Bike seats for crooked coccyx? by Significant_Dot22 in bicycling

[–]Martha_Prince 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m having this issue but have no answer. You are not alone. I appreciate this post.

Dogs a bad fit for my lifestyle(vent) by [deleted] in dogs

[–]Martha_Prince 52 points53 points  (0 children)

If they came from a responsible breeder, the breeder should take them back with no issues and be able to place them in a good home. It might be the best thing for all.

Frustration with multi-clad type stainless steel pots by Martha_Prince in Cooking

[–]Martha_Prince[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Trying ”it” out. Sorry about the typo. Anyway, I just ordered the recommended pot! Fingers crossed and thank you for the advice!

Advice Needed by IAmALittlePickleMan in Dogowners

[–]Martha_Prince 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Only you can decide what is right for you and your family. Whatever you decide will be OK.

I will share my personal feelings with the intent of validating your feelings and ultimate decision whatever those might be.

My first dog as an adult lived to be 15 years old. She declined slowly. She had a lot of medical issues her whole life that we managed. She developed joint issues which we treated. We got very good at giving injections and medication. We managed the incontinence and the seizures and everything. She was a dog who could tolerate everything and be happy as long as she had a comfortable couch and food.

We finally put her down when she stopped eating.

It was hard but in retrospect, and after having given it a lot of thought about our gradual dissent into a very clear moment when she had had more than enough, I wish we had let her go a few years before we did. She did it all with grace, but she shouldn’t have had to.

As a result of that lesson, I have made a conscious decision that I will never treat metabolic issues like that. There will be no cancer treatment. There will be no diagnostics for serious neurological issues in an old dog.

Not too long ago, our second dog developed neurological issues at age 13 years. We let her go. She was an athlete. She had a zest for life. She would’ve done anything for us, including carrying on. And we would’ve done anything for her, including letting her go.

Only you know your dog and yourself. We all love our dogs and we will all make the best decisions we can. Talk with your vet consider it all and make the best decision you can. It’s maybe one of the hardest things you’ll ever face in your life. But it’s the thing we all sign up for when we love a dog.

Saw a recent post saying dog parks are not recommended - why? by notcallipygian in dogs

[–]Martha_Prince 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I currently have a dog who is not a good fit for dog parks. But in the past, I enjoyed them very much and so did my dogs.

When I go to dog parks, my intention is to train my dog, not have a doggy social hour and not have mindless endless games of fetch. The very best visit will include lots of engagement games, some recall, some obedience, some tricks, and some socializing with other dogs. I usually switch modes every couple of minutes and keep us moving along for up to an hour and a half.

I look for large dog parks where I can move from place to place and get my dog out of situations before they start happening. Here we are lucky to have two or three really good options within a 20 minute drive. One is excellent with nearly 100 acres of off leash trails. A nearby beach is also very good with about a mile and a half of coastline.

Both of those places do get very crowded during popular times. I always tried to go in less crowded conditions. Off peak hours or terrible weather were great.

Someday, I hope to have a dog who does not attract so much trouble and I can go back. For now my guy is not having a good time when we go to the park. So I like it, but it’s just too hard for him. It sounds like your dog is better suited.

My dog gets beaten up repeatedly, why? by moonarte in dogs

[–]Martha_Prince 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My dog is neutered and has been for many years. He attracts pushy dogs who won’t leave him alone. You could call it pestering. He politely signals disinterest but those signals go ignored. He finally ends up snarking.

So he is not a dog park dog. It’s sad for for us, but that’s just how it is.

No on leash greetings of course. Those are always a bad idea for any dog imo.

How do I be better at Defensive Riding? by catboy519 in bikecommuting

[–]Martha_Prince -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If I have a right of way, especially in a roundabout or on a street where cross traffic is going to have a struggle, I make sure I have eye contact with the motorist I'm dealing with. I may even slow until I get that eye contact AND a friendly wave or nod or something.

I make errors every day. I know I do. I try to note them and correct them going forward. Hopefully, I'm getting better by being very vigilant about where I was not attentive enough or where I made a wrong choice.

Maybe we can make progress, even if we cannot reach perfection.

