LEGEND My Dog ROCKS!

[Londoner]

There’s been a lot of discussion about this in the UK today:

American bully XL dogs: Girl hurt in attack wants breed banned

Ana Paun says she was terrified when she and two men who tried to help her were mauled by a dog.

www.bbc.co.uk

Is it simply a case of “there are no bad dogs, only bad owners” or has targeted breeding led to overly aggressive breeds?

 

[snackdaddy]

Chihuahuas are usually very protective around their humans... even super aggressive.

When you were with the dog away from the owners... he was fine. Then, the switch kicked on when his humans were added to the mix. Hopefully that's all it was.

You did all you could by taking him back to his owners. Sounds like the dog is confused about the move and is just trying to go back to the place he thought was his permanent home.

He definitely did not want to go in the house. I kinda expected someone to be overjoyed and thankful his dog was back home. He didn't show any emotion. If anything, he seemed a little irritated the way he pushed the dog across the floor because the dog did not want to go in.

If it was me I woulda been happy and showing my appreciation. I got the impression he could care less. I don't know about the girl who picked him up and went to another room. But that guy gave me bad vibes about the way the dog is treated.

Apparently the dog does run away. His tag said "Friendly escape artist". And the first woman told me he finds his way back to her home. If the dog shows up back around here again and I see him, I'm sure he will remember me and come to me. And I would have to do some serious thinking about what to do. He has to cross railroad tracks with trains going through every day and a busy road that leads out of town. They need to do a better job of keeping him safe. They had a little chihuahua roaming the yard with no barrier to keep him from getting out.

 

[Selassie I]

He definitely did not want to go in the house. I kinda expected someone to be overjoyed and thankful his dog was back home. He didn't show any emotion. If anything, he seemed a little irritated the way he pushed the dog across the floor because the dog did not want to go in.

If it was me I woulda been happy and showing my appreciation. I got the impression he could care less. I don't know about the girl who picked him up and went to another room. But that guy gave me bad vibes about the way the dog is treated.

Apparently the dog does run away. His tag said "Friendly escape artist". And the first woman told me he finds his way back to her home. If the dog shows up back around here again and I see him, I'm sure he will remember me and come to me. And I would have to do some serious thinking about what to do. He has to cross railroad tracks with trains going through every day and a busy road that leads out of town. They need to do a better job of keeping him safe. They had a little chihuahua roaming the yard with no barrier to keep him from getting out.

Well... in the future, if you need me to erase these last 2 posts of yours so you can make sure there's no paper trail just let me know.

 

[snackdaddy]

Well... in the future, if you need me to erase these last 2 posts of yours so you can make sure there's no paper trail just let me know.

I might have to take you up on that.

 

[Memento]

There’s been a lot of discussion about this in the UK today:

American bully XL dogs: Girl hurt in attack wants breed banned

Ana Paun says she was terrified when she and two men who tried to help her were mauled by a dog.

www.bbc.co.uk

Is it simply a case of “there are no bad dogs, only bad owners” or has targeted breeding led to overly aggressive breeds?

My sister has an American bully named Kyah, and she is honestly the sweetest, most neurotic dog I've ever met. She's fantastic around kids, around other pets (dogs and cats alike), around everyone. I can honestly say she would not hurt an ant if she could help it.

Meanwhile, my grandparents (fantastic animal owners) owned the meanest cat I think I've ever seen. Her name was Tigger, for whatever reason, and she was less friendly than Jason Vorhees post-resurrection. She hated everyone, even my mom and me, who are normally very good with animals.

Honestly...yes, it depends on the owner, but it also depends on the temperament of the animal itself. Dogs and cats - and honestly, any animal, for that matter - respond to the owners, but they also have unique personalities of their own, no matter the breed.

 

[Londoner]

Thanks for your response, Memento.

One of the arguments being put forward here is that these dogs may individually be sweet but are inherently aggressive due to their breeding and, consequently, could snap at any time- no matter how good their upbringing may have been.

Any opinions?

 

[RhodyRams]

I have owned pitties for over 35 years now... and can honestly say they are very protective of their territory, but with proper training they are great dogs

 

[snackdaddy]

There was a time when pitties were called nanny dogs because they're so great with children. No one was concerned they would just snap and attack family members. I don't believe a pittie who has been loving and affectionate would just snap and attack someone out of the blue. Aggressive pits are made aggressive by humans. So are other breeds. I'm not defending them because I've owned pits. I've never had one. I just see these guys walking around with tank tops and a big mean dog thinking it looks cool.

 

[snackdaddy]

This little guy has been wandering around the area for a few days. He wouldn't come to anyone. I was with my sheltie Roadie at our little dog park. I sat on the bench just talking nice to him. After about 5 minutes of him wanting to get closer, he finally came up to me and put his paws on my knees. He let me pick him up. I carried him home and checked the local lost pets sites to see if anyone was looking for him. Nothing on those sites.

