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cenydd

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About cenydd

  • Birthday 02/10/1971

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    http://dogownerlicense.blogspot.com/
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    Male
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    South Wales
  • Interests
    I have a petition to the PM against BSL:<br /><br />http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/dogowners/

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  1. We do find it hard. Luckily, Dagon is a complete cuddle-whore!
  2. Apparently, I'm also INTJ: Introverted - 67 Intuitive - 75 Thinking - 1 Judging - 44 distinctively expressed introvert distinctively expressed intuitive personality slightly expressed thinking personality moderately expressed judging personality A 'rational mastermind', suitable to be involved with careers in Natural Science, Computer Programming/IT, Law (corporate) and being a Librarian! "Introverted iNtuition INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, INTJs are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say "Why not?!" Paradoxes, antinomies, and other contradictory phenomena aptly express these intuitors' amusement at those whom they feel may be taking a particular view of reality too seriously. INTJs enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems."
  3. I thought I'd update this old thread, and introduce Dagon's new 'little sister', Wicket! Dagon is now nearly 2, and Wicket is about 1 year old, and came to us from a rescue a couple of months back. She's been a bit of hard work (not quite the laid back character that he is!), but has settled in well. Here they are together (Dagon standing up): Having a play: And here she is on her own:
  4. ...ignoring the 'Home Taping is Killing Music' warning off the back of the big card case for the big black vinyl thing! Remember them? We had 'album art' then, and beautiful covers that were real works of art, and works of art that you could actually see! And when they stuck you could give the needle a gentle tap and they would keep going, and if there was a scratch they just gave a little click every time they went round, unlike these horrid little laser things - one tiny scratch or smudge and you have to throw them away, cos they don't work at all any more!
  5. cenydd

