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Post by mogal on Aug 18, 2023 15:09:03 GMT
We've had as many as 5 Pyrs, a GSD and a pit mix at one time when a deputy sheriff investigating burglaries in our neighborhood took one look at that pack and told me I didn't have to worry about anybody trying to enter our place. Yep.
Right now, we're down to Abby, a 6 y/o female and Ranger, a 12 y/o male. Since we've learned that each generation learns "the ropes" from its predecessors, we are concerned about a sudden loss of one or both dogs. So, tomorrow we're going about 30 miles north of us to look at a 3 month old litter with 5 females in it. We've found that life is much more peaceful if we only have one male dog on the place at a time. (While we've never bred any of our females, always carefully keeping an estrus female away from the males, we don't spay or neuter our dogs. Cats, you bet, but not the dogs).
Oddly enough, all our male Pyrs have been longer lived than the females so I'm getting excited about the new addition. However, I am concerned that at DH and my ages...you get my drift.
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Post by Woodpecker on Aug 18, 2023 17:17:28 GMT
That's exciting! I've been looking for a Boxer pup for awhile now. Once we own dogs, gee it feels so lonely and I feel so vulnerable in this evil world without their protection & love.
Hope all goes well for you tomorrow...do tell!!!
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Post by Maura on Aug 18, 2023 19:00:33 GMT
It will be nice for the puppy to have an aunt and uncle watch out for her.
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Post by countrymom22 on Aug 18, 2023 21:24:50 GMT
I spent about a year without a dog after we lost our old lab. Not sure how I kept my sanity. I just don't sleep well without my canine alarms!
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Post by mogal on Aug 20, 2023 23:07:06 GMT
Well, the pictures of those pups were good but from them, you couldn't see how absolutely emaciated those puppies were. We got our current female Abby at 8 1/2 weeks and she was a load to try to carry. I could carry any one of those puppies in one arm. I wasn't surprised that the mama was very thin because she'd borne 13 pups and had only recently weaned them. But even the male, sire of the litter, was bony. And the guy wanted $300 each for them. I tried to ask tactfully what/how much they were feeding them and the wife said a 1 gallon ice cream bucket. She said nothing about frequency, if that were once per day or twice, the nutrient level of the feed or if they were making any effort to be sure the pups were getting a fair share. I could tell from her response, that my question was not appreciated. I hemmed and hawed around and finally DH picked up on my thoughts and suggested we come home and think about it. I've composed an email to the man telling him we would pass on the pups, that I'd had a near fall at home and decided I didn't have the agility to train a pup. I just hope he will feed them a little better to make them more salable but I have a bad feeling he's the kind who would put them down due to his own failings. The business about the near fall is true but I have near misses nearly daily.
"MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH"--Friday afternoon, I had a call from my vet that another client in their practice had some Anatolian/Pyr mix pups for sale. I called the lady and as it turns out, she's just south of the highway, almost my neighbor. She only had one female left, 2 males but we wouldn't take a male. So, when we got home from looking at the first bunch, I called the lady and she invited us right on down. Long story short, this pup is ONE DAY YOUNGER than the Pyr pups but almost twice the size and WWWAAAAYYY cheaper. I know there is a size difference between Anatolians and Pyrs but not enough to be so dramatic. She's white with brindle patches on her head/muzzle, her side and posterior. Her fur is shorter and dense like an Anatolian. She has only one dew claw on each hind leg but it's attached more like a Pyr's that other breeds. She's already figuring out being walked on a lead, house training, getting along with Abby and Ranger, cats, chickens and goats and she's only been here 24 hrs. No idea of a name but they were calling her Missy. I like Missy but DH isn't keen on it. We'll see.
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Post by Maura on Aug 21, 2023 12:22:34 GMT
$300 is pretty cheap for those puppies. He knows he doesn't have quality stock. It's too bad they are being underfed. How fortunate that you found Missy/Sparkle/Ginger/Ladybug.
