SHOW US YOUR PETS!!!

[Quick Steel]

Unk: Beautiful coloration on both dogs. Can't imagine how you got a GSD with color matching the Kangal. As you well know, Kangals are a very powerful breed and highly interesting as they are not common. Do you have livestock that Ahter will be guarding?

[Unk]

Hey thanks.

Joshka's mom and dad, as well as siblings were black and tan GSD. The mom had had a few sable and silver colored pups in previous litters, and so we put our name on the list in case she had another. She did, and that's how we wound up with Joshka.

As for Ahter, my wife and daughter somehow got interested in Kangals, and found a retired University of North Texas English professor who had also taught at a university in Turkey back in the 70s / 80s. They raise champion sheep and goats in north Texas (Patteran Dairy Goats in Era, TX), and brought back some pure bred Kangals from Turkey to protect them. We don't have any livestock - Ahter is a house dog. She is very affectionate and loving, and fairly laid-back.

Most of Tamara Taylor's Kangals go out west to ranchers to protect livestock from wolves and grizzly bears, and some have gone to Africa to protect the livestock from Cheetahs, a program that has had great success in saving the cheetahs from being killed by farmers.

This blog was written by Tamara, the lady from who we purchased Ahter:

http://kangaldogs.blogspot.com/

[Quick Steel]

Unk: Thanks for that blog, I read the entire article. A fascinating breed; I was familiar with their use in Africa to protect life stock thus also saving the cheetahs. I read that one of the owners feeds his Kangal once a day. My concern for that is the risk of stomach bloat. I do not know if Kangals are susceptible, but I know that GSDs and many other breeds can experience it. It is of course a life or death crisis requiring immediate surgical intervention. A vet told me the cause is unknown. My theory, which may be completely off base, is that after a heavy meal the dog may be playing or running around a bit with a largely undigested meal in his gut causing the stomach to twist. But until I am proven wrong I will always think it prudent not to let a dog be too active after a main meal. If you know differently, or someday you learn of an explanation, I'd appreciate you informing me via a PM.

But again, congratulations on two superb dogs.

[Unk]

Hi Quick,

My wife feeds our dogs twice a day, although the food sits out most of the day, so they can eat at their leisure. We haven't ever had any dogs that had stomach issues.

If you are on Facebook, look up "Patteran Dairy Goats". Interesting page. One of Tamara's dogs she sold to a rancher in Montana was killed by a grizzly last year.

[zp4ja]

Beautiful dogs Unk!

Jerry

[Unk]

Thanks Jerry

[djknife13]

Brand new to our home today. Her name is Limerick but we probably will change it to something shorter. She has issues and has been adopted twice and returned twice so we have no illusions that our home will be peaceful for the next month or so. Molly, our three year old Sprinter/Blue healer likes her and they share one issue which is separation anxiety. Limerick is Shepherd and and unknown mix, knows several commands already and after 2 whole hours, I can't imagine why anyone would ever bring her back. We raised an Afghan hound (Tess) and had her 15 years and I'm pretty sure any dog would be a piece of cake after 15 years of Tess. We'll see what she can throw at us in the next few months but come hell or high water, this is now her home. ___Dave

[treefarmer]

She sure has her eye on you, Dave. What were you doin' to get her to pose? Apparently Molly doesn't care. When our kids were showing cattle, there was always some one waving his hat so the critters would point their ears at the photographer.
I'm hoping she will be with you for many years to come.
Treefarmer

[tendots]

Nice dog,looks to have quite a bit of Belgian shepherd blood(malinois),a breed apriciated for police work. Gus.

[djknife13]

I don't know what she's mixed with. The Shepherd is obvious. She is thin for a Shepherd. She heard the camera turn on and posed. She is quick to obey most any command we've thrown at her including "Go lay down". She went into a wire kennel that Molly won't have a thing to do with, and just laid there until on her dog bed. We are having a hard time trying what she could have done to have been returned to the animal shelter twice in two months by two different families. Jane and I adopted two of our children, both girls, siblings 3 and 4 yrs. old about 30 years ago and that went amazingly well. They gave us some pretty normal grief when the hit the teen years, but it was really sweet until then, and we did survive and still all love each other.____Dave

[tendots]

Dave,the Malinois breed has a different conformation as to the German shepherd.Like comparing a Dobermann to a Rottweiler.People who train police dogs prefer Malinois over German shepherd cause they are more agile and have better hips.

[Quick Steel]

Judging a dog's heritage by appearance can be surprisingly difficult. But I agree with tendots that she does look similar to a Belgian [Malinois], a very bright, energetic breed.

djk it might be worthwhile to get some feedback as to why the two returns. If possible. There of course so many possibilities: maybe she is a runner, taking off whenever she can; maybe she attempts to herd small children-part of her shepherd heritage; food aggression, and so forth.
But it may be that this high energy dog wasn't getting enough exercise. I hope you will keep us posted on developments.

