The Old Folks Home

[Cynthia12]

I owned 12 Rotties before I stopped showing. I could trust those dogs with anything and anyone, but it was people I had to train. Kids have to learn how to treat an animal. I still think there are kids who should never have one. Some just don't ever learn how to be compassionate, even raised with a loving family. Then there are the adults that grow up from those kinds of kids. They shouldn't be allowed to breed let alone own a dog or any other kind of animal. My oldest Rotties died 5 years ago at age 13. I don't know why I didn't breed one more litter to save my lines other than I didn't have the money that I once had while breeding. So I lost one of the top line here and in Germany. To buy something anywhere close to what I had just isn't in the cards for me I guess. I love them. They are MY breed, but I tear apart in my mind, every pup I've looked at since I lost mine. I have a Cane Corso now. I have this thing about finding a breed and it takes me 10 years to study it till I buy it. So after 10 years of thinking I would add them I found a breeder with a litter, but I didn't want to show anymore, so she;s mismarked (Has blindle Rottie markings LOL) and although she's what a Corso was supposed to look like, she's nothing like what American breeders have changed and developed to set the standard of the breed here. We did try twice to breed her to 2 different American type males, to see if I could work on my own line, but unless she was bound and gagged, there was no time in a heat that she would breed. My husband and I decided she'd just be a big lap dog.. I worked my butt off to train her and he taught her how to do everything I didn't want her to do. Like getting on the furniture. Drives me crazy! She doesn't do it since he died, but she can push a button or two. Last December her and I were attacked on my front porch by a Pitt. These people around here get a puppy and by the time they're grown, they are a danger. They let them run the streets and I hate when I have to call on one. They are great dogs, but most people shouldn't own one until only the right people are breeding them and carefully placing them. They went from being the number one breed for kids to being band and killed and it's heartbreaking. So when I watch gang members in my neighborhood buying and looking at these, we got what we could together and bought 2 of the last 3. I just want them to have a chance to be nice pets and family protectors. I'm going to introduce them to the big birds this weekend. I have 2 containers of chicks in the house. ugh And they look and sniff, but they can't get to them, so I want to see how they do out back. Maybe they'll be as good with them as my Corso is. I can only hope, but I do need to know how they react and if they can be trained to guard them and not hurt them. Think they need to meet a couple of big roos first. LOL



I'm a terrible great grandmother! Talking about dogs and posting pics.

This is my little Elias. Born Dec16 at 3:11 and weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces



He's such a good baby and he had a lot of attention on Christmas and I got NO pics! I need to get someone to send me some, but no one has yet.

Now that's a dolly! We have 31 grand children. No greats yet. Could happen within a couple of years I suppose.

Hey, I really like the brindle color. Nice looking pups.

You said something about labs, and how they have bred things out of them.. Well, take a look at my PURE, Golden Retriever I just got. She was the only one with the white..and yes, it can happen, and as my daughter and I looked online, there were so many forums where people were sad because others wouldn't believe that their Golden, with white paws, and chest were pure. Papers on our dog? Yes. Do I care? No. Never have sent in papers for a purebred that I've kept for myself. I don't show. I don't breed, what's the point. Now that being said, ha, after years of not doing a back yard breeding, I am considering breeding her to a standard Poodle. Tooo cute ~ those Goldenoodles. They can't be shown anyway. We'll see. Not sure if I am up to pups!
Here is a picture of my Golden. Remember, there are now White Goldens..and you can see what is happening. A Golden, is supposed to be Golden. Oh well, we love her already. Going to be a big girl.

This is her when we got her a couple of weeks ago.

This is her on Christmas Day.

Bigger girl..trying to wriggle out of my arms. Enough photo shoot!
Enough.

She settled down for me. I love Goldens,, this make my third.

Here's my last boy, I just lost him not long ago, so got my first
girl ever in a Retriever. I loved this Toby Boy. What a sweetheart
the goldens are.

What a love.

 

[wolftracks]

I am thrilled that we have so many new members (to the thread) and that most are "old" friends. I have to wonder what brought them all at the same time... did some one leave the gate open?

Now that's a dolly! We have 31 grand children. No greats yet. Could happen within a couple of years I suppose.

Hey, I really like the brindle color. Nice looking pups.

You said something about labs, and how they have bred things out of them.. Well, take a look at my PURE, Golden Retriever I just got. She was the only one with the white..and yes, it can happen, and as my daughter and I looked online, there were so many forums where people were sad because others wouldn't believe that their Golden, with white paws, and chest were pure. Papers on our dog? Yes. Do I care? No. Never have sent in papers for a purebred that I've kept for myself. I don't show. I don't breed, what's the point. Now that being said, ha, after years of not doing a back yard breeding, I am considering breeding her to a standard Poodle. Tooo cute ~ those Goldenoodles. They can't be shown anyway. We'll see. Not sure if I am up to pups!
Here is a picture of my Golden. Remember, there are now White Goldens..and you can see what is happening. A Golden, is supposed to be Golden. Oh well, we love her already. Going to be a big girl.

