RiverStar-Aura

Well the freebies beat the $2500 blue SBT pups that have apparently been selected from champion bloodlines. I wasn't aware that people could choose the pups to be conceived And on top of that, they are insisting that the sire and dam are both champions when I wasn't aware that blue SBT were considered breed standard.

I'm still trying to work out how to desensitise my two from our cat. Calypso (cat aged 9) got along famously with Poochie (now deceased) and were like Milo and Otis. She hates my two current dogs Zeus (just 3) and Kirah (just 1) and has learnt that if she cowers in a corner, the dogs ignore her. Once she starts moving though, the two dogs glomp on her and Kirah yips at her. They're not aggressive towards her, they just want to play but Zeus is too big and intimidates Callie and Kirah just yips in her ear. Is there a way to help me get my guys to ignore the poor cat? She'd really like to lounge around our backyard again but takes one look at the dogs and backs away.

He might also be going blind or deaf. Poochie would jump and startle when she started losing her hearing then sight. A check up sounds like just the right thing. It sounds like there's some sort underlying issue.

I like THIS ONE Why would you continue leaving the remote out where a dog can get at it?

Actually I'd never thought of that. I guess it's because I always watch where I'm walking so something like treading in crap didn't even occur to me. I can't believe that I didn't even think about the risks of parvo. Don't take my post wrong either -- I always pick up after my dogs and I hate people who don't, as they give all responsible owners a bad rep.

I just find it amusing that society, which is all about being green and saving the environment, is made to pick up dog crap in non biodegradable plastic bags thus creating even more landfill. Dog crap, even though disgusting, would be more biodegradable if left on the street rather than placed in plastic bags. To me it just doesn't make sense.

My Aussie Terrier pup was outside from the moment she came home at 8 weeks old. I think as long as you've triple checked the yard for being 100% secure, they will be fine outside. What's the structure of your yard like? The puppies will need shelter/shade and a bed to sleep in if you don't want to have a dog door installed for laundry access. As others have mentioned, the chickens will need to be kept away from the pups -- terriers like to chase game and can't help themselves. Kirah managed to kill Myna birds by the time she was a few months old so I wouldn't risk your chickens. Make sure there are plenty of toys for your pups to play with too -- ropes for tug of war, soft toys with squeakers, balls and any sort of rubber chewing toys are always good. Perhaps for the time being, leave them outside for an hour or so whilst you supervise them from inside. That will give you some clues as to how they might behave when you've gone for the day but still give you some peace of mind as you're still supervising. You'll find that by having the two pups that they'll be able to entertain themselves -- just be careful though as you'll also have twice the trouble!! PS We still need pictures of these two cuties!!

