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Post by valliesong on Mar 29, 2010 22:38:25 GMT -5
English cockers aren't as overbred as American ones, so I think they tend to have more reliable temperaments. Cockers traditionally were sweet family dogs until BYBs and puppymills started overbreeding them, and now they are often a physical and mental mess. I have met some really awful ones, and some really wonderful ones. I would definitely consider taking the right one in, especially as a foster.
Just take things one day at a time, and then, at some point, you will know what you want to do. It is not betraying Boomer, and another dog will not take his place, but rather create a new place in your heart.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Mar 30, 2010 15:25:35 GMT -5
Adoptapitbull, we actually see quite a few strays in our area. We live in the country so people will dump them then the dog will go to the closest farm house. A few years ago Gustavo found a litter of Coonhound mix puppies in a box right by our mailbox...They all went to the local humane society. Valliesong-I am amazed by his temperament to be honest. My parents’ Cocker (Which is an American Cocker) is so feisty. She will try nipping at you for the silliest things-I do not let my daughter near her. This little dog is a sweetie. He plays with Avery and has not shown ANY signs of being temperamental or aggressive in anyways. He has actually surprised me...I thought he'd at least be food aggressive or have separation anxiety (Seems common in castaways) but nope...He seems perfect. Gustavo and I are both really enjoying having him around. We are probably going to be keeping him...I really cannot see us giving him up at this point. Saturday he goes to the vet for some tests (Heartworm mainly is my concern) and to get dewormed and fully vaccinated so hopefully his tests will come back fine. I keep telling Gustavo "He seems so perfect there has to be something wrong with his health if his temperament is ok". I hope Im wrong.
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Post by PBLove on Mar 30, 2010 18:05:10 GMT -5
Aww! Whatever happens, right here and right now you two are meant to be together.
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Post by RealPitBull on Mar 30, 2010 22:25:21 GMT -5
Gustavo and I are both really enjoying having him around. We are probably going to be keeping him...I really cannot see us giving him up at this point. Wow I'm ! NOT ;D I hope things continue to work out well and he can find a permanent place in your family.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Mar 31, 2010 14:25:35 GMT -5
LOL! Mary...You sound like my parents. As soon as I told them that a stray came up my mom asked "What are you going to name it?" I was like seriously??? I was actually kind of mad...LOL! Now look at us! We have actually named him now. We have named him Marley...Not because of the book or movie but because of Bob Marley. For those of you who do not know who Bob Marley is (Or what he looks like) Google images of him and compare to the pictures of this dog before his hair cut. LOL! He looks like Bob Marley.
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Post by maryellen on Mar 31, 2010 14:30:09 GMT -5
marley is an awesome name! he did look like bob marley before you got him a haircut lol... congratulations, i knew you would keep him:)
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Post by adoptapitbull on Mar 31, 2010 14:41:30 GMT -5
Yeah, I had the feeling too!
Congrats on your new boy! He looks like such a fun dog!
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Post by sugar on Mar 31, 2010 15:06:25 GMT -5
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Post by suziriot on Mar 31, 2010 15:40:12 GMT -5
Yay Marley! ;D
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Post by AmyJo27 on Mar 31, 2010 21:14:40 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! There is just something about this scrawny little Cocker! I have noticed he drinks A LOT of water...Like not a normal amount and Im a bit concerned. Every time he drinks he acts as if he hasn’t had a drink for weeks…Ive never seen a dog put water down the way he does. I have NO idea what this can be a sign of but heartworms and diabetes are my concerns. I’m ready for his vet appointment Saturday so I can quit stressing out.
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Post by maryellen on Mar 31, 2010 21:24:03 GMT -5
it could also be OCD behavior if he was a stray or had limited access to water.the more you restrict his water intake the more obsessed he will get over it so leave water accessible all the time, over time he will understand its not going anywhere. it could also be a UTI as well,so the vet can check his urine as well..
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Post by maryellen on Mar 31, 2010 21:24:24 GMT -5
when i first got ruby she was completely obsessed and would drink an entire 2 quarts all the time.. she inhaled water like she never had any before. i kept 5 water bowls filled in the house and 1 large one outside and didnt reprimand her when she drank alot, after a few months she settled down and stopped obsessively drinking water.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Mar 31, 2010 21:32:32 GMT -5
The vet is going to do a urine test Saturday. I hope it is just an obsession...I always fear the worst. I have been restricting his intake (Fearing a belly ache or puking)...Im glad you told me that. I am also going to buy a few more bowls to put one outside and an extra one in the bedroom. Hopefully that will help. Thank God he is potty trained though because he pees like crazy because of all the water he drinks!!! LOL! Maryellen, you have calmed my nerves...Thank you!
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Post by emilys on Mar 31, 2010 21:44:12 GMT -5
yay Marley! my old rescue boy Ozzy still drinks obsessively. He always has water available but it seems he rarely drinks. But when he does... he drinks a LOT.
So it could be just a habit or preference.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Mar 31, 2010 21:50:18 GMT -5
I am so happy you guys are telling me this...I have been convinced that I have a diabetic dog! Or that Marley is dying from heartworms...LOL! Im a goof sometimes!!! ;D Im still keeping my fingers crossed for Saturday though because he COULD still have heartworms...LOL!
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Post by maryellen on Apr 1, 2010 8:02:50 GMT -5
youre welcome.. i am sure he will be fine..
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Post by sugar on Apr 1, 2010 8:17:08 GMT -5
I was panicky about Chubs too because he used to drink three bowls of water (1 liter each!) at each sitting (I of course thought diabetes), but as of lately he is only drinking one bowl, and even then sometimes leaves water in there. He may of just not had access to enough water before and now he is trying to horde it.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 1, 2010 8:35:13 GMT -5
I feel a lot better now! I was telling Gustavo what you guys said and he rolled his eyes... "I told you it was nothing serious" LOL!
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Post by RealPitBull on Apr 1, 2010 14:47:13 GMT -5
Marley!!!! Yippeee! That is a great name for him :-)
To add to the water discussion, Luca drinks a LOT of water, but mostly only when I am around. I used to be worried he was sick, too, but (after plenty of health tests) now I just ignore the behavior.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 1, 2010 21:20:01 GMT -5
Its definitely different...Boomer didn’t drink much water...I always worried he'd get dehydrated. Marley drinks a lot and eats very little where Boomer always ate a lot and drank very little. Today, Marley barked for the first time. I was actually a bit excited, I was beginning to wonder if the dog COULD bark. One of Gustavo’s friends came over and made a weird sound while telling one of his dramatized stories (And yes, this was a guy...A very dramatic guy that actually gets on my nerves He was imitating a sound of a machine at work…LOL!) But the sound he made scared the bejezzers out of poor Marley. He barked a few times then laid on his blanket and calmed down. I was surprised, he actually has a pretty gruff bark, I expected a squeaky little yip but nope he has a deep bark. His bark does not match his body. LOL!
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