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Post by mogal on Aug 24, 2023 11:58:51 GMT
Around here, Maura, if they are well cared for, well grown pups, even if "purebred, not registered," that's not a bad price for either the seller or buyer. When we got Abby, the litter was advertised as purebred, not registered with the asking price $600. They must have gotten no takers because the price in the craigslist ad dropped slowly to $250 which is what we paid. They were still saying purebred but it was obvious that mama had considerable yellow lab in her by the texture of her somewhat tannish coat and double dew claw on only one hind foot. Abby's coat is long and straight, not a lot of the undercoat and she also has only one double dew claw. She is an excellent LGD so we aren't complaining, just accepting facts as they are.
DH named the pup Rose which is okay with me. She is quick to pick up on things though she's still showing more interest in the cats than I like. The cats and I are working on that. She's curious about the chickens but that's all. The goats' body language when they see her discourages her from going to the barn but hopefully, both will become accustomed to the other before winter. She has her first vet appointment tomorrow.
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Post by mogal on Aug 26, 2023 12:50:14 GMT
Poor little Rose was SO good at the vet's. She got between the wall and the bench where I was sitting and watched the world go by. She never uttered a sound until a lady came in with what must have been a Pomeranian or other heavy coated tiny dog. It had been clipped so it was very plushy looking. I told the vet tech he looked like he ought to have a wind up key sticking out of his back. Rose growled at him just a bit but never barked. I think she's going to have a BIG bark. Anyway, Dr. V gave her a clean bill of health, her first shots and a sample of heartworm meds to get her started. That little stinker weighed 34# on their scale. I stopped at TSC to see if I could find something to use as training treats and to give her more socialization time. A man came up behind me in check out and I told him she was okay with people. He asked permission to pet her which was fine with me and with her. The clerk gave me a bit of a treat to give to her and we left. I'll have to work on her getting into the truck's back seat on her own when it's cooler because I won't be able to boost her in much longer. Anyway, poor baby got sick on the way home but at least let it go on the floor board instead of the seat. She had drooled like crazy all the way down there so I shouldn't have been surprised that she might vomit. Once she got home, greeted DH, Ranger and Abby and found a "spot," she was right as rain.
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Post by Woodpecker on Aug 27, 2023 16:50:53 GMT
I’m jealous mogal, Rose sounds like such a good puppy. Does she wake up early to go outside and do her business? I don’t know anything about her breed, but all of your dogs sound so smart and obedient. I know that has a lot to do with the training she gets. I know me, I would be calling her Rosey🥰 |
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Post by mogal on Aug 27, 2023 23:53:06 GMT
Well, Woodpecker, her name on the vet's records is Rosie but DH objected to it because he can't stand another Rosie. I thought about the Neil Diamond song "Cracklin' Rosie." Right now we're calling her Rose.
I'm working on come when called and sit. So far so good. Until I'm sure she's convinced that the electric fence will zap her and she should stay away from it, she's been sleeping in a crate. The first night, she whimpered a bit but since then, not a peep. I'm an early riser so it's no big deal to let her out when I get up, when she attends to her needs then plays with Abby. Ranger is older and somewhat aloof with her but doesn't growl unless his food bowl is her goal. I have an old bathtub where I keep my water lilies in summer and this morning she found it. Dog was in HOG HEAVEN. The lady from whom we bought her had told me she loved water. I think "love" is an understatement.
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Post by countrymom22 on Aug 30, 2023 0:24:25 GMT
Sounds like she's settling right in. Enjoy that puppy stage since with a breed that big it won't last long!
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Post by mogal on Sept 13, 2023 20:37:06 GMT
She's really growing. It will be interesting to see how much weight she's gained since her first vet check. Abby isn't a small dog by any means but I bet this puppy is going to be taller though rangier. They are a hoot playing together.
I hung some feed sacks on the clothes line to desensitize Rose to messing with laundry. She's pulled one bag down the first day I had them up but nothing since then. I was also worried about our driving into the yard or around the yard as needed. It finally occurred to me that she probably learned to stay away from cars at the original owner's house--duh me!
She will sleep on her back with her legs splayed in all directions. Very relaxed, trusting little dog.
