Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Rod Paradise]

Winter is coming, there will be more bike for sale at better prices soon.

Are you still on the C90 trail Boo, and if you do buy one do you think you will crave more power later on?

As i am getting on a bit now, i don't anticipate too many years of riding before my health will put a stop to it so am looking for a bigger bike.

Iliked your idea of cruising abroad so i am looking for something like a Yamaha Virago XV1100 , BMW R1100RT or HONDA ST1100L.

Something cheap that needs a little bit of work so i can spend the winter getting it ready for next year.

When you both get mobile, are we going to meet up and have a test-camp somewhere?

Definately. A meet up and camp trip in Wales or Scotchland would be perfect.

Or even Yorkshire - somewhere relatively midway?

[RED-DOG]

Winter is coming, there will be more bike for sale at better prices soon.

Are you still on the C90 trail Boo, and if you do buy one do you think you will crave more power later on?

As i am getting on a bit now, i don't anticipate too many years of riding before my health will put a stop to it so am looking for a bigger bike.

Iliked your idea of cruising abroad so i am looking for something like a Yamaha Virago XV1100 , BMW R1100RT or HONDA ST1100L.

Something cheap that needs a little bit of work so i can spend the winter getting it ready for next year.

When you both get mobile, are we going to meet up and have a test-camp somewhere?

Definately. A meet up and camp trip in Wales or Scotchland would be perfect.

Or even Yorkshire - somewhere relatively midway?

That's a great Idea Rod. It doesn't really matter where we go so long as we can practice strapping camping stuff onto the bikes, riding somewhere and using it.

I'm going to do an initial test run somewhere close to home first.

[TightEnd]

ever come across springadors before?

we're house-sitting a 4 month old girl (here with one of the borders)

absolutely wonderful dog

Click to see full-size image.

have you ever owned or bred cross breeds that are so in fashion these days eg cockapoos, labradoobles etc

any pitfalls to be aware of when owning these?

[RED-DOG]

ever come across springadors before?

we're house-sitting a 4 month old girl (here with one of the borders)

absolutely wonderful dog

Click to see full-size image.

have you ever owned or bred cross breeds that are so in fashion these days eg cockapoos, labradoobles etc

any pitfalls to be aware of when owning these?

I've owned and purpose-bred several crossbreeds Rich, but none of the ones that are fashionable right now. Mine have always been something like Bedlington  x Whippet, Greyhound x Bull, Saluki x Deerhound x Greyhound, Lakeland x Patterdale etc.

The first of the 'Fashionable' crosses came about when Guide dogs for the Blind wanted a dog for someone who was allergic to dog hair. Some dogs, (Poodles and Yorkshire terriers for instance) don't shed hair and have very little doggy type smell. A kind of hypoallergenic canine if you will. So they crossed one of their best guide dog producing Labrador sires with a Standard Poodle dam and ended up with a Labradoodle, which turned out to be a great guide dog and didn't cause an allergic reaction in it's owner.

There was one unforeseen side effect though, the bloody thing was so damn cute and convenient that everybody wanted one.

In addition to Lab x Standard Poodle, there was soon a Lab x Miniature Poodle and a Lab x Toy Poodle, which gave prospective owners the chance to choose what size of dog they wanted too.

Once the fancy cross wagon was rolling, a lot of people jumped aboard, coming up with every clever-sounding cross they could think of, from Jack-Basset's to Shiht-poos.

There is no downside to a well-bred crossbreed. As a rule, widening the gene pool allows nature to work around the physical and mental maladies that many pure-bred dogs are predisposed to.

One note of caution. Cross a Labrador with a Poodle and you will be able to predict the result, i.e. something that is more or less half Labrador and half Poodle. A Labradoodle. But take it a step further and cross a Labradoodle with a Labradoodle and you will have no idea what the pups will turn out like.

PS- Horse and dog breeders know there is a level of uncertainty about what the young of almost identical (But not purebred) parents will turn out like. I think it's called "The Grandfather Effect". (Not to be confused with the Grandfather Paradox, which is a whole nother ball game.

 



   

[tikay]

Which reminds me, Tom, & this came to mind after watching, of all things, Brian Griffin in an old "Family Guy" last night.

When we have a pet dog & it has a little toy ball, a tennis ball or whatever, the dog (generally) LOVES to rush & get the ball if we throw it, then he fetches it, brings it back, & almost give us the ball.

At the very moment we go to take the ball from it's mouth, it usually turns away, showing much delight, head held high, tail all-a-wag-wag.

What is going on in the dog's mind at that moment? Why does he not just give us the ball so we can do it all again? I mean, he ENJOYS the "fetch", or seems to.

[RED-DOG]

Which reminds me, Tom, & this came to mind after watching, of all things, Brian Griffin in an old "Family Guy" last night.

When we have a pet dog & it has a little toy ball, a tennis ball or whatever, the dog (generally) LOVES to rush & get the ball if we throw it, then he fetches it, brings it back, & almost give us the ball.

At the very moment we go to take the ball from it's mouth, it usually turns away, showing much delight, head held high, tail all-a-wag-wag.

