RaisingRiver

You can often make payment arrangements with your vet. Ask ahead of time. Of note, the $100 dog I adopted from a shelter last March at 8wks old ended up being a $1,000 dog after all his vet care for various worms, bugs, etc including the onset of pneumonia. I am fortunate that I could absorb the expenses - it wasn't something I planned on for sure, but I currently have a very healthy (and very big) 10 month old now (he's the on of the far right in my sig pic) Best wishes.

Not sure why you'd want that.... but you certainly could. I haven't tried, but mine go outside on command.

I happened upon the show the other day. I watched about 5 mins, switched and came back a bit later and left after another 5 mins. It was HORRIBLE. I could do better with River who isn't even trained in freestyle - but knows nearly everything they were doing. It should have had a higher caliber of teams, IMO. I didn't even know it was a special, seemed like a series - one I wouldn't watch. I'm glad they highlighted the sport, but for me, it didn't do it any justice. I suppose it would be good for people who don't really have trained dogs. AP doesn't really interest me anymore. Dogs 101 and It's me or the dog shows are both below my knowledge level. Sometimes I don't mind watching, maybe I'll pick up on something I didn't know, but often times it's just the owners who make all the mistakes.

I trim only River who isn't all that furry. But just trim to the nail to shape the foot and only do under her paw to the pad line in the winter - because our winter is muddy and wet and it just tracks in so much more and her fur is the least dirt resistant (ie. doesn't just fall off when she runs though the tall wet hay grass in the back). I also trim her butt hair and the hair that grows up her back legs from her paw to her hock so it's slick looking. The less mud she brings in, the less often I have to do floors

Alaska- Aero ate alone for at least the first month that I had him and he always scarfed. Now the dogs eat lined up in a row in 2 sets of raised bowls something like this one (but different brand) so I don't think that's the issue. He's def the first one done and licks his bowl until the other dogs are done then licks all theirs. I suppose I could try to train it... though I'm thinking he'll just scarf each little bit. But I can certainly give it go. And no, you can't have him.

River decided to chase her own tail of her own free will when she was about 4mos old. So she didn't develop OCD about it, I attached a command, 'get your tail' and treated for it. She also had already learned 'all done' which means just that. Sometimes I see her when she's hanging out outside chasing her tail but she only does like 2-5 spins and that's it.

I've actually had that Twist and Treat toy at one point. Doesn't work out to well with multi-dogs all wanting to get at it. The Rocks sound possible. I think I'll have to go get some as I don't have any on my property. I don't think the Brake Fast bowl will work at all... and Hank in the video is NOT a fast eater and is a terrible example of a dog 'going to town' with his food. Maybe I'll video Aero since I've finally got my vid camera to load to my computer.

Ever since I got Aero at 8wks, he's eaten his kibble like someone was going to steal it. He chews nothing, and just inhales it as fast as possible. He eats twice a day, about a cup each feed. He's been on Merrick, EVO and now California Natural. Brands don't seem to make a difference. But esp in the evening since he was at least 5 mos old (maybe that's just when we notice while we're relaxing for the night) he has the smelliest gas (like he just went poo in the house) - but he doesn't need to go, I asked . So I finally experimented thinking he was gulping too much air and hand fed him one night (that was a horrible slober disaster, ew) and tried 3 tennis balls in his bowl the next couple of nights. No gas. Removed balls, back to gas. So I'm thinking I need to slow him down, etc. The tennis balls end up flying out of the bowl or River steals them later. Are there other ways of slowing him down that you've tried with your dogs? Diesel and Jaida used to eat really fast too, but both has slowed down and in fact, Diesel is now the slowest, most elaborate chewer. I really don't want to wait until Aero figures it out, if ever.

