Change from thread to group

I'm sure there was a better way of doing this but what I've done (see final comment below) is to cut and paste all comments so far into a new 'group' heading

Topic: LTers with dogs 17 / 17 read
read Jan 24, 2008, 3:44pm (top)Message 1:

Booksloth Show Affinity
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I see there is a thread here for the cat people (people who have cats, that is, not some new mutant breed amongst us) and I've seen quite a few lovely dogs in profile photos, so how about sharing some of that 'doggy style' love (no porn please)?
My black lab is a five year old boy called Skeelo who is into Steinbeck, John Irving, Stephen King etc (well, we share a lot of favourite authors because I have to read to him as he can't turn the pages). His favourite books in the world are The Last Family in England and Travels With Charley -favourite catch-phrase "Ftt".
I know he'd just love to hear about other LTers reading companions. Anyway, I have to keep him involved with this or he'll sulk.

read Yesterday, 2:08pm (top)Message 2:

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cal8769 Show Affinity
My reading companion is a 2 year old Jack Russell named Bones. He loves any author as long as he can lay on my lap while I am reading. He really hates when I read a humourous book as my laughing out loud startles him. I have to admit to the 2 cats ( or as they call themselves, the supreme rulers) in my house, Clyde and Lucky. sometimes it gets hard to read with all of them trying to find a place to sit.

read Yesterday, 2:16pm (top)Message 3:

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Booksloth Show Affinity

Hi! I was beginning to think I was the only LTer with a dog! Skeelo says hi to Bones; one of his very best friends is a Jack Russell called Indie and he generally runs up to all Jack Russells thinking that, even if they're not Indie, they must be equally as nice. Don't dogs and books make great companions? Both are great for cuddling up with. Love to the cats too. Just because we don't have any ourselves doesn't mean we don't love other people's.

read Yesterday, 2:16pm (top)Message 4:

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Jodyreadseverything Show Affinity
I have a Scottie, named Scottie (I wasn't allowed to call her McFlurry). She likes it sleep on my legs while I am reading in bed and she has only ever eaten one book (by accident).

I like to find Scotties in books and get very excited when I come across one in a story. She doesn't seem to care either way though.

I even have a whole book about a Scottie, Urban Dog by Will Cohu.

I am, perhaps, just a tiny bit obsessed, or as my nephew likes to put it, Scottie Potty.

read Yesterday, 2:24pm (top)Message 5:

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bookishbunny Show Affinity
If you guys were on facebook, you could get dogbook for your dogs.

read Yesterday, 2:34pm (top)Message 6:

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Booksloth Show Affinity

Hi again Jody! See what I mean about us following each other around? Skeelo says hi to Scottie too. Welcome to the gang!

read Yesterday, 2:39pm (top)Message 7:

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Jodyreadseverything Show Affinity
I know, we do seem to bump into each other a lot. Scottie has a few labrador friends and is always keen to meet a new one, especially if they like to playfight or roll in the mud, so she says hello to Skeelo too.

read Yesterday, 3:08pm (top)Message 8:

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Booksloth Show Affinity

edit delete
How about swapping info on a few 'doggie' books while we're here? I'd have to start with that one Skeelo loves - The Last Family in England. Although the main character is a lab there are lots of other breeds involved too so probably something for everyone. Well, maybe not for those of us who share their lives with Springers, who are the 'baddies' in the book.
Then there is Richard Adams's the Plague Dogs, Louis de Bernieres's Red Dog and The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford. I'm trying to avoid anything here that's too 'twee' as I don't really like that kind of book but that certainly doesn't mean all 'dog as protagonist' stories should be avoided as there are a few gems to be found. I've never heard of Urban Dog but I definitely want to know more - must add it to my wish list.

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read Yesterday, 3:16pm (top)Message 9:

Fourpawz2 Show Affinity
Hey Jodyreadseverything:
Please, please tell me - How did your dog "accidentally" eat a book? I have a cat and it may be that I don't understand the life of dogs.

read Yesterday, 3:19pm (top)Message 10:

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Jodyreadseverything Show Affinity
Urban Dog is very funny, all about life with a Scottie dog, and is taken from Will Cohu's Guardian columns. Be careful though, it might make you want to go out and get a scottie.

I also have The Dogs of Windcutter Down by David Kennard, which is a really good doggie biography.

I've also read The Last Family in England and I liked it but also it was sad. I had to tell a librarian friend of mine not to read it because some of it would upset her. I almost bought The plague dogs but there was a picture of a Jack Russell on the cover in a bandage and I couldn't bear it, it looked so pitiful.

I love Montmorency in Three Men In A Boat, he's a lovely dog and a typical terrier, even though it isn't really a doggie book.

I remember at middle school our teacher used to read to us for the last half hour of every day. She read us a book that I think was called Emma and it was told from the point of view of a guide dog. I can't remember the author though but the book was very good.

read Yesterday, 3:25pm (top)Message 11:

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Jodyreadseverything Show Affinity
#9 - Scottie is a very enthusiastic little dog. She makes a determined effort to be helpful by fetching things she thinks we might want but in her enthusiasm she sometimes goes to far.
For example, she fetches the post every day but is so excited to be helping that she also throws it in the air, rolls on it, bites a bit off and swallows it and then starts over with the throwing in the air.
I think the day she ate the book she just kept biting bits off by mistake.

