The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[N F C]

You are selling yourself way too short. In the short while that I have followed this thread, your love of animals comes shining thru....most of the animals that we keep and tend too have an average of 10yrs of life or less under good conditions. When you limit yourself and other animals to just 1 "in a Lifetime", you are cheating yourself and those other animals from sharing in that big ole Heart of yours, and ya are cheating others from experiencing the warm, love, and care that ya can and will give to them....ya ain't even willing to give them or yourself the Chance of having many more of those experiences that ya had with Charlie-Bear. Even had she not had that bad experience at such a young age, she wasn't going to live forever. I've had many really close animals that have created many memories and special moments, but there are memories of each one, and if I had closed my heart and refused to allow myself to accept another or others, then those memories wouldn't be there. Yes, losing them does hurt, but it heals and it shouldn't be replaced by fear, bitterness, and rejection. No, others will never take their place, but there is plenty of room in that big ole heart of yours for many more than just a few limited memories.....there are others out there that are just itching to have a chance to make memories with ya....and there is nothing wrong with embracing them and making those memories that will last a Lifetime.....

x100 CntryBoy777, well said!

 

[ronott1]

I'm probably gonna get carpal tunnel from using my phone too much

Looking down too much is bad for the upper spine. Do you get headaches?

 

[JaeG]

I agree!!



Ohhh that makes sense.




Wow!



That sounds nice





I agree 100 percent! And that's awesome about your dad's dog!

We used to have a yellow lab and an orange cat. Both were amazing and I grew up with both.

Bailey was the sweetest, most friendly dog. He got into some trouble as a young dog but looking back now, it's hilarious. Stuff like eating the collar off my grandma's fur coat (she hated him after that lol) and eating a whole ham off the counter one time. He was drinking water for days after and we had to go out to dinner that night LOL he was also ball obsessed. My used to have to throw a ball for like an hour in the morning before work to get him to calm down slightly. And actually he started using a tennis racquet to save his arm LOL would hit it all the way across the yard and Bailey would come running back, slobbering everywhere lol and if you said "Bailey, ball!" Or where's your ball? Or anything like that, he would run around the house looking for it haha

We got him at 18 months old so he was kind of crazy. And oddly my grandma ended up loving Gator, who is way bigger and slobbery lol but I think it's cause we got him at 8 weeks old and he was so adorably cute she grew to love him before he turned into a beast lol

And the cat was so friendly, would just lay on you for hours to be loved lol

My dad LOVED Bailey and wasn't ready for another dog for a long time. Meanwhile, I was searching for second dogs before he even passed ha not that I didn't love him, I just LOVE dogs.

We had to out him down in 2009 and we didn't get another dog for 3 years. He was 13. Oddly, one day I saw an ad about eBay classifieds and decided to check it out. Found Gator. He was soooo cute and we went and looked the next day lol

Before him I had actually found a cute Lab mix shelter puppy so it was between him and Gator but Gator was cuter lol

Anyway, my brother met us there and we got him.

He has been the best dog. So calm and sweet, gentle, etc. He was a little bit crazy his first few years but I think that's normal lol he also used to be a little bit resource guardy with bones or food he found but he grew and/or was trained out of that.

We also made some mistakes like now he needs constant attention and we didn't socialize him but he is still the best dog. So so smart and hilarious, he has a sense of humor. Playful when he wants yet so lazy and sleeps a lot. So not crazy demanding exercise. But I CAN walk and train him, as long as it isn't too challenging. Pretty food motivated.

My dad loves him more than Bailey I think. He loved Bailey but him and Gator love each other ha

Mittens died shortly after he did, maybe late 2009, early 2010, (Bailey was put down in July) and we got Luna like Black Friday or the day after Black Friday 2010 lol sadly Mittens was only 8 and he just left one day. I think maybe he had some sort of dental thing anyway, I saw Luna in a small pet store. My mom said we'd come back and normally we never would but for some reason, we went back the next day and got her. She was in this big tall cage all by herself. She has been the best cat!! Not super friendly like Mittens was but that's a female thing I think lol but she is friendly on her terms. And actually, she has gotten a lot calmer and friendlier now. She used to run around all the time and run away from us and bite and stuff lol when she finally got spayed at 3 she calmed down though. Anyway, she is definitely MY CAT. She LOVES my dad too, and me, but not super friendly with anyone else, though she's not mean by any means. But Mittens just loved EVERYONE lol anyway, they said she was 10-12 weeks but closer to 12. But I think she was really like 14 or 16 weeks. Her birthday was August 17th, 2010 according to her papers. So it could have just been a simple mistake, just a few weeks off, or they could have lied to get her sold cause I think they had other kittens in the back. I think someone maybe returned her. Idk. But either way, I am glad we ended up with her. She really has been just the best little cat. And she really is little, she's kind of a runt LOL she's a DLH but when we first got her we thought maybe she was a Norwegian Forest Cat because she loved playing with water and she looked JUST like one. They are related to Maine Coons so we got all excited thinking she would eventually get huge, it just could take up to like 4 years. But NOPE. She has stayed tiny. She LOVES food though so she's like 10 pounds now I think but she's by no means fat. She's just built small, idk. And very fluffy. I and my other brother are allergic to her because Mittens was short hair and we've never had a long hair cat but I love her. I actually am not that allergic just being near her or in the house, only when I get close to her and her fur gets all up in my face so I avoid that lol my brother gets a stuffy or drippy nose and sneezing etc. just from stepping foot in the house when he comes home from school ha

