Kajirin

I waited about two years until I found a pup that 'resonated' with me.  All worked out and I ended up with Sarge.

Noticed a while back they had pet stairs at Clark Rubber https://www.clarkrubber.com.au/pet-stairs

 

6 hours ago, Rascalmyshadow said:

Thank you is there a particular brand you use?

Swisse or Cenovis - quite often find them on sale, so I grab a couple.  At the moment using swisse mag [they are quite big tablets] and cenovis vit b complex.

Somewhat off topic:-

When you suffer stress and anxiety, levels of magnesium get really low [especially if it is prolonged].  I've found taking magnesium and Vitamin B complex helps a lot when I'm in high state anxiety/agitation - whole body shaking, racing heart and feeling like I am going to fall off the perch.  Takes about 30 minutes for the Mag and Vit B to kick in, but once it does I have whole body relaxation and my mental cognitive function back.  There has been quite a bit written [some by psychologists, doctors and some crackpots] about low levels of magnesium and anxiety.  it may help you?

Always have to check before even letting the dogs out - mainly on excessively hot days [36ºC and above days].  Browns and Red Bellies are quite often in/near the fenced off dog run [no water is kept out there, but they're seeking coolness especially on hot days as snakes too can die with excessive heat].
 

So used to seeing snakes here, they don't phase me...but I have a healthy respect for them.  The young ones are annoyingly feisty and are the ones to lunge at you [had one feisty one by the front door...didn't realise and it lunged and I jumped back three times and then had to go all the way around the house to get back in through the back door lol].  The older ones generally just slither off if disturbed [they love sunning themselves on the eastern side of the house in hot weather as I have shadecloth set up for my bonsai trees...just the right temp for them].

Over summer the dogs don't really get out much, they can't really play in their other yard - too hot during the day.  At night they can't go out as that is when snakes are hunting and they are most active - after recharging all day.  The dogs don't really care, as long as they have their humans about they're content.  They have their fully lit concrete run to piddle and poop in lol - which is part of the house, so they're close and safe.

Still wish snake avoidance training was available here in SA - but due to legislation it never can be   It has saved many a dog's life [especially when walking in forests etc.].

Illegal in SA as well - just placing an e-collar on an animal [whether off or on] is a $10k fine or up to a year imprisonment.  Sad really as there is snake deterrent training using e-collars, but can't do it here.

Got the boys one each from the reject shop, thinking yeah the 70 cm ones should be fine.  They don't fit around their chemestors [demented chests] lol.  Ah well 

Another good thing to teach is when they can sniff around 
 

I have to retrain the boys not to go on couches when my brother is due to come over to stay.  He doesn't like having them on the couches [it's only for a week or so over Christmas and I only see him once a year, so I compromise].

They know the word 'don't' means business and not to do something.  So if they go anywhere near the couch in retraining mode, they get a firm don't.  If by chance they have slunk on to the couch a firm off is said.  When they get off or walk away, lots of happy verbal praise.  Only takes them about a week to know the couches are off limits, even if I'm not in the room.  I do put their floor mats right near the couches so they have an option to lay nearby.  

I swear the boys know, as they don't go near the couches when Brother is here [I'm sure they've learnt over time to associate his being here with no couches].  As soon as he's left to go back home [seeing his suitcase], they plonk themselves back on the couches once he's off to the airport.

I've been coating Scout all last month as it has been chilly here and he's 11 years old.  He also loses weight quickly when it's cooler weather.  Sarge being younger, I generally coat him at night [unless it's chilly during the day as well].  They both sleep in my room and with no heating up there it can get rather cool.  I know when it's really cold as both of them want in the bed lol.

Remember when my three huskies started to blow their coats...it was way more than that.

I've always fed two meals a day [except when pups and they get like 3-4 small meals].  I just find if i don't feed 2 meals I have the boys doing bile chucks as they're running on empty.  Also, usually feed 12 hours apart, so if fed at 8am the evening feed is 8pm etc.

Probably seemed like a good light bulb moment at the time, hindsight kicks in after.

This was the PDF I got it from http://www.medpets.nl/files/pdf/bijsluiter-premier-treat--train-1.pdf

From a PDF on it

I put the Treat&Train in DOWN-STAY mode and it shuts off after one minute. Why? You must set the FIXED-VARIABLE switch to VARIABLE if you want the machine to dispense until it’s empty. When the FIXED-VARIABLE switch is set to FIXED, treats will dispense at the TREAT RATE determined by the TREAT RATE dial, but only for one minute.

Rather rolling fence tops for jumpers

I like it 

Had one who was a bile chucker, 2 meals a day stopped that.

Had another who'd chuck up food...he ended up having stomach tumours.  As he got older the chucking got worse.  Sadly didn't end well 

Found this in the googles http://archive.savingpets.com.au/2014/02/izzy-and-her-little-family/

Did find this :)  But I don't feed VAN so have no constructive advice to give.

I use 2 plastic screw lid drums for 20kg horse/goat feed. No problems with rodents and the food stays fresh. Pic is similar to the ones I have, but mine are black in colour.

Mine are restrained/contained around strangers. Even with some known visitors [especially elderly or those who have health issues like cancer].

Same happened to me years ago. Reported to the council with a description of the dog, the address and what happened during the incident. Council visited and I got a call from the Ranger later saying he was fining the owners with every fine he could think of as they were rude to him, he was just going around to issue a warning lol.

Had a quick google and found this blog Snake proof fencing set up

Vermin mesh will generally stop large and baby snakes [5mm - 6.5mm squares]. As long as there are no bushes/trees nearby which snakes can use to get over things - generally a meter high attached to existing fencing is sufficient [also dig into the ground for extra strength as some snakes are persistent pushers to get into places]. Also providing fixed poly piping in different areas around a dog yard will allow a snake to go and hide from dogs, if by chance one gets in.