Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I am not in the swap team ~ would love to be but got too many swap bears to finish as is without even being in the swap team! LOL Maybe when I get through all the bears I'm swapping for other's bears and dolls I'll try and join the team if I can.... How do I go about that exactly?

ROFL Yeah he does now you mention it!!!  :crackup:

Well said! *Clapping hands* Bravo! Gorgeous pic by the way and how sad that pit bulls have come to this point.... It makes me truly sad 

Thanks Bobbie I was also amazed no one mentioned Cesar Millan sooner What you said about going through doors and gates with your dogs behind you is great advice, and is also just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to dog psychology, but with that one rule and also MAKING your dog walk behind you with the power of your own calm assertiveness are two ways to have a better relationship with your dog.

Leanne, blue heelers are gorgeous aren't they? They're also very headstrong and make great guard dogs etc. I'm an Aussie too and love this breed! To answer your question, no matter what is supposedly "wrong"  with the dog it is always to do with how the humans have dealt with the dog from day one of owning the dog. It's always the owner. Humans don't speak "dog" and trust me there's a lot more to a dog then meets the eye. Every living thing is constantly conveying energies to every living thing around it and dogs read these energies with total honesty. You cannot hide how you are feeling from a dog and that is why it takes practice to become a good pack leader. Only a stable, calm, assertive person or dog can be a pack leader. If the dog expresses issues it is because it either does not have a pack leader and feels as though it must become the leader ~ which it is not supposed to (that is very dangerous) or, it does have a leader but the leader is unstable and therefore sending wrong messages and energies to the dog that can be easily misinterpretted  and cause attacks or aggression. It is always to do with the owner not understanding how to communicate and behave around their dog that causes any issues a dog might show. It's not to do with the dogs species, breed, the name you've given it, it's parents or genetics ~ it is all about communication and how the dog thinks. NO DOG should be pack leader if it is a pet. That makes them very dangerous, however 75% of pet dogs are pack leaders or unstable within their human families.

In Australia pit bulls have been banned as of today since the fatal attack from a pit bull on a 4 year old girl in Australia recently. Police are literally going door-to-door removing pit-bulls and pit-bull mixes from their homes and destroying them ~ I think this is WRONG. Most of Cesar Millan's personal pet dogs are pit bulls and he has them with him on almost every episode of his show, "The Dog Whisperer." His well know pit bull, "Daddy" recently passed away however he was an amazing dog and one of the most balanced dogs you ever would have met. He was once a trained fighting dog used in illegal dog fighting rings, and Cesar Millan rehabilitated him into the perfect dog. Pit bulls should not be destroyed, their owners just need to be educated on how to deal with their dogs properly. Pit bulls have a strong attack instinct that needs a strong calm-assertive mind. My german shepherd could not have belonged to someone who wanted him as a "trophy dog"  as he would have been dangerous I believe. He needed every moment of attention and careful training I gave him as a puppy and am still giving him. That's what these dangerous breed dogs need, they need attention and careful training. That means someone has to train the owner to train the dog lol.

There is also an idea going around at the minute that ALL dog owners should have to pass a test with every dog they own to see whether they are fit to own a dog and whether they know what they are doing. I think this is a good idea, personally.

Someone I met whilst walking my dogs the other day asked my opinion on owning german shepherds and great danes as they were thinking of getting one or the other as a gift for their daughter who's always wanted a puppy. Neither of the parents have EVER owned a dog in their whole lives, and their daughter is 3 and a half years old....... Do I need say more? People need educating about the dogs they choose and then they need educating about how to deal with the dog they choose......

Anyway enough from me I'm babbling, sorry! Don't mean to sound like a know-it-all or anything, I believe anyone can own a dog and follow Cesar Millan's methods if the choose to ~ everything is a choice. There are not only a few people in the world who can do this, anyone who wants to can learn to and master it. And you don't have to spend a lot of money to learn (I only took my courses because people didn't take me seriously with how I dealt with dogs until I could say I'd completed courses in the field ~ silly I know).

