Kelly_Louise

I paid about $300 for Sasha (from rescue)... I think I got a bargain, she's worth much, much more. Chloe - I paid $400 for from a BYB. Maybe not an expensive pup in the grand scheme of things, but her price came at a cost. She's gone on to cost over $30,000 in health costs. While I wouldn't buy BYB ever again, I wouldn't change Chloe for any amount of money in the world (unless someone could make her healthier) and I don't regret the last 13 years that she has been the best friend to me and my family that we could have asked for.

Well I'm not sure... tell me what you think?

Yes, that was the worst part - especially when we'd deliberately gone to a secluded, out of the way area. If we'd been on the path just stopping to chat I'd have been way more tolerant!!!

Now that dog certainly knows the meaning of milking it!! Adorable!!!

And the problem is??? Most of the time, my dog DESERVES more time than my husband!!! When I was very sick the other night, it wasn't him nuzzling at my side and trying to kiss my face... When I get home, I don't see HIM doing excited whole body wags and turning circles!!!! My dog gets more time cause she gives me the unconditional love everyone craves for - and because simply, they rely on us solely for their needs - whereas hubby can mostly fend for himself. But if you're reading this, I do love you too husband dear.

See, if there were more parents like you - I'd have no problems whatsoever I'll take responsibility for my dog, and they can take responsibility for their kids, and everyone is happy!! ;)

If only - Sasha never makes a peep when we are outside of home... NEVER. Get her back home though and it's a whole different story!! My problem is the opposite, Sasha looks so calm and lovely and well behaved (which she is until a stranger approaches her LOL) and it gives people a false sense of security I guess. It's when she jumps up quickly to move away with a horrified expression that people generally get the idea. I did have one lovely parent approach me once with a little boy that could barely walk so must have been around 1 year old. She asked permission and held his hand and told him where to pat etc, and I held Sasha and patted her too and she was so gentle. When the little boy got a little bit excited and the Mum could see Sasha was getting a bit nervous, she gently told him that was enough and moved him away, all the while being so nice about it. It's those people that I have all the time in the world for.

No the child didn't ask... she was a spoilt little thing that was sulking and demanding to her mother in a whiney tone that she wanted to pat a dog. There was no way I was gonna deal with that. I wouldn't put up with it from my own kids, so I'm certainly not gonna deal with someone else's problem - or even waste my time trying to. ETA - and to be fair, it makes some people feel really awkward telling someone else's child how to behave or kind of instructing them what to do - remember you have entered their space. Hence why they may address you, and not the child. They don't know the child, aren't sure if they will understand (especially if they are small as this girl was - only about 2yo), and aren't sure if telling them how to behave will offend parents. If someone brings a dog into your space, you expect them to do the work to keep the dog appropriately behaved (you would be upset if you had to discipline the dog or tell them how to control their dog) - people with dogs expect the same from people with kids too.

I second Great Rugs - they're awesome! I've had 3 custom made, yes they do have waterproof.

I've also had the situation when an unsupervised child has run up and I haven't had time to stop it (with the parents laughing behind them), and if Sasha pulls back or looks scared, all of a sudden the parents face changes and they rush up and snatch the child away with a horrified, filthy look in my direction. I take offense to that... I didn't ask them to not supervise their kids properly and let them approach us. I'm always surprised, cause Sasha is a very large dog... but she has such a laid back, smiley face that people seem to think that she must be approachable. As I said, I have no issues with people who show us respect, and control their children until they have permission to approach us - and direct their children on the correct way to behave (not come rushing up with arms waving). I always feel awkward when the parents leave it to me to instruct their kids on how to behave (kind of like smacking someone else's child), but if they do most of the work with the child initially, I'm more than happy to just show them how to get the best out of Sasha once they are near her. But I do not like people who do not show us the same respect we give them. I have a responsibility to keep Sasha safe, and those she interacts with safe (which are much more important to me than worrying about educating kids whose parents have no clue)... and I can't do that when people invade our space without the slightest courtesy. Because if something was to happen, it would certainly be my fault - not the person who has pushed themselves at us. And I don't think that's fair when I'm simply trying to walk my dog in peace. It has been interesting to see everyone's views though... Some a bit harsh... Just cause you don't like kids doesn't mean you need therapy LOL. Some people don't like kids, just as some people hate dogs... But if people were more respectful then there would be no issues. Dog owners get such a bad rap sometimes, but there are many times that it's the parents with kids that deserve it (and i love kids AND dogs so I'm not biased ). I also have issue with people with offlead dogs that run at us... they laugh and say, don't worry he/she is friendly... but have no thoughts for how MY dog might feel about it or react to it. Had a SWF barrel across the street from it's house on our walks approx 10 times over a few months... the owners didn't seem too concerned, even though I had a terrible time trying to get Sasha away from this little thing snapping quite aggressively at her legs and feet, and would follow us. Then one day, she'd obviously had enough and growled and snapped (just a warning air snap) at the little dog, the owners were horrified, but needless to say it hasn't happened again - could have been avoided for everyone if they'd just given us the same respect we give them.

