MolassesLass

She's the perfect colour! Oh I wish I could visit.

;) Expensive is ok, as long as you are getting something extra for the extra money.

I've probably been too generous but it's "3 strikes and your out" time for my vet. :rolleyes: So, I was wondering if anyone that really likes their vet (esp. other breeders) could please mention them, their regular consult fee (if known) and why they are good. *NOTE* - Please do not put-down any vets/vet surgeries, bouqets only.

Thanks for the reply Morgan. The whole protein issue, hmmmm, it's a doozy.

Oops, yes he is. Still be interested to hear what you felt the RC was doing Morgan.

Morgan, I'm interested to know what the problems were? I have recently swapped over to RC Maxi Junior for my Bullmastiff, since he has such a specialised structure (in comparison to a medium sized athletic breed like my BCs). Do you have any links or information on these studies because most available evidence suggests this is not the case. Febreze Dangerous? Animal Poison Control Center Toxicology Bulletins: Febreze Fabric Refresher Update The Febreze™ Issue

Then why do you bring it up even when she is advising another brand?! How is someone biased towards a brand when they are recommending a totally different one? I think you are mistaken in your claims of a strong bias, she has a strong knowledge obviously and seeks to help others out when they have questions about said brand because she can. She will recommend what she believe is suitable when asked a general question, it's easy to do a search and see this for yourself. KitKat bases her opinions and recommendations on what her experiences are, the same as you claim to do. She does not get paid for every (or any) bag of food sold in Australia, so "promoting" that brand here (which she certainly doesn't constantly do) makes no difference to her what-so-ever. And if you can use your experience to be highly biased towards BARF and your special 3 american foods then why can't KK use her experience to be unbiased across a number of foods and feeding methods without having you constantly throw her casual employment in her face as if to dismiss the validity of her opinion. Can you not see how this is unfair? I hope you also have noted the public and honest answer given to Zorro, are you big enough to apologise for your insinuation that KK was going to lie? I have no desire to play secret squirrels with you or your husband, if I have something to say to you (that is within forum rules) I will say it where it applies.

Don't expect an unbiased response to this post: KK sells a "leading brand" of kibble with the initials RC. Will you let go of the bone LM?! You have NEVER met KitKat, you have NEVER seen her during her casual employment as a rep. for Royal Canin (which she doesn't mention for the benefit of the mods/admin as she feels it would be advertising which is not allowed here), she has never pushed RC over anything else simply for the sake of it, neither here nor in person yet you continue to try and discount her experience and knowledge. This has become not only a personal vendetta of yours (which is clearly against forum rules) but a baiting expedition. Please stop being such a bully. Zorro, KitKat wants to answer you once she has gotten home and checked the ingredient list on a bag of food. In the meantime their are ingredient lists for all the RC products available on one of their websites, I have no idea if they are the same as what is used in the Australian foods but it's a start if you are genuinely interested in knowing the answer to your question. See here. ETA: Oh and I don't think it's very responsible for BARFers to try and guilt other owners into taking on this diet regime, because let's face it, it's not easy to get everything right. There will be plenty of very good dog owners who simply cannot get a BARF diet completely correct and it would be more damaging to their dogs for them to be feeding an incomplete BARF diet than a complete commercial diet. For the record, I am a BARFer and my dogs do well on it, but I am not so biased that I think it's the only solution for everyone or every dog.

I never said nor implied there aren't differences between the breeds. I simply stated that a blanket statement of "Border Collies can't think for themselves" is narrow minded or perhaps due to the BCs you have in your area. Sure, who said there weren't such dogs? Running BC Rescue here in Qld, I often get to see the products of working line BCs sold to "city" homes. In fact, check out the website and you will see three such examples. Not all completely unsuited to "city" life but certainly not working out. I assume you are implying I'm narrow minded about something, care to share? If you are speaking of my reference to "working breeds" then I mean breeds of dogs traditionally bred to work stock (as opposed to the other types of working - earthdogs, gundogs, protection dogs, sniffer dogs etc). Tis a shame, I'll know better in the future. And why should it be "par for the course"?!

Perhaps, but given there are numerous people on this board who are striving to breed working breed dogs that are excellent triallers AND good "city" dogs, I think the "joke" was extremely poor taste and not funny in the slightest. And I think that is a very narrow minded view of those breeds (or perhaps a factor of the BCs & Kelpies in your area). And for those wondering where it temporarily went, I assume it was due to my request to have it removed (due to the already starting working vs. "show" crap) was considered and denied.

:rolleyes: Please keep this civil so that everyone can enjoy it if they so wish.

