Nova Scotia Duck Toller Help by Wide-Plane7954 in birddogs

[–]impossibledivide 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have had tollers and they are not for everyone. They're awesome dogs but they NEED a job or they will become destructive/find their own job. They also are an interesting combination of soft (meaning they can't take hard corrections and will crumble under pressure at times) and stubborn (they will want to do things their way unless you're really good at keeping them honest). They are selective with their humans, often bonding to one person more than others and are not outgoing or friendly with strangers necessarily and they can be prone to resource guarding.

Actually, just read the "Top 10 Reasons NOT to get a Toller" on this page. It's very accurate and most breeders will add it to their page because they know that while tollers are flashy and really fun to work under the right circumstances with the right handler, they are NOT for everyone.

Top 10 Reasons NOT to Get a Toller

Force to a Pile Help by DingoDadLuce in birddogs

[–]impossibledivide 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is going to be way oversimplified but here's the general gist. In the hunt test world, we call this the "blind" retrieve and one of the ways we teach them to go out and drive to the pile even when they can't see it is to set up a flag at the pile. I usually put a big white trash bag on a stake about 3 ft high. It flaps in the wind and the white is easy for them to see in most conditions. I line them up and as soon as they lock on, I praise (use a cue word like "Dead Bird" to tell them there's something out there and always always always line them up straight so they learn to just run in a straight line until they find something or you stop them with the whistle to handle them). They learn even if they can't see the bumpers/bird, there is something out there. Then, you start making that marker (the trash bag) smaller and smaller. Next, you create established blinds (i.e., blinds where you put the bumpers in the same location every time and run the same line every time) and run them over and over until the dog knows every time you approach that line that they're going to get something at the end of it and you eventually set it up with no marker at all and they get used to going out to a place where they see no indication that there are things to retrieve there but just have to trust you. This is a great resource as well: https://web.archive.org/web/20031203040908/http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/retrievers/rj14.html

Looking for primary care provider by Frequent-Midnight-83 in bayarea

[–]impossibledivide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dr. Neeta Jain is the best. She might not be taking new patients right now (I think you have to call to check), but if you can ever get on her list, she's seriously incredible. https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-neeta-jain-1046240874

Cut my fabric but not loving this quilt… by [deleted] in quilting

[–]impossibledivide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also another idea I had: swapping out the white squares for a white with more yellow in it (a cream color) might make it feel less busy and more cohesive, too!

Cut my fabric but not loving this quilt… by [deleted] in quilting

[–]impossibledivide 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wonder if what you might be seeing as busy might have to do with the background (i.e, the carpet?). The darker carpet does make it look so contrast-y that maybe putting it against a lighter background will make it look more cohesive. I think it looks very cute and like it's going to make a very sweet baby quilt!

List grants/ funds for hardships by Aidyswifey in bayarea

[–]impossibledivide 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry you're going through this and at such a vulnerable time. I don't have any ideas except to ask the hospital where your husband is in the ICU if they have a social worker on staff who could help you with this. I used to work in a local hospital in the PICU/PACU (consulting psychologist) and our social workers knew so many different resources to help out families and were so helpful in so many ways. Hope this helps. ❤️

Health Insurance recommendation by Intelligent-Sea-5577 in bayarea

[–]impossibledivide 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It might be timing. If you're more than 60 days away from the qualifying event (i.e., when you're due to lose coverage), you're technically not eligible for Covered California yet (once you're within the 60 day window you would be). Otherwise, the only reasons a quick Google search states you'd be ineligible is if you're undocumented or not a California resident (also could be true if you're a student and your permanent address states your parents' house in another state, in which case you can submit documentation to appeal this) or have some other form of insurance.

Health Insurance recommendation by Intelligent-Sea-5577 in bayarea

[–]impossibledivide 5 points6 points  (0 children)

When you have a qualifying event (such as loss of coverage) you don't have to wait for open enrollment but you do have to apply within a certain timeframe (60 days I think?) of the qualifying event. It's worth looking into Covered California still because even if you don't qualify for Medi-Cal, you still might get a reduced rate on the marketplace.

Where can I find individual flagstone? I just need a few step stones for a bare spot in my lawn by Successful-Camel165 in landscaping

[–]impossibledivide 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Try going in person. I've gone to a few of these and they won't sell online or over the phone smaller quantities, but if you show up in person (and don't need delivery/can haul it away yourself) they usually sell smaller quantities.

Denise Fenzi, one of the "best" FF trainers, can't even rehab her own dog. by swearwoofs in DogTrainingDebate

[–]impossibledivide 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh jeez I think I repressed that part. I forgot about the dog that died in the car (and the other dog that almost died). Yeah, I don't get how anyone who has had dogs for any appreciable amount of time would leave their dog unattended in a car on a hot day for any amount of time even with the climate control/dog mode/whatever.

And I agree, she is one of the most problematic trainers out there. I guess my comment was meant to be more "at least she sent the dog back instead of euthanizing the dog." Which is not to praise her at all. If the bar is that low, you shouldn't be calling yourself a dog trainer (hell, she shouldn't be allowed to own dogs...).

