OT: I'm not quilting....

Ohhhh Sandy - isn't it grand when "puppies from heaven" just walk into our lives unexpectedly? They are all just dear, sweet creatures and indeed, a gift. Be patient, give lots of chin scratches and head pats, and your rewards will come, and come, and come. Congratulations! (And can I just say - those big 'uns have a way of coming and laying their dear, sweet heads in your lap when you're sewing away, and looking at you with big, soulful eyes to let you know when "it's time to take a break")..... so happy for you.

Patti in Seattle

Dad doesn't know he pays for these. I figure if I buy it at the grocery store it is his bill and that is where I buy it; when my mother was alive she paid for all the cat food, so why shouldn't dad? It's amazing how far I spread that grocery money, lets see it pays for his medicine, most of the groceries but I pay for some of them and I do pay for some cat and dog food, pays little extras for the house, like I bought drapes for two rooms this week and yes, it will pay for those also. Some times if I need a new cooking "tool" like a food processor, it pays for that, but now most of that kind of thing I pay for myself. Actually the grocery money pays for everything but the utilities and major upkeep on the house and insurance, rest of the bills come out of the money he gives, or I take for groceries and some months I don't take all I am allowed. I do have two sisters that I feel I have to be accountable to as to what goes with his money. I am having Sugar neutered in Nov and I will be paying for that out of my pocket, being she is my dog. Now the cat, Ice-Cream, will also go to the vet for his annual shots and such things, Dad will pay for Ice-Cream because he is my nephew's cat that just happens to live at our house and has for almost 15 years. I guess you could say my mother adopted him and so Dad can bear the cost, although he doesn't like him, but he does like Sugar.

Jacqueline in KY

Sandy, Get a prong collar for Dexter. My vet calls them power steering for dogs. They're not cruel. I'd have trouble handling Midnight and Jethro without them. Liz

on a puppy a halti would be better - it looks like a horse halter and guides by pressure on the nose and makes it possible for one to go on to a normal collar and lead later on.

I do know that some people swear by the prong collars but I have also seen what a strong dog can do to itself with one - it wasn't pretty.

The prong collar didn't work on my Shadow (52 lbs, all muscle). The darling idiot would just choke himself. :(

A halter worked like a dream, though. I could lift up as he started to take off, and his front feet would leave the ground so he had no traction. He'd be so mystified by the sudden lack of traction that his little dog brain would forget all about whatever it was he wanted to chase.

*snort!*

Ah yes -- he does love belly rubs, Polly! So the next one will be in your name. :)

Now that's an idea I could live with, Jessamy! I'll have to look for a puppy halter when I can get away from the house for a little while. :) Thanks!

Good point, Taria. Maybe the thing to do is to take DJ to the pet shop with me and try a few different things on him there.

Okay, so it sounds like halters have a good chance of being what I'll need. :)

I'm waiting for the day when DJ just puts his head into my lap instead of the entire front end of his body! LOL!

Well, bless *you* for doing this for Boofhead and Donut, Cheryl! DJ is starting to settle in, though I don't think he had any training before now. We're getting him out for most of his "business", but there are occasional lapses. :( He's never been taught not to bite in play, so we're working on that, too. We have chew toys here -- and they'll have to be replaced soon, since he's tearing them apart! LOL!

there is a miracle cure for that problem walker.... it is called gentle leader

you can get them at most pet stores and vet offices. Lemme tell ya... Tessa before this one was a monster to walk. with one she is an angel! And she knows that when it is on she goes for a walk and when it is just the leash now it is bathtime, so she will sit still to get it on better than at first.

For some reason with the pressure on the top of the nose instead of pulling on her neck, she is instantly a different dog. It is NOT a muzzle... they can eat, pant, whatever with it on, but it changes their view of who is in charge! And i have seen this with 5 other dogs too, so it isn't just a fluke! and I have been told never to use those retractable leashes, that they allow the dog more control than it should have.

Kellie

The latest here in training dogs not to pull on the leash seems to work very well. It could result, at first, in short walks that take a long time >gg

Thanks, Kellie! Now I know what it looks like -- I think I'll be looking for one of these in the next day or two! :)

we used to own a pet shop when Halti's first came out and as I had a lead pulling dog that was of the hard to train breed Finnish Spitz - they have a mind of their own and can pull like billy-o which is a good thing in Finland where they are independent hunters of birds and the occasional bear but not good on a lead in the town\, so I got to test one - it worked a treat!

Okay, DH came home long enough this morning for me to zip over to PetCo and buy a Gentle Leader. It certainly looks promising! :) I've fitted it to DJ (he's not sure he approves yet, of course) and will watch the DVD that came with it later. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Taria, I've seen these things before on dogs, and I have to admit that I thought they were some sort of muzzle, too! Live and learn.