Urban dog owners take lead in sheepdog trials Tuesday, 18/04/2006 City dog owners are starting to replace retired farmers on the sheepdog trial circuit. The experts say they have noticed a big change, with city pet owners more interested in putting their dog and three sheep through an obstacle course, than competing in a traditional dog show. Seven-time Australian representative Malcolm Taylor says while sheepdogs are being used less on the land, their popularity in the cities is growing. "But I think the future for dog trialing is going to alter quite a bit and you'll see far more city dwellers that'll have a working dog in the city," he said. "I know in Sydney there's an area they can go on a farm there, pay the dues and work sheep with their dog, and I think you'll find city people will get a lot more pleasure out of that than they will by having a dog on a lead going to a show." Full Story

This Google search may give you some information LB. This link in particular seems quite comprehensive. This from another site: Hope that can be of help and we've got everything crossed here that it's something simple.

The AWL clinic charge between $34 to $76 extra to remove two rear dew claws, depending on how they are attached (skin only through to bone). This is on top of another procedure (like desexing or teeth clean), not sure what they charge to just do them. :D

That would be because you need to buy the book to get the specifics. After all, Dr Billinghurst put a lot of work into developing the diet so it's only fair he get some return on it. There are other websites out there with "BARF" diets but the only original BARF diet is contained in Billinghurt's book.

You can order the book (give your dog a bone) from here and there is quite a lot of information available on the net through sites such as this one.

*sigh* I never said you did say that, there were no quote marks used nor any implication that was what you acutally said. I was trying to be helpful and explain why you expressing your opinion on recommended dry dog food is not received well. I was giving you an example of how the way you express your opinion may make some people feel. If you do not understand the difference between expressing your opinion and forcing your opinion on people then prepare for many threads just as this one. My apologies for trying to be helpful, won't happen again.

LM - There is nothing wrong with having an opinion (even an extreme one - not saying you have, saying in general) nor expressing it.....IF you express it in a pleasant, open manner. If however, you express your views in a way that makes people feel that you are beating them over the head with your opinion or that you are saying anything less than what you do is cruel/poisoning your dog etc then, no you shouldn't express your opinion and until you can express it better you should stay out of discussions. Perhaps your first post could have been more like your last one. Something like: "I only recommend these 3 brands which are made in the US because they don't use horse meat (which I have moral problems with) nor grains (which are of little use to canines) and because organic products are the best for dogs and I feel it is worth the extra cost. There may be options that work for your dog that are outside this range but due to the reasons above, I can't recommend them." Just a thought. :rolleyes:

Definately agree with KitKat in that, the best food for your dog is the stuff it does best on. This can be the stuff that costs $80 for 15kg, the stuff that costs $35 for 18kg or even $10 for 20kg. I feed BARF so not much call for dry commercial foods, but I use SuperCoat when I have to. It seems to cause large stools and does contain useless grains, but I feel it is good value for money. This is what rescues get fed around here too. I don't really feed enough commercial food to give a subjective opinion on what seems to be best for the majority of dogs but there is certainly no harm in trying a few in your search.

Dog vaccines: C3 - Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis C4 - C3 + Parainfluenza (viral component of KC) C5 - C4 + Bordatella bronchiseptica (bacterial component of KC) C6 - C4 + Coronavirus and Leptospirosis C7 - C6 + Bordetella bronchiseptica

Laura, I posted a question last year that may have some tips for getting a post-whelp coat back in shape - here. Maggie's coat is looking quite unhealthy overall though (lack of gloss, seems patchy rather than overall hair loss etc), so it might be time to look at her diet to see what's lacking (most likely proteins and oils). If you're not feeding BARF then I suggest you try it, does wonders for the dogs and it's cheaper than commercial too. I'm not sure if you were stacking the dogs for the photos or just free-standing them, but they are a-framing quite a lot. You need to work on their stance at the front (encourage them to lean forward not backward) and in most of the photos (which is why I wasn't sure if you were meaning to stack them or not) you have the hocks in the wrong place too (both tucked in and stretched out too far). Good luck for your plans in 2006

Hope your doing ok chooken. Thanks for letting me come and say goodbye and for my tribe to come and play one last time. I don't even mind that Harmond was trying to get Duke to give him man-loving. :D ;) ;) Harm was always a gentleman dog, wanting to do the right thing by you but managing to still be a clown. He and Molly shared a lovely bond (no doubt bitching about that horrible obedience we put them through for so long!) and he taught young Bronx all he knew. Run free Harm, the pain and fear of earth is no longer upon you, keep an eye on your mum and remind her to focus on all the good of your life not the sadness of your passing. And remind her, my door is always open when she's ready.....

So sorry to hear of the passing of your girl Sue & Kevin. Run free and easy ol' girl.

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