Hi Wayne,   
      
      
   On Wed 2039-Apr-20 12:22, WAYNE CHIRNSIDE (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:   
      
      
      
    RW> The vet usually muzzles rotties, pits, etc. that we go to.   
    RW> YEs we've switched vets I think since I"ve seen you in this   
    RW> echo, you may have been around to read my complaints on that one.   
      
   WC> You and I both.   
   WC> A vet I'd been going to had drawn back a syringe and drilled Spanky   
   WC> like he'd drill a dart board, Spanky didn't flinch, I did.   
   WC> New veteranarian.    
      
   That wasn't my problem with last vets, they were more   
   expensive as well.  Schotze liked them just fine too, but   
   they couldn't give me straight answers when they, or some   
   marketer sent in their name a (try to scarify the dog owner) letter re   
   heartworm and other parasite preventatives.   
   When they wouldn't give me a straight answer I switched   
   vets.   
      
      
      
    RW> But, this guy, small town vet,  he usually muzzles those   
    RW> breeds.  NOt Schotze.  Just wants me there to help him keep   
    RW> control of her, and let her know that she's safe.   
    RW> Long as she's with me she knows that she's supposed to do as   
    RW> instructed.   
      
   WC> Spanky was good to go without me for some period a time, to venture   
   WC> a guess and not abused two months before he'd question authority and   
   WC> the  canine nature assert to test the limits.   
      
   Indeed, I'm sure she would be as well, but he just feels   
   safer that way.   
      
   WC> I actually had a neighbor who dropped by who tried to abuse Spanky   
   WC> by pulling  at his tail and ears, he thought it amusing.   
   WC> I thought him an idiot but tolerated it until Spanky would give that   
   WC> look, hey dad pull this idiot off of me.    
      
   YEp, known people like that.  Budy, my Dane/shepherd/dobie   
   mix used to live in a kennel, nice run with lots of room,   
   doghouse, etc.  This kid used to ride by on his way home   
   from school and torment BUddy through the fence, so one day   
   I left the gate ajar where Buddy could open it with his nose and give hcase.    
   The kid ceased the stupidity after that   
   one.   
      
    RW> She still isn't real fond of the bathtub, but it's the   
    RW> surface more than the water.  ONce she gets in there and you start   
    RW> bathing her she loves itl.   
      
   WC> Well Spanky wasn't fond either but I made it on command as part of   
   WC> training. I think for a canine a strong scent may be a way of   
   WC> asserting dominance?    
      
   SHe tolerates it, and does what she's supposed to.  We still have a contest of   
   wills over "leave it" a common command   
   taught to dog guides to tell them to ignore whatever is   
   catching their attention  and tend to business.   
      
    RW> I always really liked dobermans, but after adopting Roxy off the   
    RW> streets of New ORleans and then this one, I'm totally   
    RW> converted, Rottweilers, as is true with pits, have a   
    RW> reputation which doesn't fit who they really are if trained   
    RW> and given love.  Schotze acts as "Service dog" for Kathy,   
    RW> picking up things she drops, etc.   
    RW> I've trained her to that one.   
      
   WC> Spanky served as a service dog for me, companion service animal. Had   
   WC> I been more ambulatory I'd have loved to have taken him   
   WC> around to visit with the infirm.   
      
   THat would be nice for Schotze too, but she scares people.   
   WC> Had I been blind can you imagine a Pit Bull as a service dog? What a   
   WC> hoot that would have been, legally bound to not deny admittance in   
   WC> public places it'd have raised more than a few eyebrows methinks.    
      
   YEah but if it is they can't refuse you.  Although Roxy was   
   not trained she picked up on enough that I could make her   
   "pass" as dog guide with the right harness on her.   
      
   WC> Thanks for the reply Richard.   
   WC> Any excuse to brag on that animal is welcome and to tell   
   WC> you the truth I'm on the verge of tearing up thinking about him.    
      
   I know how you feel.  AFter Buddy I said never again, then I met Roxy on the   
   streets of NEw ORleans.  WHen she had to go   
   after the strokes I said never again again and then a ham in the twin cities   
   told me that were I interested in rotties   
   there were some fine breeders, and I'd get a better quality   
   animal at less cost than down south.  HE was a dog person   
   who'd lived all over the south, and he told me that at least one of the   
   reputable breeders he knew of nearby had pups for sale at that time, and was   
   advertising in the paper.  I got   
   a paper the next day, and went to look.  NEedless to say, I   
   left there $1200 poorer with an appointment to pick up a   
   puppy in 3 days.   
      
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   --- timEd 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)