HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jag@iti.org (Jacqueline A. Giles)
Subject: Re: pet peeves OR "what breed is that?"
Organization: Industrial Technology Institute
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 15:07:07 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.134912.19413@sei.cmu.edu> krvw@sei.cmu.edu (Kenneth van Wyk) writes:
>In article <1992Oct6.132131.23608@cbnewsj.cb.att.com>, emm@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (ellen.m.mcsorley) writes:
>> ...
>> One couple walked by.  The guy said to his friend
>> "Gee, is that a St. Bernard or a Newfoundland?"
>> His friend said "Oh, that's a St. Bernard - I KNOW
>> what a Newfoundland looks like....."
>> 
>> Sophie was QUITE depressed....
>
>YES!  I know exactly what you mean.  I took my Basset Hound puppy,
>Elvis, to a college football game this weekend (we stayed outside the
>game and ran around the soccer fields like a couple of maniacs), and
>I'd say that over 50% of the people that ventured a guess as to what
>type of dog Elvis is called him a Beagle.  Now, I have no objection to
>Beagles - matter of fact, I like them - but _MY_ dog is a Basset
>Hound.
>
>Sorry if this subject has been beaten to death.  I usually don't jump
>into such threads, but I couldn't resist it this once.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Ken van Wyk
>
With the many breeds in existance, it is hard to recognize all of
them.  I go to shows alot and still don't know the various terriers
and get some of the sporting dogs mixed up.  I think we all need to
be patient with people that get our breeds wrong and be flattered
that they notice our puppies at all!


Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: dprice@convex.com (David Price)
Subject: Re: Kleenex-eating Dogs
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 23:21:57 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

The group of dog people (specifically Doberman Pinscher people) that I
know are convinced that the tendency to eat tissue paper is
genetically related, at least in dobes.  The dobes that are
particularly ravenous for tissue usually have a mother and/or father
is also tissue eater.  My previous dobe would only be interested in
paper products if there was some traces of food on it, and then he
would only tear it up looking for the food.  My present dobe, Buster,
is a ravenous paper eater.  Buster's father, Chase, has been known to
empty tissue dispensers in hotels one sheet at a time unless the box
is removed from the dispenser.  Another relative likes to unroll and
eat toilet paper.

I only buy white tissue since I don't like him eating the dyed stuff.
Does anyone know if there are other things in tissue that could be
harmful?  Most of the time if Buster gets a tissue, he has it
swallowed before I can stop him.

--
_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_
 David Price			| " ... on a 36 year mission to the Crab
 Convex Computer Corp.		|   Nebula.  We've made this trip dozens
 dprice@convex.com		|   of times."
From: williamsk@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (It always scares me when something looks easy to do.)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: SORE SPOT
Date: 30 Sep 92 07:49:32 EST

In article <25659@oasys.dt.navy.mil>, boucher@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Teresa Boucher) writes:
> I have a question.  I am the owner of a 9.5 yr old Golden Retriever.
> I have noticed a spot on his rear left leg (outside) where he continually
> bites and licks.  It is to the point now where it is bleeding.  I have
> checked to see if he has fleas (NO) or mites (NO) and wonder if it is
> just the dry weather and his licking that is causing it.  I would like
> to know of a remedy to keep him from licking that spot.  I have tried
> putting on a Lotrimin Cream (1%) and a first-aid cream, but he still
> licks at it.  I try the best I can to make sure he leaves it alone while
> he is with me (from the time I get home from work until the next morning).
> Its when I leave for work that he licks at it.  Any suggestions?
> 
> TRESE
Yep!  I know how frustrating this can be.  My year old golden did the same
thing last year - it started from a flea bite, but since he was bored during
the days while we were gone, he kept licking it.  We ended up putting an ace
bandage on it while we were gone.  On the ace we put extra strength bitter
apple so he would leave it alone.  We also got a real bone that has been 
sterlized (or something like that) with a hole down the center.  We filled
that up with snausages and left it with him during the day.  He loved it and
worked diligently to get the snausages out of it while we were gone.

Good luck.
Kim
From: tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore)
Subject: Re: Stopping biting
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Reply-To: tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore)
Organization: ICS Dept., UC Irvine
Date: 27 Sep 92 21:02:54 GMT

Different things work with different dogs.  In my case, my puppy
regarded anything physical: chin grabs, stuffing hands down mouth,
etc, FUN and part of the GAME.  What worked, in less than a week, was
one "OUCH" and leaving her alone (i.e., stopping the fun stimulus).
It could be as simple as turning your back, standing up out of reach
or actually walking away.