I'd say due to distance and your time, it's entirely up to you if you want to take the 'risk' of the dogs getting along or not. I totally agree with the lady that the dogs get along - so I can't fault her. However, if it was me (and it has been me before) I'd be the one to go the whole way to see the new dog since I have such requirements. Both Diesel, 6hrs each way and Aero, 3hrs each way through the snow, were dogs who had to fit in my with other two dogs (River specifically). And I was totally willing to take them all the way back if something didn't work out (thought to be honest, I wouldn't take Aero back to that specific shelter, I'd have find a home for him). So I'd say it's up to you whether you want to spend your day that way - or if you think you can place closer to home, or more definitively.

One thing to keep in mind is dog's don't think about Alpha and Beta the way we do - and SOMEdog HAS to be beta to another - and it's not always the smaller or the younger. The only issue is if you get an Alpha dog that is an *bleep* about being the Alpha. The best alpha's attract friends and play leader without being showy about it. If you're concerned, get at least 4-6mo so you can get an idea of personality between the two dogs.

What a great shot of Hammie! Dazzle is also a contender this year for Sports Fan

River has really good accuracy and rarely needs to jump, so I totally get your point. But when I first started disc earlier this year, I was told that D/A is kinda the novice class to the freestyle where you want your dog to jump and be flashy. I did however TEACH her to jump so that I can get the extra points. I used her 'up' (which she already used for jumping agility jumps) and held a frisbee out in my hand. She jumped up for it. After a while I threw far enough for her to run a bit then used up (her chasing frisbee) and she leapt and snatched it. Then I applied to further distance. Now she generally jumps on her own as long as it's convenient to the catch of the throw. If I throw it and it archs towards her, then she doesn't jump - doesn't need to. None of her jumping is flashy, but it gets all 4 off when she used to use none or just 2. If you know of any vids of freestyle routines that score well w/ out vaulting, I'm all for that too

Training, training, training. I don't think I could call Diesel off a squirrel perhaps, but I KNOW I can call him off the cats and horses - IF I see him start running, if he's too far away for I totally miss the whole thing, he's GONE. But he knows leave it and it also applies to animals - and he has a really good recall which I trained heavily. Use a long line and lots and lots of training - it will pay off.

River was raised with horses and taught to leave them alone, no prob - but she also won't chase anything since I taught her not to. Diesel was 15mos when i got him and is very movement reactive. He will chase a moving horse. But he learned to 'leave them' when he starts staring too much at them (which is all he can do now since I no longer have horses, but neighbors on 2 fence lines do). Depends on your dog.

I would put a crate in your home to at least allow Hudson an escape should he feel he needs it from the baby (esp when baby gets mobile). You can remove the door too, so that way it's just a den. Also, it will be easy to teach mobile baby (around year old) that the crate is the dog's place and baby should not bother dog or put hand into crate when dog is inside - it should become a house rule. If the crate is there now, it won't seem weird when he might actually need it later. Even if he never uses it now - he might decide one day that he wants to. Tossing treats in there now - might encourage him to see it as a place of refuge - esp if you never need to lock him in.

Border Collie (can't help myself)

Sounds to me the dog was guarding the mom. I would think the dog would be ok with non-child family where it won't ever have to compete again. I also think the dog could be rehab'd w/ current family - but having kids of my own, I can see how they would want the dog out. I can also understand rescues not wanting to take the dog on. River bit at my friend's dog, Moto, when I was dog sitting him and River was standing by me outside and Moto came over to say hi and get some petting. Same situation, just dog instead of child. It was black and white to me what was going on in that case. River was scolded because it was unnecessary behavior and she's never done it or anything like it since. She still doesn't like dogs climbing all over her and lets them know - but never guards me.

I have trained 3 of my dogs in agility - 2 of the 3 completely, and only competed once with River. You can certainly have fun with your dog and agility at home. You can make obstacles out of just about anything and there's tons of online resources about how to make your own (plus tons of instructions on how to train too!). If you want to get into heavy duty competing you might want to take classes - also even if you only take the first set of classes - often 8-16 wks worth, you'll know all the correct foundation skills you'll need to have fun on your own. I think agility is a great way to create a stronger bond with your dog.

