Am I Turning Esther Into A Sissy Dog?

RonE · 04-15-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OC_Spirit

Not on bear as that would be illegal these days

Maybe in Canada but the only reason there are Plotts in Wisconsin, and there are a bunch of them, is because of the bear hunters.

I'm actually pretty sure her prey drive is intact, but I won't be testing her on any bears OR boars any time soon.

OC_Spirit · 04-15-2007, 12:23 AM

Testing isnt done out in the wild all the time, sometimes it is done with the animal in a pen and the dog on a leash (so it cant actually get the animal as that would be unfair). And sometimes, a dog may show high drive when it comes to something small and petty like a squirrel or a rabbit, but when the dog comes face to face with a raging pig or a roaring bear, it curs out.

xoxluvablexox · 04-15-2007, 12:30 AM

Isn't bear hunting only alowed at a certain time during the year? I thought they made it illigel to hunt bears again because a lot of people were agianst it and I can't remeber heering about bear hunting last year. I know they only made it legal because there were to many bears but I wasn't sure if they still did that.

Alpha · 04-15-2007, 12:30 AM

Firstly, I think the second picture of Esther, is cute and her coat looks absolutely stunning!

I think you have to access your dogs all the time. You know if your dogs are getting enough mental/physical stimulation.

Heck, look at my Hades! He's not out there in the dog pits fighting every night! ROFL

We play a lot of frisbee which he really seems to enjoy and it definitely tires him out though! And the mental is covered by school and at home training.

I own a sissy pitbull! I know it

He wouldn't survive in the pits for a minute with a game bred APBT, but do I know that he's getting plenty of excercise, the best food and plenty of mental stimulation? Yuppers, and I know that he's happy.

I'm sure your Esther is happy with her life, you have to assess each individual dog. There's plenty of labs out there that hate retrieving and would rather sit on the couch all day with a few trips to the dog park.

I think there are plenty of dogs out there that have it worse than sitting on a comfy couch, eating the best food and getting frusterated with their stuffed kongs everyday

LOL

RonE · 04-15-2007, 08:41 AM

Thanks, Alpha. Your feelings pretty much mirror my own.

Esther is not shy about letting me know when she's bored or has some pent-up energy and I've learned it's best not to let it reach that point. When she's sacked out at the end of the day, it's a good day for both of us.

OC_Spirit, thanks for the education. Despite my silly topic title, I'm not literally concerned that I'm turning her into a wimp. I'm pretty happy with her temperament. She represents herself well around other dogs - not initiating trouble, but not tolerating any, either. Yet the 18-pound schnauzer (protected species) can literally take a bone out of Esther's mouth without getting a reaction from her.

I can't ask for a lot more than that.

sillylilykitty · 04-15-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OC_Spirit

Testing isnt done out in the wild all the time, sometimes it is done with the animal in a pen and the dog on a leash (so it cant actually get the animal as that would be unfair). And sometimes, a dog may show high drive when it comes to something small and petty like a squirrel or a rabbit, but when the dog comes face to face with a raging pig or a roaring bear, it curs out.

I think that testing would be a bad idea. You say its unfair to who? Its unfair to both of them! You get the dog all excited or scared and if the dog gets excited Im sure the pig isnt going to be happy either!

RonE · 04-15-2007, 08:50 AM

If the dog has the heart it was bred for, it'll be unfair to the hog.

I understand the need to know ahead of time what your dog is going to do in a pinch. My own plan calls for avoiding boars (and that's not hard in Wisconsin.)

Bores are another problem altogether.

suzysmitt · 04-15-2007, 10:58 AM

What a pretty girl. I think she looks as snug as a bug in a rug in the second picture.

Laurelin · 04-15-2007, 01:50 PM

To me she looks great in the second one and perfectly content. Her coat looks amazing!

tirluc · 04-15-2007, 02:39 PM

Ron, they're starting up tracking training at the dog club starting soon.....6 wks for $75.....if you're interested in that......

cshellenberger · 04-15-2007, 02:57 PM

I bet she's LOVE that! She'd get to chase the most dangerous reature of all, HUMANS

reptilelady · 04-15-2007, 08:06 PM

I think Esther is very lucky to have someone to care for her so much and no you're not turning her into a sissy dog. She's a real sweetheart and I think "sweetheart" wins over "pig hunter" any day of the week!

Chloef_2799 · 04-15-2007, 11:57 PM

I can definitely tell Sadie has cocker in her. I took her and Chloe for a walk the other day through the conservation area and when we went past the tall grass next to the pond where some ducks were hiding, Sadie flushed them beautifully! It was like a painting....I said "wow.....thats my dog......O CRAP THATS MY DOG!!!" and then had to chase her our of the muck and back onto dry land haha!
I think Chloe has some hunting hound in her too. Whenever she sees anything bigger then her she bays. And I say bay because if you listen to a hound trailing something and baying all the while and then you look at Chloe when she sees a cat or another dog bigger then her or the goats and sheep on the farm near my work she bays. Its a bay I swear to god.....a high pitched whiney sounding one but a bay none the less. Usually anyone close enough to here her laughs their but off along with me. Imagine a ten-ish pound of white fluffy dog going "bwroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo." Do you think she could have been a plott hound in another life maybe?

Tess&Coco · 04-16-2007, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

Bores are another problem altogether.

I suspect that hunting bores is illegal in most states - it certainly is here in deepest England. More's the pity....

Esther looks very happy. She is clearly loved and well stimulated. I think in our time we need to recognise that the majority of dogs are bred as companions rather than for their original purpose, so... being a valued companion is fulfilling their intended purpose. I have never hunted with my labs but they have all enjoyed chasing balls and sticks (I know I know, got wise to that one now) and swimming. And yes, lounging on the sofa!