If your puppy likes to play rough, this may work better than some of
the other more physical corrections.  Pick what works for your dog!

--Cindy
--
Cindy Tittle Moore

Terrell's Chocolate Deduction--Hershe (Labrador Retriever)

The rec.pets.dogs FAQ -- all nine parts -- is available via ftp to
pit-manager.mit.edu under pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/*.  There
is a mail server, email me for details.

In loving memory of Betsy: 4-10-92 to 8-19-92...
From: anuske@gdwb.oz.au (Andrew Nuske)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Australian Cattle Dogs.
Date: 1 Oct 92 03:50:21 GMT

Hello from the land down under.

As I am an owner of an extremely intelligent Australian Cattle Dog which my
wife and I love very much, I was wondering if anyone else would like to share 
their thoughts with me if they too owned one.

I was told that they are not unique to only Australia but are also a well
known breed in North America.
Is this true ? .

Regards.

Andrew.

-- 
                                                                         
Andrew Nuske                Urban Systems Design Branch          _--_|\
Email: anuske@gdwb.OZ.AU    Geelomg & District Water Board      /      \
Phone: +61 52 262314        61-67 Ryrie St. Geelong             \_.--._/   
Fax:   +61 52 218236        Victoria 3220 Australia                   v
                                                                
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: T00X000 <T00X@UNB.CA>
Subject: Re: Rabbit turds
Organization: The University of New Brunswick
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 14:58:18 GMT

In article <_s0ny1.kudzu@netcom.com> kudzu@netcom.com (Michael Sierchio) writes:
>In article <HOEFLING.92Sep24165511@sp28.csrd.uiuc.edu>
>   hoefling@sp28.csrd.uiuc.edu (Jay Hoeflinger) writes:

Interesting! I have a pet rabbit who lives in my house with
the run of the basement. Both my dogs, Belgian Tervuren and
English Springer X Terrier, just LOVE to eat my rabbit's
droppings which she sometimes leaves on the floor when she
gets overexcited (she is trained to a cat litter box) as
when the dogs are playing with her. Sometimes I can smell
it on the dogs' breath but I don't really discourage it.
There does not seem to be any ill effects to the dogs but
then again I know what I am feeding my bunny and it isn't
anything I wouldn't feed my dogs.


Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: fritzz@bud.megatek.uucp (Friedrich Knauss)
Subject: Kleenex-eating Dogs
Reply-To: megatek!fritzz@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 23:49:32 GMT

In article <1992Sep28.132326.11794@sequent.com> schalene@sequent.com (Schalene Dagutis) writes:
>I second the opinion that this is a "dog" thing.  Every dog I have had
>the pleasure to live with has loved tissue.  The beagle we had when I
>was small would climb up and over anything for a tissue.  I had left
>one on the piano once and he literally walked up and down the keyboard
>chewing on that tissue.

Thirded. When she was about 8 months I found Ryfo running in circles
on our Queen sized bed with a half demolished tissue box in her mouth.
The consequent tornado would easily have won a special effects Oscar
in a remake of _The Wizard of Oz_. Even though she was breaking a
myriad of rules I could only fall to the ground in a helpless heap
of laughter. That condition was only aggravated by the expression on
her face when she realized that she was no longer unobserved and that
she was in the middle of those many forbidden activities. I just wish
that I had had a video camera...
-- 
-- Bones heal - Chicks dig scars - Pain is temporary - Glory is forever
-- fritzz@megatek.com :wq ZZ QQUIT exitqqq^C^Y^C^C^C^C^C^C^C
--
From: schalene@sequent.com (Schalene Dagutis)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: troublesome puppy
Keywords: puppy, behavior, problems
Date: 6 Oct 92 17:53:03 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1992Oct6.175303.24445
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.

In article <1992Oct5.203052.2613@odin.corp.sgi.com> kim@wpd.sgi.com writes:
>
>	I had similar problems with my female Australian Shepard puppy.
>  Here are some of the techniques we used to solve them.
>
>In article <16084@borg.cs.unc.edu>, whitaker@verdi.cs.unc.edu (Ross Whitaker) writes:
>|> 1) Biting.  We have discouraged this since we have owned him and have
>|> seen very little improvement (except his teeth aren't as deadly).  We 
>|> have used a strong "NO!" to discourage him.  Currently he will put his 
>|> teeth on a limb and apply minimal pressure, but he will as do very rapid,
>|> painful, "nips" with his front teeth.  
>
>	My dog Foster nipped quite a bit as a puppy too.  When she was
>  very young (<5 months) we just yelled "Ow" when she bit and refused
>  to play anymore.  As she got older, the biting decreased.  On the
>  occassional lapse, we started holding her muzzle until she whined to
>  be released.  We then presented a hand to lick with much praise when
>  she did so.  Now she licks just about everything just about all the
>  time -- the shameless hussy :-).
>
Both our dogs did this, too.  We said "ouch" in a very hurt, aggrieved
tone and stopped playing with them.  Whenever they would lick us
instead of nipping, we'd praise them by saying "good kisses."  When
they knew what "kisses" meant, we began extending our hand to them and
saying "give kisses"  and praise them like crazy when they did.  Both 
our dogs knew how to give kisses at 15 weeks or so.  After that when 
they nipped, we'd say "ouch" and then "give kisses."  They'd stop 
nipping to kiss/lick.  It worked very well for us.  

