Does your pet act human? | Arthritis Information

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This is just meant to be light hearted because that SSI Check thread is getting really nasty. We have a beagle and she is getting some annoying human habits. If we are eating a good smelling dinner, say barbequed steak, she will sit under the table waiting for a bite, which we never do. I tell her to go to bed, because the mournful looks can really ruin a meal and then it starts. She goes to her bowl of dry dog food, takes a mouthful and walks back into the dining room where she spits it on the floor and eats one piece at a time, crunching it really, really loud, while looking me right in the eye. Maybe I'm reading too much into this trick, but I'm making sure all the knives are put away.
Deidre

I do indeed think she is trying to tell you something....

Phatgirl

I worry sometimes that my pets are becoming TOO human- to the point that they prefer contact with people over hanging out with their own kind.

My cat has the same morning routine as me: stumbles out of bed by my side in the morning, uses his litterbox at the same time I visit the toilet, perches himself on the side of the shower when I'm in it, then eats breakfast while I gobble down cereal.  I'm just waiting to come home late one night to catch him sipping a brandy and watching a re-run.

My dog is even more disturbing.  His body language is disturbingly human-like: he even sleeps stretched in the proper direction on the bed with his head on the pillow.  He's not even two yet and can understand most things I ask of him (when he's not going through a rebellious streak- retrievers sure have a long puppyhood!).

I don't have any pets yet....but my husband and I are trying to agree on a dog breed right now. He insist we have to have a big dog.

I'm lobbying for a Labradoodle; and I think I'm wearing him down.

I've never been much of an animal person; but I'll have to admit I'm kind of getting excited about the idea.

Does anyone have a Labradoodle? It's a cross between a Labradore and a Standard Poodle. From all I'm reading they don't shred which is a big obstical in the dog issue because I'm not real big on pet hair.

Hi Lovie,
I have some info. on labradoodles. Basically with this breed, you get
the great temperment of a labrador, with the smarts of a standard
poodle and labrador, without the shedding labs do.

I have a labrador and he sheds like a maniac. All year long. If that's
a problem for you, do NOT get a straight Lab. But his temperment is
so wonderful, I don't mind.

However, a labradoodle is a great compromise. A friend of mine
has two; and he is very, very happy with the breed. And he says they
don't shed.

Note: Both labs and poodles are very strong swimmers. So you will
have a dog that probably loves the water!

Let us know when you get a puppy!! Jinx39151.8016319444

Oh that's fabulous news Jinx! The more I read about them the more excited I'm getting. My husband and my 17 year old son aren't exactly about the idea of getting something with the words poodle or doodle involved;(They want a manly dog) but I think my husband might be coming around. He's always wanted a Lad; and I've always wanted a Poodle.....so to me it sounds like the perfect compromise too; and their so cute!

I thought maybe from the picture you had a German Shephard which is another breed we've considered; but the shedding thing does concern me greatly. I really want a house dog. Although we have a huge yard; I want it to stay inside the majority of the time. I've had outside dogs and although I liked them I never really got real close to it. I think if we have an inside dog that's incorperated into our family on a constant basis I'll get more into having a pet.

I've been researching them on the web. That's actually how I came to find the breed. I did one of those little survey's that helps you find the dog that's right for you. It suggested these dogs and This breed does seems to suit my criteria better than any other.

Thanks for the feed back.

Just one more quick tidbit: Make sure you go to a reputable
breeder!! Some may claim their "doodles" won't shed and it's not
necessarily true. A good breeder will help ensure their puppies are
non-shedders or at least minimal shedders.

Labradoodles actually look pretty "manly", IMO. So your hubby and
son should be o.k. Even though the name of the breed is kinda
funny!

Best of luck.

Yeah; I read that same info earlier today. Thanks.

I'll have to start checking to see if there are any breeders in our area. I'd kind of like to visit a couple of different ones before we make our choice.

Lovie,

You will enjoy a pet so much!  I'm excited for you.  You must post pictures when you get your new addition.

Phatgirl

It will probable be later this summer before we make the final decision and get one. We really want to think this through before getting one. We don't want to rush out and get a puppy just because we've got puppy fever.

I'll definately let you guys know once we get one.....and I know I'll be anxious to share pictures.