[djknife13]

We pushed for as much information as we could and the Shelter was really good to work with. They told us she was very good with children and other pets and especially with small pets. She is very gentle and very good with food. I wish I could run with her and I might try her with a bicycle if she looks like she can handle it. I'm pretty sure she's a runner but we've suffered through that issue before with our Afghan Hound. She would cover 20 miles or so before we could get control of her. They said her most noticeable issue was separation anxiety which our other dog has. We just had them in an outside kennel and they seemed to relax with each other there.___Dave

[Quick Steel]

Interesting info Dave. I had to smile when you wrote you had an Afghan; then you certainly had the epitome of a runner. Beautiful,but one of the great runners. Having a partner, maybe the separation anxiety will diminish for both. We can hope.

[treefarmer]

Here are the dogs that live at our place. The one that looks like a pile of leaves is Miss Joy's dog, Flossie, 1/2 Chocolate Lab and 1/2 Red merle Australian Shepherd. They are recognized as a hybrid breed called Aussiedor or Sheprador. She is a 60 pound yard dog, most nights stays in an outside kennel and is loose all day. Joy lets her in when it's too hot or too cold or when the thunder rolls as it did yesterday afternoon, thus the picture of her on the futon in the office. She gets very nervous during a thunder storm. She is also a blood trailer, she makes quick work of finding a downed deer. She can't pass by a pond without taking a dip, summer or winter. She will also sits patiently by when someone is fishing, but look out when a fish is being landed, she thinks it's hers!
The other one is Felix, a Miniature Dachshund who actually belongs to our daughter but lives with us. That little joker isn't afraid of anything. He barks when he hears thunder and wants to go outside and find it. He attacks the vacuum, the washing machine, the lawnmower and even barks at the tractors. Layin' there in my recliner he seems to be thinkin', "What do you mean, Your chair? " He is tough on the barn cats with the exception of one who will make him walk way around to avoid gettin' too close.
There is never a dull moment when you have a dog in the family!
Treefarmer

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I suppose I have two dogs. Odin is my GSD I've had since he way a pup- about 3 years. He is my best friend. For the past several months I've had my sisters dog lucy, I think she is here for good at this point. She's a mix, looks to have a fair amount of lab. Maybe greyhound too, she's tall and lanky. She's a very sweet dog and quite the doofus. Her and odin are good buddies and regularly battle and chase eachother. It is fun to watch. Odin is the undisputed alpha.

This photo particularly cracked me up

[Mumbleypeg]

I picked up a training dummy to put it up, and stopped a minute to talk to my son when he started laughing. Here's what he was laughing about - they're all waiting patiently (sort of) for me to throw it!

Ken

[zp4ja]

Good looking dogs and some funny pics Dave, Philip, Paul and Ken.

I am no one's master but they belong to me and I belong to them. Mans best friends is a huge understatement. My two lovable knuckleheads taking a quick break after roaming around the hot desert today.

Regards, Jerry

[garddogg56]

Everything about that picture is right even down too the Jeep Man I miss my Jeep, Lab and Springer

[espn77]

Good looking dogs Jerry. Looks like they had a good day.

[zp4ja]

Everything about that picture is right even down too the Jeep Man I miss my Jeep, Lab and Springer

Yes my friend, I understand. Jeeps are replaceable, our old friends are not. Sorry for the pain as I understand it. My Lab Nikki is 10-1/2 years old. She is getting slow in her step but I hope many more memories like today, and the upcoming and future hunting seasons. I know at some point soon it will be rough.

I have heard some say, dogs don't have souls. I don't agree with that personally. An animal(s) like that that has brought so much joy to me and others, certainly has a spot reserved in heaven in my opinion. I hope heaven has good waterfowl and big game hunting. I am sure it does. Too bad I can't bring my rifles and shotgun with me. I am sure the man upstairs has plenty I can borrow.

Jerry

[zp4ja]

Good looking dogs Jerry. Looks like they had a good day.

Thanks Keith! It was a good day my friend.

Jerry

[CheckSix]

Jerry,
Great looking dogs! All we can do is take care of them, show them the respect they deserve and enjoy their company. I know mine fill my heart with joy!

[zp4ja]

Jerry,
Great looking dogs! All we can do is take care of them, show them the respect they deserve and enjoy their company. I know mine fill my heart with joy!

Thanks Dave. Amen Brother. Let's chat soon. Hope life is well.

Jerry

[RobesonsRme.com]

Have been at my sister's home in the Florida Panhandle this past week and today we visited with one of my nieces.

DeeDee is her nickname and this is her dog, Zeus.

Zeus is a French Mastiff or Dogue De Bordeaux and I have no idea how much he weighs.

He is, however, one of the most gentle, docile dogs I have ever seen.

There is an older Golden Retriever in the home and Zeus is totally submissive to him.

There are four children in the home. Three were in school and the boy, lucas, in the picture can play with the dogs with zero trouble. They just let him do whatever.

Zeus is just a big baby.

Don't know what he'd do if anybody tried to harm a family member and I chose not to test him on that.

Charlie Noyes