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Since no one but the author can edit the description, I am starting a competing proposal: Animal Health and Behavior, at area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/11526/… . I will be trying for more of an expert focus. You can follow as many proposals as you want, so there is no real problem with having two competing proposals at this early stage. – forefinger Jul 6 '10 at 21:48

This proposal is now in the Commitment phase — example questions are locked!

91 Example Questions (8 closed)

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up vote 23 down vote

added by Adam Davis, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Apr 18 '11 at 21:23

When looking at a behavior problem you first always make sure the dog has enough exercise both physical AND mental. Many problems are just caused by boredom. Is the dog barking while playing or barking at neighbors? How have you tought the dog the difference between a non-threat and a threat? I teach mine that they are allowed one or two "alert" barks. I also teach them the words "speak" and "quiet" so that they know what I'm asking for. – BitOff Oct 9 '10 at 20:25

up vote 22 down vote

added by googletorp, edited by Aaronaught Aug 23 '10 at 20:32

Do you mean "neuter?" – Robert Harvey Jun 13 '10 at 18:24

up vote 22 down vote

added by rlb.usa, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Aug 7 '10 at 14:56

up vote 21 down vote

added by googletorp, edited by Adam Davis Jun 12 '10 at 1:48

up vote 21 down vote

added by SnOrfus, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Apr 18 '11 at 21:21

up vote 11 down vote

added by rlb.usa Jun 12 '10 at 15:22

up vote 10 down vote

added by rlb.usa, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Aug 7 '10 at 14:54

subjective/argumentative – Will Mar 23 '11 at 14:53

up vote 10 down vote

added by MicTech, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Apr 18 '11 at 21:20

-1 off topic... the experts in this probably won't be on this site, they would be cleaning people not cat people. – BitOff Oct 9 '10 at 20:27

@bitoff - are you suggesting that cat owners won't know/have experience of cleaning cat urine from furniture? – Jasarien Feb 12 '11 at 10:29

up vote 9 down vote

added by Timothy Carter Jun 12 '10 at 0:05

up vote 9 down vote

added by MatthewMartin Jun 24 '10 at 2:03

up vote 8 down vote

added by Adam Davis Jun 12 '10 at 1:49

up vote 7 down vote

added by amjohi Jun 16 '10 at 18:46

subjective/argumentative – Will Mar 23 '11 at 14:52

up vote 7 down vote

added by googletorp Jun 16 '10 at 20:43

-1 Too subjective... most exotic animal questions probably will be – BitOff Oct 9 '10 at 20:31

Don't see how this is subjective. – DJClayworth Nov 8 '10 at 21:11

I think the implied question "SHOULD you turn a fox into a household pet" is what makes it subjective. Obviously the answer to the explicit question is yes. Well, unless this is a question of legality. Maybe some clarification is needed. – JohnFx Mar 10 '11 at 15:32

up vote 7 down vote

added by rlb.usa, edited by WikiSpeedia hang-around Apr 18 '11 at 21:21

up vote 7 down vote

added by BitOff Oct 9 '10 at 20:15

up vote 7 down vote

added by bemace Oct 10 '10 at 4:34

up vote 7 down vote

added by Alison S Oct 25 '10 at 20:52

up vote 6 down vote

added by Aaronaught Jul 5 '10 at 19:16

up vote 6 down vote

added by intlect Aug 6 '10 at 21:23

This is a good example because it addresses a real detailed issue that you can get a lot of feedback from everyday people as well as trainers. – BitOff Oct 9 '10 at 20:26

up vote 6 down vote

added by JohnFx Sep 14 '10 at 15:03

up vote 6 down vote

added by chrislarson Nov 6 '10 at 14:50

up vote 6 down vote

added by Rytmis Jan 25 '11 at 19:43

up vote 5 down vote

added by googletorp, edited by Adam Davis Jun 12 '10 at 1:49

up vote 5 down vote

added by SnOrfus Jun 23 '10 at 5:19

do you mean aversely affected my [other pet] ? – rlb.usa Jun 23 '10 at 17:29

up vote 5 down vote

added by SnOrfus Jun 23 '10 at 5:23

up vote 4 down vote

added by Adam Davis Jun 12 '10 at 1:53

closed as off topic by SnOrfus, Helen, MPelletier, bemace, bigown Nov 16 '10 at 0:01

This question does not relate to the topic of the proposal.
It was closed as part of an automated migration of off-topic to close votes on September 29, 2011.

Off topic. Cows may be pets, but this is a farming/livestock question. – Adam Davis Jun 17 '10 at 1:55

Why should livestock be off topic? The description about breeding and taking them to competition BEGS for 4H type questions. – JohnFx Sep 14 '10 at 15:06

Seems reasonable to me. If you are keeping it as a pet, you probably still have to milk it Cows get sick if they are not milked. How often do I have to milk it to prevent it getting sick? – DJClayworth Nov 3 '10 at 19:20

@DJ Clayworth - they only need to be milked if they have had a calf - otherwise they won't produce milk – warren Jan 23 '11 at 4:55

"proposed site for people that...breed them" – Louis Apr 23 '11 at 1:12

up vote 4 down vote

added by amjohi Jun 16 '10 at 18:47

Put a lampshade around it's neck, haha. – rlb.usa Jun 17 '10 at 18:33

Its probably allergies. My cocker spaniel had allergies and chewed on his feet constantly. We gave him children's benadryl and that helped. – Alison S Nov 1 '10 at 14:42

up vote 4 down vote

added by MPelletier Aug 14 '10 at 16:26

	You might want to consider giving him glucosamine. My cat has bad knees and I notice the difference when he gets 2 glucosamine/chondrotin treats a day. – Alison S Oct 25 '10 at 20:54
	@Alison S: Oh cool! That's interesting! He was diagnosed with weak knees indeed, and we have anti-inflammatory pills for when it gets bad. I'll look glucosamine up! Thanks! – MPelletier Oct 30 '10 at 19:44
	You're welcome, I get the treats at a large pet retailer. I found that to be easier than the glucosamine supplements that mix into food. We have to be really gentle/careful with our cat in general. Try to keep him from jumping while playing with a string for example. When picking him up, we have to place his all 4 feet gently on the floor. He blew out his knees twice last summer during those incidents and had to go on the anti-inflammatory/pain meds. – Alison S Nov 1 '10 at 14:36
	Is this a sample question or a real question? Wat is this I don't even – Will Mar 23 '11 at 14:54
	@Will: It's both. I tend to present questions as samples that I would really like an answer to. – MPelletier Mar 24 '11 at 2:14

up vote 4 down vote

added by BitOff Oct 9 '10 at 20:14

Sheep-dogs are working dogs, not pets. – DJClayworth Nov 5 '10 at 13:20

Many of us with herding breads as pets like to be able to give them work to do as well. One way to do that is to train them to herd sheep and compete in trials. – BitOff Nov 8 '10 at 3:04

I have a herding dog as a pet. I would LOVE to drop her in the middle of some sheep. – morganpdx Jan 10 '11 at 19:08

Please vote for it as an "on-topic" then. This is exactly my point... there are lots of us with herding dogs who train on stock when we can but don't own stock. Our dogs are not "real" working dogs in that we don't need them to keep our farm/ranch working. But we still like to let them feel what they were bread to do. And it is fun for the owners. – BitOff Jan 10 '11 at 19:23