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Messages - BrewMaster

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1
Wolfhound Discussions & Pictures / Re: Another Wolfhound at our house!!!
« on: November 22, 2008, 07:31:54 am »
What a cutie!!!  You can send him to my house!!!
-Anna

2
Yes!  We have succeeded!!!  The shag rug slept in the bedroom with us last night with a few potty breaks inbetween and I am not scrubbing carpets this AM.
-Anna

3
He backs up slowly and stands steadily, focused on his target.  He is determind.  He is suave.  He is the mighty conqueror of all.

He shakes his head from side to side with vigor, The sticky mud that makes up his shaggy beard soars into the air, attaching itself to floor, walls, and bar siding.  His body and mind are now refreshed, acting as one so that he may excecute the great task ahead.  His eyes are focused.  Confidence pours out of him as he begins to bound forward with ellegant strides.  His fur bounces in motion with each mighty movement, swallowing up his defined features with it's rhythm.  Just before he reaches his target he launches into the air,  tucking his powerful haunches underneath him with acrobatic grace. His mouth gapes as he anticipates his landing on the other side, paws outstretched to accomidate the great mass which is still airborne. He twists slightly as he lands and dances a little once he is secure again on the ground.  He has done it and he is swelling with pride - but no one here can know that this was such a triumph.  For they must think of this as the ordinary for such a mighty creature.  Afterall he is dignified and refined.  Powerful.  Graceful.  He is the mighty one!

Ok.  So this is totally the way I pictured Brutus going over our baby gate from kitchen to livingroom.  It is pretty tall with his head just barely able to peek over the top.  I never doubted his ability to jump this high, but it seems nearly impossible for a creature this size to launch himself into the air.  Still, Brutus keeps jumping the gate.  My husband forgot to block the gate this morning before I got up (we slept on the couch last night to keep an eye on the dog) and brutus selected our livingroom as his comfy padded water closet yet again this morning after he left for work.  I nearly cried when I saw a mess for the 3rd time this week but calmly let Brutus outside while I dealt with the pies.

Later this afternoon I received a great deal of insight into Brews gate jumping talent and was amused when my vision of this action was shattered to pieces.  Brutus walked up to the gate, peering over it with a sloppy, stupid grin on his face.  "Watch this mom!"  He did not exert any effort by lifting his giant paw, flopping it over the gate - the same way he puts his paw in my lap when he is trying to say "I love you ma."  Before I could register what was coming next the other paw was up and Brew was standing on his hind legs.  Although I was across the room I suddenly felt very small as this furry giant stood at least a foot taller than me. I saw what was coming next.  There was no giant bound involved but rather one massive catapult.  Brew was about to use his mighty hind haunches to launch the rest of his body over the gate.  No wonder the gate was starting to look a little, well, giddy-womp.  130 lbs of pressure on an already flimsy gate was sure to destroy it after a few of these stunts.  "Get down Brutus."  It was the first time he has ever experienced my sturn voice but he sensed the seriousness in my tone and quickly slinked back down to his 3 1/2 ft self, wandering away casually like he had not had any part of the event.

What are we going to do with you Brutus...

I really appreciate all of the advice given in my last post.  I am going to treat Brew like a pup who needs to relearn.  I'm going to take him out regularly.  I may leave him in the bathroom at night until the evil runs are gone and then I think we're going to work harder at getting him used to sleeping in the bedroom with the door closed.  If this doesn't work, we'll just have to get a crate until he learns that inside is not potty space.  I am so amused by my dogs antics but very serious about correcting this behavior.  At the same time I WILL move out if he manages to poop on my carpet again.  It will be all up to the hubby at that point.
-Anna               

       

4
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Time To Ask For Help...
« on: November 19, 2008, 04:45:59 pm »
I wonder if he would still try to jump it if we blocked it with backwards facing chairs every night...making it too wide to jump, if you know what I'm saying.  I think the goal here is to eventually be able to allow brutus to roam where he wants to in the house.  The baby gate is intended to keep small children away from parrots and I do leave it propped open for Brutus when the kids do not have direct access to birdies. We wont have the baby gate forever, likely another year or so until our daughter can follow instructions.  In the meantime, I would like Brew to get to a point where he lets me know when he wants through the gate...just like the rest of us, LOL!
-Anna    

5
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Time To Ask For Help...
« on: November 19, 2008, 04:39:12 pm »
Here is the entry way from our kitchen into our livingroom...a bit of a challenge...