Or possibly, I'm a bit too overindulgent in my dogs bad behaviour. But she only ever ate the one book so I think she either realised she shouldn't have or she looked at all the books in the house and thought "I'll never manage to eat that lot" and gave up.

read Yesterday, 3:35pm (top)Message 12:

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Booksloth Show Affinity

#10 That's the trouble with doggy books - so many of them are sad. The book your teacher read you was almost certainly Emma and I by Sheila Hocken. A delightful book about the relationship between a woman and her (chocolate lab) guide dog which I had for years (the book, not the dog) but then SOMEONE borrowed it and never returned it. Scottie sounds great fun but why on earth weren't you allowed to call her McFlurry? That's a brilliant name.

Re The Last Family in England - I enjoyed it so much that I was determined my (adult) daughter should read it. Knowing the state she'd be in by the end I wrote an additional chapter, giving it a happy ending. Apologies to Matt Haig and, obviously it wasn't exactly up to the standard of the real thing, but if anyone wants to do the same I can always email it on.

read Yesterday, 3:49pm (top)Message 13:

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Jodyreadseverything Show Affinity
#12 - Booksloth, I think that is the one, it was about a chocolate lab. I hate it when someone borrows a book and doesn't return it. I have a two strikes and you're out policy with people who do that (I know that it's usually three strikes, but this is books we are talking about, two chances is all you get). I actually found someone I had lent a book of mine to selling it on a car boot sale. There were words said that day.

My husband refused to call her McFlurry because he said it would be too embarrasing to shout it in the park. He said people would start shouting Big Mac back at him and he just couldn't face it.

If we get another Scottie I'm going to call it Radley, after the handbags with the Scottie dogs on them.

read Yesterday, 6:43pm (top)Message 14:

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cal8769 Show Affinity
I don't have trouble with Bones and my books. It is the cats!!! They are always laying on them and if Clyde doesn't think that he is getting enough attention he chews on the corner.
My favorite dog book is Marley and Me I cried so much during the story. I read it not long after putting my sweetheart of 16 years to sleep. She was a black lab named Stubbs. A lot of Marley's shenanigans reminded me of a young Stubbs.

read Yesterday, 7:00pm (top)Message 15:

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Booksloth Show Affinity

So not just love to Bones then but blessings of all kinds to Stubbs. The thought of losing my beloved Skeelo is too hard to bear but, like all we dog 'owners' I know it will have to come one day - hopefully not for a long time yet. Our last dog before him was Biggles, the last of three Bearded Collies and when we finally had to let him go I thought my heart was destroyed for ever. Thank goodness these useless furballs are capable of inspiring just the same degree of love in us time and time again or how on earth would we carry on?
And yes, Marley is lovely!

read Yesterday, 7:23pm (top)Message 16:

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cal8769 Show Affinity
God did a good thing by making dogs. It is wonderful to walk into your house after a long day and everytime he is sooooooooo happy I am there. Not that my husband and kids aren't glad to see me, but dogs are different!!!!!

read Today, 7:56am (top)Message 17:

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Booksloth Show Affinity

It occurs to me that this should probably be a 'group' rather than a 'thread' but I didn't know how to do that. Anyone have any idea how we go about changing it?

To those who are now completely confused - I have just changed this from a thread into a group as that seemed more appropriate. As you can see, I've cut and pasted all previous comments above but hope we can now carry on as normal!

Bones says "Hello" to Skeelo and any other literary loving pooches out there!!!! Great idea Booksloth, I hope other dog lovers join. Bones is not having a good day. I chose to clean today instead of read and he got in trouble for protecting me from the vicious vacuum cleaner. Oh the life of a dog.

So sorry to hear about that Bones. How could Cal be so cruel? (Cleaning instead of reading? Maybe we don't belong in the same group after all!)

I know, I know. But I have ignored the house as long as I dared and I have to go back to work on Thursday. Life stinks.

I have seen a number of Librarythingers with dog pictures on their profile. I'm one, with my page picturing my Bassett Hound agatha and my Great Dane Bernice. Speaking of Great Danes I will mention The Ugly Dachshund about a great Dane raised with a litter of of the little critters.

Oh how beautiful Agatha and Bernice are! Both breeds I have always loved. Sadly, Skeelo was attacked a year or so ago by a neighbourhood Bassett and has always treated them with suspicion ever since - a great shame since Humphrey (the big bully in question) is a bit of a one-off and lives with another Bassett who is quite charming. We now have to take a lengthy detour on our walks to avoid Humphrey's house as Skeelo refuses to walk past the gate. When forced to do so he keeps his eyes straight ahead and will not even glance across the road in case his nemesis is out there waiting for him. He's willing to buddy up online though - maybe this will cure him of his phobia.
'The Ugly Dachshund' rings a bell, I think I may have read it a long time ago. Am I right in thinking it's a children's book? You've also reminded me of a series of books I used to read to my kids, which were the Whatamess books by Frank Muir. Whatamess was an Afghan hound and we had a friend with several Afghans at the time so the books seemed quite personal.

Hi there - great idea for a group (dog loving book owners of the world unite!). I have a wonderful reading companion named Bonnie who is a beagle cross - while I'm not sure of precisely which other breeds went into the making of Bonnie, she definitely has the lovely silky ears of a beagle as well as their overdeveloped sense of smell and associated scent hound tendencies. She is only a few weeks off turning 16 (ie. she's somewhat older than the baby photo on my profile page would suggest), and has seen me pass from my 20s to my 40s - which is more than I can say for most people in my life!! These days Bonnie prefers me to read in silence, as sudden noises (such as laughing at the funny bits) generally disturb her sleep. At least she seems to have gotten over the book jealousy she suffered as a puppy, where she would try to climb into my lap and physically place herself between me and the book (magazine, newspaper ... whatever I was reading) in order to get my attention.

