DOGS!!!

[drumstick diva]

I used to breed and show Cocker Spaniels in the late 60's to the 80's. Loved it but couldn't afford to keep it up. My last 3 lived to be 14 years old.

They were close in age, and losing 3 around the same time was just too hard for me. I would love to have a dog again but, vet bills are as high as for human doctors, and sadly Medicare doesn't cover them.

 

[BlueBaby]

I used to have 3 dogs, but 2 of them died when they got old. Now I only have my one dog, who is 5 1/2 years old. He is a mix; 3/4 rottie, and 1/4 lab.

 

[dainerra]

. I would love to have a dog again but, vet bills are as high as for human doctors, and sadly Medicare doesn't cover them.

There is health insurance now for dogs, however. Some of them don't cover much but there are others that are supposed to be very good. Other than emergencies, I rarely see the vet. Vaccines (plus I do limited protocol), minor injuries, etc are all things that I do at home. I also do my own heartworm and other meds.

 

[DuckGirl77]

I'm curious; what kinds of tricks have you all taught your dog(s)?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm curious; what kinds of tricks have you all taught your dog(s)?

They have taught me to wait on them. I don't teach tricks, but we do play games like hide and seek, and cover them with blankets so they have to be smart enough to escape to mentally stimulate them.

 

[1cock2hens]

I don't teach tricks either, a couple of mine play fetch really good, 2 of them are trained to catch other animals without hurting them. All my dogs know hand signals for all the normal commands, I like not having to talk to them when I'm dealing with them, much easier to stay calm, when they don't listen to verbal commands I get too frustrated.

 

[DuckGirl77]

They have taught me to wait on them. I don't teach tricks, but we do play games like hide and seek, and cover them with blankets so they have to be smart enough to escape to mentally stimulate them.

I don't teach tricks either, a couple of mine play fetch really good, 2 of them are trained to catch other animals without hurting them. All my dogs know hand signals for all the normal commands, I like not having to talk to them when I'm dealing with them, much easier to stay calm, when they don't listen to verbal commands I get too frustrated.

Nice! I'm trying to teach my dog hand signals, too, so I can give him commands whether or not he can hear me.

 

[1cock2hens]

My oldest pitbull got hit by a car, right in the head and has been deaf since. The other dogs learned by watching me teach her, my youngest dog,e English bulldog, is deaf too she was born that way and learned super quick once I added her to my pack. Everyone says my deaf dogs listen better than there dogs lol . Real Pitbulls are eager to please so I really didn't even have to try and teach them it just happened. It's funny I never taught them how to protect us in any way but if you(well if I ) tell them someone is a bad man they go nuts trying to get them and get very protective of my wife <333 they are the best

 

[dainerra]

we do agility, barn hunt, therapy dog, fetch, and many other things. There really is no limit to what you can teach your dog.
I know people who have taught them to put away their toys, help gather laundry. You can teach the names of toys as well.

 

[DuckGirl77]

My oldest pitbull got hit by a car, right in the head and has been deaf since. The other dogs learned by watching me teach her, my youngest dog,e English bulldog, is deaf too she was born that way and learned super quick once I added her to my pack. Everyone says my deaf dogs listen better than there dogs lol . Real Pitbulls are eager to please so I really didn't even have to try and teach them it just happened. It's funny I never taught them how to protect us in any way but if you(well if I ) tell them someone is a bad man they go nuts trying to get them and get very protective of my wife <333 they are the best

Wow! And these are actual pit bulls, not the other breeds that are just called pit bulls? I've heard lots of bad things about pit bulls, but I suppose it's not true!

we do agility, barn hunt, therapy dog, fetch, and many other things. There really is no limit to what you can teach your dog.
I know people who have taught them to put away their toys, help gather laundry. You can teach the names of toys as well.

Cool! Are there certain things that certain breeds are better at?