Dogs - November 2007

The terms reinforcement and punishment get thrown around a lot here, and they way in which they're used makes me think that most people don't understand them. Who can give good definitions of these terms, in the context of learning theory, since when you're training a dog, you're using one form of learning or another. What are your definitions?

2007-11-27 03:52:09 · 17 answers · asked by drb 5

Yes, I understand most people wont look at their German Shepards as itty bitty babies...but as I was watching the Dog Whisperer, I find he tries to make the owners look dumb for loving their dog in a child-like fashion. I think most mature adults know their dog is not a human baby, but I really dont see anything wrong with dressing a dog up, or picking him up and giving him kisses. All of which Cesar Millan frowns upon. Its almost like he wants you to treat your dog like a roommate. Whats the fun in that? I think SOME people do get dogs for help with an emotional void. Why not shower the dog with affection? Even if it IS in a doggy stroller? lol Just a thought for today.

-Mommy of a loveable 4 mo old Shih Tzu

2007-11-27 03:13:30 · 38 answers · asked by chocolate_krys2000 4

2007-11-27 02:56:09 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

I've heard the average gestation for dogs is about 63 days. Does this vary depending on the breed - for instance, do miniature and small breeds whelp sooner?

2007-11-27 02:46:03 · 8 answers · asked by Veritas 7

I know what he is i just want to see if you can figure him out!!!
pic 1
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd76/meganmanist/Photo0001.jpg
picture 2
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd76/meganmanist/DSC00002.jpg
pic 3
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd76/meganmanist/thobth9ot.jpg

2007-11-27 02:42:10 · 21 answers · asked by Megan M 3

If your favorite dog has just passed away, make sure you remember him by putting a tribute on the internet. Please, if you have your dogs picture, and a little poem for him/her, send them to dog_focus_uk@yahoo.co.uk and i shall put the tributes on my website: dog-focus-uk.piczo.com
There isn't a page for this yet, but if there is enough interest, i shall do so...
Thankyou, and sorry for your loss...

2007-11-27 02:33:45 · 10 answers · asked by Dog-focus-uk website 1

I have a jack russell/lhasa apso mix. I have treated her with frontline and I don't think she has anymore fleas. My house gets really dry and I am pretty sure that is the problem. Anyone have any ideas how to fix it? I don't think they make lotions or such for dogs, do they?

2007-11-27 02:25:32 · 13 answers · asked by lahag69 1

2007-11-27 02:22:03 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

Is the flea medicine you can buy at PetCo and PetSmart just as good as the medication you can get from your vet?

2007-11-27 02:06:03 · 12 answers · asked by breleigh81 1

tablescraps gave a dog worms. I've heard this before but never from anyone with opinions that I consider valid. Are they saying they feed their families food infested with worms or the people with worms pass them on to the dogs when they partially eat the food? These are the only way I can figure that tablescraps give dogs worms.Any comments? I don't have enough scraps to give all my dogs but I do cook for them sometimes.Would this be considered high risk for worm infestation?

2007-11-27 00:29:07 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

What would you have done?

I was a the Flea Market this past weekend, when I watched this man walking his Great Dane. I really like large dogs, even though I only own Shih Tzu pups. Anyway, a couple walks up to him and starts talking to him about his dog. It seems that this man "breeds" Danes. So, I am listening to the conversation, when the man starts pitching selling a 9 month old male puppy. He has this couple hook, line, and sinker.

So, being the "hands-off" type of person I am, I walked over and started petting his dog. I then asked him if he breeds them. (knowing full well he did.) He said yes. I then politely asked what the dog's OFA rating was. He looked at me puzzled and said, "What is OFA, I don't know what that means." I then explained in great detail what it was and was told that he NEVER does that! Needless to say, the couple walked away and didn't buy his puppy. The "breeder" got upset with me! I wonder why? :-)

What would you have done? Was I right to speak up?

