I would visit her.</p>
<p>LOL, me too!</p>
<p>BTW, I have heard that some of the herding breeds, esp Corgis, may try to herd little kids, and are not averse to giving them an encouraging nip, as they would cattle. 
I don’t know how common this is–none of the Corgi owners I’ve known had little kids.</p>
<p>Y’all could very well be right! :)</p>
<p>Consolation, that is true that corgis herd. Sadie loves to herd. When DD lived at home, sometimes she, DH and I would take Sadie out in the backyard and let her chase us around but she has never nipped at any of us. My young nephews love to play with her and they race all around the yard with her chasing them.</p>