iamshack

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 11:58 AM) No training method is perfect for every dog, but some trainers are just abusive. The best method I found is to have treats to make sure the dog keeps his focus on you and not on everything around him. You just give fewer treats as he gets more successful at it. When my dog was young he was great at walking on the leash but as he grew up he was interested in other things. I don't live in a city setting so his safety isn't constantly dependant on good leash manners. My dog really doesn't care about walking around my neighborhood. He would rather sniff everything and roll in the grass or play fetch. But, if I take him on a hike somewhere he never goes I can trust him to be off leash and never get more than 20 feet from me while he explores. If he gets too far he responds well to commands and he can have that freedom. He has visited several cities and he will walk next to me without much hassle. He ignore people unless they approach him. Again, he is interested in the new place and handles it very well. Edit: I don't know what the point of this post was. I guess, it's more important that the dog adapt to your lifestyle rather than ensuring he can do everything perfectly (because he won't). Hah, my Great Dane will pull and choke himself if he is on a leash but if I take him off it he'll just walk next to me...and never really go too far from me if we are in the park or hiking in the mountains. I guess it's because I rarely take him for walks on his leash, but instead have always taken him to places where he can be off leash.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 12:23 PM) I understand how it's supposed to be done. But I've also seen that it's possible for people that are supposed to know what they are doing to do it incorrectly. The other methods I described take that risk away. There were other things the trainers did that I didn't like as well. One of them was getting the dog to sit when you stop by literally stepping on their back foot. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like there was only one way to leash train. There are many, I'm sure. I was just trying to make it clear that you don't need to yank the dog off it's feet to correct it. It's just using enough force for the dog to understand what you're telling him. People should feel free to use whatever training methods they feel comfortable with and what works best for them.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 08:52 AM) We had our dog in training classes and they said not to use that method. They had a greyhound as their personal dog and I guess another trainer did that and it jarred the greyhound so badly that it wouldn't go anywhere on the leash for 2 weeks. The method we were taught was to hold the leash towards the bottom right against your leg so the dog doesn't have a lot of slack to fall behind or get ahead. Once it gets used to walking in that position you can gradually let the leash out. When we moved up to the advanced training class (same place, different trainers) they taught the jerking method of correction. When they took our dog and did it her front feet were literally coming off the floor. We left and never went back. Another method I've seen to start walking and if the dog gets too far ahead immediately turn around and walk the other direction. Eventually the dog will get the hint that he needs to stay behind/beside you. The problem lies in the amount of force they're using, not the method. It's just a quick jerk. You're not jarring the dog and you're not lifting his feet off the ground. If you're doing that, you're yanking way too hard. You want to do it just enough to get his attention, no harder.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 08:20 AM) Shack- When you say the dealer bought it back for what you paid, does that include all the taxes and fees? Yep. I made them make me whole, as if I never even bought the previous car.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 21, 2012 -> 08:44 AM) yeah, there was some awful writting and acting Speaking of awful movies, watched Cowboys & Aliens last night. Was one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Feb 20, 2012 -> 01:51 PM) He hasn't figured out what the pads are for yet. In fact, he actually thinks they are chew toys. The barking has ONLY been an issue when he is put in his crate and the latch shuts. We have a fenced in backyard and the little guy loves tearing around out there. I have been devoting the vast majority of my time at home to exercising him. At this point, about an hour of consistent running turns into three hours of naptime. I think he really just hates being left alone... He gets his final vaccinations next Monday and there is a big dog park down the street from our house. I'm also looking forward to taking him running with me, but I know that won't happen until he's at least a year old. Any thoughts on leash training young pups? As always, thank you for the advice; the pet thread is amazing. As for the puppy pads, you can try using newspaper as well, but some dogs just don't seem to get it. The pads are supposed to be scented so that he instinctually wants to mark them, but that does not always work. What you can try to do is to dip them in a little of the urine where he went elsewhere, and then leave them there, and he might figure out that that is what they are meant for in that manner. The separation, you just have to put him through it like Jenks and Kyle said. You're just training him for what the reality of his life is going to be, and that is time spent alone. Eventually when he gets accustomed to it he will grow to like it or tolerate it. If you can get up and take him for a walk before you leave for work or play with him in the yard a bit that may help. As for leash training, you want to train him to walk at your pace or behind you even, not in front of you and not leading or dragging you. Any time he begins to pull ahead, you make a quick tug on his leash to correct him. If he continues to try and lead, you refuse to move until he realizes YOU are the one walking him, and not vice versa. Quick corrections are the key to teaching him this. Not huge mean whiplash tugs, but quick jerks every time he tries to pull ahead. It can seem impossible at first, but it works with repetition. Illini...one suggestion I have...pick up the books How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, both by The Monks of New Skete. These are the best books on dog training and dog behavior that I am aware of.