HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mjohnson@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Marget Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: St. Bernards as Guard Dogs ???
Date: 13 Apr 92 15:57:05 GMT
Reply-To: mjohnson@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Marget Johnson)
Organization: Stakeholder Relations, NCR Corp in Dayton,OH

In article <122068@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> yourID@llnl.gov (Who Am I Really)
writes:
>I have disussed with two guard dog professionals, one from Phoenix and one 
>from Seattle, as to which breeds are best suited for and are used for 
>protection duty.  They both gave the same answer.  The number one breed of 
>choice by guard dog professionals was a german shepherd.  Second being a 
>Saint Bernard and third being a Doberman Pinscher.  The gsd had the best 
>overall trainability, agressiveness, and would protect both human and 
>property with its life.  The Doberman would not reliable confront an 
>attacker with a gun.  
>
>So if professionals use Saint Bernards I guess this would tend to say that 
>YES they can be good protective dogs also.


Although the German Shepherd Dog has replaced the Saint Bernard in Switzerland
as the preferred search & rescue dog, the correct Saint does NOT have a guard
dog temperament, in the same sense as a GSD, Rottweiler, etc used in police
work. A Saint taught to distrust or attack strangers would be a lethal weapon
indeed. No reputable breeder would ever promote such behavior in a Saint, and
no responsible person would want to own such a loose cannon, IMHO.
........................................................................
Marget Johnson
--
From: sch@gargoyle.unx.sas.com (Steve Holzworth)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: A tragic accident (biased statistics)
Date: 8 Apr 92 22:12:36 GMT
Article-I.D.: unx.1992Apr8.221236.7137
    <1992Apr8.144040.1447@sequent.com>
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Originator: sch@gargoyle.unx.sas.com
X-Bytes: 1709

In article <1992Apr8.144040.1447@sequent.com>, schalene@sequent.com writes:
>In article <ku0ledINNrt5@utkcs2.cs.utk.edu> primeaux@duncan.cs.utk.edu (David Primeaux) writes:
>>
>(tragic story of dog killing woman deleted)
>

stuff deleted

>>
>>	1.  most of the dogs that bite humans are chows or chow mixes
>>	    (and *not*, as one might be led to believe, pit bulls or 
>>	    dobermans)
>>
>I recently read (a magazine in my vet's office can't remember the
>name) that the AKC reports that most dog bites that are reported are
>from Cockers.  Which was distressing to us because we had a
>wonderfully even tempered Cocker for 11 years.
>

more stuff deleted

I imagine these "bite statistics" are based on total number of bites,
rather than the more accurate bites/N of breed (typically, per thousand).
Note that Cockers are one of the (if not THE) most popular breeds. Their
total number of bite incidents WOULD be higher than, say, Chinooks. The
same probably applies to the "Chow, or Chow-crosses" numbers. I've been
visiting the local SPCA weekly for about 5 months, looking for a companion
for my Golden (I'm not in any hurry). In my experience, damn near everything
in the pound is a Chow/Chow-cross (only a slight exaggeration). There are
an awful lot of black, or black-mottled tongues there :-).

I would be more interested in seeing the X bites per thousand of breed Y.
It will still be higher for puppymill-prone breeds.

An aside: I don't know if the bias is intentional, but the SPCA's "best
guess" for the parentage of the dogs they have seems to have a preponderance
of Lab, Shepherd, and Chow, even when the puppy/dog doesn't look ANYTHING
like the above.

Steve Holzworth
sch@unx.sas.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: pastor@prc.unisys.com (Jon Pastor)
Subject: Re: Thanks for all the "helpful" suggestions
Organization: not much...
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 16:34:02 GMT

Lynn-

I obviously didn't see the mail you got, but I did see the posts (and I posted
myself).  Everyone -- myself included -- drew the same inferences, and since
we're typically hostile only when provoked ;-) I think that it's fair to
assume that the responses were well-intended.