Hi Valerie and welcome to LTWD! Bonnie looks and sounds gorgeous and Skeelo would like to add her to his list of online gang-members if that's okay. Of course we are all mad about our dogs of all ages but I've always had a very special soft spot for them as they become older. By this time they have given so much and now ask so little other than a bit of love and comfort. I often take a look around our local rescue kennels and it's the 'dogs of a certain age' there who really break my heart. I know many of them end up in places like that because of the death of an owner and that is bad enough but how anybody could actually give away or abandon one of those precious 'oldies' I simply cannot imagine.
Skeelo is still only 5 years old and pretty much understands my reading habits, though I always know when I've gone too far as he starts bringing me socks from his private collection if he thinks I'm not taking sufficient notice of him. It's done in the spirit of 'I know you find that book fascinating but have you ever seen a nicer sock than this? You don't like that one? Just a minute then. Okay, maybe this one will be more to your taste? Just look at those colours! Isn't it nice to have these shared interests!'

Thanks for starting this group! My main book reading buddy is Princess Zelda, a Pointer/English Setter mix that we adopted from the shelter 3 years ago. My husband refers to her as a "pointsetta". Anyway, Zelda is a little too big for my lap while I read, so she curls up next to me on the sofa, as close as she can get, in fact, sometimes squeezing me against the arm of the chair... nice and cozy on these cold winter days.

We have also recently adopted ZuZu, a black lab puppy. ZuZu is your typical rambunctious ball of energy. She wants to do the right thing, I can tell by her expression, she just doesn't know what that right thing is yet. Good thing we have two boys and Zelda who love to run with ZuZu. Right now, ZuZu isn't in to reading much, she would eat my Kindle if I'm not careful... so, I'm careful.

One book that I love and is a quick read is The dogs that found me a memoir about animal rescue, especially pit bulls. ...hmm, did that touchstone work?

Also, How to raise a Jewish dog. Great fun.

Oops, messed up on the title of the book.. its the dogs who found me. Ah, that time the touchstone took.

Anyway, its a good read, touches your heart.

I'm trying not to get into the habit of sending a personal greeting to everyone who joins as that makes it look as if I think it's MY group, rather than OURS, but every time I look someone new has cropped up with more fantastic dogs and this is becoming my way of giving virtual dog-cuddles. Skeelo says hi, join the gang! And of course you are due a special greeting for having a black lab. You've certainly hit it (no, not your dog!) on the nose with that comment about her wanting to do the right thing - it's a definite lab trait and makes them ultimately easy to train as long as all your training is done with praise ('Oh what a good dog for bringing me that sock and not chewing it!' NEVER 'what a bad dog for taking the sock in the first place'). The pointer/setter mix sounds wonderful too! I must have a look for that 'Dogs that found me', or does 'touches your heart' mean it's going to make me cry? The book I have already mentioned a few times before The Last Family in England is probably the perfect one for lab owners so I really have to recommend that again. Nice to have all three of you in the group!

#10 Apologies for being dumb or is it a Brits v. States thing(?) but what is a Kindle?

#7 Booksloth, poor Skeelo, being attacked by a mean dog. Scottie was set on by a Staffie type dog once and now she makes a pre-emptive strike at every Staffie we come across.

She also used to have an official enemy, a little Jack Russell whose garden was seperated from ours by a small pathway. She liked every other Jack Russell we knew but not this one. He used to escape and come straight to our gate to attack her. They couldn't reach each other properly but they used to dig at each other under the gate.

I also remember the Whatamess series and really loved the illustrations in those books.

#8 - Scottie has never had book jealousy but she does have 'telephone' jealousy and she bites my feet if I have been talking for too long. It's an odd way to keep the 'phone bill down but it works.

#13 - When I clicked out of this thread there was one under it talking about kindle. It seems to be something to do with Amazon.

#14 Do I sense the presence of a husband in the background training Scottie to keep an eye on the phone bill?
Poor Skeelo is possibly the softest dog in the world and really doesn't understand aggression in any shape of form. He believes every other dog to be his best friend and has no idea what to do when the other dog doesn't feel the same way. When attacked (which, thankfully, doesn't happen too often as his natural friendliness often rubs off on other dogs) he just rolls on his back and looks at me with a pleading 'Make it stop, mummy' look. When he first came to live with us (aged 14 months) he got into quite a bit of trouble by trying to make friends with dogs who wanted to kill him; he just didn't seem to read the signs at all and kept bouncing back at them with a look of 'Okay, if you want to beat me up go ahead, then can we play?' but I think life has finally got the better of him and he's beginning to understand that not all other dogs feel the same way. A shame really but makes his life a bit safer.

#14 Thanks for that info about what a Kindle is. I just looked it up on Amazon - what an incredible thing it looks. I just love the feel of books and don't see myself ever wanting to change permanently but imagine having one of those to take on holiday. I normally pack 5 or six books to take then buy anything up to 20 while I'm away, so you can imagine what a difference that makes to my baggage allowance! 'Fraid the price is going to have to come down considerably though before I add it to my wishlist.