When my BC was almost 1 yr old, I took her outside around sunset in the late summer to play frisbee. After literally 5 throws, she caught the frisbee, took like 2 steps and collapsed. She tried to get up but back legs went wobbly and she fell again and wouldn't get up herself. Turns out it was just a bit a heat stroke (she had been used to the air conditioned house all day too) and she was fine a little while later and it hasn't happened since (she's now 3). One of the easiest ways to know if your BC has had enough is the end of his tongue will get very round - think spoon shaped end with normal rest of tougue - instead of a pretty straight tongue altogether. Also if your BC lays down first before he brings it back (as mine sometimes does). River & Max (littermates): Max is showing the spoon tongue - photo was right after he played frisbee on a summer day: --------------------------- River, on the left with tongue just starting to spoon-shape (she had been playing fetch w/ me just before this photo - but hers will end up looking like Max's in the above photo) and Diesel, in the middle, with 'normal' tongue shape. There is at least 1 deaf BC & 1 blind BC on this board both owned by user Jo&Tex.

River has always had eye goo - if it's greenish and more then normal it could mean an infection, etc. and you'll want to see a vet for that (happened once w/ River) but otherwise, I just wipe I out. Ah... the joys of doggies

HAHAHAHAHAHA... awesome!

I have a dog with some issues above. River was BYB (got her at 8wks) and just after a year old started having chronic diarrhea. She's almost 3 and has tried many things including diet changes (all but raw) plus bloodworked through vet etc. She still has it. I'm seriously considering dumbing down her food next bag to something from Petsmart instead of Merrick or its equivalents I've tried in past. She started on Blue Buffalo originally. Conversely, her littermate brother (who we just found/met this year) is perfectly healthy and has had ZERO health issues (he's neutered). The other 2 BCs are both from shelters (Aero was from an indian reservation originally) so no background on them, but both are pretty fine with diet - though Aero gets runs from time to time (hopefully not a River repeat) - but he also had a lot of medical puppy issues - but he's been on same food since I got him at 8wks (Merrick kibble) so I don't think it's the food since it's not chronic. My agility trainer has BCs and BC mixes, I think all are rescues and she feels them Old Roy or w/e it is a Costco their entire lives (some are teenagers) and they are all healthy and since she's never had problems she hasn't bothered to buy a better (or more expensive) food. To Kristine's possible factors: My lawn does get sprayed about once a year (but honestly I've skipped the last 3 years, so River wasn't even around), nothing is sprayed in the home, or for pest control outside and my dogs only get flea control if we're going on long trips with them since we don't have fleas here (so like once a year, maybe). And I'm pretty sure it isn't River's diet as the switching of food/ingredients hasn't had any marked progress.

Ok. I'll go with that. Thanks.

So that I'm politically correct, when someone asks what breeds my dogs are since my 3 BCs don't look alike and 2 are far from general public knowledge of looks, I shouldn't say they are BCs at all since none show workability, nor would likely succeed at it. When I first come to the boards, people described BCs like the equine SportHorse. Any breed will do, though usually they are warmbloods but the defining point (to my limited understanding) was what those horses competed in. Their venues of competition defined them as sporthorses. So I immediately made the parallel that a Border Collie was a working sheepdog, no matter the appearance. So what are my dogs? (none are registered or have any proven lineage - but 'look' (haha) BC.) I certainly don't want to do the breed any injustice.

2 of my white nosed BC get a wee bit of pink after hanging outside all day at our house - so some shade too (PacNW sun). But they are fine by the next day, repeat. However, if we were going to be somewhere all day sun exposed - or a more southernly climate where the sun is more intense, then I would apply sunscreen - and in fact it is a common thing. No special kind, though some brands are less likely to be licked and the colored ones are nice to see where you are putting it. I would just rub it and get waterproof