The Hobbit Hole V - Where Many Paths and Errands Meet...

ecurbh

[ecurbh]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Where Many Paths and Errands Meet...

• First thread: New Zealander builds Hobbit hole
• Second thread: The New Hobbit Hole
• Third thread: The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads! (Congratulations, we filled it up!)
• Fourth Thread: The Hobbit Hole IV - The Road Goes Ever On...

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

[Overtaxed]

The heat isn't working right here at work.....I want my blanket.

[Professional Engineer]

Touche. Great team you had there.

I was thinking more of the short snout on modern Cockers. They used to be able to carry their own birds.

Some "breeders" down this way have started "working" on Labs. Breeding them to have a "block" head. I could care less of the dog has a rectangular skull. Is she friendly. Can she hunt well, be trained, etc. That's far more important than physical conformity to me.

/rant

thanks for listening.

[HairOfTheDog]

Nope, no suggestions. - just keep pouring hot water in it.

I have a friend who keeps a heat lamp in both her chicken coop (she actually has mostly ducks in there now) and her dog kennel. Leaves them on in winter. But she leaves the dogs outside. I talked her out of a heat lamp for the horses in her barn, because the fire risk is deadlier than the cold.

They have heated water buckets for the horses I consider when looking around at the feed store, but I usually pass them by because we don't get cold for ~that~ long. If I lived in Minnesota, I would have heated water buckets.

[ksen]

What kind of meals is everyone going to want while at the beach?

I figure we can do cereal/eggses/bacon/sausage/toast in the morning and have cold cuts available for lunches along with things like mac and cheese for the littler ones.

However for dinners I'd like to know what you all like so I can start getting some sort of list together. I know we don't like planning, but you can't feed an army of people flying by the seat of your pants.

So let's have the suggestions please! ;^)

PS: Do we like regular or decaf coffee/tea, etc.?

[Overtaxed]

Filet minions. :)

How 'bout both caf and decaf...decaf for evening use when you don't want to stay up all night.

[Darksheare]

If a dog had a block head, I'd think it was a door stop.
Or as smart as one..

[2Jedismom]

Light snow here now. Sigh.

I made the girls some hot oatmeal.

[Professional Engineer]

LOL. That's what I think too. When I was searching for Chelsea, I gave the blockheads a wide berth.

[2Jedismom]

Are you home? Or at the office?

[Darksheare]

I prefer dogs that are mixes, pay attention to your presence, and are quiet when you pick them out.
They, in my experiences, usually make the best dogs.

[Professional Engineer]

I think my net dog will likely come from a Lab or Golden rescue group. I know Chelsea likes a playmate. Msdrby's cat doesn't want to be bothered.

[Overtaxed]

At the office....er....lab.

[My back yard]

That is so cool, that pic of the two working together. It is the essence of a good marriage, right there.

You know, I think taking a lab and making it just a lapdog house pet is a good life for a dog, but not the best life for one. They are a working dog, and happiest when they are performing their tasks, and doing a good job of it.

[RMDupree]

I was going to stock up on eggs, bacon, breads, pancake batter, etc for breakftas and cold cuts, cheeses etc for lunch.

Dinner will prolly be pizza, chicken, seafood, etc.

What do you think?

[HairOfTheDog]

Some "breeders" down this way have started "working" on Labs. Breeding them to have a "block" head. I could care less of the dog has a rectangular skull. Is she friendly. Can she hunt well, be trained, etc. That's far more important than physical conformity to me.

The classic old Labradors did have a blocky wide head. That may be what they are trying to get back to. There was a trend for awhile among the field-trial people to breed labs taller and heavier. There were field-trial winners that weighed 100 pounds and looked nothing like a Labrador. With that (as a side-effect I think) came long narrow noses and a more hound-type head and ears. Looking back at the standard, the ideal height for males in the breed description only 24 inches at the shoulder. Logan was just a bit taller than that, and I always tried to stand him so he wouldn't look too tall and leggy, and hoped they wouldn't measure him and find he was 25". In a perfect world, both form and function are considered just the right amount.

General Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog; the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions; the character and quality to win in the show ring; and the temperament to be a family companion. Physical features and mental characteristics should denote a dog bred to perform as an efficient Retriever of game with a stable temperament suitable for a variety of pursuits beyond the hunting environment.

The most distinguishing characteristics of the Labrador Retriever are its short, dense, weather resistant coat; an "otter" tail; a clean-cut head with broad back skull and moderate stop; powerful jaws; and its "kind," friendly eyes, expressing character, intelligence and good temperament.

Above all, a Labrador Retriever must be well balanced, enabling it to move in the show ring or work in the field with little or no effort. The typical Labrador possesses style and quality without over refinement, and substance without lumber or cloddiness. The Labrador is bred primarily as a working gun dog; structure and soundness are of great importance.

Size, Proportion and Substance
Size--The height at the withers for a dog is 22½ to 24½ inches; for a bitch is 21½ to 23½ inches. Any variance greater than ½ inch above or below these heights is a disqualification. Approximate weight of dogs and bitches in working condition: dogs 65 to 80 pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds.

The classic type, their appearance, is part of the tradition that makes them distinct and different from the other retrievers, and different from the other hunting dogs. There will always be dogs that don't look standard and can do the work just as well or better. Their working ability is important, and the best breeders look at both their talent and their appearance. The trouble with show dogs like Logan, is that for some, appearance is ~all~ they are breeding for, because it is the only thing that shows. And some of the show dogs no longer remember that they used to hunt. Goldens are increasingly that way.... The inclusion now in the Labrador standard of "other pursuits" beyond hunting is a bad sign, leading to "the aptitude to compete in the show ring" now used as a judgable part of their temperament, as important as birdiness.

[Darksheare]

So far, every dog that we've had pretty much ignored the cats.

[Professional Engineer]

Chelsea used to have a Boston Terrier for a playmate. Ben is the approx. size, so she assumes he will play as well.

[2Jedismom]

When are you leaving for Entmoot?

[HairOfTheDog]

know we don't like planning, but you can't feed an army of people flying by the seat of your pants.

Ruh Roh!

G'nad asked the same question on the phone, wondering if anyo of us were gonna have it together or not!.... thank goodness someone is trying to organize us.... left to me, I would decide when we got there!

[Overtaxed]

Flight leaves Friday at 12:15.