HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: betsy@rainbow.uchicago.edu (Betsy Weatherhead)
Subject: Re: dominance (was Re: Strange puppy behavior)
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 21:28:34 GMT

Susan told us about a dachshund whose owner lets him get away with being
the dominant creature in the house.  Of course this led to problems, and
I agree with everything Susan said, but I'd like to answer the following
question:

>There is talk of giving it away, but who would want to adopt such a problem?

These sorts of dogs very often respond completely differently to a new
owner.  Put this little tyke in a new home, and he'll probably be submissive
for the first day or two.  Then, he'll probably test the waters.  If the
owner has any experience with dominance problems, the little guy will be
pulled into line immediately.  I've taken care of and trained dogs whose
owners don't want to assume alpha position.  Very often, there is little 
or no problem.  OK, I ran into one that even I gave up on, but I'm not a
professional, just a dog-loving friend.

All I'm saying is that yes, the dog's owner is the problem, as was pointed
out clearly.  But no, the dog is not necessarily a lost cause.

-- 
                              O             betsy@rainbow.uchicago.edu
_          __                  \            
  \      /    \       -- >      O           E. C. Weatherhead
   \ __ /      \ __ /          /            5734 S. Ellis  Chicago, 60637
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca (Valaria Vorlop)
Subject: Re: Need Thoughts on getting second dog
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 22:29:27 GMT

Re: Getting a second dog.

The main thing I have noticed is that it is much easier to have two dogs if
they have similar exercise requirements, particularly if you have an unfenced
yard, a tiny yard or NO yard (like me!) A dog that needs to walk for a hour
and a dog that can only walk for a short time or is a lot smaller than the
first dog will make more work since you may need to exercise them seperately.


--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   ********************************************
Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca   *For YEARS I wondered what ceiling wax was.*
or:      a4080@mindlink.bc.ca   ********************************************
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                        *******
From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: puppy mills
Date: 13 Jan 1993 01:42:09 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.msen.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

Cindy Tittle Moore (tittle@ics.uci.edu) wrote:

: I should have been more specific.  As I understand it, the more the
: average weight of a breed is, the more likely there is trouble with
: HD.  But there are, as you point out, plenty of smaller breeds with
: problems.

: --Cindy

This is often due to fast growth rates.  It is exacerbated when people
think that their puppy should weigh more.  Most of these breeds do better
with regular consistent excercise to build muscle mass and maintaining a
slower weight gain.  In fact, some guide dog organizations watch their
pups closely and if they see questionable signs, have the foster family
take the dog for more on leash walks where the pup is encouraged to lean
into the leash a bit more.  

For anyone seeking more information on HD, there is a good book, Canine Hip
Dysplasia by Fred Lanting from Alpine Publications.

Karen
From: jdietz@natinst.com (Jennifer Dietz)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: What Breed is this?
Date: 7 Jan 1993 15:11:05 -0600
Organization: National Instruments, Austin, TX
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: eagle.natinst.com




In may we adopted our second dog.  Our vet's office was in on the
rescue and claimed that the mother looked to be a GSD/Mal mix.  
There must be other variations to her parentage, though, because
it looks like she'll be in the 40-50lb (or less) range when full-grown.

She is a *very* pack-oriented dog.  Much more so than our other
(another mutt, mostly Border Collie).  She is very submissive to
people, but *loves* to pick on the other dog when she's feeling
foolish (being laughed at :) or losing a game with the humans.  I
guess she reminds me alot of a bully in that respect.

The one trait I'd love to know where she gets, though, comes out
during rough play.  The hair on her back (mostly neck and shoulders)
stands straight up, like a cat!  My folks are here visiting and are
swearing up and down that she *must* have coyote in her!  I'd love
to have some other options available for them to think about....

So, what breeds have hair that raises like a cat's (or a coyote's :)?

email is preferred.  my news may expire too quickly....  thanks!

