Cavediving in Today's Economy - Live Oak, FL area

[John Ploegert]

Cavediving in Today’s Economy – Live Oak Area

After reading Techno_Bob’s post yesterday asking how the economy has affected your cavediving and the many thoughtful responses, it seems that other than cutting back on your number/duration of dive trips, reducing your cost for travel, accommodations and meals offers the most bang for the buck. The travel part is easy; just car pool it using the most fuel efficient vehicle you can, period. And, we can help lower your cost for accommodations and meals. Our new 2 BR/2 BA cottage will very comfortably accommodate 4 divers for as little as $25/night each, plus tax ($100/night for up to 4, plus tax) and bring your own food so you can prepare your meals and “eat-in” for no more than it costs you to eat at home. The cottage is fully furnished and equipped; see our Sep 9, 2010 post in Travel Advisor for full details and note you can save even more with our weekly rates. Also, helping lower your costs a little bit more our “freebies” include bottled water, tea, coffee, M/W popcorn, and farm-fresh eggs as long as our neighbor’s chickens keep producing. So, get your group of up to 4 together, plan your trip, and call or email to reserve you dates.

John Ploegert
386 842 2006
Jcp1@windstream.net

[Slüdge]

and farm-fresh eggs as long as our neighbor’s chickens keep producing.

So I assume you'll provide us with the location of the hole in the fence, as well as the time the neighbor goes to bed?

[John Ploegert]

OK; but you will have to deal with the security system by yourself. John
3620

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Cute pup, a German Sheppard bit me in the ass when I was a kid once. I've wanted one ever since - wierd :P

[Slüdge]

Kind of the reason I got my first Doberman pinscher...

[Skorpiov]

Thats really wierd. I was also bitten on the arse by a German Sheppard when I was a kid. In Hobbs, New Mexico... wasnt the same dog was it?

[Skorpiov]

Kind of the reason I got my first Doberman pinscher...

You wanted to be pinsched on the ass instead?

(I read this again and its pretty damn clever for me...)

[FW]

3621

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thats really wierd. I was also bitten on the arse by a German Sheppard when I was a kid. In Hobbs, New Mexico... wasnt the same dog was it?

If his name was Joejoe and he likes ham sammiches, yes.

[John Ploegert]

Cute pup, a German Sheppard bit me in the ass when I was a kid once. I've wanted one ever since - wierd :P
So get together with a few buddys and come on over; we have a great place for you to stay, the price is right, and you can meet Crow and see if you still like Shepherds. (You will; he is a great dog.)
John

[John Ploegert]

... wasnt the same dog was it?

Nope; Born in Fort White and never been out of Florida.
John

[Half-Fast]

Cavediving in Today’s Economy – Live Oak Area

... and farm-fresh eggs as long as our neighbor’s chickens keep producing.

John Ploegert
386 842 2006
Jcp1@windstream.net


I usually have Cheerios for breakfast instead of eggs. Does your neighbor have a cow?

[John Ploegert]

I usually have Cheerios for breakfast instead of eggs. Does your neighbor have a cow?

No cow, but let's not lose sight of the main objective here which is to reduce the cost of your dive trips so you can dive more often.
John

[skip]

Actually, german shepards hold the record for biting and for killing humans. they are the most dangerous and unpredictable dogs on the planet. somehow that other dog...pit bull...gets all the media attention, and they are like 3rd or 4th down the list.

skip

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I've been biten by more Chows than anything else :/ but I don't want one of them.

[Half-Fast]

Actually, german shepards hold the record for biting and for killing humans. skip


If you took out "killing" and made it just "biting," my money would be on chihuahuas for the record.

[Slüdge]

Actually, german shepards hold the record for biting and for killing humans.

There are three kinds of liars: liars, damned liars, and statisticians.

German shepherd dogs (the actual breed name) have been used in police and military work the world over for so long that this statistic has been skewed. They (along with Doberman pinschers) make some of the best family companion dogs there are.

[Half-Fast]

They (along with Doberman pinschers) make some of the best family companion dogs there are.


Absolutely agree regarding Dobes. Mine would like to be a lap dog. He's the sweetest dog I've ever owned. Now, our miniature schnauzer, on the other hand, is psychotic.

[John Ploegert]

They (along with Doberman pinschers) make some of the best family companion dogs there are.

I agree; great companions and also very protective of family and property. Two questions: 1. It seems there are many dog fanciers among you cave divers; any studies ever been done to determine why? 2. Did you all note that our diver-friendly cottage is also dog-friendly? (see 9/9/10 post for details)

[Skorpiov]

German shepherd dogs (the actual breed name) have been used in police and military work the world over for so long that this statistic has been skewed. They (along with Doberman pinschers) make some of the best family companion dogs there are.

I actually used to train police dogs (attack) for the Odessa and Midland, TX Police Dept.s and I guess I should have mentioned I have been bitten hundreds of times since then, usually wearing a full protective suit. Mostly by Shepards sinces thats the main dog the LE agencies like to use because.... they are the most predictable. I personally raised dobermans as they were my favorites, and yes they have a bad rap.

