Allow me to introduce.. 'Cali' the Amstaff

[Scrumhalf]

Sorry to hear, blm. It sucks to watch your loved ones get old and infirm, kinda like watching a parent get old and knowing that the inevitable will happen one day.

I always say that one of the crulest tricks nature has played on humans, is to make the life span of man's best friend so much shorter than ours. If we figure out how to slow down or stop ageing, I would like to see the science applied to dogs firat rather than humans.

[blm]

Thanks guys, he's not dying or disabled just showing his age and injury when he plays hard.

Thing about boxer's is how stoic they are. Even when he was playing hurt and later trying to get off the floor, he never showed a hint of pain or discomfort.

[Turbo3000]

My boxer turned 8 last month. He injured his knee a couple years ago and if he plays real hard he limps for a day or so. Well age is against him now, I took him to a friend's to have a boxer play date and at the end of the day I had to carry him to the car and carry him in to the house. In the morning, I had to hold his hips as he wobbled to his food bowl. Tears in my eyes.

After a couple of days rest and some doggy aspirin he's back to his old self but damn it's hard to watch the sign of things to come.

Talk to the vet about meloxicam. Good anti-inflammatory that is dog safe.

[Bouncer]

Or just something like this for when he's limping.

http://www.amazon.com/Nutri-Vet%C2%A.../dp/B0009YS9RS

[blm]

I give him doggy aspirin when it flairs up.

[Bouncer]

Their favorite toy... A cardboard box. They will have this thing shredded to pieces in about 5 min.

[FitnessBrat]

Haha, I love that. Zorro likes doing that with the middle of the toilet paper rolls.

[Bouncer]

So as I've said before, I grew up with a Irish setter, cocker spaniel, and Rottweiler, I've owned a french Mastiff, a boxer, and now an Amstaff. So you could say I have a lot of experience with strong dogs and "pullers" on leash. I can say that without a shadow of a doubt the Amstaff is by far the strongest puller of the breeds I've owned. What's even more impressive is the amount of time she can keep up the pulling if she chooses to. She can pull full strength around a 3-4 mile park in 100 heat for 2 hours. I actually allowed her to do this 1 time because I wanted her to burn off her energy which seems nuclear powered.

She's gotten much better lately though. I make her stop and sit every time she starts pulling too hard and shes a quick learner. She only pulls now in the morning when she's super excited to go outside.

She's a great dog and very sweet but she is very head strong and stubborn. I understand now why there are so many problems with the breed. Without sounding like I'm tapping myself on the back, I believe it takes a special kind of owner to have this breed. You need experience, strength, and a love for dogs that will give you the ability to push through the difficult times without beating the damn dog. Lol.

This breed is on a different level all around in terms of the amount of effort required to keep her on track and doing what she's supposed to be doing. This dog should absolutely never be raised by a first time dog owner. Never.

This dog has to be firmly controlled and taught with reward. Positive reinforcement is the only way to teach this breed. If you raise this breed with anger or negativity you will have something that will live up to its dangerous reputation.

[blm]

That basically sums up what I have always said about the breed. It takes a committed and responsible owner to properly raise them. People that have never owned the breed or don't have experience with them have no idea what they speak of so they place all the blame on the dog.

You started out fighting an uphill battle because there were obviously no standards set as a puppy.

[Bouncer]

Haha.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia...b_8052446.html

[Bouncer]

Something funny I've noticed. People really are weary of these dogs. They will say "aww cute puppy" but nobody stops and pets her at the park or on a walk. They keep their distance for sure. Wasn't like that with the boxer, people would just pet him without even asking me. All she wants to do is kiss everyone but people tend to admire her from a distance. Its not like they are in a hurry or something. They will stop and ask about her, say she's cute etc.. But nothing when it comes to petting. Maybe cause she's always trying to pull towards them to say hello and they think she's being aggressive? I dunno. She has not been petted once at the park yet a million people have said how pretty she is and her colors etc.. Very weird to me. She's a little baby for Christ sake.

[FitnessBrat]

Would you like it if people were petting her? I actually think it's sort of rude, so I would assume people were not petting for that reason, but you say your boxer gets touched so....hmm.

[Bouncer]

Boxer got petted when he was a pup I mean. Especially when someone would ask questions about him etc..

Didn't mean people are petting him and not her now.

[Bouncer]

Lil killer. [emoji14]

[Bouncer]

She's getting big, about 45lbs now. The pic doesn't show it as well as real life but she is a little tank. Her back legs are already twice as muscular as my boxer. She'll be 5 months old in 2 days.