0n (30 Sep 07) PETER COGGON wrote to CINDY HAGLUND...

>> CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE <<

 PC> be a family member.   If I given him away to someone, and the money
 PC> it would not sit with me, as he is a member of my immediate family.

 Yeah they are our family members but we have to remember for their
sake they're dogs. Their needs are not so hard to fill. The food, the
water the shelter is fine but what they need most of is exercise and
exercise and discipline.

CM puts it like this. A dog's life should be 50 percent exercise, 25
percent discipline (I guess he means as in behavior training) and 25
percent affection (at the right time).

He puts a lot of emphasis on exercise. It's not hard to figure out.
Dogs have a lot of energy and walks at least an hour a day channels it
off productively. I think the same is true with humans too. We need a
good walk every day too.

Of course I think my Cosmo who is 10 and not very active (he's always
been rather a low energy dog)- a walk around the block twice a day is
his take. We try to go for longer walks with him and he's okay for
about a 1/4 mile but then tires out.. he gets asthmatic.

I feel sorry for big dogs running with their human. Dr. Fox says dogs
need to stop every now and then. They're not meant to run long
distances without stopping. He wasn't too clear on how long too long
is though. I mean he rollar blades with the big breeds he rehabs..and
they go for an hour run! hmm. That's big breeds. And in cool weather.
(I think they take a break half way)..

....


 CH> CM would say you are humanizing him. We all do this. The dogs needs
 CH> are very simple. And just like us they do not like being sick or
 CH> unable to take a long walk say. Dogs love to walk. They need to. It's
 CH> wired into them. ... Read Cesar's Way and you'll understand. This guy
 CH> explains dogs completely and understandably.

 PC>    Rusty already gets a walk in the morning, and when I can I get him
 PC> into the woods for a real run and he loves it I know by the way
 PC> he goes to the van when he has had enough...or he wants the treat.

Woods are great. :) The only down side is check for ticks. I hate
those tings. I forget about them .. we don't have much in that way
where I live but they're there  out in the woods someplace I'm sure.
...

 PC> I started with dogs when I was born.   I have always had dogs with
 PC> me, and I know I am part of the pack.  I know about the sleeping
 PC> arrangements and watched their throwback activities.

 You'd love his book. "Cesar's Way" he too grew up with dogs but not
in this country. In Mexico dogs run free, even owned dogs. They're not
pampered like they are here.

Wouldn't it be great to walk with our dog without a leash and they
stay right with you? CM noticed this with the homeless in LA. Dogs stay
with their owners. They act as pack members with the human as the
leader. They don't get distracted at all.

Now that's true loyalty. Not having to have a leash at all.

...

 PC> On the farm, I went with my dog, and if I slept the dog was at
 PC> my back,and when he moved I did too.

 :) That's what CM said. His Grandfather had a farm and lots of dogs.
Didn't tolerate aggression. The dogs recognized him as the pack leader,
and all humans even the kids as pack leaders.


 PC> Read some of these guys and been at work into courses with dogs
 PC> and how to get bitten, and after it all... they haven't told me
 PC> much the dogs over the years have not already taught me...plus
 PC> some.

 The amazing thing is CM learned all he knows by having grown up with
the dogs. His calm assertive high energy self and ability to calm an
aggressive/fearful dog is for him .. natural.
.......

 CH> We had a lab mix from a shelter years ago who was scared of
 CH> everything and allergic to everything. NO CM back then. If I had had
 CH> that book maybe we could have helped but this dog was impossible mostly
 CH> d due to the allergies.

 PC>  Had a lab mix...same stuff....and my mother taught me some cures
 PC> they did in Scotland.   My grandmother had a knack for bring back
 PC> poisoned cats.

 Really? Hmm. I wonder. How did  that work? The cures in Scotland. I
take by the poisoned cats you mean the practice of laying out poison
against unwanted animals on one's property?

I read of that in James Harris's book. (Another great one!)
*(All creatures large and small; and the sequel.. Got both in a
tome at a discount book store.) Have you  read it?

....

 CH> We ended up penning her outside in a kennel . She was fine there.
 CH> Then we gave her up when we moved from NYS to FL.

 PC>   I have never ever penned our dog in a outside kennel or chained them
 PC> They have absolute freedom to roam.

 correction. To Rochester. We were moving to Rochester, NY at that
time. We got Cosmo in 1997 there. :) Our shih tzu.

It was what we had to do. If we had been on a farm we'd have let her
free. I think that is the better way, to let them roam. But in a city
you can't do that.
...............

 PC>   Humanize them...I guess so.   They seem to respond better.  I watch
 PC> or hear a bad dream, and I always wake Rusty up.   A gentle hand
 PC> and "hi Rusty..bad dream go back to sleep... night mate"

 :) Well we can't help humanize them a little. I think what CM means
is the overdoing it like the ilk of Paris Hilton does for example....
And moneymakers do with fancy doggie hotels ...

....................

 CH> As long as you are the pack leader your dog will be your follower no
 CH> matter where you live. But if a dog was running free out in the
 CH> country once, he may not adjust well to indoor life. He needs walking.

 PC> When we have a prowler, we both pile out the door together, I guess
 PC> safety in numbers, and I depend on him as the Big Dog to do the bark
 PC> that puts our house off limits....heard this via the grapevine
 PC> that our home has a big dog.

 You heard the parrot joke didn't you? About the beguiler who is
stopped when the Parrot warns him Jesus will get you! The burglar
ignores the dog until this big brute rushes at him. heh.. The dog's
name was Jesus.
...........

 PC> Our dogs always go between country and town.  They have camped
 PC> and roughed it with a campfire, and liked it all.  But
 PC> still as you say like that walk with someone....that is something
 PC> that has always been a part of them.

 They adjust easily because you do.

 PC> My dog and his cat...remind me of the cartoon  "Ruff n Ready".
 CH> I Love cats but sadly am allergic to them.

 PC> That's too bad..

It is indeed. I do love cats. :) . When we'd go blueberry picking in
Upstate Western NY there'd be a big beautiful white cat at the barn.
She'd come to me.. and I couldn't help but pet her even though I knew
I'd be in for it.

As a matter of fact a stray got into our yard here not long ago. A
beautiful black/tan cat. Gosh. :) I did pet this cat! I took an
allergy pill fast. But I really enjoyed her company while she visited.
I think she got found eventually. Never saw her again.

 PC> Anyhow...have to go...tea time, and a boo outside for Rusty and
 PC> I then off to bed.... going north tomorrow to look at the
 PC> leafs turning red.

The dogs always know when it is bedtime even if they've been sleeping
for hours 

 :) nice chatting wit you.

Cindy

... Adventure is the champagne of life.

--- PPoint 3.01