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16219. arkymalarky - 8/15/2005 11:18:24 PM Sounds like a great weekend, MsNo. I didn't have female friends out of high school, and though I love my high school friends still, they ended up having a lot of problems and we finally fell out of touch. I couldn't relate to them any more. My closest friends after that were guys--mostly Bob's friends, which is how we met (through mutual friends who we still are very close to)--and colleagues from work, which is one reason it didn't work well for me to try to change jobs a few years ago. Maybe you all can start doing what we've done at our summer party and just make a commitment to get together so many times a year (even if it's only once a year). 16220. arkymalarky - 8/15/2005 11:19:57 PM On dog medicines, they have stuff now that takes care of everything, including earmites and worms, with one medicine, usually applied once a month. Ticks are the big problem out here. 16221. arkymalarky - 8/15/2005 11:26:11 PM '19 sounds funny. I didn't have lifetime female friends out of high school. I had female friends in college, but we didn't stay in touch when we graduated.
Mazie did very well today, btw, so I think we're all ready (as much as we can be) for the start of the school year. 16222. Macnas - 8/16/2005 9:50:21 AM I had just written a list for Mago, before I decided I was starting to sound like a dog crank.
In terms of dog health, keep an eye on the dog the same way you'd keep an eye on a child, and you'll be able to see when he needs some attention. No need for any further vigilance than that.
Busy dogs are happy, and happy dogs love you for it. Give Butch chores to do, even if its just telling him to run from here to there. They love a bit of routine and doing jobs for you makes them feel good.
Way back when, I remember going out in the evening to bring in cattle. The dogs would be lying around the yard, but when they saw it was time to work, they would jump up and start acting very important. They'd help us drive the cattle down to the yard, trotting behind them and cutting off escape routes that some of the younger beasts might take if left.
These were true mongrel dogs. Sheep dog, mixed with terrier of some sort, with maybe a bit of greyhound for good measure. Odd shapes and sizes, multicoloured and patchy, long legs and stumpy legs. All of them clever, all of them strong, and all of them nearly indestructible.
One in particular was considered mine. He had been born around the same time as me, and he lived most of his life at my side until we both reached 17 years of age. He had at that stage been poisoned, run over by several cars, kicked by hundreds of cows, had his ears torn in uncountable fights. A bit of stiffness in his back legs was the only thing wrong, other than the inevitable cataracts that all working dogs get as they grow old.
halfway through his 17th year, he had a stroke, recovered, but then had a series of them. My heart broke when I went out in the morning to find him paralysed down one side and all across his hindquarters, trying to come to me still. My Father looked at him, and said he couldn’t go on. I carried him to the end of the field below the house and put him down after saying goodbye and thanks.
Later, I planted a tree where I'd buried him, and now a nice ash tree grows there. I'll tell you, I've a lump in my throat relating that story.
16223. thoughtful - 8/16/2005 1:19:13 PM Awww...what a heart breaker. Hard to lose a best friend, whether they have 2 legs or 4... 16224. Magoseph - 8/16/2005 7:02:06 PM No one who has lost a dear dog can read your post without a reaction, be that of tears or a lump in the throat and that’s all right with everyone here because no one we know can mind mourning again for a much loved dog, Mac. The vet postponed our appointment because she had an emergency and we just came back from her office. Butch has a bad yeast infection in his ears, so from now until we see the vet again in a month, Butch will be treated with cleansing solution and with ointment each time. 16225. Jenerator - 8/16/2005 8:13:00 PM Mac,
I can really relate. I had to do virtually the same thing two years ago. 16226. arkymalarky - 8/16/2005 11:19:52 PM Mac, what a touching account of your dog. Got me teared up the first thing logging on. 16227. Ulgine Barrows - 8/17/2005 12:51:42 AM 16222. Macnas, you dog crank, how long ago did he die? Aw, you'll miss him forever.
16204. thoughtful...chronic pet illnesses that we never experienced growing up
They didn't live this long.
16189. wonkers2
42-cent!
