Monah

I feel your pain! I've had a dog 'onleash' for 8 months now and over the weekend another had emergency surgery and now she is on leash for 6 weeks.. some great suggestions already. I hope your lovely dog is OK. The only other thing I can say is 'tough love'..it's so hard when they are used to being active. I actually taught mine a lot of words etc. to ensure they are careful and even this keeps their minds active. My BC who is the only fit one ATM also has had to learn constraint etc. so I've found the whole experience can have a positive side and have to think of this when I'm climbing the walls!!

I have been oogling all the lovely photos quite a bit I would be interested to hear more about Tollers also! They are one of those breeds I have heard of but don't know anything about! Tollers are quite small, the ones I've met at agility have been good at agility but make my viz look LAID BACK! PWDs are truly lovely, and clever etc., also not large...Irish water spaniels are laos terrific and I had a gorgeous male years ago..they are larger than a PWD and can be boisterous..and um..stubborn ;)

I never 'advocate' my breed either..but you have described a vizsla. They are extremely people focussed and very easy to train and versatile. Easy care, great fun but really HAVE to be part of the family and indoors and doing stuff with you!!!! which is why I don't normally suggest them as they would DIE if not given sufficient attention. Also need positive training at all times!!! very very boisterous though...especially during the first couple of years. I also think GSP, generally larger than a viz, beautiful, clever, super energy. I've never met one who was not people orientated and attention seeking.. I have a working border who is a perfect match for my viz re energy etc. My spinone is also very energetic but more of a plodder than a rocket.. All mine are around the 25 to 35kg mark but I have had tiny dogs with irish wolfhounds etc. no problem at all. I have had giant schnauzers, fantastic wonderful breed, more protective than the gundogs and a lot larger. There are mnay vizss and GSPs who excel in all areas of dog sports, maybe take a look in the breedpages at the top of 'general' to get some ideas? also remember the dog is for you, although I do understand you also need a dog who gets on with your others, but this could be a dog of any breed really, terriers can run and tumble and can be very rough and some big dogs are very gentle...

Gayle, I am so terribly sorry. I don't enter Rainbow Bridge, so upsetting, but saw your post in general and very extremely shocked I really am so sorry, such a gorgeous and wonderful boy, how awful for you all. so bloody unfair. My thoughts are with you and the family and the other beautiful pets you have.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bracco Italiano

Everything...love them all, I can't think of anything that I don't love.

Beautiful beautiful vizslas!! :D

another couple of photos. Aquaintances at the World Dog Show in Paris, staying at the Ibis in Paris!! with their spins..and on the bed

Awww!! they are too lovely. Wish I could put my name on the BIG boy!! As I have 2 girls and a boy I think I need another boy to even things up..OH wont be in it though d i v o r c e is looking likely... One of my nephews is 'housesitting' in Warrnambool for a few months soon! he has 3 boys under 4.. and is from adelaide. I'll have to tell him to look out for vizssss as he will be on the beach a LOT, he kitesurfs and windsurfs.. I think we need more photos! ;) :D rather impressed....midwife(husband? ) in the afternoon and chef in the evening!!!

I'd give a little longer too. NO jumping at all..... Also if there are any questions I'd be straight back to the vet for another examination to see if anything else is going on. Vets can only diagnose 'step by step' just like GPs. If the problem is onging the vet needs to know. Good luck and I hope your lovely kelpie is better very soonxxxx One of my dogs sees a physio weekly and also has accupuncture. I've had to keep her on lead and be very careful for 9 months now...

Puppies!!!!! :D

Ninahartland, Kaffy Magee and I are in Hervey Bay... ;) :D

I've travelled all over with my dogs AND 4 cats We had our own van though and I used the Holidaying With Dogs Book (bible!) and rang ahead when I knew where we would be on the day. We all slept in the van as it was our van but nowhere took animals without your own accommodation.... I've now seen just this week that Big4 parks, who were nazi like in their anti dog status, have now left it up to the park managers whether or not they will allow dogs.. I found the Daly Waters park great for the dogs and if we could not find anywhere to stay with them we stayed in laybys off the road. No power, loos or showers though but if you have a terrific caravan you'd be set, I would not go to parks if we had all the perks and now you can get solar vans so no generators..