I posted on the local nextdoor site about a found dog. No replies. I know I can't keep him even though he seems like friendly little guy. We suspect he may have been abandoned. So I contacted a local rescue organization called New Beginnings. I was able to take him yesterday morning to get him vaccinated and checked out by a vet. They checked for a chip and no chip. He weighs 12 pounds and estimated to be two years old.

I'm taking him tomorrow for transport to an out of town foster. New Beginnings has been great getting that all set up for this little guy. I've had him for a couple weeks. He seems to have bonded with me. I wish I could keep him but that is too many dogs for us. I'm gonna miss the little guy.

 

[snackdaddy]

Well, little Simba is on his way to Washington state. We named him that because the grandkids started calling him that name. He started to respond to it so it stuck.

They tell me when he gets there, he'll be at a no kill shelter for two or three days while they set him up with a foster. From there he'll be in training to be a good house dog. Then up for adoption. They vet the potential adopters. He should have a nice future in a loving home.

It wasn't easy to say goodbye. He really stole our hearts with his affection. He just wanted to be a lap dog when he was with us. He would jump on the couch next to me while I was on the laptop and just lay by my side. He felt safe. Hopefully his new family will let him be that kind of dog. He deserves the best.

 

[snackdaddy]

We live in a senior 55 and over mobile home park. This place seems to be a favorite place for people to abandon their unwanted dogs. They know there are a lot of dog lovers here I guess.

After sending Simba with a rescue today, when I drove through the gate on the way back home there was another little dog running around. He disappeared in someone's yard. I think I'll inform the manager about New Beginnings and maybe she can put a notice in the monthly letter about them. She told me she's noticed more strays around here lately. New Beginnings told me I can contact them anytime I find a stray and they will help.

 

[snackdaddy]

Well, looks like we're going though it again. Roadie has been sick lately. Took her to vet. Then the bad news. She's in end stage kidney failure. Untreatable. I asked the vet if she had weeks or months left. He said more like days. He said she won't be in pain but at some point she'll be incontinent and we'll be cleaning up a mess. She's 12 years old now.

I decided to bring her home. We've got her soft bed and warm blanket. I'll put her on the couch next to me. She likes that. We're gonna just keep her comfortable and be there for her to the end. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort. She sleeps most the day.

We still have our two chihuahuas Heidi and Henry. I don't think I'll be having another dog for a while. Losing Guapo took a lot out of me. Now its Roadie.

We basically rescued Roadie because after her divorce our daughter couldn't care for her. She was planning and taking her to the pound. I couldn't see that happening to her so I took her and told my daughter whenever she's back on her feet and has a place for her she can have her back. But she knew Roadie was happy here and bonded with me. We've had her the last two and a half years.

 

[RamFan503]

Well, looks like we're going though it again. Roadie has been sick lately. Took her to vet. Then the bad news. She's in end stage kidney failure. Untreatable. I asked the vet if she had weeks or months left. He said more like days. He said she won't be in pain but at some point she'll be incontinent and we'll be cleaning up a mess. She's 12 years old now.

I decided to bring her home. We've got her soft bed and warm blanket. I'll put her on the couch next to me. She likes that. We're gonna just keep her comfortable and be there for her to the end. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort. She sleeps most the day.

We still have our two chihuahuas Heidi and Henry. I don't think I'll be having another dog for a while. Losing Guapo took a lot out of me. Now its Roadie.

We basically rescued Roadie because after her divorce our daughter couldn't care for her. She was planning and taking her to the pound. I couldn't see that happening to her so I took her and told my daughter whenever she's back on her feet and has a place for her she can have her back. But she knew Roadie was happy here and bonded with me. We've had her the last two and a half years.

Man. So sorry to see this. Our Lab is 13 so we're not far behind you. He is on pain killers, anti-inflamatories, and about a year ago, we started making him a special diet. He really responded well to the new diet but now he seems to be slipping again. My wife will be pretty devastated when it happens. This is the first one of our dogs that has really become HER dog.

All we can do is try to make our pups happy and comfortable at the end. Sounds like you're doing just that.

 

[Selassie I]

Well, looks like we're going though it again. Roadie has been sick lately. Took her to vet. Then the bad news. She's in end stage kidney failure. Untreatable. I asked the vet if she had weeks or months left. He said more like days. He said she won't be in pain but at some point she'll be incontinent and we'll be cleaning up a mess. She's 12 years old now.

I decided to bring her home. We've got her soft bed and warm blanket. I'll put her on the couch next to me. She likes that. We're gonna just keep her comfortable and be there for her to the end. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort. She sleeps most the day.

We still have our two chihuahuas Heidi and Henry. I don't think I'll be having another dog for a while. Losing Guapo took a lot out of me. Now its Roadie.

We basically rescued Roadie because after her divorce our daughter couldn't care for her. She was planning and taking her to the pound. I couldn't see that happening to her so I took her and told my daughter whenever she's back on her feet and has a place for her she can have her back. But she knew Roadie was happy here and bonded with me. We've had her the last two and a half years.

