Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[smkchick]

Would this be the spoiled designer dog? We have one too! Truthfully, he has been my companion throughout. We adopted him, and he made it four dogs in our home. I really did not want him and he was a handful for the first year he was with us, but now I wouldn't trade the little mutt for all the money in the world. At times I think he knows what I'm thinking. Other times, I think he knows more than I do! It's the other times that have me worried...

I know! Clara started out as Laura's dog and when I rehomed the big boys (I was going to sell my house) she stayed with us. I've never been a small dog person but she has won my heart. She adores Bobby, and he's done some minor training with her that's just made things even better. She's a mutt - bichon/chihuahua mix - that I paid big bucks for when I got her for Laura. The funniest thing is when she's with me and Laura together. She's so happy she doesn't know what to do with herself! She's great with the fluffybutts, too. Follows the middle flock around. Not to chase or scare them, but I think because they don't challenge her like the big girls do or run away from her like the little girls do. I think she wants to be part of the flock!

 

[smkchick]

I want another dog! Hey, why not? I'm home. I can train it....

 

[queenchick16]

Hi Al; Sorry to hear about your dog. I know how hard it is.Just remember all the good times you had with him. I still miss my two dogs .We had to put them down last year.I keep telling my husband that are french bulldog; Renfield needs a buddy. I'd love to get another cattle dog.

Well if my husband sees these kids on the patio table he is going to rehome me.



This one better be a girl ;she is a beauty. That goodness the table was dirty from all the rain.

 

[smkchick]

She is purty. What is she?

 

[Imprfctme]

Just came back from the feed store with a bunch of wood shavings and layer pellets to change the coop out, but since it's going to rain today and tomorrow, I can put that off until Sat right? Right?

Ok I have a coop maintenance question - I switched to a galvanized metal waterer after getting fed up with the drippy water bucket. This is not a problem since I am home often enough to tip it out and clean out the chips, make sure they have clean water, etc. But then there is a puddle of water on the ground. I don't have a floor in my coop, just dirt with hardware cloth underneath, but it is starting to look like a duck environment around the waterer. I was thinking of putting sand down around the waterer (which is up on cinder blocks) to improve drainage. Should I also put gravel down? Thoughts?

 

[Imprfctme]

I want another dog! Hey, why not? I'm home. I can train it....

Suzanne what about training dogs at the shelter? You can volunteer as much or as little as you want that way, and someone else has to pick up the poo. Shelters are always looking for dog walkers / trainers to socialize the dogs. I also highly recommend fostering puppies, it's a great way to get a puppy love fix for just a few days.

 

[ChickenAl]

What is it with all the designer doggies? I am surrounded by them! Across the street the Labradoodle, Lenny, who isn't a bad sort but LORD he barks all night and day. (Could be that the idiot that owns him keeps him OUTSIDE all night-even in January!) Next door, Rocky, the Mini Goldendoodle. I ADORE this dog. He is so adorable and sweet, and cuddly like a baby. Love him. Down the road there's a yorkiepoo (looks and acts like a yorkie to me, but what do I know?) yappy yappy little dog, tries to attack my Shiloh. (90 pounds) and his sister the Maltipoo-now, this one I don't "get" she's a Maltese-looks like my Maltese, acts like her, and pees everywhere-yup-just like my Angel.

I would love a cockerpoo, I've never met one I didn't fall in love with, but I have 2 dogs right now, and cannot fit another in without a divorce first.  My big girl, Missy, is a shedding machine. If I knew how to use a spindle, I could make a plethora of soft black sweaters, she's a Shiloh Shepherd, big, with a soft temperament, while her german Shepherd roots shine WAY through in her looks and protectiveness. My Maltese, Angel is 9 years old, acts like a puppy (not housebroken) and I got her from a shelter. She actually came with her papers, which the shelter showed me, then shredded before I took her home (Like I cared-she was a little poofball!)-her previous owner, an elderly lady, passed away, and nobody wanted to take her. (I wonder why-they must have rugs!) But she's a good girl, and far more protective than Missy.

Well, look at me, going on and on...it's called PROCRASTINATION, people. I've got my masters in it. 

Rosie, ours is a Maltipoo. He looks more Poodle than our Maltese. He's three years old and the Maltese is 11. They got to be best buddies when our Jack Russell Terrier and Dacshund wanted to terrorize the Maltipoo out of the picture. Both the Designer Mutt and Maltese were adopted.

 

[Imprfctme]

Thanks to all of you for the kind words about Buttons. At sixteen and a half, he lived a happy and full life and we will miss him. He died at the vets after being there for 10 days. It was almost the same as Jack, who we had to put down last November.

Al, I am sorry to hear about your dog's passing. We all know what we are getting into when we take these animals into our hearts, but it is so hard to say goodbye anyway. I know one thing though, both of your lives were better for having known each other.

I didn't know you have RA; I have MS. Seems like both diseases have had a few new medications come out in the past couple of years. I haven't switched up yet though, I'm still in the early days, hoping to avoid too much steroid usage. I hope your new meds work well for you. I do think anyone with an autoimmune disease needs to practice mindfulness and stress-reduction, something you clearly have a handle on already.

Congratulations to your son and his new wife, may they be happy forever.

 

[ChickenAl]

I know!  Clara started out as Laura's dog and when I rehomed the big boys (I was going to sell my house) she stayed with us.  I've never been a small dog person but she has won my heart.  She adores Bobby, and he's done some minor training with her that's just made things even better.  She's a mutt - bichon/chihuahua mix - that I paid big bucks for when I got her for Laura.  The funniest thing is when she's with me and Laura together.  She's so happy she doesn't know what to do with herself!  She's great with the fluffybutts, too.  Follows the middle flock around.  Not to chase or scare them, but I think because they don't challenge her like the big girls do or run away from her like the little girls do.  I think she wants to be part of the flock!

Suzanne, I was never a small dog person either, but they are great to share a recliner with.

Amazing how somebody figured out a way to get people to pay incredible prices for a mutt. Whooda thunk?

 

[ChickenAl]

Just came back from the feed store with a bunch of wood shavings and layer pellets to change the coop out, but since it's going to rain today and tomorrow, I can put that off until Sat right? Right?

Ok I have a coop maintenance question - I switched to a galvanized metal waterer after getting fed up with the drippy water bucket. This is not a problem since I am home often enough to tip it out and clean out the chips, make sure they have clean water, etc. But then there is a puddle of water on the ground. I don't have a floor in my coop, just dirt with hardware cloth underneath, but it is starting to look like a duck environment around the waterer. I was thinking of putting sand down around the waterer (which is up on cinder blocks) to improve drainage. Should I also put gravel down? Thoughts? 

Heather, I tke the waterer out of the coop and tip off the wood shavings. You should not have a wet area there. If you do want to create a dry well around the waterer, then you need to dig a large hole about a foot or more deep. You would first add gravel to the bottom topped off with sand.

Good luck with the project.