-Anna

6
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Time To Ask For Help...
« on: November 19, 2008, 09:28:25 am »
I have been around dogs my whole life but the honest truth is that I am not terribly dog smart.  I have learned from some mistakes and feel that I can really be a great owner for Brutus despite not knowing everything.  Still, I knew I would be hitting some road blocks from time to time, and here I am! 

Brutus has been sleeping in our kitchen at night as it seems to be the most safe place for him.  Each time we have left the gate open for him, he goes into the livingroom at some point during the night to use the bathroom, but then returns to his kitchen/den where it is safe and sound.  He does not whine to be let out and does not tell us when he has to go potty during the day or night.  I have assumed that he was not potty trained and was left outdoors all the time in his previous home.

So, a 1 1/2 to 2 year old 130 lb Brutus thinks the livingroom is his potty place which isn't too much fun for me since it's carpeted in there.  We let him out several times at night before bed and then my hubby lets him out first thing in the morning when he gets up (around 6am.)  Some of you may remember my last post - Brutus jumped the baby gate while we were on a day trip and had the runs all over the livingroom floor.  Last night in the middle of the night sometime, Brutus jumped the gate again and went poop on the carpet - still a bit runny from his upset tummy the other day but it wasn't a mass explosion, thank goodness.  This afternoon I went out front to rense off the pooper scooper, after using it to scoop grossness out of the carpet this morning from last nights episode.  Brutus saw that I had left the front door open and he jumped the gate and came out front.  He was so nervious/excited that I had left his sight that he peed as soon as I got him to casually follow me back into the house. 

Brutus has been really, really wound up after our leaving for that day trip, even though we came back the same night.  I'm wondering if the pooping in the livingroom behavior is related or if he is just getting comfortable enough to start showing off some of his new tricks (like jumping the gate or eating my socks for fun :D ).

So far we have just opted to completely ignore Brews behaviors, especially when he seems to get phobic.  I just let him have his panic attack without acknowledging that it's there and this has seemed to allow him to calm down quickly.  Still, we can't have Brutus using our livingroom as a toilet.  I have been praising him whenever he goes outside and make a big deal whenever I find him standing by the door even if he doesn't actually go potty when I let him out, and he likes this attention.  I'm just not sure what else to do.  We would love to have him sleep in the bedroom with us at night but to date he has been pretty spooked about being locked in the bedroom with us.  I feel really anxious about the idea of crating him at night though I'm not sure why.  I guess "caging" a dog is just a really odd concept for me, even when they seem to like it.  Thoughts, suggestions?     
-Anna

7
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: The Flock
« on: November 17, 2008, 05:06:37 pm »
Sounds like a yellow naped amazon.  They can be pretty spicy and have huge personalities.  They are among the best talkers but lots of talking also usually includes lots of other noises. I was working with one the other day and she was just too cool.  she sat in my lap LaLaLa-ing at me and talking in full sentences, but she was mumbling so I didn't catch a word of it.   :D
-Anna   

8
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: The Flock
« on: November 17, 2008, 05:03:54 pm »
I think if you can handle staying in the same living area with a conure most of the time, you have a much higher chance of making it with a cockatoo. :)  I suppose it would have been fair for me to mention all of the good things about them too.  They are the best cuddlers on the planet. Our triton cockatoo could brighten anyone's day with his silly, halarious antics. And there is nothing like hearing "I love you" in the morning or before bed.:) The cockatoo you worked with sounds like she was an extra sweet gal. 
-Anna

9
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: The Flock
« on: November 17, 2008, 03:28:00 pm »
If you decide a macaw is right for you, think about looking into adopting one from a rescue if you have the patience to work with one and have someone help you.  Most pet stores will sell a macaw for around $2,000.  We adopt our rescue macaws to families all over the country for around $400.  Some of them have issues, some don't but they all require an owner who isn't afraid of them.   ;D
-Anna

10
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: The Flock
« on: November 17, 2008, 03:25:07 pm »
Parrots pick their owners.  If they are matched up with an owner they do not like they can spend their entire lifetime in a miserable situation where no one is happy.  They have individual personalities and personality preferences and once they bond they can become heartbroken when they lose their person.  We rehab and rehome parrots all the time and most do very well with the change but there are some, usually the ones who have been very well loved, who do not adapt as easily - especially congo african greys.  Parrots can live up to 100 years so making a commitment to them and also a will for their future is important for bird owners. 

Our indian ringneck is a sweety (with me) and such a beauty.  I think ringnecks have some of the greatest personalities out of all parrots.  Lories are extremely messy if fed lots of fresh fruits and veggies, somewhat messy being fed a powdered diet, and not very messy when fed soaked pellets.  Any type of pellet is dangerous for them to consume though as their digestive tracts are longer and tend to get damaged when grains and harder to digest foods are consumed.  Lories are also moody and owners quickly learn that their birds frequently have mood swings and decide to attack at random.  They are easily over stimulated but very demanding and when they bite they bite hard.  They are certainly one of the more advanced parrot species and even tend to challenge those who do well with other species.