Dang, I remember when tiny children started calling me ma'am.
Onto the next phase ~~~ with or without you! Life is grand!
16182. Magoseph, the tourmalines link, bless your heart that you took the time, but my eyes hurt.
EEEK
Maybe I can get some photos of my necklace placed webside.
(See? I shoud be in sales/mktg, I just made up that webside term)
16191. reading larkys account of waking up with ice cream, I'm going to have to go do something else.
piddle, putter, whatevah!
Mexican dinner, enchiladas, I think. 16228. arkymalarky - 8/17/2005 2:18:49 AM They didn't live this long.
That's right. 16229. arkymalarky - 8/17/2005 2:21:24 AM Now I'm waking up to quick showers and coffee, except on weekends and holidays. But I'm glad to be going back, especially after having missed the last nine weeks of school last year. I don't like being overloaded, and I still am this year, but it's better than some years. 16230. Macnas - 8/17/2005 8:38:54 AM Dog crank, I suppose I'm a bit of that alright. At the same time, I don't get all "aww come here you widdle lovey wovey doggy woggy", quite the opposite in fact. Dog's are not left in the house and too much attention is bad for a dog.
I don't like to think of "owning" a dog, I think of being responsible for them. A dog has to work with me, sometimes very hard. But in return I make sure they are fed, healthy and happy. But even though it's pretty much a business type relationship, I do miss them when they have to go. 16231. Magoseph - 8/17/2005 2:28:34 PM Hello, Mac, and everyone!
I have a hard time making Flexy understand that since we have Butch because he wants protection for us in this house, he should not deviate from the rules we first set for the dog. I really was not interested in forming a relationship with a dog at this time of my life and a gun would have been fine with me: I rather looked forward learning how to use one.
16232. Magoseph - 8/17/2005 2:49:33 PM I should add that Flexy took care of his mother during the ten years before her death when she had Alzheimer’s disease. The only times Elisabeth was peaceful were when her little female dog slept on her lap. The dog would not go to her unless Flexy petted her first and not before she wanted to go to his mother. I think that he believes if he is affectionate to Butch, then Butch will be a better guard-dog. 16233. Macnas - 8/17/2005 2:57:24 PM Hello Mago.
What rules did you set? if you don't mind telling me. 16234. Magoseph - 8/17/2005 3:10:47 PM Well, here are a few sof ar, Mac: Butch must be heeling at all times--he is not leading you, you are leading him. He should know how to sidestep from us when we walk around the house. He cannot choose to sleep anywhere he wants. No snacks unless he accomplishes some sort of feat for us. The commands given to Butch should be same for both of us. Excessive affection like climbing on your lap and demanding you caress him until he walks away from you is out. 16235. Magoseph - 8/17/2005 3:12:27 PM Oh, one more rule--he has a place to sleep, that's where he should sleep. 16236. Macnas - 8/17/2005 4:03:30 PM Sounds like a good set of rules if you can keep the dog to them.
I'd differ interms of all ways walking to heel. If he needs to be under careful control, like a busy path or somesuch, then fine. But I think that sometimes you have to give the dog his head, so to speak, and let him wander while you walk him if circumstances allow.
Also, no dogs in-doors makes for an easier time for all concerned. But I'm cranky that way.
16237. Magoseph - 8/17/2005 5:33:17 PM Well, the property is still too large for letting Butch wander around. We can’t put a fence yet to what we will eventually keep because the prospective buyers for two of the lots are squabbling about what they each want. Until then Butch has to be on a leash because if he follows, say, a squirrel, we could be severely fined by the Association in charge of our area.
For now, we let him lead us wherever he wants to go on the property, but we are at the end of his leash. Once we have what we plan to keep, just an acre, we will fence the area and let him wander around.
16238. Magoseph - 8/17/2005 5:36:53 PM ...if he follows, say, a squirrel,...
By this, I mean that if he follows a squirrel to another property, across a road, we would be responsible if he causes mayem somewhere.
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