Oh Bones is feeling like a bully but he is one. I'm not sure if it was the abuse and starving that he took before we got him (hense the name) or if it is because of his breed. He thinks he is a pit bull but being a Jack Russell Terror oops I mean terrorist, oh darn, I mean Terrier, he has alot of bark and I'm sad to say some follow though also. Any suggestions? Now I just pick him up with a strong 'NO' and if he snaps he gets a swat. We don't have any other dogs but he has two playmates, Oscar and Tippy, that he gets along with just fine. He also plays well with my two cats... Of course Clyde is bigger than he is.. HAHA

Poor love! Sometimes you really can't blame them for hating the rest of the world, can you?
I don't pretend to be a great trainer but I would definitely advise against picking him up unless it's a matter of life and death as I think that just reinforces his idea that any kind of contact with other dogs is something to worry about. He's also more likely to associate the smack with the unpleasant feelings he has about strange dogs and, because of his background, he's going to be super-sensitive to any form of chastisement even though it's nominal (I can tell from your posts that you wouldn't smack to hurt).
Better, if you can, to find a friend with a very laid-back dog who wouldn't mind giving you a hand to introduce them slowly (on leads!) giving lots of fuss and, if necessary, food rewards, every time you manage to get a little bit closer without any aggressive behaviour. It'll be a long haul, I'm sure and you may find that a training class is your only solution.
I admit to absolutely shameless bribing of all dogs. There's not much most of them won't do for food and I always carry a few munchies just in case a bit of friendly persuasion is needed for either my dog or someone else's. I'm also fanatical about dogs not getting overweight though so it has to be measured out as part of their daily calorie allowance.
Maybe other LTers will have some ideas too?

What a good idea for a group! My dogs have always been Shelties, and the current canine love of my life is named Callie. She is the second one to share hearth and home with my husband and me---the first was Bonnie, who lived 15+ wonderful years with us. Callie is almost 6 now, and her personality is quite different from other Shelties I have known. She is calmer, quieter, more affectionate and less inclined to gastric upsets.

I first became acquainted with the breed when I was a teenager; friends of ours who lived on a large dairy farm owned one (Cindy). She herded their cows (from the outside side of the fence!), was very very small, even for a Sheltie, and had a wee voice, which she used a LOT. My parents got our first Sheltie from Cindy's home kennel, and named her Lassie. She was on the large side for the breed, disliked strangers, loved to ride in my Dad's truck, and followed him everywhere. (Theoretically, the dog was for us "kids", but there was never any question that she "belonged" to Dad.) A couple years after Lassie passed away, we bought my Dad a new Sheltie puppy (without his knowledge, but with my Mom's blessing.) That was Misty, and again, she was Dad's dog from day one. The "kids" had grown and moved out long since. A couple years after that, my husband and I got Bonnie for our daughter, who was six at the time. Bonnie was loveable, but hyper. Barked at everything. If you put on shoes or picked up car keys, she assumed you were leaving the house so she set up a loud protest. Collapsing the ironing board sent her into fierce barking (Callie does that too---WHY? It makes just as much screechy noise going UP, but neither of them ever objected to that.) She could be in the back of the house, and she could tell when you unplugged the iron--she'd come running out to be sure not to miss the outrage of folding up the board. She could detect something in your voice when you were about to finish a telephone call---and she would bark. Anyone coming or going set her off. Callie only barks if there is someone at the door. Once they've been allowed inside, no more barking, just happy tail wagging and sniffing. She likes to sleep on the bed with us for a little while, but always gets down, into her crate to spend the night. If I'm reading in bed, the minute I close the book, she jumps down and goes to her own bed. Even though she loves everybody, Callie is MY dog---funny how they always pick one person and bond so strongly. If I read out loud to her or to my husband, she cocks her head from side to side, as if she is really really listening. I haven't figured out if she has a preference for any particular author.

Hello! Callie sounds like a doll. I've always heard that Shelties are lovable and well behaved.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement, Booksloth. Bones is such a character. His favorite activity (other than reading, of course) is playing pinball. My father-in-law has a pool hall and when we go visit Bones jumps on the pinball machine and chases the balls while you play. It's a sight to see!!!

#17 Cal - Bones sounds really great and I think all terriers like a good fight sometimes. Scottie likes a good playfight with my brothers spaniel George and from all the yapping and snarling you'd think the dogs were eating each other alive but there's never any damage done.

She often tries to do this with dogs she meets in the street and some of the owners look horrified and don't believe it when I tell them she's friendly really. But if we meet someone with a terrier of any sort they understand exactly what I mean because their dog is doing the same thing right back at her. If she got in a real fight though she'd just curl into a ball and wait for me to save her.

We sometimes call the the Potty Terrierist rather than the Scottish Terrier because she's a bit mad and bossy.

#21 Jody, That is so funny. Scottie must be so much fun to walk. Bones enjoys chasing dogs and having them chase him. When he finds a friend that understands it is hilarious.

Wow, lots of activity here! I knew there had to be lots of dog lovers around.
#13... sorry about the Kindle reference, didn't mean to confuse you, I see you have discovered its an e-book reader. I got mine for my birthday last December and I have just sort of immersed myself in it.

I'm sure Zuzu would also destroy a book if she got her hands (paws/jaws) on it. I do love labs and I am working on training her up. Its so wonderful to see her sitting patiently looking out the door when she wants to go out, and then doing the same thing when she is outside wanting to come in.

