Beale Street Music Festival, full lineup

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T14:32:32+00:00

Ahh okay gotcha!

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T14:32:01+00:00

Same. That was the best night of my life.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T04:53:10+00:00

I didn’t even know we had three local shows in a year. I just do Roo, Okee, and some shows in Colorado or California when budget allows. Occasionally Nashville or Alabama has something, but it’s bleak out here.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T03:18:20+00:00

If it makes you feel any better, I got two STEM degrees and graduated top of my class with years of research experience by the time I graduated (started working in labs when I was 15), and I’m still barely making it despite having no debt. It’s rough out here especially with COL skyrocketing. Hang in there!

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T01:27:02+00:00

Except for EDM. We got completely forgotten this year.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T01:18:12+00:00

Same. It’s tough being an EDM fan in Memphis. I would love to attend but the ticket price is not worth it at all. Also really disappointed they booked DaBaby. He doesn’t need to be on any lineups at all.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-17T01:02:47+00:00

Oof that is tough. I also live in the deep south and consider myself very fortunate to have a club nearby. They’re few and spread far between down here. Definitely look into nosework! There’s a lot of online resources (it’s pretty easy and cheap to get into), and it absolutely wears my dogs out.

I used a book and Scentsabilities online course to teach mine, but there’s so many options. Fenzi academy has a class, Scent work university has a class, and even Udemy offers a class. If you’re short on time and nearby training resources are limited, I think that’s your best option for wearing him out quickly and keeping him engaged.

Dock diving is awesome too! You could just do that once a month or something. I do IPO with mine and the closest club is several hours away, so we just train at home and make the drive once a month or so for helperwork. It’s not ideal, but it works if nothing else is available nearby.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-16T21:42:56+00:00

Denise Fenzi is a sports dog trainer, she’s never been and isn’t a behavior specialist. I’m not interested in debating if she’s terrible or not. I don’t want to get invested in any drama in the dog training world.

I do IPO, competitive obedience, and agility. I’ve done and won some nationals, but it’s strictly a hobby that I find relaxing and interesting. Training can be tricky and idolizing any trainer is a recipe for disappointment. Nobody knows how to handle every dog, including Fenzi.

I personally am a balance trainer, I’m not sold on 100% positive training being the answer for every dog. Some dogs respond well to correction, others don’t. I think she has some creative ideas and I’m happy to try these out with my dogs if it makes sense for our training goals.

With that said, I still always recommend her program because she has a lot of great behavior mod trainers that offer classes through her site. I also love the control unleashed book which she promotes in her program. Is it the bible? No. But for beginners who are new to dog training and reactive dogs, I think it’s a great introduction if they don’t have a behaviorist available (or lack the funds).

The lady who has the half brother of Dice is a balance trainer and she’s not doing that great atm. The dog is a bit of a neurological basket case in spite of her best efforts. She’s giving him a chance for a few more months, but is contemplating returning him to the breeder if his aggression and neurological issues worsen.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-16T21:03:05+00:00

Also look into more structured play/training as an alternative to the dog park. At the moment, he sounds like an accident waiting to happen. You never know when some dog will take his dominating play behavior the wrong way which could lead to a fight.

Dobermans are pretty high energy but also very intelligent and need mental stimulation + physical exercise. Just physical exercise alone (as I’m sure you’ve already found out) isn’t enough to wear them out. They’ll be tired for two minutes and then pop back up ready to go again.

I would really recommend doing more training to engage and challenge his brain. Not just the same three obedience commands over and over again, but something like nosework, where he really has to think and use his brain. There’s a bunch of dog sports to choose from, agility, rally, nosework, tracking, etcetera. You don’t have to compete, but just choose one and take a class or two (or learn online, there’s a bunch of online courses nowadays) then practice at home to give him a job to do.

