Tilly

Produce store at Browns Plains sells Canine Country. I brought out their freezer last week. They didn't have the range of varieties on hand but are happy to order for you. They make sure to get Canidae in for me on a regular basis. The guys are extremely helpful

Maybe contact Animal Options and see if they could help. Rowan has been absolutely fantastic with my boys ... the older boy had a great acupuncture session which helped with a problems he has had long term - can't believe I didn't take him earlier. The website doesn't specifically mention Physiotherapy ... but a quick phone call will confirm.

Here is an article back in April 2010 - http://news.change.org/stories/heartgard-sued-over-resistant-heartworms

I am rather angry about this ... I have used this product for a many years on my dogs ... and now with a couple of packets in the cupboard I am looking for another product. I feel like I have wasted lots of money (this product isn't cheap) and put my dogs at risk of something that is preventable.

So not happy ... so should I now be getting my dogs tested for heartworm before starting them on something else?

I am a sucker for talking about my dogs and asking other dog owners about what products they use, what trainer or training methods they use etc.

I knew someone who got a dog and didn't know about needing to vaccinate or worming (heartworm and all wormer) ...

In general conversation I started complaining about the price of heartgard and all wormer and mentioned how I had just found a wonderful online store which offered reasonable prices - even offered to add their order to my next order to save on some postage costs. Then again in general conversation I mentioned ... if it wasn't for reminders in my phone I would forget to give the dogs their monthly heartgard chews also mentioned how remembering the 3 monthly all wormer was a pain - even mentioned how I get one of the boys vaccinated on my birthday so I would remember.

Over time I asked them how the dog was going and when I noticed it was scratching a bit ... I asked how they were going with treating fleas ... mentioned I had some difficulty getting rid of fleas on my boys (having used a couple of different products) and was now trying product X and was finding it was doing well so far.

Over time we kept sharing experiences and they became a wonderful dog owner. I find being lectured by a know-it-all isn't helpful but general discussions and sharing of information is much more helpful.

... my youngest gets whiting fillets and prawns for his training treats ... definately not a cheaper alternative

Crate training is also fantastic for later on down the track if your dog ever needs to be confined at the vets or due to injury. Our older boy is not crate trained and he becomes extremely aggressive when he needs to spend time at the vets.

Our youngest is crate trained and is relaxed and happy about spending time in the crate ... great for when I take him camping or on holidays.

If you have a smart puppy ... you might need to put clips on the crate doors. I woke up one morning to a licky pup ... convinced I hadn't shut the door properly. Only to later find out he could let himself out of the crate ...

I put my pup in a crate from day one and for the first 3 days I ended up sleeping on the floor beside the crate with my fingers through the bars... he was extremely vocal and cried even while eating.

After 3 days I brought the crate up beside the bed and slept with one hand on the crate (fingers through the side) ... and over time slowly moved it further and further away.

During the day I would have him in his crate and disappear from view for a couple of seconds and come back ... again building up the amount of time I was away - I was preparing for return to work and wanted him to be comfortable by himself.

We even did outside time where initially he wouldn't move more then a metre away from me. Over time I would just sit outside and read a book or do some gardening and would completely ignore him but would watched him out of the corner of my eye. As he became more confident and more settled he started moving further and further away to explore.

It is still early days and he needs time to adjust to the new smells etc. It is important he is taught it is ok to be alone and you will come back if you disappear from sight.

I use a police duty belt with a carabiner placed around the belt itself. They are pretty strong.

A bit like this

I like those belts ... the CQB belt can be used with Personal Retention Lanyard which might make a nice bungee lead when the brat is a bit more trained.

The Black Dog hands-free belt has a plastic clip but if you ask Warren he'll explain how to bypass it by passing the leash through one of the D-rings.

He mentioned that when I asked if something could be made for me ... but both D's are on the same side of the clip so I can't see how that would work.

I keep looking at those belts but I just don't trust the plastic clip - the one I tried in the shop came apart after a bit of a pull. Maybe it was faulty but I have little faith in plastic clips - even those “guaranteed” never to come apart.

I am looking for a simple hands free walking belt to use during training sessions. Currently I use a leash wrapped around my waist which does the job ... but I am looking for something better.