In a year (or two) she will be a great dog.

Too bad we're spread all over the world - wouldn't it be great to get all these dog together for a great big play-in!

With all the different personalities I think that it would be a very good time!!

Hi, everyone. Its been fun reading about all your dogs, especially the terrorists, I mean terriers.

I have two miniature schnauzers who are great barkers. One barks and looks really frightful when ever any one comes to visit. He is fear based and if the person sits down and starts working toward belly rubs, all is forgiven. I do use the squirt bottle and a firm No Bark. I say No Bark first and make sure he sees the squirt bottle. He is getting much better and now tries to get behind me and hide from the dreaded squirt of water in his face.

The other doesn't bark so much at visitors. She loves to go out into the fenced yard and bark at pretty much any thing that moves that she can not get to. Squirrels and cats are big on her menu. She also sits on our porch and watches across the street into a big window where she can watch a large screen TV. She likes to bark at it to. You can tell she might drive me a little crazy, and maybe the neighbors more than a little. I bribe her back into the house with baby carrots or canned green beans. Schnauzers can not eat too much fatty treats, which is pretty much all commercial treats.

Oldest is named Nicky, he is a "rescue" dog which is probably why he is a fear based barker. He is about 11 or 12 yo.
Younger is named Greta Garbo and she is a lover doggie. She likes to climb into my lap and throw herself back against my shoulder so she can get a belly rub superior!

I also own a kindle and put it no where near where doggies can get to it. It was expensive. But I like it because it is much easier on my arthritic hands than are books. Also, I love reading the NY Times on it because there are no paper wrestling matches and no inky finger tips.

I am off now to invite another schnauzer owner on LT to join this group.

I'm not too hot on what the rules are for commercial stuff on LT so I hope I'm not going to get into any trouble here but I'm getting a bit fascinated by these Kindles. Can anyone tell me what the book availability is like? Would I be able to get pretty much any book on there if I had one, or are they still fairly limited. NO SALES PLEASE - I am definitely not buying one in the forseeable future - just curious. If this is against the rules, would it also be against the rules if the message was private? I juts don't think I know anybody who has one.

The kindles are very interesting. I hope that it's not against the guidelines because I am learning alot.

There is a group which discusses the Kindles - Amazon's Kindle - check it out. I also think that if you use the Search function you can identify other posts which talk about the Kindle.

I love mine. If you read in Amazon's Kindle you'll see several of my comments.

Then if you do want the commercial stuff go to Amazon's web site and they have a great deal of info. You can also check out the book availability there.

We, too, are blessed with a Jack Russell "terriorist", a young rescue named Annie. She is very active, barks-a-lot (her middle name), but is very sweet. She and I are in our first obedience class, and I must say that she pretty much has me whipped into shape...

Thought this group might enjoy dogs' prayers posted on the Kerry Blue Terrier website (http://www.kerryblues.info/)*:

Dear God,
How come people love to smell flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another? Where are their priorities?

Dear God,
When we get to Heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it the same old story?

Dear God,
Excuse me, but why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, ram, cobra and the rabbit, but not one named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We Kerries love a nice ride! I know every breed cannot have its own model, but a "Jeep Kerry" would be nice.

Dear God,
If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God,
When my foster mom's friend comes over to our house, he smells like musk! What's he been rolling around in?

Dear God,
Is it true that in Heaven, dining room tables have on-ramps?

Dear God,
If we come back as humans, is that good or bad?

Dear God,
More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God,
When we get to the Pearly Gates, do we have to shake hands to get in?

Dear God,
We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent IDs, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God,
Are there dogs on other planets, or are we alone? I have been howling at the moon and stars for a long time, but all I ever hear back is the mutt across the street.

* Actually LTers with dogs can no doubt add some canine prayers on behalf of their little friends, since you probably overhear them! {:>

Edit: Jodyreadseverything received a card in which a dog on the backseat of a car prays, "Park, not vet's; park, not vet's..." over and over. (That could be Annie!)

Hi, I'm the other schnauzer owner maggie1944 invited to join. Thanks maggie :) This sounds like a great group!

I used to have two mini schnauzers, but we just lost our dear Lady a few weeks ago, she was 14. We have her daughter Daisy though and she's a dear, loves to cuddle in my lap, or a least as much of her as I'll allow and still have room to rest my book there too! She also likes to sit on my lap while I'm here visiting on LT. Gets kinda tricky typing sometimes, so she's doesn't stay for very long and ends up sitting in the chair beside me. She's been a bit clingyer (sp?) since Lady died (they were inseparable).

The house just doesn't seem the same with just one dog, and Daisy is 12 now and I hate that she's an only dog, so we're getting a puppy the end of March. I like what you said Booksloth, in msg #14, dogs can inspire us to love them over and over. The love I have/had for Lady, well, it just seems like I can't stop loving her, so I want to give that love to a new pup, knowing we can give him a good home and a loving family.

I grew up reading all the Albert Payson Terhune books like Lad, a Dog, Wolf, Grey Dawn I could find, so collies were always my dream dogs when I was younger. But Farley Mowat's fun book The Dog Who Wouldn't Be, and Beverly Cleary's Henry & Ribsy and Ribsy were great too. I lived and breathed dog stories growing up.