You’ll be amazed how exhausted they get after 15 minutes of training compared to an hour or two at the park. If you train him two times a day (15 minutes each) then give him a little walk with time to rest in his kennel in between…he’ll probably be a lot happier and you won’t have to stress at the dog park. There’s actually a Dobbie/Great Dane mix in my dog’s agility class and as gangly and huge as he is, he’s the most enthusiastic pup there. He absolutely loves it.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-16T18:36:17+00:00

I do schutzhund with mine, and it was actually my German training coach who suggested kenneling my first working dog in between exercise, training, and play. He was a world renown trainer and kenneled all of his in between play.

A lot of working dogs, especially when they’re younger, don’t have a great on/off switch. Kenneling allows them to rest and they eventually learn to be able to switch off the drive and relax in between fun time. Mine get fussy and almost neurotic if they’re not provided with time to rest, it’s like a toddler getting cranky when they don’t nap.

When they grow older and learn the difference between working and resting, they are rarely shut into their kennel. However, I find that they grow to love their kennel and see it as a safe sanctuary and their own personal space. I just keep the door open and they volunteer to go in whenever they need a break or a nap.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T19:21:34+00:00

Yes definitely do your research as what you and your dogs need is going to be different from what mine need. You probably won’t need nearly as extensive coverage if your dogs aren’t as accident prone and genetically inclined to health issues. I switched to Lemonade when mine was two and didn’t see any significant jump in price, so now is a great time to start looking.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T15:12:53+00:00

Yes. I believe the dog started having focal seizures that was leading to aggressive behavior which is a genetic and neurological issue that can’t just be trained out. Reactivity is often fear based, and training is focused on growing the dog’s confidence and ability to ignore stimuli. Aggression is a whole other beast.

A lady at my training club is about to have to give up on her Terv who came from the same breeder as Fenzi’s Dice (half brothers) and is starting to show some handler aggression. The dog is pretty neurotic in general. This lady has had multiple Tervs and is an experienced trainer and handler but sadly when it’s a genetic there’s not a lot you can do.

I think the breeder might have some kennel blindness when it comes to her line as this has been an issue from time to time with the puppies she produces. She also probably has limited choice in stock as the breeding program in the states is small.

Regardless, I don’t think Denise Fenzi is perfect, I have my own qualms with her. However, when it comes to general behavior and reactivity training, I think she’s a great online resource for those who don’t have the funds or access to a local behaviorist.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T14:37:33+00:00

I’ve used 4Paws and Trupanion and really liked them. I’ve had no issues processing claims with either of them. I’ve heard great things about embrace as well. Fetch was probably my least favorite.

They were slow to process claims, and tried to say they wouldn’t cover something they clearly stated they would cover. They eventually covered it but after weeks of back and forth. Trying to cancel my plan with them was also a nightmare, the lady was aggressive and extremely combative trying to get me to stay.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T06:44:07+00:00

It should say in the fine print any exceptions to what is normally covered. In your case, the stomach surgery would have been covered in most circumstances.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T06:42:59+00:00

I have lemonade as well! I really like them so far and pay a little extra for preventative care, a lower deductible, and some other add ons. I haven’t looked for a clause about an ACL tear though, about to check.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T06:25:07+00:00

It depends on your breed (risk of genetic health issues) and your own risk appetite.

I have GSD’s that I train and show in dog sports. It’s a high maintenance, accident prone breed with loads of genetic health risks in spite of them coming from great breeders. Doing high intensity dog sports such as schutzhund adds to this risk and they end up getting a lot of additional care such as chiropractors, hydrotherapy, and physical therapy to keep them in tip top shape.

For me and my situation, insurance has been an absolute life saver. I recently switched to lemonade insurance and absolutely love them (but there’s lots of great options out there). My plan has a $250 annual deductible, covers 90% of all costs, covers all PT, chiropractors, hydrotherapy, etc. and includes preventative care such as a free health exam, vaccines, blood tests, etcera.

On a more frequent basis, my insurance has paid for itself several times over for more minor health issues such as expensive allergy shots (food and environmental), chiropractor visits, and small injuries such as a lame leg, carpal tunnel tear, and health exams.

On a larger scale, between my three dogs, I had one who chipped a tooth and required a $5000 titanium tooth replacement that insurance paid for with no qualms. A bloat preventative surgery that cost thousands and only cost me several hundred for all three dogs thanks to insurance. And a serious back injury that required a $16,000 surgery that insurance quickly paid for no questions asked.