The design I am looking for is similar to the Black Dog Tuffy Collar (photo attached) - where the plastic clip is absolutely unable to come apart.

Any ideas? Any other suggestions?

Maybe years down the track ... but definately not the next dog.

We have had a rescue rottie called Kane (a couple of years ago - for about a week before he died of Parvo) ... and our youngest is Kaine - but I made sure the spelling atleast was different.

Bring on the cold weather you bunch of girlie girls ... we boys are tough here. I just love running around on the cold wet grass ... particularly while my mum is hitting a tennis ball out for me. She doesn't appreciate my cold wet feet on her when I bring back the ball with such enthusiasm.

Just called into Lotsa Pet Food in Woodridge ... and they are gone ... the telephone number is even coming back as disconnnected

Thankfully ... I just looked up Canine Country website and found that Park Ridge Produce (Mt Lindsay Hwy, Park Ridge) stocks it. I was just there this morning and should have had a good look round. The guys in this place are really nice and can't do enough to help you. They order in Canidae for me.

One hot afternoon while we were having a garage sale ... my mum stopped the home ice-cream guy and brought a box of ice-creams (on a stick with chocolate coating) ...

She then ate the chocolate coating off one and let the youngest lick the ice-cream off the stick while she held it ... then realised the other dog missed out ... so she got another ice-cream out, ate the chocolate coating off and gave him the ice-cream.

It isn't something our boys have often ... but more of a special treat. Definately no chcolate ice-cream (or caramel as that is my favourite and I don't share )

I hope your dog was ok in the end

He made a full recovery - it took him about 2 weeks before he was up and about and another month before he returned to complete normal. The weekend cost me just under $1,000 but it was well worth it.

Once a tick is removed there's a chance the tick could have left a residue of poison under the skin which will then be slowly absorbed. You should keep an eye on them for the next two to four days - avoiding excitement and exercise.

Early signs:

•A change in voice; the bark becomes softer and/or changes pitch.

•Weakness in the back legs; walking along then sitting down suddenly is a common early sign.

•Vomiting, especially if it happens several times in a day and you see froth.

Later signs:

•Wobbliness in the back legs.

•Excessive salivation and vomiting is not uncommon.

•Panting, progressing to loud breathing, even grunting noises.

•Many dogs will exhibit a moist cough and breathing problems before other signs. (Particularly common in King Charles spaniels, schnauzers and other short-nosed dogs, this is a dangerous sign because it may lead to pneumonia.)

Worsening signs:

•As signs of poisoning progress, the animals become unable to stand.

•Breathing becomes exaggerated and difficult.

•As breathing becomes more difficult, the gums become cold and blue-tinged. Death follows quite quickly.

We had a paralysis tick on our GSD ... we believe it would have been on him for 4/5 days before he became wobbly in the back legs and another 2 days before it started to affect his breathing.

I had taken him to the vet on the Friday for an ear infection and about 10 to 15 minutes later he collapsed like he had tripped over. I called him to me and he came over and was a little wobbly on his feet. I rang the vet and them came out and diagnosed an inner ear infection which affected his balance. He continued to go down hill and on the Sunday I took him to another vet to have his bladder drained (he hadn't toileted since the Friday). It was only then that we found the tick and he received treatment - by this time he was struggling to breath.

I have attached some pics of a paralysis tick ...

Wonderful ... it is alway great when you find an obedience instructor who inspires you

I am looking for a place to take my boy ... he is absolutely perfect at home but he has a few moments of bad behaviour when out in public. He is just such a high drive dog that regular obedience classes just don't suit him.

Do tell ... who are they?

I assume you are treating Kennel Cough - dosage is 0.2ml/kg but it must be childrens benadryl but do check regarding other medical conditions

Mmm, mine was covered under my home and contents insurance while in the home.......or so I thought.

Apparently you are only covered if someone else's dog eats your camera, not your own

Didn't you tell them the dog wasn't yours ... because you have disowned it ... ;)

I believe you can list each item against your household insurance policy ... they will probably charge extra but it is probably the best place to start.

What are you feeding? It could be due to the food she has previously received so it might just take a bit of time to settle down.

Sardines ... or maybe something like Omega 3/6 supplements (normally sold as a pump pack of liquid added to food) might help.