How about a stainless steel garden shovel?
http://www.drpower.com/prdSell.aspx?p1Name=garden_tools&Name=stainless_steel_garden_tools
No rust!

Yard art?

Thanks!

Now that's something I hadn't thought of! Marriage, kids, mortgage have made me so vanilla.

A piece of stainless for his motorcycle.

oh, I like handcuffs! LOL and some ben wa balls! LOL

I went with the shovel. He does so much gardening. MY agreement to help him in the garden was his favorite part of the present. He got me a leash (No, this is not as exciting as it sounds.) I've been having a lot of trouble with the pup chewing her leash, so I got a metal one. But it hurts my hands when I shorten it by wrapping it. So he made something from different types of chains with rings that can't slip.


Anniversary problem solved. Thanks for ev eryon'es input. Now the pup's biting is another issue. After she left huge gashes down my leg, I hired a new trainer, who will come on WEd. If this doesn't solve it, back she goes. I know it's "Play biting" rather than meanness, but I'm at my limit. And I can't even exercise her out of some excess energy 'cause she's afraid of the rain and just cries to come back in.

Sounds like you had a good anniversary.

When my pup bit me, I grabbed his ear with my teeth and bit down, didn't bite hard to damage or draw blood but hard enough to get a yelp. it worked. dog quit biting. you have to do this from a psychologically and physically dominant position or the dog could retaliate.

I'm not dominant, and that's the problem. My husband's from Brooklyn, very into being the top dog, and the pup is an angel with him. When I try stuff like grab her scruff or close her mouth with my hands, she bites harder. Sometimes I cringe when he says things to the kids like "Don't raise your voice to me", since I'm all about Positive Discipline. And so was my first trainer. she said rewar d what you like, ignore what you don't. That did not work at all. (It might have with a gentler dog)

This will definitely be a growing experience for me as it will require me having "power over" her in order to have a successful (and safe) relationship. Having been victimized by power abuses, I've spent most of my adult life trying for "power with". So these will be new muscles. The new trainer is all about dominance but not in a physical way. I haven't met with her yet, but I know some of it is things like always go through the door before the dog and you pick up a toy and throw it, don't let them b ring it to you. That I cAn do; it's the attitude that will be much harder.

Also, I'm learning how I take in other people's irrational fears. I'm friends with lots of pits and pit mixes, so when my vet said to get a pit mix, I was thrilled. since this dog's been biting me, I've been reading about pits on the net and am afraid she might turn and kill one of us. Even though rationally I know she's only an out of control puppy, other people's prejudice and fear has seeped in. I'm being really disciplined about meditating every night ; it's the best tool I know to combat this. And relieve stress.

For $700, put on the credit card. I was feeling broke and resentful, so thanks for reminding me that it's a gift to have that choice. And since I've been taking the dog out (She just got old enough to be out of isolation) she's better. A bit of a scardey do actually.