[mlelmbla]

Hello all! I have come to this forum to get a few questions answered about my dog that i will soon address in another area. I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Megan and i live in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I adopted my love Sandi Mae in March. She was rescued by a non profit organization that focuses primarily on rescuing dogs from kill shelters. Sandi came from Missouri where she had been dumped off after being used as a breeding dog in a puppy mill. She is a 5 years old Parti Cocker who is very timid but has a heart of gold. It was love at first sight for the both of us.

When she first game to me her fur was extremely matted. She had fleas and kennel cough and she smelled and looked as though she had been sitting in her own excrement for far too long. Her nipples suggested she had several litters of puppies and she acted as though she didnt understand how to be a dog. And yet when i came to pick her up she gave me a kiss on my nose and I told her everything was going to be ok. Now although she is still timid and particularly afraid of men, after much TLC she has blossomed in to an amazing pet.

(pictures to come after ive been here a while!)

[CorkyMax]

I loved reading your post and thank you for rescuing Sandi Mae! Unique name--I like it--Is their a story behind choosing that name?

Will be looking forward to seeing a pic of her! My 2 favorite breeds are Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers. I have 2 older dogs--Max-age 12+---a Cocker Spaniel and Sami--a female 10ish rescue that was a stray so have no background on her at all--She is a Golden Retriever/Cocker Spaniel mix. I actually prefer that mix over the 'purebreds.' I had that mix before and just love the combo.--His name was Corky thus my username CorkyMax.

Ask away on your questions--Don't know if I can be of help but will try. I am sure there are plenty of members in this forum that can help.

[mlelmbla]

Originally Posted by CorkyMax

I loved reading your post and thank you for rescuing Sandi Mae! Unique name--I like it--Is their a story behind choosing that name?

Will be looking forward to seeing a pic of her! My 2 favorite breeds are Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers. I have 2 older dogs--Max-age 12+---a Cocker Spaniel and Sami--a female 10ish rescue that was a stray so have no background on her at all--She is a Golden Retriever/Cocker Spaniel mix. I actually prefer that mix over the 'purebreds.' I had that mix before and just love the combo.--His name was Corky thus my username CorkyMax.

Ask away on your questions--Don't know if I can be of help but will try. I am sure there are plenty of members in this forum that can help.

Cockers really are amazing dogs, as are Goldens. I have yet to own a Golden but intend to in the future. What kind of characteristics do Golden/Cocker mixes exhibit? Both of your dogs look gorgeous by the way!

When i first got Sandi Mae her given name was Sandy. I probably should have changed it but I liked it and the May part sort of just rolled off of the tongue. They say when you recuse a dog from an abusing situation its a good idea to alter their name a little bit so they still recognize it but it isnt as traumatic for them. I doubt she had a name while in the puppy mill so i figured it wouldnt be terrible to keep it. So i added the "Mae" and altered the spelling just because.

My dad and I had just lost our previous Cocker back in November after battling a liver problem. She lived to be 15 and she had a very fulfilling dog life though. We miss her dearly and will probably always have Cocker Spaniels in our lives because of our amazing experience with her.

[dogs rule]

Your description of Sandi Mae both saddened me and made me smile.
Sad becuase of the physical state she was in and happy that she now has you.
All the best to you both and enjoy the forum.

[piratekitty]

Wow such a wonderful thing you have done to open your home to this poor dog. I just dont understand how people can mistreat animals the way they do. Im sure she will now have a wonderful life she so deserves. You have a good heart, and welcome to i love dogs.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by mlelmbla

Cockers really are amazing dogs, as are Goldens. I have yet to own a Golden but intend to in the future. What kind of characteristics do Golden/Cocker mixes exhibit? Both of your dogs look gorgeous by the way!Thank you for the comment on my dogs. I no longer have Corky--Had to be put to sleep about a year and a half ago because of heart disease. And like you missing your cocker, I will always miss Corky.

I don't know if all Cockers have the same disposition --I can only go by my dogs. My Cocker is a loving dog but he is more independent and can be moody at times. My experience with the 2 Golden/Cocker mixes --I think the Golden's personality shines through and kind of mellows out the Cocker part. Goldens seem to be always smiling and wagging their tail--a happy sweet dog that likes a lot of attention from you--more affectionate. And then there is the little smaller size that the combination makes for--at least in the 2 that I have/had. I loved the feathering of my Corky's coat but he had part Cocker in his coat too which I liked the looks of the combination. Of course all of the same combos are not going to be exactly the same. Sami turned out to have curlier fur--more like the Cocker but not as dense and shorter than the Golden's too--but very soft. She looks more Golden in most of her other features. Lol, I think I'd like the looks of any combination of the two breeds as far as looks--love both breeds! And as mentioned before--I like the smaller size the combination makes for--I like big dogs too but can handle medium size better.