-jenn

From: cressler@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com (Scott Cressler)
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 17:07:36 GMT
Subject: Basset Bites Boy!
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs

Has anyone had to deal with a dog which is aggressive only toward
small children?  We have two Basset Hounds which we have had since
pups for about 5 1/2 years.  We also now have a 14 month old son.
The female, Truffle, has shown herself over the last couple years
to dislike children.  The last case was when she bit my son, slightly
breaking the skin on the side of his head. She is now in a muzzle
when she is inside and he is on the floor.

Our vet has recommended two in-home trainers and I'm not sure what
to do.  One is a trainer from Sirius Puppy Training, Doug Hofsteder.
Their training is "lure/reward" training, according to him, as opposed
to choke train training.  Our dogs have been through extensive choke
chain training at the Saratoga School for Dogs.  In reading some 
articles from a Dr. Ian Dunbar given to me by the Sirius guy, this 
type of training relationship with the dog and the lack of appropriate
dog/child socialization may have taught the dog this behavior.

The other trainer recommended was Bay Area Dog Training, Mike something.
Their training is more the choke chain type, although Mike said 
treatment of this problem would involve some food rewarding to get the
dog to think positively of the child.  Mike was clear, though, that he
could make the dog safer but could not guarantee that if the child fell
on the dog some time she wouldn't bite him.  The Sirius guy made no
such statement.  Doug said he had no doubt we could change her behavior.

What I'm looking for is people who have had this problem and have 
successfully (or unsuccessfully) solved it.  I don't really need more
theory or book learning, although I would accept anything you know 
about these two training companies and methods.  But I really need to
know how people have solved these problems.  Has anyone done this?

Thanks for any help.  Although I think the muzzle solution is safe for
the child, it seems to make the dog fairly miserable.  So if we can't
solve the problem, we may have to try to find a childless home for 
Truffle.  She is really the most sweet, personality-filled dog with 
anyone but small children and some dogs.

Scott.
From: cole@unix.SRI.COM (Susan Cole)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Why do dogs protect?
Date: 9 Jan 93 02:42:00 GMT
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, California

All this talk about protection, aggression, and dominance has stirred
up a question in me -- why do (some) dogs protect their owners?

I know some dogs have undesirable traits that are interpreted as "being
protective".  For example, dogs that are allowed to be overly dominant, to
the extent of being boss in their own homes, will often be aggressive to
outsiders.  They are bad news because they push their owners around, and
are liable to growl and bite even their family, to enforce their own authority.

And fearful dogs may look "protective" as they bark in alarm, but any
"protecting" they do is incidental -- they are mostly interested in
protecting themselves and are liable to bite inappropriately, out of fear.
In a pinch (this has happened to me) they will run away or turn to their
owner to protect them!

So what motivates a stable, well-socialized dog to protect its owner?

The reason that springs first to my mind is that the dog is protecting "its
pack".  Is there some ancient instinct that causes a dog to recognize when a
pack member, is in battle, and to come to its aid even if the pack member
is more dominant?  I am really curious about this.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Subject: Re: Dogs and Personal Security (WAS: Re: Getting a dog (A sad story))
Reply-To: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501
Date: 11 Jan 93 21:06:26 GMT

David_Austin@ncsu.edu writes:
> by investing more up front, one can save a great deal in the long run
> (thousands on later vet bills

True.  Investment in a vet exam has been demonstrated to save later
bills.  As has investment in vaccinations, nutritious food, clean
feeding conditions, safe living areas, training, socialization.

> Wonderful dogs can be found at animal shelters, but the risk of 
> getting one with health and temperament problems is much higher

How much higher?  How did you measure it?

> information about the dogs is typically very limited.

We're getting more dogs released by owner than strays these days.
Information about them typically includes the vet name, and through
him, the dog's complete medical records.  The vet exam (we recommend
one regardless) provides more information.