He certainly does!!! He reminds me of my German Shepherd Love him he's gorgeous, I love all your bears Jo

I counted 7 the eighth may be my imagination lol. Be interesting to see how many there really are....

I can't view the pic either perhaps there was a problem posting it? Would love to see it 

Yes I agree. And where possible I always try to buy items directly from the people that created them (assuming that's possible). And nice to finally have worked out where I knew from Becky! Don't you hate it when you know you know someone but you can't work out how? LOL well now I've worked it out 

I have this book and it's great!!! Thanks for writing it Nancy it's fantastic. I learnt alot from it when I was starting. I have always wanted to own Bears With A Past too but haven't been able to find it. Is it available to buy directly from you Nancy?

OMG OMG OMG I want him! I collect foxes as I have a pet fox (not really a pet he just visits us all the time) I love this fox!!!!! Going to ebay right now I want to bid!!!!    OMG HE'S SO CUTE!

That one I saw wasn't ~ what I watched was really good, I'd remember if it wasn't.

Yes why is it men think that men have to be all macho and that is attractive ~ when I think most girls I know and myself would find a guy who loved bears way more attractive LOL  It's a bit backwards I think the world needs help if they start thinking bears are weird ~ OK so that means the world needs help as a lot of people already do think bears are weird.

AWWWW SHE'S GORGEOUS!!!! Can you post her link please? Even if I can't bid I'd like to watch her.

I think I may have seen it somewhere it sounds familiar but if it what I think it is I can definitely recommend it to bear makers and people who love animals it's great!

And it's great to hear you don't own a TV, it wastes a huge part of my life but I haven't been able to get rid of it..... I think perhaps tv is addictive, as is this computer lol.

Fergus is so cute!

I know it's ridiculous. Seriously ridiculous.

LOL Jessie that made me laugh 

There's nothing wrong with men having bears ~ bears are gorgeous and I feel sorry for those missing out on bears and how awesome they are. I agree that this topic made me angry too, because why shouldn't everyone be allowed to appreciate bears? There's worse things you could be out doing then hugging bears! People are killing each other and getting addicted to things they shouldn't ~ why worry about people who like to hug bears when you could be focussing on helping people without food and homes etc..... Not only should you be able to have and hug bears if you want, but in the scheme of things it's just not something anyone needs to be worrying about or getting angry about.

There's so much  I want to say here right now but I can't as my computer is about to die and I don't want to babble lol ~ so better get back to this bear, which amazingly I have to say is a custom order for one of my male collectors who is straight (not that I think we should have to specify whether someone is straight or gay every time we mention a man who likes bears).

Well you can comment Jessie as all bears are gorgeous therefore they're gorgeous even if you can't see them and so you can say that they're gorgeous because they just must be! LOL that may not have made sense.

Birgitte, it doesn't matter where you're from your bears are still gorgeous and even if you don't get a comment on them they're still gorgeous  I personally try to post a comment in every thread but it's hard as there are so many and I still need to make bears lol. I also don't care what country the members are from, what bears they make or the language they speak I still love their bears as all bears are gorgeous ~ and I try to respond to all topics possible. I got a message from a lady the other day that was in French and so I copied and pasted the message into my language translator and I'm so glad I did as it was such a lovely message! So to reply, I wrote what I wanted to say in ENglish into the translator and then sent backt to her the French version lol. I try not to overlook any postings and I believe most people here are the same, it's just we don't have to make bears too so often we don't post for a bit.

Don't feel that you have to go away Birgitte as there are people listening to you! I have to say I adore the bear in your avatar pic  Would like to see you post some of your creations here again.

How amazing! And how lucky you are to have docile big bears wandering through your neighborhood. All I get is the next door neighbour's cattle trampling through my garden and snakes hiding under every rock or bush you see lol (I'm in Australia, but sort of in the middle of nowhere so there's alot of creatures lol).

Yes I love all animals too (I have two cats, six dogs, two calves, 30 chooks and a goldfish LOL).

I feel sad for the other dog too however it's great to know your dog is back to normal! If you were any closer I'd offer to keep the other dog myself too. That is how I got my lab and my Staghound Great Dane cross, I rescued them from their owners LOL. They're great now and the only aggression I ever see is from the lab and it's only ever towards her owner if we pass him on our travels.