Now I can't read too many 'cause if they're the least bit sad I get so choked up! But I'm going to be getting some puppy training books, at least one anyways to get new, fresh ideas on training and I'm hoping to find a training class in our area, no luck yet though (small town).

Jody, my sister has a scottie, called Holly McCarburator (to appease her ever patient, car-loving husband - they have 5 dogs). Holly is a sweetie! I love scotties! If we didn't have the schnauzer(s), we'd be with scotties I know.

edited to add, if you'd like, check out my profile and there's a picture of my girls with me.

You schnauzer folks are brave! whenever I meet a scnhauzer they are usually moving so fast they are just a blur.

#29. Thanks for that Maggie!

And to Margd - I love the prayers. Hope you don't mind that I'm now copying and sending to everyone I know!

Yes Margd, I love the prayers too, I've sent them along to my sisters, they're wonderful.

Leashes are definitely are requirement with my schnauzers anyways, they see a leaf moving and they're gone like a shot! You're right quartzite about the blur - its amazing, even Lady was chasing a pheasant a couple of days before she died, they just don't stop!

my schnauzers must be lazy. Nicky the old man, grandpa Nicky, pretty much moves at my pace when we go to the off leash park. Greta will dash about a bit, but she also hangs around with us. Now I've never seen her go after a pheasant. I think she might be fast at that. I tried agility with her and she loved it but her "Mama" moves very slowly with two fake hips and one remodeled foot. My teacher said I could do it all with hand signals but I am not that good.

I love the schnauzers tho, they truly are loving pets.

#30 Margd - Someone sent me a card once with a heading on it saying A Dogs Prayer. There was a picture of a dog on the backseat of a car and underneath were the words 'Park not vets, park not vets...' over and over. I know that's what Scottie thinks everytime she has to go in the car.

#31 Katy - I'm really sorry to hear about Lady, I had already seen your picture with them and thought they both looked like great little dogs. The one closest to you on the picture is doing such a funny face as well. Dogs are such a big part of the family but at least you know that you took good care of her and she was part of a loving home.

Holly McCarburator is a funny name for a scottie and I can just picture what she must be like. I used to call my Scottie 'Juggernaught', like the lorry, because she is a tough little thing that trucks along so determinedly. She is very full of her own importance.

# 31, I know what you mean about dog books being so sad. There is a cute young adult book out there, No more dead dogs about a kid that rebels against his teacher who always assigns books with dogs on the cover... he knows the dog dies in the end. Its been a few years since I read it, but it is so true: dog on the cover, dies in the end.

Ooh, hope I'm not getting too depressing here. My husband's very first dog was Bowser, a mixed breed lab/shepherd that we adopted soon after we married. He had always wanted a dog as a kid but his mom said she was allergic. When Bowser died at 14, my husband was crushed and said no more dogs. Within a week we were at the animal shelter adopting our Zelda who is also a wonderful dog. Dogs are so great, I wish they lived as long as humans.

For every tear we shed over our pets there is a laugh waiting in the wings.

Saw an animal planet "That's My Baby" this morning with a Scottie having puppies. Too cute.

I heard there was a fellow who thought he could develop a TV channel which was just puppies, puppies, puppies. He thought people could watch it when they needed a good Laugh Out Loud! Well, I did get a noisy laugh out of the show this morning.

Waves and woofs to all!

Thanks to quartzite for the invite. Besides being a cat slave, I'm the proud companion of two pups.

Henry is currently in my profile big (with Santa) and best as we can tell is a Brittany Spaniel mix (says our Vet - he's about the right size). Some folks think he's got a bit of lab, others think a bit of Irish Setter. He's a mutt and wonderful. He's the ripe old age of 11 and we only adopted him from our local shelter in 2006. He'd been there for close on 8 months and the send off he got when he found his forever home was simply amazing.

Suki, a feisty 20 lb PomeranianX, is our other dog. She's a diva all right - and daddy's little princess. She's also our 'guard dog' -- making sure we know that there's someone different in the house, in the yard, or just walking past the house. She's definitely more 'high maintenance' than Henry, but I guess you'd expect that from a diva. She joined our house last April and is a senior dog of 10 years.

Has anyone seen the breed of dog called Glen of Imaal in the news?

A litter of I think six puppies has just been born but these dogs are rarer than the giant panda and in danger of dying out.

The puppies look a lot like scottie's, so I was won over straight away. I tried to paste in a link but it didn't work, but googling the breed name took me right to the news story.

They are so cute they deserve a look. I'll work on the link to see if I can include it.

I didn't find the news article when I googled, just lots of pages with info on the breed:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Glen+of+Imaal&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&...

Cute dogs!

Hey, all!

I have no dog as of yet, but my lover is going to get a greyhound as soon as he buys a house (this year). I was told that, as a compulsive dog-snogger and reputed puppy-slut, I could still join. So, here I am!

Of course you can still join! Welome to the group!

Okay....I like that we're a group now. My companion is Bella, a 10 week old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. She doesn't read yet, but definitely has already got a taste for books, if you know what I mean! My favorite dog book is actually a series, the first of which is , Good dog, Carl.

#45 10 weeks! Oh those baby days! Skeelo was already 14 months old when he came to us so it's a long time since we had a baby in the house (last time was our own litter of 8 Beardies, back in 1995). Despite all the hard work, I still envy you. Good luck!

