Since the format change...

Actually, WE are lucky to have him back.  He's an important family member.  Lucky for me the rescue doesn't want me to rehome him until he's sound again, and considering pano can take 'til they are grown, looks like I'm "stuck" with him!

 I have witnessed this behavior, but that might possibly be because my aunt has 26 border collies!!! lol she herds and does agility and flyball, all the dogs are social and hang out togther and in a pack that big u see alot of "dog talk", its not a constant thing, just mainly when a young hyper dog annoys a older mature dog, thats when ive seen them take thier muzzle or grab the neck (gently not in a very rough manner)...I was born into a house with 6 border collies and a wolf hybrid...sometimes i think i speak dog fluently []...it is fun tho, but i will never have as many dogs as she has, i dont think i could ever afford that much land or food, specially the food i buy...the number im comfortable with is four dogs...
 
 
Thank you,
Erica

OK, remember I didn't say it didn't happen, just that I'd never seen it.  I wonder if my dogs take their cue from me and are just gentler cuz I am?

I know, i was just telling some of my experiances,
they may be, I would believe that my dogs seem to kind of imitate me at times, now i cant say i know that for sure, but it seems like it,

I'm not normally a frequent poster on the nutrition threads, since it isn't my area of expertise, but one of the reasons I thought about not posting so much was the recent influx of what are often referred to as technical trolls.  These are people who are knowledgeable, but who use their knowledge to "stir the pot".  We had one on here for a while who is known for jumping from one forum to another, and inflaming each one.  She followed Brenda to ODO, but the moment she realized that the tenor of that board is a bit different and she would not be able to play the "gotcha" game there, she stopped posting.  I recently found her on another board, posting under the same name she used here, and making the same inflammatory statements to another audience. 
I have personally read some forwarded emails from a couple of members here that are out of character from what you see on the board, and quite vulgar and nasty.  That, I think, is what Jaime means when she says she uses everything to "weed them out".  So, Jaime is sometimes quite justified in suspending or eliminating people from the forum, despite their public personae.
As to how the board has changed, I think that it isn't so much the change in ownership per se, but the availability of the forum to a wider group of people, that has led to an influx of less dog savvy folks trying to live harmoniously with a group of really informed owners, and some professionals.  It ain't always pretty, but leaving isn't really the answer - education is.  If you have a point you are passionate about, please be willing to back it up.  Some of us out here want the information.
To Sandra, especially, please continue, in Hunter's name, to keep the Proheart issue alive.
To Glenda - you are not an old fart, cuz I am older than you are, and that would make me an even older fart.   Cease and desist, I say!!!
To everyone else - I do like a debate, and to call a spade a spade, if it helps dogs to stay in their forever homes.  If I offend your sensibilities, please try to remember that I am often offended by yours, but I don't hold grudges, and hope that you won't either. [sm=happy.gif]

Gosh darn it Anne, I LIKE being an old fart!  Aging hippie doesn't quite cut it.....one who has climbed almost to the top of the hill and plans to coast a little for awhile doesn't cut it.....got any suggestions??

See, being an old fart excuses finding certain language if not personally offensive, still offensive and not acceptable on a public forum, being an old fart tends to give you license in a few areas........I dunno....think of something better for me?

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I wonder if my dogs take their cue from me and are just gentler cuz I am?

 
It is possible.  Are they also old and senile?  []

Ouch!  That one ALMOST wounded me.....

ORIGINAL: lazlowe1

I am just curious, did we lose a lot of regulars on the board since the format change? I posted this in nutrition because I am mainly referring to the nutrition threads.

I have not been here a full year, but it seems like, uh well.... it is really different now. I am wondering if the older format was more balanced out by having more people around.

It seems like there are less people answering nutrition questions and a few that are kind of steering each thread in a really negative direction.

I am sure I will get slammed for this, but I just have this odd feeling that things are not the same around here.

I really am sorry if I offend anyone with this. It has just been on my mind for a while. Thanks.