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 20, 2012 -> 01:21 PM) I agree with all of us. Crate training is very good for housetraining, and some pups will drive themselves nuts barking, but they eventually stop. The Malamute we had when I was in HS sounded like she was getting murdered every night she was in her crate, and for like a month to 2 months it was not easy sleeping, but she got through it. Crate training is also good because it teaches the dogs not to go to the bathroom where they sleep, and if you put the dog in that little pen with puppy pads it could possibly do the reverse. Dogs should instinctually avoid eliminating where they sleep. Usually the only time they will do this is if there is no other alternative. As long as he does come home to let the dog out at lunch he should be fine but the dog should also pick up that it can go on the pads (put them as far away from the crate as possible) if it does have to go. My dog started ripping them up though as soon as he stopped needing to use them and so I eventually just stopped using them.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Feb 20, 2012 -> 12:47 PM) Thanks to everyone on the board for their insights on my new pup. I forgot how difficult and stressful a new pup is (he makes up for it by being really freaking cute). Both my fiance and I are professionals. She worked from home last week to help the pup adjust. I live close enough to work that I can get home at lunch to let the little man out until he's old enough for doggy daycare. We have his crate in the living room and set up an exercise pen (6x6) outside the crate to give him a play area. Lined the pen space with puppy pads to try to minimize the damage from the inevitable accidents. Today was the first day with this arrangement. I came home at lunch and he had a couple accidents on the floor. I'm not overly concerned by the accidents because, well, he's a 9 week old puppy. The biggest issue seems to be that, with the sole exception of bedtime, when he's left in the crate, even if one of us is home, he barks until he makes himself sick. I've been feeding him in the crate and he goes in and out of the crate on his own so it's not the crate that's bugging him; it's the separation. He just freaks out when the crate latch clicks (again, with the sole exception of bedtime). Any suggestions on how to handle that adjustment? My other question is, should I not put up the exercise pen during the day? Putting the pen up was our way of acknowledging that accidents are going to happen in the 4 hours he's home alone in the morning and afternoon and that it will be more comfortable for him if the accident is outside the crate. I know he can hold it for 4+ hours because he does so at night and when he's napping during the day. But he's not used to me working and his biological clock hasn't figured out that someone will be home at noon everyday... Long winded, I know... I did basically the same thing with my Great Dane pup when I first started leaving him...I left his crate open and then had a playpen type thing set up with toys and then some puppy pads. He did pretty well with just going on the pads. Then pretty soon he learned how to get out of the pen and surprisingly didn't really do anything bad except some minor chewing on the furniture, which I was prepared to tolerate. He picked up the potty training pretty well and when he did go, I realized it was because he just really had to go and I wasn't home to let him out. I wasn't able to come home at lunch like you are and so I actually hired someone to come visit with him for a half hour or so. I don't think the play area is a bad idea as long as he learns to go on those pads. If he doesn't, it might be better to just keep him in the crate like Jenks said. Either way, just realize you chose a VERY ACTIVE dog. It is imperative that you EXERCISE the hell out of him. I'm not sure if he is fully vaccinated yet, but once he is, find a big dog park and take him there to run run run. This will help the barking and his general sense of restlessness. The most important thing for any dog - probably as much or more than diet, is proper exercise. You'll be amazed at how the proper amount of exercise will help you in every other facet of life with him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 20, 2012 -> 09:43 AM) I'd say that's way too high. Which really bothers me because the last 3 seasons I've been more positive on the team than the consensus (and the final results). I dunno...for whatever reason, it's always difficult to put back-to-back seasons together in baseball unless you have dominant pitching. The Tigers obviously have Verlander, and Fister and Scherzer have the potential to be above-average 2nd and 3rd's, but I'm not shaking in my boots just yet. I am one of the more optimistic fans, but I think the bounce back potential for our team, combined with some Robin magic might put us in a spot most don't expect. As I posted earlier, the odds aren't great, but it's not 100:1 or any of that nonsense.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 20, 2012 -> 09:25 AM) Care to say why? I'd say more like 8:1

Those Greenies are insanely expensive! Go to your local butcher and ask him if they sell femur bones. Have him cut one to accommodate the size of your dog.