#45 Corgi's are such great little dogs and I bet Bella is a real character. Scottie used to meet one in the park sometimes and between them they had all the bigger dogs put well and truely in their places. They used to have a great time and Scottie was always worn out and especially filthy and stinky when they had finished investigating all the puddles, bushes, long grass and muddy places together.

Who could resist joining with such a clever home page introduction! Definitely made me giggle.to-show-his-age black lab. Styx never was told that labs are not supposed to tip the scale at over a hundred pounds--he just kept growing. He's never

My canine companion is Styx, a 9 year old beginning-quite understood just how large he really is. He's a gentleman though and highly tolerant of the cats that also share my home and heart.

As for dog books, I agree with the recommendation for The Dog Who Wouldn't Be that was mentioned earlir in the thread. I also enjoy Rita Mae Brown's Mrs Murphy detective series. Although Mrs Murphy is a cat, she lives with a Corgi named Tee Tucker that I like at least as well as I like Mrs Murphy.

One of my childhood favorites that I still own is called Silversheene King of Sled Dogs. It was many years later that I realized this was somewhat of a Call of the Wild clone.

I so agree about avoiding the books where the dog dies in the end! I believe it was Kipling, who, on the death of his dog wrote the line "I have given my heart to a dog to tear, and now it's been torn in two."

Edited 9/5/2009 because when I googled the quote the abolve came up, and as, booksloth pointed out in #52 below, it was Kipling who said it.

My favorite house sitting job (where I get to take my two miniature schnauzers with me!) has one Corgi and one Soft coated Wheaten Terrier. I like the Corgi but I confess it is too much fun watching him try to explain to my schnauzer bitch that he is the biggest, baddest doggie in the house. Mostly they carry on with a truce and join forces to chase Ms Lillian the cat when she appears. Mostly she hides upstair. You can tell, it is a fun housesitting job. Worthy of a book, if only I was a writer!

Next house sitting jog, in April, three Labs with my two schnauzers. Now that should be fun. But the Labs have nice outdoor kennels and so I think we will survive. Big fenced yard = 1 acre I think. Should be a gas.

Widget, that bad terrier, has announced she is the Wonder Dog and so does not need to go out in the rain. She regrets, but she will decline the invitation to go into the back yard. If however, the invitation is to go for a walk past the house with the Rottweiler she can tease and challenge from beyond the fence, well then, that is a different matter. Rain is no barrier to the pleasure of a smug pee just out of reach.
Stink, poor dear, is much less complicated and he has obediently done his duty without shirking, but he has come back into the house wet and in love with my throw.
I agree with both of them, today is a good day for a book, tea and the cozy throw on my lap.

I have a similar two dog, two approaches to the outdoors, challenge in my house. Greta Garbo is always ready to go outside and bark at any neighborhood sight, including TV across the street. Grampa Nick, on the other paw, has to be accompanied outdoors and then only stays for the quickest of seconds. Back inside. Since I have to bribe Greta Garbo into coming inside, Grampa Nick figures everytime Greta barks - treat time! I use small carrots and green beans or my dogs would be rolly pollies!

Cold (34 F) today but Greta is out there doing her best against the TV monsters. I'd better go get her and Nick is at my side.

#48 Hi Streamsong! Just had to do a special welcome to another black lab owner! Styx is a more-than-welcome member to Skeelo's online gang (look, he thinks it's his gang? Are any of you going to tell him different?) My first ever dog was a lab/border collie cross who was a lovely dog but had, unfortunately, been trained to 'protect' the chicken farm where he originally lived - ie, to be aggressive to every other dog who came in sight. Between the dog he was in the house and the monster he became on walks, there was a real Jekyll and Hyde problem. After him we went into years of Bearded Collies (all adorable) and have just come back to a pure lab a few years ago after a serious back problem prevented me doing all that grooming a Beardie requires. I'm now completely won over - aren't they perfect! I've never known such a sweet natured animal on my life (excepting one particular Beardie who was perfect in every way). Skeelo makes life so easy - he practically trained himself and has such an overwhelming urge to please that he couldn't be any trouble if he tried. He is also a real ambassador for dogs as he is friendly to every other creature (human or animal) he meets and I can't count the number of times I have been told that a child is 'scared of dogs' only to find them, after a careful introduction, draped around him covering his head with kisses and wanting to take him home.
Oh, and by the way, it was Kipling, not RLS who wrote that poem but I had to look it up as I thought it was Byron.

Thanks for the welcome booksloth. Since Styx is right here next to me I told him he was being talked about and read him the post. Give Skeelo a scratch from me.

Styx also housetrained himself. Big sweet giant, but his WOOF is huge and does scare people. I appreciate him letting me know when the UPS truck and other evil doers show up, though. Dog people see right through him.

And Kipling! of course! Sorry about that--and thanks for looking it up.

I love reading all these stories about our wonderful dogs. Aren't we lucky to have them in our lives? I just got back from visiting a senior's home with Daisy, we go every week. Everyone enjoys seeing Daisy so much - I love how much energy she brings to the place, it's great, dogs really can be the best medicine. You've all got me smiling now.

Thanks for the invitation to join this group! I grew up in a family with no pets whatsoever but have made up for it in adulthood.

We have a 5-year-old English chocolate lab named Lily, and just a few days ago we welcomed a new arrival: a 10-week-old male American yellow lab named Woody. He's adorable and the two are getting along famously.

ETA: We also have 4 cats. I don't dust the house, I de-fur it!

Katylit - did you go see your puppy this weekend? how are they doing? I am waiting on the edge of my chair.