You have to realize that most of us hear too many stories about dogs (and
other animals) that are gotten without much thought, and then discarded when
they turn out to be too much trouble.  Your message didn't give us any
indication that you were, yourself, a dog-owner, or that you knew anything
about obtaining, raising, training, or caring for dogs.  If the name on the post
had been, say, Charlie Sorsby, or Bailey Brown, or Marla Belzowski (to pick a
few at random), most regular readers of r.p.d would have made the correct set
of assumptions, knowing as we do that these people are veteran dog-owners.  I
didn't recognize your name, and there was no information about you or your
friend in the post, so I (and, I suspect, the other people who responded to
you) opted to err on the side of caution.  No offense was intended, and none
should be taken.  It might help, in the future, to give more information so we
don't have to infer so much; your post sounded like the friend wanted a cute
toy that wouldn't be too much trouble, and that evidently turned on red 
warning lights for many, many readers.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: jag@iti.org (Jacqueline A. Giles)
Subject: Re: Seizure (Epilepsy ?)
Organization: Industrial Technology Institute
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 13:10:32 GMT

An 8 month old ridgeback bitch that I placed with my cousin had a
seizure this weekend at a dog show.  It was her first show and she
was REALLY over excited/over stimulated just prior to the short
seizure in which she flopped on the floor on her back and her paws
were going like she was running.  I was not close to the dog when it
happened but a lady at the scene recognized it as she had a dog that
did the same thing.  She explained that her dog used to get really
hyped up at a show.  She had the dog tested and found that a
combination of anemia and low blood sugar with the excited state of
the dog allowed the seizure to happen.  The dog was treated with
iron and Phenol barbitol until it grew out of the phase of getting
excited

My cousin told me the only other time it happened was at the first
confirmation class the RR puppy attended.  Now her puppy is ALWAYS
in an excited state, bouncing off the walls etc.  I think it needs
more discipline but that's another story.  She did take the puppy to
the vet the same day of the show.  Her vet told her he thought it
occured due to lack of circulation, that she strained so hard on her
choke collar that she caused herseld to faint.

Does this sound correct?  I think that any dog that chokes itself
into a seizure should be on some kind of calming medication such as
phenol barbitol.

comments, please

Jackie Giles

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: lynn@b15.b15.ingr.com (Lynn Lee)
Subject: Thanks for all the "helpful" suggestions
Organization: Intergraph, Huntsville AL
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 19:15:47 GMT

I posted recently and asked for suggestions on a child's pet for a friend.

What I got was a lot of mail saying that insinuated that by even asking
such a question, I obviously do not love dogs.

A little background here...

I have THREE dogs.  They are my life!!  I think about them when I am not
with them, I take them on walks, I brush them, I talk to them, I spend
hours with them, I take them to the vet, I hang pictures of them on my
wall both at home and at work, I talk about them constantly to anyone who
listens.  I have never been so insulted in my life!!!  I love all animals.
I am a member of PETA (People for the Ethical of Animals) and I do not
by products from companies that test on animals.

I joined this group because I wanted to discuss my love of dogs with other
dog-lovers.  I am currently exchanging mail with several pug-lovers (I
have two) and I don't think they would describe my mail as insensitive 
towards dogs.

I did not say "Does anyone know a dog that my friend can neglect and abuse?"
My friend is very excited about this dog.  She just wanted to make sure
it would do well with her child.  

A lot of people keep their dogs outside, including me (shock!!), my dogs
are friendly, loving, they do not bark and jump on people, and they are
not neglected.  I am an outdoorsy person and I spend an enormous amount
of time with my dogs.  I would appreciate it if people would stop sending
me mail about neglecting dogs.  I just don't appreciate being told that
keeping dogs outside is cruel.  I love my dogs and I would never do anything
to hurt them.  We live in a very small neighborhood in the country where
al lot of people have outdoor dogs.  If it gets too cold outside, I bring
my dogs inside.  My dogs scratch on the doors to go back out!!!  They like
for me to come out to see them.  And I do.  All of the time.

Thank you for your time.  I hope this changes some of the negative thoughts
about me!  I don't mean to get so upset, but to imply to a dog lover that she
is not a dog-lover is about as insulting as you can get.

I have told my friend about the work that goes into raising a dog.  She feels
that she is ready to meet this challenge.  All I wanted from my post was
suggestions, I did get some suggestions by the way.

Thanks again!  I look  forward to talking to you fellow dog-lovers soon!!