I know that I browse less because it isn't as easy to see what posts are new in this new format as in the old one. Maybe I'm just not using the new format properly.

Paula

I come from a background of positive training, however SOME dogs do need a more 'dominant' training method.  Of the dogs I've seen Ceasar work with, the really aggressive and dangerous ones, his methods work for them. If you notice, Ceasar never raises his voice, or gets mad or acts harsh.  Sure, he checks on the leash, but some dogs need to know that lunging, biting, etc is not appropriate behavior.  They need to know there is a consequence for that behavior and they also need to learn self control. The "scruffing" he does with just an open palm is instinctual for dogs and they immediately understand it.  I don't see it as inhumane at all.  My minpin will 'scruff' other dogs, either putting an open mouth with bared teeth on the muzzle or back of the neck.  My poodle mommy did the same with her pups too. 
 
Sorry, but clicker training is just not going to work for very aggressive, out of control dogs- initially.
 
But then I have a minpin who was literally a terror- Similar training techniques saved his life.  Ceasar once had a show with a very aggressive minpin on it- he acted much like my Gobie.  Yes, I had to check the leash for him to stop lunging/biting me and dogs and any other human around him. Never was it doen in anger. Never with too much force.
 
 He's now a trustworthy dog as long as I stay consistent every day- he's 10 and does revert back to his bad behavior if I slack off at all. (and this means doing house manners every day- I don't have to do leash checking at all, mostly voice commands, and if needed to redirect him, a 'scruff'.)  Recently  I had to leave for a family emergency and my neighbor watched him- he became more and more dominant to her until I gave her a quick "Dog Training 101" over the phone, she was able to get him back under control.  When we came back, I had to work very hard the first week to get him to chill out again. What's the saying- Different strokes for different folks?  True for dogs also.
 
Would I use any leash checking or scruffing with my very laid back bichon girls? No way,  they don't need it.  Voice commands are all they need.  Ceasar is smart enough to see what dogs need what sort of training and I don't think he's being inhumane at all.
 
But then, like I said, I had a dog who was destined to be put to sleep his behavior was so out of control until he was re-trained.  With consistency, training and positive reinforcement for the right behaviors, he is now a great dog.
 
I'd rather see a few leash checks to get a dog in order than to see an aggressive dog take someone's arm off.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

OK, remember I didn't say it didn't happen, just that I'd never seen it.  I wonder if my dogs take their cue from me and are just gentler cuz I am?

 
If your dogs all respect you as pack leader, there will be minimal scruffing and corrections among them. They look to you for guidance.  And this is kudos to you that you have your dogs under control and you are the pack leader.

Thank you, but this even happens with my fosters.  Little Momma NEVER scruffed her pups, never grabbed them by the muzzle, never corrected them in any way other than a nose nudge.  She wasn't mine...she met me a couple hours before she started popping out puppies.....

All of my dogs will grab scruff in PLAY, and Sheba is famous for grabbing anyone by the collar and dragging them all over in PLAY, but none of mine EVER correct each other.  This morning I caught someone when started to roll the desk chair back....whoever I got blamed it on the nearest dog and we had some snarling, growling and carrying on.  Before I could even get stood up, it was over.  A word is all it took.

ORIGINAL: sandra_slayton

Glenda, I don't know how old you are, I admit to being 61 (will be in June anyway), but it seems you know the same thing I know--the older you get, the more you realize you don't know as much as you thought you did.  There is always more to be learned about any subject.

 
It's not what you don't know that will hurt you, it's what you know for sure that just ain't so.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

OK, I'll out myself!  I'm 52.  And yep, the older I get, the less I find the need to validate my opinions on the heads of others!  I DO like to continue to learn, I do WANT to continue to grow, and I enjoy a healthy debate.....just not a pi$$ing match!

 
I don't know why I haven't been reading this thread, but I have missed MANY interestig comments.
 
That being said, I am going to have to back WAY THE HECK OFF of referring to you as old.  You aren't THAT much older than I am.  For some reason, I was thinking you were older.  []