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For my NaNoWriMo (National novel writing month) this year I'm writing a dog adventure/supernatural story as something fun to do.

I have the names for most main character dogs, but would like to have any suggestions for names. Be they names you have used, or know someone who has, or simply think are nice names.

Any help would be appreciated :D

The names can be 'typical' dog names, pop-culture reference names, breed/country of origin specific names, seriously, anything at all.

We've had two goats for nearly fifteen years, this weekend one had to be put down.

Now we're having trouble getting the other to leave the stable, she loves chasing the dog around so we take him down and let them go a little crazy to try and get her going. It works, but obviously it isn't something we can do all the time, or for very long.

As she's quite old we don't want anything which will put to much strain on her legs, so no raised platforms or anything like that (I do think she'd enjoy different levels, but we'd be too worried to leave it in there in case she hurt herself.)

Just looking for some simple enrichment ideas or toys you could suggest or games even.

Getting another goat is not an option, and we don't think she'd do to well being moved somewhere else where there are goats.

We're already spending more time with her and trying a few different things, like playing the way we did when the two of them were Kids - running around, ruffling her sides and getting her chasing and running. But obviously there is a limit as to how much time we have to spend with her.

Please, any suggestions, it's getting horrible to see her like this. It does make it all the more heart warming and wonderful to get her going, but still.

Okay, so I finally found a CD copy of L4d2, I'm not a fan of digital downloads because of the EADM just proving to be a worthless pile of ****.

I got home and went to install it, first off it kept freezing when I tried to make a steam account, but eventually it sorted out and I got to my dashboard or whatever it's called. But then I notice that it didn't actually install the game, instead it's downloading it. It started at 50% at around 4 and it's only just gotten to 52%, it's 6.30.

It's seriously getting frustrating. I have the disk, why can't I just install it off of that? I tried shutting steam down and taking out the disk and putting it back and trying install through the autorun again, but all that did was 'verify steam files' for about an hour, tell me that's all verified and then disappear.

It currently estimates it's going to be another 15 hours for my game to download, and even then it wont be installed. Seriously, how can I get around this ****?

I remember when I was 15 my older sister was doing my makeup for a party and I said I read online that for my eye and hair colour I should wear - insert normal respectable colours here - and she said screw it. I was young, this is the time to be creative, bright and daring.

I know that there is no real limit, I have friends who are older than me who still to amazing face art not makeup (But then again they are artists, musicians and thespians :P ) And on occasion my late twenties sister will still don something very bright and eye catching (But she's a stylist and owns her business so I don't see her getting looked at differently for it)

But I've always wondered, would you lot out there say there was a cut off age for really colourful expressions? If so do you think it depends on the individual, their situation/work/lifestyle or do you think that anyone over a certain age is just silly, regardless of who they are.

I'm planning to start the cording process, I've never done it before but have be taught how to start and care for it, that's not what I'm asking.

What I'm wondering is which you lovely people of YA! think would look best:

1) just cord the top knot, keep his ears natural and curly (Usually keep them in a 'spaniel' style cut)

or

2) Cord both the top knot and the ears.

I wasn't sure about doing the ears because unlike the head I can't stand shaved ears on my boy, and I know that when/if I chose to stop caring and continuing the cords they will need to be shaved off.

How large would be needed to power a couple of lights and maybe a laptop.

We're setting up a yurt or Ger on a large empty part of our garden. And instead of running an extension cord we were going to look into getting a small Solar generator. We already use solar panels to heat the pool and subsidise house electricity - but those were set up by a previous owner.

I'm looking to get a new bike and saw this one a loved it, then saw the going price for it with the racks, which are extras, and couldn't believe it. There's no way I'd be able to afford it anytime soon. But It's really just the racks I want, because at the moment I walk to the stores and college and work, that and use the train, and would like to start biking instead. So I need some space for bags and goods etc.

(That and at some point get a pet basket for the back if I can.)

So, can these kinds of racks or holders be fixed onto other bikes? (I know it's probably a stupid question but I just want to be sure.) And if they can, what kind of bikes handle these best? I live in the country and would rather have a bike which can handle rougher terrain, but a road bike would be fine.

My last bike was a Raleigh mountain, but I don't have it anymore.

http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/product.php?...

This came to mind a week or so ago, I found my dogs 3 generation pedigree when I was looking for his vaccination record.

I got him as a pet, from a woman who does show but not seriously, he was selling cheap because of an accident when he was a pup left him with a shortly docked tail. His litter mates all had their tails at the correct length or else I would be inclined to believe it was a vet who had never cut poodle tails before and cut it way to short... as it is I just have the breeders word for it.

But that's not really the point. He has 3 champions in his past - both grandparents on the Sire side and his Dams father.

I was just curious about how many champions most 'pet quality' registered dogs have, if any?

Disclaimer: I don't really put stock in champions and looks based breeding, this is a curiousity question, I don't think more are better or any thing like that. Also, I don't agree with docking tails in any but working dogs, but he was perfectly healthy and his parents were health checked...