Although macaws may have the largest beaks, cockatoos probably have the worst bites.  A macaws beak crushes - usually leaving a bruise and a welt. Cockatoos have compact beaks that are designed to apply pressure and then tear.  They pierce the skin producing deap puncture wounds and sometimes tear the flesh upon exit.  They are probably the most difficult species to work with as they have high hormone levels that cause biting, plucking, screaming, and other behaviors (though the smaller species can make wondeful pets).  Cockatoos are the loudest species of parrot and can and will scream to be heard miles away.  Teaching them not to scream, bite, and chew is like teaching them not to be a parrot, which is just not possible, so cockatoo owners have to accept these behaviors to have a successful relationship with their parrot.  Macaws tend to be a bit more mellow and are wonderful, loyal, and devoted when they bond.  They are very loud also and very challenging, but not nearly as much as a cockatoo.  Sadly, we work with macaws and cockatoos daily who were purchased by well meaning families who simply had no idea what they were getting into.


I'm sorry for the one whose sister lost an amazon.  A very sad situation.  we clip our birds so that accidents like that do not occur.  Amazons are well known for protecting their nest by dive bombing intruders to ward them off.  Dogs are well known for snapping at and/or capturing small fuzzy or fesathered creatures.  Both animals were following their instincts but the parrot will always lose if the owner does not keep them out of harms way.  This is why, even though Brutus hasn't shown any interest in playing with and/or hurting any of the birds, you just never know and dogs are predators and parrots are prey animals.

Sorry to ramble.  I get kindof caught up in birds.  They are my special love.   ::)

-Anna 
 

   

 

 


11
Anything Non-Dog Related / The Flock
« on: November 17, 2008, 02:01:45 pm »
Brutus thinks he is part of a pack but what he doesn't really know is that he is part of a flock.  We are home to 14 parrots plus 10-15 foster parrots at a time, as we do rescue.  Brutus has done really well with the birds so far.  He follows me into the aviary when I feed and clean and though he seems curious, he has been gentle about his explorations.  Still, because he is a dog and does have some sight houndin him, we never leave him alone with a loose bird or let them play together.  The birds were afraid at first but have learned that Brutus isn't interested in eating them.

Here are some photos of the flock:
Blue and Gold Macaw, Peggy Sue:


Triton Cockatoo, BatToo:


Indian Ringneck, Chrissy:


Red Lory, Orbit:


Orange Wing Amazon, PJ:


Cockatiels, Cooper, Ash, GingerAle, Luke:


Bare Eyed cockatoo, Benny:


45 yr old Amazon, Loretta:


My favorite foster right now, Military Macaw, Popeye:


enjoy,
-Anna



12
Mixed Breed Discussion / Re: Big Mistake!!!
« on: November 17, 2008, 12:52:04 pm »
What can you do?  I think these are just part of the joys of having pets!  I'm actually happy that the carpet is clean as I had been meaning to clean it for a while anyway.  I wish there had just been little spots, but brutus got it everywhere and then our 2 year old helped make a bigger mess!  The livingroom kind of smells like a dryer sheet now, and that's never a bad thing!  No complaining here though it would have been nice to clean carpets minus cow pies and not in the middle of the night.

Brutus seems to be a little bit better this evening though I still don't think he feels great. 
 
-Anna   

13
Mixed Breed Discussion / Big Mistake!!!
« on: November 17, 2008, 09:08:46 am »
Yesterday was an amazingly crazy day.  We have been taking Brutus to the dog park several days a week because it has really helped to improve his fear issues.  In fact, up until last night he was starting to branch out and was becoming super friendly with even people he had never met before.  The submissive peeing has not been a problem for almost 2 weeks now and we are really, really proud of our big softy dog.

Yesterday my husband and I had to made a day road trip down to another part of the state to do a home inspection for a couple of macaws we are going to adopt out.  We got up early and let the dogs out and then let Brutus back in because he seems more secure sprawled out on the tile in our kitchen.  We left and wouldn't return for about 10 hours.  Brutus has proven to be able to hold it for quite some time, so I wasn't too worried but worst case we might have a little mess to clean off the tile when we returned. 

