persephone

Ok... Apart from occasionally teaching "down"/Drop with a food lure.. I have never done it.I was never taught it, and , truthfully, don't feel like trundling around with a bag of food on my belt all the time I am after stories of WHY you do it this way... advantages/disadvantages??? I'm of the old school.. sincere verbal and gentle physical praise as reward.. quiet calm voice, or whistle to communicate.. sometimes a leash/collar. None of our working dogs are trained on leash.. apart from their initial meets with yarded sheep as youngsters. They know they will get patted/cuddled for a job well done...and they get the satisfaction of using their abilities/instincts None of my 'pet' dogs, or dogs I trained as Guides or Therapy dogs were ever trained using food... I understand using Drive.. and am guessing this is why food is used.. but it seems such a hassle to buy/make treats/ have to carry them... blah blah . Convince me Please? make me UNDERSTAND Thanks..

oh.. I can't remember.. but I do remember corresponding with both them and cobber, saying how disappointed we were. Bonnie had 2 big changes. one was being sold to purina the other was a scarcity of kangaroo meat due to drought conditions. This led to a change in ingredient placings and ingredients. Cobber also changed, due to not being able to source meat. They introduced more fish.

That's a very tough call... run free old girl.. Take care, weeacre.

Simple... do NOT buy any Chinese sourced/manufactured food products, for animals or humans !!

*nods*

Sounds like something with melamine in but how it would get in the meat? Oh.. perhaps they put in the meat to increase the protein levels....like they did the milk pdr ? Yuk.

chuckie.. how long has he had this? Is it on the upper surface of his 'wrist'? It may be a hotspot.. but ,maybe.... I am thinking it could be a lick granuloma ...hard to tell without looking !just thinking out loud These are very annoying! It starts with a nerve irritation.. dog licks it .. it feels a bit better... 'itch' /lick... skin gets a bit red/lick/skin gets worse, bacteria enter/lick... etc etc... If you think it may be one of these.. see the vet. he will probably need an elizabethan collar or soft basket muzzle to break the cycle, either way. You MAY be able to use a bitter spray to stop him... instead .

menacebear... I would also recommend swapping them to a meaty bones based type diet... NOT marrowbones.. they are too hard.. but all sorts of things like chicken carcasses, lamb flaps, pig heads, fish, turkey necks.... Do a search on DOL under BARF IF you would like to swap dry food... try Uncle Alber's/great barko http://www.lauckemills.com.au/dogfood1.html HERE The two brands you are feeding have gone downhill rapidly lately with changes in their recipe .. and we have changed over to the all australian one, which we use when no meat is available for our guys Not a premium food.. but is ok It does have a high fat content .

So sorry. He looked a beautiful big boy.. who obviously was an angel , and never had a pillow fight, or anything silly

Rocco 1..great photography!! Ypou might want to put them over in the thread especially for such things There are some fantastic photographs of all sorts of wildlife ! HERE

This bit has my attention... how does using lukewarm liquid help avoid astigmatism? Thanks.

Hi.. I would be going back to the vet, and explaining the situation. Tell teh vet that you don't want cortisone injections..and ask for an alternative It's YOUR call ! Kasper may need some locally applied cream to help around his eyes... there is always the risk of more inflammation and infection. Dogs' allergies can be to anything, remember.. carpet shampoo, anything sprayed on the grass at the park.. different grasses.. dust containing pollen or chemicals can cause reactions...

have a read Here and have a look at his work!!

Love aggies of any tint... clicking mad.. that first rose shot is deeelicious!!!

If & when I get my DSLR..it will be CANON

Our dogs do it regularly.. either from hot sand or mud It takes ages to grow back... but it will ! odd tho... was it a hot day? Maybe the skin got too soft from the bath

It really does sound like an allergy... and detective work is required to isolate the trigger!

I certainly learnt a lot

Run free, Clapton.

Good news!!!

I went searching, and found this one A good article/post! Giardia Treatment

It does sound like allergies.. and can be from a thousand and one things Do you have a holistic/alternative vet anywhere close? Years ago with my Mitchell.. he had allergies to grass and food colourings.. and often would get some relief from I/M injections of vitamin C.. I know, I know..... BUT it seemed to work. He was on prednil tablets for about 10 years....

Ok.. he has kennel cough... BUT What are you going to feed him as regular thing? pick a food.. and stick to it! Don't just give him what he will eat.... or he will refuse everything else UNTIL he gets that particular thing You teach a pup very bad habits by letting THEM choose the food , sorry. Pick a very good quality, MEATY puppy kibble if you want..so he is getting his nutrients.. and /or some good RED meat and chicken wings.turkey necks, lamb necks..all UNCUT.. and with meat on.. so he can suck and chew and play ( and if he's hungry, he WILL) ! What puppy kibble are you offering him?

Glad it was nothing too serious..... although, having said that.... just watch her. I have a friend whose dog had hypoglycaemic episodes fairly often.... where he collapsed.. and at first they thought it was heart attacks!

I agree.