~JoLu~

OMG sooooooooooooooooooooooo gorgeous

So puppy clucky now

I have been thinking about this lately as we are planning on moving further out but on more land. At the moment I am only a ten minute drive from work so am usually gone 8 - 4:30ish, although do have days off for uni. The new place is about 30min drive but there is a chance I could be moved back into the city for work

With summer here I have been getting up early and exercising in the back yard. I used to alternate walking dogs (not quite game enough to walk both together :p ) but now do 45 minute interval session in the backyard and take them both out there and they just run around stupid, (whilst I run around stupid ) then plonk on the floor. We all seem to be getting a better workout that way I never let them off lead around here (no fenced areas and alot of idiots )

However I am a big softy and have a conference coming up where I will be gone from 7am to ??? so have booked them into a couple of nights stay at a kennel as I am worried they'll go a little loopy with no-one home that long.

I tend to spend all weekend with them out of guilt

If I'm not home then they are outside - rain, hail, shine. I'm trying to design the new house so it includes an enclosed dog-proof area (I am such a sucker )

Lulu funny face:

Jonty showing his champion breeding:

ETA: SNARL

Link: http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/new...iteConcern.aspx

AURORA, Colo. – As dog bites become an increasingly major public health concern, a new study shows that unsupervised children are most at risk for bites, that the culprits are usually family pets and if they bite once, they will bite again with the second attack often more devastating than the first.

The study, the largest of its kind, was done by Vikram Durairaj, MD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who found that dogs usually target a child’s face and eyes and most often it’s a breed considered `good’ with children, like a Labrador retriever.

“People tend to think the family dog is harmless, but it’s not,” said Durairaj, associate professor of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, who presented his study last month at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting. “We have seen facial fractures around the eye, eye lids torn off, injury to the tear drainage system and the eyeball itself.”

Some wounds are so severe that patients require multiple plastic and reconstructive surgeries.

Durairaj said dog bites are especially devastating to children because they are smaller and their faces are within easy reach of the animal’s mouth. The likelihood of a child getting bitten in their lifetime is around 50 percent with 80 percent of those bites involving the head and neck.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and 885,000 require medical attention. The total cost is estimated at up to $250 million.

The study looked at 537 children treated for facial dog bites at The Children’s Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus between 2003 and 2008. Durairaj found that 68 percent of bites occurred in children 5-years-old or younger with the highest incidence in 3-year-olds. In the majority of cases, the child knew the dog through the family, a friend or a neighbor. And more than half the time, the dog was provoked when the child petted it too aggressively, startled or stepped on it.

The dogs were not breeds usually associated with attacks. Durairaj found that mixed breeds were responsible for 23 percent of bites followed by Labrador retrievers at 13.7 percent. Rottweilers launched attacks in 4.9 percent of cases, German shepherds 4.4 percent of the time and Golden retrievers 3 percent. The study was done in the Denver area where pit bulls are banned.

“What is clear from our data is that virtually any breed of dog can bite,” Durairaj said. “The tendency of a dog to bite is related to heredity, early experience, later socialization and training, health and victim behavior.”

He stressed that familiarity with a dog is no guard against attack and if a dog bites once, it will likely bite again with the second attack often more vicious that the first. The first time a dog bites, he said, it should be removed from the home.

“I was called in to see a dog bite. A girl had a puncture wound to her lip. Two days later I saw the same girl, but this time her eyelids were torn off and she had severe scalp and ear lacerations,” Durairaj said. “The onus is on parents to recognize aggressive breeds as well as behaviors and never allow their young children to be left unsupervised around any dog.”

Link from The West Australian (with photo Gallery): http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest

Dogs unite in the name of art

JANE HAMMOND, The West Australian

November 6, 2010, 3:35 pm

A chaotic cluster of barking dogs with miniature legs and elongated bodies took over the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts precinct today in a show designed to encourage debate on the effectiveness of the United Nations.

WA artist Bennett Miller said the breed had been chosen for the "architectural installation" because of its statesman-like looks, relative immobility and appeal.

The Dachshund UN performed for the first time in Perth before an audience of dog lovers, art lovers and the plain curious.

Close to 65 dogs lined up for a seat at the wiener dog-scale UN table, with 47 taking a place in the improvised UN and the rest on standby in case any of their colleagues became too stressed or overzealous.

There were barkers, fighters, sleepers, gentle dogs, aggressive dogs, excitable dogs and those that chose to simply walk out of the meeting.