2007-11-27 00:08:16 · 18 answers · asked by Katslookup - a Fostering Fool! 6

My little buddy who is a peekapoo has been rubbing his butt alot for the last month. He has been to the vet twice once to check his anal glands but right after he came home he started pivoting again. The second time the vet put him on medication but that didn't work and know they are talking about that he might be allergic to the food he has been eating for the last 8 years. The pivoting comes and goes and at times he cries and his anus is red. They checked for fleas and he was ok. We have another peekapoo and she is a female around 9 years old and no problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated since it hurts to see him suffer.
Thanks

2007-11-26 23:58:57 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

What breed of dog is sprocket in fraggle rock?

2007-11-26 23:46:08 · 13 answers · asked by Phillip K 1

I have a Pitt Bull and I am considering a move to the area. Thanks

2007-11-26 19:12:02 · 3 answers · asked by dusty8940 6

He is almost always biting, licking, scratching at some part of himself. He gets the Hartz 4-in-1 flea/tick drops for prevention. He's been on antibiotics multiple times for bacteria in his ear - now he's deaf. They also thought he was depressed (we were in a rural area at the time and he's a city dog.) We got him from a shelter 6 years ago, and he was licking himself (like ocd) while he was there. He's part shepherd so he's more prone to ear infections. His ears stink tremendously. Do we need to take him to a homeopathic vet, or: Isn't there some natural remedy to help him and us?!! Thanks in advance.

2007-11-26 18:13:13 · 10 answers · asked by curiousgeorge 2

Why is it that Vets recommend Science Diet?
Here's a quote from Dogfoodanalysis.com:
"The primary ingredient in the food is a low quality grain. Corn is a problematic grain that is difficult for dogs to digest and thought to be the cause of a great many allergy and yeast infection problems. We prefer not to see this used in dog food, yet it is the primary grain in this food.
The next ingredient in this food is by-products...."

After all of the recalls, and all of the information that's readily available about the problems that dogs have with these kinds of ingredients, why is it still being regarded as "good food"?

2007-11-26 17:13:51 · 10 answers · asked by Misa M 6

i have to female dogs a terrier mix and a german shepard/rottie mix both about a year old..the german shepard mix is bigger than the terrier mix every day i see one of them do the little playful pounce and then the terrier mix starts growling when they play, ther german shepard mix always has her tail up when they play and so does the terrier mix is that a bad thing? how do i know when they really are going at it?

2007-11-26 16:53:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Would some breeds of dogs just spend all day chasing their tail at like 100rpm if it wasn't cut off?

2007-11-26 16:35:55 · 7 answers · asked by Flying Dragon 7

We have a seven month old Boxer puppy. We got her at four months and she seemed to be mostly potty trained. We followed all the suggestions of crate training, took her out frequently to the same place in our yard. We praised her and gave her treats for going potty, etc. She has had a couple accidents in her crate where she'll pee overnight, but those were few and far between. She seemed to be doing great.

Now, all of a sudden, she has started peeing on the kitchen floor! (where we keep her when she's not outside). It's like she's reverting. We haven't caught her doing it, so we can't tell her no. She spends most of her time outside, and when inside we take her out frequently, so it's not like it's because she's locked inside for hours on end.

What can we do? Are we doing something wrong? Is this normal in the training, growing up process in dogs? We clean the spots with anti-pet smell solution, but obviously it's not working.

Suggestions from pet experts or owners?

Thanks

2007-11-26 16:35:17 · 8 answers · asked by April H 2

2007-11-26 16:29:06 · 4 answers · asked by jessiejag2003 2

When i take my dog out of it's cage, my dog goes somewhere and finds bones. I do not know where they come from or why they are there. There is no soil there, so I'm sure that my dog isn't the one who kept it somewhere. It might be the neighbors, because they know that i have a dog. Maybe they are thieves, because it will bark if there is an unknown person in sight. How do i know if there is no poison?

