1) It is much easier to pill a dog than a cat

2) when walking the dog, always bring several plastic bags - and make sure that they don't have holes!!!

3) Doggies are super protective and this can cause problems.

oh do tell re #3

re: #3 - Roxie really loves us. She has claimed her as "her people" and is especially protective of me. If another dog looks at me, she snarls and growls and tries to protect me from them. She lived with other dogs in her previous home, and she was surrounded by other dogs in the shelter, but now she doesn't want any other dog around. When we came out of the exam room at the vets office, there was a GIANT bull mastiff in the waiting room. Roxie immediately barred her teeth and growled at him. Not good.
We will start obedience training soon. She must get over this quickly.

Onward......

4) it's easy to say "no dogs on the furniture", but when they're lying on the love seat and they look up at you with big soulful brown eyes, and your husband just laughs uncontrollably, it's hard to actually enforce the rules.

Your furniture is already done for. You have to say no dogs on the furniture, and mean no dogs on the furniture forever more, if that's what you want, soulful eyes or not Napoleon's friend Gollum came over and jumped on my furniture... I freaked, as I've never allowed dogs on the furniture (ok, I freaked internally, I just told his owner I don't allow dogs on my couches). Napoleon learned the trick, and it was a few weeks of constant reminding that he's not allowed up there, but now he doesn't even try.

Dogs are wonderful though! I'm so glad you rescued her. She is too, it seems

Rex rules the household (surprise) and it's hard for Raven when she visits...last time she was here, she saw Rex up on the couch, started to jump up, and was in Big Trouble from her daddy. Didn't try that again.

Re: protection. If she growls, you will of course correct her. Obedience training will help, and will hopefully help her to socialize. Do you have a dog park in your area? She might enjoy that as well, and short trips might help her to work off energy and socialize.

Rexy's never been "overly" protective, he pretty much loves anyone. Other dogs, he does have trouble with...he likes to play, but since he's an "only" dog, he doesn't really know how to, and not for very long. I think the pet therapy has helped...exposure to other dogs in any capacity, and reinforcing that they are his "friends" (calling them by name, seeing the same dogs on a regular basis) seems to help a bit. There are still other dogs he doesn't like much, but that's to be expected. In some cases, I don't care much for their owner either.

I can't take Roxie to the pet park because she can jump the fence. I contacted a trainer yesterday, so hopefully I'll hear from her today. Roxie's room (crate) was moved to our bedroom last night, and she slept there quietly. Tater slept on the bed and got near her so things are going well.
This morning was the first time I had to walk her in the rain. I found out that she is deathly afraid of umbrellas. Luckily, she didn't want to walk in the rain and just did her business and headed back for the door. She's so sweet.

Margaret. I think the battle with the upstairs loveseat is lost. She hasn't been on any other furniture (yet). Brian and I disagree on this. He thinks its ok for her to be on furniture, so he doesn't enforce it. I don't want her on the bed though. She's way to big. We'll see.

She's a really calm, nice girl, but when she gets boughts of playfulness she's a hoot. Thinks she's a lap dog and LOVES belly rubs.

LOL at picturing someone use a bag which has a large hole.

It's not pleasant.