The Old Folks Home

[ozexpat]

Do they fit under the tree?

they fit under the coconut tree

its a bugger to put lights on though

 

[Pozees]

Insanity that weather is about to make it to me. Thursday's predicted high is 8. Ugh.

Wisher, I am so happy for you and for the Silver Campines - they need you, and you are stepping up to the plate!

 

[tnspursfan09]

Insanity, your weather is very similar to Maine!
Are you going to get a melt any time soon? We are expecting to get into the mid 30's every day this week so I took a gamble and did not shovel Sunday's storm in the hopes that it disappears this week.

Wisher - I like dogs, some dogs, but do not want one. In recent years (like the past 15) my parents have taken in some really nasty dogs - ones that were "un-placeable" and were going to be put to sleep (my mom was a vet tech at the pound for a little bit of time). I have been bit, snarled at, chased, etc. The dogs came to Maine with my parents a few years ago and destroyed my screen door, the carpeting on the stairs and urinated in the (new) guest bed in addition to terrorizing me (BF did not live here at the time). However, my parents blame me for the dogs behavior ("you lunged when he came at you, so he bit you") even though others also refuse to come to their house because they have also been bit by the dog(s) and my sister will only come with her kids to their house if the dogs are locked in a bedroom. The dogs are no longer welcome at my house and as such my parents refuse to visit until the dogs pass away (because they are not allowed at the one closest heated kennel anymore, either, and my mom refuses to leave them elsewhere, also, because they are her babies). I highly doubt that once these dogs die that will be the end of the dog problem - my parents have not had less than 3 dogs for probably 20 years. We also have a lot of poison ivy on the property, and the dog would most likely get in it and spread it to us. As is, I get it up and down my arms from the goats all spring and summer.

Because of my parents I have a no dog rule in the house (which, consequently, was violated when I was in Utah this past spring by BF's friends - also to disastrous results).

Anyway, long story short... no dogs for me, thanks, at least not now.

Before Maddy was born we rescued great danes. We took in the unplacable, as well, and when there were confrontations it could get scary. We never put them up for adoption, most of the ones we took in were old (danes have very short lifespans)and we were basically allowing them a place to spend the last few years of their lives in comfort. Lots had been physically or emotionally damaged. All of them were the loves of my life, but I would never subject other people to the ones who were aggressive. I love the breed and giving a hurt dane love, even for a few short months or years made me a better person, I think. But with a baby in the house we decided the risk too great to continue. We do still have Daisy. She's the only dane that we actually raised from a puppy and she's going on 10 years old. I don't know if I'll get another dog after she's gone. Maybe a goat. Dogs break my heart when they go.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Don't he though?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

they fit under the coconut tree

its a bugger to put lights on though

You know we're going to need pictures of this right? Complete with boar and fruit trees.

Insanity that weather is about to make it to me. Thursday's predicted high is 8. Ugh.

Uggh! That's horrible. Stay warm. Post pictures.


Sandy(i?) I think dog rescue is a really nice thing... as long as you don't subject others to the terrorists. You did it right. I'm certainly not fearful of dogs, but I've become hesitant when I see them, now. Dsqard had a couple of really nice, well behaved, and cute dogs when I was there that didn't make me nervous at all once I realized they were normal animals. Compare that with the last time I was at my parents house, a few months ago, and I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and halfway down the hall to the bathroom I realized where I was and that I was in hot pursuit by dogs that wanted to eat me. I ended up locking myself in the bathroom, and every few minutes would crack the door to see if it was safe, would hear them snarl, then I'd slam the door again. Eventually I gave up and just started screaming to wake my parents up to rescue me. They were kinda irritated that I was "such a baby" because those dogs weren't going to hurt me.

Thinking about it now I probably could have fought my way out of there with the toilet brush and a large bottle of shampoo.

 

[ozexpat]

You know we're going to need pictures of this right? Complete with boar and fruit trees.


Uggh! That's horrible. Stay warm. Post pictures.


Sandy(i?) I think dog rescue is a really nice thing... as long as you don't subject others to the terrorists. You did it right. I'm certainly not fearful of dogs, but I've become hesitant when I see them, now. Dsqard had a couple of really nice, well behaved, and cute dogs when I was there that didn't make me nervous at all once I realized they were normal animals. Compare that with the last time I was at my parents house, a few months ago, and I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and halfway down the hall to the bathroom I realized where I was and that I was in hot pursuit by dogs that wanted to eat me. I ended up locking myself in the bathroom, and every few minutes would crack the door to see if it was safe, would hear them snarl, then I'd slam the door again. Eventually I gave up and just started screaming to wake my parents up to rescue me. They were kinda irritated that I was "such a baby" because those dogs weren't going to hurt me.