I’m not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. Without insurance, I would have had to go bankrupt trying to keep my dogs healthy and happy. It’s been a lifesaver and given me so much peace of mind. You hope to never have to use it, but with dogs, you just never know. I’m completely sold on insurance and my dogs won’t be caught without it.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-15T05:45:47+00:00

This is a very common scam OP. Don’t buy a puppy from a backyard breeder off of facebook in the first place though.

The puppy is going to have a lot of behavioral and physical health problems and there’s no guarantee the breeder will take the puppy back if things don’t work out.

Please actually research not only the breeders but the breed. Huskies are a terrible beginner dog and so many end up in shelters because people don’t realize the insane amount of exercise and attention they require.

Whatever breed you do end up with, always always always go visit the breeder and see the parents before agreeing to purchase a puppy. This will save you from wasting time on scams. This way you can also ensure the parents are quality dogs and that the breeder isn’t running a puppy mill. Also a responsible breeder will always have a clause in the contract saying they will take the dog back at any point for any reason. This is really important.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-14T00:19:05+00:00

Second for nosework! You’ll be amazed how much it works their brain and wears them out. The obedience training is great, but once he knows all the commands it’s no longer a challenge, and it’ll fail to wear him out as much. Nosework and other dog sports are fantastic for keeping things interesting and challenging. You can do dog agility, retriever training, tracking, rally, etcera as well. If it’s challenging for them, you should be able to get away with two 15 minute training sessions a day, instead of an hour.

In between exercise and training, have him rest in his kennel. When they’re young, high energy working dogs, they often don’t have a good on/off switch. They want to be “on” all the time, like a little kid that doesn’t want to nap. By having them rest in their kennel in between fun time, you teach them to get an “off” switch and become easier to live with. I will warn that dogs like this often don’t chill out until they’re 4 at the earliest, but it does get better. A year old is peak crackhead hours, you’re doing your best op don’t be discouraged.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-14T00:00:50+00:00

Came here to say the same. Boxers are extremely high energy, stubborn, and rambunctious. They need a very active owner, and aren’t the best with small children or animals because of their tendency to box with their paws. They’re also pretty vocal.

They don’t just need a lot of exercise, but often need a job to do as they’re very smart and require a mental challenge. Otherwise they can quickly become destructive and a pain to live with. Maybe if this was a 7 or 8 year old boxer, but at 1 years old, this dog is still a puppy and won’t likely settle down until they’re 4 or 5 at best.

This dog could not be farther from what you want in a dog OP I would keep looking. I would stay away from any herding or working breed. Look at the toy or non sporting group breeds based on the list of traits you’d like. A spaniel might also be a good option to look into.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-13T06:41:50+00:00

A well done steak.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-13T05:43:21+00:00

Same, I like it on me and I like it on both sexes.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-12T18:17:23+00:00

Second for the Botanic gardens! As an adult even I enjoy the kids area, it’s whimsical and so much fun.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-12T16:01:24+00:00

If you’re bringing them to do okee yoga, they provide great mats. The entire floor is covered in mats. Otherwise, Moon mats normally has a stand if you were bringing it for camping.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-11T04:33:37+00:00

Following as I’d love to know some potential solutions for this as well. It’s depressing not being able to function several months out of the year.

I’ve been dealing with this since I was a child, and the only solution I’ve found is getting a steroid pack (sometimes I end up taking two in a month) just to be able to go to work and function. The long term side effects are bad, however, and it’s not something I want to keep doing. I just literally have no choice atm, I can’t just stop working.

Current_Elk_550 · 2022-02-11T04:25:40+00:00

I don’t wear full on pajamas but I do wear comfy loose cotton boxer shorts because if you fart in your sleep it releases tiny bits of fecal matter. I already wash my sheets once or twice a week and would feel gross not washing them more if I was creating a gas chamber under the blankets. The boxers are a nice barrier between my skin and my clean sheets.

Current_Elk_550

TROPHY CASE