I'll preface this by stating that I am sure most of you are pretty sick of my car adventures but I just wanted to post about what went on so that maybe someone else can learn from it in the future... So I went back into the dealership on Friday afternoon and the salesman told me that they were prepared to be forthright with me and admit that in order to install the options they had promised me, it was going to take at least 2-3 weeks to get it done. He said they were prepared to discuss taking the car back and to give me a replacement, but the similar vehicles they had on the lot were more expensive due to being a later model year and having a higher trim line. I told him I was done playing around and that unless they found me a replacement vehicle at a similar cost I was prepared to take legal action. He continued to try and explain that the other vehicles they had were just significantly more expensive and that while they would cut me a nice discount, they couldn't just "give" one to me at the same price as the car they had sold me previously. After much hemming and hawing I finally asked to just speak to the General Manager. He confessed that he just learned of the situation the previous Monday, and that the tech that had told the salesman that the upgrades could be done in-house had been fired. The story the salesman had given me about the tech getting in a car accident the day before and going on medical leave had been fabricated by the used-car manager and the salesman had been forced to follow this scam unbeknownst to the General Manager. The GM admitted I had been treated embarrassingly poorly and would never have authorized this had he been a part of the situation earlier. He basically said he would do everything in his power to rectify the situation. I told them I wanted them to take back the old car at the price I had paid a month ago and for them to give me another vehicle, at the lowest possible dollar amount he was authorized. He was more than willing to do so. We discussed a number of vehicles and I ultimately chose the new Q5. He showed me his computer screen which showed me the msrp and the dealer invoice price for the vehicle with all the options. He then deducted $1500 for a brand loyalty discount and an additional $1500 as a "preferred customer discount." Additionally, he showed me how their credit tiering was devised and gave me their tier 2 financing rate (I do not have perfect credit, although it is above average). Since the car was new, I got a better interest rate as well as the standard 4/50 warranty, which I did not have on the previous used vehicle I had purchased. He also threw in a bunch of all-weather mats since he knew I would be using the vehicle to haul my dogs around. All in all, it was an unfortunate experience, and not anything I would wish on anyone, but the fact that they botched the first deal allowed me to correct the mistake I made in choosing the larger Q7 over the Q5. It was simply way too much car for me considering it is just me in the car 90% of the time. The ride on the Q5 is night and day different from the Q7, and the gas mileage is 50% better, so some of the extra money I spent will be saved in monthly gas costs. Additionally, the warranty will probably save me some money over the life of the car as well as the lesser maintenance cost on parts that are meant to wear down (tires/brakes/oil changes). Finally, the resale value on this vehicle will be significantly higher at trade-in, and will probably defray much of the difference in price at the time of sale. Finally, the vehicle is incredible. The particular vehicle I chose came loaded with just about everything, including the navigation/bluetooth/iPod integration I had originally desired, as well as parking sensors and backup camera, a premium Bang & Olufson sound system, and my favorite feature, the Advanced Key system, which allows you to keep the keys in your pocket or purse and still open the doors and liftgate, as well as pushbutton start and stop the engine, which is a great feature if you have pets or animals or groceries or anything in your hands when you are trying to access the vehicle. The ride is smooth and the 2.0 liter 4-cyclinder engine is responsive with a lot of torque. The difference in handling and acceleration is extremely noticeable between the Q7 and Q5. Definitely a pricier option for me, but wow...what a car!