Thinking about it now I probably could have fought my way out of there with the toilet brush and a large bottle of shampoo.

poor Bernie has to light up a coconut tree.

 

[chickadoodles]

What kind of fruit trees is your wife going to get Oz?

 

[Pozees]

SCG, what I find saddest is that your well-meaning parents are not helping the dogs, if the dogs believe it is their job to corner someone the humans have clearly invited into their house. Dogs need to know beyond the shadow of a doubt, they are not the pack leaders, the humans are. Any dog that cannot be trusted implicitly should be sleeping in a crate, and in fact should be crated anytime it is not supervised, and on a lead when not crated, until it is 100% responsive to commands, particularly one which has been rescued and has an unknown past. I rescued toy breeds for some time, and even a 5-10 pound dog can inflict a nasty wound if it bites. My position was, any dog that showed a willingness to bite a human should not be placed and should be considered a liability. I put one down when it bit my stepson a second time. Dogs that are so dominant over, or terrified of (most common), humans that they feel they must/should bite them, are miserable beings. They feel they must be on perpetual watch. They can sometimes be rehabbed with training, but it takes a very dedicated soul with the time and energy to do it.

A dog thinks in terms of its pack. If it is not confident the human is in charge, it places itself in charge, and that is when it becomes a danger. Rather than seeking instruction from the human, it makes its own decisions. Short of someone breaking in, it should never take it upon itself to do more than observe the movement of the people in the house, responding when invited to or when habit/training has taught it a response is indicated. A dog that follows you to the kitchen every time you get up just wants to see if it's getting food. A dog that follows you to the bathroom and growls when you try to exit is letting you know you should be afraid, and for your parents to make light of it reinforced the behavior rather than correcting it. I don't mean to speak poorly of your folks, they believe they are being kind to the dogs. Maybe a good gift for them would be, "How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete. It's the first book I read on training dogs, and explained how they think in such logical terms.

 

[tnspursfan09]

SCG, what I find saddest is that your well-meaning parents are not helping the dogs, if the dogs believe it is their job to corner someone the humans have clearly invited into their house. Dogs need to know beyond the shadow of a doubt, they are not the pack leaders, the humans are. Any dog that cannot be trusted implicitly should be sleeping in a crate, and in fact should be crated anytime it is not supervised, and on a lead when not crated, until it is 100% responsive to commands, particularly one which has been rescued and has an unknown past. I rescued toy breeds for some time, and even a 5-10 pound dog can inflict a nasty wound if it bites. My position was, any dog that showed a willingness to bite a human should not be placed and should be considered a liability. I put one down when it bit my stepson a second time. Dogs that are so dominant over, or terrified of (most common), humans that they feel they must/should bite them, are miserable beings. They feel they must be on perpetual watch. They can sometimes be rehabbed with training, but it takes a very dedicated soul with the time and energy to do it.

A dog thinks in terms of its pack. If it is not confident the human is in charge, it places itself in charge, and that is when it becomes a danger. Rather than seeking instruction from the human, it makes its own decisions. Short of someone breaking in, it should never take it upon itself to do more than observe the movement of the people in the house, responding when invited to or when habit/training has taught it a response is indicated. A dog that follows you to the kitchen every time you get up just wants to see if it's getting food. A dog that follows you to the bathroom and growls when you try to exit is letting you know you should be afraid, and for your parents to make light of it reinforced the behavior rather than correcting it. I don't mean to speak poorly of your folks, they believe they are being kind to the dogs. Maybe a good gift for them would be, "How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete. It's the first book I read on training dogs, and explained how they think in such logical terms.

We love our Daisy, but when we have overnight company, or when Maddy's BFF is sleeping over, Daisy always goes into her crate at night. It's not that we don't trust her, but would rather not takethe chance that a meeting in a dark house with someone who is not her pack could startle her...and a scared dog can be dangerous..even if they don't mean to. With a pack of dogs sometimes even the good doggies will go along with the will of the pack. When we rescued all of the dogs were crated at night.

sandi

 

[ozexpat]

What kind of fruit trees is your wife going to get Oz?

Mangosteen

Avacado

Mango

Lanzones

Atis

Santol
Aratiles
Sinigwelas

Guyabano

Lanka