Make sure the boarding place requires that all dogs have had all their shots. We were going to take our's to a place that didn't. I'm glad we asked. Our dog has all her shots, but you can't be sure that other dogs are up to date on theirs. Kennel cough is highly contageous. Eye infections are common too. Just like kids.

Our vet also said to avoid those doggy parks. Germ breeding grounds. They might be cute, but God only knows what is growing in the pools of standing water. Plus also vicious dogs whose owner's think their dog would never hurt a fly.

We got our dog the day after the kids got out of school in June. At the time the kids were 7, 9 and 14. So someone was usually home during the day to let the dog out and keep her company, that was the main thing. Also it started out with the kids saying, "we'll take care of the dog". Nope. I don't think that the kids combined have picked up more that 2 poops from the lawn in 6 years.

Before I had dogs I thought the whole crate thing was cruel...but since we got our dogs theirs they are much more comfortable. They seems to like them actually. They nap there and chase the cat into them to play. All I have to do it tell them cage and they jump right in. Our older dog does not hear anymore, so I made up a hand sign for "cage" and she goes right to it when its time for me to go to work. The also get a "puppy treat" when the go in there, so that makes it a better experience. We actually own our businesses and they are both right here in our town, close to home. So, if I am going to be away a long time I can take a break to come home and let them out. But they have been in there for up to 9 or 10 hours and not had a problem. They just need out when we get home of course. Their cages are tight next to each other, have pillow pads and "blankies", a water dish and a little food dish. There are not large, but they can have room to turn around, lay flat out, etc. I do not use the crates as a punishment, so they have no problem with using them. The doors are left open all day for them to come and go and only shut when I leave them alone. I have found that smaller dogs tend to be harder to potty train. My sister had Danes. They are lovely dogs, but so big. Hers would walk backwards and then sit their butts down on your lap when you were sitting in a chair! It was the funniest thing. But when they wagged their tails...watch out. Cups, candles...whatever was on the end tables would just fly!
I did look into boarding them when we vacationed. But they were going to be put in seperate cages and also everyday, no matter the weather, were to be in a outside run for so many hours. The had a shelter in the run, but my girls hate rain and are not made to be outside in the cold for long periods of time(doxies are bald and hairless, pretty much, on their undersides). I was told that it was their policy not to place them together and to be outside for a few hours everyday. If it was summer maybe, but in this weather? The vet does boarding as well. But they would not get that much attention, since it is a vets office and usually a very busy place. They do not have people stay overnight to be with the animals. So they are crated or caged there overnight and alos put outside in runs during the day.

Okay, rambled on long enough. It is good to hear you are checking into the breeds. As long as you go through a reputable breeder, they try to keep all the bad genes from being passed down. They will share info you need in order to make a decision on the breed too. Good luck!

The idea of crating sounds kind of mean to me, but its good to hear that dogs aren't too opposed to the idea.

I had a rabbit that lived ina cage for most of the time (we rarely let her out after she got bigger because she had a tendency to run away. When she was smaller she was easier to catch), so I'm not exactly squeamish about cages. I guess that I'm afraid of hurting the dog's feelings or something. I've been reading, and it seems that if you introduce it carefully, dogs don' have much trouble with crates.

I would probably keep my dog in the crate for a few hours during the day and it would sleep there at night.

I don't really like the idea of kennels, but we don't have very much of an option for the (rare) times that we go out of town. We only go out of town once a year on a trip that we would not be able to take the dog on. Every other (rare) time we go out of town, we would be able to take it with us (our howmetown that is only an hour away).

ITA, check out the "shots" thing, cuz kennels are a breeding ground for disease, esp if you're boarding at a vet, since many of the animals are THERE cuz they're sick.

I used to volunteer at a vet clinic that also boarded. The boarded animals didn't get much attention, since the staff was working with the ill animals, but they did get to go out a few times a day, and got their regular meals. We did separate the boarders from the sick animals as far as was possible with only two rooms.

If you can get someone to come and doggsit (I used to do this for $15 a day, for two half-hour visits; that price included mileage.) Make sure you find someone with good references that you can trust not to loot your place while you're gone.



Hi, *jc,

My dogg has had to stay in a crate before (only while I was gone), when she lived in a house with myself and a lady who did dogg rescues. She would actually go in her open crate to sleep, cuz she had cozy blankies to sleep in. But now she has the run of my home, even when I'm gone, and is so well housebroken that she very rarely goes potty, even on the paper I leave out on the tile. Even tho I tell her she can. ;-)

The new pup? That's another story. I don't crate her, either, cuz she keeps Sammie company when I'm at work. They love to romp the house together. But she's been a tougher housebreaking challenge, since I work two jobs. She is paper trained, tho.