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 18, 2012 -> 01:48 PM) It was probably more the story than the execution. I never read the books and really had no idea what the whole story was going to be about, other than some kind of murder mystery. It was 2.5 hrs long and i never felt bored. I was pretty enthralled through the whole thing. Daniel Craig wasn't his annoying Bond character he plays all the time, and Rooney Mara. Wow. The sex scenes were hot. My favorite part was that my wife and I, both 29 years old, went to the 6:15 show. We walked in to the theater about 6:17 so the lights were off and some previews had started. We found a spot in the middle of the theater (it was packed) and got comfortable. At the end of the movie the house lights came up and we turned around to find that we were probably two of the six total people under the age of 65. I s*** you not it was like 60-70 people from a nursing home came on buses to this thing. I'm talking geriatric patients - walkers, wheelchairs, nothing but white/grey hair. It was really odd. Especially since some of those sex scenes were quite explicit. Hah! Don't get me wrong, I liked the Fincher version better myself, but I think the first deserves a lot of credit because Fincher's version was VERY similar to the Swedish version. Yes, it was a bit darker, and yes, Rooney Mara put her own spin on the Lisbeth Sander, but they both obviously went to school on the first version of the three films.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 18, 2012 -> 12:45 PM) I'm assuming not that many people saw the Swedish original. Plus I think Fincher's version is much more polished. It had more things going for it it including a better cast and soundtrack. I'm pretty sure Fincher watched the Swedish version though...

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 17, 2012 -> 11:22 PM) I don't get the love. I liked it, but it wasn't great. Especially when you basically just copied another version that was just made.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 17, 2012 -> 03:25 PM) Good luck shack! I still can't believe how much time these dealerships waste on situations like this, they're going to be in the red big time when it's all said and done. Do it right the first time and they make money, instead they are probably going to have to give you a more expensive car. Thanks Russ...I don't have the energy to type the full story, but there was a lot of s*** going down at the dealership that the salesman and used car manager were lying to me about. I finally got the GM in a room and we worked out a solution. They took the car back for what I paid for it, and sold me a new Q5 for about $2k under invoice. I spent more than I was hoping to, but as long as I had them out at the woodshed, I figured I would get as much car as I could. This baby is loaded to the gils with every feature imaginable almost...and the ride and handling are night and day compared to the Q7. I'm very excited.

I spoke to the assistant general counsel at work and got some non-legal advice. I am bringing over a copy of that article as well as a demand letter for $12k... Should be an interesting afternoon.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 17, 2012 -> 01:08 PM) She would need to receive medical treatment for it to be recoverable though. Feeling depressed, angry, sad, embarrassed, etc. isn't enough. We both know that wouldn't be difficult to accomplish.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 17, 2012 -> 12:18 PM) I would guess that the answer is yes if the mother actually cared and it impacted their relationship negatively. Courts put monetary values on loss of society. But if the mother didn't care, then I would say no, the violation had no impact for which damages can be granted. This is same in every tort or even criminal procedure. Hell, in a criminal case, a judge can admit evidence in direct violation of the 4th, 5th and 6th amendment and as long as that error was harmless the conviction will stand. Do you think that's fair? Yes, even though I don't think it's that simple...even if the mother didn't care, the daughter might care that the mother knew, and thus there might be some kind of emotional harm experienced. But yeah, I think that's probably a fair way to think about it.

Ugh...this is horrible, heartbreaking news. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help. I'm sure the Soxtalk community would be more than willing to help in any way possible. Don't hesitate to ask.