This is her when we got her a couple of weeks ago.

This is her on Christmas Day.

Bigger girl..trying to wriggle out of my arms. Enough photo shoot!
Enough.

She settled down for me. I love Goldens,, this make my third.

Here's my last boy, I just lost him not long ago, so got my first
girl ever in a Retriever. I loved this Toby Boy. What a sweetheart
the goldens are.

What a love.

What a cutie! I'm sorry you lost your boy. Enjoy your baby though. I have only not owned a dog for a very short amount of time in my life and I was miserable and lonely. They helped me be a good kid and were also there for me when I had problems as a kid. I didn't have a very nice stepdad. He did pay me off in cars as I was growing up, but those were so I wouldn't turn him in. If it hadn't been for my dogs, I don't think I would have been a very nice proson or would have gotten into trouble. Then I bought a GSD when I was 12 and the sellers had an Irish Setter, I had trained one I had in 3 weeks and my mom told them about it. Next thing I knew I was training their dog, which they had paid other trainers thousands to do and they sent me owners to train for, so I started off really young. Then I wanted to get into showing, so I trained 2 GSDs and the owners gave me my first show puppy. That's when it all began.

31!!!! OMG! Finally, someone with more than me! I have 28 and now my first great. My oldest grandson made me laugh at the baby shower, He bought all kinds of stuff for the baby and when I asked him if he was excited to be an uncle he said he was just glad he wasn't the first one to have kids. LOL We all cracked up at him. He had a relief wash over him. He's a sweetheart and so soft spoken and mellow, not like when he was younger. He was a sweetheart, but man! My grand daughter is a good mommy. I'm so proud of her. Not thrilled with the choice of daddy, but then I'm not alone with that. She finished up this last semester at college and she can't wait to go back, so that's good and she took 3 months off from work, so I hope she doesn't have a problem when she goes back to school.

 

[gryeyes]

I just followed the nearly stale crumbs you dropped so long ago...

 

[Wisher1000]

Well, well, well! Be thankful for happy coincidences! I am! Welcome ladies, I look forward to your company and contributions to our discussions!

I got a call from a friend a county over last night. I had asked her a couple of weeks ago if she wanted my three male guineas. I have raised over fifty keets in the past year but gave them all away as I think that I am through with guineas, at least for a while. She had gotten 24 keets from me a few months back and I thought my three boys would be happier (as would my hens) if they were in a flock where there are some lady guineas. I told her that between the three of them and the eight roosters, my hens were miserable. Anyway, she said her uncle had gotten hers and that she would ask if he might want them. I didn't hear from her for a couple of weeks, so I was still looking. She called to say that he wanted them and would take my extra roosters, too.

I raised all of these birds and they have been driving me - and my hens - NUTS lately, but I am feeling sad now that they are going. This will be the first roosters that I know are going to freezer camp at their new home. I know the first time is the hardest and I really can reason my way through it. I am keeping two - Yes, Wisher, only two.

One will be my old EE alpha roo, D'Artagnon. Two years ago, he spent three weeks in a hospital crate in the garage and nearly died because he tried to save the flock from a dog. He is a gentle roo with no human aggression and so good to his hens. He gives all the treats to the girls and even encourages them to set up house in the coziest nest boxes! He goes in and sits there and calls sweetly to them. He is such a good boy.

I still have to decide on the other one. I have one mixed roo that is the youngest, he has one green leg and one yellow leg! He is so funny with his mismatched stockings. I want to keep him, but he is, by far, NOT the prettiest. I have another HUGE SLW/BO cross named Dan that could give a hawk what for, but he will dress out very well. There are two BCMs that are really nice and out of non hatchery stock. The nicer one is going to a friend's farm, and while the other is beautiful, his leg color is a bit pale. Then, there's Merlin, another gorgeous EE that I love. His comb flops and he looks like a Frenchman in his bright red beret. The SLW/Campine twins are identical except for one has a straight comb and the other a pea comb.

I don't know who will get to stay but I need a younger roo to help Darty with his duties. I have nearly thirty hens so I can support two roos comfortably. I have until Sunday to deal with it. I know I will be better once they are gone, but it makes me sad to think of where they are going.