My brothers don't like her as much cause she's not friendly to them like Mittens was. Although actually she does beg for attention from them too sometimes but they're not attached like with Mittens so they find her annoying

They LOVE Gator though.



Yes, I wish that advice would go away

And gator loves the cold. Gets more peppy and wants to play more lol he also refuses to come in once the cold and snow hit. He could lay out there on top of a snowbank for hours ha

I love your stories! I remember with our pup when I got her a front control harness from a breeder in New Zealand - she was about a year old then, maybe a bit less. I told her what we thought Honey was (she was down south so we were communicating via email) and she wrote back and said she'd probably be 2 1/2 - 3 years old before we saw any maturity from her. At that stage I'd put so much training and effort into her (and still thought she was horrible) that I just about cried! So with bigger dogs there's definitely a few years of hard slog until they settle down. But it's been well worth all the effort. She's a very good girl and I worry about getting another dog in the future that they won't be as good. It helps that she is very submissive but she's over 5 years old now and still plays like a puppy.

DH found her a Nerf gun that launches tennis balls! Best toy EVER! It's her early Christmas present. I can't throw a ball like he can so it'll help me out a lot. For Honey, it's not just about retrieving the ball - it's a race to try and beat the ball. If she catches it on the first bounce she's so proud of herself. If she catches it on the full - well! She no longer worries about other dogs at the off leash area down the road - it's just her and the ball, and boy she is fast. Another owner was very surprised that Honey could outrun her Doberman.

 

[N F C]

I love your stories! I remember with our pup when I got her a front control harness from a breeder in New Zealand - she was about a year old then, maybe a bit less. I told her what we thought Honey was (she was down south so we were communicating via email) and she wrote back and said she'd probably be 2 1/2 - 3 years old before we saw any maturity from her. At that stage I'd put so much training and effort into her (and still thought she was horrible) that I just about cried! So with bigger dogs there's definitely a few years of hard slog until they settle down. But it's been well worth all the effort. She's a very good girl and I worry about getting another dog in the future that they won't be as good. It helps that she is very submissive but she's over 5 years old now and still plays like a puppy.

DH found her a Nerf gun that launches tennis balls! Best toy EVER! It's her early Christmas present. I can't throw a ball like he can so it'll help me out a lot. For Honey, it's not just about retrieving the ball - it's a race to try and beat the ball. If she catches it on the first bounce she's so proud of herself. If she catches it on the full - well! She no longer worries about other dogs at the off leash area down the road - it's just her and the ball, and boy she is fast. Another owner was very surprised that Honey could outrun her Doberman.

One of the first dogs I had was named Honey! My folks gave her to me when I was about 12. She was a teeny little chihuahua that thought she was the biggest dog on the block.

J, it sounds like you have the perfect toy for your Honey!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Looking down too much is bad for the upper spine. Do you get headaches?

yeah, kind of a lot. I mostly get migraines. I thought it had to do with my jaw or something haha

I love your stories! I remember with our pup when I got her a front control harness from a breeder in New Zealand - she was about a year old then, maybe a bit less. I told her what we thought Honey was (she was down south so we were communicating via email) and she wrote back and said she'd probably be 2 1/2 - 3 years old before we saw any maturity from her. At that stage I'd put so much training and effort into her (and still thought she was horrible) that I just about cried! So with bigger dogs there's definitely a few years of hard slog until they settle down. But it's been well worth all the effort. She's a very good girl and I worry about getting another dog in the future that they won't be as good. It helps that she is very submissive but she's over 5 years old now and still plays like a puppy.

DH found her a Nerf gun that launches tennis balls! Best toy EVER! It's her early Christmas present. I can't throw a ball like he can so it'll help me out a lot. For Honey, it's not just about retrieving the ball - it's a race to try and beat the ball. If she catches it on the first bounce she's so proud of herself. If she catches it on the full - well! She no longer worries about other dogs at the off leash area down the road - it's just her and the ball, and boy she is fast. Another owner was very surprised that Honey could outrun her Doberman.

