karrie

My golden white lab cross is 12 yrs old and she is a MEGA chewer. Tennis balls if left near her are shredded. She has destroyed stuffies, balls and yes even a kong. She has teeth that are down almost to the gum line. I have to limit her chewy stuff. Sam, bc, destroys stuffies as well. He isn't bad about destroying other toys. When they get a cow hoof, Libby's will get really small and then it is gone. Sam's cow hoof will get smaller but he takes his good sweet time about it. I like the big nylon ball that gave out treats ever so often. My only issue with it was it got to were I couldn't find the treats to fit in it anymore. That is the only ball that has ever survived the MEGA chewer. It is just too big for her to get her mouth on so she is forced to work it with her paws.

Oh yes many a time Sam has put his nose to the back of Libby while she is pottying. Then he promptly marks over the area. When she poops, he gets a tad perplexed and will sometimes pee close by or go off. Tuck's thing was peeing in the extact same spots he had done before. If there where no prior spots, you would be out there till he found the perfect spot ( no matter how long it took). He did this from the time he was a bitty pup. Libby ( GoldenX white lab) will potty anywhere. Seriously, next to her food, near her bed, in front of the running lawn mower, she seems to care less. She is fine inside but to me near her food and water is just plain weird.

My dogs love cow hooves.

Tuck figured out how to open the rabbit's pen so he could let the bunny out to come play. He never hurt the bunny but I had to be very watchful. We have a killer cat and the bunny would have been toast. Sam is the first dog I've had who picked up hand signals. He also figured out how to get a few of my doors open. LOL I can't go to the bathroom or my bedroom by myself anymore.

LOL Sam has recently been shocking me and allowing me to sleep in to the ever so late 8:30am. Normally it is Mommy must get up by no later than 6:50 ( I refuse to admit he has pulled a 4am on me). His way of getting me up ... nose in face, couple of good morning licks, and then pull bed covers off. Only defense when it is clearly not time to get up is make sure you never face the night stand, all covers must be firmed tucked under you and do NOT open your eyes or change your breathing pattern and no excessive tossing and turning trying to go back to sleep. I had to develop these defensives when I started waking with dawns early lights ( 3:30am to 4am ). Cold and snow on the ground just wakes a body all the way up when you got out for those potty calls. These defensives only work for me when I have these wee hours of the morning wake ups of mine. Apparently, I'm awake before him. And if I follow those simple rules I'm allowed to stay in bed and go back to sleep till regular up time. Should I mess up, I have to get on up.

Humm. Now that would be something I could work on. Dh has never done anything to him. But large male who gets loud and runs with or like the kids could be scary to a 40ish lb dog. Thanks. Sorry, for the slight highjack.

Well, bitter apple on those little piggies mite help. If you don't have that or you got a weirdo dog like me, who likes bitter apple. then I would suggest a hot sauce. Sounds cruel maybe but it did wonders for getting Tuck and Sam to stop trying to teeth on my Grandma's rocker. I only had to apply it to the rockers legs twice. They both decided that rocker just didn't taste as good anymore and that the cow hooves were much better. Another way maybe tote a squirt gun and he goes for your toes squirt him and say NO. Course, I have one dog that likes the squirt gun. For that one a nice loud ANNTE or clip of the hands occupying the NO works. Round here the critters are like my kids... querky bunch of nuts! {What works for one doesn't always work on the others.} And I want chickens..... Someone please send for the men in white coats if I ever get those chickens cause with my luck, I'll have crowing hens, hens who think they are dogs or cats, spoiled brat hens and roosters attempting to lay eggs. Come to think of it, I can't recall ever having a NORMAL aka none querky critter. Every living thing is different, just gotta find the one thing that works or figure out what you and or society is willing to accept. You'll get the yummy foot game solved. Just stay consistent. Oh and giving someone a toy to play with before interest in the feet mite not be a bad idea either. I hear these BC's love jobs. Seems balls and owners getting tennis elbow comes up fairly often. Good Luck to those toes! I'm sure someone will pipe in soon with some regular training methods to use.

Is she by chance in heat? My maltese would act very different when she went in heat. Missy was always the greeter and drill sargent but when she went in heat she went into hiding. My german shepherd would go stay in her dog house when she went in heat.