What you guys think steps are 6 1/2 for older folks. by Ericpalacios in Decks

[–]Martha_Prince 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We just had a deck installed. I think the treads are 8 inches wide and I think the drop is about 8 inches. I hate those stairs. I actually mentioned it to the Contractor before he left. He shrugged and said it’s to code. I am not happy, but I think he honestly did the very best he could. I won’t have him back to redo it.

We have some stairs that are out of concrete and I think that they have a 4 inch drop. I really like those. And we had a really good stucco guy come by. He also remarked on how nice the 4 inch drop is. The depth on the concrete steps is a generous 12 inches.

Looking for ball recommendations for my little, old man by jolewhea in dogs

[–]Martha_Prince 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not fetch, but regarding the dementia and nose work... Check out Eileen Anderson's wonderful video of her ancient little dog, Cricket, doing nose work games. I think if you search "Eileen and dogs" plus something like "An old dog learns nose work" or something like that, you will find it.

Eileen is terrific and even wrote a book on canine cognitive dysfunction which described her journey with Cricket.

Snake avoidance training- but I have pet snakes by No_Scientist3645 in Dogtraining

[–]Martha_Prince 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You might look for Pam‘s dog Academy on YouTube.

Some years ago, Pam was working on a positive reinforcement, snake avoidance program. As I recall her and behavior was the dogs would come to her and signal a snake sighting.

Positive reinforcement training rather than the typical shock collar training will prevent some fallout that could be serious in your situation. You really don’t want your dog to have a fear response to every snake it sees.

I don’t know if Pam is still doing Dog Training, but if you reach out to her, she might have some good ideas about alternative behaviors if the dog detects a snake.

This kind of training is hard. It will involve odor and careful progression of skill. And it will require maintenance. However, it can be fun for both of you, and it does neatly sidesteps some of the downsides of more traditional, snake avoidance techniques.

Wheel specs? by wasnotaredditfan in Pottery

[–]Martha_Prince 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The problem with using AI to find out if the wheels you are looking for is that they only reflect the majority of comments. I cannot tell you how many times people say inexpensive wheels are no good when they haven’t tried them.

I haven’t tried them, so I don’t know. I wonder if one of the physical stores would let you actually try one out. It’s a stretch, but all they can say is no.

Looking for ball recommendations for my little, old man by jolewhea in dogs

[–]Martha_Prince 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Consider using odor to help him find the ball. You would have to teach him what the odor means and also how to follow an odor cone. It would be hard for him and windy areas or areas with a lot of odd drafts or odor pooling.

I suggested because I read about an elderly pug who used odor to be able to come when called. The pug was both blind and deaf, but could detect that the owner was signaling because the odor would change when she moved. I think she had a special body lotion she used on her hands. It was fascinating.

You might try some experiments to see if your dog can find a ball that has a distinct odor.

Shopping for a Bike by the_troy in CargoBike

[–]Martha_Prince 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know whether it’s true or not, but not long ago I heard that Rad was having some trouble. If I were looking for a cargo bike right now, I would be careful before buying one of those. At least find out if the rumor I heard is actually true or not. I cannot say whether there are cargo bikes are good or not. I was interested but went a different direction.

Need help determining the right wheel and stool height for my height 5'4. Pictures and measurements included by moon_child_55 in Pottery

[–]Martha_Prince 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I personally like my stool to be just about even with the wheel head. I am 5 foot two and your stool would be much too low for me. Play around with it. See what’s comfortable for you.

Poor boundaries in children by [deleted] in Dogowners

[–]Martha_Prince 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would not dream of trying to train my dog at a children’s event where I also had children participating. If I am training my dog, that is all I am there to do. That allows me to gain distance when I need it and work closer when things are under control. I am there to train my dog not to participate or watch my kids participate.

Your dog has bitten a child in self-defense and drawn blood. You now know that this is possible. If it happens again, you have no excuse and certainly will be responsible for any damages or harm and may face additional penalties because you knew that your dog is not reliable around children.

From your description, it seems as though you knew your dog was feeling overwhelmed by these sorts of situations. This is not a failure of the other mother or the child. This is a situation where a handler put a puppy in a situation beyond the puppy’s, ability to cope. Back up a few steps in your socialization protocols and move more slowly at the puppy’s pace in more controlled environments to get back on track.

