Dogs.

[farmerterryy]

all dogs are viable if trained right

 

[Jstpssng]

Long Read, but worth it...

We have two boys... both registered GSD's... Koda and Mako. They are both deep in their 8th year of life...and both FULL of life. They are SUPER well trained... and very socialized. We live on a nice 20 acres of natural hardwoods, and they love it.

Mako is the typical black/sable GSD marking, short(ish) hair, not the long hair breed. We got Mako when he was 8 weeks old. Koda is a Czech import, blonde fur, black facemask... he was brought in to be a Sheriff's Office K9, but lacked ball drive. He's very food driven, so he was not allowed to finish and become a working K9. The lead K9 trainer that was training Koda, is a Ranger Buddy of mine... he called me up and told me about Koda... he was doing the initial training for our boy Mako, and the two doggos got along like littermates. They are exactly 27 days apart, Koda being the older of the two. So, we got Koda at 6 months old.

We went through the floppy ear phase with Mako, but Koda was like full grown doggo when we got him. Both of our boys went on to have multiple intensive training sessions with my Ranger Buddy.

Koda imprinted on me... and adopted me as his HOOMAN. He is the COOLEST boy too.. amazing personality, not needy at all. He's very social, but not affectionate with anyone but me. He is my velcro doggo. Mako, has bonded with my wife... and is beta to Koda. Koda is ALL Alpha. Out of the two, I trust Koda with anything... he is so even tempered... but Mako is very strange with little kids, and little dogs.

About 9 months ago, we noticed Koda licking a spot on his tail... it was an open cyst, so we took him to our vet. The cyst was removed, and unfortunately, showed "malignant markers" and we were referred to a K9 Oncologist, since it was a super "rare" type of tumor.

They did x-rays and a full abdomen CT scan, and Koda showed no signs of the tumor spreading. The doc wanted to remove his tail, and start him on a new drug called "Palladia" (Toceranib).

Palladia® (toceranib) in Dogs & Cats - The Pet Oncologist

Your vet just recommended Palladia® to treat your pet’s cancer. What is Palladia®? What are the pros & cons? How frequent are the visits? What are the side effects? Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about Palladia® in dogs & cats.

www.thepetoncologist.com

We of course, got several other opinions, and decided to start him on Palladia, but keep his tail. So far, he's in his third week of taking Palladia (Mon, Weds and Fri mornings) and has zero side effects. He still eats well, plays like he is still a puppy, and very alert. We will go back for a re-evaluation after he's completed a full 30 days on the medication.

I want to make sure we give him the best we can, and keep him active as long as his quality of life is good. Koda does not even know he's got some health issues... I know that I will have to face that day, one day... and it will GUT me to lose him. I've had dogs my whole life, but this boy... Koda... is my soul dog. I do my best to show him that he's my boy, every single day... and it tears me up knowing that one day, he will not be here for me to tell him he's a good boy...

Both boys are amazing, and I can't imagine having one without the other. Mako is so dependant on Koda... I know it will affect him as well, once that day comes.

We as humans do not deserve doggos... but, I am SO thankful that we have them.

The boys love Jeep rides... (Koda on left, Mako on right)

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Koda always keeps me in his sight...

View attachment 3348327

Nice! If God hadn't made Labs I would be getting a shepard.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Long Read, but worth it...

We have two boys... both registered GSD's... Koda and Mako. They are both deep in their 8th year of life...and both FULL of life. They are SUPER well trained... and very socialized. We live on a nice 20 acres of natural hardwoods, and they love it.

Mako is the typical black/sable GSD marking, short(ish) hair, not the long hair breed. We got Mako when he was 8 weeks old. Koda is a Czech import, blonde fur, black facemask... he was brought in to be a Sheriff's Office K9, but lacked ball drive. He's very food driven, so he was not allowed to finish and become a working K9. The lead K9 trainer that was training Koda, is a Ranger Buddy of mine... he called me up and told me about Koda... he was doing the initial training for our boy Mako, and the two doggos got along like littermates. They are exactly 27 days apart, Koda being the older of the two. So, we got Koda at 6 months old.

We went through the floppy ear phase with Mako, but Koda was like full grown doggo when we got him. Both of our boys went on to have multiple intensive training sessions with my Ranger Buddy.