Lynn

P.S.  Someone actually suggested that she keep her dog in the house and crate
it!  Why would someone crate a dog when they have a large fenced-in back
yard? I think this is pretty cruel, but this a whole 'nother topic!  One that
has already been discussed and I don't want to start it up again!

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: crs@beta.lanl.gov (Charlie Sorsby)
Subject: Re: SKUNK! phewww
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 20:52:54 GMT

In article <22530@alice.att.com> rhh@alice.att.com (r hardin) writes:
= 
= 
= >Whats the best approach to removing skunk scent from my dog?  I've tried
= >tomato juice which helped, but should I try something else, or do I just
= >have to wait it out?
= 
= According to my book, it's the ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in tomato
= juice that does it.
= 
Judging by various suggestions (tomato juice, lemon juice, vinegar)
I suspect it is the acid that does it and it sounds as though any
dilute, weak, acid would more or less do it.  Vinegar is (mainly)
dilute acetic acid and tomato and lemon juice probably both have
(in various amounts) both ascorbic and citric acids.

Various acid substances (lemon juice, vinegar) are often recommended
to remove odors (onion, garlic, fish) from one's hands.

Incidentally, various forms of ascorbic acid (there are two
variants only one of which is vitamin C) are sold in powder and
fine-crystal form without all the stuff that holds the tablets
together.  I expect that citric acid is also available in similar
forms.  If you try it be sure to dilute it--a concentrated solution
of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in saliva is painful to the
tongue--yeah, I stupidly decided not to bother with the water one
day.  I suppose that would be true of the citric acid also.

The non-vitamin-C form of ascorbic acid is typically available in
the canning section of your supermarket.  I imagine citric acid
would be also.  But I expect white vinegar in water would be simplest.
Does anyone know if it's too strong straight from the bottle?

Just a thought...

Who volunteers to get their dog skunked repeatedly so we can see
which works best?  Now where can we obtain a bunch of
standard-stink skunks to make sure the trial is fair?  :)


-- 
Best,

Charlie "Older than dirt" Sorsby				"I'm the NRA!"
	  crs@lanl.gov
From: glenn@sloth.ncsl.nist.gov
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re:  Renter's/Homeowner's Insurance
Date: 16 Apr 92 18:43:33 GMT
Reply-To: glenn@sloth.ncsl.nist.gov
Organization: N.I.S.T
Posting-Front-End: Shinbun -- the OpenLook newsreader




In article <28924@brahms.udel.edu>,
	 thuyan@brahms.udel.edu says:

> I thought this was interesting.  I went to get renter's insurance today.
> 
> Oddly enough, he asked me what kind of dog I had.  He told me that they
> do not sell policies to people with Rotties, Dobermans, G.S. or Pit 
> Bulls.
> 
> I had never heard that before (Luckily, Sheba is only a husky- Bewar of
> Dog....she may lick you to death)
> 
> 
> Anyone else ever encounter this?
> 
> Thuy-An


Today I called to get a Homeowner's insurance quote and the agent asked my what kind
of dogs I owned.  I didn't bother to ask him why (by then he had asked me dozens
of questions and I was just rattling off the answers), but when he mentioned
the adjustments to the policy, the dogs weren't mentioned so I assume that they
were looking for specific types of dogs.  Schipperke's and Husky's aren't on there
hit list I guess (although I would think twice before entering a house if I knew
there was a Schip in it!!!  They can be tough and persistent if they're territory
is invaded).

Rob G.
glenn@sloth.ncsl.nist.gov
From: geschwent@vax.muskingum.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: seen the Carl books yet?
Date: 15 Apr 92 16:03:30 GMT
Organization: Muskingum College

The other reviews reminded me--has everyone checked out the "Carl" books?

They're children's books, and each just has one or two sentences--one in the
beginning, and one in the end. I don't want to write more because it could
spoil them for you. They're absolutely charming, and worth
going to a bookstore just to check them out! . . . And I don't even have a
Rottie!