Snacks... Roadie is extremely fortunate to have you... and there's no doubt that she knows it too.

It's so hard saying goodbye to our pups. Good luck with it Brudda.

 

[snackdaddy]

Man. So sorry to see this. Our Lab is 13 so we're not far behind you. He is on pain killers, anti-inflamatories, and about a year ago, we started making him a special diet. He really responded well to the new diet but now he seems to be slipping again. My wife will be pretty devastated when it happens. This is the first one of our dogs that has really become HER dog.

All we can do is try to make our pups happy and comfortable at the end. Sounds like you're doing just that.

Yeah, when that day comes its always tough. The vet said Roadie at some point will be incontinent and I'll have to be cleaning up a mess. He thought I should put her down. But as long as she's not hurting I'm willing to do the work and clean up. I want her last days to be comfortable. No point in watching her diet now. I gave her some cut up steak this morning. She loves bacon. She'll be getting that tonight.

When I mentioned our chihuahuas I forgot to mention the old man Benny. He's 17 and a half years old. We thought we might lose him back in the spring. The vet thought he should just not spend too much and let him go. But he's rebounded pretty well since then.

The hard part is the IV bag we have to do with him. We stick a needle in him every 3 days and give him fluids that help the kidneys. Last blood check he was doing remarkably well. Liver and kidneys were like a dog half his age. He's blind. Walks very slow. Sleeps a lot. But he's in better health than expected. We spoil him. He sleeps with us. He's very attached to my wife to the point of separation anxiety.

Heidi and Henry are young. Around 3 years old. They'll be with us for a long time. Maybe Benny too. His grandfather lived to be 21. So who knows?

 

[Dodgersrf]

Well, looks like we're going though it again. Roadie has been sick lately. Took her to vet. Then the bad news. She's in end stage kidney failure. Untreatable. I asked the vet if she had weeks or months left. He said more like days. He said she won't be in pain but at some point she'll be incontinent and we'll be cleaning up a mess. She's 12 years old now.

I decided to bring her home. We've got her soft bed and warm blanket. I'll put her on the couch next to me. She likes that. We're gonna just keep her comfortable and be there for her to the end. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort. She sleeps most the day.

We still have our two chihuahuas Heidi and Henry. I don't think I'll be having another dog for a while. Losing Guapo took a lot out of me. Now its Roadie.

We basically rescued Roadie because after her divorce our daughter couldn't care for her. She was planning and taking her to the pound. I couldn't see that happening to her so I took her and told my daughter whenever she's back on her feet and has a place for her she can have her back. But she knew Roadie was happy here and bonded with me. We've had her the last two and a half years.

Uggh.
It so rough.

I had to put our eldest, Brooks, down a few weeks ago.
Tore me and my wife up.
I was able to be there with him, but lost it after he past. Brutal.
He was my Bud.

He was up there in age and was diagnosed with high protein levels a couple years ago. We knew it was a matter of time before renal failure took him, at least that’s what we thought.

When I took him in, I was expecting to get some pain meds or something to make him comfortable. I wasn’t prepared for the news that I was going to have to put him down.

He ended up developing fluid around his heart, which was the end.
I lost it, man.

 

[Memento]

I'm so sorry, Snacks. I remember you talking about how Roadie earned her way into your heart, and...well, yeah, it's always a heart-breaking time to lose your beloved family members (because that's what dogs and cats are: family).

 

[RamFan503]

I gave her some cut up steak this morning. She loves bacon. She'll be getting that tonight

Our vet said the healthy diet was a good idea but also said that table scraps like meats and veggies weren't really as bad for him as people want you to believe. As long as he wasn't getting fat and we stayed away from things like onions, his happiness is more important than what a little bacon might do to him.

So yeah. You're just making your pup happy and that's important.

 

[snackdaddy]

Uggh.
It so rough.

I had to put our eldest, Brooks, down a few weeks ago.
Tore me and my wife up.
I was able to be there with him, but lost it after he past. Brutal.
He was my Bud.

He was up there in age and was diagnosed with high protein levels a couple years ago. We knew it was a matter of time before renal failure took him, at least that’s what we thought.

When I took him in, I was expecting to get some pain meds or something to make him comfortable. I wasn’t prepared for the news that I was going to have to put him down.

He ended up developing fluid around his heart, which was the end.
I lost it, man.

Losing your faithful companion is one of the hardest things we go through. They are a family member. When you take care of him/her it develops a special bond. They rely on you for food, shelter and most of all, love. Its losing a life that we were responsible for as well as the unconditional love and companionship. Some may think its silly to grieve over the loss. But to us they were more than just a dog.

 

[snackdaddy]

Woke up this morning and Roadie got up wanting to go outside. She's hanging in there. I know its coming. But how long? When the same thing happened to Guapo the vet said days not weeks or months. He lasted almost two months. So you never know.

We're waiting for our daughter to come tomorrow from out of town. We're going to include her with any decisions we make. It was her dog for a number of years before she came to us.