Koda imprinted on me... and adopted me as his HOOMAN. He is the COOLEST boy too.. amazing personality, not needy at all. He's very social, but not affectionate with anyone but me. He is my velcro doggo. Mako, has bonded with my wife... and is beta to Koda. Koda is ALL Alpha. Out of the two, I trust Koda with anything... he is so even tempered... but Mako is very strange with little kids, and little dogs.

About 9 months ago, we noticed Koda licking a spot on his tail... it was an open cyst, so we took him to our vet. The cyst was removed, and unfortunately, showed "malignant markers" and we were referred to a K9 Oncologist, since it was a super "rare" type of tumor.

They did x-rays and a full abdomen CT scan, and Koda showed no signs of the tumor spreading. The doc wanted to remove his tail, and start him on a new drug called "Palladia" (Toceranib).

Palladia® (toceranib) in Dogs & Cats - The Pet Oncologist

Your vet just recommended Palladia® to treat your pet’s cancer. What is Palladia®? What are the pros & cons? How frequent are the visits? What are the side effects? Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about Palladia® in dogs & cats.

www.thepetoncologist.com

We of course, got several other opinions, and decided to start him on Palladia, but keep his tail. So far, he's in his third week of taking Palladia (Mon, Weds and Fri mornings) and has zero side effects. He still eats well, plays like he is still a puppy, and very alert. We will go back for a re-evaluation after he's completed a full 30 days on the medication.

I want to make sure we give him the best we can, and keep him active as long as his quality of life is good. Koda does not even know he's got some health issues... I know that I will have to face that day, one day... and it will GUT me to lose him. I've had dogs my whole life, but this boy... Koda... is my soul dog. I do my best to show him that he's my boy, every single day... and it tears me up knowing that one day, he will not be here for me to tell him he's a good boy...

Both boys are amazing, and I can't imagine having one without the other. Mako is so dependant on Koda... I know it will affect him as well, once that day comes.

We as humans do not deserve doggos... but, I am SO thankful that we have them.

The boys love Jeep rides... (Koda on left, Mako on right)

View attachment 3348262

View attachment 3348326

Koda always keeps me in his sight...

View attachment 3348327

The working line GSD are a lot of dog, too much for most people (in my opinion) you are lucky to have two of them.

 

[ponytug]

The cat raised the dog……


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Those are wonderful photos to go with the story! We used to have a cat and dog like that. The dog would lie down somewhere to watch one of us, and the cat would come by and knead the dog's belly and then curl up to snooze.

The cat was pretty much fearless. She loved to hunt, and then play with, rattlesnakes. AFAIK, she was only bit once, and only had a limp for a year or so afterwards.

The dog was pretty much fearless as well. She would hunt down and run off pigs. She loathed pigs for some reason, anything else was just water flowing by. She was great at finding lost calves. She found one calf under our low floor horse trailer (6" floor to ground clearance?). It had never crossed my mind that a calf could be under there. Yes, our GSDs are all working dogs, mostly dogs that didn't quite make the breeder's standard for continuing into K-9 work, usually because they were late bloomers or needed extra work.

Animals are such a treat.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Jstpssng]

I don't know how anyone can NOT have a dog.I understand some circumstances it isn't possible.
I have owned dogs or the family has owned dogs all my life.From German Shepards when younger to Labs,English Pointers and currently German Short-hairs.
Later in life my parents had Poodles and Bichons.
Yes you have to take care of them and feed them but the rewards are unmeasurable.

I understand what you are saying but not everybody's lifestyle is conducive to having pets. I went 18 years before my first because I was travelling a lot, working with other people and it would have been complicated. When I finally got my first dog I often had to kennel her, and she did not like being confined.

I've been without for a year and a half because for a while it was nice to not think about a dog; especially last fall, when I was helping take care of my aging mother.
I'm starting to feel like Mr Bo Jangles though.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Seeing some people taking ''care'' of their dog one would actually wish less people had some... I told off my brother a while back, I was like for F sake stop getting dogs when you have to keep giving them away ... He had 4 dogs within a few years, the fist one (a Weimaraner) keep running away and fight other dogs and he also had major separation anxiety, he gave it to a old man (which is fine, good on him to find him a good home), but then he got a other dog right away.... so he got he got a crooker spaniel for his kids (which was too young to take care of one) but the dog hated kids so he sold/gave away (not too sure of the detail of this one). After he got a Catahoula (yeah just like this is going to be better) and that one was biting his kids and people in general (mostly playfully) so he paid the pound to take it... Then he got a lab but so far everything is good with this one. All that was back to back to back.

