I'm going to miss Bruce so much and I've never actually met him. Hats off (again) to you for doing the work you do and weathering the good-byes that come with it. On a sort-of-related note, here's my random dog thought: goodness, GRs are kind of "puppy sluts", aren't they? And I mean that term in the nicest possible way (as in, "they love everyone they meet to bits"). With Bruce as inspiration, I visited a friend last night with two goldens to get her opinion on how the breed would suit me and get up close and personal. One 14 year old male and one 6 year old female. Massive 14 year old boy still going gangbusters by the way, which was lovely to see. I pretty much spent the evening covered in dog slobber and hair with at least some dog body part draped over my lap. It was glorious. She also had a former rescue foster who was returned to her for euthanasia on the grounds of aggressive behaviour (don't worry - that was five years ago and he's now a permanent and very affectionate family member) and an 18 year old chi-mix whose previous owner tried to take him to the shelter after 17 years (also to be put down) as she was moving cross country. He's also going no where. My friend is sort of a doggie guardian angel! I was left with the impression that Labs are still probably the better choice for me (between GRs and Labs), but the GRs were such loves and the visit certainly gave me food for thought. My friend says she prefers GRs over Labs as Labs are much more "edgy" and GRs are more peaceable with other animals. To be honest, I'm not too concerned about either of these issues coming from a Rottie background (I like a bit of "edge" and have gotten only positive vibes from Labs so far on the subject of getting along well with other dogs). I was concerned about the hot spot/allergy issues (feedback from here on the forum) and she said she's learned how to manage hot spots so they don't get bothersome, but then she also said that each of her dogs has only been in the water (i.e. at the beach) once in their lives. As I either go to the ocean or the river pretty much every day of my life, I may have a very different experience! She's had no issues with cancer after 5 GRs (another concern voiced here on the forum), but conceded that it can be a problem in the breed. Just mentioning it in relation to Bruce as he is 100% my inspiration for even looking at GRs. They weren't even part of my big breed research project over the summer, then big gorgeous Bruce comes along and I thought, "Wait! Wait! I need to know more!"
I like fireworks! Although much sympathy with a noise sensitive dog of course. When I'm queen I'm going to ban tomatoes. Hate them.
Charlie loves his grub, but he doesn't really do vegetables. He's ok with cooked mash potato if it's mixed with salmon (my emergency run out of stuff kong filling), but he turns his nose up at most other things vegetable wise that I chop up in the kitchen. Betsy on the other hand will eat absolutely anything. She is just so incredibly greedy it's hard to believe. Charlie really, really loves his grub but Betsy is something else entirely.
Moo hates bananas loathsome them. She can't even eat them if she thinks another dog might want them. To watch her torn between trying to eat it and being repulsed by it is one of the funniest things. If the others have a bar bar she gets some apple
You are not banning tomatoes. No, no, no. I must become Queen instead to prevent this tragedy befalling the nation. Must put some more thought into what I would ban Shadow looks at me like I'm trying to poison him if I offer him vegetable scraps. Willow gobbles up everything.
I used to also hate pasta. I don't now, I quite like it. When I was a student, whenever anyone cooked or hosted something they nearly always did something involving pasta and tomatoes. I just started eating before I went out!
I HATE carrots and it seems, so does Stanley. I'd read on here a few times about them being something to chew so I tried him with them. He'd bite it then spit it out. Now apples, apples are the best thing ever for Stanley. My dad has an apple tree and we had to watch him to stop him nicking the ones that had fallen off and gone rotten. My dad gave him a big bag, proud as punch that FINALLY someone wanted some of his apples
I never used to like pasta, either. I don't like rice and very rarely eat it. It just seems so pointless! I wouldn't go as far as banning it, though. Still thinking. It would be easy to say sprouts, but I believe everyone should eat at least one sprout at Christmas, so I can't ban them entirely.
Pongo loves spaghetti. He has excellent spaghetti technique (think of that scene in Lady and the Tramp).
We're absolutely NOT banning sprouts, I love them (once they've had their first frost), and Coco likes to eat the sprout peelings. He loves most veg, but not lettuce. Definitely not lettuce. He honked up a wine bottle lid this morning. It was from a bottle we'd had over a week ago. It was good as new so I don't know when he ate it....the bin lid is now locked.
Sprouts are banned from our house as OH has the sprouts taste vile gene. I have a very poor sense if taste and find the taste like old wellies smell
If I say show me to moo she does. It usually a bit of food she can't reach though. I can imagine Moo just complains about the lack of food and cumfy cushions and Rory just goes on about his squeeky ball. Douglas obviously just used to discuss particle physics and quarks