When i first got Sandi Mae her given name was Sandy. I probably should have changed it but I liked it and the May part sort of just rolled off of the tongue. They say when you recuse a dog from an abusing situation its a good idea to alter their name a little bit so they still recognize it but it isnt as traumatic for them. I doubt she had a name while in the puppy mill so i figured it wouldnt be terrible to keep it. So i added the "Mae" and altered the spelling just because.

My dad and I had just lost our previous Cocker back in November after battling a liver problem. She lived to be 15 and she had a very fulfilling dog life though. We miss her dearly and will probably always have Cocker Spaniels in our lives because of our amazing experience with her.

I am sorry that you lost your dog--I know how hard it is. I found a poem that fit how I felt when I had to put Corky down--maybe you would like to read it: Poem for My Corky

I am going to give you another link here about the amino acid that is missing in some breeds---which is what caused Corky's heart disease--It seems that some breeds (mainly Cockers and Goldens) can't make this taurine ---so being you have a Cocker and plan on having a Golden some day----> Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Heart Disease)

And this is what I just posted to another member about taurine: I wish someone had told me about this problem before my Corky died because of it. I now supplement my dogs with (human) capsules of Taurine. I do not feed commercial dog food but if I did, I would definitely make sure that taurine was listed in the ingredients!!!! Some companies have started putting taurine in their dog food but many still do not!

[mlelmbla]

Originally Posted by CorkyMax

[B][COLOR="SeaGreen"]

And this is what I just posted to another member about taurine: I wish someone had told me about this problem before my Corky died because of it. I now supplement my dogs with (human) capsules of Taurine. I do not feed commercial dog food but if I did, I would definitely make sure that taurine was listed in the ingredients!!!! Some companies have started putting taurine in their dog food but many still do not!

Thank you for this advice! i was not aware of the Taurine issue. I will definitely look in to it. I want my dog to live out the rest of her years as healthily as possible.

I lost my Lady (previous Cocker) to liver failure at the age of 15. We used to let her out without a chain because she was always so well behaved and would come back when called for when she did wander too far. However after I went off to College and my dad who is wheelchair bound let her out one day she didnt come back for a few hours. We found out later she went deaf (she was 12 at the time). She got in to bird suet which is poisonous to dogs. She battled pancreatitis and liver problems for a long time. She would get sick and then bounce back everytime we got to the point of getting ready to put her down. But finally once she was 15 we realized the last wave of sickness she wasnt going to bounce back from. I actually had her in my arms when they administered the euthenasia.. thankfully the vet put her under anesthesia first so it wouldnt be quite so traumatic. It was still one of the most painful things ive ever done but Im happy i could be there for her last breaths. The memory is still plain as day. She was an amazing dog. I got her when I was 8 years old. I have a tear in my eye thinking of her right now.

PS: I just lost it after reading that poem. Its so true.

Originally Posted by piratekitty

Wow such a wonderful thing you have done to open your home to this poor dog. I just dont understand how people can mistreat animals the way they do. Im sure she will now have a wonderful life she so deserves. You have a good heart, and welcome to i love dogs.

Thank you! Its absolutely sickening that puppy mills are considered legal. I will never buy a dog from a pet shop knowing now where most of them come from. After rescuing my dog and witnessing the love between my dad and his rescued dog, there is no doubt i want to being a rescuer from now on. It is so gratifying.

[debbiesdog1]

greeting from debbiesdog1
hello I am new here.I just adopted a 4 week old pup.i know way to early but the woman was going to bring them to a shelter so my daughter and I both took one.she is a pit,my fav.breed and yes I have much experience with them.she is being trained from the start,socilizing is critical!any way I am glad to have found this forum.

[mlelmbla]

Originally Posted by debbiesdog1

greeting from debbiesdog1
hello I am new here.I just adopted a 4 week old pup.i know way to early but the woman was going to bring them to a shelter so my daughter and I both took one.she is a pit,my fav.breed and yes I have much experience with them.she is being trained from the start,socilizing is critical!any way I am glad to have found this forum.

I hate the bad rep pits tend to get. I have yet to meet a pit i didnt like. I hope you have fun trianing your new pup Have you come up with a name yet?