 

[MossRoad]

The only reason we don't have a dog currently is that we are not home often enough to take care of it properly. Once I retire, I'll be getting another dog.

As for dogs and cats, we found a kitten and raised it with our Cairn. It thought it was a dog. Walked on a leash, did tricks, etc... fun to watch them play tag in the house.

 

[scootr]

 

[5030]

Loos like something our Aussie would do, great find... All the delivery drivers are trained to give Tully a biscuit when he barks at them. All he wants is a buscuit and a scratch and they become fast friends. I have to keep him in the fenced front yard (which is huge anyway 1/2 acre) or he'd get in the delivery truck with them. We have one outside cat that would also do that. He loves people and gettig scratched is high on his to do list. Very trusting and loves to be picked up and carted around. Been here for 10 years now, showed up one night and never left. He has his own 'house' on the back deck and while he wanders a bit, he's in his house every night after feeding time. House is a repurposed Omaha Steak styrofoam box with a 'cushy' inside for him to sleep on and if any other cat gets near his house, trouble insues. He's got a wicked right hook and uses it on the other cats, but never on people. Howie is the exception to outside cats. Never been inside and don't want to come in either. He will look in the open slider and turn away.

 

[SARG]

Here's a reason to have small mutts .... mine are both over 100 pounds. On Juy 5th I was walking to the lower barns and the heathens ran behind me coming to look for a rabbit to chase for giggles. The female ( on the left ) does not look were she runs and hit me square in the back of the legs.
I went up and landed on the back of my head and back. Now I have to cope with a broken rib just under my left shoulder blade. Truly screws up the summer for this year and yes .... still hurts like hell.

 

[5030]

With a dog and 5 house cats inside plus another 10 outside, we love all of them and they all get good food and supplements if needed plus they all get veternary care and all the males get 'fixed'. Keeps the fighting down bacause cats like to fight anyawy.

I have my own 'personal' cat in the house. Her name is Marne and loke all the others a stray or tossed out animal. She follows me everywhere and if I sit down, she has to sit in my lap. Never makes bread, just curls up and sleeps. Only cat I've ever seen that when she's grooming herself, I can hole her tail so she can groom the end of it...lol as it's always getting away from her. I belong to her and none of the other cats are allowed to sit on my lap. If one get up there, Marne tells them on strict terms, they aren't allowed there, via a hiss and a quick claws out left hook to the face.

Animals are all interesting and everyone has a distinct personality, likes and dislikes. All have their preferred place to eat and sleep as well.

Of course that don't include the outside and destructive vermin I shoot on sight and it's been groundhog villa this year. I've been dropping them in droves, sitting on the back deck with my 17 HMR Savage rifle. Good yote dinners.

 

[5030]

Here's a reason to have small mutts .... mine are both over 100 pounds. On Juy 5th I was walking to the lower barns and the heathens ran behind me coming to look for a rabbit to chase for giggles. The female ( on the left ) does not look were she runs and hit me square in the back of the legs.
I went up and landed on the back of my head and back. Now I have to cope with a broken rib just under my left shoulder blade. Truly screws up the summer for this year and yes .... still hurts like hell.
View attachment 3752724

Nice puppers. I love all animals, especially medium to larger sized pups and to me they are all pups no matter how old they are.

Never met a dog I could not get along with. My rule when metting a strange dog is don't move fast, never reach out for them and let them come to you and smell you before anything else and speak to them in a low voice and always let them lead the encounter and I've been around what people term viscous guard dogs and I've never been bitten. Maybe barked at but you can alsways read a supposedly vicious, agressive dog by looking at their facial expression. Never look a strange dog directly in the eyes either and alwys have a biscuit ready as well.

I always let them start the encounter and I never get at all agressive. Dogs especially can sense body language so I'm never tense, just good old me...

Been round some certified 'junkyard' dogs and in the end they want to come home with me...

Dogs are especially astute when it comes to body language and they all want to be accepted but on their terms. I respect their terms always. Never had the chance to try that with a police K9, but I bet the result would be the same.

