New additions to the family...

[Feersty]

So John when are the "real" kids coming?

Probably the minute you quit asking dumb questions. So, never.

That sucks.

[.RJ]

That sucks.

Yes it does.

[ViPER1313]

So John when are the "real" kids coming?

Probably the minute you quit asking dumb questions. So, never.

That sucks.

Rob - does your brain have any filter as to what comes out of it? I am really assuming it doesnÔÇÖt right now. Before you make your next post, use the basic one outlined below:

1. Is this post an attempt at comedy (if so skip 2 & 3)?
2. Is this post relevant to the discussion at hand? If so, see 3.
3. Is this post socially acceptable (meaning it doesn't ask socially awkward questions like how much money you make, are you trying to have kids or not, etc?) If you are unsure on this, see below.

Since none of the conditions above have been met, just don't post it, because its either annoying, awkward, or offensive.

[damnit458]

So John when are the "real" kids coming?

Probably the minute you quit asking dumb questions. So, never.

That sucks.

Rob - does your brain have any filter as to what comes out of it? I am really assuming it doesnÔÇÖt right now. Before you make your next post, use the basic one outlined below:

1. Is this post an attempt at comedy (if so skip 2 & 3)?
2. Is this post relevant to the discussion at hand? If so, see 3.
3. Is this post socially acceptable (meaning it doesn't ask socially awkward questions like how much money you make, are you trying to have kids or not, etc?) If you are unsure on this, see below.

Since none of the conditions above have been met, just don't post it, because its either annoying, awkward, or offensive.

No need to go off topic.

John, the puppies look awesome. Ive encountered three dogs, two cats, and 6 gunia pigs in my first 18 years at home (dont ask), but im much better off for it IMO. How big of a yard do you have that they get to run arround in (forgive me, still havnt made it to any of the events at your house)? Can you leave them out all day (im guessing no from your gate latch post)? From pictures of where you live, it looks like they couldn't have gotten a better place to live.

The picture of the puppy in the bath is now my desktop (so fucking cute haha)

[JohnC]

No need to go off topic.

John, the puppies look awesome. Ive encountered three dogs, two cats, and 6 gunia pigs in my first 18 years at home (dont ask), but im much better off for it IMO. How big of a yard do you have that they get to run arround in (forgive me, still havnt made it to any of the events at your house)? Can you leave them out all day (im guessing no from your gate latch post)? From pictures of where you live, it looks like they couldn't have gotten a better place to live.

The picture of the puppy in the bath is now my desktop (so fucking cute haha)

We've got a little over 2 acres - and we're going to Invisible Fence most of it for them to run around, probably in the spring. Have to wait until they're ~6 months old for the training aids to be totally safe. For the time being, they stay outside during the workday in a 20' x 20' run (pretty good sized for two puppies!) and come inside as soon as we get home. Inside, they're crated unless we're closely supervising or playing with them - this is an essential part of crate training, and we're trying to be pretty strict with it. No free run of the house just yet - it'll be several more months.

[damnit458]

Inside, they're crated unless we're closely supervising or playing with them - this is an essential part of crate training, and we're trying to be pretty strict with it. No free run of the house just yet - it'll be several more months.

Yeah, I completely understand. My mom made this a huge point (as it should be), so two of my three dogs have been well trained. The last (a beagle) my parents found at a rest stop on the highway going down to drop my brother off at college in NC. He was about a year and a half at the time, so he's still a little rough (he's also incredibly scared of men raising there voices, so it seems he was beat to =-/). Anyway, its great to see you guys are raising them correctly. Would you ever think of adding another one to the family? Or, are there any breeds in particular your looking into for the future?

[Mike]

he's also incredibly scared of men raising there voices, so it seems he was beat to =-/

cuirous about this... i've only had one dog and she too gets a bit timid when anyone raises their voice, but i thought that was natural? we certainly don't beat her, but if she does something wrong we'll give her a sharp slap on the ass and a raised voice... is that considered wrong?

[Dragon]

if she does something wrong we'll give her a sharp slap on the ass and a raised voice... is that considered wrong?

Only if she presses charges . . . oh wait you said dog not girlfriend. . . . carry on.