When I walked in the front door carrying my sleeping one year old, all the lights were off but my sense of smell was suddenly horrified.  Dog poop.  And not just regular dog poop, either.  Baaaddddd dog poop.  Oh well, I thought.  Brutus is in the kitchen, I'll just clean it off the tile when I set the baby down.  Our two year old son ran in the door after me and started playing with his toys in the livingroom in the dark.  When I walked back through to go to the kitchen (about 20 seconds later) and turned on the lights I noticed a giant Brutus cowering in the corner of the livingroom.  It wasn't until then that I saw all of the giant cow pies all over the livingroom carpet - and Gabe was running around in them, stomping.  There was also a giant sopping puddle in the same place where Brew had submissive peed in the carpet earlier when we came home one of the first days we had him.  Brutus had jumped the baby gate, or kicked it open somehow to get into the livingroom.  I was too speechless to say a word so instead I just got a bucket.

The night before last I made the mistake of letting Brew lick up some extra beef grease I had from cooking filets.  This probably upset his tummy and it looked like Brew pancked when he realized he needed to go outside NOW.  Did he jump the gate because he had to go potty and came looking for me, hoping that maybe I was home after all or did he jump the gate for fun and then upset himself so badly that he couldn't get back into the kitchen that he got the runs? 

We will likely never know for sure but he has been a basket case since the event.  Last night he bolted when he realized that we had discovered the mess.  I didn't say a word to anyone about the mess, including Brutus but routinely let him back into the kitchen, bent down and told him how sorry I was that he didn't feel good and that we weren't home when he needed us.  That seemed to calm him, as it is usual for me to bend down and tell him something sweet when I come home.  He responds by putting his big fuzzy mitt on my leg and gives me a little "I missed you" smile.  I let him outside incase he had to go potty again but he was terribly wound up again by the time he came back inside and went to hide.  This morning when I got up to let him out, he was super jumpy and seemed afraid of me.  My poor guy!  Hopefully the trauma wont last him too long, though he is likely still not feeling very well.  I just hope acting like the mess wasn't there will help him to realize that he's not in trouble. 

I ended up steam cleaning carpets until 5:00 in the morning.  We don't have a steam cleaner but I have one of those Spot Bots with a hose attachment and I just soaped and rinsed a few inches of the carpet at a time.  Yikes!  I I think I'm going to see how brutus feels about being left out when I go out from now on.  I work at home so I am rarely gone for long - and maybe this is part of what upset him so badly.  He thought we had left him for good, like his last owner did. Poor baby.


Anyway, I was hoping someone here could empathize with what happened.  I am truely amazed that today the carpets look almost like it hadn't even happened!!!  Vinegar and then Tide with color safe bleach makes an excellent carpet cleaner. 
-Anna   

   


14
Cane Corso Discussions & Pictures / Re: Happy dog pics!
« on: November 07, 2008, 02:20:44 pm »
What a sweety pie!  I certainly wouldn't mind being his pillow.
-Anna

15
Helpful Groups & Dogs in Need / St Bernard/Newfie in NM
« on: November 07, 2008, 02:17:58 pm »
I have seen this guy on craigslist for about a month now and would take him in a heartbeat if I could afford the dog food for another large breed.  It's killing me to know that I can't and really want to see this dog end up in a loving, understanding home.  St bernards, in my opinion can be a bit challenging and a lot of people just don't understand that. Can anyone here help?

"I am a giant st.Bernard X dog that was rescued from a poor animal shelter in August. I was starved half to death, very sick, and dejected. New Mom took me home, nourished, medicated me, got me shots, groomed, neutered-ouch!, microchipped, and socialized. I love to be brushed, walked, going to the dogpark, playing, and being loved on. I have a few challenging habits that make my new Mom a bit crazy though. I like to chew soft cuddly things such as socks, shoes, towels, most anything soft will do if you leave it within my reach, I also like to explore-I was a stray afterall- and will go go go out of the yard if you don't lock the gate, and I like to be the boss of other household dogs-alpha! But, I really do like other dogs and people, I'm a favorite at my dogpark. I like to play with everyone and love to be hugged and petted by everyone. Mom wants me to find another home as soon as possible. Her other dog and I really like each other-most of the time-but I do like to be the boss,and sometimes have to remind him of that. Plus Mom rents, and is searching for a new "home" and is finding it very difficult to find a new rental with a large and a giant breed (Me)dog. Not all landlords like great big dogs for some reason. Please e-mail her soon with your interest. She still owes $200.00 to the vet for getting me all fixed up, she would really like for someone to help her get that paid, even if but a portion. I can't wait to meet you! I'm still young at about 1 year and want nothing more than to be your best forever friend."

Contact: mssmiley22@juno.com



-Anna
 

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