-- 
P.K.
Geschwent@vax.muskingum.edu
From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: MY DOGS STINK!
Date: 9 Apr 92 01:46:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.44553
Organization: Purdue University

In article <49322@athertn.Atherton.COM> caroline@athertn.Atherton.COM (Caroline Shuttle) writes:
>I have two lab/Shepard mixes both neutered males.  I give them baths once 
>a month because they stink so much.  I also at the same time wash their
>comforters.  Is it the food making them smell so bad?  Or is it because
>they play so much in the back yard?  Is there anything I can give them to
>make them smell less?  I use the coal tar type shampoo which seems to work
>for a short while.
>
>Caroline
>caroline@atherton.com                        


What kind of food are you using?  I know that sometimes Iams gives dogs
a "fishy" smell.  I use diluted Head & Shoulders to give my two hair balls
a good bath.  It takes care of the smell (even when they go galloping
through our pond/bog our back and come home looking like two belgian
sheepdogs instead of collies).  If they are rolling in stuff in the
back yard, you will probably need to give them baths more often.
Also, if you brush out all the dead hair, this should help.  
You could also stuff their conforters with ceder chips which
really smell nice.  Garlic may also help some, but I don't know
for sure if it always does.

Hope this helps some...

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Marle Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowulf (1leg CD) CGC TDI CERF  tri-color collies
From: janew@woobaby.EBay.Sun.COM (Jane Woo)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Renter's/Homeowner's Insurance
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:14:13 GMT
Reply-To: janew@woobaby.EBay.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: woobaby.ebay.sun.com


Haven't run into that problem yet...  But I have heard of it.  I think
it depends on the company and their policies.  I have heard that if
you own a GSD, doberman, or a rottie, that some policy prices goes down.

With all the bad press lately.... I'm sure it's currently the opposite and
as you see it.  It's too bad.  Even us "responsible" owners are getting
dinged for the irresponsibility of others and the need for a dog for
"protection".  It's now a liability to own a pet as you have noticed all
the email centered around who's got what rights.

Oh well....  I'll never give up having a pooch!!
-jane

In article 28924@brahms.udel.edu, thuyan@brahms.udel.edu (Thuy-An Hartman) writes:
> I thought this was interesting.  I went to get renter's insurance today.
> 
> Oddly enough, he asked me what kind of dog I had.  He told me that they
> do not sell policies to people with Rotties, Dobermans, G.S. or Pit 
> Bulls.
> 
> I had never heard that before (Luckily, Sheba is only a husky- Bewar of
> Dog....she may lick you to death)
> 
> 
> Anyone else ever encounter this?
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: bbrown@b11.ingr.com (Bailey Brown)
Subject: Re: Vicious dog definition
Keywords: vicious
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 13:07:49 GMT

bradav@auto-trol.com (Brad Davidson) writes:


>In Colorado the first aggression proven in court is enough to be labeled
>a vicious dog.  This means that the owner must inform anyone that
>comes in contact with the dog that it is a registered vicious animal.
>Vets, kennels, groomers, etc can then deny services for the dog.
>If the dog is found at large it can be destoried without cause.

>The second aggression proven in court is it, the dog must be put down.

The Colorado vicious dog law got an unfavorable review in Dog World as
being to broad.  The article contained an account of a barking lab who
was shot to death by the Denver police because he was preventing a
a utility employ from gaining access to the power box.  The court decided
that the policeman's actions were justified under the law.

>Not a lawyer but do lots of dealings with a lawyer practicing Animal Law
>Brad Davidson

------------
Bailey Brown                               "Above all else, confusion reigns."
Intergraph Corporation                                  
bbrown@casca.b11.ingr.com                              Procol Harum
From: vojak@icemaker.stortek.com (Bill Vojak)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: lonely dogs
Date: 16 Apr 92 14:52:06 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Storage Technology Corp.

clip@rcorsa.UUCP (The mailman) writes:

> i have an apso who often growls at his toys, and tear them apart. we have
> been told, [and it does seem to be the case] that he vents his anger and 
> frustrations at these toys instead of taking it out on us [thank god!].

> i don't know what the solution is, or if there is one, but it would seem to
> me that your dog may just have had enough of being left alone for long
> periods of time. dogs, like people have emotions, and maybe they build
> up to a point where they just "go nuts".

> maybe the solution is a brisk run in the morning so that he feels like 
> resting during the day. but i imagine that it must be rough to be full of
> energy in the morning just to be left alone all day in a small enclosure.

