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Messages - Vapidfire

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Groans, Gripes, Brags & Boasts / Re: Occasionally want to strangle her.

« on: February 03, 2009, 08:42:17 am »

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions! I will try the bitter apple approach and see how it goes. Right now I am more concerned with her eating the beds of the other dogs than her own! just because she wants to destroy hers doesn't mean the others shouldn't have doggy beds.

Also, Patrick she is 8mo's now our Newfoundland is 11wks.
She also gets plenty of exercise as she is from working lines. If she does not go for a 2+ mile brisk walk every evening before bed she will not settle down at night. She also jogs in the morning before we work in scenting (She is being trained as a drug detection animal.

Groans, Gripes, Brags & Boasts / Occasionally want to strangle her.

« on: February 02, 2009, 06:16:38 pm »

Hello Everyone,

First let me start off by saying that I love my puppy, I truly do. We're bonded tighter than I've ever been with any other dog.

but

Occasionally I just want to strangle her.

I cannot get her to stop digging/ripping fabric. She's gone through four dog beds in her kennel, usually taking less than a day to destroy them. Then we decided to just try thick blankets with no stuffing in the middle of them and she rips them into little pieces.

Her kennel is stocked with numerous chew toys, freshly filled kong toys and a couple of stuffed toys. She doesn't tear up stuffed toys, just bedding.

We finally went to Ryan's pets a dog supply super store here in Arizona. We found a bed that so far after four days she has not been able to rip up or tear open.

So since we seemed to have gotten her one she cannot destroy she went into our other mastiff's kennel and has been trying to rip her bed up! I've caught her at it several times today and yell at her. She stops when I yell at her but I know she'll sneak in there when I'm not looking (she is devious!)

Does anyone have advice on how to get her to give up her destruction of all things soft and squishy? She doesn't dig in the back yard. I've gotten her past digging at the carpet. She's not allowed on the couch but she's somehow become obsessed with destroying her bedding.

I am about ready to give up but I don't want her sleeping on hard plastic either.

Cat
Serenity: 4yr old Fila Brasileiro
Kaylee: 8mo old Fila Brasileiro
Tanstaafl: 11wk old Newfoundland
The Rest of the Zoo.

General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Another dilemma with Gilligan.

« on: February 02, 2009, 05:57:33 pm »

Hi,

Well after hearing everything you are going through I'd pass on getting a dog from those people.

You need to have a long lasting relationship with the breeder you get your dog from. These are people that should be not only able to but very willing to help you for the rest of the dogs life.

I'd also be very suspicious of a breeder who was reluctant or openly unwilling to take one of their dogs back.

When we were searching for a Newfoundland it was a big hassle. I talked to dozens of different breeders, checked OFFA reports, called people all over the country. I actually started to get discouraged before finding the breeder we're getting our boy from. I not only wanted parents that looked how I think Newfies should look, but had taken the time to champion her dogs, had good health checks, and was a member of at least their local Newfoundland club. Beyond that I wanted a breeder who was easy to talk with, one that I got a good vibe from. I turned down several breeders based on not feeling "right" about them.

If you're getting such a bad vibe I'd kiss the deposit goodbye and move on. You'll be happier in the long run.
Either go with the pit that you're already starting to bond with or search out another Newfoundland breeder.

Cat.
Serenity: 4yr old Fila Brasileiro
Kaylee: 8mo old Fila Brasileiro
Tanstaafl: 11wk old Newfoundland
The rest of the Zoo.

Meet & Greet BPOers / Re: Anyone in Arizona?

« on: February 02, 2009, 04:08:46 pm »

Hi Tricia,

We're down in the valley on the far west side. I'd love it if you could point me in the direction of some of those groups though! We've never had a therapy dog before but I've wanted one for quite some time.

Cat.

Meet & Greet BPOers / Anyone in Arizona?

« on: February 02, 2009, 03:10:31 pm »

Hello Everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone was in Arizona? I'd love to find some other people with giant breed dogs that I can socialize our future therapy dog with. I don't want to take him into stores or the dog park until he has been fully vaccinated. I do want him to meet lots of new dogs and people from the start though!

Cat.

General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Just saying Hi again

« on: February 02, 2009, 03:08:21 pm »

Hello Everyone,

Just stopping in to say Hi again. Been a few very hectic weeks and I've missed reading over the forums! not sure how many people read my introduction awhile ago but the house has been more hectic and less hectic all at the same time.

We adopted out the Cane Corso we were fostering (Yay Brody for finding such a wonderful home!) then my roommate and I had this big non-dog related argument so she went back to Washington state with her fiance and her three dogs.

That left us with just our two female Fila Brasileiros, Serenity age four and Kaylee age eight months. Things settled back down and it was nice not having six mastiffs in the house (easier to walk around anyway)

Before the roommate left my husband had mentioned wanting to train up a Therapy and Obedience dog though. So we got to talking about that a little more then some more, then even more until finally deciding to take the plunge.

After searching the Newfoundland Club of America's website we are welcoming a black male Newfie puppy into the home on Wednesday (The 4th of Feb). We've decided to name him Tanstaafl which stands for "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" which just seemed fitting since we plan on working him a lot when he is older.

So, I apologise for my ranting ahead of time! but with two puppies and two toddlers in the house I'm going to be pulling my hair out in large clumps!

Cat

Introduce Yourself to the Forum / Hallo Everyone!

« on: January 09, 2009, 11:08:48 am »

Hallo Everyone,

Just thought I'd introduce myself. Just found the board and thought it would be great to get to chat to other giant breed dog owners.

I myself have quite a zoo! We have four cats, two dwarf hamsters, and six parrots.

The puppies in the house include Five Fila Brasileiros and one Cane Corso.

Our oldest dogs are two 4yr old female Fila Brasileiros. Both of them are fawns. Serenity belongs to me and my husband and Diva belongs to my best friend who recently moved in with us for an unknown amount of time.

The other three Filas are 6mo old fawn puppies. Two girls and one Boy. One of the girls "Kaylee" is ours and the other two "Fury" and "Chaos" belong to the roomie. They are all siblings from a litter she had with Diva.

Our new roomie runs a dog rescue and the Cane Corso "Brody" is a rescue dog. We're hoping that he's found his new forever home and are going over to do a home check on Tuesday.

The house gets pretty crazy sometimes lately! but it's not as insane as people seem to think. "Trish" our new roomie is a dog trainer and behavioralist so the dogs are all extremely well behaved.

Looking forward to talking with others.

Cat.