1) What was the reason why you stopped training your dog? I have a few reasons why I stopped taking Zeus to obedience classes. First was that the classes started getting too big and the ratio of dogs/owners to instructors was not ideal; there ended up being about 20 dogs per instructor once we'd graduated to the intermediate level. I also found it very hard to hear what was being said as we had to stand in a line and the instructors always had a bad habit of only standing at one end -- if you were standing at the wrong end you couldn't hear a thing! The sheer size of the class also intimidated me as I'm generally a quiet person who won't speak up if I'm having trouble -- especially when there are numerous "look how effing awesome my dog is" type people in the class hogging the attention of the instructors. The final thing was time. I was offered permanent part-time at work, which sadly means I'm required to work 3 weekends a month and when classes are held on Saturdays, one class a month is hardly beneficial. 2) Do you feel your dog is well trained enough? Zeus yes. His basic commands (sit, stay, come, drop, stand) are fantastic and he also has a HUGE trick repertoire: beg, roll over, shake hands, high-10, spin, round ( circle around me clockwise and sit in left heel), through (circle around me anticlockwise and sit between my legs), sad face (head down, looking up sad), bang/play dead, bow, dance (on hind legs), push it (to push an item over or closed (eg a door) with his nose or paw), where is it?/hide and seek, over (jump over things), up (jump onto things) and we're now working on leg/pole weaving. He also wees and poos on command 'go pee pee' and he also does 'foot' when I ask for a paw to clip his dew claws. Kirah is a different story and a very different dog. Zeus loves to learn and keep his mind active whereas Kirah just likes to be Kirah. She'll still learn as easily as Zeus, but I just have less time due to work to teach her like Zeus -- besides that, I've already got one show pony and that's plenty! She does know her basics (sit, stay, drop, stand) and her few tricks are roll over, shake hands, beg, bow and we're working on spin, bang/play dead, round, through and bang/play dead. They do have issues though, which I'll answer further down. 3) Did you not get results from previous training attempts? I got some fantastic results with both dogs at training and I especially learnt a lot for which I'm very glad I went! 4) Is training too far away/ too often/ too expensive? I'm lucky enough to have many different dog training classes all within about 30 minutes of home. Trouble is, most are held on weekends (I work 3 weekends a month) or on nights I'm working (I get home from work around 7:30pm) so I can't really get to any unless I organise time off work, which I can't afford at the moment. 5) Are you simply too busy? See above. 6) Did you find training boring? No not at all! I found the training sessions very informative and opened my eyes to a lot of different training methods. Training kept both myself and my dogs focussed and I also found I had a better, closer bond with them after each session. 7) What would prompt you to start training again or would you not start training again regardless? I'm determine to get back to training very soon. My dogs and I have always failed with loose leash walking and still don't have the hang of it. This is the one thing that's always been beyond my comprehension as a dog owner as I've never been able to stop my dogs from pulling. I can put them in halters, which only masks their pulling, not really fixing my problem. They are also both highly reactive to other dogs on walks to the point where they bark, lunge and carry on like boofheads because they want to play instead of walk. I need to be trained on how to deal/fix this as it's also another thing I've failed at in regards to this type of obedience. I'd also love to get Zeus into agility as he jumps like a gazelle/show jumper and is very graceful and light on his feet. Did try it at one club once but was 'shunned' for lack of a better word because my dogs sleep outside. I felt very bad after the class and never went back -- I felt like scum just because my dogs sleep outside. Hope my answers are somewhat helpful!

You should've asked for her contact number and address so that you could forward her the vet bill if Gibbs or the other dogs required treatment for sand in the eyes. What a stupid woman.

I guess something to consider too is that every person perceives 'oldness' in varying degrees. I refer to my two dogs as pups or bubbas and they are both neither puppies nor bubbas (Zeus is 3 and Kirah 1.3 years). These people might not be aware of the lifespan of a GSD so to them, 10 might be old as they're aware that larger dogs have a shorter lifespan. That being said, when I'm discussing and old dog with its owner, my comments are usually along the lines of 'what a darling old boy/girl' because they are all so lovely. Don't take it to heart; some of them might even just be looking for a reason to strike up conversation with you and that's what they come up with!

I don't blame the officer for his actions either. I don't know if the dog's owner is known to the police but if they were called because a person was passed out on the ground, anything could've happened to him. The guy may have had a heart attack, in which case quick treatment and transfer to hospital would be required. Hardly time to stop and think of all possible ways to get passed the dog.

Is that JD's Pet food ? Is it on Third Avenue Llandilo ? Sent from my Transformer Pad TF300T using Tapatalk 2 Yeh that's the one!

I have my fingers crossed for a good result MsDani. It's hard when you get so attached to your pets and more so when it's your first heart dog. You're in my thoughts

Lol this has been posted 3 times now!! :laugh:

If I don't have time to dart across the road with dogs oncoming, I'll step off the footpath and well into a front lawn and let the other dog(s) pass. I do this because I have two very reactive dogs, who bark and carry on like mofos in the presence of other on-leash dogs. My guys aren't dangerous, they carry on like this because they want to play with the other dogs, but I don't like putting other peoples' dogs into a potentially dangerous situation. I don't know how their dogs will react and I see it as my responsibility to keep my boofheads out of their way. I don't mind what others think of me for stepping out of the way -- I see it as being responsible. It's not just for the safety of my dogs, but to protect the other ones as well.

