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I Wonder What She's Thinking?
- Thread starter bewdley
- Start date
Eric Gibson
master brummie
Sorry to put a damper on this but dogs that big and children that small should never be in mixed company.
cookie273uk
master brummie
bewdly, Great pic and what a beautiful Doberman, such intelligent and friendly dogs, I had one called Sam, sadly I he died 2 years ago aged 15. I gather your Grandchildren are in Tally's bed hence the bemused expression. Eric
bewdley
master brummie
You're welcome to your opinion Eric, as we are to ours.
We have had many dobermanns over the years and we are quite happy for them to be in mixed company. The children are never with the dogs without an adult supervising (for the dog's protection as well as the children; children can be very unpredictable) and the dobe in the picture has always been in the company of little people. The children are being taught to respect the dog as much as the dog knows her place in our pack.
The size of the dog doesn't matter in my opinion, but the behaviour does. Tally achieved the gold standard Kennel club award when she was just over 12 months old, she has ongoing training daily with us and makes us proud of her everyday.
This is a picture of one of our previous dobes "Molly" with our daughter. Molly loved to sit on a lap, but I'm sure she never realised she was 7 stone; oh I miss her so much.
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bewdley
master brummie
Thank you cookie273uk aka Eric and yes they are in Tally's bed, but she wasn't bothered she just got on the sofa and made herself comfy there. I'm sorry to hear about Sam, it is a huge loss when we lose our pets and as you say dobes are so special they don't call them "velcro" dogs for nothing. Josie
Lady Penelope
master brummie
What a lovely dog Bewdley! We had an Elkhound called Kvin who sadly died 3 years ago aged 16. We still miss him everyday but he was very naughty. I think it's true to say that everyone knows their own situation and I couldn't leave him alone with the grandchildren. As you say, partly because little ones don't always understand dogs either. He could be unpredictable and if someone asked to stroke him I would explain. I was also worried about making children afraid of dogs but they have to be treated with respect too, just like people.
cookie273uk
master brummie
Bewdly all the children loved my Sam and Anna my German Shepherd, it was always 'can I stroke them ?', the dog's loved it. Having said that they are the same with Toby my Jack Russell. I have had cats and dog's all my life, apart from my 8 years in the RAF, I love them and 'walking' them keeps me fit as well as them. I am 86 now but still walk him 5 times a day all weathers. Eric
Eric Gibson
master brummie
It wasn't really an 'opinion' Bewdley, tragedies with children and dogs are fairly common and most owners involved in those tragedies will always say "But the dog was tame and loving I never thought this could happen."
I was reading recently about a four year old who simply offered grannies pet Doberman a biscuit, the dog grabbed her by the throat and despite the best efforts of the grandmother to get him off he killed the child.
I was reading recently about a four year old who simply offered grannies pet Doberman a biscuit, the dog grabbed her by the throat and despite the best efforts of the grandmother to get him off he killed the child.
cookie273uk
master brummie
Eric, are you suggesting that children and dog's should be kept apart and a child should not have a pet dog ? Recently I seem to see more cases of parents brutally murdering their off spring than problems with dogs. Perhaps I am lucky I have never had a vicious or unpredictable dog. Where I live in Chelmsley Wood there are vicious dogs, usually Staffs, but this is the fault of the owner (who should not be allowed to own a dog) and not the poor dogs. This is my personal opinion and based on my own experience of owning animals and at the same time I respect your view and your right to state it and I agree it is a tragedy when it happens. Eric
Stephen0002002
master brummie
Thanks Eric, we've got the message matey and taking the necessary precautions. But understand your point thanks.
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cookie273uk
master brummie
Bewdley Here is my Sam and Anna in the local woods, taken many years ago, both sadly missed. Also a painting of them I have hanging on my wall.
Eric
Eric
bewdley
master brummie
Unfortunately, there will always be such cases; as there will always be incidents of cruelty against animals, children and the elderly.
I haven't heard of the incident you mention and feel dreadfully sad for all concerned.
It is our responsibility when we welcome a dog into our homes to teach that dog boundaries, much as we would our children. However, many people with all good intentions spoil their dogs and children, sometimes with dreadful consequences.
Personally we use reward as a means of training: ignore the bad behaviour, praise the good, dogs are brighter than many children and soon learn how to behave.
This is another picture of Tally (promise I won't post another) taken when she was 18 months old waiting for us to tell her she could eat the biscuit that was balanced on her nose. Some may say this is cruel, but it teaches them patience and she knew the biscuit was hers when we gave her the go ahead, equally if we tell her to leave something we don't want her to have she will drop it immediately: essential if she finds a dead bird etc. on a walk.
As you say she is a large dog who loves people and children in particular, many children ask if they can stroke her and as long as their parents are happy then so are we, BUT we always keep a close eye on them. One of our 70 year old neighbours, who has always been terrified of dogs loves our dobes: she can't believe how gentle they are.
