Goodbye, old friends.

[Exterminator]

I'm curious to know what you mean by "too much dog". Are you talking about personality qualities like stubbornness or sense of independence or their powerful physical attributes?

Certainly their physical strength is a factor but I am speaking more to their strength of character, intelligence and attentiveness.  Again, these are working dogs so they must be trained and need to feel like they have a job or they get bored and invent ways to amuse themselves that are probably things we'd rather they not do.  They can be fiercly protective and are always on so you have to be as well.  They also have to be constantly involved in whatever is going on and having a dog constantly at one's side is disconcerting to some people.  I'm not one of them but will admit that their constant state of motion makes them seem like they take up a lot more space than you would expect from an 80 lb. dog.

I like obedience training because I think it's necessary for a well mannered animal, but I don't do the trials. Our yellow lab was extremely compliant when it came to training. Benji, a golden retriever was also, but he still has a mischievous streak. I can see it in his eyes right before he tests the same limit he's tested from time to time throughout his young life.

Correct and I'll take it a step further; obedience training is necessary for a happydog.  Being the alpha means having to make the decisions and dogs are much more comfortable without that responsibility. 

[Santiago]

 "obedience training is necessary for a happydog."   My dog's obedience training makes me happier with him, but I've some some seemingly happy dogs who had no training.

[Sandy Eggo]

Certainly their physical strength is a factor but I am speaking more to their strength of character, intelligence and attentiveness.  Again, these are working dogs so they must be trained and need to feel like they have a job or they get bored and invent ways to amuse themselves that are probably things we'd rather they not do.  They can be fiercly protective and are always on so you have to be as well.  They also have to be constantly involved in whatever is going on and having a dog constantly at one's side is disconcerting to some people.  I'm not one of them but will admit that their constant state of motion makes them seem like they take up a lot more space than you would expect from an 80 lb. dog.

Correct and I'll take it a step further; obedience training is necessary for a happydog.  Being the alpha means having to make the decisions and dogs are much more comfortable without that responsibility. 

The admiration and respect you have for your dogs is apparent in the way you write about their attributes. I don't know if it's any comfort, but they had it all and they knew it and they had the happiest life a dog could ever hope for.

I thought about my question a little more and kinda came at it from a different angle based on personal experience. In a nutshell, the end result of my thoughts were, powerful dogs don't belong in the hands of idiots. In my case, I was the idiot.

While in college, my boyfriend at the time and I had a rottweiler. He had been in the military, had been to Germany and fell in love with the breed. Like you, he had researched, talked to breeders and was really certain that he knew exactly what he wanted when he got her. She came from very large parents and she was a big girl herself somewhere between 120 and 140. Although she was a big dog, my biggest fear from this oversize puppy was that she'd not want to get up if she laid across my lap and I'd be stuck. My boyfriend did lots of formal obedience training with her and started doing the trials as a hobby. Her size kept her from the "beauty contests", but she did very well in the obedience trials. She was extremely smart.

Anyway, my boyfriend was in the reserves at this point and was away on weekend drills and a co-worker walked me home from work. I walked in the door and she was laying across the couch. The little nub started wagging. I walked towards her and so quickly that I didn't realize what was happening she was up. The guy that walked me home was standing in the foyer and she placed herself between me and the guy with her back hip against my leg, teeth bared and growling. Instinctively, I reached down to grab her collar, but that would have been a futile effort if she would have decided to attack because she could have easily dragged me along behind her. I could feel her muscles shaking against my leg. My co-worker looking like a frozen frog said, "what should I do" and I told him that I thought he should leave. He backed out and closed the door. She ran to the door and sniffed and turned around and trotted back towards me, nub wagging, happy to see me again. LOL I can laugh now, but that could have gotten ugly quickly. I had never needed to control her and had no idea how to do so. Thankfully, she controlled herself.

So, education about pets is good, but when someone is dealing with a pet that is SO powerful, it's vital.

[moondance27]

Ex, I haven't been on the Zone in a while, but you hve my sincerest sympathy.  I know what it is to lose a beloved friend, companion, family member.  Our pets are so much more than just pets.  We mourn their loss as deeply and keenly as we do the passing of a human family member. 

[Anne]

This is certainly off topic (sorry Ex) but does anyone know if the vets around here use a flea repleeant or killer named Vectr? My daughter has three dogs, a German Shepherd, a cocker spaniel and a St. Bernard. When they lived in FL the vet gave them that to use on the dogs. She says it was very effective. She lives in VA now and the vets there haven't ever heard of it. The Frontline is not working well, she has to use it more often that it recommends. She lives on a horse farm. Thanks

[Exterminator]

This is certainly off topic (sorry Ex) but does anyone know if the vets around here use a flea repleeant or killer named Vectr? My daughter has three dogs, a German Shepherd, a cocker spaniel and a St. Bernard. When they lived in FL the vet gave them that to use on the dogs. She says it was very effective. She lives in VA now and the vets there haven't ever heard of it. The Frontline is not working well, she has to use it more often that it recommends. She lives on a horse farm. Thanks

The product is called Vectra 3D and works very well but probably shouldn't be used on dogs that are in close contact with cats because it contains permethrin which is highly toxic to them.

Frontline is also an excellent product but I've read that because it's been around so long, some resistance to it has been seen.  If your daughter can't get Vectra, tell her to ask for Frontline Plus...that should take care of her problem.

What type of heartworm medication does she use?  I always used Sentinel which also controls fleas and never had any problems with them.

[Anne]

The product is called Vectra 3D and works very well but probably shouldn't be used on dogs that are in close contact with cats because it contains permethrin which is highly toxic to them.

Frontline is also an excellent product but I've read that because it's been around so long, some resistance to it has been seen.  If your daughter can't get Vectra, tell her to ask for Frontline Plus...that should take care of her problem.

What type of heartworm medication does she use?  I always used Sentinel which also controls fleas and never had any problems with them.

Thanks, I will talk to her tonight or tomorrow and ask her about the heartworm medicine. The spaniel is pretty old (15 years) and has had some skin problems that were exacerbated by one of the heartworm medicines so she had to change and I don't remember which one she uses now.