 

[dsqard]

Thirty hens Wisher? You could keep three roos! Just sayin'

Cynthia, your golden puppy is adorable! We had a half lab, half golden male named Casey when I was growing up. He was black like a lab but had the coat of a golden. He was a great dog. I have had dogs much of my life too. The years I was in the military, we didn't have them until towards the end and even then it didn't really work out too well. I got the wrong breeds for the little yards we had so we wound up rehoming the ones we got when I was in. I got both shelties when we lived in Florida years ago. Both dogs are not doing too good right now. The one that was sick on Christmas is actually doing better (Laddie, the one who is a year younger) but Skip took a turn for the worse yesterday. Poor boy was having a hard time breathing last evening and I kept wishing he would just let go so he could have some peace. I fully expected to find him gone this morning when we got up but he actually was still with us and was breathing easier. I have appointments for all the older dogs this afternoon. Hopefully we can get Skip on some stronger medicine (pretty sure his biggest problem last night was too much fluid in his lungs and the medicine didn't seem to be helping) and find out what is going on with Laddie. Blondie (knocking furiously on wood) so far has been fine other than being terrorized by the new puppy Sydney. Sid insists that the older dogs should play with him and it is hysterical to see Blondie start to play then seem to realize that she is much too dignified to play puppy games anymore and then growl at Sid. Sid will back up and just look at her like "what did I do?" That puppy is going to really ease the heartache when I lose the two shelties although all of us were bawling our eyes out last night hoping Skip would slip away. One good piece of information I got this morning though was that the wife of one of the guys we work with runs the shelter in town. She has access to the medication they use to put them down and could bring some home if I let him know. I won't have to worry about making Skip wait anymore if he is in too much pain. DS said that God wasn't being fair by possibly taking both of them fairly close together. I told him that even though it hurts a lot, it is not unfair. They have had wonderful lives since they were born. They have been loved all of their lives and they have lived full lives. I am not going to put them down too soon, but if I can't keep them comfortable, I will make that decision. (hopefully I won't have to make it for both this afternoon)

 

[Arielle]

THe decision to put down is a difficult one at best. One of my Rotties has been having good days and bad days, then good a gain. I'm hoping for this last winter with him. I hate to deal with the reality of digging a hole in the frozen ground, so I'm praying for one last winter. He's my smart boy--just brilliant.

Cythnthia--- the goldens are just a lovely dog, and the new girl is very cute. Like a butter ball. Sorry for the loss of your old buddy. Nice to have pictures to remember the good times.

DIdi- I was thinking you could keep 3-4 roosters just fine!! THe BCM will add a good temperament and a pretty layer of brown to the eggs if you hatch his eggs. ANd since he is in a mixed flock, meeting the SOP is not so important. SOunds like you just want to keep the chickens as layers; if it was for meaty cckls for the freezer I would keep the bigget meatiest boy to make more of the same. And yes, the first time is the hardest. I can dress my own birds now-- with a little mental prepping .

WOlf-- One of the reasons I keep dogs is that I remember needing a dog too in my youth, and yet my kids seem to gravitate to the cats instead. Which ever works for the boys is fine by me.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I just followed the nearly stale crumbs you dropped so long ago...

"vacuums up stale bread crumbs with shop vac..."

oh sorry...it's an OCD kinda thing

Hello wisher! This thread sounded like an interesting place to stop in and chat...maybe make some new friends.

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh DiDi, good luck on making a choice today after your vet visit. Seeing the vet will probably help you along with what ever decision it is. I so feel your pain. The last dog I put down, was our first Golden, he couldn't even squat to go potty, he had to stand. And, if he was standing with you, it wasn't for long, he had to lay down because all of his joints just couldn't hold him up, he was a big boy. I'm so sorry you are going through this right now. It is very hard.

 

[gryeyes]

One of my two doxies is 14 years old and he has had a couple of really bad sessions with back problems a few years ago. The vet said jumping UP was not a problem, but he should have steps or a ramp by the bed and sofa so he doesn't jostle his spine hopping down. So I have had doggie steps for years.

He had gotten very sedentary and grumpy this past year. I started him on glucosomine tablets (from 1-800-petmeds) mid-November and the change is remarkable! He's more active and it's obvious he doesn't hurt any more.

I'm not suggesting this as a cure or treatment for all y'all's dogs; just reading about yours made me think of my Zorro and I wanted to share.

 

[dsqard]

Cynthia, thank you

Linda (welcome to the thread BTW

) I wish it was just joint trouble with them. I have used glucosomine for one of my horses before and it seemed to help when she was getting worked often. I know Skip's problem is a heart murmur (pretty bad one too from what the vet said) and about all we can do for him is give him diuretics to keep the fluid in his lungs down and blood pressure medicine. I am hoping that we can go to a stronger dose this afternoon when I see the vet. Laddie, has a lump on his side and I am thinking this is cancer. I don't know if this was what was causing him to get so sick on Christmas but it is quite possible. It is also possible that he had a tummy bug and is getting over that but that doesn't make the lump go away. Will find out more on him this afternoon as well. It has been a long time since I have lost a really dear pet. I like my birds a lot but I don't get as attached to them as I do the dogs and horses. I don't know if it is because I know the birds aren't going to last real long or what