Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Thanks so much for posting this.  I have never read or heard it before.  It reminded me of why I love my dogs much more than most people I know.  I am sitting here crying my eyes out and my hubby walks by.  "What's wrong with you?  Why are you crying?  It's only a story."  My dogs on the other hand are leaning against me licking the tears off my face and nuzzling my hands and arms.  People want to know why you are crying and then explain why you shouldn't be sad.  Dogs know you are upset and just want to love you and let you know they are there for you.  People have to fix everything.  Dogs just deal with what is there.  I love my dogs (and my hubby, human that he is).  Thanks
Kathy

Heart of Wisdom,
Our 2 litters of puppies had huge differences in size among them.  As they grew, the differences gradually disappeared for the most part.  You will always have large and small puppies, but not huge differences, like you see at first.  Interestingly, one of the smaller puppies from the first litter, turned out to be exactly what I was hoping for from the breedings.  He had his mother's ridiculously heavy, long coat, his father's extremely long wavy hair on his ears, his fathers height and his mother's build.  He had to be the most beautiful dog I had ever seen, when I saw him again at the age of 6. 
Kathy

No I have a pyr, I don't need another one.  I really, really, really don't.  I don't need a puppy.  My boys are too much to handle now.  I really don't need a puppy.  OHHHHH, puppy fever, has a hold.  They are so cute and cuddly looking.  You lucky duck.  All those little bitty cuddly bodies, with all the little pink toes, and noses and puppy breath and puppy kisses and little fat roly poly bellies.  I remember our puppies.  We had 2 litters.  The first one we raised 11 puppies and the second 13.  I get the pictures our occassionally and look at them and cry.  That was such a fun time.  I don't have the time now to do it, but one day I will.  Enjoy them for me.  You are doing a great job and earning your place in eternity.  Hug their Mama and Daddy for me.  If I was going to beg for one of them, but I'm not, but if I was it would be their dad.  He is one handsome, regal fellow.
Kathy

Just see what I learned today.  Never heard of using solarcane.  If you try the benadryl, try to get a capsule, not caplets.  Apparently the capsules disolve quicker and they get the full dose.  We gave Max 5 at a time 3 times a day for his allergies, before we got the blood work done and got him the allergy serum.  They helped with the itching but never even slowed him down.  Another thing to try, if they have raw spots is Listerine.  Just dab it on.  It will burn a little, but prevents infection and helps to dry it up.  It is great for sores and hot spots.  Also, the skin scraping is a great idea.  Our guys get staph skin infections, from chewing themselves.  The vet does a deep skin scraping to diagnose it.  We also found out that Cody gets localized demodectic sp? mange.  Not contagious, all dogs apparently carry the mites, so no big deal, just treat it with a cream twice a day.  However, he does not scratch at the spots or chew them at all.  I wouldn't think that is what is causing the itching and chew-o-rama.  The foot chewing sounds to me like it could be a contact type of dermatitis.  I have had dogs that suffered from athletes foot whenever the weather was changing and occasionally got the same type of rash on their backs from rolling in wet grass or when we had the lawn sprayed.  Good luck and kiss those boys for me.
Kathy

What you are describing sounds like something that my Tibetan Mastiff does maybe twice a week or so.  It sounds horrible and scares me when he does it.  It sounds and kind of looks like he can't breathe, sort of wheezing, then this horrible noise.  He holds his head very still and then kind of jerks it when he makes the noise.  I have talked to our vet about it and he found nothing wrong with Cody. 
Kathy 

Have any of you noticed a personality change in your IW as they mature?  Max will be 1.5 next month and has gradually gotten to the point that he is still friendly and outgoing but will walk away in the middle of someone petting him.  Not a family member, but casual acquaintances and strangers.  It is like he is just not interested in them touching or fawning over him.  I know noone has hurt or hit him and he is not handshy, just doesn't seem to care about anyone outside the famiy loving on him.  He has also recently began cowering when in large crowds of people wanting to pet or love on him and in strange surroundings.  He used to be happy go lucky, no matter who was around or where he was.  As long as he was with one of us, all was right with his world.  I don't understand.  This is my first IW and I am just wondering if this is a breed trait, the aloofness or what?  I don't think the cowering is, but we are trying to take him more places in crowds and expose him to more.  He is cowering in places that 6 months ago, he would have been prancing around without a care in the world.  His personality at home has not changed one bit.  He is stil our loving, goofball that he has always been.
Kathy

I need some advice and opinions please.  My hubby is seriously thinking that he wants a black Irish Wolfhound.  I would love to have one as I think they are absoutely beautiful, but, I don't know if we have the time or energy for a 4th dog.  We still have a lot of work to do with Max and Cody.  They still pull on lead when they are in crowds, etc.  They are great just walking around our neighborhood, at Petsmart, etc. but at a craft fair, pet fair, etc. with lots of people and other dogs, they are very hard for me to control.  I am working on it diligently, but have not gotten them to the point that I am comfortable taking more than one of them at a time to an event like that.  I can take one and keep them calm and under control, but no more.  At home they are great and basically movable rugs when they are not running through the house, knocking over furniture, etc. playing.  They are only 1.5 and still just puppies (although they are very big puppies).  I just don't know if we are ready to add a 4th big dog to the house.  All of my dogs live in the house, sleep in the house, etc.  They are all very healthy (other than allergies).  I know if I agree that it will take a while to find one, be put on waiting list, etc.  Maybe in that period of time, we would get to where we want to be with training the others?
Opinions please.
Kathy

Congratulation s!  That is fantastic.  I always wanted to show Max, but never even figured out how to start.  You are doing great!
Kathy