schalene
From: mjohnson@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Marget Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Dogs in Europe
Keywords: Shutzhund, Dog Food, Behavior
Date: 25 Sep 92 13:02:56 GMT
Reply-To: mjohnson@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Marget Johnson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Stakeholder Relations, NCR Corp in Dayton,OH

In article <Bv3F11.IqF@rice.edu> sjbury@bubbles.rice.edu (Scott J. Bury)
writes:
............Scott's description og GSD World show.................
>
>2Some of the dry European dog food looks like muselix with meat chunks. In 
>fact they will very proudly show you all the grain and vegetables that go
>into their food.  It is very different than Alpo.  The only US food I saw on
>display was Nature's Recipe.
>

A "muselix" -type dog food Scott refers to above is available in the U.S.as
Royal Canin Cynotechnique. The company also owns Wayne dog food, and Preferred
Pet Products in St. Louis that make/market Sensible Choice, a lamb/rice/barley
kibble (I switched from Bench & Field - a 5-year commitment - to Sensible
Choice (Lite, Adult and Performance) for my Newfs about 3 months ago. Love
it!). Anyway, Royal Canin Cynotechnqiue is available through Breeder Buying
Groups in 28 states. I don't believe that any retail stores carry it. 
In Denmark, however, even the local convenience store/gas station has the food
stacked on a pallet by the front door....with the water softener salt and the
end-of-season potted annuals!
*************************************
Marget Johnson, Windwagon Newfs

--
From: kathleen.brewer@cutting.hou.tx.us (Kathleen Brewer) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: A Brief Bird-dog Brag
Date: 3 Oct 92 04:04:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Cutting Edge - Houston, TX - 713-466-1525
Reply-To: kathleen.brewer@cutting.hou.tx.us (Kathleen Brewer) 

TO: crs@beta.lanl.gov (Charlie Sorsby)

CS>Sorsby'd Kiss Me Kate qualified twice more in the AKC Hunting Tests
CS>for Pointing Dogs at the Central New Mexico Brittany Club Tests on
CS>26 & 27 September.  Kate is four for four and needs one more
CS>qualification for her Senior Hunter title.


Congratulations to you and Kate!!!!!!!

CYA
Kathleen
---
 . OLX 2.1 . Minds, like parachutes, work only when open!!!
                                                                       
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: hckrus01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Subject: Re: Pet Peeves (Was: loose dogs)
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 18:12:21 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

In article <Bv3F9o.EEJ@well.sf.ca.us>, casey@well.sf.ca.us (Kathleen Creighton) writes:
> 
> My Akita is a descendant of the top Akita of all time (as, btw, are most
> Akitas :-).  But I never say anything about her "having papers".  The only
> time I get *really burned up*, though, is when people ask what kind of
> MIX my dog is.  MIX?  MIX?  Then I get very arrogant and shake my head
> slowly, letting them stew in their ignorant juices before I tell them
> she's a *purebred* Akita.  <sniff>
> 
>   :-)


I find a lot of people have to ask me what kind of dog I have (he's an Irish
setter).  To me this is pretty encouraging, seeing as how 15 years ago or so
most places were crawling with (often poorly-bred) Irish.  A lot of people
today seem to think Tristan is some exotic Golden retriever!

Another popular question is:  "Did you train him to walk like that?"  During
his show days, he exhibited pretty nice reach and drive, and whenever he's
trotting on a loose lead he still tends to do it.  I guess it's in-born, so I
tell people he just walks funny naturally.

A less serious question I've been asked twice in the last week by strangers at
the park is:  "Is that a dog or a horse?"  No comment.  I guess since Kentucky	
is Thoroughbred country, this remark can be excused?

