The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[RosieCotton]

I need to walk away...but it's hard. The guy has some good points, but could he BE any more of a jerk? I tried to tell him that's not how you convince people, but he's back to name calling.

[Wneighbor]

It is such a shame what people will do to dogs.

Well, I can tell I will get angry if I stay around this conversation long.

Right now in my neighborhood somewhere there is a dog I can hear crying a lot. I can't locate it. I just hear it a lot. The weather is good and I'm living with windows open enjoying fresh air. But, somebody isn't taking care of this dog. It sounds neglected.

oops. a job for 2J. I'd call someone but I can't figure out where the dog is.

[RMDupree]

I didn't post my idea about incorporative breeding on the other thread. That's just my own mind based on what I've seen and a hopeful idea about how to change people's minds about pits.

I've known dozens upon dozens of pure-bred pits and not one was mean. I love 'em! Especially the brindles!

And, like I said on the other thread, I am afraid of ANY dog that comes from an abused or neglected home/owner. Those are the ones who will bite first!

[RMDupree]

I've given up on him. He is the exact type of person that perpetuates the stereotypes of pit bulls and their owners.

It's a shame since I think a lot of people would feel differently about the breed if they were handled differently.

[Wneighbor]

And, like I said on the other thread, I am afraid of ANY dog that comes from an abused or neglected home/owner. Those are the ones who will bite first!

Ecole! I'd bite too. Too many times we try to catagorize by breed rep. That's like human comparisons of genetics vs. environment. Well, it may be a little of genetics but often that environment can make a really good thing out of questionable genes.

[Lil'freeper]

Haven't dared the thread, but I have known two pits. The first belonged to a neighbor who was somehow involved in law enforcement- undercover type stuff. He was Ed and the dog was Mike or the other way around. Anyhoo, one of my 'chores' was to walk down the road to the mailboxes to check the mail. Ed/Mike(dog) would occasionally bound out to say hello- usually by knocking me down and licking my face. I liked him, but my mother freaked out and gave Ed/Mike(owner) several scoldings. Knowing more about their reputation I understand why.

The second belongs to my step-daughter's (beagle pup's mom) roommate. I've never seen a dumber animal! Oxen look more intelligent. He is friendly and docile, named Kitty Kat, but even so I get a rush of fear adrenaline every time I pet him. And I'll tell ya what, if he so much as snarls at my Wyatt pup there won't be much bull left in that pitbull.

I think folks run in to trouble with a lot of breeds- especially the 'working' dogs- because they can't provide the dogs with the right environment or a job to do. Border collies can get really nippy with kids- but it is their herding instinct and most BCs don't get to go outside and work livestock all day so they get bored and grumpy. People who want companion pets should stick to companion breeds or the more versatile breeds like retrievers.

[RosieCotton]

He is the exact type of person that perpetuates the stereotypes of pit bulls and their owners.

I know...that's what I said in my first post over there. *sigh* If you agree with him he "doesn't need your sympathy". If you disagree...he swears at you and calls you names.

[ecurbh]

Can ya'll help me put together a list of those that are or may come to Entmoot? I'm working on a page to post updates and keep track of everything. Here is my list so far. I'm on my way out the door for an oil change and errands, so I know it's far from complete.

Definite:
2JedisMom
HairOfTheDog
ksen
ecurbh
Corin Stormhands
Rosie Cotton
SuziQ
RMDupree

Possible:
rightwingreligiousfanatic
htur

Thanks.

[RMDupree]

Yes, just like in people, there is bad in every breed. I've met some evil labs in my day, believe it or not.

Some people are afraid of pits because they can inflict some heavy duty damage if they decide to, but really, if not raised that way - most pits will not so much as snarl.

[RMDupree]

carton253 is definitely in, as is Wneighbor!

I haven't heard anything yet from Dawntreader, libarian or g'nad, among others!

[ksen]

It's a shame since I think a lot of people would feel differently about the breed if they were handled differently.

You could probably say the same thing about Rottweilers. My cousin bought one from a breeder out in MI quite a few years ago. We'd go and visit when Elizabeth was a baby and she'd climb on him and he was the most gentle dog I'd ever seen.

When they got him the vet told them to play with him alot, but to make sure when they played that they won. That way it would establish who ran the joint. He also told them to play with him while he was trying to eat so he would get used to it because little kids like to play with dogs while they are eating.

Even during family reunions Stolly, the Rotty, would hang around the kids while they were outside and would stay where he could keep an eye on them.

I don't think I'd be a good owner for a Rottie or Pit bull, I'll stick with the labs. ;^)

If a dog goes bad it is either a crazy mix and/or owner mistreatment.

[Lil'freeper]

I'm afraid I'll be down as doubtful for now.

[RMDupree]

Right on!

Like with Rotties, for example. A whole lot of people went out and got a Rottweiler around here because they wanted to own a cool, big, mean looking dog. Then what happens? They don't exercise or socialize the poor thing, it grows to over a hundred pounds and ends up at a shelter because the owners cannot handle him anymore.

These folks shouldn't have any type of dog, let alone a muscle machine.

[RMDupree]

GMTA re: Rotties!

[ksen]

Sam Cree and ItsOurTimeNow are in, but they will be staying in a local hotel.

JenB is in as long as her mom allows her.

[RosieCotton]

Longview is the home of Mount St. Helen's.... our own local Mount Doom, and it is clear and crisp today, the volcano will be out!

Someday I'd like to go back there. We lived in northern Oregon (Portland) when Mt. St. Helen's erupted...I was little, but remember all the ashes! They were everywhere, like snow.

[Lil'freeper]

We'll be getting a couple of Australian cattle dogs this fall after we move in to the house. Big'ol adores the breed, but I'm anxious that even with the yard they'll get bored and get into mischief. The male will be two when we get him and the female will be 8 (she's being retired from breeding). Thank goodness they're not puppies! ACDs are much chewier puppies than beagles and the beagle was driving me nuts!

Fortunately for hubby and the ACDs I've already enrolled them in obedience and agility classes. (don't tell Big'ol- it's a surprise >;) ) The wish list includes paniers for hiking and 'life vests' for canoeing. If I could enroll them in piano lessons and soccer, I would! LOL.

I'm such a cat person. *sigh*

[HairOfTheDog]

And the ash was around for years.... and still is down there. It doesn't go away.

[RosieCotton]

Are those the dogs called kelpies, or are kelpies Australian shepherds?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I own two dogs of a more "difficult" breed, though not a particularly violent breed! Dalmatians are difficult because of their high energy and athleticism...which requires daily runs in the woods to burn off (even though mine are now 7 years old). And because they are so friendly towards people, the athleticism can still cause probelems: They tend to jump up on people (I mean seriously jump up -- they can hit over 6 feet high from a standing leap). And they can be dominant toward children that are smaller or younger, and other dogs (the males are particularly dominant).

I am definitely in the camp that believes that a person needs to very carefully pick a dog, if they are interested in a specific breed, because pure bred dogs have definite characteristics that are handed down generation to generation.

A lot of people that have pure breeds truly need the mellower, milder mixed breeds or true mutts -- which are generally healthier and better behaved dogs, as they don't carry idiosyncracies of specific breeds. People need to match their dog to their lives because dogs are so strongly social -- they need to be important members of their "packs". The dog suffers greatly, and is prone to act out its unhappiness in destructive ways, if it isn't matched up well to it's "pack" and included in everything.