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Post by mogal on Sept 15, 2023 21:26:41 GMT
Just home from the vet's with the pup. Poor baby got sick again on the way home but at least it was totally contained on a floor mat that was easy to clean up. I have a lot of work to do with her riding in a vehicle, just as I have nearly every other dog we've ever had.
This pup's sire weighs 207#. She was 35# at the vet's last month and now we've had her just under 4 weeks. She gets a mix of adult and large breed puppy kibble 2x a day a bit more generously than the package advises. I start with those recommendations then go by "eye of the master." She gets hard cooked egg on her food 2-3 days a week plus a little thinned down yogurt maybe once a week or meat drippings, whatever tempting goodies that are good for the dogs. This afternoon, she weighed 46.3#. Have mercy, if she grows into those feet, she's gonna be a monster. I may need a job just to feed her.
She had no issues with anybody there at first. In fact, she was quite taken with a man whose family was having to have their little dog euthanized and didn't mind a cute little 5# min-pin mix or her human. She was totally unhappy with a man and his dog over in a corner when I was settling my bill, first growling at them then barking. I learned a long time ago to trust my dogs' instincts about people but I shushed her anyway for training and out of respect for the people who were losing their pet. DH had run errands while I was at the clinic with puppy and when he came in, she was all happy wiggles.
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Post by Maura on Sept 16, 2023 16:43:46 GMT
Hamish also had trouble with the car rides. Give her something to chew on. This affects the inner ear and allows things to balance. It's why you chew gum when taking off or landing in a plane.
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Post by Woodpecker on Sept 16, 2023 17:03:35 GMT
My goodness, her sire was 207#, I had no idea that breed could weigh that much!!! No wonder they are top notch protectors of their beloved families. I’m sure you know all about training her. She’d have to be a good girl even if half the weight of her sire. How much did your other same breed dogs weigh?
You’re making me more of a searching nut for a boxer pup. I feel so much safer when we have a big dog at our home.
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Post by mogal on Sept 16, 2023 18:03:21 GMT
This is the first time we've had anything but Pyrs. Rose's sire was Anatolian/Pyr and mom was Anatolian. The biggest Pyr we had was a male that topped out at 128#. Most of the females have run 85-105# and even the smaller girls didn't back down from anything or anybody. Despite that, they are very kind and sweet with strangers once their humans were on the scene and exceptionally so with children They LOVE children.
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Post by frogmammy on Oct 18, 2023 0:24:01 GMT
For a dog that gets sick on a car ride, buy a box of cheap ginger cookies and give the dog one (maybe two) before putting dog in the car to go somewhere. The ginger helps settle upset stomach.
For cheap training treats, buy the cheapest hot dogs you can find, thin slice them, and then microwave them until they get very leathery. Then put the greasy, nasty looking hot dogs into a box of Cheerios (or similar) and mix them in well. Grease gets all over the cheerios and the dogs love them.
Mon
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Post by mogal on Oct 18, 2023 1:25:53 GMT
frogmammy, that's downright clever to use ginger cookies and the greasy hotdogs to inoculate the cereal with flavor and scent! She's very food motivated too.
Rose is getting her adult teeth. She's gonna be a big dog. She'll be 5 mos. old on Thursday, already looks like a full grown dog. I don't remember ever having one that just grew. Most of the time, they'd add frame then fill it, add more frame then fill it. Rose seems to just be getting bigger, all proportional and regular.
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Post by mogal on Oct 21, 2023 16:05:06 GMT
Our propane delivery guy came yesterday to top off our tanks as part of their early fall fill up. I kept Rose on a lead and with the driver's permission, I allowed her to walk around him, sniff his hand and such to continue her socialization. She behaved very well and enjoyed his attention. Yea, Rose.
DH and I have a difference of opinion about our dogs. DH wants to bring the dogs into the house where they are useless to protect me as they did before he retired. I'd rather allow them around strangers even on a lead so I can depend on them to protect me if a visitor should act inappropriately. I know I've told about the deputy sheriff who came to ask if I'd seen or heard anything suspicious at the house across the road and about 1/4 mile away that was burglarized. He took one look at the pack of BIG dogs on my side of the fence and assured me that we had nothing to worry about with them on patrol. I hope he's right though the pack isn't so large now.
