HI Carol,

Carol Shenkenberger wrote in a message to Richard Webb:

 > YOu can bet he also got more than his share of table scraps.  I'm trying to
 > convince Kathy right now to cut back on the table scraps. That's going to be
 > part of the key to getting some of the excess weight off which she acquired
 > while she was being cared  for not so well by stepdaughter and her boyfriend

CS> Yes, been noting a definate thing.  Cash will follow me to the
CS> kitchen but be happy totally just for a 'pet'.  Cash follows
CS> Charlotte, she feels she has to give him a noshe.  She's now backing
CS> down to what I do (mini sporadic noshe, just a smear on a finger for
CS> taste and no more).


That is best policy while you're trying to control his diet so carefully. 
Picked up a couple little ropey ball type things in the pet toys and chewie
bones section at the discount store just recently.  Kathy doesn't have
enough arm to actually throw it too far, and she can play ball with Schatze
every once in awhile when I'm busy on the radio and SChatze won't take no
for an answer but wants entertainment right now. SHe's been tossing this
piece of what was one of my slippers that Schatze decimated a few months
ago.  Barely recognizable now but dog still plays with it. SHe'd go after
my new pair if I let her, but when not on my feet they're stowed up on the
stepladder over in the corner of my office. I have to watch her, she's
grown quite an affinity to my shoes.

CS> Cash is happy.  Pack leader is Daddy, pack mate to be appeased is
CS> me.  Charlotte is a senior packmate to him but not radically senior
CS> enough he cant play with her or whine softly for a treat .  Cat
CS> is alpha whenit comes to her food bowl, and most other times but
CS> will accept a friendly whole face slobber.

dogs are as they were in the wild, very much pack animal.  Their place in
the pack has to be reinforced. OUr little pack of three is much the same.



 > University campus. we mourned our previous  Rott that week, as we left her
 > chained to front porch in case water came up.  AT least she could get on the
 > roof and stay alive. she survived that, and we learned after we got to SAn
 

 > we went by animal hospital to get her. Lady at animal hospital took pictures
 > reunion with dog.  She said she'd seen too few of those scenes the last  few
 > weeks.

CS> I can well imagine.  

YEs we heard plenty of sad animal stories.  Between all the Katrina stories
on the news and the American REd Cross appeals for money I got to the point
when first in SAn Antone I didn't even want to turn on the *{at}{at}{at} tube. I
just wanted to get home and see my ROxy, start the arduous task of cutting
up the oak tree and retrieving my stuff out of my collapsed house.


 > WE find the crate is safer for Schatze as well for same reasons.  WHen she w
 > quite small she could get in the way of Kathy's operation of  the pedals. No
 > she can degrade sight of the road.  Hence, the crate's safer for her.

CS> Yes and i bet she felt better too in there.

Indeed, much safer for her and easier on us.  wHen she was very small she'd
cry a bit if I left her crated, and at the time our air conditioner in the
van didn't work. NEW compressor since then got that fixed, but I"d
take her out of there and hold her securely on my lap, but she soon got too
big for that .

 > Also our main vehicle is a long wheelbase GMC van, initially designed to hau
 > or 10 folks, but with seats removed making it more of a cargo van.  there ar
 > loose tools and other things which when flying around during an accident cou
 > be haazardous to her as I often carry Kathy's wheelchair, her walker as well
 > A two-wheeled hand truck, jack, spare tire, all sorts of items in the back.
 > sHe's still puppy enough she has to check everything out as well, so the cra
 > keeps her from getting into anything she shouldn't.  Example:  CHewing on th
 > plastic jug of motor oil or antifreeze.

CS> Grin, tie down the 'den' and the dog will be happy!

Yep, some bungee cords take care of that department.


Schatze is to the point now where we can close her out of my office and
leave other harmfuls up where she can't get to them and she can do what
she's supposed to do and that's greet any possible intruders at front or
rear door and do her guard dog stuff. SHe could if she only realized it
shoulder her way into my office/radio room as well.  IN fact has, but I've
got most wiring well enough hidden away she can't get to it.

Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+