Talk to me about dogs...

Hass said:

I've been reading... for a long, long time.
Protection is also on the list of things I'd like from a dog... But I don't really want to put that on a dog.
However I don't think too many burglars would be too interested in coming in to a house if they saw this waiting inside.
http://youtu.be/D07rb5KsiSE

Mainly just worried about cats, or a dog that can't be controlled and turns in to a horror.

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That breed is awesome...Sounds like a wolf.

EatenByLimestone said:

When I lived in Houston I saw a guy at a pet store with a Newfy. I asked how the dog delt with the temps down there and found out it had an air conditioned dog house. I'd bet the TX breeder you saw did something similar.

Matt

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The Newfys were the basis for the labrador I believe. Both water dogs...Newfys came first. I think they have webbed paws

Hey Hass, I would definitely stick with a quality kibble food-better for their teeth and it includes all the vitamins that they need. A meat only diet would prolly not be great in the long term, my cousin tried a raw chicken diet for his dogs and switched after about a year. My dogs have always been on science diet and they are a combined 36 years old and still very healthy. Another consideration is cleaning up the yard after them, with a good food, their 'stools' are more solid and much more 'pleasurable' to pick up!!

Happy New Year!
Rob

Good point. Also, raw bear meat is a serious health risk for you to handle, due to trichinosis; can't imagine that it's that safe for your dogs, either.

I usually add cooked meats to my dog's food. I feed a little less dog food but supliment with other things-like if we have a chicken, I'll boil the bones and make a broth, then mix in some rice. She LOVES it. I'd never feed raw, that's just asking to build a prey drive.

As far as a dog becoming a horror-usually they are from the start, or become one because of the owner. The lab my friend had to put down was "off" since puppyhood. Ours seems to have been made crazy by previous owners because they didn't know how to handle her. We got her in August and you'd almost think she's a different dog now. You will probably want to work with a rescue vs the SPCA or CL (which is where our cazy dog came from). The SPCA only knows what they were told and a dog will behave very different in a cage surrounded by other dogs than in a home. Someone posting on CL will probably be trying whatever it takes to get rid of their dog and might leave out important information, which is what happened to us. A rescue will most likely have their dogs in home settings so they will have the best idea of how the dog acts in a family setting and will probably be working the hardest to match the dog/it's personality to a family.

If you're set on malamutes or huskies, I'd visit that rescue (there's on in Ransomville, I'm thinking that's the ones you're talking about) and talk to them about what you want in a dog and your situation-and meet some of the dogs there. A friend of ours has three huskies, two are rescues. She's very familiar with the breed and knew what she was getting, but they have been a huge challenge in her situation-one got out and attacked a neighbor's calf, another a barn cat...they are wonderful dogs, very friendly, but...we specifically chose not to get that breed because of the prey drive and energy level. As active as labs are, huskies are even more-they need a LOT of excercise and we don't have a fenced yard.

We've only had girls...boys...pee on things.

A good Golden--what's not to love?

That post above reminded me of an incident with my current old girl. She was about 6-7 months old, and I had her in an outside kennel that we assembled at considerable expense and frustration. She went through the chain-link door at first opportunity. What did she do when she achieved her freedom? Went over to the front porch, laid down, and waited for us there. Front door-- GSD place of honor, inside or out. And they will claim it.

If your dad has raised several, than you know the breed. That's good.