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Post by Maura on Oct 28, 2023 14:46:04 GMT
I think you are right to socialize Rose to new people. If she isn't, you will have to put her "away" whenever anyone comes over and she won't be any protection at all.
I think she should be comfortable in the house though. She might need to be confined to the house at some point.
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Post by mogal on Oct 29, 2023 12:53:22 GMT
Oh, yes! She's totally comfortable in the house and has been since we first got her due to the extreme heat we had then. She's crate trained as well.
I've always made it a practice to be sure our dogs submit to my checking their mouths. She's getting her adult teeth and they are going to be formidable if she chose to use them. She and Abby, our adult female Pyr, play-fight with a lot of growling and rolling around on the ground. When one breaks free, they chase around the yard, stop and stalk each other a bit. Funny to watch.
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Post by mogal on Nov 9, 2023 13:39:30 GMT
The puppy who is now almost as tall as our adult female Pyr broke me up the other day. She'd latched onto the adult's tail and was shaking it just enough to aggravate the adult. I could just see a little sister picking at her older sister with the older sister calling "Mom, make her stop."
I have to take her to the vet next week for a weigh-in to be sure we're getting her heartworm meds accurate. She's so BIG!
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Post by mogal on Nov 30, 2023 17:54:42 GMT
I kept putting off Rose's trip to the vet for a weigh-in. She was born May 19 and this morning her weight was 77.9#. That was on an empty stomach which I'd hoped would help fend off her car sickness. She drooled a lot but thank goodness for both of us, she didn't get sick. At one point in the trip home, I glanced into the back seat and she was lying with her head on her paws. I don't know if she were asleep or just calm, realizing she was going home. With permission, I allowed her to approach another client and just as I've trained her, she sat in front of the lady as she patted Rose. On the way home, I saw what I thought was a tree-trimming crew so I stopped to ask if I might have the wood chips. Rose was intent on the men who were about 50' away at their truck and growled just a bit. Unfortunately, they were setting a new post among some trees. At least I know she's wary enough in a strange situation to be protective and stand down when I tell her.
Her vet has been giving me heartworm samples as her weight changes so dramatically but today suggested a 6 mo course that covered a range of weights. I'm glad for that because we'll be getting into wintry weather and my old 2 wheel drive pick up doesn't do well in our hills. DH's truck has 4 wheel drive but we try not to haul the dogs in it unless we absolutely have to do so.
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Post by mogal on Dec 18, 2023 12:35:19 GMT
I received a call from the couple from whom we got Rose yesterday afternoon--just at the beginning of the 4th quarter of the Chiefs' game as they were turning it around (grrr). They were on their way home from seeing their grandkids' Christmas pageant and wanted to know if they could come see Rose. They were already within 4 miles of the house, casting around on the paved road before our gravel road so I gave them directions the rest of the way. Rose is usually okay with strangers but to be sure, I put a lead on her and went out to meet them at our gate.
I don't know if she recognized them from some distance by sight or smell but recognize them she did. She was born May 19 and we got her August 19. Yesterday was Dec. 17 so she hadn't seen them in 4 months. She started whining and peeing, bouncing around. When they were inside the gate, I took off the lead and oh, my stars and little fishes! It was just old home week for her. She kept throwing herself on the ground against their legs, running from first one to the other. I thought the wife would cry for a while. We had a nice visit and she strongly intimated they'd take her back if we didn't want her (SURE--that's gonna happen!). I was really feeling unloved until Rose started coming back to me for pats. As they were leaving, the wife reiterated and in no uncertain terms, that they'd take her back in a minute if something happened that we'd need to rehome her. Even if we had to give up the farm and move to town, Rose is well behaved indoors. She'd go with us.
Nice thing was that the wife sent me some pictures of Rose when she was 2 mos old. SO CUTE! Her brindle patches on her head and body were solid black at that point but they were distinctive enough that I could recognize her in one picture of a mass of puppies at 5 weeks.
Nope, not giving up my baby dog.
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