My dog eats when I get home, especially if he didn't eat that morning. I eat later in the evening. And he only eats in my presence. If we're gone for a day or overnight, he doesn't eat, even though I leave a bowl full of food. Because of how my door and storm door are constructed and installed, my dog must exit or enter the door before I do. Plus I walk him in harness. And he will walk in heel or loose leash position when I give the command. And he will (and has, before) broke off from

We're all hanging in there for you and your family, Amanda. Big hugs and slobbers.

You do so much for everyone else. Thanks for sharing this with us so that we can return some of the good spirit you have given us over the years. Question, though - how do you fit your doggy angel wings into the car when you drive? That has to be an interesting sight to see.

[quote user="Beejou"] Thanks, guys. (((hugs))) for all of you. Sometimes people don't understand that grieving a pet is the same as a human friend...[/quote] Well, I do. Blessings on you and yours for being there and doing everything that you could do and for sharing with us so that we can know the love that you have. You make this world a better place and I'm a better person for knowing you and feeling your grief.

I'm so glad we have this place to remember our beloved pets. How much are our lives enriched by these gracious and wonderful creatures? I don't know how to measure that and it probably can't be measured, and just as well that it is so. Some things defy quantification and that is the way it ought to be. I still think of my cat, Misty, from time to time. And I see the future when it will be time to release Shadow, then Jade. And that makes the time I have with them now as precious as it

Good post, Truley, and I would reiterate my point that, while I might not want to use the remote collar, I can see where some dogs, because of their particular neurology, might respond well to that. What seems like a punishment to you and me and even to other dogs might merely be a cue to them, one that is needed so that they know what you want. Again, such a device is not a standard go to device and I would try everything else in the book before considering it but if it was needed and did not harm

I suppose, too, it depends on one's definition of dominance and the realization that it is contextual. Such as, one dog always gets the "choicest" sleeping spot unless he or she relinquishes it with the understanding that it could be reclaimed later. And vice versa with a favorite chew toy or bone. I'm not saying that all dogs are dominant but they do what we want because it is rewarding to them. If they don't it is because whatever else they are doing is more rewarding to them

[quote user="Chuffy"] [quote user="ron2"]side-bar: is that the same Douglas Adams that brought us the hitchkiker series? [/quote] That's right! The trilogy in five parts. If you haven't read Salmon of Doubt yet, you should. Released after his death, all kinds of Adams snippets in there [/quote] Another side-bar. I've read the first four a few times. Hitchiker's Guide to the Galax. Life, the Universe, and Everything. Restaurant at the End of the Universe. So long

[quote user="huskymom"]We have a couple men...Ron2 is around quite a bit. [/quote] Even though I haven't been around as often, recently, there used to be more guys around here. But I am probably the most prolific poster for a while, representing the male gender. I think it's 'cause I ain't skeered of women. Who am I kidding? I like living dangerously ...

[quote user="rwbeagles"] dh=dear/dam*ned/darned/doofus/dingbat/dawdling husband. [/quote] Sometimes, all those things at once. I will be the first to admit that guys can be stone cold stupid and idiotic and many times, we are the weaker gender. But on our good days, we are good dogs. Loyal, sometimes house broken (I know I am. I clean up after myself and always leave the toilet seat down when I am done.), and we'll fight to the death to protect our loved ones. By the way, that's