Round here the other day I threatend Sam with I was going to remove all his teeth and he would have to gum. He doesn't attempt to nip me. He only attempts occassionally the kids ( read when loud and fast moving usually when they run up the stairs). However, Sam has some issue with my husband. Dh has been nipped on the tush while kissing me ( no loud noise or running ). He follows my dh like he is just waiting for him to do something. I have to call him and down him. If dh spots him, he tells him off. So far the boy still looks at my dh as if he mite be a sheep. I know the man is white and that really short thinning hair is turning gray/white but he hasn't done any baa baa -ing really he hasn't. We will just keep working on it. One day when I least expect it, Sam will get it in his head dh is not a herding object.

Come borrow my Molly( BC cat). She has no issues with dogs. Pester her or get too close in her opinion and get a good head spinning wack. If she thinks you are up to no good, a nice smack on the head. She is not above chasing the a dog. Now if the dog behaves she will leave it alone. I'll think about loaning you Mo , the one eyed BC cat. Sam ( BC dog lol) and Mo are best buds. Mo loves everyone. When Sam decides to ignore me and stalk what I've told him to leave alone in the house, I have used a squirt gun told him to let it. It broke his attention on the hyper kid on the other side of the babygate and allowed me to call him to me. Good luck. The others have some good solid advice. I'm just lucky to have a cat with a dog adjusting attitude.

Our old country vet told us to give the dogs a dirty diaper. Trust me they sniffed it, pawed it and destroyed it. The dogs were Lab, golden retriever crosses. I allowed them to see the baby, smell the baby. I monitored interactions. I have pictures of my firstborn laying down with Libby. My son was 11 months and toddling. He was laying down and she decided to curl up next to him. Guess she decided to make sure he was warm since is was winter again. She was practically his other mother. She babies any baby. Later with my first BC, Maggie she just took to the newborn Jared as if he was hers. No real introductions there. With Tuck also a BC , my last child was a baby when he came to me as a baby. He considered it his business to inform me when her diaper was dirty. His nose never left her bottom and she was not too happy with him about it but she still loved him. Sam is also fine with the kids but he has been with them since he came to us. To this day I still monitor my children. Ex. Reminding "No messing with dogs while they eat". You don't want someone playing with your food so leave their's alone. No running up to strange dogs. No tail pulling etc. In all this Libby is Bomb proof. The kids can lay on her and she is fine with it. Sam is smaller and snarls are them if they put their weight on him. Course, Mama snarls too. Between his snarl and my snarl the younger two have realized they are too heavy for Sam and that HURTS. Now they watch their steps and don't put their weight on him. He in turn is enjoying playing games with them. <-< Ring around Mama's kitchen. Sam with ball in mouth following right along in all the chasing good fun. The dogs and cats have been allowed in kids/babies room but not in cribs. One thing I would say is don't tense up, relax. I think dogs and babies have this in common, If you are stressed/tense, so are they. Enjoy the babies. They grow up too soon.

Condolences on the sheep! Now you will have wool to spin, meat, mowing and fertizling all in one nice package. Ahha can I borrow a few to clear my hillside? I can't keep them .66 of a acre is barely enough for the kids, dogs, and garden. I'm still considering chickens but with racoons, foxes, hawks, eagles and coyotes, I'm not sure they would survive long.

Tuck used to hump his stuffed bear to the point we would just tell the boy to get a room! Sam has never been caught in the act. Can't recall Libby doing that either. Course, I've got a border male cat named Mo who is very loving. He cleans Oatmeal, the kitten ( and I mean all of him). Thought he was just maternal. Until......he started his humping poor sweet Oatmeal. Oatmeal just got neutered and Mo was neutered later year. Apparently, it doesn't make a difference.

I think I would contact the local police dept and file a report. Let them follow up. Then God forbid anything happen, it is one file and they will have an idea where to look. In the meantime, glad you raised the fence. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Yrs ago Grandma had her Pekinese stolen. Oddly enough they took Rusty but not the chichaha (sp). Course, if you picked up Jose he would pass out like he'd had a massive cornary. The only person he didn't pass out on was Grandma. In fact, that is the very reason the vet gave him to her. And yes Grandma's gate was locked.

Neighbors started with roman candles around 7. OH JOY! Sam was fine with it and kept Libby calm. We promptly put everyone in their crates. Once they were in their crates, I think they went on to sleep cause we never heard another peep out of them. The town fireworks are a mile away and that started at 9 and lasted till 11. So far none have gone off today and amazingly the neighbors haven't decided to shoot their guns off.