Leslie, How wet is your pile? I got the impression from one of your first posts that you are watering it a lot. It may be too much. If you can pick it up (and yes, I use my bare hands in my pile all the time; I just don't think that the bacteria that are interested in eating dead vegetation are going to be very interested in me) and wring a good bit of water out, it may be too wet. If it is too wet and there's a good bit of 'greens' in there, it will begin to stink after a few days. If it does, spread it out to dry or turn it more often to help it dry. If it is not too wet, I am a bit surprised that you have not gotten things to heat up in #2 yet. It seems like you should have a good pile going (plenty of size and the correct ingredients if your greens are still fresh - meaning not already composted). When I hit things right in my pile it begins to heat up over night and within two or three days it is often over 140 F (again, that's when I have gotten enough greens in with the browns and it is not too wet or too dry). But you should get some heating if you have a good bit of greens and browns (even if the ratio is not perfect) and if the wetness is anything close to correct. Your bins should be of adequate size (mine are 4 feet across and 3 feet tall and made of wire mesh as well. The rough material at the bottom of #3 should help your pile to breath. I would continue to keep my eyes open for some greens, continue as you are and trust that it will all be compost in time. Steve

I think this poor dog needs some stability, consistency and to be a part of a pack-- if even a pack of one. Clearly he has had a rough life and some bad encounters in the past. He was kept outside on a lead and perhaps/potentially abused. I think a big clue to the need to be a part of a pack is this statement in your first post "When he is at home with me and my three big dogs, he is such a snuggler and he loves to chase my dog who is chasing his ball, barking and herding my dog who is bigger than 5 of Chicos" The pack offers a lot to a dog-- guidelines, rules, protection, warmth, love. A pack is a family. Will you be keeping Chico? If so, the first thing I would do it read about and initiate a NILF program-- nothing in life is free. It begins setting the rules-- and establishes you as the alpha/rule maker/rewarder. This has been very effective in use with rescue dogs. I used a modified version of the program when I adopted my rottweiler as she had NO self control and had never been a house dog. I didnt have too many issues with aggression towards people but I did have issues with an insane food drive, possessive behavior (she thought she "owned" anything she found), pushy behavior especially around being the first to and out the door.. and well you get the picture. She was unruly. I was able to very quickly position myself as the alpha and quickly regain some order to the house. One of the "rules" I implemented remains a loving part of our pattern. I required that she sit still before being given her food dish-- initially, it was a "butt down" and once she was successful with that, I increased the time that she was required to sit before she got a food bowl. Eventually, as I established my role as alpha, she had to sit and wait for a kiss on the nose and the words "bon appetit" before eating. Even today, three years later, she will not eat if I do not kiss her nose and say bon appetit. One day I was soooooooo frustrated with her and I just brushed her nose and walked away (I know, very immature of me) and she sat there just looking at me until I said bon appetit LOL. This is just one example-- she had to learn the rules for going outside, for getting on the chair or sofa, for getting pets ands attention. The program starts requiring the dog to earn freedom to be loose in the house (I did not start here). It is so effective in not only establishing the rules, and you as rule maker-- but it builds TRUST. I think it is clear that Chico has no trust. When he trusts you-- to guide him, love him and protect him, he will then follow your lead in how to deal with strangers or unusual situations. Right now is an overly cautious, reluctant self protector-- take that load of responsibility off of him. There are lots of sites on the internet dealing with NILF. The best ones will focus on the bonding as well as establishing the rules. You may think it sounds extreme to start-- requiring the dog to be leashed to you in the home, for instance-- but it is really just so effective in establishing the trust and bond. People think giving the dog love and attention is what is important-- but that often brings about confusing and inconsistent messages (like unintentionally rewarding barks). Structure is every bit as important as love. You are a kind soul-- I wish you and chico many successes and a much happier home.

I also had been giving dream bones mini chews to my dogs. About 4 months ago my 7lb Chiweenie started throwing up blood and bloody stool 30 minutes after giving him the treat. I immediately took him to the vet where he had to spend the night. $400 later he got to come home. I didn't realize it was the treat as the vet said sometimes dogs get a intestinal virus. 3 days ago my short legged jack russell started the same thing. I took him to the vet the next morning when I found all the blood. 3 days later he got to come home. $1100 this time. I threw away all the dream bones treats that I had and will never buy these again. My dogs loved them and ate them for a couple years but my vet said that it was the treat that caused this. He got severely dehydrated and his kidneys were in bad shape. His white blood cell count was off. He was in really bad shape within a few hours. I am going to email the company and send them copies of my vet bills. We trust people to make stuff for our babies and then they poison them. I will never buy this product again and I will do everything I can to make sure no one else does either.

sjhockeyfan, is this an an apartment that you own like a Co-op or Condo? I live in a two floor townhouse with a garage but we have several one floor condo's in my small development that have no garages. I have a client that lives in a co-op that was once apartments converted over and now that he owns the unit, he did renovate his small kitchen with cabinets to the ceiling and it looks so nice and updated. Only the Condo people with no garages get to use the dumpsters in the shed. I have to keep my trash in my garage or in the backyard fenced in area. That is the only thing I liked about renting in my last place was that I threw out the trash twice a day and only needed a small trash can. I also threw out recyclables often but now I have to wait once a week so I have a recyclable can. But I prefer to own then rent as I like making the place my own and I like having more space with a big washer and dryer.