The best thing today

diamondlil · Postby **diamondlil** » Tue January 13th, 2009, 10:25 am

If it had of been a Saturday game I probably would have got up and watched it, but not on a school night!

Misfit · Postby **Misfit** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 12:24 am

Yay! Check up with the knee doc today and I'm allowed to walk (!!!) indoors without the walker (I think I forgot how to walk

). Feels very weird but nice to make some headway and no mention of anything bad like surgery on the knee, just to make an appointment with the PT (physical therapy) person. Joy.

pat · Postby **pat** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 4:21 am

I spoke to a co-ordinator at the college I will be going to yesterday. I needed to discuss how much contact time I would need (sorry, I am a mum with home responsibilities that mean a lot to me. Family comes first!) She was so helpfull! I only need to go for one subject if I want! A lot can even be done home study! I explained that I could do approx 3 full days (9-3ish) in class and she said that it should be no problem to sort out. I am really stoked!

LCW · Postby **LCW** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 5:25 pm

In one of those bittersweet twists in life, yesterday, the day I put my cat, Zazu, to rest, I also found out I had been approved to put a deposit down on an expected litter of Presa Canario puppies. While pitbulls will always be the breed of my heart I've been wanting a dog that I can do protection sports with but is also a stable loving family dog. Pitbulls have the stable loving family dog part down but are not suited for protection work. So for over a year I've been researching Presa Canario breeders, carefully as this breed tends to attract less than savory characters, but I finally found some breeders (few and far between) that have awesome working dogs. The dogs in the lines of this litter excel in personal protection sports, agility, weightpulling, are all Canine Good Citizens, very social, family dogs who lie with and are great with children.

I've been holding off on making a decision because the stress of a puppy wouldn't have been good for Zazu and he could've lived a week or six months, we just weren't sure! But last night I checked my email one last time before bed and got the notice I'd been approved for my first choice litter! I'm so excited. The puppies are due in two weeks and are in very high demand due to their excellent lines so I'm so happy! Now everyone keep your fingers crossed that the brindle male fairy visits Mama dog, lol!!!

SonjaMarie · Postby **SonjaMarie** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 5:51 pm

LCW: good luck wishes on getting the puppy of your choice!

SM

Madeleine · Postby **Madeleine** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 7:58 pm

congrats on the pups LCW. What do these dogs look like, I've never heard of this breed?

I know what you mean about unsavoury owners, we have the same problem over here with pitbulls and similar breeds.

LCW · Postby **LCW** » Wed January 14th, 2009, 8:15 pm

They look like this, Madeline: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyPXsC0rAyA

Thanks, Sonja! I'm just hoping that there's a brindle male in the litter with the temperament I want. It's exciting!

Madeleine · Postby **Madeleine** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 12:05 pm

"LCW" wrote:They look like this, Madeline: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyPXsC0rAyA

Thanks, Sonja! I'm just hoping that there's a brindle male in the litter with the temperament I want. It's exciting!

thanks for that, they're certainly having fun in that clip. They do look powerful dogs though.

LCW · Postby **LCW** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 4:41 pm

"Madeleine" wrote:thanks for that, they're certainly having fun in that clip. They do look powerful dogs though.

Oh they are! That's why it's important to pick out a properly bred dog and then raise it and train it right. They are pretty rare and were virtually unknown in this country until two of them fatally attacked a woman in SF. That was all over the news for a year and it is still the thing that, unfortunately, defines the breed today. But those dogs were owned by drug dealers and were abused, chained, and unsocialized which is enough to make any dog vicious regardless of breed. I chose the breed because they are very loyal, able to do protection sports, but don't have the energy and bouncing off the wall drives like dogs such as German Shepherds or Malinois have. They can still be great safe family dogs unlike other breeds that traditionally excel in these sports. I'm so excited and can't wait for the puppy! I'm going to name him Troubadour!!

EC2 · Postby **EC2** » Thu January 15th, 2009, 4:53 pm

As far as I know, they are banned in the UK due to the issue you describe LCW.
In my experience there is virtually no such thing as a bad dog, (I say virtually, because there must be the extremely rare occasional one), just bad owners. People look at our pooch and say 'I wish mine was as well behaved as yours.' Well their could be, if they went about training it right. Ours is a small collie cross, although goodness knows crossed what with. But he is never, ever on a lead unless he has to be by law. He waits at road junctions. He sits outside shops without moving. He's instantly obedient and under control in all situations and it's down to being properly trained. Okay, the collie blood makes for good aptitude, but it's still possible with most dogs.
Good luck with yours. Fingers crossed you get your wish!