2007-11-26 16:24:56 · 5 answers · asked by Dani 2

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd132/staciparis/?action=view¤t=photo.jpg

2007-11-26 16:22:37 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

mine's a labrador puppy, around 1-2 months old. it recently had live worms in it's faeces. so i freaked out.
what should i do to totally wipe out all the worms?
go to a vet? buy worm destroying products?

2007-11-26 16:20:56 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

She shakes, rubs, and scratches them. Nothing seems to be there. Hmmm..... how can I make them less irritated???????

2007-11-26 15:35:30 · 8 answers · asked by Joey Crawford is love 6

I have a half pit bull i dont know the other half my close friend gave him to me maybe in july and i've had himi ever since. I wanted to cut his ear to give him that pitbull look and not the floppy eared thing...anyway First i just want to make it clear I have no intentions of fighting dogs, cats, ferrets, people or what ever given the nature of the breed that is usually the most common assumption. I am a nursing student who knows the value of good health I love KIBA i take him for walks everynight just to avoid encountering agressive dogs anyway... yea i don't think i'm walking him right either He is usually in from of me is that BAD ? He is also afraid of water so i am having trouble bathing him any suggestions ? Sorry I am a complete new comer in these situations but am willing to put in the work and love needed to raise him right...Eventually i want to enter him in wieght pullin comps... So... any and all advise is welcomed and greatly appreciated...thank you for taking the time.

2007-11-26 15:26:47 · 20 answers · asked by blazexv 1

I have a Lab/rottie/husky mix. he still acts like a hyper puppy.

2007-11-26 15:23:00 · 4 answers · asked by Koter Boters misses Rufus! 6

With todays overpopulation of animals why is it bad for the average Joe to breed two registered animals and sell the litter? But it's great if someone with "show quality" animals breed and then sell them for a couple of grand. Isn't this still adding to the over population problem? I understand the difference between byb and quality breeders. And what happens if someone like Paris Hilton buys a pup from a quality breeder just cause she has fame and fortune. She's still a worthless owner. Honest question for a honest answer!!! Be kind to me!!

2007-11-26 15:08:28 · 23 answers · asked by witchywoman 4

We have tried just about everything. We found the fleas on her about 3 weeks ago, and we have had them ever since. The night we found them, we bought flea and tick bath soap, and bathed her 3 times that night. We also coated her with Frontline and put on a flea collar. Then, we removed all of our bedding, and put them in individual garbage bags to be washed. We also vaccumed everywhere we could think of.

After all this, they came back a few days later.

The second time, we did all I listed above, but we also bombed the house with insectiside cans. Once for the entire house, and twice for my brother's room, where my dog primarily sleeps. And we thought we got rid of it.

But no luck. She got them again a couple days ago, and this time, we cleaned the whole house, top to bottom. Tonight, I found two on her, and we gave her another bath. We can't keep giving her baths. She's becoming blotchy and irritable.

What do we do now?

2007-11-26 15:02:52 · 12 answers · asked by Jen 1

My friends Doberman dogs life was spared today, after the Judge concluded that the Child provoked the dog to attack, by hitting and kicking the poor thing.
My Friend compensated them financial of course.

Sadly most dogs are always blamed for defending them self.
People murder people and are not euthinized in return.
But if a dog bites a person, some people are out for blood and get a power trip and want to murder the dog immediately.

Have you ever seen or heard of a situation where an innocent dog was severely provoked into defending it self from being tortured by an out of control brat that was not being supervised.

2007-11-26 14:56:43 · 32 answers · asked by Sahara 1

I have a one year old Chihuaha and she has never seen the cold. She is always under blankets and wearing sweaters. At night she is crated and has blankets and a bed in her kennel, but she is still always cold. Does anyone have any ideas on what else to do? I have a mini heater, but I don't want to leave it on during the night. I don't know what else to do, I have been letting her sleep with me because I feel so bad. But I don't get much sleep (I'm scared that I'll roll over and squish her. I've never had a small dog before, so I've never had to deal with this. My great dane isn't too picky about where she sleeps :)

2007-11-26 14:51:24 · 20 answers · asked by Erin W 1