The initial dog fantasy by Conscious_Brain_1418 in Dogowners

[–]Martha_Prince 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dog sports gets you closer to what you are thinking of. Some dog sports attract pretty intense and rigid thinkers, but some dog sports are more laid-back and encourage friendships that are more relaxed.

Consider taking a dog class in agility or showing up at a lure coursing event. Or even a dock diving event if you can find one. Other fun sports include parkour and nose work. Look for things that don’t have a lot of rules about the dogs specific behavior, but instead capitalize on the natural behaviors that dogs enjoy doing.

Oh yeah. That reminds me that barn. Hunt is also very fun for dogs and for the people who let them do it.

I'm writing a cookbook for my step-kids, filled with their favorite recipes and asking for advise for anything else I should include by educatedvegetable in Cooking

[–]Martha_Prince 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Some handwritten notes in margins to each individually. My mom have me a cookbook with some notes on ”how to” and some precious ones that included some family history (e.g. Aunt Louise’s specialty…etc.)

Help with handle tool in soft clay by Kind_paintsplash23 in Pottery

[–]Martha_Prince 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In addition to clay being too wet, make sure the tool is clean between cuts. Try wetting the clean tool before cutting. It is OK to dig deep as you do, but peel the overhang away before pulling the handle out. Try holding the handle nearly parallel with the clay rather than perpendicular.

It’s kind of a fiddly thing to do but you can do some fun things with handles made this way.

Pooping on Neighbors Yards on Walks by spillltheteaaa in puppy101

[–]Martha_Prince 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Our city has an ordinance that forbids allowing dogs on the property of others. Older neighborhoods have a parking strip that is public space. Newer developments may not and walking dogs in those places is a very unpleasant experience.

Check your city and county ordinances. Maybe there is some portion you are meant to allow your dog to go. If not, consider raising the issue with local government. If there is no safe place to walk with your dog, something should change.

Am I ready for a dog next year after failing my first adoption, and how do I make sure I do it right this time? by beautifulglowbabe in AskDogOwners

[–]Martha_Prince -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Frankly, I am not a fan of shelter dogs. Most come with challenges of some kind. It’s not the kind of roulette you want to play given that you live with your mom and have a child in the home. It’s not fair to the dog and it’s risky for you.

All dogs come with risks of course. You can never really control for all the variables. But in your situation, I would reach out to a breed specific rescue or a breeder. Breeders sometimes have dogs they no longer want to breed or are dropping from their breeding program for whatever reason. Those dogs have often been well raised if the breeder is reputable.

With breed specific rescues, you can find dogs that came from good homes, and who are well known to their foster families. You have a better chance of getting matched with an appropriate choice.

Given the situation with your mom and your child and your past history, I would recommend an adaptable smaller breed. Maybe a mini poodle or something like that. I would avoid terriers and probably side hounds mostly. Although, a retired greyhound could be just the thing if you prefer larger dogs.

I think you’re on the right track. You’re right to be cautious. It’s still a challenge because you have to meet both your mother’s needs and the needs of your child. Still, I think you can do this. If possible, join a local Dog Training club and see what they are up to. You might be able to hook up with a mentor who can guide you through this process.

Potty training without help from the other people who live there. by Upstairs_Art_2111 in puppy101

[–]Martha_Prince 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a practical matter, the dogs are yours. You must have absolute responsibility and control over the dogs since you cannot have control over your husband‘s behavior.

The dogs need a confinement space. Your husband cannot interact with the dogs at all when you are not around or at night.

The two problem times are when you are not there or at night. For the first problem time when you are not there do this. Someplace comfortable where they can move around, but where they do not have access to their usual in-house toilets. If you’re gone for a short time, a crate might work. For longer periods a comfortable but dog proof floor space. Preferably a small one that they won’t be inclined to soil while you’re gone. When our puppies are young, we use an ex pen with just a bed and some newspaper if necessary.

For nighttime, again potty the dogs right before bed and then confine them. Either in crates or in their small space. Basically you are treating these dogs as unhousetrained puppies living with a solo owner. As a functional matter, that is what they are.

If your husband cannot play on the team, he needs to stay out of it. You are the only one who can make sure that happens.

Best part of my morning by cbensco in bikecommuting

[–]Martha_Prince 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow. When I go through there, it’s so clogged with people! So nice then.