JulesP

The Lappies i knew all worked beautifully. Their handler was good though. They have been on my wish list since I met them.

How about one of the other Belgian types if a Mal is too much? A Groenendael, Laekenois or Tervuren.

An Aussie?

Why don't you ask in the boxer thread how boxers go with targeting in general. Especially with their noses.

No a random selection of pets wouldn't have been any better. A selection of dogs from the same kennel might have been a better group. However Aidan thinks it isn't a problem anyhow. Can a dog have a learning disability? Maybe. You would need to do a bit of research on this dog to work that out. Maybe a behaviorist would be able to look at this particular dog, try a couple of different methods, couple of different exercises and give you an answer.

If you are using dogs from the pound I kind of think the whole thing is a bit flawed. Little Boxer might have been beaten for putting her nose on things for instance. You just don't know what nurturing has gone on.

Little dog is doing really well. She has put a heap of weight on and is feeling really, really good, lol. I cross referenced the Pro Plan sensitive to other kibbles she has eaten and the only ingredient different is the salmon. Interestingly she is funny about eating sardines. She eats them like they are hot.

Is the boxer the only short nosed breed? What is the equipment like? It might not be super comfortable for her to touch the object.

Agree. My dogs dad is a Grand Champion and has herding titles. I do like to see titles on both ends of a name when I look at a pedigree. I am after a balanced all around dog. One that can be a nice pet and have a go at whatever sport I feel like.

Same here. I have my dogs securely fenced but sometimes accidents happen. I would be very upset if they got out once and someone shot them. Not likely to happen in my area thanks goodness. Stock would be a different story as I am in a market garden area! This isn't aimed at the OP btw as they said they would have called if they had seen the collars.

When I started working from home I thought it would be nice to have a dog in the house with me. So I popped a bed in my study and went and got Brock. Normally the dogs stay in the kitchen when inside. No way in hell would he come into my study, which is off the kitchen. I had to put a lead on him in the end. After 30 mins of him laying there stressed and panting I let him back out. The girls don't mind being inside and one of them prefers to sleep in. Don't forget that a dog's preferences are shaped by early life experiences. If he wasn't allowed inside as a pup, he'd be unlikely to be comfortable straight away as an adult. He'd have to be conditioned to relax there. On the other hand, if you bought a puppy home and gave it the option of being inside or out, I wonder what most would choose - my guess is a combination of both. Well I have 3 dogs all from the same breeder. All came home at the same age. All got treated the same from day one in regards to in/out. Brock appears uncomfortable in the house and wants out. Happy to be in the kitchen for an hour or so at night. He is happy to be rescued from nasty weather. Poppy is happier in the house and will venture out of the kitchen but is happy outside. She doesn't try and sneak inside. Amber pretty much tries to get in the house. If I put her out at night she is plastered at the glass door with a sad face. Think she would be fairly happy to be in for most of the time. So three dogs, same up bringing and different preferences.

When I started working from home I thought it would be nice to have a dog in the house with me. So I popped a bed in my study and went and got Brock. Normally the dogs stay in the kitchen when inside. No way in hell would he come into my study, which is off the kitchen. I had to put a lead on him in the end. After 30 mins of him laying there stressed and panting I let him back out. The girls don't mind being inside and one of them prefers to sleep in.

My borders HATE gundogs. They find them very offensive for some reason. Except Brock and he loves everyone! My 2 border collie girls are pretty little at around 46cm tall.

When I lived in the UK our dogs were inside/outside dogs. They spent time in, they spent time out. Mine come in but they spend the majority of their time out. When they are out they are right in front of my office window. I don't think they need to be sleeping on my bed for me to be a good dog owner.

We have always had corgis and shelties that have lived both inside and outside. Mainly outside during the day. Haven't had a problem with this. There is a vast difference between a dog shoved outside and forgotten and a dog that lives outside and has heaps of things done with it. I am assuming the OP is in the second category.

The reason I posted this Bartok is that ramps are rather painful to carry around.

It had been at least 6 days of no kibble Rusky. She has been getting Natures Gift tinned in the mornings mainly to try and get weight on or her Phuds/meat mix. Night has been Phuds/meat or bones.

Yup. Or I just listen to the little dog and stop trying to get her to eat kibble

Corgi or sheltie. I find my border collies prefer other herding breeds, snobby little things that they are!

Just saw these interesting folding stairs on Deals Direct. http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/folding-pet-staircase/ Not sure how sturdy they would be but they are compact. And cheap!

A massive laundry and an outside doggy wash room. One thing that bugs me about this place is the garden surrounds the house. I would like to be able to shut the dogs away from the front door. I currently have to go out and rescue visitors from squeaking border collies!

Whilst allergies are individual there are substances that do cause more trouble then others.

My little Amber was having allergy issues. It happened about the start of summer and was classic contact allergy (belly, nose, eyes). I was treating with Zyrtec which was helping and neocort, not helping and seemed to be hurting her. I went away on the weekend and came home thinking she would be a bit worse as she had missed a tablet and some cream. I was going to take her to the vets this week for some heavier drugs. I got home to a totally clear tummy, nose & eyes healing. I suddenly thought - food. She was being a pain with eating kibble so I gave up about 6 days ago. She was quite thin and would obviously rather starve! I am thinking the problem was food. She was on Pro Plan Sensitive!!! What do you think could be the problem in here: Salmon, brewers rice, canola meal, oat meal, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), salmon meal (natural source of glucosamine), pearled barley, brewers dried yeast, animal digest, salt, potassium chloride, Vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. D-4449 I was thinking canola meal, which will shit me as I just got her some oil that contains that!

What's up Dova?

Nothing really helps. But knowing that sort of helps. I've had pets go in their sleep and have given some their wings - neither was better. All my pets have been old when I've lost them. All over 15. I've got pups after, I've got pups before knowing it was coming. Couldn't say I preferred one or the other. The only thing that really helps is time softens it. Reading threads like this shortly after is very bad. Hugs to you.