~*Shell*~

Thanks poodlefan! I'll have to wait around for some sydney siders to find a good club, but you've been really helpful!

Zero knows that when I come out of the house in tracksuit pants with my running shoes on that it's time for walkies. All i have to do is pick up his leash and say "off you go" and he runs to the gate and waits for me there. When i come around the corner he comes running back to me, then back to the gate and touches his nose to it. I once said "shake" while i was near it during this time so now he lifts his foot and points at it too before coming running back to me to have his collar and leash put on.

Hi all, I have a 4 y/o husky (very big, over the breed standard) who is still a little bit overweight. In the next couple of months though, after he's finished losing weight, i would like to start taking him to obedience and agility but i don't really know how to start. Are there any clubs around parramatta, epping or castle hill and is there anything i can do to get him started with it (training etc i could do at home)? Also, what can i expect at a club?

I recommend you taking them for a long walk together when you bring the new dog home - that way you can control the interaction and by the time they get home you'll have a few quiet hours with them. And the next morning, if you must leave them together, i would be taking them for another long walk so they're tired for the day. If you can have someone check on them during the day that would be a good idea just to make sure that they're not getting up to anything they shouldn't be, and to monitor their play. If your trainer is recommending certain things i would be listening if you trust them.

After taking Zero out to see a behaviourist and trainer, i have no problem with e collars as long as they're used in consultation with a trained professional. The good quality ones are expensive, but have heaps of settings on them and can be adjusted so the dog recieves the lowest stimulation that it will be distracted by. A lot of people think that the prong collar is a horrible thing to use on a dog, but it's worked wonders on my dog and i'm so glad i have it - but again, i don't think people should use it unless they're taught to do so. Any training tool (including a flat collar) can be dangerous and harmful in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it. And coming from someone who works in the media - don't believe everything you see. Media sources are doctored and edited before anyone sees them, as a means to an end. You can convince a lot of people, even if what you're saying is not the truth. Edited to fix spelling...

It's okay Miranda - I understand that not all foods are good for all dogs. I know that some of the better quality foods are not good for Zero but he does well on pedigree naturals. On the other hand i know that he could potentially do better on a higher quality food and i would like to try a grainless food again. If he doesn't do better on neither artemis or orijen, i don't have a problem switching him back to the food he's on, but i want to try all options first!

I'm looking to do it starting in may - just have to raise the money! I'll be going to the sydney training blocks though (if i can get the time off at that time!). Good luck!

Hi all, I have a 4 y/o desexed husky who is a little overweight. He is losing weight on pedigree naturals (he's allergic to many foods - we think it's a preservatives or colourings thing, but haven't been able to pin point which preservative or colouring it is in particular so we've had him on this food while he's been losing weight) but i want to try him on something of a higher quality. I tried orijen, which sent him a little hyperactive which isn't a problem as now he is getting more exercise (and we will be doing agility in the future when he is at a good weight), but they do not have a low fat variety and I'm reluctant to change him over with a reduced amount of food as he has stomach problems when he eats grainless food due to it being digested faster. This is probably a good time to mention that i tried many different foods before finding one that doesn't make him sick and only pedigree naturals, HSD (my vet told me not to feed him it!) and supercoat (which he gets sick of very quickly) are suitable for him. Anyway - to put a long story short, I would love to hear people's stories about and experiences of artemis as the only thing searches bought up was "too early to tell" threads!

I wish they had a low fat version of orijen! I would really like to put Zero back on it now that we're walking more but since he's on a diet, i don't want to risk him putting weight back on until he's at the weight he's supposed to be!

Zero's the same - he vomits after he eats certain foods that have artificial colours or preservatives in them and them sometimes for no visable reason (we've since found out he has scar tissue on his stomach from his abusive old owners that cause the vomiting when he drinks water too quickly). If it's not the food, i would suggest a trip (or at least a phone call) to the vet.

Does she do it after a walk or after drinking? Or is it random?

I've heard that foxes can carry it. We've been told that if we're going to take Zero into the nature sanctuary near us (lots of foxes in there!) we should have him totally vaccinated and flea and heartworm protected because the foxes carry most of the problems domestic dogs can.

Well, you can keep her on it and see if it is the food or something else... or you can take her off it and see if it is the food or something else. It's possible that there is something in the food that doesn't agree with her - Zero has allergies to preservatives and colours (makes him throw up) but with something like orijen, he didn't have a problem with the food itself - it just made him hyper. I'll be putting him back on it when his diet is over and we start doing agility.

Zero has a drizabone - It's very cute! This pic was taken a while ago (he's lost a lot of weight since then!) but you get the idea:

I can vouch for the furminator! Last year while Zero was blowing his coat we had tumbleweeds of hair for about 6 weeks. This year (post furminator) that time is cut in half and i don't have to vaccuum everyday! ETA: I got mine off ebay for like $40.... a lot cheaper than the $90 i've seen them advertised for!

I've heard it's because of the nutrients and i think it's true. Zero will also lick the dirt sometimes (for quite a while) and dig it up so he can eat it. Vet says it's normal, he just needs some specific nutrients and minerals that are found in dirt. Apparently it happens to people too - a lot of women want to eat potting mix when they're pregnant because it's got lots of minerals in it that they are lacking in their bodies. I think it's all fascinating!

My wahl KM2 is fantastic! Cuts quickly, blades don't get hot and they're not too loud. Oh, and it's pink (breast cancer foundation ones) and every one asks me where i got them from!

Zero was done at 2.5 years when i adopted him from the pound. After talking to his breeder, he still has the same personality he did as a puppy - just like his dad and his dad is still entire.

Good point Lisa... Maybe i'll just get the one without the drier and then get the drier separately. I was going to buy a drier in the next couple of weeks anyway so maybe i'll get it now and then get the hydrobath later.

Oooooo - I want the one with the dryer too! No sense me buying a forced air dryer when there's one in the tub! Anyone got a spare $3000 to give me? Zero and i would be very thankful and you could have a lifetimes worth of husky hugs Maybe I'll get some $$ back from tax to kick off the savings...

I would be seeing a vet, if only for something to stop him licking it. Zero has a bittering agent that we put on his sores - he hates the taste! One lick and he won't even try again. It's safe too - it's actually for cows and horses but works well on dogs too.

Zero got his first chicken frame yesterday (i'd only been told to feed necks, which he swallows nearly whole, and wings) and it took him a good couple of minutes to eat - they looked good for a pup to have. They still have some meat on them too which i thought was fantastic. Zero just loved it! He has 3 more to get through so he'll get the others over the weekend. They were cheap too! 50 cents each!

Zero has an old laundry trough in the backyard (its like a horse trough lol) for his water. Then in the laundry (inside) he has a bucket full too. Being a husky and them being prone to overheating, you can't be too careful. When he is hot or after walks, Zero puts his front paws in the trough to cool down. I've even come home to him lying in his water one summer day (on those days we let him into the garage where it is nice and cool (the coldest place in the house in summer!) during the day but he still goes and climbs into his water and then goes and lies down in the garage.

Yep - by distance - though it's not a good course. At the moment because i have friends with dogs who need grooming (lots of uni students who could put the money to better use like to buy food!!) and so I've got a lot of x-breed rescue dogs being brought over for me to do but if i ever get the time you can guarantee i'll be straight over to the northern beaches Clyde!!

Has he been wormed recently? Worms can cause sudden weightloss if nothing else seems wrong. I'd be giving him worm medicine and calling the vet to see if they recommend a check up...