Tilly

My boys is almost 2.5 yrs old. I got his papers from the breeder after chasing them up numerous times but when we sent them in to Dogs Vic for processing ... the papers were apparently never received. Should have sent them registered post and now I am kicking myself ... Contact Dogs Vic before my boy was 12 months and they were going to look into it and get back to me - they never did, emailed them and they were going to look into it but again never got back to me ... and then recently I emailed them again and now they told me we have to go back to the breeder, get them to obtain another copy of the papers and then send them to us for the the change of owner details and then sent them back in to Dogs Vic for processing. I have a scanned copy of the papers with all signatures - but that is just not sufficient

Or this ...

Maybe something like this?

If the smell is really strong - when bathing just have a good look at the skin for any redness. If she/he has been laying in urine (ie no regular cleaning) then it may have burnt the skin ... But if your dog is anything like my boys then all that doggy smells would have created a peeing frenzy and sometimes my boys don't move their feet out far enough out of the way before they mark. ;)

Nope ... ;) you are not too harsh. But having said that - I would not buy a dog from a breeder with a desex contract. Our boys are entire and we are not registered breeders ... our dogs are entire because they are working dogs.

Our older GSD had a tick collar on (replaced every 3 weeks - was supposed to last 3 months) and he got a tick almost under the tick collar which had been replaced 3 days before. The last tick he had nearly killed him - it had started to affect his breathing before it was discovered but thankfully he pulled through. We have used Advantix, Frontline, tick collars, etc and found they just didn't work. We are now using Permoxin - we mix the permoxin up into a 1 litre pump spray bottle and drench the dog before they go to work and when they arrive home (because that is where they pick up the ticks). I have been tempted to use Proban ... but they seem a bit expensive for large dogs.

Ali - K9 Pro have changed the style of collars (to the normal buckle then D) but not updated the pics on the website. Main pic is the collar I want but the product description has pics of the actual collar.

I am looking for good quality leather collars with the D at the end of the collar (like in the photo). The previous collar I brought was from K9 Pro but I have now been told they do not make this particular style anymore. Does anyone know where I can get this style collar in Australia? Or do I need to go overseas again?

The kennel in the backyard is big enough to fit their shadecloth bed&frame ... but generally we don't put anything in the kennel during summer and some carpet in winter - as it is purely there to keep the RSPCA happy if we have to lock on of the dogs over that side of the yard for a while (ie if we have visitors or something). Generally our boys have access to the full yard with their shadecloth beds on the back verandah ...

Have you got any malaseb medicated shampoo? If it is fungal or bacterial it might help ...

My older GSD had something similar just above his tail on his rump ... it started out with a little bite from an insect but then he started chewing on it. Because the hair was thick in that area it became moist and the irritation increased - like a hot spot. I shave the area and then bathed it in warm salty water, patted dry and then sprayed with cetrigen (to keep the flys away because he was outside). This helped a bit until I could get him in to the vets where he was given some cream. By the time the hair started growing back the wounds were all cleared up.

The ventlocks arrived ... and I did find a slight issue - they work perfectly on my side doors but won't work on the rear hatchback. If you are considering getting the ventlocks - double check your vehicle doors/hatchback doesn't have a safety release button/lever ... the safety release are designed to allow a person to exit the vehicle by the rear of the car in the event of an emergency ... and many cars will have this feature. Effectively you can't lock the rear of the vehicle while the door is open/up.

These documents seem to refer to a ban on spike/d collars ... To me ... this is a spike collar - I wouldn't call a prong/pinch collar a 'spike' collar

I am not seeing any photos ....

I absolutely love the ones from The Real Dog Equipment Company - the lead is made out of a flat tube, brass clips and is super strong.

My boy was peeing on command within days - which I found amazing. I would take him out to toilet and he would walk to the spot and then look over his shoulder and waited ... when I said "Go Toilet" he started peeing. He had only one "accident" in the house ... a friend had come over to meet the puppy (we were going out and I was getting ready) and they let him out of the crate as I was asking them to take him outside and tell him to "Go Toilet" ... but as I said "Go Toilet" he did exactly that ...

I have had my two dogs go at each other and usually I can verbally seperate them ... but one day the older boy got stuck into the younger one and wouldn't back off - he had him by the face and the younger boy was screaming blue murder. I was able to grab the older boy by the back legs and walk him backwards into the "puppy pen" and lock him in - thankfully he did let go and the younger dog didn't use it as an opportunity to get even. While it may not work in all situations - it does work. We have previously used the choking method when two of our other dogs had a brawl (our older GSD and our previous dog - rottie) ... and it is really hard to choke the dog enough to make them let go. We have had the dog off the ground and he still wouldn't let go - he would have had to pass out first and I am not sure I could of done that to him being a big dog. A full jet of water to the face was the only thing that worked in that particular situation.

It is highly possible he is picking up on your stress levels and emotions ... He will adjust to being an only dog and it is not mean not to get another dog just yet - we got our second dog about 2 years after we lost our rottie and I still get teary when I think about him even now. Our older boy adjusted just fine to being an only dog ... but adjusted just as quickly to sharing us with the new addition when he finally came along (which surprised me).

If you wanted a second opinion ... check out http://www.animaloptions.com.au/ - Rowan is fantastic. My boy hates vets ... but actually likes Rowan ... even after his acupuncture session

Where abouts in Qld are you?

Try chicken and pumpkin (and a probiotic such as Inner Health Plus) - I find this works faster then chicken and rice. When we lost our rottie our GSD boy really missed him and fretted quite badly. It took weeks before he started to pick up again and for months after he would run around the yard looking for him everytime he got home. The best thing is to keep the routine as close to regular as possible. I did find it difficult not to sit and cry with him as I missed our boy just as much as him - it distressed him to see me so upset - so I had to be strong for his sake. Rescue Remedy might also help ... to you both ...

Butt sniffing is common ... if you don't want more then that - just call him away. ;)

I used to feeding our youngest in his crate when we first got him ... so I started with getting him to sit (easierly done by holding the bowl up over the head) and then telling him to wait with a finger through his collar. Put the bowl down and give him a release word as I let go of the collar. Kept doing this and then started waiting longer before releasing him. If he was bouncing around or carrying on then I just waited and he soon worked out the faster he sat quietly then the faster he got his bowl. Now the boys have a mat each - they get sent to their mats and must sit until I place the bowl and give them a release work to eat.

I don't believe so ... maybe because entire males mark and they can leave a strong scent behind ... but other then that I don't believe males smell more then females. Some dogs do have a stronger odour then others but I don't believe this is relaxed to their sex.

I went to a horse shop and brought saddle soap and some leather treatment stuff ... The leather oil stuff is fantastic. We had an old leather lead that had gotten wet and then was hung up to dry and left there. The lead went stiff so we soaked it in the oil (until the bubbles stop coming out of the leather) and then drained it for a couple of days and then wiped it clean - it went back to being nice and flexible again.