SETTLING DOWN? .... LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE OFF AND RUNNING... WITH A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AHEAD WITH 18 LOVELY PUPS.. GREAT FUN TO START AT THE BOTTOM AGAIN... "DON'T PICK UP THE PUPS JUST FOR FUN.... SIT ON THE FLOOR AND LET THEM COME TO YOU.... BECAUSE.... IF YOU HAVE TO PICK THEM UP IT MEANS THEY DID NOT CHOOSE TO COME TO YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE SO YOU ARE IMPOSING YOUR WILL WHICH BY DEFINITION INTRODUCES NEGATIVITY"
GRANTED THAT IS A LITTLE " FAR OUT " WITH TINY PUPS, BUT I AM DEAD SERIOUS WHEN THEY GET TO BE 4 WEEKS OLD. AT 4 WEEKS TEHY WILL
HAVE STARTED SPOON FEEDING AND SHOULD WANT TO CLIMB ALL OVER YOU. IF THEY DON'T WE NEED TO RE ASSESS OUR BEHAVIOR.
I WATCH TEH OTHER ADI TRAINING FACILITIES PICK UP THE PUPS CONSTANTLY .. TO DO OR GO ANYWHERE.. LEASH AND LIFTED... IS NOT MY WAY... QUITE SIMPLY BECAUSE VERY SHORTLY THE IDEA OF LIFTING WILL BE OUT OF THE QUESTION... SO WE BETTER ADDRESS THE SITUATION EARLY..
THEN THERE IS PHYSICS-- HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS -- I CRINGE WHEN I SEE PEOPLE PICK UP ANY PUP BY THOSE LITTEL FRONT LEGS... AND PEOPLE ( NOT HERE OR I SCREAM) DO IT ALL THE TIME... TEH LEVERAGE ON THE SHOULDERS IS HORRENDOUS.
THAT PHYSICS LEVERAGE IS ALSO A BIG CONSIDERATION AS PEOPLE TRY AND MAKE A BALANCE DOG OF A SHORTER LAB BY A LEATHER HARNESS WITH METAL HANDLE.. IN THE PROCESS OF BALANC E AND FALLING, THAT METAL HANDLE CAN MAKE FOR SOME BRUISED RIBS ON A SMALLER DOG... THE SAME HANDLE, ATTACHED TO HARNESS AT THE SHOULDER WHICH IS USED BY TEH SEEING EYE, IS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME.. THE PLACEMENT LOOKS SO INNOCENT - AND DESIGNED BY A GREAT LEATHERMAKER... WHO HAD NOT FEEL FOR THE PHYSICS OF THE POOR DOGS RIBS.
I HAVE ONE OF THOSE HARNESSES HERE-- SOMEONE GAVE IT TO ME... AND I WILL PUT IT ON JIMMINEY WHEN I GET A CHANCE.. JUST FOR FUN.... AT $650.00 IT DOES NOT DO WHAT OUR $30.00 FUZZY BACKED WEB HARNESS DOES... AND OURS CAN BE WORN LONGER HOURS VERY COMFORTABLY.
OH ... BUT IT LOOKS GOOOOOOD !!!
100 YEARS AGO , WHEN I FIRST STARTED -- BEFORE I THOUGHT ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN GETTINGG OUR 501 C 3 AND ADI ACCREDITATION... I USED THAT LEATHER HARNESS SO I WOULD LOOK LIKE THE SEEING EYE DOGS..... AND THEREFORE "USE" THEIR REPUTATION TO MY BENEFIT. AS THE DANES WORKED OUT WELL, AND PEOPLE STOPPED MAKING FUN OF A DANE SERVICE DOG, I REALIZED I DID NOT NEED $650.00 TOTRY AND LOOK GOOD. WE WERE GOOD.
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NOW FOR DOG DISNES AND PHYSICS.... THE NORMAL DOG DISH CAN BE AWFUL TO A LARGE, HAPPY PUPPY... IF THEY JUMP HAPPILY AROUIND AND HIT THT DISH JUST RIGHT , IT SNAPS UP WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN REALLY HURT A NOSE OR LEG. TRY STEPPING ON THE EDGE OF THOSE DISHES-- YOU CAN BRUISE YOUR SHIN VERY NICELY. SO FINALLY SOMEONE SLANTED TEH EDGE THE OTHER WAY.. THOSE ARE SAFE ON THE FLOOR... THE OTHERS...???? WELL MY SOLUTIONWAS TO CUT A HOLE INA 5 GALLON BUCKET SO THE BAD DISHES FIT -- THAT IS HOW I GOT INTO THE "RAISED DISHES" ARGUEMENT...
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SO WHILE I AM AT IT...
Good Morning Carlene
My dog Ranger is now two years old, weighs 39 pounds and eats a full cup of dry dog food twice a day.
Should I begin to weed him to eating once a day?.
You sure have your hands ( and home) full with the new litters.
bb
FEEDING PROTOCOLS ?
AT THE TOP OF THEIR TAIL, IF THERE IS TEH SLIGHTEST DEPRESSION HE IS GETTING TOO FAT...
IF TEH TWO HIP BONES ON TOP STICK UP HE IS TOO THIN.
IF YOU LAND SOMEWHERE AND ARE FORCED TO HAVE TO FEED A COLLECTION OF DOGS....
GIVE THEM A QUANTITY 1/2 THE SIZE OF THEIR HEADS TWICE A DAY.... AND THEY WILL LIVE.
ONCE OR TWICE? EATING FOOD IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ACTIVITY IN THE DOGS DAY WHICH GIVES THEM SUCH JOY.... PERFECT CHANCE TO BE YOUR DOG'S HERO...... THE PRODUCER OF FOOD...... WE FEED TWICE..
THERE IS ALSO TEH EFFECT OF FEEDING... ONE HUGE MEAL AND THEY WILL BE LESS ACTIVE AFTER IT.. SO IF YOU DO AQ MORNING MEAL THEY WOULD BE INCLINED TO SLEEP ALL DAY AND BARK ALL NIGHT..... KIND OF THING... FEED AT NIGHT// YOU GET THE PICTURE.
OK... SO YOU WOULD LIVE VERY NICELY ON ONE MEAL A DAY....... WE ALL WOULD.... BUT DON'T... SO WHY?