[JohnC]

he's also incredibly scared of men raising there voices, so it seems he was beat to =-/

cuirous about this... i've only had one dog and she too gets a bit timid when anyone raises their voice, but i thought that was natural? we certainly don't beat her, but if she does something wrong we'll give her a sharp slap on the ass and a raised voice... is that considered wrong?

No, not wrong, but maybe not as effective as it could be.

The key (at least that we've found) is too immediately follow the correction with praise, assuming the dog stops whatever it is they weren't supposed to be doing. For example, Maggie liked to eat houseplants. Whenever she goes near one, I very loudly and sternly shout "NO MAGGIE!" and if I'm close enough, give her a quick shake. Not enough to hurt anything, but enough to scare her. Almost immediately following this, she moves away from the plant. I praise her, lots of petting and "Good girl, Maggie", and a small bit of treat if its handy.

This method has worked pretty well for our puppies. The biggest problem is that we don't always correct quickly or sternly enough. One firm correction is worth a thousand nagging ones - we're still learning this lesson.

[Maengelito]

For example, Maggie liked to eat houseplants. Whenever she goes near one, I very loudly and sternly shout "NO MAGGIE!" and if I'm close enough, give her a quick shake. Not enough to hurt anything, but enough to scare her. Almost immediately following this, she moves away from the plant. I praise her, lots of petting and "Good girl, Maggie", and a small bit of treat if its handy.

thayer, kick his ass

[CaptainHenreh]

The key (at least that we've found) is too immediately follow the correction with praise, assuming the dog stops whatever it is they weren't supposed to be doing. For example, Maggie liked to eat houseplants. Whenever she goes near one, I very loudly and sternly shout "NO MAGGIE!" and if I'm close enough, give her a quick shake. Not enough to hurt anything, but enough to scare her. Almost immediately following this, she moves away from the plant. I praise her, lots of petting and "Good girl, Maggie", and a small bit of treat if its handy.

Whew. I had enough of that playing Black and White.

Never want a dog.

[ScottyB]

John, i know you live in a pretty rural area....how cleared is your yard? just wondering because when you run that fencing watch out for places that might harbor snakes.

when i worked landscaping in the past years i was on a job and came across a massive copperhead coiled up at the base of a tree....cornered and striking out at two grown black labs. if i hadn't covered it up with a rake and then killed it, those dogs would be toast.

obviously snakes can get into and out of the fenced area but it helps to avoid any potential hot spots.

[JohnC]

John, i know you live in a pretty rural area....how cleared is your yard? just wondering because when you run that fencing watch out for places that might harbor snakes.

when i worked landscaping in the past years i was on a job and came across a massive copperhead coiled up at the base of a tree....cornered and striking out at two grown black labs. if i hadn't covered it up with a rake and then killed it, those dogs would be toast.

obviously snakes can get into and out of the fenced area but it helps to avoid any potential hot spots.

Fortunately, the area where we'd run the fence is pretty well cleared - and we'll be clearing out the rest in the spring anyhow. Just two stands of trees, really, so not a big deal.

[Evan]

For example, Maggie liked to eat houseplants. Whenever she goes near one, I very loudly and sternly shout "NO MAGGIE!" and if I'm close enough, give her a quick shake. Not enough to hurt anything, but enough to scare her. Almost immediately following this, she moves away from the plant. I praise her, lots of petting and "Good girl, Maggie", and a small bit of treat if its handy.

thayer, kick his ass

:lol:

[damnit458]

he's also incredibly scared of men raising there voices, so it seems he was beat to =-/

cuirous about this... i've only had one dog and she too gets a bit timid when anyone raises their voice, but i thought that was natural? we certainly don't beat her, but if she does something wrong we'll give her a sharp slap on the ass and a raised voice... is that considered wrong?

Yeah, im sure this is natural to an extent, but he can be found shaking in his cage whenever he hears raised voices. Who knows though, might just be an extreme case of what you said. Correction like you described though isnt wrong, when done in a reasonable way, and what john added a few posts above is a good idea to.

[JessicaRabbit79]

So John when are the "real" kids coming?

Probably the minute you quit asking dumb questions. So, never.

Hmm... let's ponder this a moment.

NEVER.

:lol:

[JohnC]

That picture is a month old - they're both over 50lbs now hock:

[Sijray21]

They're adorable...i wish i had time for dogs

[JohnC]

Last adorable picture for today:

[Jeff]

awww....I love dogs.