I found this last week, figured I might bring it with me today and tell them I'll contact the local news if they don't make an effort to resolve this. Hyundai Dealership refuses to install promised navigation

Ok, so I could use some advice, folks, especially anyone with a legal background, but all advice is welcomed. So as I posted in this thread previously, I purchased an 2007 Audi Q7 from an Audi dealership here in the Las Vegas area on January 21st. When I originally looked at and test drove the vehicle, I liked it, however, it was not equipped as well as what I wanted. I have driven around a 2001 Audi TT for the last 5.5 years, which is fairly spartan as far as gadgets go, and so when I decided to take the plunge on a new vehicle, one of the things that was important to me was that it have some of the cooler gadgets such as Navigation/Bluetooth/iPod integration. This was also important to me because Nevada law forbids a driver of a vehicle from using a cell phone/iPod. The vehicle he had in stock did not have any of these things, although it appeared as though they could be added, as the car did have the interface and buttons for them. I told the dealer that I loved the Q7 model, as it was large enough to haul my dogs around, was very well-built and well-appointed inside and out, but the particular vehicle he had in stock simply was not equipped the way I wanted my next vehicle to be if I was going to drop $30k on it. I even went so far as to assure him I would wait for him to find me a vehicle I did want before buying one elsewhere. But he pushed. At first he offered aftermarket Bluetooth and iPod integration. Then he offered aftermarket Nav as well. I told him I had no interest in aftermarket equipment (the Audi MMI system, which controls all the functions of the vehicle on a 4 x 6 screen on the center of the dash, was designed to control all these functions, and I didn't want to be utilizing that to control half the functions and then some aftermarket equipment to control other functions). Next, he offered OEM Bluetooth and iPod integration (OEM is basically the equivalent to factory installed equipment, just installed after the vehicle has left the factory). I responded that if he would throw in OEM Nav, we would have a deal. He b****ed and moaned about the OEM Nav costing upwards of $3k, but I told him if he wanted to sell me THIS car, that is what it was going to take. He agreed, and told me to come down to the dealership. When I got to the dealership, he explained to me that the vehicle was being detailed, and that I would take it home that day. They had already ordered the necessary parts to install the OEM equipment I wanted, and those would be in stock in a week or so, at which time they would have me bring the vehicle back in, do the work over the course of 2-3 days and provide me with a loaner car for those days. I said that sounded good, and said I wanted the OEM equipment to be written in to the contract. He produced a "We Owe/You Owe" form, which states the remaining things the dealer needs to do and the things the customer needs to do in addition to the standard terms of the contract. He wrote in under We Owe that they were to install OEM Bluetooth/iPod integration/Navigation. We completed the rest of the paperwork, they produced the vehicle, and promised to contact me in a few days to discuss scheduling the install of the OEM equipment. Well, it has now been 27 days since I purchased the vehicle, and I still do not have my OEM equipment. They have made excuse after excuse after excuse, and generally seem to be dragging their feet as much as possible. First they had to get the parts from New Jersey. Then they realized they ordered the wrong navigation harness. Then they realized the other parts they ordered were wrong, because my vehicle was a "mid" '07 model, not an "early" '07 model. Then they had me bring the vehicle back in because the tech needed to take another look at it. Then they had to order more parts from Germany. Now they tell me the tech that had been working on this project took a client's R8 for a test drive and T-boned someone while driving 95 mph on the surface streets and is going to be on medical leave for some time. They asked me to bring the car in again yesterday for "just 10 minutes" so the service department manager could look at it again. After the service manager looked at my vehicle, he and another guy and the salesman were talking, and I heard the salesman ask another salesman about another Q7 they have in their inventory. The salesman returned and told me that they were going to look into when they could get this scheduled and get a loaner car reserved and then they would contact me. I said "No, you've got to tell me what the plan is. This is has passed the point of reasonable and it's getting to the point where I need to start considering legal remedies." He said "well, sort of a preemptive question, but we have a Garnet Red '08 Q7 that has the features you want..." I cut him off and said "I don't want a red car." Throughout this entire process, I have tried to be reasonable and accommodating, and I have spent well in excess of 10 hours trying to work this out with them. I have had my car in for them to look at twice (this is an Audi dealership, why do they need to keep looking at a car they have been selling for 6 years now?). They have botched ordering the correct parts at least three times now. Over the past week or 10 days, I have begun to get impatient and I made it clear that I was unhappy with their level of service and told them this was unreasonable. Last Friday, I offered to even consider another car. The salesman