SisMorphine wrote:Granted, I'm not sure I could ever keep a working dog because I don't have the ability to distance myself from something that I want to cuddle all the time, but I respect those who do it.
A dog can be both, if the owner is dedicated.
DemoDick wrote:A painter, musician, or mathmetician can be dedicated and still suck. To be a successfull working dog handler you must understand the relationship and then in turn communicate that understanding to the dog. A first time working dog handler will make their job a lot harder if they blur the line between pet and employee.
mnp13 wrote:On the gallery thread, you made a comment that can only be construed as a not-so-vieled accusation of me neglecting Riggs. If a dog is so bored he is chewing his feet, then he is a victim of neglect or is having another medical or emotional issue. Instead of asking me if the redness was due to chewing (which would indicate actual concern) you assume that he is so bored that his only outlet is a dangerous habit caused by boredom.
I don't give a rat's fanny if you think that your dog is the world's drivest, crazyiest malinois. I have news for you, I know about two dozen other malinois owners who make the exact same claim. It's really a bunch of BS. You have a malinois, insanity is part of the breed description. You keep that malinois as a house pet. Insanity is what you signed up for.
Do you make the same judegments on people who have highly aggressive dogs who are on a full time crate-and-rotate schedule? Those dogs usually only get a few hours of time out of the crate between work, crating at night and equal time out with the other dog.
I'm glad your dog's houseing situation works for you. That is a good thing. Stop judging others because they don't choose to do the same thing. Riggs will no longer be a 'crate dog' as soon as Riggs doesn't act like a tazmanian devil in a dog costume. He will earn his priviledges, that's the way it goes. I will not risk him killing my cats, brawling with Ruby, injuring himself or eating my house; and that would be the outcome if he was let loose at the present time.
Karen wrote:To use your kids example, there are children who need almost military structure to their lives and they thrive that way. They learn strict self control and they learn how to function within set parameters at all times. Other kids don't need rules or boundries. They find them themselves and then respect them. It depends on the kid. If you try to regulate the life of a 'free form' kid you will crush that kids spirit. If you unstructure the life of a child that needs structure you will be in a world of trouble because you will never get that child under control.
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Know what? When people start equating training dogs and raising kids they totally have no clue IMO. Kids are not dogs just as dogs don't reason and have human instincts, language, and thought process.
Karen wrote:Simple fact of WHY Riggs will eat your house is he's not house trained period. That's a fact. He was never taught house manners and that is not your fault Michelle. I don't care what kind of "working" dog you have it behooves you to teach a pup manners in the house. Or is Chris going to contradict Sandra Shaner (seeing how we are talking bitesports). Tetanus, Virus, Anthax, and the other one akll have great manners in the house and are trained in ScH.
Karen wrote:As for his feet, they are not chapped. That is from licking or being wet a lot. We have had a wet crazy winter up here and since Chris is 2 towns over our weather is the weather in Acton as well. You said he was in an indoor kennel with a run. Fact of the matter is his feet were wet a lot and he licked them tons to get them dry going by the staining. There is an infection that causes the rust color and between the toes is darker isn't it.
Karen wrote:Again not pointing fingers at anyone I just have the same problem with Cuddles and she's had it her whole life. It can be a sign of a weak immune system and I am not saying that it is at all. Nothing to get het up or defensive over but you can have a skin scrape done and rule the fungus out before (if it indeed IS) it becomes a nail bed infection or lead to lovely pustules.
Karen wrote:What a crock. Going on what you and Chris have posted and Chris admitted he has NOT been trained properly for the show ring and he will destroy the hose (that from you too) if he was a rescue dog he would be put down on his info sheet as NOT HOUSEBROKEN. Housebroken is a dog that behaves in the house so you yourself have posted over and over he ISN'T. Don't make excuses that he's a working dog and yadda yadda. That's bunk and I think you realize it.
Karen wrote:I did NOT say this dog had an immune related problem only that the fungal infection that I advised you to check on can be an indication of such. I have seen it in many other dogs most that happen to have white legs that they are just taken to the vet and put on a round of meds and it is done with.
Karen wrote:If not, then deal with red icky looking feet off and on for the rest of the dog's existance. I don't really give a crap he's not in my house and he's not my responsibility.
Karen wrote:Funny YOU'VE had the dog 10 days and been to Chris' place 1 time yet are all knowing about everything he's ever done and how the dogs are kept 24/7 365? Amazing.
Lisa wrote:No offense guys, but this dicussion has gotten a little personal.
I can see both sides... but there seems to be no end.
Mind if I get back to the point?
Dog training, regardless of the goal (sport or pet), does involve tallent, skill and commitment. Most importantly it requires a deep understanding of the pupil.
Many people have the commitment, but will always struggle. Some people have the tallent but will never care enough to use it.
Working dog or pet, dogs must be mentally and physically fulfilled. Those requirements differ from dog to dog.
I have known very happy working kennel dogs, and very unhappy spoiled pets and vice-versa. We must make these decisions for our dogs, in their (and our) best interest.
For me personally, I like the challenge of both, with the additional speed-bump of keeping a multi-dog household of bullies (sucessfully, of course ONLY in the most responsible, supervised way). This is where I have learned how important their fulfilment is (physical, mental and drives). This is also where commitment is absolute, and understanding of the subjects involved is important.
How to best do that is a personal decision and should not be judged, as long as the dog is healthy and happy.
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