Couch 241: Twin primes!

Most dog breeds aren't inherently viscous and dangerous, but hard to train and maintain because of the breeds past (such as in pit bulls). Cesar Milan has pretty questionable methods though, the whole being the alpha over the dog thing and stuff, it's not how dogs work, dogs understand the difference between other dogs and humans... I don't quite remember what other things, but I've always thought as him as pretty untrustworthy.

This reminds me that D is still mortally terrified of dogs. Yet she wants to get one. We bought some time by telling her they don't sell dogs in the winter. Also, she needs to actually like them before we get one.

We tried getting one 5 years ago, and it went....very poorly. The rescue should not have matched us with that dog or let us leave the foster's house because D seemed terrified. We gave her back after a very challenging day and a half (and donated all the supplies we'd bought to the rescue). This time, we'd either get a young puppy (that's still small--this was a year-old puppy) or an older, chill dog.

We actually adopted her the same week I started with Dr. T. In the intake form, it asked about exercise, and I said we were about to get a dog, so I'd be increasing my walking, which made him laugh when he was going over the forms with me.

It had the type of ears that sometimes stand up and sometimes flop over (shepherd mix). We told ex-MC about that, and he asked me if Dr. T's ears did that, too. Which...was a very odd question!

In the 911 series, he is almost always correcting the humans, not the so-called problem dog. Hes like, youre too nervous! Youre too weak! The dog is therefore trying to protect you! The people are shown to be pretty moronic, so there is a bit of schaudenfreude in my watching. Our ts could maybe take hints from Cesar - he straightens people out in 30 minutes!

Thats why i posted this to begin with, feeling sorry for Junior. I hope Cesar is paying him well! The poor dog is like, not ANOTHER ahole!

I actually think he is abusive.

Remember Barbara Woodhouse? Walkies. She was great with the animals but totally shoved the humans around

I like It's Me or the Dog. Victoria Stilwell. She spends more time training the people than the dog.

This episode is pretty good:

If I were to get another dog, I'd consider a pit bull mix. They have, in my opinion, an undeserved reputation. I blame the people, not the breed.

I agree that it's more the people who are the problem than the dog. However, even with my Shelties, I wouldn't leave them alone with a baby or child. They've never hurt anyone or anything, and still, better safe than sorry. Even now with my nieces (2, 3, and 5), I won't leave my dogs unattended with them.

Hey couch folks. How is everyone doing? I’m surprised I’m back so soon. I guess I just need a change of scenery today. I hope you all had a nice holiday and I hope whatever goals you set for yourself in the new year that you achieve them.

I came on recently and dumped all the issues with my dad here. For those that read it and remember I just wanted to provide an update. He had his total laryngectomy. He did well during the surgery and is healing well. Last week he went in to get his TEP (which is the voice prosthetic). He can’t use it yet because he has infection around his stoma, but can use it when he heals. It will take practice but he will get the hang of it. Other than that it’s just business as usual in Jerseys life. Maybe I’ll hang here for a bit. I’m not really sure..like I said I just need a change of scenery today.

Hope you all are doing well and it’s always nice to “see” all the familiar faces when I pop in.

I agree there's some breeds that don't work in certain settings, like with children, when working out or when having to be alone a whole lot, whatever you choose as a trait really.


My parents have a hovawart and I'd really love to get that as a breed, but only without kids.

one of my friends has a couple of pits. I went over and fed them/checked their water/gave them treats one time when she was out of town. I had been there before that weekend so they would recognize me, but I was still nervous because of their reputation as being vicious dogs. They were as wary of me as I was of them and I did NOT stay very long but they were fine while I was there other than being wary of me.

I am cat person, maybe they sensed that.

well, my son and his gf are on their way back to Oregon. It was wonderful to spend time with him again. I know it's only been what, 4 months since he moved away but still. I'm looking so forward to going to visit them in the last spring/early summer.

Hugs, Jersey, thanks for the update. Glad to hear your dad is recovering well.

You're always welcome to hang here!

Nice to see you, Jersey!

I know ive told this story before, but when i was living with my mom in the mid-aughts, a pitbull lived next door, and he was sweeter to me than my mom ever was. He looooved me, but he barked the pants off my mom and her sister, so obviously a good judge of character. I swear he had my dad's soul. One time they were trying to put him to stud, and the visiting lady pit was a shrew. I heard the neighbor boy telling him, "go get her, boy!" But no go. So later i had a talk with him, like "i know shes not too bright, not very classy" etc etc like i was talking to my dad about my mom and i swear he listened to me and did his duty. I loved that pup.

I don't leave my pets alone with children because I care about my pets and don't trust children with them

Why do you blame the female? Did he woo her? She was brought into a strange place with a strange dog - she is not the problem.

She’s a Freudian, remember?

First day of classes. Most of my classes are online this term, so I only need to be on campus MWF 9-10 am most weeks, with occasional M and W afternoon meetings in-person. I’m planning a quick in-out most days.

I hope your first day of classes is pleasantly uneventful, @@.

In fact, may this entire academic year be so.

Sorry, but she was indeed ill-mannered. You dont eat your fellow houseguests. And the hosts i admit were not accommodating. After i spoke with the male, he did indeed woo her - that was my point. Not that she was the problem. Just that i understood that he was disappointed that she was not his ideal match, not his Juliet. I was the dog marriage counselor. Later they were happily playing together, and he even showed her his trick of how to play hide and seek with me for treats. Honestly it touched my heart.

Omg. That is the right way to look at it.

I guess I think she was probably disappointed in him as well. But glad it ended okay.

I always remember how women who study animals fight back against how men have characterized interactions between male and female animals in male centric language.

these calls today at work... smh. thankful i'm on lunch now. 6 hours down, 4 to go. More than halfway. I am having wine for dinner!

Is January over yet?

I was supposed to see my T in person at her office on Saturday. Unsurprisingly, she didn't show up. My parents went with me because I didn't want to drive to the city by myself. They were just going to wait in the waiting room. It is a huge building, multiple floors, and she rents space apparently. The building was all locked up tight. I texted my T and then I called her and left her a voicemail because she didn't answer. My parents were kind of mad that she wasn't there because it was a good hour and fifteen minute trip one way. So we waited around for a while, a good 20 minutes after my appointment should have started but she wasn't there. So then we left. We tried to go by my pastor's house but he wasn't in either. So the whole day was a bust. I wasn't really upset with my T. Maybe because my Mom is very forgetful (she has memory problems) so I just am kind of used to it. Although I was probably a little disappointed. But mostly I was okay. I just wish it hadn't wasted so much of the day. Maybe I would have gotten productive at home and actually cleaned my room or something. IDK. I texted T today to see if we are still on for our Zoom call tomorrow. Waiting for a response. Bleh.

Kit, that is not okay. I think you need to dig more into why you weren't upset with her. I would be pretty damn pissed if this happened with my therapist. Did she ever get back to you about missing the in-person session? She is just not reliable and consistent enough.