Look I grew up with dogs, in fact, my family owned as many as 11 dogs at one point in our lives. We never ever allowed our dogs to pee in any other people's yard. In fact, we allowed the dogs to do their business in our yard. Better our yard than our neighbors'. BTW woodyoak, no I don't hate you but I respectfully disagree with you. I also appreciate your situation. However, Thisn't good enough an excuse to allow a dog to destroy another one's yard. DOG pee is potent and burns. And yes, dogs will actually pee in one's own yard if it doesn't have a choice or if it's trained to do so. Dogs pee (any pee) is potent and we know the remedy is for one to wash down that pee with lots and lots of water before it begins to burn the grass or the shrub. However I don't really see a lot of people carrying buckets of water to do that job... (sorry being funny here) Being that I'm a former dog owner, I understand the nature of dogs and the need to scent mark... but the idea of someone allowing their dog to go up to people's yards and pee there is absolutely, absolutely rude. It's no more as rude as someone coming to my yard to snip off a flower. There is a sidewalk strip in my neighborhood but no... the dog had to go up a few steps into my neighbor's yard to pee. Or to go up my yard to pee on my carefully trimmed topiary. My yard is meant for kids to touch and to feel. My neighbor spent over $300 to have new sod last year -- only to be damaged by this. My yew cost me $30 andhad many years of pruning behind it. The point is, dogs can be trained -- I know. I was a dog owner. I've used many technics in training but I'll give you 2 implements - a gentle tug on a leash when its misbehaving and a spray bottle filled with water. Sprays are gentle but stops a dog from certain behaviours fast. I've also used it to control too much barking (we had chihuahuas, dalmations, dashunds, pekenese, terriers)

Hi Morden Man, The cane appears to have gone in to stasis after that burst of growth - isn't even unfurling the leaves fully. I think the rose finally realized after a couple of days that she'd been transplanted. Am leaving it and waiting to see what she does with it. If they get nice & big, I'll figure my cheapie Loblaws garden center buy will have been worth it. Thanks! Sue

cjhwillis, First off, I would like to point out that while a Doberman or a Rottie may not be a "Bully Dog" most people certainly consider them one. I work with a local Bully Breed rescue and trust me, any large mean looking dog is considered a Bully Breed by the general public. Point made since you are the first one to dispute this classification! :-) Also, when I was naming all the large breeds you mentioned I was doing so because the OP had stated that all dogs large enough to kill should be eradicated!!!!!! In addition, the Doberman also comes from Great Dane descent. There are also many, many dogs that have these different descents. I don't agree that because a breed has a bully breed in its descent that makes it a bully breed. Which brings me to my next point, (since we are getting down to specifics) you are misinformed on what technically is a Bully Breed. Mastiffs are one of the oldest breeds of dog dating back to Aristotle, Philip the Second, Alexander the Great, etc. / 400 - 300 B.C. Too many breeds to list have Mastiff in their ancestry. The only Mastiff that is considered a Bully Breed is the Bull Mastiff coming from a Mastiff and Bulldog descent. A bully breed has all to do with being of Bulldog descent, not Mastiff. Bulldogs were originally bred to fight Bulls in the Arena (hence their name) and was developed in the 13th century. Yes, they are of Asiatic Mastiff descent yet, as I mentioned, Mastiffs are one of the oldest breeds and there are too many dogs to list that are of their descent. Also, in your list of bully breeds you seemed partial to large breeds. You forgot to list the Boston Terrier which was originally called the Boston Bull and is from English White Terrier & English Bulldog descent. Avg. size 15 - 20 lbs. Also, the French Bulldog whose descent is from the Chincha Bulldog. Avg size is 22-28 pounds. Breeds that are classified as Bulldog Breeds (Bully Breeds) are as follows: Boxer, English Bulldog, Old Englishe Bulldogge, Amercian Bulldog, French Bulldog, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Valley Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bull Mastiff, and Banter Bulldogge. You had listed the Cane Corso Itailiano as a Bully Breed, this breed is of direct descent of the Canis Pugnax (Roman Mollosian), no Bulldog in this breed. A great website for researching breeds is linked below. I recommend it to anyone looking to obtain a new pet dog, the information is invaluable. Cheers Sarah

Do the baths the same as you. Sometimes do them outside in the summer. I basically get the boys (separately of course) and myself into the tub. I wear shorts and a T-shirt and my hubby is outside the tub doing the soaping up and rinsing off since my 3 need to be kept in place or they will take off through the house shaking off suds and water. With my old girl my husband has to lift her in and then she gets bathed. Problem is, then she doesn't want to get out. She likes to lay in the tub for awahile. If we try and insist she will then have a seizure, so most times I just make sure she is as dry as possible and let her come out in her own time. I put a dry towel down outside the tub so she doesn't slip. When the baths are over I am soaked from head to toe, my DH is soaked, the bathroom walls are soaked, the floor is soaked, hallway a little soaked if they escape going thru the laundry room instead of out onto the deck to finish drying. Then there is the towel washing. That's another couple of hours to wash and dry all the towels it takes to bathe 3 dogs. Its always an ordeal and I don't bathe my guys often. Usually on if they have rolled in something of if my old girl has gone for a swim in the creek. All 3 are labs and labs shouldn't be bathed with soap on a scheduled regular basis. It messes up their coat. They have two coats because they are water dogs. All three dry differently. The boys dry quickly and the old gal has a much different furry type coat. It takes her 12 hours to dry. My friends all use a service called At Your Bark & Call. Van comes to your house, parks in the driveway, no mess, they bathe the dogs in the van, use their own water, etc., trim the nails, express anal sacks if necessary and dry them all without any horrible mess in your house. Haven't tried it. Too expensive to bathe 3 since it costs about $75.00 per dog. DH believes in doing things himself if he is able. Everyone I know who uses the service loves it. There may be one like it in your area if you are not opposed to spending that much.