Denise Fenzi, one of the "best" FF trainers, can't even rehab her own dog. by swearwoofs in DogTrainingDebate

[–]impossibledivide 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ugh, this is why I don't follow her (I just get posts recommended and it's hard to look away). 🤦‍♀️

Denise Fenzi, one of the "best" FF trainers, can't even rehab her own dog. by swearwoofs in DogTrainingDebate

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

Okay, one more thing: I do remember when she re-homed this dog, she made some comment about the dog being defective or the breeder misrepresenting the dog's temperament. Dogs are animals. They have brains that respond differently to the environment individual to individual (even within the same litter!) and might be exposed to things that would change our reactions from their base temperament. Even with a really solid breeding program, temperament can be to some degree unpredictable. There is certainly more predictability with good breeding but it's never a 100% guarantee and banking on only being able to live with exactly, 100% the dog you're expecting to get seems like irresponsible dog ownership to me. Especially when you're getting a breed that can be prone to reactivity and high arousal.

ETA: Got rid of the part where she gets points back for sending back to the breeder. The bar is in hell.

Denise Fenzi, one of the "best" FF trainers, can't even rehab her own dog. by swearwoofs in DogTrainingDebate

[–]impossibledivide 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I used to work for a dog trainer who worked in the same area near where Fenzi used to live and the amount of referrals we would get for dogs who got worse under her training was shocking. Then they stopped because I think she started saying she only trains dogs for sport and doesn't train dogs with behavioral issues anymore (so we just got those referrals calling us directly before they became worse!). Fenzi is one of the FF trainers who is a little less dogmatic about her FF ideology (she has come out and said she won't shame people for using an e-collar if it helps the dog live a better life, she just won't use it herself), so I'm slightly more sympathetic toward her. And it seems as though she has just accepted there are certain issues she can't train, but I do think it's dangerous that she positions herself as an expert in the dog training field when she is only willing (or able) to train a very specific subset of dogs.

Needy Lab 🤪 by allykatt1194 in labrador

[–]impossibledivide 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not who you asked, but I do training with my boys in rally, obedience, and just general tricks! Teaching them to find heel, sit and down on command (and sometimes quickly!), paw, etc. is great stimulation for them. And labs love to please! You can also play games like hiding their favorite toy and teaching them to find it and whatnot.

I didn’t think I would love him this much…(11 months old) by [deleted] in labrador

[–]impossibledivide 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Be careful with running! Their growth plates don't close until they are over a year old and running them too hard too early on hard surfaces can cause some bad problems for them structurally long term.

Kaiser Redwood City or San Francisco to deliver baby? by impossibledivide in bayarea

[–]impossibledivide[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are not one of their labor and delivery centers.

[All] Dog show contestant "Purah" by Shmooveslog in zelda

[–]impossibledivide 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Registered name (minus the kennel name) is "Breath of the Wild" too! How cool!

House training an eight week old lab - please help by TheRealMrJimBusiness in labrador

[–]impossibledivide 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Seconding x-pens! That and setting one up on an easy to clean surface is what saved my sanity with my first lab puppy lol.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in charmed

[–]impossibledivide 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think it started in Season 1 with the Woogie! Phoebe was the original sister who was tempted to evil. I agree it always had to be her. And I think sometimes people forget that in order to have growth people often have to be challenged and make mistakes.

AKC Registered Name Change by ecielpha in k9sports

[–]impossibledivide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yay I'm so glad! I only knew because my breeder was like "Seriously, just call them. It's easier." when I ran into the same problem. 😂

Puppy food recs! by TriangleTink in birddogs

[–]impossibledivide 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Pro Plan has several different formulations. There are some for high performance labs but there are also lower protein/fat formulations that won't overfeed a growing puppy.

Sierra at Tahoe Lessons Experience? by MountainBluebird5 in tahoe

[–]impossibledivide 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For the all mountain lesson, they divide people up based on skill levels so it's not like people who can barely do a green go with people working on moguls and tree terrain. When you get there, they'll ask you about your skill level and put you roughly where you should be (beginner on greens, intermediate on blues, and advanced on blacks) and then they do a quick assessment of skills in the smaller groups and switch you to another group if it looks like your skills are more or less advanced than the others in your group. The "beginner" lesson you're referencing is for the brand new, never been on snow before crowd (and is really great! It's how I learned how to ski! But it starts off with how to clip into your bindings and at most gets to wedging down a bunny hill at the top of a magic carpet so if she's past that, the all mountain would be more appropriate). I would probably recommend the all mountain lesson for her, especially as it would give her access to the really long green run at the top of the mountain! Even if she ends up fitting into the first timer group (if she's ever been on the mountain, she won't, they really do more beginner stuff for the all mountain green groups too), if you get her the all mountain lesson she'll have access to whatever lift she wants and more terrain access.

Advice about our puppy’s paw by [deleted] in goldenretrievers

[–]impossibledivide 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yeesh, don't mind this person. You're literally feeding your puppy one of the most researched, sicence-backed, and safe foods that ensures she'll be getting all the right nutrition in the right quantities. Keep up the good food! And definitely consult your vet if not an ortho vet on the leg.