Currently I live in the main house on an over 2 acre property, which backs on to fields, lakes, foot paths etc. (Really middle of no where house)

In the past our dogs have lived either in the utility room - which opens into a large fenced in courtyard - or the heated kennel/stable - which also opens into the courtyard.

The entire property is fenced in, though the height and material of the fencing varies.

I'm looking to move into an ancillary building which is really quite small. (Think the size of a 4 berth trailer or camper...) My current dog is small enough to move into it and stay there happily during the day, with his usually walks and outside time as well obviously.

But i have been discussing getting a second dog, this dog isn't the same breed - I was looking more at the sledding, high energy dogs, but it's all still in the planning stages. I know they need large yards, and I know they are suitable for outside living.

I was planing on, if I got one of these breeds, keeping them in the home whilst they're still young, with my other dog, and when they got a bit bigger moving them into the kennel during the day so they could move around a lot in a safe location, but having them inside at night.

Obviously I know how much exercise these breeds require and have already factored that in, the kennel would just be for during the day and I'd leave my current dog in there too (And there's always someone in the main house)

Really, i guess my question boils down to whether or not this would be okay - if they have the kennel and the large courtyard and garden for during the day and are only spending the nights in the small house - would that be a feasible.

I've read that an alternative to sugar is honey, but i'm guessing it would change the consistency.

I'm making cupcakes using a recipe from 'Vegan Cup cakes Take Over the World'. I'm not vegan and they're not for vegans, so I have no problem ethically or whatever using honey.

it calls for 3/4 cups of granulated sugar. How much honey would I use if I didn't want to change the consistency to much?

oh, and I'm using the vegan recipe because I love how they normally taste...

It's my mom's birthday today, and due to lack of anything resembling money I drew her two ferrets - who are like her babies...

Now I'm facing the trouble of figuring out how to wrap it. I don't have any envelopes the right size, otherwise I was going to put some wrapping paper over one and put the drawing in that :S

So, any ideas? It's only A4...

I may have some card lying around to give it more strength and shape if that's be useful.

I have been reading over two pages over at 'TV Tropes' one about films commonly misconstrued as being for children and another which is about films aimed at children which the people over there deem inappropriate.

Now, i don't know if maybe it's just my experience (I've been told I was a very mature child and would take things in stride better then most people a lot older then me would) But i know I watched many of the 'not aimed at kids' films repeatedly, and when watching them now i would happily show them to my child - and although my sister was quite the opposite about these films when younger, she thinks she'll probably show them to her kid when she's older. (Only a few months now)

A lot of the films that they seemed to think shouldn't have been for children but which actually were seemed kind of pathetic, almost like the second it was a bit creepy or strange, or mentioned death or something, they went and said 'it shouldn't be for children'... I mean, they try to claim that Hocus Pocus wasn't suitable for children, and neither were a bunch of Disney films and some books i know i read and thought nothing of.

So i guess this is the classic 'Would you stop Bambi just before she got shot?' question.

Do you believe a child should be kept from this kind of imagery or stories or do you believe it should be introduced and expanded on as a known theme and part of life?

Oh and bonus question: When a pet dies, say it's dead and explain death - or talk about that farm upstate, or even by an identical?

My dad read it when he was a teenager, and saw the film when it came out. It was the first non-picture book i read at age 8 to 9 with help from my dad for the longer words.

I remember watching the film every christmas sense i was very young. I can see why people would say no, it isn't suitable, but honestly is it any worse than Bambi? I personally believe that children should watch films like this, it's an emotional milestone and helps set them up for future situations and could help them handle things more maturely.

However, my older sister is the exact opposite, she has never read the book and watched the film only once or twice and will never see it again - despite being nearly 30 she is still horrified.

So does it boil down to who the child is as an individual whether it would benefit or traumatize them or would you just say no all together?

(And i know the book is not for children, when i tell people i read it at that age they stare at me and get this judging look about my parents letting me read it, but they believed that it was something to learn about - death, war, horror and such and that it should never be hidden from a kid because we want to shelter them)

I have a miniature poodle, he is very well trained and listens to everything he's told and respects people. I have recently had some trouble with an idiot member of family who continuously ignores my request to not encourage the negative behaviors such as whining or forcing his head under their hand by ignoring him. I explained that it is enforcing an attention seeking behaviour, it looses respect from the dog and teaches them that as long as they do that they get attention when they want it and always when they want it.

I said he could pet the dog and invite it up on his lap when he wants to, but if the dog jumps up uninvited or whines or does the rubbing up against him thing then he should get him off the sofa or ignore him. Once he calms down then it's okay to pet him again.

The man is well over 30, but seems to be as dumb as sh*t and hugely disrespectful - because even if he didn't understand why i ask him to do things he should do it anyways as it's my damn dog and my hard work he's undermining!

He doesn't seem to realize that there's a connection between the 'oh he's so well behaved and such a good dog' and the constant work and irritating 'drill sergeant' nick name (My dog is working towards gun dog work so it's a lot of distance hand signals at the moment) from when he interrupted a training session. I even let it end and told the dog it was okay to go play with him.