> i don't know if there is any solution for this situation once a dog gets
> fed up [in my opinion], but working 8 hour days definitely seems
> to be one of the constraints of modern life that many of us cannot avoid.


 Katie our Lab use to meet us at the door, and proceed to cry
for five minutes when we came home.  She was very lonely.  Our
solution was to get her a sister, Peanut, who is a springer mix.
They still get into some trouble at times, but Katies' mental
health is alot better since she now has someone to keep her company
all day.  Actually having two dogs is almost easier than having
just one.  They keep each other entertained, and when we go
outside, they get more exercise chasing each other, than Katie
ever got just playing with me.


                                Bill Vojak
                                Bill_Vojak@stortek.com
                                NRA, ILA, CFC

---------------------------------------------------------
The CBS Nightly Propaganda With Dan Rather. (RATHER NOT!)
---------------------------------------------------------
Just say no to Wirth, Schroder & Skaggs in 92'
From: riacmt@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Carol Miller-Tutzauer)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Chewing books (was Re: Strange eating habits)
Date: 17 Apr 92 03:29:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <cpp+vg@engin.umich.edu>, richie@cancan.engin.umich.edu (Staney Dharmakusuma) writes...
  > 
  >I had a similar situation before. (I won't call this a problem). 
  >When one of my Sheltie was still a puppy, he liked to chew (and eat)
  >some tissue (he pulled it out of the tissue box), and some books also.

A funny thing about chewing books and my GSD puppy (when he
was really puppy-size, and not adolescent size like he is now):

My book The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete
has the corner chewed.  Guess who did it?  Yep, the pup.  I have
this feeling I'll look back at that book one day when MacGyver
is old and feeble and on his last legs.  I'll remember that
little fuzz-ball we brought home who just had to save Mom &
Dad from the Evil-Monster-Book!

Carol
riacmt@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
From: emm@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (ellen.m.mcsorley)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: outdoor dogs and barking
Date: 17 Apr 92 13:15:25 GMT
Organization: AT&T

During the day my two Newfoundlands stay in their
outdoor pens (10 x 20 feet) while we are at work.
When we are home they are getting under our feet
in the house or playing in the fenced in back yard
together.

I have noticed that my older dog will give a "WOOF!"
when she sees another dog and person walking down
the street, or a kid on a skateboard, or some other
noisey curiosity.  She barks through one side of the
fence then runs around the house to get to the other
side and barks there.  This is about the only time
she barks.  I'm sure if she was loose in the back yard
all day she'd drive my neighbors nuts.

I think our success during the day stems from the pens
being in the far back yard away from the street traffic.

Some other neighbors (who I don't think deserve to have
dogs, but that is another story) have three dogs, a collie,
a husky and an english sheepdog, who are loose in their fenced
back yard and ALL they do ALL day is run in circles barking
at EVERYTHING!  VERY LUCKILY their barking doesn't impress
my dogs and they don't bark back.

Hmm, my paragraphs don't flow together real well, but I'm
just putting in my 2 cents about outdoor dogs and barking.

Ellen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
From: davids@c3.lanl.gov (David Simmons)
Subject: Re: Is popcorn o.k. to give to a puppy?
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 14:12:03 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.203626.23829@usenet.ins.cwru.edu>, cxr5@po.CWRU.Edu (Cyndee Richards) writes:
|> 
|> My terrier mix, Skumm (blame my ex), was practically raised on popcorn.
|> My ex was a fiend for it and Skumm learned early on how to catch with it.
|> She now catches almost anything (but especially food) we throw for her
|> (except a frisbee).  She still loves the stuff.
|> 
|> Topaz is also being given popcorn on occasion, but not as often since I
|> am divorced now (Topie is 9 mos old).
|> 
|> I never, EVER, however feed my 7 year old Popcorn to the dogs.
|> 
I hope you don't feed your 7 year old popcorn to your houseguests either! ;-)
-- 


David G. Simmons
davids@lanl.gov

************************************************************
*							   *
*			JESUS SAVES!			   *
*      	      and Esposito gets the rebound!		   *
*		(Billboard, Boston, MA 1973)		   * 
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"Any resemblance to real opinions is purely coincidental"