We walk in paddocks and all over the place too although I wish there was a beach we could go to! My jack russel literally duck-dives in water, I drop food in creeks and he will duck dive and snorkel along the bottom until he finds it ~ it's so cute!

This is a huge problem the world over and that's why it's hard enough trying to look after your own dogs let alone rescue everyone else's. There is a mastiff staffie cross living down the road from us and I think he may end up living with me ~ I used to help the owners and train the dog but it all went in one ear and out the other for them. They just use him to parade around town with his huge studded collar when he's such a marshmallow. They are looking to give him away so he might just end up here....

By the way I absolutely love your bears and watched Juniper's auction on ebay ~ I really wanted to bid actually but I'm trying to stop collecting and keep making!

Keep enjoying your bear making and dog walking, it's all good for the soul. 

Sorry Jessie still haven't worked out how to post my own pics and I go through PhotoBucket so I'm no help at all as I'm still clueless as to posting pics LOL.

Someone will be able to help you, that's what I love about this forum :)

Gorgeous fur on Becky the bear by the way. It's funny, I love natural coloured mohair bears but with synthetic I use and buy a lot of pink and bright bears! Love pink synthetic! I tell you what, if you were any closer and had been around two years ago I could have given you a knee-length pink mink coat (before I was making mink bears I was giving away mink ~ dense I know as now I'm paying a fortune for it lol).

I'm really glad you got something out of my post I was worried someone would think I babbled lol.

The staffie you are describing obviously has alot of pent-up energy and on top of that believes he has to be in charge of his "pack" as the other member, the human, is so obviously not. I don't think he sounds like a dominant dog just a very confused dog that has had no attention or training. His owner's energies towards the dog are obviously just those of "look at my dog" and the dog feels that ~ he knows his pack member is not stable (LOL) and the dog knows it is his job to become the leader as someone always, at all times, has to be pack leader. A pack can never be leader-less. This dog knows this, as all dogs do, and as the human obviously isn't leading the dog steps in ~ which he shouldn't. Dogs shouldn't have to make their own decisions based on the idea that they're the leader as that is how they become aggressive. They deal with situations themselves in flight or fight mode and do not wait for a leader's commands as they don't have one.

I feel very sorry for the dog as it sounds as though things will not go well for him. If only there were rehabilitation centers like Cesar Millan's in every town in the world LOL then there would be no problems!

Also I'd like to say how great it is you're a dog walker! That's such a great job to have and so great to be able to go from making a bear to taking a relaxing break and walking dogs. That would be great for yourself and for all the dogs  I can honestly say it should be easier for you to prevent dog attacks from coming at you and your dogs in the future simply because you have multiple dogs with you. Lone-dogs with only "one pack member" (the human) would not attack a group of balanced, calm dogs with a calm-assertive leader (you). I often find when I am walking my dogs (they all walk behind me or to the side, not in front, and all tails are pointing down) that strays or wandering dogs come along and join us, trotting along behind with the other dogs until they feel too far from home and then they turn and go home. It's amazing what calm-assertive energy can do and that other dogs WANT to join you because your pack is balanced and is a great "time out" from all the unstable human relationships they get back home. It's truly amazing to watch ~ my friend actually filmed me at one time walking my six dogs and we have 12 following, lead-less, across roads and everything! WOW did I feel special ROFL.

Good on you for walking so many dogs at once I know it is quite an effort lol, especially with puppies and naturally head-strong dogs 

How is your yorkie now? Did he come out OK, well and safe and sound?

OK I have not read every last post here but I found it all very fascinating. If I repeat what someone else has already said please feel free to ignore it lol.

Firstly, I am a dog trainer and have completed 3 courses in dog psychology (which works on the theory of pack leaders and energies etc, like Cesar Millan) but that does not make me an expert and I hate when dog trainers speak to dog owners as though they know nothing and the trainer thinks they know everything. I am not one of these trainers I love to learn and I am a huge fan of positive thinking and like to put it into practice as often as possible.