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bewdley
master brummie
Lovely picture Phil, you can see how relaxed Zane is with your great grandson and what a lovely relationship there is between them. It makes my heart grin.
bewdley
master brummie
Lovely painting Eric, you're so talented. I love to see them running free in the woods.
Years ago Molly, who is in the picture with my daughter wouldn't let me go down a particular path in the woods we always walked.
She just blocked my way and was nudging me down another path we rarely walked so I thought okay I'll humour her and walked that way to find police coming into the woods; apparently there was a flasher and I think she was preventing me going where he was so I always trust their instinct now.
Happy memories.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Bewdley, I think dogs are very sensitive to atmospheres too. I went to the plague village in Derbyshire (Eyam?) with Kvin and there were certain parts of the footpaths he wouldn't walk on. He insisted on crossing the roads and then crossing back further up. I could
never find out why but I'm sure he had his reasons.
I totally agree about training. It's so important. We'd not had a dog before and didn't realise how strict you have to be from the outset. Elkhounds are pack dogs and he thought he was the leader. Many of our problems were of our own making and took a long time to sort out.
It always amazes me how they can tell the time too. He always knew when it was time for me to come home from work and would take up his position by the front door. I miss the unconditional love - no matter what has gone before they are always so pleased to see you aren't they?
never find out why but I'm sure he had his reasons.
I totally agree about training. It's so important. We'd not had a dog before and didn't realise how strict you have to be from the outset. Elkhounds are pack dogs and he thought he was the leader. Many of our problems were of our own making and took a long time to sort out.
It always amazes me how they can tell the time too. He always knew when it was time for me to come home from work and would take up his position by the front door. I miss the unconditional love - no matter what has gone before they are always so pleased to see you aren't they?
cookie273uk
master brummie
MY favourite pic of Anna taken after a freak snow storm many years ago, sorely missed. Eric
bewdley
master brummie
Lady Penelope, I know exactly what you mean about Eyam, we stayed overnight in the village pub there ages ago when our daughter graduated from Sheffield University and there is definitely something in the atmosphere. A really amazing place. No wonder Kvin chose his path carefully, as you say they're very sensitive and are aware of things we haven't got a clue about.
We look after our eldest son Steve's Rhodesian Ridgeback (another large dog) most days too as they're both at work and she gets up and goes and waits in the hall before he's even in our grove, he doesn't have a timetable just comes for her when he's finished work or after they have put their children to bed and she does it without fail every time: Steve says he's trained her so we get the kettle on!
Their pure happiness when they see us is one of the things I love about having a dog and can't understand how people can be cruel to animals. It breaks my heart when you see badly treated dogs on the TV who are usually so forgiving and willing to please the owners who maltreat them.
I said I wouldn't, but hey ho, here's a pic of Tally and Lola watching a barge coming up the canal.
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bewdley
master brummie
She really was beautiful Eric, she looks so happy and it's like she's smiling on the photo.
This was taken many years ago too (possibly the same snow storm) it's of Molly and Rocky another of our dobes.
I used to call him "Rockdog" sadly he suffered a stroke and died suddenly aged 7, he was a stunning gentle giant of a dog and he and Molly were inseparable. She and we missed him terribly and still do. You never get over the loss, despite the gutting sadness we feel when we lose them we have to be grateful that we were honoured to share the utter pleasure of having them in our lives at all .
As Tennyson said " 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all".
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Reading your lovely stories this week has made me happy and also sad, especially the Tennyson quote because 2 weeks ago we found out that our little Alice has a bladder tumour.
We have always had 2 Yorkies, at the moment the largest we have ever owned our Bradley age 4 and our tiny Alice age 8.
The tumour is inoperable because it is in the wall of the bladder and she is too tiny to survive the op.
We do not know how long we have ,hopefully quite a while yet.
She is on low dose anti inflammatories and has an injection every Tuesday to check the growth of the tumour.
She is happy, running on her walks, barking in the window at passers by and fighting Bradley for the toys.
Her only problem, she is peeing for Britain so has gone back to puppy pads and wakes up a couple of times in the night to use them.
We know that in the future we shall have a decision to make and, like most of you here know, it is not an easy one but none of us would see our 'babies' suffer in pain.
At the present time we have 2 happy Yorkies one of which is becoming very ,very spoilt ,lol.
We have always had 2 Yorkies, at the moment the largest we have ever owned our Bradley age 4 and our tiny Alice age 8.
The tumour is inoperable because it is in the wall of the bladder and she is too tiny to survive the op.
We do not know how long we have ,hopefully quite a while yet.
She is on low dose anti inflammatories and has an injection every Tuesday to check the growth of the tumour.
She is happy, running on her walks, barking in the window at passers by and fighting Bradley for the toys.
Her only problem, she is peeing for Britain so has gone back to puppy pads and wakes up a couple of times in the night to use them.