    Poetry

    Sorry - can't really help on that one. Personally, I'd go for something like Wilferd Owen, but I doubt that would have the desired effect in these circumstances!
  6. As I said, I'm no expert, and don't work sled dogs (or have huskies) myself, but as I understand it, it's quite normal for working huskies to stay in those sort of circumstances for some time, while they are 'at rest'. They are being run in the morning (so will be doing some hard pulling sled work, which will tire them out), and are effectively being taken there to have their normal rest, as they would at home, but in a different location. They'll be spending time sleeping, having a stretch and a little wander (knowing they can't go far), jumping up on their kennels, having a 'chat' with each other, and generally watching the world go by (having expended a big burst of energy earlier in the day). The 'tethering' is only done to stop them getting into trouble, and is something they are used to, and don't concern themselves with like a pet dog would, and if they were out for days (as working huskies are) being worked, they would be running all day (apart from odd rest periods), and often tethered for the night (there being no other way to keep them safe) wherever their driver decided was best to stop - this is the sort of regime and routine they are trained for, and used to. I understand why it makes people uncomfortable, but it's because people tend to think in terms of what they are used to - this is why it should have all been explained to visitors. These are not average house dogs, that wander around, go for a little walk and run around, lie about, go for another little walk/run - they are running and pulling machines, with two basic 'modes' - 'run/pull/work' or 'relax/chill out'. They do one, then the other, and this will be them 'chilling out' for the day after having a good hard 'run/pull' in the morning, and I'm sure they are quite happy and relaxed doing that, especially if there are strange people to look at, 'talk' to and so on. They aren't territorial or guarding dogs at all, and are used to race meet situations, so having people wandering round like that isn't going to be stressful for them either.
  7. Absolutely - these are not somebody's house pets, they are working dogs, selectively bred and highly trained to perform a specific task. They are perfectly used to being tethered, because that is part of the job - if you are out racing in the wilds, or travelling to the pole, or whatever, you can't carry a nice big house, or even a dozen large crates. These dogs have been bred for thousands of years for living outside in all weathers, and as part of their job, for just as long, they have been tethered while resting to stop them disappearing over the horizon, or deciding to sort out an issue of pack heirarchy for themselves (remember, a team of racing huskies is quite a large pack of various exceptionally fit and strong dogs - not something you want let loose to sort out their differences unmanaged)! Being tethered like that won't bother them one bit, as long as they are not left like that for too long a period - it's part and parcel of their 'job' and something they are trained for, because it has to be. Whether they 'look happy' is impossible to tell from a couple of small photos (and whether they sound happy to you depends to a very large extent on whether you are used to the sorts of noises they make). You can't really judge how 'happy' they are based on whether a different dog, unused to their working role and all that has to go with it, would be happy or not.
  8. I agree - I personally would not consider it safe to leave a dog unattended with a muzzle on at any time or for any reason, and certainly not to protect my worldly goods. Training, additional excercise, removal of furniture/dog from relevant area, addition of chew toys, crating, and an outdoor insulated/heated kennel and run are all things I would consider (and are all things I use or have used myself) long before a muzzle (which I have also used to deal with other problems), and, in fact, if it came to a point where I was unable to find/offer a solution to the problem myself, I would consider rehoming before muzzling, because I would not consider myself capable of giving that dog the home environment and life that it needs.
  9. I should also add (having re-read some of the information I have seen on a sled dog forum) that the dogs were apparently being run every morning before being put 'on display', were getting plenty of rest from it, were thoroughly enjoying themselves and the attention they were getting, and the kennel area was apperently built to exheed the normally accepted sled sog welfare standards. Apparently the dogs' owner asked the RSPCA to report on conditions, and the comments from the vet and RSPCA will be published on the web when available. As I said, I don't know the dog owners personally, have not visited the site, and am no expert on sled dog working and so on (I have visited events, but don't run dogs myself), so I'm just passing on what I have heard on the subject elsewhere, for your information. I absolutely agree! I suspect the owner has been foolish in going about things in the way that they have on this event, and that there wasn't actually much to worry about, but I'd rather here about the RSPCA being called in where they are not needed than not being called in where they are!
  10. I don't know who owns the dogs, nor have I been to the 'attraction' but I have heard a few second-hand bits of information about them (and I'm also no expert on working sled dogs). As I understand it they are working sibes, and perfectly healthy and well looked after - apparently there was a permanent vet on site, and the RSPCA have also inspected them and confirmed that they are fine. In the pic they are 'staked out', which is perfectly normal for racing sled dogs between runs and so on (to keep them safe from running away, getting involved in major pack scraps with each other, and so on), and have access to individual kennels (and their roofs) for shelter, and to get out of any mud. They were apparently only on site during opening times, and were being taken home at night. Sibes do tend to yap and howl and make a bit of noise, but this isn't 'unhappiness' or 'distress' as some people there seemed to think (quite understandably, if they aren't told any different!) - if you visit a racing rally you'd know what I mean - the noise from numbers of sibes, staked out, excited, surrounded by other dogs and raring to go running is incredible! There is no 'evidence' in the scene in the photos themselves that I would find particularly disturbing in itself, unless there was a lack of general care of the dogs alongside it. Obviously, I would be concerned if they were just left chained up all day without being properly looked after, exercised, fed, etc., but as I understand it this was not at all what was going on. I suspect the biggest issue with these dogs in this event is probably one of lack of information rather than welfare. The general public shouldn't be expected to be used to seeing dogs staked out, or understanding the intricate details of sibe language (which is generally non-barking, howly-yowly stuff, and significantly different sounding than most dogs). Many people are also surprised at how sleek working sibes are - when you see them close up, they don't look much like the full-coated, snow-covered arctic dogs in the films! It is easy to see that the impression that people could be left with is one of 'thin', 'chained-up' dogs being 'neglected' (particularly in view of the fact that people are so conditioned to be aware of animal welfare, and automatically see 'chain' as 'cruelty', and so on), but I strongly suspect that is a long, long way from the reality. Personally I think the owners were unwise in opening themselves up to this sort of criticism and publicity, by putting staked out dogs on display in a kids attraction, by not informing the public about what they were doing and why, and by getting involved with the pretty shabby overall event in the first place. I can quite understand how people left with the impression that these dogs were not being well looked after, but from what I have heard this was not at all an accurate impression.
  11. Some of you may have seen this already. I have the feeling that the originator of this is on this forum, but she doesn't seem to have posted this here, so I will (permission has been given by her to cross post with relevant link and author credit). I think it's quite a good illustration, and worth a read. Twas the night before christmas An adaptation by Alison Green. Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse The stockings where hung by the chimney with care In the hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there But at the North Pole sudden changes arose All down to Rudolph and his ruby red nose Clipboard in hand, a breed expert arrived He motioned to Santa saying," please step aside". A smooth haired coat and a muscular build A broad deep chest our Rudolph did yield The breed expert's pen, created pages of ticks Then he suddenly called out "good lord, we've been tricked!" "This creatures no donkey and clearly no horse! I know these things! I've attended the course!" Look at my clipboard the boxes are full! It's very obvious to me: Rudolph is a pit bull! Out with the measuring sticks, he explained to Santa the law And he measured poor Rudolph from shoulder to floor. As the spectacle continued Santa said with a sigh He's a reindeer you fool! Why must he die? "The law is the law" the expert said standing tall, Then picked up his mobile and made a quick call The sound of sirens filled the peaceful night air and Rudolph removed …to who knew where? Days turned too weeks and confused and alone Rudolph pined, for the place he called home As the first snow started falling Rudolph gave up the fight And he took his last breath on a cold winters night You may think this is funny, if a little untrue. But how would you like it, if it happened to you? If your dog was taken because of its look? Because it ticked enough boxes in some silly book? Regardless of parentage it doesn't matter what breed If it ticks enough boxes then it's a done deed So humour me here and pretend this is true Think how you would feel if it happened to you. Cuddle your hounds while you have them close by For some spend this Christmas, waiting to die. Now back to the story, it doesn't end there One more short verse I need to share Santa fetched Rudolph's body and cried for his friend And swore to himself, this would not be the end And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight "The law is wrong, please help us to fight!" DDA watch. Please help. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27193457689 Non facebook info: http://www.petparliament.com/viewart...sid=145&aid=88
  12. Some of you will, I'm sure, be aware of this, but since I've not seen a link on here for it (apologies if I'm just being dull and missing it!): From the Pet Owners Parliament: http://www.petparliament.com/viewarticle.p...=145&aid=88 "DDAWatch is a new initiative from the Pet Owners Parliament set up to help monitor "dangerous dog" legislation, to educate and assist those affected by it, while campaigning to find fair, workable solutions that can better protect the public without compromising the lives and welfare of countless dogs who have never acted dangerously. " There has also been an associated Facebook group started, for anyone who is on there: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27193457689 Just thought I'd mention it!
  13. Mine is simple - its me and my dog, so that everyone can see who me and my dog are. Just in case I get accused of being somebody else!
  14. I'm sure he's been called much worse, possibly by certain Kennel Club officers!
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