> Had a neighbor out in the country much the same situation.  HE adopted a lit
 > lab mix puppy, he already had a retriever mix female and a Chihuahua mix. La
 > mix was quite unhealthy, and they weren't treating for fleas or anything els
 > and his dogs ran loose. i got some broad spectrum stuff from the co-op to
 > eradicate them and did a good spray around both our yards. Educated him on h
 > the felas are roundworm in a different stage and he had to treat with Frontl
 > or  the vinegar in the water, do something.  WE also discussed heartworm. HE
 > least was treating for the felas then.

We did a spray of the yard too.  I suspect a monthly one might be needed for
my area. I read the directions then had Don do the back yard, let *dry*
(using front yard for dog walks) then front yard (using back as normal).

We need to pooperscoup the back again but its not bad.  He mostly likes the
fence area and the 'dirt pile' so we can just turn some of that under for a
natural fertilizer effect.  (Unless there is some medical reason we shouldnt
do that?)

There are a lot of dogs along all the streets here.  Leash laws in effect and
with so many, we quietly dont worry if a little gift is donated to the grass
as long as its not in the middle of the yard.  Azaleas love doggie doo .

 > UPi
 > YOu'll know if he's picking up more than he should by feel.  WHen Kathy was 

Grin, you have to know what that feel is like though to identify it well. 
Although I am not totally ignorant of dogs, I have never had a chance to have
one for more than a few months as a kid.  Don has, but never other than
german shepards and labs.  Very different body build thing going on this time
but we arent too far off.  As long as his belly is slightly undertucked after
a good 'morning trip the yard and before eating' and you can count his ribs
by eyeball from 12 feet away when standing at least 3 up' he's a bit too thin
still but not radically.  Seems a workable hypothesis for us.

(on special bones)

 > CS> Lasts about 5 mins.  10$ a bag for 30 .
 > 
 > THose work well.  We do the rawhide chews, for the big dogs, and that's abou
 > waht they last. We fill Schatze's bowl with 2.5 scoops in the morning (about

Cant with Cash.  Vet said 'choking hazard' in his case.  He's  wierd I guess
mix of 'beagle' and 'very strong jawed dog'.

 > cups) and that lasts her all day. I demand feed dogs.  Many don't, but I
 > believe in leaving food down for them to have whenever they wish to eat a
 > little and train them that they don't need to gorge.  THey still eat on a
 > schedule it seems but makes life a little easier with my erratic schedule.

I would prefer that method, but Cash will eat til he throws up then go back
for more.  He seems to have no 'off' food button.  One vet was quite worried
it seemed until the other told him we feed on a schedule and do not
free-feed.  This is I might mention, a common thing for beagles and many
scent hound types.  Without a careful schedule, they will get hugely fat.

I saw one like that at the vets.  I was gauche (and unknowing) enough to tell
her her pomeranian was cute but I didnt know they got that big.  It wasnt a
pom.  It was a slightly mixed beagle with longer hair and weighed more than
Cash .  About 13 inches at shoulder and 42lbs!  I'm sorry to say but his
sweet disposition and all was not hampered by the weight but he obviously
didnt look healthy to me.  Meantime, she was eyeing Cash on the scale and
perhaps, it sunk in as i was chatting about (and asking) if I was feeding him
right.

I dont know her circumstances and such.  She may have a multipet house and
have a free-feed she cant keep her 'beagle' out of?

 > CS> blind.  I was the technical coordinator for ADAnet and backup to
 > CS> Bill Freeman for a long time.
 > 
 > THink I recall that name from back in the '90's.

Yes, pretty big Fidonet alternet stuff.  I lost track of him so no idea what
he's up to now.

 > CS> Whiley lady 
 > 
 > OH yes.  SHE had the game down, but once I knew waht her game was that didn'
 > work so well.  WE'd come in, and before leash came off I'd kneel on floor an
 > we'd inspect the mouth.

Hehe works!

 > CS> Oh I misread.  I thought you had a male Rottie too.  Ok, this will
 > CS> work.
 > 
 > DOn't have a male, we'll find one with good blood lines when time's right.
 > WE're *definitely* not doing first heat. sEcond's soon enough.  One or two
 > litters, then no moire.  sHe's not a baby factory or a moneymaking endeavor.

I see web pages advise that too so this is good.

 > SHe's a house and business guard second, and loved family member first. AS I
 > typing this she's sleeping behind my chair, and snoring.  rOtts are known fo
 > that. OUr bedroom at night is quite a chorus between the three of us.

Snicker, Cash also snores. Not as loud as Don though!  Today they were
napping on the bed and Don let out a snort and I saw Cash give Don a sort of
loving disgusted look then go to the floor and back to sleep (sound barrier).

 > BOdy's grown to full adulthood or close enough by then and mom's matured eno
 > to handle it. Large dogs mature a bit slower anyway.  I think CIndy posted a
 > chart she found somewhere on estimating maturity and longevity of different
 > breeds in this echo a couple months back. YOur vet probably has the same one
 > WE'd seen that one before at a couple different vets' offices.

Ok!  No need here for that one but am curious so will look.  Daisy (cat) is
spayed (sadly, while with kittens, possibly first heat) and Cash is a male.

 > CS> Hehehe.  oops.  You know Radio shack, if you stil have the base
 > CS> model going, has ones you can just plug into an outlet and pickup
 > CS> your line from that.
 > 
 > Yah could, but I"m a little leery, as I run phone patches on ham
radio for t
 > troops when they call for it, sat phones and the internet have taken a lot o
 > that business from us though.  sTill I handle a lot of phone patches on ham

Ah thats right!  Forgot that was you!  Heard of it.

Snipped the rest there as it's over my head but interesting!

 > Anyway, back to dogs .
 > 
 >  > when we adopted her she was full of infections of all types.  I  think we
 >  > about $3k in the first 6 months of her time with us just on antibiotics a
 >  > visits.
 > 
 > CS> We are down about 700$ but some of that was a good 'den' (cage) and
 > CS> a car carrier (he needs the large dog ones, 36 inch was smallest one
 > CS> he will comfortably fit in.  The car one is a nice plastic unit that
 > CS> will double as a doghouse out back withthe door removed.  Airplane
 > CS> approved too.
 > 
 > DOn't have to worry about flying.  Kathleen refuses to fly.

When we moved in 1995 from San Diego to Norfolk, we shipped the 2 cats by air
to my SIL who had them in a pet hotel until we arrived.

A mini rant if you do not mind?  I hate the idea of flying animals
unattended but stuffing them in a car in a carrier for 6 days is worse.  The
absolute worst though is putting then in a car sans carrier if they are small
enough (or too big to hold) to jump on the driver or get under their feet at
the gas and brake area.  A cat *will* naturally hide right there.  Never ever
take even a short trip with a cat without a carrier.  A dog in the backseat
with arms around may be ok for a 1 mile trip but a carrier is a safer
solution even then for all concerned.

 > We've taught our Schatze that crate is her safe zone.  SHe's the first one I
 > ever crate/cage trained. Had to though as we were away on business during he
 > early puppy days, and she was just too chaotic in motel rooms otherwise.

Cash was crate trained when we got him.  We didnt like the sound of the idea
at first but now that we know a bit more, it's working well.  Like Daisy has
her 'safe room', Cash has his little den where he cant be bothered without
waking first.

We gather the key point (for us at least) is never use it as a punishment
area.  The 'you've been bad, into your crate' is where that whole thing
breaks down.
               xxcarol
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