We know that in the future we shall have a decision to make and, like most of you here know, it is not an easy one but none of us would see our 'babies' suffer in pain.
At the present time we have 2 happy Yorkies one of which is becoming very ,very spoilt ,lol.
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Smudger
master brummie
cookie273uk
master brummie
Bewdley, That is the one snag of having a dog (or cat), they have a comparative short life compared to ours, consequently we have the upset of losing them, this has happened numerous times in my fairly long life (86yo) and I say 'never again' but within a short time another dog or cat comes into my life, especially now I live by myself since losing my Wife. Eric
bewdley
master brummie
Oh my Alberta I'm so sorry this is happening to Alice and I hope she keeps well and pain free. As long as she is enjoying her life and doing what she loves you can't do much else for her except spoil her rotten.
You and Alice will know when the time comes: the last act of love you can do for her.
Another of our Dobes, Murphy, had leukaemia and we lost him just after his 3rd birthday. In hindsight we should have let him go sooner, but he was such a fighter and had so many blood transfusions and invasive investigations. He was rather an anomaly at the vets and they tried so hard for him too.
One of the side effects of his treatment was he lost control of his bladder and used to pee everywhere so we turned to disposable nappies slung under him like a hammock with elastic over his back to keep them in position. They worked a treat and he was so much more relaxed as he became quite stressed when he had an accident. I'm not sure how this would work with Alice, due to her size and the differences between male and female dogs.
When our dobie girls were in season, before they were spayed, we used the pants you can buy for them and put pads inside - I suppose you could try this if she gets to the stage where she can't hold her bladder.
Keep strong and make happy memories. All the best Josie
bewdley
master brummie
Yes Eric it is true that we will (hopefully) outlive our pets, but there's no telling how long they will live for, some go before their time and others carry on for ever. We had a wonderful Manchester Terrier pup when I was 3 and she died aged 19 just after I had married and left home. She was better than a sister and mum and dad's house never felt the same after she had gone.
Losing a pet as a child is, I think, a way of preparing us to cope with the loss of a loved one as we get older in that we learn to recognise feelings of loss and learn that eventually we will remember with love and happiness and yes sadness but the memories are good.
Having a pet as company helps to motivate us to carry on following the loss of someone close, especially if we live alone.
All the best Josie
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
I am so sorry to hear that Alice has a tumour, something we all dread the loss of our lovely pets. We lost our Hillie a few days before Christmas, I don't think I have ever cried so much, I had to get up in the night because I was sobbing and Brian was awake with me. She was full of tumours but we had no idea until she didn't want to walk and then a few days later she stopped eating. We were all with her when the vet put her gently to sleep. Such a lovely girl, I won't ever stop missing her.
Di, I am so sorry to her about Hillie, I know how much she meant to you.
People who have never lost a pet have no idea the pain it causes.
We know that when Alice is unable to pee any more the time has come so for now I am so happy to get up to see the puddles on the puppy pads.
You would never know there was anything wrong with her,she leaps on to the back of the sofa to tell people they have no right to walk past her house,lol.
People who have never lost a pet have no idea the pain it causes.
We know that when Alice is unable to pee any more the time has come so for now I am so happy to get up to see the puddles on the puppy pads.
You would never know there was anything wrong with her,she leaps on to the back of the sofa to tell people they have no right to walk past her house,lol.
Radiorails
master brummie
For so many of us the loss of a pet is a catastrophe equal to the loss of a loved person. It does take time to come to terms with it all. No words, usually, are that much help; however to share a sorrow is always very worthwhile.
My back garden has eleven dogs, many cats buried there whereas the front garden has hamsters and birds ( including dead wild birds).
Our present dog, a short haired a farm type dog of four years, came to us from an animal shelter. We know his provenance.
My back garden has eleven dogs, many cats buried there whereas the front garden has hamsters and birds ( including dead wild birds).
Our present dog, a short haired a farm type dog of four years, came to us from an animal shelter. We know his provenance.
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
I hope Alice has a lovely long time with you Alberta.
I feel such a whimp I can't think Hillie's name without blubbing.
Like you Alan and I know lots more of us on the Forum, have lovely memories of our faithful animals. We've had horses too and when they go it is traumatic, but of them all Hillie is the shinning star. She loved everybody, people, animals, not to mention babies. I never will forget the first time she looked into a pushchair and saw the little smiling face peeking out at her. She would have brought it home if she could have.
R.I.P. Hillie P0ppitt 2003 to 2016
I feel such a whimp I can't think Hillie's name without blubbing.
Like you Alan and I know lots more of us on the Forum, have lovely memories of our faithful animals. We've had horses too and when they go it is traumatic, but of them all Hillie is the shinning star. She loved everybody, people, animals, not to mention babies. I never will forget the first time she looked into a pushchair and saw the little smiling face peeking out at her. She would have brought it home if she could have.
R.I.P. Hillie P0ppitt 2003 to 2016
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