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Messages - PyrPack

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16
The training wheels are a very simple PVC frame.  There is a picture of it in the Carting group.  Working with PVC (especially if it doesn't need to be water-tight) is easier than playing with Lego blocks.  Cut the PVC and paste together.  I did decide to go cheap with the tires and just bought a used little girl's bike.  I'll have to get a little creative about attaching them to the frame, but it's still pretty simple.  The Carting group shows a lot of examples of carts and wagons, and provides some instructions.

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Love it!

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I hope to cart with my Pyrs in the near future.  I'm still customizing the harness and making the training wheels.  I joined a Yahoo group that is incredibly helpful http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Carting-L/

There is a lot of experience in this group, some of them are coordinators or judges for the clubs.  They also have a lot of files and links to find instructions for the equipment or vendors.  And of course, lots of pictures.

Diana


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Great pictures, thanks.  It looks like the dogs and their people were having a lot more fun than at the Westminister show.  How do they get those BPs on the grooming tables?  I groom my Pyrs myself and normally sit on the floor.  Even the vets exam my dogs on the floor.

Achilles and I are in therapy training class right now.  I've been meaning to do this since my first Pyr, years ago.  They have the perfect temperament and people have to pet them.

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Newfoundland Pictures / Re: Retry to show you agility....Sorry
« on: February 27, 2009, 02:26:55 pm »
He really looks like he's having fun.

When I took my Pyr through the course, couldn't get him to run, and he just stepped over the hurdles.

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Newfoundland Pictures / Re: Retry to show you agility....Sorry
« on: February 27, 2009, 02:25:28 pm »
Adorable!  Newfies have so much enthusiasm!  But it looks like he's just shouldering the poles out of his way.

I took Achilles through an agility course last month.  He  had to weave through every other one. His body was too long to turn that tightly.

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Need Advice
« on: February 27, 2009, 10:38:19 am »
Thin the fur.  A groomer can do it or use a Furminator. 

I actually have never thinned their fur, though I keep planning on it. Got a Furminator last fall. I have Great Pyrenees in Southern California.  I have cut their hair down to about an inch. Many owners around here shave their Pyrs in late spring.  I've known a few who just have the dogs sheared along with the sheep.   I've adopted 2 Pyrs whose previous owners shaved them.  But the dogs just look too silly for me and it takes a long time for the fur to grow back.  Pyrs are low energy dogs, so mine just spend most of their time sleeping in the shade, with or without fur.

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Found a lump on Bo...
« on: February 27, 2009, 10:31:05 am »
Great to hear the good news!  It's nice to know we aren't the only one that gets strange bumps and lumps as we grow older.

My mother's dog has seizures and at this point we just monitor them. He just stiffens up strangely for a few minutes.  He has occassionally fallen, but he's a Jack Russell so doesn't have far too fall ;D.  As long as the seizures aren't too frequent (Jocko has less than 6 a year) we'll keep him off seizure medication.  If he starts the medication, he will have to have it everyday for life.

My dogs don't have weight problems, but I've heard canned pumpkin may help a dog loose weight.  It's tasty, filling, low in calories and high in fiber.  Maybe I should try it. ;D

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Found a lump on Bo...
« on: February 24, 2009, 08:17:15 am »
A mass on her leg is not likely related to seizures, but let the vet confirm that. I haven't study Prozac recently but some neurological drugs have more side effects after long term use, including seizures.  And some neurological drugs have more side effects if the dose is lowered or discontinued.

If the mass feels like a solitary lump (as opposed to integrated into the tissue like a bad bruise) that usually has a better outcome.  I've seen several dogs get fatty masses under their skin.  My late Pyr, Roxy had a couple of fatty masses when I rescued her, one at her ampit.  The vet could have removed them, but they weren't painful or restricted her movement, she was old, so we let them be.  My mother's dog has one that we just keep an eye on to make sure it isn't getting bigger.  Even to get a biopsy usually requires the dogs go under anesthesia, which I try to avoid, especially in older dogs.  But as long as it's a distinctive mass, if you choose to remove it, the surgery is easier.

Good luck

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Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Re: HEy everyone!!!
« on: February 23, 2009, 06:15:25 pm »
Where are you feeding the pup?  I know cats won't mess where their food is.  I would guess the same would work for dogs.  If I was dealing with this puppy, I would feed it in the crate, then immediately take it outside until it peed or pooped.  I've also read that it's important to keep the puppy outside until it does its business, even if it takes an hour or more. Fortunately, I've never had to undo training so I haven't had to wait that long  ;)

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Big Dogs with Jobs / Re: Children Readng to Dogs - Cirra's Book Bags
« on: February 21, 2009, 12:57:32 pm »
Congratulation s on the program! It takes a lot of work to get something like that started.  Achilles and I went to his first Therapy Training class today.  Paws for Literacy at our county library is one of the programs in which I want to be involved.  Though we will probably do nursing homes as well.  People can't seem to keep their hands off of Pyrs.

Love the stuffed Cirras.  Can you connect me with your friend to get one?  Even better, can I get the pattern?

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Meet & Greet BPOers / Re: Any BPOers in Oceanside? Craig needs a playmate!
« on: February 20, 2009, 10:35:23 am »
I'm in Vista and regularly take my 2 pyrs to the Humane Society dog park, but I don't know if we can help.  Xena is snotty for the first 10 minutes there, and growls at any dog that comes near.  It takes a least 20 minutes before she'll play, but she sometimes does better when fewer dogs are there.  Achilles is usually taller than any of the other dogs, but is indifferent to the large dogs.  He focuses on the smallest dog there and will try to play with it.

I usually go late Sunday afternoon, though this week I'll be going on Saturday. 

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Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Re: I need help with 2 Great Pyrenees
« on: February 20, 2009, 10:28:32 am »
I have a 4 ft chain-link fence all around my back yard.  I fostered over 40 dogs in the last 3 years and only one went over it, a young boxer mix.  None of my pyrs have ever gone over it.  I don't know what I'm doing right. For the boxer, I ended up using a wire run between the house and a tree.

Chewing has been the hardest part for me as a dogowner.  My pyrs and fosters have chewed 2 couches, pillows, tools, solar walk lights, doors, walls, my irrigation system and of course shoes.  Xena, my current chewer didn't stop her chewing until she was almost 2 years, though she slowed down by 1 1/2.  Even now, at over 3 years, she gets an urge for the plastic planters by the greenhouse. 

They do grow out of it.  Just pack away anything that it would hurt to lose. 

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