-- Jon
--
Jon Krueger  jpk@ingres.com
From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Dealing with Chewing?
Date: 6 Jan 93 23:32:20 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.msen.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

LS45 (LS45@UNB.CA) wrote:
: I, too, have been wondering about anti-chew methods.  Jasper, 7 month
: old Newfie cross, has his own room which he has decided to redecorate.
: We've tried Bitter Apple, which worked until he changed his mind about
: the taste and now likes it.  Since then we've tried hot sauce, mustard,
: soap (which he thought was wonderful), and black pepper.  None of these
: stopped the Mouth for long.  We even tried Vick's VapoRub, (desperation)
: which did work until the smell wore off, but he just moved onto other
: bigger and better things
: (such as the floor, which would be horrible to put Vick's on).  He has
: toys, such as Gummabone, Budabone, Nylabone, etc. all of which he enjoys
: as well.  He only does this when he is alone, and we haven't been able
: to catch him at it.
: Thanks for any and all advice,
: DMS

If you want to try some new taste sensations on the pup, you might try a
tack shop or farm supply store.  There are a number of products designed
to stop horses from cribbing (hooking teeth on something and sucking air)
and wood chewing.  I find them much more objectionable than Bitter Apple.
Just don't get one of the few types designed for fencing, as some of these
contain stain.  

I'd crate or kennel him while he is unsupervised.  A chewing dog can get
into a lot of trouble. 

Karen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: kudzu@netcom.com (Michael Sierchio)
Subject: Re: Electronic collar info needed
Organization: True Love, and Home-Grown Tomatoes
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 18:51:52 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.020532.29368@unet.net.com> 
	philg@bozo.net.com (Phil Geller) writes:

>I have the 3 button model (200A?), which is probably more than I needed.
>It has variable strength shocks, and a good-dog tone which doesn't
>do much.

It doesn't do anything if you don't -- you must train the dog to
associate the tone with some other reward, like praise, food, etc.  The
'reward tone' comes first, then a reward the dog already knows.
Eventually the tone becomes the primary reward.

Understanding such things really helps make effective use of electronic
collars -- they are easily misused.  
-- 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Michael Sierchio                          1563 Solano Avenue, Suite 123 |
|  kudzu@netcom.com                                Berkeley, CA 94707-2116 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore)
Subject: Re: Goldens as protection?
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Reply-To: tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore)
Organization: ICS Dept., UC Irvine
Date: 7 Jan 93 18:07:02 GMT

In <16B4F7CAA.CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu> CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes) writes:

>In article <2B4BAA64.21342@ics.uci.edu>
>   tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore) writes:
>>
>>Hm, neither labs nor goldens are suitable protective dogs.
>>Perhaps the police are just thinking that a large dog in general will
>>deter a thief.  But they are *NOT* good protective dogs...
>>as especially illustrated by the following description:
>
>Cindy and I have disagreed on this in the past, and we will continue to
>disagree.  While it's true that both Goldens and Labs as a rule are
>very friendly, good natured dogs, most of them will still tend to be
>fairly protective of their turf.

Yes, we do disagree.  You described your dogs actions -- actions that
I have not observed in the Labradors that I know.  There *is*
considerable individual variation in any breed, and I have no doubt
that you could find a Labrador that would make a great Schutzhund dog.
This does not mean, however, that any Labrador at random will make a
good protection dog.  If a protective dog is what you want, the odds
of getting one are much better if you pick out a Doberman or a
Rottweiler, for example.

I would not say "most."  I would say "some can be."

--Cindy


--
Cindy Tittle Moore

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

The rec.pets.dogs FAQ -- all ten 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...
Xref: sparky rec.pets.dogs:15688 news.answers:4917
From: Desiree_Bradley@mindlink.bc.ca (Desiree Bradley)
Subject: Landlord discrimination
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 19:37:25 GMT

There are a few messages in usenet.rec.pets.dogs about landlord
discrimination against pets.  I reposted one of the messages into this group.