What is going on in the dog's mind at that moment? Why does he not just give us the ball so we can do it all again? I mean, he ENJOYS the "fetch", or seems to.

Not really. What he wants you to do is play a possession type game where you chase him or play tug-of-war, because that's what wild dogs  / wolf puppies do. It's instinctive behavior, partly a practice for dominance thing and partly a 'get your share of the kill' thing.

When you throw the object however, a whole new instinct, the 'chase' instinct, kicks in. Almost all predators are fascinated by moving, and especially by 'fleeing' objects. Until their owner or experience teaches them not to, dogs will chase almost anything that's moving away from them. (It's not often that someone running towards a dog gets bitten).

Once your dog has the ball or what ever it is, the chase instinct is no longer in control and the possession game instinct kicks in again. He brings it as close as he dare to tempt you to play without actually giving up possession.

Often, the dog will eventually work out that if he lets you take the ball you will throw it for him again. This happens more often in breeds with a strong chase instinct, like retrievers or shepherds, and less often in dogs with a strong guarding instinct, like terriers or bulldogs. That being said, all dogs have plenty of chasing and guarding instinct, which one they develop most depends on which behavior gets the most regular positive reinforcement.

[RED-DOG]

I thought you might find this interesting Rod. I did.


http://teflonmike.craywiki.co.uk/0_Lo_040_Features_036_1st_Bike_20_How2_Get_Licence.htm

[Rod Paradise]

I thought you might find this interesting Rod. I did.


http://teflonmike.craywiki.co.uk/0_Lo_040_Features_036_1st_Bike_20_How2_Get_Licence.htm

Aye that was good - good to have the variables laid out.

Hopefully picking my bike up Wednesday!! The ride home (60 miles) will be an experience.....

[RED-DOG]

I thought you might find this interesting Rod. I did.


http://teflonmike.craywiki.co.uk/0_Lo_040_Features_036_1st_Bike_20_How2_Get_Licence.htm

Aye that was good - good to have the variables laid out.

Hopefully picking my bike up Wednesday!! The ride home (60 miles) will be an experience.....

Ooh! What did you buy?

[tonytats]

Not really. What he wants you to do is play a possession type game where you chase him or play tug-of-war, because that's what wild dogs  / wolf puppies do. It's instinctive behavior, partly a practice for dominance thing and partly a 'get your share of the kill' thing.


Our border does this with socks she's gets them out of the washing basket ,and you have to play a tug of war game with her !
There's always 1/2 scattered round the house from previous scuffles
A few of my neighbours have labradoodles of various sizes most are quite young 2/3/4 years old I'm guessing problems won't show up until later in life ??

[RED-DOG]

Not really. What he wants you to do is play a possession type game where you chase him or play tug-of-war, because that's what wild dogs  / wolf puppies do. It's instinctive behavior, partly a practice for dominance thing and partly a 'get your share of the kill' thing.


Our border does this with socks she's gets them out of the washing basket ,and you have to play a tug of war game with her !
There's always 1/2 scattered round the house from previous scuffles
A few of my neighbours have labradoodles of various sizes most are quite young 2/3/4 years old I'm guessing problems won't show up until later in life ??

Do you mean genetic problems or behavioral problems Mr T?

[Rod Paradise]

I thought you might find this interesting Rod. I did.


http://teflonmike.craywiki.co.uk/0_Lo_040_Features_036_1st_Bike_20_How2_Get_Licence.htm

Aye that was good - good to have the variables laid out.

Hopefully picking my bike up Wednesday!! The ride home (60 miles) will be an experience.....

Ooh! What did you buy?

A Daelim Daystar, one of the bigger 125's which I'll need to drag my fat ass around.

Click to see full-size image.

Buying it new, but they seem to hold their value not too bad from the used prices I've seen.

[tikay]

I thought you might find this interesting Rod. I did.


http://teflonmike.craywiki.co.uk/0_Lo_040_Features_036_1st_Bike_20_How2_Get_Licence.htm

Aye that was good - good to have the variables laid out.

Hopefully picking my bike up Wednesday!! The ride home (60 miles) will be an experience.....

Ooh! What did you buy?

A Daelim Daystar, one of the bigger 125's which I'll need to drag my fat ass around.

Click to see full-size image.

Buying it new, but they seem to hold their value not too bad from the used prices I've seen.

Awesome!

[Rod Paradise]

I thought you might find this interesting Rod. I did.


http://teflonmike.craywiki.co.uk/0_Lo_040_Features_036_1st_Bike_20_How2_Get_Licence.htm

Aye that was good - good to have the variables laid out.

Hopefully picking my bike up Wednesday!! The ride home (60 miles) will be an experience.....

Ooh! What did you buy?

A Daelim Daystar, one of the bigger 125's which I'll need to drag my fat ass around.

Click to see full-size image.

Buying it new, but they seem to hold their value not too bad from the used prices I've seen.

Awesome!

Nah, it's  a wee bike tricked up to look like a big bike, but I'll enjoy it and keep learning to get my full licence and then get something with a bit more power.

[booder]

Looks good Rod.