My thoughts are with you and Melton. It's surprising seeing a thread like this when just the other day I put Advantix on my guys as I just "had this feeling" that they should be back on the flea/tick treatment. I hope your little guy pulls through!!

I'd love to help out but I'll be working most days too. What days would you need the help on? I could possibly ask around my friends to see if they're able to help you out.

It looks like everyone had a fantastic day and that Takoda was rightly spoilt!! The name tag you got her is a gorgeous keepsake Happy 1st Birthday Takoda!!!

I've also used soup bones and give my guys the occasional lamb shank. My mum thinks I'm spoiling them with the shanks but when I give them to my guys, I'm totally the bestest mum in the world!! Otherwise it's usually just turkey and chicken wings.

Zeus loves his carrots -- I swear I can hear the "what's up Doc?" coming from him too!! The best thing is that he's not a fussy eater and will eat anything, even lettuce.

There's also a pet produce place in Llandilo. Can't remember what it's called though.

My vet did. When we took Poochie in for a follow up, it was discovered that her kidneys were failing and there was nothing that could be done for her. I wasn't expecting to hear this, as I'd assumed she'd just hurt her back or something. My family and I were in the consult room for around 2 hours discussing our options before we all decided on the toughest decision of my life -- to have her PTS. I was beyond distraught after it happened to the point of even now not knowing how much it cost. My dad took care of the costs (Poochie was technically a family pet even though I took all responsibility for her) and he was just as upset as me. I had no idea what to do with her do with her body and the resulting weeks caused many arguments with my family -- the decision was left up to me, which I hated because Poochie belonged to the whole family. Mum wanted the vet to "deal with it", my brothers didn't care either way, and I felt that Poochie deserved more than just being "got rid of". I spent many of my shifts at work crying in the staff toilets as I wasn't handling her death well at all and eventually I used the work phones to organise a cremation with Pets at Peace. Whilst all this was going on, Poochie was kept in storage at my vet's clinic and I've never been more grateful to them. And they didn't even charge us for this. They are the loveliest clinic and I'll never go anywhere else. I didn't get an urn for Poochie, I had her returned in a scatter box, which has a lovely name plaque on the top. Poochie's ashes were scattered in our garden as I know she would've liked, and her scatter box, candle and small vial I've kept of her ashes are on my desk with a lovely photo of her. I keep her collar, lead and name tag inside the box too and I'll never forget her. My vet clinc also sent a lovely sympathy card from everyone and I've got it on my desk too.

I still have my fingers crossed that this little girl is found. She's always in my thoughts.

My two sleep soundly through the night from sun down to sun up. I can put them to bed at 5:30 and they'll wake like clockwork at 7am. And I know they nana nap during the day too.

I actually didn't mind filling out a questionnaire from Kirah's breeder -- I felt it was a way for her to get to know me and vice versa. I also look at it from a breeders' perspective -- the puppies are living, breathing animals who they've taken great care in introducing into the world. Of course they want what's best. I see it in a similar light to child adoption. There is a huge process to go though before you're even considered as a potential guardian so why should it be any different for dogs/cats/horses/etc? And better yet, where did owners get this "I'm entitled to have one of your puppies" attitude from? Just because you're out searching for xx breed, doesn't mean a breeder is obligated to sell you one of their puppies. The puppies belong to them and they are within their rights to say no, regardless of their reason. Buyers need to accept this and not take it so personally, which I do understand is a difficult concept to get one's head around. No one likes being told no about anything. There's definitely no easy solution to this; we live in such a throw-away society that a lot of people don't perceive dogs as being forever. My two dogs are my life and even when I'm at work, I'm often thinking about what they're doing all day and how I can spoil them when I get home. I could never abandon them or dump them at a shelter and I don't understand how anyone could. All Zeus and Kirah ask from me is love and food, which I give willingly in exchange for their love, loyalty and everything else. The sad thing is that there will always be monsters in this world, but if we can stop them one at a time, we might get there eventually. I can always hold out hope!