I got the new pup plenty of toys (Sammie doesn't play much, she only likes chew bones), and of course the pup chews on stuff she oughtn't, instead of her 5000 toys.



Sammie has a shoe fetish.



Hokey Pokey likes to shred EVERYthing.


spook

I've heard that the smaller breeds are harder to housetrain.

Puppies and communicable diseases. gross.

I don't know about smaller, but Shaggy is the smallest dog I ever had and the only one I could train, but then again he is the first dog I had that I was home all the time, so I had the time to train him.

I love animals, but why in the world is there a commercial about polar bears becomming extinct (bad news) where the spokeswoman looks and sounds like she is about to burst into tears.

I think that extinction and endangerment of any species is a sad thing, but really..is it enough to cry/be that upset about??? I don't think so.

Has anyone ever seen the movie, Milo and Otis? The story about a curious cat and a pug nosed pup? Its a great movie with a pug and an orange tabby. Its narrated by Dudley Moore. I definitely recommend it.

It was a cute movie...but there were stories of mistreatment going around...I do not know if that was a fact ro an old wives tale...The ending was adorable...






These are my canine girls...Poochie in the fall leaves. And Emma when we first broguth her home @ 2 pounds!

Just went and saw the movie "Vantage Point" with the hubby. Once again I drove him nuts by pointing put all the people in the movie that have been on CI before and their roles (Killer or non Killer).

Matthew Fox (Lost) and Dennis Quaid in dark suits. Two very handsome guys. I pointed that out to my husband several times too.

Oo, i was debating if i wanted to see ''Vantage Point'' or not, still haven't decided, since movies are so darn expense these days.

i remember when i was so bored in class, i had to yell "FIRE" at my teachers and classmates. now that everyone was gone, i have the room all to myself, started installing the mini-TV so i could watch ci and eat all the snacks and drinks i bought. naughty, huh???

lmfao. Wow did you really do that?

isn't that like a federal offense or something?

i thought that was yelling the B word.

Ok, I saw, Saw 4, still don't know what happen to the little girl, but geez, I fast forwarded through the yucky scenes, but I still found the plot didn't make sense, Ok if you want to see it don't read the rest. How could his body be in the morgue and the original room at the same time? Also, the man whose daughter was missing, if the door was open to the room, (cause the FBI didn't open it till it was closed by somebody,) why didn't he leave? Then he wants revenge on the Black man cause he goes through unsecured doors? geez I would hate to be his child and get disciplined, also on another note, how would you like to be the CSU person who was dusting for prints and shot the spear into your coworkers head, bet he didn't get a good evaluation.

The first part of the movie was the end, and the rest is a flash back.

I think the time span is only a day at the most, because the FBI lady had been missing 3 days, and she was killed in Saw 3. So the guy in the open room probably hadn't been in there very long.

The part with the CSU woman was nuts. I definitely didn't see that coming.

can someone tell me how to quote more than one person in a post?

Hi cluck,

Click QUOTE on EACH post you wanna quote. Then hit ADD REPLY at the bottom of the page.


spook

I have cramps.

I only liked the first Saw...the rest were redundant as in a lot of those kinds of movies...same old same old.




Just click on each ones "quote" button at the bottom of thier posts. It turns them red, storing them. When you finally hit reply, they all show up in a box ready for you to reply to each on. It is a bit easier to read your reply if you hit enter a couple of times (bringing the words you type down a bit) or use a color in your response. jmo

Omg are we on the same cycle?

must be. I'm dying-- my target customers/guests will feel my wrath!

[/quote]


Is this a 4 CD BOX SET from the hit JAPANESE band MIDOL??? I've never heard their music.

yeah you can get it on Amazon.com its all the rage. lol.

Thank you!

Thanks. That helps me. I should have asked sooner. I never knew either.

I kept playing around, trying different things and nothing worked.

I didn't even do the playing around. I probably would have broke my computer or something.

You sound like me - I use a hammer and chisel. On the days I'm really frustrated, I just use the hammer.

You can have mine... for free...

Anyone going to watch the Oscars? I didn't see any of the nominated movies this year...except for Elizabeth. Cate Blanchett is my new favorite movie actress. She's amazing! My list is as follows:

1. Kate Hepburn; 2) Bette Davis; 3) Meryl Streep; 4) Cate Blanchett; 5) all the rest.

did anyone know there were 4 CI epi's on NBC tonight? My dvr only picked up on the 9 and 10pm ones. I'm glad I stumbed on the 8pm one.

MERYL STREEP is my favourite actress. She had me in tears in BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY with CLINT EASTWOOD and I thought "HOW CAN SHE TOP THAT???".............and then she did in HBO'S "ANGELS IN AMERICA"!!!!

The book, Bridges of Madison County, was awesome!

Tossed Vally and Jryan some new, full boxes....



