iamshack

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 03:01 PM) That sure does describe my dog. One other thing to keep in mind, Tex....genetics plays a big role as well....you might have a dog with fantastic genes...

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 02:48 PM) Im not sure suing for 900 trillion is a good way to convince people that you dont suffer from delusions... I like how the City Attorney felt the need to point out that $900,000,000,000,000 is just "a made-up number."

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 01:31 PM) I want to know what dogs taste too. I've read they don't have many taste buds so they don't really notice that they eat the same thing all the time, but our sense of taste is connected to scent as well. And dogs smell everything. So I'm of the mind that variety is somewhat important. My dog loves apples and cheese. Dogs don't really chew their food, so their taste buds don't really serve as much of a purpose. Dogs use scent to determine whether they want to eat something most of the time. It's actually been proven (or being shown, as we speak) that dogs can smell cancer cells and therefore detect cancer before any of our best medical equipment.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 12:25 PM) As for the question at hand. Cats and dogs are, for the most part, meant to be domesticated. For generations they've been raised in captivity, and when you see a stray, it's sad. They don't have the same instincts as say wolves and rabbits to fend for themselves (at least, to my understanding). Sure, they can survive, and I know there are cats out there who do a fine job living outdoors without human help (I don't know about dogs, not saying they don't), but they have been domesticated over the years and fending for themselves is something you don't expect. I see a homeless guy and I just assume he's a whackjob, or he boozed himself out of house and home. I am certain that I am wrong at LEAST 87% of the time, but that's what I assume. Also, cats and dogs might attack, but they likely won't have knives and they certainly don't have the cognitive ability of a crazed, drunken, homeless human! There are still plenty of instincts remaining...it's just that when you see stray animals, you see them in your neighborhood, or in an urban area, where their instincts and evolutionary biology are pretty useless.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 01:45 PM) Fantastic story. They are animals. Their main goal is to survive most efficiently. They don't have Wal-Mart or Whole Foods.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 01:20 PM) Overall health, how long he lived, no major health issues. Looking around at field trial competitions and comparing him to others of his same breed. I have no reliable way to know if he enjoyed his diet. He wagged his tail when it was time to eat and seemed to like the food. But just like it is probably wrong to feed a dog like a human, it may be wrong to believe an animal tastes food like a human. As I watch them sniffing the crotch of another dog, I wonder what their taste buds are like As I think about a raw diet and how it basically tries to match what a dog would naturally eat, are you concerned about the dog not eating the prime pieces? In the wild, a dog would have had the tasty back strap as well as the neck. It seems that you would need to feed a balance of all the cuts or am I missing something? The dogs we have today do not exist in nature as their breed. These have been manufactured to human specifications to be pets. I doubt a wild pack of Peekapoos would do very well hunting game. So I can see where a man made diet could benefit a man made dog. But as I mentioned before, your experiences with a raw diet has me interested. It's difficult to measure against other dogs because you're just measuring against other dogs eating the same thing, for the most part. Just in the last two decades or so are US animal owners beginning to go back to a raw diet in any numbers. Don't get me wrong...I am not saying a dog cannot live a happy life eating kibble. Just as humans can be happy without ever eating an ideal diet. However, if you don't know what you are looking for, or if you don't have a dog on an ideal diet to compare your dog against, it is really difficult to understand what you are missing. Dogs on an ideal raw diet will have almost pristine white teeth and no bad breath. They'll have beautiful shiny, healthy coats and have far less skin allergies. They'll have bright eyes. They'll have an ideal weight and have lean, strong muscles. They have more energy and at a more advanced age. They produce less waste because they are digesting more of their food. They also LOVE eating. As for your question about a balance of cuts...yes and no. We do not know the optimum diet for humans, let alone dogs. We just know that we require certain nutrients (and in certain combinations, these nutrients react differently to one another) in order to live optimally healthy lives. The best way to achieve this is just to eat as much variety as possible. If we eat a little bit of everything, we increase our chances of getting all the things we need to be optimally healthy. Therefore, you want to feed your dog a wide variety of proteins, and thus, a wide variety of meat sources. Whether this is beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit, tripe, etc., it just depends on what you have available to you as well as what the best sources of proteins are. Red meat is usually better than pork, as well as poultry, but fish is excellent. Green tripe is probably the optimal protein source, and if you had to choose but one source of protein, this would be what you would want to choose, but variation is always a good idea. However, what humans think of as great "cuts" of meat are not really what is important for a dog. In fact, the dog will choose the parts that are the most nutritious for him, which oftentimes are the guts (intestines or stomach) of an animal. The dog as we know it today is absolutely different than wolves were in the wild, and even different than the first domesticated dogs. But what people don't realize is that commercial dog food (kibble) is a relatively new creation. It's really only been around since about WWI in the US...if you consider that dogs have been around for tens of thousands of years, it takes a bit longer than a few generations to change their evolutionary design....humans are still struggling to adapt from "primal" eating habits that occurred a far longer time ago than that.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 01:35 PM) Dogs will eat anything. They eat their own s*** for crying out loud. A lot of time, their is unused protein in feces. Wolves will eat it in the wild quite often.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 12:40 PM) No fight from me. I believe there can be some very good commercial pet foods, and have years of experience feeding them to my pets allows me to be comfortable with that opinion. You are very successful with a raw diet, and I may give that a try. And I agree, my parents are a prime example. They dog eats too much three times a day and if their cat does not eat as soon as the food is put out, it is picked up and something else is fed to him. The poor dog is only seven years old and can't walk down stairs. When I show them the recommended portion per day, it is less than they feed the dog at one of the three feedings. I do agree with the doggie spa when they go out of town, with the special race car bed (ramp leading into it) and a 15 minute walk through the woods near the kennel spa. What do you define as success in regards to this experience? That your dog didn't die? Edit: I am not trying to be a smartass.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 11:19 AM) That hasn't been my experience (if we are just talking about common cats), not mountain lions, etc. I have had dogs snap at me but cats will usually run away or at least hiss. I have had a couple dogs charge me for no apparent reason. I was thinking more or less after you had them in your possession or whatever.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 11:02 AM) Cats carry all sorts of terrible diseases. And a feral cat can be far more apt to injure you than a stray dog...