Some of the sausage dogs lifted their tiny legs on the installation while the others sniffed at their neighbours, growled or yawned.

Owners took control of their hounds sitting beneath the specially designed tables set up to represent the UN meeting room.

Mr Miller said dachshunds had been chosen for the 45-minute show because they came in three distinct types and were like humans - basically the same but with some different characteristics.

"The show imitates the United Nations and shows how difficult an idea it is, but it is an idea still worth trying," Mr Miller said.

"There is no special choreographing; the dogs just basically do what they want."

The dogs were given the chance to shine at the UN for one show only with a second set of dachshunds ready to take their places at the next performance on November 13. Mr Miller's own dachshund, Ruth, will perform in that show.

All of the 130 dogs selected for the shows come from Perth's thriving sausage dog community with most having no formal thespian training.

The effect was a hilarious and entertaining show that left the audience enthralled and is bound to spark renewed interest in the much-admired but odd-looking German breed.

Saw this small piece in the local Advocate paper:

Link (with picture): www.advocate.inmycommunity.com.au

Trained to attack with military precision

03/Nov/2010

By Denise Cahill

MILITARY attack dogs remain no more than 20cm from a trainer’s left side at all times.

While it seems impossible, witnessing such discipline in a dog that is trained to attack is inspiring. About 15 german and belgian shepherds are trained and housed at the RAAF base at Pearce and all spend months bonding with their assigned dog handlers.

After successful training, the handler has the ability to instruct their dog when to attack and when to back off.

On a recent visit to the Pearce base as part of Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division’s Exercise Executive Stretch, Karrakatta-based reservists gave a group of their employers and media a taste of the discipline.

Two handlers showed off the skills of 10-year-old German shepherd Ralph and five-year-old Belgian shepherd Fax. While the former was a little slower because of age, both would strike fear in any potential offender.

Corporal Jason Thompson said the dogs had a working life of 10-12 years and were then put down because it was too dangerous to release them to the public as pets.

Cpl Thompson said the bitches, that were not desexed, were harder to train but handlers often developed better relationships with them.

The dogs are predominantly used to patrol the Pearce base 24 hours a day.

Lulu gets washed in the kids bath with a shower attachment. Jonty just gets a wipe down with a warm face washer. If it's summer and stinky hot, they may have a bath in the early part of the day with a bucket and hose. I only really wash them if they need it (ie. Lu has gone for a swim in the fish pond or Jonty has a poopy bum ). I don't think they need a regular washing schedule.

They also get a bath if they have a kennel stay. A bit like my car only gets cleaned with I take it in for a service

Thanks all

Hey there :cool:

Lulu (GSDx) has a lump/cyst on her neck, vet says is caused by an infected hair follicle? Vet said she can express it but it will likely come back bigger than before. Or she can remove it surgically.

It isn't bothering Lu, and is in an area she can't reach. I'm wondering if it's worth the pain (and risk) to Lu to have surgery for something that isn't causing her any dramas?

Vet gave me the impression that it wasn't absolutely necessary to have it removed .

Just after some opinions/experiences :p

Hmmm I got an email saying they don't have my postal address, but when I check my Canon account my address is there???

I don't know if I should reply with my address or not

I just downloaded the horse ones from youtube as I missed it, and there is a dog series there too Martin Clunes: A Man and His Dogs. Is this the same one??? I've downloaded them anyways

ETA: Just looked at the link in BM's OP and it is the same one. This bit should make for some discussion when it airs:

Martin will also look at the controversial issue of whether the journey from wolf to pedigree perfection is creating a time bomb, with increasing inbreeding causing terrible illnesses.

Awesome pics Though the first thing that came into my head was, "Feed me, Seymour" :D

I wanted The Littlest Hobo dog not sure what he was - GSDx maybe

And Benji (also probably a mutt )

My dogs have been on natural diets for pretty much their entire lives - except for the 2 pounds dogs and my first westie who was fed a commercial diet during puppyhood (to 10 weeks). My second westie came from a raw feeding breeder. So it's about 10 years of raw feeding now and they are very healthy.

Mind you my naughty dad used to drop in with schmakos ..... I used to let him give them one and then tossed the rest of the packet out when he left I have now asked him not to give them schmakos and now he brings liver treats

That said, I have read somewhere that a dog's digestive system can accomodate whatever diet a dog is being fed. So dogs on commercial diet can certainly do well based on that.