How funny! I didn't know they were on NBC tonight...I usually try to catch them on BRAVO Sundays, but have been watching the USA L&O SVU marathon all day...Maybe they are trying to catch us up, in preparation for the new epis!!!!!

Yep that's me. Computer illiterate til I learn how to do something.




I knew. I had been looking forward to it. I just finished watching 'Amends'. Didn't really wanna watch the others.

Ooh I am proud of myself. I did the multi post thing and it worked. See I knew I should have asked earlier. This think really comes in handy. It works Cluck. I like it too.

Yea! Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress for Michael Clayton.

To think she was VDO's wife in Thumbsucker.

yes she was.

So i go into work--angry cause of woman issues--15 minutes later my boss calls me in for corrrective action, so i get a write up for leaving something by the registers. I'm just thinking...wow great timing...i already hate the world and now i have to hate Target for a day.

She was also "The White Witch" in "The Chronicles of Narnia:: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". We loved her in that movie.

Aww poor Valley...I would send you a Goren dance to cheer you up, bu do not know how...would a hug help?

Wow,

Renee Zelwegger (sp) and now Tilda Swinton. Two former leading ladies of VDO win supporting actress oscars.

I do think that Tilda will win worst dressed. I don't think she had a stitch of makeup on either.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" has won 3 oscars -- really liked that movie! If you go to IMBd.com, their home page is keeping track of the winners.....

mhmmm.

I accept hugs.

Serious moment:

I realize that i feel sick alot, and weak--and i have alot of problem with other stuff that has to do with being a woman that i wont go into details alot.
It worries me because Ovarian cancer and breast cancer runs in my family on both sides but i'm afraid of the doctor cause i dont want to hear if i have it or not.

Edit: I'm only 19, and i read up on Ovarian cancer and it said you should start getting check ups at 20. It's extremely rare at my age, but i have an overwhelmly large chance of getting it.

I feel awkward bringing this up, but my friends can be immature about the subject, so i'm going ballz out here.

Hugs, Valley - there are days I dub "National Hate People Day" at work. You are welcome to borrow it.




Valley - I love you (in a mother/daughter - friend way) nothing shippy please, please go to a doctor. I've had problems for years and would not go to the doctor either. My son finally made me promise - I'm basically healthy but anemic with an underactive thyroid, which apparently caused a lot of the problems that I thought were more serious.

If you have a family history, early check-ups are the best way to keep ahead of anything bad happening to you. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get checked for yourself and your family but also for all of your friends that love you!!!

I know there is a blood test that tests for a breast cancer gene here in the UK (the BRCE gene?, i'm not sure...) and i know there's a similar one for ovarian cancer too. I'm not sure whether such blood tests are available where you are, but maybe being tested for it may help, but i agree with Judyg completely, go and see your doctor to discuss your worries. And i'm sending you a *hug* too

I also suffer from anaemia and need to vastly improve my diet to include iron rich food which is a work in progress but i hate going to see my doctor and when i had both my kids (which included extended hospital stays both time, emergency c-sections) I hated being in hospital and even now, just visiting someone gives me a severe case of the heebie-jeebies. It's the smell.

My weekend was okay...i took my daughter to a birthday party and she got completely hyped on blackcurrant juice and birthday cake...took her ages to get to sleep.

Valley, that took some serious guts to spill out what you have written above. I hope that you feel a little weight has been lifted off your shoulders just writing it.

Anyways, my daughter's name is Val, she is a month younger than you and you are our shipper captain, so I feel obligated to respond. Just go to a doctor. Even a nurse practicioner. It could be mono. Do you eat eight? Do you drink milk? Are you away at college?

First take vitamins. Target sells Viactin. They are vitamins in a purple container. They are chocolate fudgy chews. They taste good. My girls take them.

I don't know what your opinion of birth control pills is, but there is a mild pill out there called Yaz. It is advertised in magazines. I know some girls in their late teens that take just to regulate their horomones around that time of the month and it helps their periods. Maybe with your ovarian history you shouldn't take it, just go talk to someone. What about the infirmery at your school? Maybe they can give you some names of places to go that they know you would be comfortable at. Hopefully you are still under your parent's insurance, so it would cost a lot.

I had issues with anoxeria when I was in my late teens and early 20's. It was a battle that I overcame after I admited that I needed help. Just go to talk to someone.

Plus, you are in college, under a lot of stress, I know my daughter is. Exercise and find a way to blow off stream. She is taking self defense classes.

Don't feel awkward, Valley, we're your friends. Please go to a doctor and get checked out, ok? At least you'll know. NOT knowing is tough.

I know you may feel like you don't REALLY wanna know, but the earlier things are caught, the greater the chance of a full recovery.

Take Care, Valley!


spook