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 11:23 AM) Just like my eye doctor makes money when he prescribes new glasses and I buy them from him. I always assumed that the butcher and the vet each made a profit on the pet food I bought. I am certain that the American Butcher Assoc or whatever their trade group is offers advice to butchers on how to build their business by selling these products to savvy pet owners. I'm not certain the advice of a future lawyer on pet nutrition, even a Harvard educated one, is all that reliable either. Not saying he isn't correct, but I have fed my dogs and cats commercial pet food and they have lived long healthy lives. As far as enjoyment, I have seen them wag their tails for fresh meat and dry, compressed, nuggets. I'm not certain I can tell the difference. My lab ate the same dry food for 7 years straight and ran to his bowl twice a day to eat it. They biggest problem I see with pet diets is how obese we allow our pets to get. Why people would take away from their pet's quality of life by keeping them so overweight baffles me. I do like the idea of a fresh diet, and if my circumstances change and a dog fits into my life again, I may just go that route. Hah...come on, Tex...you're just looking for a fight here... Edit: BTW, the obesity stems from the fact that people feed their dogs as they would people...two or three times a day or free feeding...dogs evolved to eat very large meals once a day or less, due to the scarcity of prey and the competition for food. Thus, they can eat up to 8% of their body weight at one time, but this can take 24 hours to digest. They can then go days, even a week or more without food without suffering from exhaustion or any other form of energy depletion. People need to feed with THAT in mind instead of how their 6 year old kid eats.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 10:57 AM) I'd say that "Should" be the case, but this is the NFL hall of fame we're talking about, and that 6-7 person limit is really stringent. Those 2 might darn well wind up in that realm of "Guys who should be in the hall of fame but just can't top the list" I think Urlacher will be helped out by the tradition he is coming from and the team he played on. If he played his entire career for the Falcons or something, you may be right, but he hasn't.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 10:40 AM) Personally, I think Urlacher is the only one with an above 50/50 shot. Really? Urlacher is a lock at this point, IMO, and Peppers is getting darn close.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 09:30 AM) Pooch is getting his teeth cleaned today. (Yes I am aware that the merits of this have been discussed). First time he's ever had it done in 10+ years. A bit nerve wracking since they put him under to do it, so it's similar to any kind of operation. Good luck! I'm sure he'll do wonderfully.

Here is the introduction from a paper I found about the animal feed industry, written by a Harvard law student. It gives you a bit of an idea of what is going on with most commercial dog foods. Link

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 08:43 AM) I think he's right in describing many people and there is evolutionary rationale for the reaction. It is a function of society that we feel that either people can help themselves if they choose, or that individually we cannot help another person because of rules and laws that are in place. However, if you saw a child on a street corner alone and clearly helpless you would call the police. Dogs and cats have been bred to feed into that emotion by their appearance and demeanor. Would you have the same reaction if a homeless person had a pet racoon? Or would you laugh like I am just thinking about it. Well, I admit I am a huge dog lover so dogs would elicit the most compassion from me, but a homeless person with any animal would probably make me feel more compelled to help them. If I had to choose between helping a human baby or a canine puppy I would probably help the puppy.

