Katdogs

Thanks for the feedback on MfM everyone. I think we might get another bag. I like the idea of it being made in Aus (we were unlucky enough to have an Orijen cat). If I'm ever not working (or have an only dog, or small ones), I would do totally raw. The BARF patties and dry food provide the balance of convenience and nutrition that we need at the moment.

I'd be interested to hear opinions about Meals for Mutts MfM. We've been using sample bags from the dog lover show as treats, but sticking with the canidae grain-free as morning meal. Big Dog BARF and RMB/tinned fish/eggs etc for evening meals. However last time OH went to the shop for the canidae they'd run out, and MfM was recommended as a substitute so we're almost through a bag now. Should we go back to canidae, or stick with MfM? The dogs don't care and I haven't seen any change in them, but how do they compare nutritionally?

Andrea is Maremma Rescue. Steve and Espinay are Maremma experts.

I'm no expert (Steve is) but I haven't heard of a Maremma leaving their flock/mob/colony/herd. I've heard such amazing stories of even 8 week old puppies walking their boundaries and watching what comes in and out. They need the boundary demonstrated clearly though in case they take on more... Eta do you have any previous experience with Maremma? Or neighbours or breeder who can mentor you? From what I've learned over the years they're nothing like most dogs and it takes a lot of care to get things right, otherwise they can cause problems if you want visitors, postman, deliveries.

These look great - the old metal 44 drum or the newer plastic ones wouldn't be as good as these, even with feed sacks inside. I've got no problem with working dogs being tethered in their 'off' time, they mostly snooze. When they range they get into trouble - fighting, chasing chooks, wandering to find fun. As long as they get a good gallop and toilet time.

Don't say anything negative on FB sites like Katrina Warren - nobody wants to know All I asked is if it's the same place that's has previous problems...

Dr Katrina has just posted on FB a lost dog notice 'Pippin' lost from the Farmer Dave Dog Centre. She's a brown and white border collie, hence Dr Katrina's interest I guess. Missing since yesterday morning. I can understand that sometimes accidents happen but how often does this happen at other kennels?

Yes. I suspect though that it was me being there that was the problem Still trying to work out what happened with my two that resulted in Jodie's exposed carotid and a few months of careful managing. We seem to be balanced again but I don't take that for granted. And the third dog was nowhere near the altercations.

Amanda has announced on FB that LabraDOG lodge is closing. After 12 years and 1100 dogs, it's time to put her efforts into her own dogs and family. She's written an awesome post thanking everyone who has helped over the years. "Don't be sad because it's over, celebrate because it was". Well done LabraDOG lodge, you were a truly great rescue and worth celebrating!

Fax?

What a sensible, responsible article! Hey Sam we all know you got the powder puff as a chick magnet. How's he going at that?

Can't link, but the Glover family just now have the cutest kelpie pup. What a lucky dog to have been picked by a loving home. There are debates on his FB site about whether there's such a thing as 'too soon' but for a family grieving an old dog, I reckon a puppy is a great distraction!

We all watch tv while Jodie licks Sammy's bits. For 7 years it was Stevie's ears but Sammy tastes better. This is why they don't sleep with us.

Stevie has been our red collar girl since she was five weeks old. Jodie inherited some of the stuff because she's smaller. If there's a choice now, Stevie is red and Jodie is our little pink girl. Jodie gets a pink bowl and a collar. Sammy is the boy so he has a couple of blue collars but he doesn't care and we mostly have red leads so he wears a lot f red. Black dogs look so good in red! Then again, we have a set of embroidered collars - purple on gold - they were on special and look good! Also the breakaway collars are all green because they were n special. Maybe I'm just cheap ;)

Yay! Sammy's sisters are so smart! Good on the owners for putting in the hard yards.

So handsome.

Good dog Gert. Good work Perse You look after them to the very end.

Oh I just realised it looked like a fish scaler to me! There's one in an old box with lines in our shed. Should I try that on Jodie? She hates the longer rake I use in the big dogs but she so rarely seems to need brushing.

Hmmmm this might be messy. Basically I didn't know about tapping the screen to get a little 'sun' icon! I also kept trying to use light backgrounds. How to Photograph Black Dogs and Cats With an iPhone Tips from pro photographers for snapping smartphone pics of a black-haired pet—without turning your best friend into a dark smudge Taking cute photos of your black cat or dog is tough, especially with an iPhone. The Fixer has the solution. In this ongoing series of life hacks, WSJ's Michael Hsu solves the frustrations we've all experienced. By MICHAEL HSU May 1, 2015 10:53 a.m. ET 9 COMMENTS Q: How do I photograph my black Yorkie with an iPhone so he doesn’t look like a dark smudge? A: This is a challenge, even for pros like Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza. He often snaps pics of the Obama family’s dogs with his iPhone 6 for his Instagram feed and finds that the dogs’ black hair “tends to suck up the light.” But there are ways around the problem: 1. Light it right. “Overhead lights indoors are not as conducive to showing detail in black hair,” Mr. Souza said by email. He prefers light from a window. If that isn’t possible, Mary Bloom, a staff photographer for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, suggests turning on a nearby lamp. “You want the light behind you or to the side of the pet” to avoid backlighting. Even better: Go outdoors. “A bright but cloudy day is ideal,” she said. 2. Get in tight. Being too far from your pet is the most common mistake people make, said Ms. Bloom. “When you’re photographing a black dog, you have to photograph just that black dog.” Your pet should fill the frame. She also recommended crouching down to shoot at the pet’s level, rather than from above. 3. Pick a neutral setting. Mr. Souza looks for “clean backgrounds to provide greater definition”—like the grass of the Rose Garden. Gray and other medium tones are good, said Richard Katris, a cat photographer based in Mira Loma, Calif., but avoid bright colors. “A white background with a black cat is not going to work,” he said. 4. Tweak settings. “If you don’t have a well-lit situation, then you need to change your exposure,” said Ms. Bloom. On an iPhone running iOS 8: Tap the screen so the camera focuses on your pet’s face. When the sun icon appears, swipe upward to increase the exposure and brighten the photo.

Dog wanted to play the wrestling game too, and kept checking in with the other bloke and then the female. Good dog.

Thanks to the wonderful Pet Search I have found a new trick with my iPhone - I just don't know how to load photos on DOL on the phone http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-photograph-black-dogs-and-cats-with-an-iphone-1430492001

Richard has written a follow-up http://m.smh.com.au/comment/puppy-dog-tales-readers-touching-stories-of-canine-companions-20150922-gjrzv2.html

Here's more about Darcy. I'm having trouble with the link though. Might be easier to find Richard Glover on FB where he's put the story. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/matthewparris/article2044323.ece

We kept our grape vine but OH built a very clever system of screens for underneath to catch any grapes. How about passionfruit? Our dogs ate the contents sometimes but only if the rats chewed a hole first. We've moved into a place where the next door neighbour's olive tree drops fruit all the time and the dogs don't mind an occasional munch but the seeds go straight through them.

I have a plan to get a few chooks soon but I do remember how evil they can be. My cute little high school project chicky came home to rule the house, dogs and cats and wild rats for 12 years. She loved Pal.