The funniest thing anyone ever said when I was walking Tristan on the
flexi-leash was "That's quite a catch you reeled in with your Pocket
Fisherman!" :-)

Holly
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: paigen@tfs.com (David Paigen)
Subject: Re: Pets and Kids
Organization: TRW Financial Systems
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 20:42:03 GMT

On a related note, my wife has been pulling on our dog's ears,
whiskers, and fur for some time now.  She tells people that she
is training the dog to tolerate children.

Well, we got a visit from some friends and their 2.5 YO daughter.
She started pulling on his ears and he didn't even blink.

My point is, if your dog will come into contact with small children,
train the dog to suffer the abuse that a child is likely to heap upon
it.

----------------------->"Lay on, McDuff,    14th c. ideals in a 21st c. world
David Paigen            and damn'd be he        N: PLO Bush IRA CIA KKK
TRW Financial Systems   who first cries,        S: terrorism pipe bomb kill
paigen@tfs.com          'hold, enough!'"        A: assasination maim
From: scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us (S. Mudgett aka little gator)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Organization: gators 'r us
Subject: Re: German Pinschers
Reply-To: scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us
X-Software: HERMES GUS 1.03 Rev. Apr 14 1992
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 18:52:52 -0500

In <317@mindlink.bc.ca>, Valaria Vorlop writes:

>3. What is happening with the breed? Are they AKC/CKC recognized? Are there
>   any being shown? Why haven't they become more popular?
akc-no.  ckc-i don't know.

they are recognised by the united kennel club.
-- 
-- little gator aka s. mudgett     email: scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us
-- friend of a gator is a friend of mine
From: rhh@alice.att.com (r hardin)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: STOP USING BORAX AGAINST FLEAS!
Date: 29 Sep 92 01:56:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.23748
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill NJ



This has come up before, evidently anything toxic in any amount
shows up in toxicity manuals of various sorts and people are
surprised when they see it there.

People wash diapers in borax, use it for scrubbing etc etc etc,
just read the box and call the toll-free number if you want
to discuss it.  One of the uses suggested on the box is
cat litter pan, to cut odor.

I have a home vet-care book that recommends it for getting off
pretty dry but not really old paint, from the dog's coat, and
it really works.

I and many others have had it on the carpets for years, and
nary a flea for two years now, with no other treatments; nor
any sick dogs.

I think eye wash contains it or something similar.

It came to the net when a vet in florida recommended it.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: lenny@icus.ICUS.COM (Lenny Tropiano)
Subject: Pet Deposits, and non-refundable portions?
Followup-To: poster
Organization: ICUS Software Systems, Austin, Texas
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 21:30:58 GMT

A friend of mine told me somewhere that it's not legal to expect a 
non-refundable portion of a pet deposit, provided the place is left
in reasonably-good condition before leaving.  They say it's for
*extra* cleaning, but they have to exterminate and steam-clean the 
carpets anyhow?  Is this legal?  In Texas?

One place wanted to charge me $300/per pet (I have two small Shelties,
wonderful dogs in fact) with $100 non-refundable.  We compromised on
a $450 total... what about the non-refundable part?

-L.
-- 
| Lenny Tropiano           ICUS Software Systems        lenny@icus.ICUS.COM |
|               ...!{ames,cs.utexas.edu,pacbell}!icus!lenny                 |
+---------------- 14300 Tandem Blvd #222, Austin, TX 78728 -----------------+
From: schalene@sequent.com (Schalene Dagutis)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: troublesome puppy
Keywords: puppy, behavior, problems
Date: 6 Oct 92 17:57:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1992Oct6.175714.24784
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.

>In article <1992Oct5.204850.24642@cis.uab.edu> sloan@cis.uab.edu (Kenneth Sloan) writes:
>>In article <16084@borg.cs.unc.edu> whitaker@verdi.cs.unc.edu (Ross Whitaker) writes:
>>
>>Finally, if someone could recommend a good book on such things I would
>>be thankful.  
>
>The Art of Raising a Puppy, and
>How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend - both by the Monks of New Skete.
>
Also, the following:

"Mother Knows Best," by Carol Lea Benjamin
"Great Dog, Good Owners," by Brian (?) Kilcommons

schalene
From: rfradenb@bbn.com (Roger Fradenburgh)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: CANIS, Cologne for dogs
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:21:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.lch0jqINNad
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

>   How many caught the CANIS commercial on Saturday Night Live?  I
>   laughed so hard I fell off the couch...

