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Post by BvrRtrvr on May 22, 2009 22:19:17 GMT -5
Got him right after Easter. 5 mo. old male Aussie/Black Lab. He is still a 'work in progress', but has a good attitude. This was his 1st introduction to water, and, as you can see, he LOVES it. On my kind of mixed Fall/Winter line it is necessary to have a 'partner' that will herd/hold freshly separated calves (steers from heifers) while I am going through gates between their fields, possibly find a coon or mink on a drag near a creek, or detain one of those coyotes that happen to 'pull out' at the last second. The brown female in 2 of the pictures was decent at herding/holding, but was STRONG on catching those few coyotes that tried to pull a last second getaway. She is 14 now, and comfortably retired. I really like this type of cross. The herding instincts of the Aussie goes well with the water traits of the Lab. Plus the general personality of the Lab helps mellow out some of the Aussie's hyperactivity. Gus is the third dog of this cross that I have had, and I think he will be better than the first two. But he has a long way to go. BR
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Post by Sunshine on May 24, 2009 7:59:38 GMT -5
will you use the retired dog at all with the new pup so she can learn from her?
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Post by BvrRtrvr on May 24, 2009 11:29:44 GMT -5
Sunshine- Possible, but not probable. Gus could learn from her, but she has arthritis in her back & hips. Have to lift her in & out of the truck most of the time. She had a great time that day, but it took 3 days & plenty of pain/anti-inflamation meds to get over it. I have another dog that's not in those pictures, & is a different cross, that is good about moving the calves back, but when needed to deal with a coon or coyote, he is a BIG wuus.
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Post by Sunshine on May 24, 2009 12:14:20 GMT -5
oh i see. i ddint realize she had some health issues that made it hard for her to get around.
i have a serious question, how bad are you gong to let her get physically before you have her put down? i know its a nasty question but im curious.
we had a beautiful collie named Charlie when i was growing up. He died when he was 18 nd looking back on it i know we should have had him put down before he died on his own because he was in alot of pain.
we were too blind to see it though cause we were just worried about ourselves and how sad wed be when he was gone.
looking back i think we did him a disservice by allowing him to live in constant pain. i feel bad about that to this day.
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Post by BvrRtrvr on May 24, 2009 19:07:38 GMT -5
I think I understand about how you felt with Charlie. We had to put one down in July '07, (age 13) and another in Jan. '08 (also age 13). Seems like a bad number for us. After going through it with the other 2, SHE will let us know when it's time. No wag in her tail, no spark in her eye, & a few other signs. I have been keeping an eye on her for the last 2 months. There are times when she is sleeping, that she doesn't look like she is going to wake up. Going to miss her as much as, if not more, than the previous 2.
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Post by Sunshine on May 26, 2009 6:18:53 GMT -5
we should have dome it before we did but everytime wed decide that it was time, hed do something that reminded us he still had some good life in him.
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Post by BvrRtrvr on May 26, 2009 9:45:16 GMT -5
Been There. Done That. We waited a little too long with the first one. Wanted our vet to do it, but he was on vacation. This vet was the only one Ace had known. We didn't want any of the others at the Vet Clinic to touch him.
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Post by Sunshine on May 27, 2009 5:42:51 GMT -5
its hard to let a pet go, isnt it?
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Post by BvrRtrvr on May 27, 2009 18:40:55 GMT -5
The second one was a bit easier for me, but not for the wife.
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Post by Sunshine on May 30, 2009 8:49:08 GMT -5
some people consider their pets on the same level as their children. i wouldnt go that far but the pets that ive had over the years have meant alot to me and you hate to see them go.
i would not however spend hindreds or thousands of dollars on them to prolong their lives.
my mom has one weiner dog i swear shes spent 5 grand on in the last 2 years.
my dad told her shotgun shells were alot cheaper, LOL, and i had to agree. ;D
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Post by BvrRtrvr on May 30, 2009 12:00:05 GMT -5
Cheaper? Yeah, but awfully messy. What we've spent at the vet's, over the last 15 years on four different dogs, would have paid for a very nice truck. But that truck never gives you that 'trusting' look that your dog does.
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Post by Sunshine on May 30, 2009 19:34:08 GMT -5
no, but unless ya got a St Bernard or a Great Dane ya cant ride your dog to work. ;D
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