Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Hi, my name is Amy and I am owned by Dell, a lab/shepherd mix. Welcome!  This place is the best and I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know everyone!


You have a beautiful pup.  Make sure you post more pictures because people around here will bug you until you do!

What a sweet funny baby!

Chocolate and wine in SMALL doses??  What is small?  A 36 count box of Godiva and a bottle of Cabernet? That seems like the right amount for small to me!

And Ronda, I can never get enough of you.  Is there such a thing as too much Ronda?

Great collage!  Wanna do one for me?

Sweet puppers!  Grace is a riot in that second video!

[quote author=Gypsy Jazmine That's  o.k ...I don't think there is a thing at all wrong with not crating your dog!...I prefer not to use the crate with my guys actually...I never have issue with crating or not crating...It's just when people that don't crate think it is cruel of those who choose to crate their dogs...Now that irritates me!

That's all I was trying to say as well.  Didn't mean to hijack your post...

Welcome Aimee, I'm Denise and I'm owned by two Leonberger girls and a Newf/Lab mix. I'm sure you'll have fun around here.

Oh! and don't listen to Ronda. She may have only posted one poo picture but she talks about it all the time.

  And she loves the smell of it on her fingers!  LOLOLOLOL

Welcome!  I LOVE your babies!  They are so sweet!

I am Amy and I am owned by Dell, a white shepherd/lab mix.

This is a great site.  I'm sure you'll enjoy it, just watch out for pics of poo that are posted by doggylover!! 

I know you all are fervent Crate supporters and it works for you, but we have no need for a crate for Drake and he seems just fine.  It worked well for him when he was a pup and we were house breaking him, but now that he's an adult, there's just no need.  PLus at night, I want him loose in case something goes down.  I guess what I'm saying is that it works both ways.  What may seem like people not understanding is that they just prefer their dog to be by their sides rather than in their own little place.  Drake likes laying on the tile by the front door or on his dog bed in front of a fan or out on the deck in the cool night air.  Mostly, he just wants to be with us.  I don't see why we would need a crate.  He doesn't jump on people or pester our house guests so why would we need a crate?  See my avatar?  That's Drake's tempermant most of the time, so chill.  Not that I'm trying to say that Drake better than anybody elses dog, it's just that some people are Craters while others prefer their dogs to sleep or lay wherever they want.  To-may-to/To-mah-to, Po-tay-to/Po-tah-to, Chocolate/Vanilla, it's just one of those kinds of things.  Nobody could ever talk me into crating Drake, it's just not our thing.  Maybe if we ever have multiple dogs or an out of control dog, but even then....  Mmmmmm, I don't think so.  But Kudos to y'all if it works for you.  Every dog experience is different.

Boy, if Dell was as calm and cool as Drake, we wouldn't need to crate him when company is over.  That would be great! 

Delly is just a volatile mix of energetic shepherd and spazzy lab (not all are spazzy but his genetics apparently are!) and his absolute and utter glee at seeing new people, who arrive in nice, hair-free and drool-free clothes is over the top. We have worked and worked on the spastic-ness but just can't seem to break it yet (a la "Marley and Me).  He's also young, only 18 months, so I'm sure in time he will mellow greatly.

I would also like to leave Dell loose at night but there is just too much trouble for him to get into unsupervised.