Oh yeah!  I was already parked on the floor when it came on,
but surely would've wound up there if I'd been on the couch.
OUR female Golden (who loves, among other things, swimming
and dispensing wet kisses, and who would've LOVED to play 
leading lady in the commercial) awoke from a nap and stared 
at me like I'd gone insane... :-)
From: hckrus01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Dober Goofs perverted to include other breeds
Date: 5 Oct 92 18:33:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: ulkyvx.1992Oct5.143329.1
Organization: University of Louisville

In article <1992Oct3.000456.29998@terminator.cc.umich.edu>, vln@icpsr.umich.edu (Victoria Neff) writes:
>>Ok, I think I understand why the 1st dog NQ'd - surely he was aware that he
>>hadn't retrieved the dumbbell?  Maybe he was just protesting AKC regulation
>>jump heights for large breeds!
> 
> Actually, there's no retrieve over the bar, but failing to jump is a 
> problem....  Perhaps if he'd jumped and THEN retrieved the bar....

Oops, right.  I realized my error as soon as I signed off!  Having only
stewarded Utility and never actually having shown there, sometimes it's a
little fuzzy to me!

I agree though, jumping and then retrieving the bar seems fine to me!

> 
>>But the Basset clearly meant to retrieve the glove; and anyway, those 
>>big old ears are probably hard to keep track of, always draggin' on the floor. 
>>I'd pass him.  Does the AKC cover this contingency in their Rules &
>>Regulations? :-)
>>
> 
> This counts as failure to retrieve the glove, I'm afraid.....  :-)

So sad...isn't it the thought that counts?  ("Uh gosh, I thought I brought you
the glove, mom.")

 
Holly
From: rhh@alice.att.com (r hardin)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Pet Population Legislation
Date: 6 Oct 92 23:49:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.23826
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill NJ



Marsha Boggs writes:
>>Those that were strays, drop-offs, wandered around until somebody
>>took them in, or until they got run over.  Have you noticed that
>>you almost never see a run-over dog nowadays?  Lots of raccoons,
>>no dogs.
>Come to New Mexico there are stray un-neutered dogs all over the place.
>And dead dogs along side the road all the time...

That's a good sign - not that running over dogs is good, but that
they let dogs run.

That means they likely understand what a dog is, how it has
a sense of neighborhood, how it fits in.
From: kathleen.brewer@cutting.hou.tx.us (Kathleen Brewer) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Tracking
Date: 28 Sep 92 08:51:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Cutting Edge - Houston, TX - 713-466-1525
Reply-To: kathleen.brewer@cutting.hou.tx.us (Kathleen Brewer) 

TO: jon@cs.utexas.edu


JB>I've recently moved from Louisiana to Austin Texas and I've shyed away from
JB>tracking because I have a green dog that's never tracked before... how do I
JB>use food to motivate it when there's a fire ant problem?  By the time the do
JB>gets to the treats, fire ants are all over it.  If you're going to tell me t
JB>use a drag, what do I put in it?

There is a man in Kerrville ( Just a hop, skip and a jump from Austin)
that runs a herding and tracking facillity. I have heard that he is
excellent and people come from all over to train with him. I can't for
the life of me remember his name. But if you get in touch with Austin
Kennel Club I am sure they can help you.
Their Corresponding Secretarys address is: Lorraine Adams
                                           2101 Red Stone Lane
                                           Austin, Texas 78727-4348

Hope this helps!
Kathleen.Brewer@cutting.hou.tx.us
---
 . OLX 2.1 . Unable to locate Coffee -- Operator Halted!
From: berlind@acsu.buffalo.edu (heike berlind)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Dog is totally stiff
Keywords: arthritis, stiff from diarhea
Date: 28 Sep 92 20:39:13 GMT
Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo/Comp Sci

I was wondering what a dog's regular temperature is?  I think I heard it is
between 100.5 - 101 F.  Is that right?  I took his temperature yesterday  
and it was 103.7 F. The vet told us that it is not that high and we should
keep on watching him.  Wotan is not that stiff anymore.  He only has
problems sitting down, but he runs around again. His diarrhea is gone but
his stools are still dark brown and he is still sleeping a lot -- he is
definitely not as energetic as he used to be before all this started.
We are right now in the process of finding a different vet, too.
Heike
From: krattige@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kim Krattiger)
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 19:42:13 GMT
Subject: Re: Posting Pictures of our dogs!
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs

I'm sure there are a lot of people who would like this idea,however....
I was reading rec.equestrian and someone posted 2 gif files to the net.
I don't think the 'guardians' of the net were very happy.  gif files are
usually very big and clog up the net.  In one of the responses, someone 
mentions putting the gif files in a specific group, something to do with
binaries, like alt.binaries, or such.  Then just post where the people
can get the gif files.  

Just a helpful hint from another newsgroup.