Bempton cliffs Bempton cliffs, puffin hunting.. Don't even get me started on where horses, ponies, donkeys, sheep and cattle are allowed. That's a whole more 1000 photos!!! basically EVERYWHERE. :D Sorry about the amount of pics, it just makes me so frustrated that in a tiny country of 70 million people they can (at least they try) manage human/dog spaces better than we can with all the space, large gardens and tiny population...

Lola the airedale, restaraunt dog Bodmin Moor, splah... Tam O shanter, cocker, he became my 'attachment' in Kelso, scotland, b & b. hopping on the Heartbeat train, Goathland yorkshire..this guys wife had 2 more beagles..they were all gorgeous.

love that DOGS are included with people! In the Donkey Sanctuary Sharing our cream tea with a newfie girl on the moors in devon!! Hardy the springer, Cornwall B and B..

this is IN Salisbury Cathedral.. New Forest Lord Montagu's doggy graveyard and one of the lovely headstones...

sleepy dog Hythe pub England My first Large Musterlander cuddle ever, Danny who shared my dinner! Kincraig, Cairngorm mountains Scotland. Most times I did not have my camera handy but I have a few pics. Also had weis estrela mountain dogs in Llanberris, Mt Snowdon, heaps of other pub and b & b dogs who I did not get a photo opportunity with.. random pics of dogs in tourist spots 'sightseeing' THis girl was sunbathing in the middle of Bruges with her 2 westies, love the pram!!

I"m english, never had outside pets nor had any friends who had outside pets even though we all emigrated here quite young and grew up here. The 'culture' came with us Flame me now for being a whinging Pom!! I loathe the lack of dog friendly things in Aust. I've recently returned from UK, and had a very 'doggy' time with friends and in general. Examples of 'normal' there (all UK) are that dogs were allowed in all national parks, all fields/paddocks even with stock (I guess as long as the stock are not hassled), I went puffin hunting(photography, not killing!) and yep, heaps of people with dogs there too, every single pub I ate in I shared my 'table' with several dogs, or couch, every B & B allowed dogs in fact a spinone weekend was on in NOrfolk and there were hundreds of spins staying in all the b and bs, pubs, hotels etc. NORMAL. they were even allowed on beds if you put your own sheet over the cover first. Dogs were on trains, busses, taxis, even at most of the tourist places we went. the only place I saw that asked not to take dogs in was a car museum and it had a purpose built area with water bowls and tie ups and shade for dogs while you went in. All places that dogs could go had special areas and even kennels in case you needed to leave them for an hour or so. Imagine how terrific this would be in Aust at places like Kakadu etc. I know many people who travel with their dogs and when they hit a national park may have to kennel their dogs hundreds of ks away while they sightsee!!! I had many b and b owners dogs spend the night in my bed (missed dogs!! ) It was so refreshing having no complaints from people when there were dogs in pubs or anywhere else. I told a woman who had 3 dogs on a couch in the pub that we cannot do that and she was very shocked and said 'do you have rabies there?' as she just could not get her head around it at all. I said No, we're just ignorant! It seems that 70 million UKers have not karked it from having dogs near their food or beds! We must have very low immune systems!

I'm still working on a Bracco!!! will get there eventually... Can't believe you don't want a viz! ;) Mine are Bracco, Vizlsas (wires too), Spins, would like but probably not have enough years left, greyhound, standard poodle, portugese,english springer, welsh terrier,foxhound and a million breeds mostly french. Boston! Affenpinscer.. Have had , wollfies (love to bits), giant schnauzers, irish water spaniels, lakeland terriers, border collies, vizsla, spinone, cattle dogs, goldies, patterdales,...so many breeds, so little time

I have several litter trays and we have always just put a very cheap hook and eye on the doors at the top so sort of not noticable. It's easy, cheap and only leaves a small gap for the cats to get through but not the dogs (unless you have chi's..LOL). I put a hook on the door and the 'eye' on the door frame. Great also if anyone rents as it's easy to fix after. I suppose if you have children or cannot reach high you'd just put it at the right height. It's only a couple of dollars...good luck! up high would never wowrk for us, I had wolfhounds...and also now my vizsla can get ANYWHERE, also have an 18 year old Devon who would never be able to jump up to a high tray...

