Washingtonians

[Mia_]

Quote:
Could they be talking about your chicken waste? Your neighbors sound like pips.

The chickens run free in the yard all day, and I have been trying the deep bedding thing in their coop, so there has not really been any real chicken waste for at least a month.

 

[ChristineR]

Quote:
Oops, forgot your Great Dane is a *he* - sorry. Yes, I was sure you have experience with other "muscle" dogs before. Don't know what you call them, but all of the above breeds are for owners with a good firm hand. Here, I don't want to be challenged by my dogs. Pretty much just lovey type dogs needed in the 'burbs. They do a darn good job keeping invading critters out of our yard though. And I know if I were threatened my Golden Retriever wouldn't hesitate to defend me.

Yeah, there's something to be said for owning a dog that everyone knows is a "good dog" and a Golden is a classic for that: I've never known one who wasn't a big lump oh love and affection!

I've never met a Golden with a mean bone in their body. I know they can have the Rage sydrome, but I've never seen it. My Golden is the quintessential Family Dog. Just a love sponge (honestly, she's too clingy for me, but I can't fault her for being too loving). She is so patient with my daughter.

It's funny, but my birds dogs have always been the most trustworthy around other animals (ducks and chickens included). They've never bothered them at all. In fact, my Golden was scared of my Pekin drake. It was hilarious watching that duck chase her around the yard. She'd run to me to protect her from the big, bad ducky. My Lab and Pointer weren't scared of the poultry

but they never have bothered them either. My Black Swedish duck would run up and bite my Lab and he'd look really annoyed with the duck, but never made a move to hurt him. I love Sporting breeds in general, but Labs and Pointers are my favorite, for their temperaments (if they're purchased from a good breeder).

 

[Mia_]

I remember a survey I read about. They sent the survey to a bunch of Vet Techs and Groomers. For what they found as the most vicious breeds of dog, the top three were Shiz Tsu, Miniature Dachshund, and (well, I remember two out of the three). For the question of, "What is the breed of the most vicious dog you have met?" The overwhelming answer was Golden Retriever. I wish I could cite my source, but I heard about this years ago.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
Hi CR,
What do you think of the Fairgrounds as a place to RV camp? Do they have any hookups, especially power? It looks like we'll be taking our trailer down and I was thinking the fairgrounds would be super convenient. I like the wi-fi part, too. And I'll finally get to see your art in person.


What Camp ground ?? The fair grounds is no CG it is just a parking lot . Which works for us since it is close so dw can go to the trailer to rest if she needs to. It is $20 to park at the fair. NO CAMPFIRES !!

 

[Chicken Rustler]

The decision is in ......... It sounds like Amanda Knox will be coming home soon!!!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Well, I just spent an hour making cheap bungie cords from Harbor Freight fit to use, trimming off the extra tail of elastic and screwing the springs down onto the crimped rings. I swear that the last year or so has seen a devolution in bungie cord design- the worst being the ones with great honking plastic hooks which do not hook onto themselves or through any flat surface (that is, into woven wire less than the diameter of the whole hook or a grommet on a flat surface, for instance. It was not what I thought I was going to do today, but I cleverly managed to use up my pre-lunch endergy getting Bacchus' blackberry access cleared out and looking for a measuring tape that had been left outside and which I put somewhere safe and dry.

I believe I'm about to take a brief lie-down so I can do the rest of my chores. Oh, well.

 

[ChristineR]

Quote:
That's really sad. That is so totally the opposite of what the breed should be like. It's a really interesting topic, though. I've been doing some reading online and it seems there are different opinions (isn't there always?) of what the cause is.

I hope the Golden Retriever breed doesn't go the way of the Cocker Spaniel...

 

[Illia]

Part of the issue with the dog breeds thing is that Retreivers and Labs are seriously over-bred. And by backyard breeders. Also, because of their rep as a family dog meant for everyone, if one does go aggressive - People likely aren't going to report it. Just recently a Retriever who lived at a Retirement home bit one of the women and was put down but no one wanted to report it because it just didn't seem right, while sadly people gladly will say "A pitbull bit my daughter" When in reality most people can't tell the difference between a blacl mutt, a black Pit, a black Lab, and/or a black Cane Corso without its ears cropped.

 

[ChristineR]

Quote:
Yes, that's the problem with the popular breeds. That's why I say that's not how GRs should be. They should be the ideal family dog, but indiscriminate breeding can screw up any breed. And, I really believe that any dog has the potential to bite, given the "right" circumstances.

I disagree, though, about people not being able to tell the difference between any black dog. A Pit, a Lab and a Cane Corso aren't really that alike. I think most people can tell the difference; at the very least a Lab vs. a Pit is pretty obvious and even if they didn't know what a Cane Corso was, I don't think it would generally be mistaken for a Lab or a Pit. Their sizes and coats are too different. With mutts, sure, they could be mistaken for just about anything, and sadly, if they look Pit, they will be discriminated against.

I know a girl that works at the local doggie daycare in Lacey. They don't allow Pit Bulls, Staffies, or any other breed that looks like a Pit Bull. When I asked why, she said they had a bad experience with a couple Pits who didn't like new dogs coming in, so they just banned all those breeds. Really? Because I can pretty much bet that they've had problems with other breeds, but didn't ban them...

My Lab was a field bred dog, very high energy, and SUPER dominant. We went to a trainer, and she confirmed that he wasn't aggressive, just extremely dominant. LOVE, LOVE, LOVED him. I miss him every day. I didn't realize how safe he made me feel until I lost him a couple months ago. Anyway, he didn't go looking for a fight, but he'd sure as heck end it if another dog started one. Yet, because he was a Lab (and aren't all Labs supposed to be big, goofy teddy bears?) , I had a heck of a time convincing people that, really, Bear does not want to play with Fluffy, and to please put Fluffy on a leash, because when he comes over and growls at Bear, he will be eaten for breakfast.

Anyway...sorry for the tangent. It's my ADD taking over.

I just get worked up about idiots who breed animals who should have been neutered ASAP for health or temperament issues. Then the whole breed suffers.

 

[PitterPatterPalace]

Hi, All.
Been busy but finally got caught up. Hope all is well.
Freaking out a little as I'll be full-term in 1.5wks! Not ready for our little man to come yet- DH is working on a wainscot project in the nursery...
Otherwise good- slowing down especially at work. Not flying down the long hallways like I used to.