Yeah, that's about when Gator started calming down. They say they're crazy/adolescence from like 6 months to 18 months but Gator started like 4 or 5 months to like 2 years or more lol he started calming down a lot and being trained finally in between 2 and 3 and then finally really got lazy/calm at 3. But he started humping everything so we got him neutered at like 4 or 5 months. I regret it because I later found out neutering too early, especially for large breed dogs, is bad for their joints/legs and bones and he's had some issues with his leg :/ the vet, who at the time we used a mobile one, said he was more than big enough and not having had a puppy in a long time, and being frustrated with the humping, we just went along with it. Most vets say like 6 months but even that is too early for large, and especially giant breeds. It should really be like a year or 18 months, or even 2 years. Or never. Oh well, now we know for next time.

And wow that is awesome!! Gator isn't really the retrieving or running type sadly. But he does love tug and stuffed toys. And he likes to play this funny game where you walk towards him and freeze, step, freeze, etc. and he stands his ground and snaps the air till the last second lol

One of the first dogs I had was named Honey! My folks gave her to me when I was about 12. She was a teeny little chihuahua that thought she was the biggest dog on the block.

J, it sounds like you have the perfect toy for your Honey!

little dogs tend to think that

 

[Teila]

Good Morning Chat Friends

N F C I am pleased the trout was yummy!

DMC great job on the carpets, even if your muscles are most likely not agreeing

Aaaw CntryBoy777 you made me cry! But, in a good way. Thank you for such kind and wise words. I had not thought of it like that before

So, I have an update on Coffy. While she was not known to the AC guy who picked her up, this was apparently her third trip to the pound and sadly, she has not yet been picked up this time. She is not registered with Council but her owner advised Council that that is because she does not live here but lives 2 hours away and is only visiting. However, Coffy first became known to Council two months ago, long visit apparently

The owner has been in dispute with the Council because she believes they are “picking on her”.

I will try not to wear out the soap box by overuse but really? You do not keep your dog under control and because it is found running the streets, exhausted and panicked, the fact that it ends up at the pound is your being “picked on”?

If the dog was contained, you would not be being “picked on”.

The ‘just visiting’ could be an excuse for not having registered the dog or it could be true. If it is true, no wonder poor Coffy is running around the village lost and confused, she does not know where she lives.

I am sorry, but I have no empathy for the owner on this occasion. I do, however, feel very sorry for Coffy and hope there is a happy ending for her. I feel bad that she may not get picked up by her owner this time because there will be more pound fees and most likely a fine.

While not the perfect solution, if your dog keeps escaping and you do not want to keep having to pay to break her out of the pound or crossing paths with animal control, would it not be common sense to put a tag on her with your phone number on it so anyone finding her would ring you not AC?

Putting soap box away but still muttering

Anyways, the AC guys have said that they will keep hubby in the loop so I will at least hear how Coffy is doing and what the outcome is.

 

[N F C]

@Teila what a sad situation for poor Coffy. If it becomes possible for her to be adopted, I hope someone that really cares for her will give her a good home.

No empathy for the owner here either. The dog is the one paying the consequences for the owner being irresponsible.

 

[JaeG]

Poor Coffy! Why do people get an animal if they aren't going to look after it properly?! Would it be so difficult to keep her inside? Or at least on a chain so the poor thing doesn't go wandering and lose her way? You're right - that's quite a holiday and surely if she was being a responsible owner and taking her for walks Coffy would get to know the neighbourhood and know her way home if she did get out?! Not that she should be wandering about on her own. I agree... Grrrr! Picked on! What rubbish!

 

[sunflour]

@Teila what a sad situation for poor Coffy. If it becomes possible for her to be adopted, I hope someone that really cares for her will give her a good home.

No empathy for the owner here either. The dog is the one paying the consequences for the owner being irresponsible.

Absolutely, wish there was someway to only let nice, loving folks have pets

Poor Coffy! Why do people get an animal if they aren't going to look after it properly?! Would it be so difficult to keep her inside? Or at least on a chain so the poor thing doesn't go wandering and lose her way? You're right - that's quite a holiday and surely if she was being a responsible owner and taking her for walks Coffy would get to know the neighbourhood and know her way home if she did get out?! Not that she should be wandering about on her own. I agree... Grrrr! Picked on! What rubbish!

A question I often ask...I know 2 ladies involved in animal rescue and rehoming them...almost all the animals they foster are so sweet and thank goodness thru their organizations they find loving homes.

But folks are also not caring for human children ....we have had numerous "forget" them in hot cars ...now how could anyone forget a baby in a car?? Betcha they don't forget their smart phones.

 

[sourland]

@drumstick diva , 7 more posts to the # 1 BYC poster.