I"ve never thought consciously about 'changing breeds'. I love just about all breeds and have had several over the years, Patterdales, Goldies, water spaniels, lakelands, wolfhounds, vizsla, spinone, cattle dogs , Giant schnauzers, border collies.. SWF..and there are several breeds I would like to get to eventually.. I cannot imagine shutting myself/experiences/mind off to only one or two breeds. I see things I adore about all 'groups' and while there are breeds I would never own, it's only because 'we' are not suited. But I could be wrong as if I have not shared my life with these breeds, how would I know?? I'm always open to new things, have lived many places and had dozens of very different jobs/careers....I'd have all the breeds I"ve had again too.. :D

Unfortunately the 'general cultural attitude' here in Australia is not open to dog friendly places. I've railled against this for many years, even opening dog friendly cafes myself. It's one thing that really really craps me off.. I've just returned from several weeks in UK and France where thank dog, dogs are very very welcome.. I've shared my dinner, table and lap with many dogs ranging from large musterlanders , estrelea mountain dogs, weis, labs and a multitude of other pure breeds and x's without any comments, looks or 'worry' from anyone even in crowded pubs. The only time someone said something was the musterlander (dog was called Danny) owner who was a bit worried the dog may be too large and bothersome for me, the dog was really gorgeous. all these dogs were not on lead and wandered if they felt like it and all had terrific temperaments. Also had many dogs in the B & Bs including owners ones who , lucky for me, slept in the bed with me... there was a spinone weekend while I was there but I could not attend as it was in Norfolk and I was far north scotland, but there were hundreds of them, in B & Bs, hotels , pubs, etc. for a longweekend. they are allowed in national parks on lead, there are areas to leave your dogs if you cannot take them inside, ie. museums etc. , these areas have shade, kennels, water, tying up facilities. Signs everywhere you go about not leaving dogs in cars etc, dogs shopping with owners, in hairdressers, etc. on busses, taxis, trains, even in the city. I've come back as a whinging Pom!! because of this and the low cost of everything there (even if the dollar were not so strong it works out cheaper) except fuel, the great roads, courteous drivers, masses of wildflowers (spring), friendly people etc..

I don't agree that aussie dogs have a vastly different life to Euro dogs. I have a lot of friends with gundogs (and hounds etc) who hunt, breed, live in rural areas in Euro and their dogs are a lot 'busier' and there are a lot more of them out there hunting, herding etc than here. I have a viz and a spin who are not docked. I have had docked dogs in the past, giant schnauzers, lakeland terriers,.. I dont mind the look of either docked or undocked. Not docking a viz is a real problem. There is a register for tail damage and there are some awful 'stories' of damage, recovery of many many months, etc. The tail does not heal easily and is part of the spine. Vizslas have the WAGGIEST bums ever, and very thin tails past the traditional docking length. I worry all the time about my vizs tail as I've seen how painful and ongoing an injury can be. The spin has a very very thick tail so not so much of an issue, and she does not wag as hard as the viz. I dont show these days so I'm wondering what the effect is at shows when some are docked (older dogs or imports) and others not docked and if this makes any difference to judging?

I agree with everyone that this can work very well. It's simply a matter of management. This can happen with dogs of different ages, different health, etc. anyway, not just differing energy levels so anyone can be affected. I've had many dogs of different energy levels and it's never been an issue. High energy dogs have to be taught self control and get lots of exercise... Often a higher energy dog gives the 'lazy' one a new lease of energy and interest too, as long as they get 'rest' periods without the other dog bothering them they'd be fine.