I see your points, and take them on board. I usually am quite good with the littlies, or the ones whose parents ask first. I usually let them come up and ask them to put their hand out for Sasha to sniff and lick (cause it scares her less than attempting to pat her), sometimes I give them a treat if I have one, to give to her which is good for Sasha and also a delight to the kids - I explain why it has to be like that and usually they are really good at understanding. I show that respect if people respect us first. I guess I'm just grouchy because I don't like people just invading our space and making demands - like Sasha is there to be a showpony. We don't bother other people, and I really don't want to be bothered either - I just want to enjoy my time with my dog and friends without having to always worry about people who obviously know nothing about dogs, or people who are not watching their kids etc. I find it really, really, really rude... I had a little boy of about 6 come running up one day (his parents were on the other side of the lake, he'd ridden his bike), straight into Sasha's face (I asked him nicely to please back up and give her some space) and I moved her away, he came again and every time she moved her face out of the way he moved so he was right in front of her face. After asking several times and trying to explain nicely, I actually had to say quite sharply 'please don't do that, move away from my dog'. I felt awful honestly, but he was just one of those kids and his parents still weren't around yet... and I have a responsibility to keep Sasha safe. Another time, little boy of about 5 (mum was talking to friend with back turned) came running at her screaming loudly, waving his arms around above his head. I stopped Sasha and asked Mum to stop son coming at us (politely), she did, we started walking past, Mum turned her back, and kid ran up full pelt behind Sasha and yelled something (Sash tucked tail and ran to the other side of me as she got a fright). I've also had adults just come up and also stick their hands in Sasha's face numerous times without warning. I guess it's happened a few too many times, so I get fairly p!ssed about it now. Goodness I sound so anti-social... and I'm not really LOL... just annoyed.

But you have a good idea persephone, that I can use in future for people who are less demanding and more considerate of us

I did actually explain to the lady, the first time I said no I'd rather you didn't - and then said it's because she's quite nervous of strangers and it scares her easily as nicely as I could (I didn't go on to say I can see you can't control your child as well even though I wanted to)... I said this even though she didn't ask either of our permission, just stated that her child wanted to pat a dog and started forward at us. But even after I said that to the Mum, she stood looking at me for a while and when the child complained that she wasn't patting a dog yet, still was pushing the girl forward towards Sasha - hence the second, way more blunt, no. To be honest, I was way too angry at her rude attitude that I simply didn't want to be nice... although I did try.

Yesterday I was out walking Sasha, and we met Sasha's boyfriend Max and his Dad, so as usual we walked together. At the end of the walk, we allow Sasha and Max some free time to play... and boy do they get into it. They like to rumble and play rather roughly - with time in between where they just hug and kiss each other, and it's hysterical to watch as they love it so. Anyway, we always move away to an unpopulated area away any paths, as sometimes the sight of 2 largish dogs playing roughly scares people as they think they are fighting. We try to be considerate, and they are kept on lead so it's not overly rough and tumble, but you could get knocked over if you're not paying attention!!! Anyway, from the corner of my eye I see a lady with a little girl about 2 years old. They catch my attention cause they seem to be coming our way, and there is nothing our way and no reason for them to be heading in our direction. They come within 2 metres of us, and Sasha and Max are jumping on each other, chasing each other, chewing each other and play growling and air snapping at each other (as they do in their own fashion) and the lady says 'my daughter wants to pat the dogs'. I say, well they are playing as you can see... but she starts moving forward with the child - towards two dogs who are still in the middle of rumbling each other and dodging each other and are solely concentrating on each other. We have to quickly pull them apart and I put Sasha into a heel position, and poor Max, who is still a pup, thinks it's still play time and is still jumping around at Sasha and is barking wildly to get her attention and doesn't understand why it's come to a halt all of a sudden (usually they just stop of their own accord when they're tired). So the lady approaches me and says 'we want to pat that one', pointing at Sasha because she is sitting calmly. And I say, no I'd rather you didn't. Firstly, Sasha doesn't really like being approached by strangers - and I do not allow any random person to approach her unless I can see they are willing to control their kids (ie, not run at her yelling, with arms up and waving as this lady's child was) and will follow my instructions on how to treat her (because I don't want people scaring her). If you're coming into my dogs space, it's by my rules - as I don't allow her to invade other people's space. She eyes me up while again shifting forward to us and I say no again, and she pulls the girl away huffily. She looks at Max (who LOVES attention from everyone) but he is still trying to jump at Sasha to play, so she says 'don't worry then' and storms off (like it's somehow our fault). I'm sorry, but I find this really, really rude. We are always considerate of other people, and know that not everyone likes dogs so we follow basic common courtesy and don't bother others - why is it too much to ask that people who don't have dogs/or don't like dogs give us the same respect??? No wonder some kids grow up not knowing how to behave around dogs... I can't tell you how many times we've had kids (who are just barely walking) run up to Sasha while the parents are just jogging along behind them laughing apologetically. I find it rude to have our space invaded when we are just trying to go about our own day... cause if I allowed Sasha to get into their space they would kick up such a fuss. Why can't we have the same respect that we give? Anyway, I'm in a bad mood today and just wanted to get that out there!!!