It's when you throw the other stuff in like annual vaccinations, cortisone based drugs and bad genes that you start getting problems.

The natural diet needs to be looked at with a wholistic view. It's not just the diet - it's the vaccinations, the prescribed drugs for whatever condition the dog might have and the breeding. It all comes into play.

It is very true that annual vaccinations, cortisone based drugs, etc are a definite NO NO.

I wonder who is responsible for writing an article stipulating that a dog's digestive system can accommodate whatever they are being fed? lol. I am also left wondering if they have any monetary incentive in saying this? perhaps a link to the pet food industry, lol.

I am compelled to ask if you and other posters have actually read what is being used in pet food and the noxious ingredients such as preservatives and additives that are thrown in?

And the person who wrote the article you posted doesn't? She is a distributor for a "Premium Pet Food" called Flint River Ranch www.naturalexpressions.com

I haven't tried them, but have read good things on here about:

Ocean Keys Vet Hospital - 9408 6999

Dr Adrian Burstein & Associates

Unit 8A, 61 Key Largo Drive, Clarkson

Grooming, Boarding, Ultrasound, 24hr emergency, doggy day care

ETA: to the forum

Jonty sleeps on our bed and Lulu sleeps in her crate.

Both go out for a wee just before we go to bed, usually 10:30 - 11pm. We get up at 6:30 for work. Lulu will go outside, but Jonty usually just goes straight to the couch and lays on there until breaky time. On the weekend, Lulu usually wakes me up around 7am to go out. Jonty would probably stay in the bed, but comes down to the lounge with me and we all have a snooze on the couch. I don't remember the last time I stayed in bed past 7

Both will let me know if they need to go during the night (usually due to upset tummy for unknown reason). I'd rather get up and let them out than deal with a mess in the house

Funnily enough, the most destructive dog I ever had was also a dobe.

Once was so frustrated at being locked outside, Adolf (yes, that was his real name) decided to smash his way in through the wall of the fibro house we were living in.

Scared the crapola out of my boyfriend who happened to be on the other side of the wall ;) Luckily he was also on the toilet at the time ;) :p

Yeh - well the name ws the problem. obviously. ;)

Luckily the house was marked for demolition anyway

We wanted to give him a strong name with Germanic origins (his dad was known as Fritz) and it was the best we could come up with. He was a fantastic dog. Used to pull washing off the line - but only ever the housemate and his girlfriends washing - and then pee on it. Would also break into their bedroom on a regular basis and pee on their bed. Never did it anywhere else in the house or to our stuff ;)

Can't think why they moved out and got their own place

Funnily enough, the most destructive dog I ever had was also a dobe.

Once was so frustrated at being locked outside, Adolf (yes, that was his real name) decided to smash his way in through the wall of the fibro house we were living in.

Scared the crapola out of my boyfriend who happened to be on the other side of the wall Luckily he was also on the toilet at the time

There is a bit more mentioned in the linked article to that one: Palm Beach Post article link

Later, at the clinic, a veterinarian concluded that the spayed dog's body had evidence of forced sexual activity, the warrant said. The doctor said the evidence could not have come from another dog, the warrant said.

If he's a snuggler, maybe PM ♥♫PD888♫♥ and see if she still has the 42" donut SmartBed's she was selling in this thread: Linky

Yes I bought one of those and the girls love it

I'm picking up a 42" tomorrow!

So excited and Badger won't know how lucky he is Spoilt brat.

Will post photos of the swanky Mr Badg tomorrow afternoon :rolleyes:

I'm sure he'll love it What a lucky boy - can't wait to see the pics

If he's a snuggler, maybe PM ♥♫PD888♫♥ and see if she still has the 42" donut SmartBed's she was selling in this thread: Linky

I am sitting here tonight on dol suffering the consequenses. POOOOOOOOOOOOWEEEEEEEEEE. Man has he got the farts. I'm gonna have to put him outside if this keeps up

The OH or Jacko

:D

Wasn't there one about sharing spit makes the dog loyal to you

Is that like biting him on the ear will make him respect you and be obedient forever

My dog is definitely part Ridgeback, because when he/she gets angry the hair stands up along his/her spine

JoLu - please read the thread. I have already stated that yes people are breeding them in NSW. And no there is no importation allowed.

I did read the thread. My question was with no importation, where are the people who breed them getting them from and wouldn't there be a very small gene pool :rolleyes: Maybe I didn't word it right