My Dog........

['too crazy]

is a black lab, chow, springer spaniel mix. We went to Pet Supplies Plus for cat food and someone who started a rescue was selling puppies. She was soooooo cute and little and even though I'm not a great dog lover we bought her. Now, 7 months later she is still cute but she's HUGE! My husband has put up with my love of cats and birds (I have 4 of each) that I felt he should get a pet he wanted. I wish however he would have chosen something smaller. The dog is only 8 1/2 months old and she weighs more than half of what I weigh so it's hard to handle her sometimes. And of course she loves sitting in my lap! She is scared of people which is weird. When someone new comes around, she tries hiding behind me. You'll never see her on miracle pets saving me from a robber-instead she'll be hiding behind me going "take her! Please don't hurt me" :0)

[dlaura]

I wouldn't be so sure of that..........(her hiding behind you if you are threatened). Our favorite breed of dog is a golden retriever. The first was named Brandy and she was a lover. However, one day a repair man friend came by the house to finish some work he had started the day before - Brandy couldn't love him enough.
The next day he came earlier then expected - I was sitting on couch with back door open and he startled me when I looked up and saw large man coming in back door - well my lover of a dog stormed the back door with hackles up and barking like mad. Well, needless to say he quickly backed out door and was holding storm door closed between himself and Brandy. He was really shook up and upset - said I didn't know you had two dogs .........he could hardly believe that this was the same dog that wouldn't leave his side the day before.

Amber, our second of this breed, would hide behind me when she was a pupply and I was sure she would never really be much of a protector. Well, one day a neighbor, became quite belligerent with me and charged at me as if to attack. I had Amber on her extra long leash and before I knew it Amber was between myself and this women ......................hackles up and barking fiercly. Told her she had better stop and think before she continued this charge ......as I didn't think she would make it past Amber.

Maybe it would help if you took your puppy to dog obedience training. There you would both learn how to communicate with each other and you would learn how to keep dog from pulling you along on leash and how to reinforce manners. You would learn these things and given homework (working with dog) before returning the next week. It is like a parrot.com where you learn so much from others. Only you take your dog there and interact with others.

[Squawksx3]

The larger breeds have a special place in my heart. They are the ones that are euthanized first... them and the seniors. Most people like the smaller/younger breeds.
I have a 70lb Lab/mix, 100lb German Shepherd and a 140lb Rott/GSD mix, they let us live in the house with them :D.

Ditto what dsimko posted... your pup is only 8 1/2 months old. Dogs are territorial by nature and will protect their domain when they feel its threatened. BTW... all my lard-butts think they're lap dogs too LOL

[dlaura]

Squawksx3,
Amber (75lbs.) thinks she is a lap dog also - it was so funny, one time she managed to chase the cat of the couch and tried to insert herself into the place where the cat was lying. It was hysterical to watch herself turn around and around with this expression on her face "what's going on here - why don't I fit?