Wife feels the same way and we'd have hundreds of cast off pups if we could afford it. But our rule is, they all (cats and dogs) get nutritious food, no table scraps ever and proper veterinary care so they are expensive to keep and why we have a limit on the number of animals we have.

We want them to live comfortable lives, not be abused and 'want to live here' and they all do.

 

[Torvy]

Here's a reason to have small mutts .... mine are both over 100 pounds. On Juy 5th I was walking to the lower barns and the heathens ran behind me coming to look for a rabbit to chase for giggles. The female ( on the left ) does not look were she runs and hit me square in the back of the legs.
I went up and landed on the back of my head and back. Now I have to cope with a broken rib just under my left shoulder blade. Truly screws up the summer for this year and yes .... still hurts like hell.
View attachment 3752724

Ouch! That's my future. 3 big dogs totalling 265 lbs. All about a year old, so they still have some growing to do.

Anatolians are all muscle and can be a bit clumsy. They 'play' by smashing into each other at full speed. They have come close to knocking me down. Wife has hit the turf once or twice.

They are very sweet with people, but think every dog wants to play rough.

 

[1 Old Man]

I want to remind you guys in the HOT climate zones to watch
your dog for excessive heat. My GSD will play fetch, chase the
ball, run etc as long as I will play with her. She will overheat
just because she wants to be with me. So excessive panting,
tongue to the side drooling thick saliva etc ..... your pup
could probably use some water and some rest. My dog is blk & tan
and just petting her I can feel heat from the sun.
One of the great things about being on the farm...we have fishing
ponds and tanks.....and this is one water loving GSD. She goes
swimming whenever she wants to. She doesn't just wade. She
actually gets in and swims around. I'm sure that feels great to her.
Anyway, just remember to provide a constant water source and
some shade and "rest" time for your pup.
The heat in Tx is just now starting to crank it up a few notches.
Try to stay cool

 

[1 Old Man]

Ouch! That's my future. 3 big dogs totalling 265 lbs. All about a year old, so they still have some growing to do.

Anatolians are all muscle and can be a bit clumsy. They 'play' by smashing into each other at full speed. They have come close to knocking me down. Wife has hit the turf once or twice.

They are very sweet with people, but think every dog wants to play rough.

I like those dogs. Just got to watch your 6 with the bigger breeds.

 

[Torvy]

I like those dogs. Just got to watch your 6 with the bigger breeds.

Hehe...the "little" one (not pictured) is a GSD. They treat her like a younger sibling.

They spend the bulk of the day indoors this time of year. Kennel has a dog door directly into a 'mud room' with their crates. Wife also got a couple of those cheap plastic pools. They all like to flop in there. When we get rain, they have a couple of temporary mud holes they lay in as well.

So far, it hasn't been hot (at least for July here). There aren't any 100 degrees days in the 45 day forecast (I don't believe them, though). This part of the state is very humid. A walk to the mailbox will leave your shirt damp.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
Do you have problems with their toenails punching through the pool?

 

[ponytug]

^^^^^
Do you have problems with their toenails punching through the pool?

Not here. I admit to making tubs out of items here and there around the ranch. I cut down a used cattle supplement bucket (beer tub size) for my sister's dog (cattle heeler type) who loves nothing more than getting wet. So far it is holding up great.

All the best,

Peter

 

[1 Old Man]

.... There aren't any 100 degrees days in the 45 day forecast (I don't believe them, though). This part of the state is very humid. A walk to the mailbox will leave your shirt damp.

In East Tx and I get it. I don't believe them either. Next 2 weeks supposed
to be mid 90's and no rain predicted in the near future. We were not
supposed to get rain this week and we got a short summer storm almost
every day (just enough to keep that humidity level up). And maybe a
shower on Sunday.....wish they would decide which it's going to be,
hot and dry or hot and humid.
Just got back from going out to eat dinner. Was going to let the dog in.
Nope. She went swimming while we were gone. Hope she's dry by the time I
go to bed. Otherwise she gets to sleep outside.

 

[tallyho8]

I have owned, bred, raised, trained and competed with dogs for over 70 years. If you asked me to give 10 names of who I would want on a desert island I was marooned on for the rest of my life, 3 names would be people and seven would be of my past dogs.