Sense explaining this in an adult way doesn't seem to work for this damn moron I was hoping maybe using kid-gloves and a child friendly approach would work. So any suggestions?

And i am not to hard on the dog. He's a clever little brat who will try to get away with things. I play with him all the time and use play to get the best training and work out of him but i'm in charge when i need to be. I work with dogs, I'm currently assisting at a dog training center in hopes of going on to do that my self (Previous and current real work is as a groomer) I know much more hardass trainers, but they all know that a happy dog learns more than a stressed dog, so the sternness is only used when needed!

The man has also never owned a dog before but has had cats - though the one cat he's had sense a kitten is royally screwed up (Sweet and funny but messed up) He's one of those weirdos who teach their cats to suck on their nipples! (Cat wasn't taken away to early he just somehow got her to do it - kind of sick...)

It's gotten to the point I'm honestly going to sit him down and tell him he can either listen to me and enjoy time with the dog or he can pout and never spend time with him.

I like how this breed looks and would like to read more about similar in appearance dog breeds.

I am not looking to buy a dog based on looks, i am no where near ready for another dog (I'm only just starting in a new career path and am having trouble keeping one dog occupied, i don't want to add a second) so please no comments about 'don't pick based on looks' i know not to do that. I'm just curious okay?

so here it is: http://www.indiandogs.com/images/redandblack2.jpg

I hope that link works :S... It's an American Indian Dog.

Okay.

I'm taking a canine care and behaviour course, but it's not on this week due to snow so i can't ask the instructor... I know that not fully vaccinated dogs can meet other dogs which are fully vaccinated as they can't infect them because they don't carry it etc. I also know that my instructor (Who is a top breeder of show and working dogs in her breed for over 10 years and a vet nurse so she has a clue before anyone says otherwise) She'll pop puppies into those carry along slings to socialize them with people and experiences before they can go out fully.

My question is, if you have a fenced in garden, no other dogs and no roaming creatures (cats, foxes etc) in the area, is it okay to let not fully vaccinated pups out in your garden?

Just curious. I've only ever gotten dogs after their final vaccinations.

I got it last december and it worked fine, I specifically bought this one because it would be strong enough to play the sims 3 with minimal problems. (which it used to)

Now i can't even load the damn game, it would take a while before, but now it just makes the screen go black or tones of lines etc. I thought it was just the game, but then it happened when i was watching a DVD on full screen in windows media player.

I then tried to get the sims 3 to run long enough so that i could switch it to non-fullscreen. This didn't help, it still crashes.

WTH is wrong with the computer? It's an HP so it's overheated a shed load, and there is a battery problem (It doesn't really work, HAS to be plugged in, more or less eliminating the point of a laptop...) I'm thinking maybe a new battery? But i don't know computers, and apparently the PC World computer repair guys don't either cos they didn't have a clue!

I know there are many things they can't have, I have a comprehensive list of it all.

But i want to know what you like giving your dogs as treats, what they tend to like most and what would look nice as a decorative but edible topping on dog-chocolates (carob or vegan chocolate obviously) or as chips/chunks in dog cookies.

Obviously these are treats, so a dog would be having no more then one or two or these a day. (And only on special days) I would like it to be human friendly too, but that is of secondary importance.

These are also just for looks, this little bit anyways, i have the recipes and i have been making them for a while, i just wanted to make some nice looking ones for a friends dogs birthday and if they go down well, for my dog friends x-mas presents. (Yes i am that cheapskate who makes not buys things :P )

I'm guess it is just a personal thing, but it seems like, even though there is nothing about it in the breed guidelines, maybe judges favor certain colours?

My examples are (And please don't hesitate to correct me, i go to as many shows as possible and have looked at breeders sites and breed clubs sites, but i'm in full time education and can't go to as many i'd like to) Poodles, seem to mainly be black. I've never seen a non-black poodles besides mine ever in this country and county (Essex, England) All those i saw at discover dogs were black or maybe dark brown. I've seen brown labradoodles, and a huge grey labradoodle who's poodle dad was an apricot.

Huskies, in shows they all seem to either be black or grey, with the same coat pattern. Aren't huskies supposed to be allowed almost any colour and many different coat patterns? Why are they all almost identical? I haven't seen a single red, sable or agouti husky in this country yet, but i saw a few when i was in NY, I've seen a few of the wolf grey and sable but only in the racing lines.

My personal view is the double-barrel surname, that way on documents like passports and such it's clear that both parents have a link to it. Whereas if only one surname, the parent who doesn't share the name may have trouble traveling alone with the children - i know, i'm a child who has had to spend hours in those back rooms in airports because of a different name on mine to my mother's passport and the fact that my dad could never travel with us.

I ask because i know someone who's about to have a kid with someone she's only been with for two years, and TBH, i really don't see it lasting, no one does - and she wants to only use the fathers name. I want to tell her it's a bad idea but i'm not sure.

What do you think? Could it really complicate her life if, heaven forbid, they do split up? Should she just use her name or use a double barrel?