keeps whining about how expensive and difficult this is going to be for them, so I said "let's not kill ourselves to get this equipment put into THIS car, if it's not possible." They responded by offering to buy the car back from me for $3000 less than I paid for it just a month ago and offering to give me a good deal on another vehicle. Last night, however, they seemed like they are becoming more resigned to the idea that they need to offer me another vehicle. So what can/should I do here, folks? I am going in this afternoon to talk to the salesman and the General Manager (who I have been told is now taking this on as a "pet project") and my goal is to get a resolution today. I am tired of dealing with this but I refuse to back down. I told the salesman at the time I was looking at the vehicle that I had no interest in the vehicle if it did not have this particular equipment, and so I feel like even a refund for the cost of the equipment would be unsatisfactory since I will then have a vehicle I did not want in the first place. One last note, I do love the vehicle after driving it for a month, I just want it to have the equipment I originally wanted. Edit: It's pretty clear at this point that they either cannot install the equipment they agreed to, or that it is prohibitively expensive to do so. The salesman let it slip a week ago or so that they could install the 2012 version of the equipment into the vehicle, but that it would cost $12k. I think they are trying to buy time with bs excuses that can pass for legitimate while they hope that another used Q7 comes in the door that is equipped how I want it. But if they admit now that they were at fault, I can start demanding other vehicles that are equipped like I wanted, but that are more expensive.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 09:11 PM) Again, I think that's covered by some other tort. Probably not defamation, but some form of harassment, I'd think. But not invasion of privacy. It may be, Farmteam, and don't get me wrong, I very much appreciate your comments in this thread. Sorry if I am coming off as combative towards you. In many cases, I have been arguing not necessarily for a right of privacy here, and despite what some have said, privacy and defamation are fairly similar offenses, but rather, arguing that the behavior of the coaches was illegal and tortious.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 17, 2012 -> 06:40 AM) This is why Jenks is telling you that privacy claims require economic harm. Bringing action in your hypo is not going to go anywhere if there aren't any damages. That's the equalizer. This is a constitutional claim against the government. Additionally, you comparing the exposure of a legal sexual relationship to the exposure of illegal sexual abuse. You have no privacy right in criminal activity (aside from the law of criminal procedure). Sexual orientation wouldn't even be at issue. Put another way, I don't think Jerry Sandusky is gay. He's mentally ill. I've been out of law school for 4 years now, and I am not a practicing attorney, so please bear with me here...but it sure seemed that many of the cases I read in regards to constitutional rights being violated had much less reason for economic harm than this one. If you assume for the sake of argument (and I know you disagree here) that there is some constitutional right to privacy, wouldn't the fact that information considered by the courts to be a very private concern was disclosed to her mother be plenty egregious enough to formulate some economic harm from? Your relationship with your parents is one of the most important relationships a person will ever have, after the relationship with your spouse and your children, and considering many people go through their lives without either of the latter two, for many people, it is THE most important relationship they will ever formulate in their entire lives. To have that relationship jeopardized (and I am not saying this is morally correct that a parent would hold something like sexual orientation against their child) by someone who has no compelling reason to disclose a private concern of the child to the mother seems like a fairly extraordinary offense to me. I've seen attorney monetize a lot of far less obvious harm in my day of studying the law and working in law firms.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 16, 2012 -> 07:47 PM) About the same thoughts here with me. I can't believe a person can be open about something and have all of those people be compelled to keep a secret. And who are they suppose to keep the secret from? Should I ask anyone I know anything about who they have told and who they haven't? That seems so stupid. I am thinking about a coworker. If someone said they were thinking of fixing him up with a girlfriend of theirs, I would probably say, that's nice of you. But if someone else said, that's probably not a good idea, he's gay; I don't think that would be wrong. He has never hid his preference. I don't know how I can make this more clear...the mother did not go to the school and have the news "accidentally" broken to her. She was not talking to a teacher and the teacher let it slip. The coaches threatened the student that they would tell her mother. I'm not sure how much more clear of an implication there can be than that. Then they followed through with the threat and went OUT OF THEIR WAY to find the mother at her residence to tell her this. There is no compelling anyone to do anything. There is a difference between keeping a secret and actively seeking to expose a private concern to someone that the subject does not wish to know.