Lovie,

Kuddos to you for thinking it thru.  It is a huge,lifelong committment.  I have a puppy right now and boy, are they a lot of work.  Conversely, she is bringing so much joy to my life. It is so much fun watching her learn new things and grow by leaps and bounds.  My puppy gained 13 lbs in 3 weeks.  I hope your labradoodle doesn't get that big

Anyhoo, keep us posted.

Lori

Well this sure got drug sideways, I was hoping for some funny pet stories. Lovie, I researched before we got our beagle, the AKC said they were one of the top family breeds, which was important, our girls were 8 & 5. I wanted an inside dog, you're right about bonding more with an inside dog. A beagle is medium size, she couldn't knock over the Christmas tree. I really thought we had made an intelligent choice and don't get me wrong we love Cleo. But the books never said anything about Beagles shedding year round.   Cleo is a beautiful tri color, so the only hair you can see on the floor is the white, but it's everwhere, I should have gotten a color that matched our flooring. Nor did the books say that beagles are runners, she went to puppy school and the trainer said we would never break her of that. If we can catch her before she's hauling a** by yelling "treat", sometimes we can get her turn back before she's tracking an animal, but the only thing that's really changed this habit is old age, she stayed on a line or locked on the deck for 8 years. Otherwise I was driving around the neighborhood with two crying girls yelling "treat" out the window. So no matter how much you research a pet there will be things you didn't think of or things the author didn't put in their description. And never get a dog based on your child's promise that they will take care of all its needs.

Ninilchicken,

This post might indeed have gotten off track, but it is much more pleasant than some of the former posts....

I, for one, have enjoyed this post.  I'll keep my eyes and ears open for cute puppy stuff and post!

Lori

Yeah....sorry Nini~ I popped in to read it and suddenly thought that maybe you guys might have some good thoughts on my delima.

As you know Threads take all kinds of turns on this board.....least this time no ones being ugly; huh?

Again, I'm sorry.

Lovie what you said about the doodle and your hubby and son is too funny.  Mine said the same and now they walk the toy poodle I decided on and tease by putting their hands up in a feminine way.  Your men will fall in love with a doodle of any sort.

Our toy poodle sleeps under the covers with us with her long nose poking out. 

Nini,

  Reading about your beagle made laugh.  It also reminded me of my girl Dusty who we recently lost.  She was  a tri colored beagle also and loved dearly.  I used to mix her hard food with canned food.  She would take her bowl out of the holder and put it on my dining room carpet.  The bowl would slide with her walking and licking away behind it, spitting out the hard food along the way.  Sometimes she'd come back and eat it sometimes not.  I never knew where I'd find the bowl. She could spell too.  Eat, treat, out, walk, ride and BATH.  When we said or spelled the last one she would run like hell and hide.  When we gave her a bath after we dried her we would put the towels on the floor.  We would tell her to "dry yourself off".  She would have us laughing with her butt in the air, sliding her neck all over the towel. If you dropped food in the kitchen it either didn't hit the floor (she was a great catcher) or "Hoover" cleaned it up. We also taught her to bark "Love you" for a treat.  She would sit on the floor and look up to where the treats were at and bark "love you" until you gave in.  If we were on an open field or away from traffic I walked her off lease.  She was more afraid of losing me than running off.  She always checked to see if I was behind her. I eat dinner with my parents every Sunday.  My mom would always call before I went there.  I always hung up the phone and said ok.  As soon as I did she would start howling cause she knew she was going to see her grandparents.

By the way we just recently got another dog.  Another beagle.

 

Midnite,

What a great story.  Sounds like your beagle was one smart cookie.

Nini,

I used to have a sharpei that could spell too.  He was so smart.  We would get him a birthday cake for his birthday from the local gormuet pet shop.  We would spell it and he would get so excited and go wait by the frig for his slice of cake.  He was a smart, loving boy. Unfortunately, I lost him in Dec'05.  I miss him terribly. 

Lori

I have two small dogs and one big, orange furry cat!  My cat is a Persian and his face is so smushed that is jaw is a bit deformed.  His bottom fang sticks out of his mouth and he looks like he is snarling all the time but he is the biggest lover!

Oliver, my sh*t-poo as I fondly call him, a mix between the shih tzu and the miniature poodle-will tilt his head from side to side when you talk to him!

Harley, my shiht zu, loves stinky breath!  He gets so excited in the morning when you wake up and blow in his face that his will lick you to death! 

The both have very fast, long tongues and when they get excited they lick and if you aren't careful, you will get what we call the brain probe, a doggie tongue so far up your nose it tickles your brain!!!
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