Oh, I forot to tell you I have applied for my passport so I can come visit in Canada with no problems. Maybe I'll come visit you while the puppy is still small and too cute.

#55 Whoopee! More labs! A special Hi from Skeelo!

#56 & 57 Yes, they're fine, growing fast and cute and cute can be. Can't wait to see you! :)

Thanks to quartzite for the invite to this group! :) My reading buddy/big fluffy baby is a lab/mystery but we think its Mastiff mix. So he has all the mouthy dippy lab traits with a bit more size and muscle to knock you around with. His name is Murphy and he is a love. #55 - I sympathize with the de-furring as we also have 3 cats in the house along with the dog. ah well...they make things cozy.

Hello Evedeve and Murphy. Please consider yourselves members of Skeelo's online gang. Over here (UK) labs come in two types, working style (lightweight, slightly pointy-looking) and show type (chunky with big bones, enormous paws and lots of spare skin 'to grow into'). Skeelo is the chunky type and has been mistaken a few times for either a Rottie or Mastiff cross so I can imagine that Murphy is like that only more so - in other words, gorgeous!

#60 I just looked up your profile and I assume that is the lovely Murphy in the pic! There definitely looks like a bit of Mastiff, doesn't there? That beautiful expression!

>61 Booksloth: my Lily is the "chunky type" as well. I didn't realize there was another type; in my 4 years over there I don't recall seeing the lighter-weight pointy version! But I think American labs are lighter & pointier ...

#62 - yup that is the Smurfalurf Murphy himself in all his grinning hamming for the picture. My uncle (in the UK) has always had irish water spaniels who are also lovely big dogs, with the males being more robust then the females (at least of the ones they've had).

Hi everyone. Bones would like to share his accomplishments with everyone. We have been working on his aggression and dominance. With reminding, he now waits at the door until he is told he may go out instead of knocking us down. I have also stopped picking him up when another comes near him. Now I hold his collar and repeat no and gently pull back whenever he starts to bark and growl. He looks at me like I'm crazy but we have had no more snaps or out of control barking. Thanks for all the help especially Booksloth and Margd. Your advice and website links are awesome. Bones and his playmates says thanks and we will let you know of our progress.

>65 cal8769: Congrats to you and to Bones. Those Jack Russells are fabulous little dogs, aren't they? (Except when they aren't...) Annie's being really sweet today--I think a really lo-ong walk tuckered her out. A tired JRT is a happy JRT!

Congrats to Bones on his hard work! (and to you too cal) Marg...your not kidding about JRT's and energy. Lovely little dogs though, and always looking to play.

Dogs Rule the airwaves tonight.

Has anyone been watching the Westminister Dog Show? I watched some last night - the Terrier part of course ;-) Such beautiful dogs! They all look like they're having so much fun, I hope they are.

Watch it religiously. It's on now. My husband picked the Weimaraner to win the sporting group. Love the hounds. Of course the herding group is my favorite. The beardie, the rough collie, the Tervuren, and of course, the dog o' my heart---the Sheltie.

I just found the "doggie posts/threads" and I really liked this one for the communication involved. I realize that it has been "dormant" for over a year but wanted to reactivate it and see if we could keep it going as it is a great thread.
Did anyone watch the dogshow this year (2009)? The hounds did wonderfully well.
We have a yellow lab named Abby. This is our first time to own a lab. We have mainly had mutts before. We have raised 2 springer spaniels and the most recent dog we had before Abby was a wolf, german shephard, and husky mix and she was wonderful. Her name was Shelby and she was pure white with brilliant blue eyes. Not a mean bone in her body and she wasn't territorial like the springers, but she might have licked someone to death.
Abby is something else. Labs are very busy for (as I understand it) the first 3 years of their lives. So we do two migrational walks and play fetch twice daily. But she is really smart. She was crate trained in 2 days and spends her nights and anytime she is home alone in the crate. (it's a huge one) She housebroke herself in 10 days which amazed us as she was from an outdoor litter. She is pretty exhausting at this stage of the game but we love her dearly.
I hope some of you out there feel up to the resurrection of this thread and if so I will meet you on here again sometime.
belva

If you look at some of the other threads in this group you will find more active ones, or feel free to start your own. The dog lovers are hear and will answer.

Abby is a doll!

Who could resist joining with such a clever home page introduction! Definitely made me giggle.

My canine companion is Styx, a 9 year old beginning-to-show-his-age black lab. Styx never was told that labs are not supposed to tip the scale at over a hundred pounds--he just kept growing. He's never quite understood just how large he really is. He's a gentleman though and highly tolerant of the cats that also share my home and heart.

As for dog books, I agree with the recommendation for The Dog Who Wouldn't Be that was mentioned earlir in the thread. I also enjoy Rita Mae Brown's Mrs Murphy detective series. Although Mrs Murphy is a cat, she lives with a Corgi named Tee Tucker that I like at least as well as I like Mrs Murphy.

One of my childhood favorites that I still own is called Silversheene King of Sled Dogs. It was many years later that I realized this was somewhat of a Call of the Wild clone.

I so agree about avoiding the books where the dog dies in the end! I believe it was Kipling who, on the death of his dog wrote the line "I have given my heart to a dog to tear, and now it's been torn in two."

edited the quote Sept 5, 2009 because it showed up when I googled it and I wanted it to show the correct author as Booksloth pointed out in number 52 below.