Desiree Bradley
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: shedevil@leland.Stanford.EDU (Anne P. Mitchell, JD)
Subject: Re: Dealing with Chewing?
Reply-To: shedevil@gw.home.vix.com (Anne P. Mitchell, J.D.)
Organization: Fathers Rights & Equality Exchange
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 08:21:21 GMT

In a recent missive ELAINE_GALLEGOS@f703.n202.z1.fidonet.org tells us:
>  Yikes!  Distructive chewing can sure be a heartbreaking problem.
>Does Nika sneak away from you while you are home but not watching you
>to distroy things?  If she is chewing while you are out, this is a
>Much easier problem to deal with- never leave her alone in the house. 
>Get a good sturdy dog run for her to chill her heels in while you are
>out.
>  What breed is Nika?  What is her story?  Some people say distructive
>chewing is connected with separation anxiety.  I tend not to believe
>that for the most part.  I thing it is the sheer dog joy of tearing
>things apart.


I agree with you...I'd be surprised if it is separation anxiety...for
one thing she has more human contact now than she ever did before we got
her [which was about 3 weeks ago]...also her new very bestest friend in
the whole wide world, Tazi, and she are always together...so she has
companionship [and also therefore I doubt she is bored].  ACtually, Tazi
seems to have discovered the joys of chewing as well, thanks to Nika.
:-X

She chews whenever...both while we are away, and when someone is here.

Nika is a LabKita. :-)


From: robins@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Robin Scheiderer)
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 21:33:01 GMT
Subject: Re: Dalmations
Organization: HP Intelligent Networks Operation
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs

|	1) ...they are very high strung, hyper dogs.
|	2) ...very clumsy. (not necessarily negative)
|	3) ...they are unintelligent and very difficult to train.

|I have also heard that they are very lovable.  Whats the real story?
----------

1) My black spotted, 1.5 yr male dal is high energy, but mellow
temprament. That means he sleeps all day, but loves to go for walks
and run (with doggy buddys) in the park.

They do require exercise, and will take as much as you can give.

2) He is like a rubber band when playing, either with humans or other
dogs. He does slides, flips, jumps, ... when he plays. He keeps up with
us on walks, hikes, and runs. He has a ball playing with his best-buddy
(a 2 yr husky). They get to play together sat and sun mornings.
Clumsy is not in his vocabulary.

3) He is smart. He is also difficult to train. Dal's were breed to run
alongside carrages and protect property. So they needed intellegence. So
they (mine) is smart enough to know what he wants. I just have to let
him think what I want is what he wants.

4) Yes, very lovable. Loves to meet people. The Recognition factor is
high these days because of the movie. Kids and Adults stop us to meet him. 
I can start a riot by walking by the elementary school if the kids are 
on the playground. (I did once, but now try to avoid the school if kids
are out).

Oh I could just go on and on. :)

your milage will vary - check out the puppy's parents!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: smm1@troy.cc.bellcore.com (michelson,steven)
Subject: Re: Dalmations
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 93 21:31:34 GMT

In article <9301032124.AA2191@f723.n202.z1.fidonet.org> ELAINE_GALLEGOS@f703.n202.z1.fidonet.org writes:
>  I read through the answers you got about getting a Dalmatian. There
>appeared to be several plusses and minuses.  One fact that our pals
>here failed to mention to you is that there is a hight incidence of
>genetic deafness in Dalmatians.  
>
>  Oh, yes, lately I had heard that they can be nippy and overly
>aggressive.

This is probably due to the fact that, since Dalmatians are currently
"in" dogs, it is easy to sell them, since the demand is so high. This
leads to people breeding the dogs purely for money, regardless of whether
the temperament, health, and conformance of the parents is good. These
are the so-called "backyard breeders" that you need to be careful with, if
you choose to buy one of their pups. 


-- 
_______________________________________________________________________________
Steve Michelson                |  A dog teaches a boy three important life
Bell Communications Research   |  lessons: be loyal, be obedient, and rotate 
smm1@cc.bellcore.com           |  three times before you lie down. 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: eufnlasn@ux1.lbl.gov (elizabeth finlayson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Good News comes in Small Package (was a Sad Story)
Date: 8 Jan 1993 22:22:17 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Reply-To: eufnlasn@ux1.lbl.gov (elizabeth finlayson)
NNTP-Posting-Host: ux1.lbl.gov

Follow up to the Burgler/Basset Hound killer.