Epi-soothe, and the leave on lotion Resisoothe are good for itchy skin We use it for Chloe who has some allergies (not extreme) and can get dry, irritated skin from Cushings disease.

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. In the meantime, try to avoid lots of people at once. Try inviting just one friend around at a time, and instead of trying to force her to be friends, tell them to just totally ignore her - even if she comes up for a sniff. My dog is like this also, and it took a while. She is better with people who sit on the ground and don't look at her - and if she does come close they hold their hand out for her to smell, but don't try to pat or force the issue. She comes around in her own time, and usually ends up sitting on them or leaning on them. It does take time and patience though, but well worth it. I find Sasha still gets a bit intimidated when there are too many people at once, especially if they are all trying to show her attention. But she is much better and will deal with it all pretty well. I find that slowly is the way to go though first until you start to see her confidence build. She also had issue walking past strangers or groups of people in the park - but I would just keep going (keeping a little distance but not too far) and show no signs of noticing or reacting to her in anyway. Just keep looking ahead and walking. It took a while, but she's now fine in that respect too. It just takes a little bit of love and time I hope that your girl has a happy life with you, and vice versa, regardless how long she is with you for.

How do these people sleep at night and face themselves everyday? They wouldn't bring themselves to have them euthanised humanely, but are okay with them dying slowly and sadly in a dump? I hope someone comes forward and dobs them in, and they are named and shamed (because let's face it the punishment won't be more than a wrist slap - but we can always hope for more i guess). I just don't understand people... if you don't want puppies or can't care for them, then have your dog desexed. It's really quite simple, and no one has to suffer. If you can't afford to desex your dog, then you really shouldn't have a dog. Big applause for the kind soul looking after them, I hope karma pays her back tenfold for caring. I hope they all go onto loving, wonderful homes. I'm sure they will, aren't they the cutest things ever? Don't you just want a puppy cuddle???

God bless her - may she find more of her dogs alive. There are many who say that animals aren't a priority in emergencies such as these, and while that is a fair point - out of the devastation, people have to have hope. And sometimes, when they've lost so much, all they have is their beloved furry friends to hope for. And bless the kind people who took these poor dogs in (and others, as well as took in strangers when they had so little themselves) and bothered to care for them. It's these small triumphs that renew your faith in humanity just a little bit.

:p SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... what an adorable pup!!!

I say Rotti x Staffy Nice dog

x 2 I can't imagine the terror and hunger the poor pup went through... and yet, still has faith in humans. I guess there are some still worth having some faith in... Bless you Patrick, I hope you find a wonderful forever home with a family who will love you and adore you as you should be. God love those photos of him, what a peaceful, lovely boy.

Yes, it's probably the closure he needed. And now his boy is back with him, and he can 'see' him again.

16 years... wow. I'm so sorry for your loss, Kuga seems like such a special boy. Your tribute brought tears, I felt like I knew him - I think we all have a special dog just like him in our hearts. RIP Kuga. Hugs to all who will miss him terribly.

Bartok - I've only just read this and I'm so sorry for the loss of your beautiful boy. I hope you're doing okay. It's such a tough time, especially when it's unexpected. Sashy and I send you big hugs - and Sashy sends a big kiss to her 'other' mum.

Amen to that. Very glad to hear that the dog was returned and neither it nor the owner punished.