His favorite bones are the big 12-14 inch ones with the 6-7 inch joints on
each end and center about 3-4 inches. *Only large dogs can comfortably pick
those up and walk around with them. *Cash has no problem and literally eats
them (we tossed the 3-6 inch section left of the last one yesterday).

My lab has ground up a basted pig femur (about the size you describe)
to half its size in the course of an afternoon playdate, starting with
the biggest end. Unfortunately, that much marrow etc. also upsets her
stomach, so she doesn't get them anymore.

Weighed him when I came home (been trying to trim him down just a little as
we overfed and he slipped up to 61 lbs). *He looks real close to 'right' at
the moment for his shape. *Slightly undertucked belly, proper waist incut
then swells out to muscular legs and hips. *He's 57 lbs.

Well, my thoughts on dog sizes are a little skewed in relation. To me
60 lbs. is "medium", and I think of my lab at 52 lbs. as that size,
the cattle dog at 42 lbs. as medium going on small. The Akita I used
to have at 85 lbs. as "large" aka "normal dog size", and Newfs and
such at 120 or so as "very large, in a good way." Cockers are
"small", but not toy, etc. I have no idea on the rest of the world,
but it works for me. All depends on what you're used to. I love the
big dogs, but they have short lives. The Akita made it to 13, in a
breed that averages 9 or 10. I'd love to get a Bernese, but I don't
know if I can put myself through a dog getting old that fast. The big
dogs are so mellow, though, such lovable goofs...

Having a dog "small" enough (at over 50 lbs.) to fit in the lap is
novel (the cattle dog could too, but he's to independent for that
except on rare occasions).

Could you tell me more on the 'head fake'?

It's when you move your head like you're going to let your body follow
you in a particular direction, then pull it back and do something
else. A feint, a dodge, a ploy..."I'm going to bop you with my
nose...no I'm not." All part of taking and using the space around
them. It's easier to spot than a body feint, anyway.

Then again a chihuahua taught Cash to 'play gentler' by biting him when Cash
accidently got too rough. *It was a deliberate 'you hurt me now go easier'
and ever since, they've been famous friends with Cash being very very
careful with his little buddy. *(Cash got excited at being given a doggie
biscuit and stepped on the chihuahua who bit him in the foot. *Both were
fine).

Yep, that's just the way dogs set limits. "OK, that last one was a
little hard..." Something they all learn as puppies if they're raised
right with the litter and not removed too soon.

A bit of what you say about Apple sounds like a young dog learning the
ropes of being a dog. It goes on all the time, but it can still be a
rough process getting there. It isn't for everyone, especially with
the bully crosses. Raising puppies is not for the faint of heart. I
looked for a 2yo adult dog when I got the lab, and ended up with a 10
mo. adolescent puppy. Now that she's a year and a half, she's
starting to settle down. A little.

--Glenn Lyford