I caddied at this Club throughout my teenage years. Chicago Tribune I'd love to see them host PGA events again...it's truly one of the top 2 or 3 courses in the Chicago area.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 08:46 AM) I've bumped/linked to the Rios claim thread several times here, almost everyone was excited about that deal when it happened Whether soxtalk liked the move or not is irrelevant. I know you're not exactly arguing that it isn't, but whether soxtalk or the fanbase, or any part thereof supported a move at the time it occurred is certainly not a barometer for whether the move was a wise one.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 07:48 AM) http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/bears-talk/...tm_medium=email I had to work that day and have still not even seen the injury. Was it gruesome? Edit: And no, I don't want to see it either...so please don't embed a clip.

QUOTE (G&T @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 07:51 AM) First, there are many examples of animals raising babies of another species or animals befriending animals of another species. It's not normal, but it does happen. There are also countless examples of symbiotic relationships in nature. Animals that feel safe being around each other can and will work together. The reason humans take on animals as pets is simply because we have the means to do it. If other creatures lived in a world where survival was not an issue everyday, they'd have pets. Our reaction to puppies and kittens is the same as we have for children. It's a physical reaction based on what we perceived as being "cute and helpless". But I think the perception that we care about animals more than humans isn't really true. Dogs, cats and other animals are routinely abused, starved, beaten, used for fighting, etc. There are people who don't care about animals, and others that don't care about people. However, it is easier to help an animal than human. If a dog is abused you can adopt it. If a child is abused...it's complicated. That feeling causes desensitization. I'll be perfectly honest with you, Tex is right on in describing me...I see homeless people standing in the intersection asking for money or food or booze or smokes all the time, and while I will give them money from time to time, if there was a stray dog in that same intersection, the percentage of time I would stop would be exponentially higher. When I see a homeless person WITH a dog, I will give that homeless person money more often BECAUSE he has a dog (and it is my belief that it is no accident that some homeless people have a dog). There is something to the idea, for me, at least, that humans have the capacity to help themselves much more easily than an animal does. Not that an animal has no capacity to survive, as some are quite ingenious at doing so, and not that some humans really haven't just been dealt a horrible hand in life, but put one of each next to one another, and I would most likely help the animal. Even when I'm watching a movie I have stronger emotions towards an animal protagonist (I am not sure whether I can watch the movie Warhorse) than a human one.

I have no clue. My guess is Kyle is right, and it's just random. I read that when you get a new dog to take him in the car regularly so that he gets accustomed to it. Perhaps if you start them out young and get them accustomed to the motion and feel of it that they don't have a problem with it. I've never had a dog that's had a problem with it, but I've definitely heard of others that have.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 06:25 PM) Looking for some pet advice. My fiance and I are driving out to Pennsylvania this weekend to pick up a puppy (a Vizsla). It's about a 7 hour car ride out there from Indy. We're expecting to need to stop every hour on the drive back for bathroom breaks and exercise. Any thoughts on what we can/should do to make the ride comfortable for the pup? We also have two cats at home. Any advice on how to make the meeting of the cats and the pup go as smooth as possible? I'll hang up and listen. Vizsla's are fun...you and the cats are going to have your hands full! It sounds like you have the right idea. Does the puppy come with a crate? If not, are you planning on using one in your home? If you can get one, that would be ideal. Get a crate that is not too small (the puppy can get up and move around, stand up straight, etc., but not palatial in size either. Spread something soft and cozy along the bottom of it, and if it has air holes in the top or sides, drape a blanket over the top of the crate so it will remain fairly dark. Having a warm, dry, dark space will appeal to him, especially if he's stressed from his first long car ride. Make sure you stop often, as you said, but I'm not sure every hour is necessary. Ask the breeder how far along the pup is in its house training and go to school on that advice. Have plenty of water available, so bring bottles and bowls. Also, you might want to feed the pup about halfway through your trip, so get some food from the breeder or buy the same kind as she is feeding, and allow the pup to eat at a rest stop...but don't freak out if it isn't interested. As for the cats, all animals seem to be different, but a vizsla is a variation of a pointer, so expect the pup to be quite interested in them. I would maybe try to seclude the cats for an hour or two when you get home and let the pup get accustomed to and explore its new space. Then, when it seems to be getting a little bit more comfortable, try to introduce one cat at a time slowly? See how they react to one another. Some dogs don't take much interest, others take extreme interest. Again, this is a vizsla, so I would think it might like to chase your cats, but I don't know.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 04:42 PM) Beagle mix. We plan on stopping every 4 hours. Ahh ok...well he/she should be fine in AZ. Beagles don't have a lot of fur, but obviously keep him out of excessive heat and/or sunlight, make sure there is plenty of water available, and everything will be fine.

Really? I'm not sure what points DA actually won. ss2k shot down his job description point, which was basically the crux of his entire argument.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 05:04 PM) I'm more concerned with the car ride out there. He'll probably whine the whole time. Lay down blankets for him and make sure he gets plenty of air. Stop every 4-5 hours at a rest stop so he can piss/crap and drink some water and stretch his legs...he should be fine. What kind of dog?