The strained tendency that some families of dobermans have, is a defect from careless or improper breeding. Some of the dogs have a reduced brain cavity that puts pressure on the dogs brain as they get older. This tends to make them jumpy and unpredictable. Dobermans with a more domed (rather than flat) topped head are less susceptible to this syndrome. I presume its an issue in other breeds as well.

[Slüdge]

This tends to make them jumpy and unpredictable.

... while putting birthday party hats on them just pisses them off. (This was yesterday, her fourth.)

[skip]

Well I am a statistician, so decided to update my data and here's the newest list I could find (2007): 1. pitbulls 2. rotweillers, 3. german shepard, 4. husky, 5. malamute, 6. doberman, 7. chow 8. presa canario 9. boxer, 10. dalmation (where #1 = most bites to humans). This list is America only and does not include working dogs (police, military) who bite "on the job."

cave divers love dogs? no studies I know of, but I do know that cave divers also ride motorcycles, fly planes, and do other dangerous stuff with much more than the general population. I'd bet that the dogs cave divers love are ones from the top 10 list above!

And to say on topic, Good to know that cottage is dog friendly. I've wanted to bring my golden along to florida, but ....

skip

[John Ploegert]

And to say on topic, Good to know that cottage is dog friendly. I've wanted to bring my golden along to florida, but ....


3640Sort of like this one playing with our Shepherd and our great-grandson inside the dog pen? Regarding cavedivers and their dogs, I wondered if it had anything to do with setting the
standards of loyalty you'd like all of your dive buddies to have.
John

[gasdiver]

To go back off topic, my dad has 2 Dobermans. Both are large "outside" dogs. He lives on a farm and runs them 2-3 miles every day on his 4 wheeler. The physical shape those dogs are in is incredible. I've clocked them at 25 mph beside the 4 wheeler and that's for several hundred yards at the stretch. They hate armadillos and hunt them relentlessly. His oldest dog weighs about 120 lbs and can crush an armadillo in his jaws. The sound it makes is like stepping on a Styrofoam cooler. The first time I saw that I gained a whole new respect for the breed.

[Slüdge]

I've clocked them at 25 mph beside the 4 wheeler

I've clocked Ginnie at 29 with a GPS, with me on Rollerblades. (At the 1:02 point in this video.)

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1307999143169

[John Ploegert]

Great video! I'd say that ranks right up there with Skip's list of dangerous activities some cavedivers enjoy, but your reflexes are probably a lot quicker tham mine.
John

[Half-Fast]

To go back off topic, my dad has 2 Dobermans. Both are large "outside" dogs. He lives on a farm and runs them 2-3 miles every day on his 4 wheeler. The physical shape those dogs are in is incredible. I've clocked them at 25 mph beside the 4 wheeler and that's for several hundred yards at the stretch. They hate armadillos and hunt them relentlessly. His oldest dog weighs about 120 lbs and can crush an armadillo in his jaws. The sound it makes is like stepping on a Styrofoam cooler. The first time I saw that I gained a whole new respect for the breed.

Our dobe likes to run along with us when we take the horses out for a ride. I'm really impressed with his stamina. One of the dobe books I have mentions that greyhounds were used in developing the Doberman breed, so the speed shouldn't be too surprising.

Over the years, we've had schnauzers, dachsunds, dalmations, shelties, and now our Doberman. I'll take him over any of the other breeds. Very loving, very smart, obedient, well-mannered, gentle, and more protective than Brinks.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

The best breed of dog is mutt. <-- notice the period :P

[ScubaRob]

Actually, german shepards hold the record for biting and for killing humans. they are the most dangerous and unpredictable dogs on the planet. somehow that other dog...pit bull...gets all the media attention, and they are like 3rd or 4th down the list.

skip

I have 2 golden retrievers. I wonder where they are on the list?

[Marc Bryan]

We call our golden the liberal, and our shepherd the conservative. The golden would invite you in to help yourself to anything you wanted, all the time proclaiming it is ok, my mom and dad will just work hard to buy more tv's and computers. The shepherd would just exercise her right to "Bear Teeth."

[murfef]

Since several or most of the dogs on that list are known for being very loyal, protective and family oriented pets, I wonder how that figures into the stats of the bite count. How many of the bites happened while protecting their family.

[Half-Fast]

That's a good point. The number we should care about is how often they bite someone they weren't supposed to bite.

If you come up our driveway and one of my family is there to greet you, no problem. Our Doberman will be all wags, happy to see you. If we're not there, however, he'll make it very clear that you are not to get out of that car. And unless you're a fool, you won't until one of us shows up.

(Good dog! Good dog!)

[FW]

FWIW, I love all large breed dogs, but there are some problems. I have heard of many cases of German Shepards, and Dobermans getting grouchy when they get old. There are cases of them turning on their owners, and having to be put down :(

[Half-Fast]

I have heard of many cases of German Shepards, and Dobermans getting grouchy when they get old. There are cases of them turning on their owners, and having to be put down :(

Why should they be any different from me? :) I expect my wife to haul me off to the vet any day now. I'm sure I'll remember this post when I feel the needle going in.....

FWIW, Forrest, this isn't just Shepards and Dobies. We had a miniature Dachsund do this when he got old. I suspect it can happen with any breed, but it's just a bigger problem when it's a bigger dog.