I have six dogs. My first 3 dogs were very small dogs, and I learnt from them immensely. I now own a whippet, a labrador, a Great Dane, a Staghound Great Dane Cross, a jack russel and a German Shepherd and they are all very well socialized. I made ZILCH bears whilst each was a puppy LOL. They have all completed puppy school and obedience training and I attend dog agility and obedience trials every week ~ however I once owned a Bulldog who attacked my three day old calf (baby cow). I don't want to go into details too much but I could not get the dog off the calf. I called my father to come and take drastic measures which years ago I would have vowed I'd NEVER do to a dog ~ but later when I could calm down (months later) I realised that the calf could have been someone's child and that would have been worse. I am a psychologist for dogs and work with the leader theory however sometimes there is no other option but to ...... (sorry to be so blunt) kill the dog.

I actually have nothing against pitbulls or staffies or similar breeds, I don't believe it's the fault of the breed I believe it's the fault of the owner.

This dog that attacked your precious yorkie (which by the way are such cute lil dogs!!!) was probably out in front of it's owner, tail held high and totally in control and in charge of his "pack." Given this mind-set, there is no way you could have changed his mind about attacking your dog. Not in a few seconds, anyway. Pepper spray is a great idea!!! I had never thought of that but will have to get hold of some. I walk all six of my dogs together and often fellow dog-walkers walking passed see me coming with my five huge dogs and one tiny dog lol, and they are so afraid that this energy passes through the lead to their dog. I have only ever had one instance of another's dog attacking mine in which I could not fix in the moment (usually I can stop the attack before it escalates). Thankfully in this instance my dogs did not react to the mastiff who attacked and waited for my command or action ~ and I could trust my dogs enough to drop all six leads and stop the on-coming mastiff.

Without a doubt, it is ALWAYS about the owner, not the dog. This does not in the slightest mean that the owners are "bad" it just means they need to learn more about their dogs and the way they think and how what you do can effect the dog's thoughts and actions.

It's horrible that this dog attacked your yorkie and it is wrong that the owner obviously doesn't care. The dog and the owner need help. I find that mostly it is men who own these big "tough" dogs lol, and they only like to walk it around the town and show it off. The dog suffers from the owner's ignorance.

Again what a great idea is Pepper Spray!!!! I will have to have some, however well behaved my own dogs are I can't account for other owner's dogs so pepper spray is great.

You should definitely let the police know about the staffy as it needs some help. I don't know if a muzzle is a good idea though. My German Shepherd is the best behaved dog I own until a muzzle comes near him. He wore one alot when he was young as my neighbours didn't trust him, and he's good at wearing it even now. The only problem is when we come across another dog he feels threatened and as though he is not able to defend himself even if he wants to, and all of a sudden he will bark and growl (which he never does). So I don't know if a muzzle is the best idea, perhaps the owner of the staffy worked this out too and left it off his dog just when you saw him.

Please let us know how you get on with this whole situation as I'd like to know how things go.

Also, if you'd like any tips or hints on dogs and behaviour in general feel free to PM me. I would like to please point out to you all that although I studied dog psychology for about 4 years and spent alot of money on learning it, I don't EVER charge for my professional consultations ~ if I charge people don't let me help, so my bears are paying back the courses I took and I help owner's to train their dogs for FREE.

Anyway feel free to ask any questions if you'd like to I don't mind helping ~ I love to help when it comes to dogs.

Hi and welcome to the forum! I love your elephants and have admired them many times over ~ there is someone re-selling one of your elephants on a site I won't mention here, don't know if you're aware of this or not but feel free to PM me about the details as it may not be as it seems, just thought I would mention it where you will see it. I don't know the seller so I thought it was unusual, usually they're collectors moving on old collection bears ~ but not always...

Anyway welcome!

Please don't anyone think I'm trying to create a situation here I just would like to know if this was my bear so I let others know when it happens to them ~ I mean well, honest!

Yeah! Like that cat in "the cat came back, the very next day..." song! How gorgeous is that pic, just love it  I think the cat ate the dog, for sure