Thank you all who sent kind words.  I passed them on to
my sister and they went a long way towards convincing
her that everyone who does dog rescue work isn't off the
wall.  Unfortunately she got a bad first impression by 
knowing me, my dogs and my friends, oh well.

The good news is they decided to get another Basset Hound.
A 4.5 month old puppy, breed for personality, a little off 
in conformation.  They are happy and now only have the joys
and trial of puppy raising to worry about...well almost.
The puppy's presence has helped with the troubled people puppies
too.  The girls understand the screaming and violence scare the
puppy so they are being much more gentle.  

Thank you again for your support.

Elizabeth
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs

Greetings, all....

I want to recommend a wonderful book to you.  It's called *Chelsea, the Story
of a Signal Dog*.  It's written by a man (sorry, I cannot remember his name)
who is a professor at Fresno State Univ. in CA.  It's the utterly charming
story of his own attempts to adopt and train a dog to be his signal dog (he
is deaf) and then, years later, he goes on to get a CCI dog.  I found the
story fascinating not just because I just finished raising a CCI signal dog,
but also because it does a great job of helping you understand how the deaf
community functions in a hearing world, and how they perceive themselves.

I couldn't put it down.  In fact, I took it with me on some errands and was
reading it in public when I got to a tear-jerker part, and my tears starting
jerking right there in public.  Oh brother.....

The dog he got, by the way, is a Belgian Shepherd (or is it called Belgian
Sheepdog? my apologies)

Check it out. (literally.  I got it from my local library)


Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: seurer@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Bill Seurer)
Subject: Re: We should have listened...
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 19:58:24 GMT
Reply-To: BillSeurer@vnet.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM Rochester

In article <1993Jan11.170612.7188@pixel.kodak.com>, rhuls@liebnitz.ssd.kodak.com (Robbin Huls) writes:
|> >But, we really should have listened....
|> 
|> Yup, this happened once to me and once to my roommate.

And to my wife and I and our Keeshond, Misty.

She was just a pup and we had only had her a few months.  Late one evening
she was making weird growling and whining noises in our sunroom.  I looked
outside and didn't see anything.  The next morning when I went out to get 
the newspaper there were muddy footprints in the garden (it was spring)
there by the window and then leading away very widely spaced down our 
sidewalk and across the driveway.

I have never seen a dog as alert as Misty.  She knows from the engine
sounds nearly always when certain delivery people come or when one of us
comes home long before we hear it.

Besides being beautiful and wonderful pets I would recommend Keeshonds
as watch dogs any day.
-- 

- Bill Seurer     Language and Compiler Development      IBM Rochester, MN
  Internet: BillSeurer@vnet.ibm.com    America On-Line: BillSeurer@aol.com
From: dparker@pbs.org
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Weird habits
Date: 6 Jan 93 11:42:12 EST
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA

In article <C0CHIE.3K3@hsi.com>, hecht@hsi.com (Alice Hecht) writes:
> 
> Hi,
> Our 8 month old Boxer has always loved to walk around our bed touching the
> bed ruffle whenever he first wakes up or comes out of his cage.  It's quite
> amusing actually but we haven't been able to figure out why he does it.  I
> guess it just feels good to rub his back on the nice soft ruffles.  He also
> loves to roll around on the floor "scratching" his back after he eats.  He
> seems very happy when doing both of these weird habits and I was wondering
> if anyone else's dog does these things or something else equally bizarre.
> Walking around the 3 sides of the bed though to wake up sure does take the
> cake for orginality :-)


Our Boxer walks along the sides of the bed each morning.
He does it to wipe off his eye boogers.  And he rolls 
around on the floor after eating to wipe his face, but
he has to flip around onto his back to wipe off the top
of his nose which always seems loaded with his dinner.

He loves to tickle his back with the bottoms of tree
branches or anything else that he can walk under that 
will lightly touch his back.

But his funniest habit is when he comes to me for
attention and while I'm petting him, he shoves his
face in between the cushions on the couch until his
head is buried. He just stays that way until I'm
done petting him!  What a nut!

  --diana