sheena

I had a look on the council web site & it didn't have anything at all about dog restrictions only "dangerous breeds". Have you contacted council in regard to off leash areas ??

Yep, I guess that's about it. And I guess there will probably more than one diet that can achieve that for most dogs. The points I listed are simply triggers for considering how well your dog does on what it is fed now. That just about sums it up

OK...I'll be first up :) To start with I think we should say a bit about our dogs. I have two very active border collies that do agility with training every day & lots of swimming & dock diving (daily) so they are VERY active :) One is 18 kilos & the boy is 22 -23 kilos. (1) He gets a cup, she gets 3/4 cup of their Black Hawk kibble, with a bit of steak or fish or egg yolk at night & in the mornings get a raw meaty bone. I just have to watch that they don't put weight ON. If they have had a lot of training treats that day, then I will cut back the kibble at night. (2) One is 5 & the other 2 & they only go to the vets for checkups & vaccinations & to be weighed. They have absolutely no skin/ear infections or itches & they have beautiful teeth & gums (according to the vet) & their breath does not smell. She has had her anal glands cleaned twice in the last six months. (3) Back end....they have small, firm stools & two a day on average. No smell. The older girl has had to have her anal glands cleaned out twice now. (4) No my dogs don't smell in any department. Even when the girl has blocked anal glands, the smell is hardly noticeable. (5) Our dogs LOVE their food. (6) I will add a sixth one here...supplements...they get a tablespoon of Livamol with their kibble.

Gee I was lucky to get them then :laugh: Must have been after I posted that link that every one rushed them. My X-large ones are in the post, so should get here in a couple of days

We get our sitters from AussieHousesitters.com & have been very please with them. We now have the one couple that come regularly from interstate to housesit & look after our dogs. It costs us nothing & it costs them nothing. We do leave plenty of food in the house for them, but this is not required, it is just something we do. :)

If you are going to be going to Agility Trials, you will definately need a crate & some shade. You can be fined for having your dog just tethered, so I am told...it's apparantly all to do with the safety of the tethered dog being vunurable to any dog that might be on the loose. I have someone at my club who tethers her toy poodle to a star picket next to the agility course & it just so p****sses me off as it just NEVER shuts up. Next time she does it I am going to draw the judges attention to it.

I think a lot depends on the breed of dog. We have two border collies & they don't smell. My daughter has two SWF's & her house smells even though the dogs are clean & eat the same diet as mine. We have non-dog people come here & we ask them to honestly tell us if they can smell dog in the house & they say definately not. We only allow the dogs into the house when they are dry, cause I have found that if they lie on something while they are wet, then it will start to smell from bacteria. Their beds get washed every couple of weeks because of this. Any accidents I clean up with white vinegar (doesn't happen often). They are only allowed on the one lounge which is covered with blankets which get washed every couple of weeks & I have a few of those scented oil things with the sticks in the bottle. :)

I would strongly suggest getting into clicker training with Kirah. You use the clicker to mark the exact behaviour ie. sitting still & it doesn't matter that she is shuffling her feet when you give her the reward. If she understands the clicker, then she will know that she was treated for sitting still. Also, don't always return to your dog to treat, you can toss the treat to land between her feet. Get the clicker out & some tasty SMALL treats, do a bit of research & start playing "100 things to do with a box" :) I agree, crate the other dog or put it on a stake out.

I would have called the police & got them to check it out

Did the friend or this other person have sunglasses on or a hat by any chance.

I thought Asprin was a definate no, no with dogs

All I'm saying is there's safer ways to get your pet the adequate amount of calcium and clean their teeth. Bone marrow is most likey highly nutritious but very fatty, bone it's self meh. Would you feed your dogs raw turkey drumstick or thigh bones? No..as they are weight bearing bones...I feed turkey necks & wings if I can't get necks. There wouldn't be much nutrient left after you pressure cook them for hours.

WOW

quote name='~Anne~' timestamp='1360393835' post='6117882'] Thanks trinabean. I've emailed the manufacturers of ziwipeak as the website says what isn't it it, rather than exactly what is. I'm looking up Artemis now. Thanks spotted Devil. Sheena is Earthborn available everywhere or is it only online? I'm off to look it up too. Thanks again everyone. Does anyone make their own little treats?? Perhaps that could be something I could do? Something like croutons but obviously not with bread?? The Earthborn Holistic I bought from PetStock, so I would imagine it is pretty readily available. I make most of my own training treats This Link & keep them in the freezer. I like to have a few dry ones like liver & turkey, that I can just stick in my pocket when I go out walking.

How can you say that bones are not nutritious A good turkey neck would have to obtain lots of nutrition...calcium for one & the sinew is what the dogs need to clean their teeth, just like dental floss does for us. My dogs drewl when they see a turkey neck, so that increased saliva has got to be good for their teeth. My dogs are two & five years old & have had turkey necks their whole life...never a problem & the vet is amazed at how good their gums & teeth are Please dont tell me I am lazy because I don't put my dogs through the trauma of brushing their teeth everynight before bed. I don't see too many dingos around my place brushing their teeth & spraying with peppermint before bed.

Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch is grain free. I bought a small bag for my girl & she loved it, though she did lose weight on it...not sure how, when it's fat content is 18%. It's second ingredient is potato also, so not to sure how good that is...but it is grain free & tasty. Black Hawk sent me a complimentary bag of a new biscuit (cookie) they are trialing which is grain free & preservative free & it got the from my guys. It's straight into bed at night when I mention the word "cookie" :laugh:

Leave the poor dog & it's owner alone...neither of them are hurting anybody....they are just minding their own business

Thanks Sheena, you would definitely be able to remember it if you broke it down :). That's what I did.Re weaves, just lots of proofing I guess + the fact that she's been weaving for nearly 8 years . Oh...thats good..that means I have something to look forward to. My girl & I have only been doing agility for a couple of years, so we have a way to go yet...you make it look sooooooo easy :laugh:

Great work Vickie....I doubt if I would be able to remember a course like that :laugh: I love the way you can put Trim into the weaves, then run off to the other side of the field & she doesn't pull out. How did you teach that ?? I love watching you & Trim work together :)

For times when you just want to take him for a quite walk then a front attached harness is great. You can get them here Front Attach Harness Almost impossible for the dog to pull, as being front attached, means that the dog is pulled around into you, every time he leans on it. You still need to give him some lead training on a flat collar, but in the meantime, there are times when you just want to go for a walk & not have your arm pulled off. :laugh:

Thanks Delta Charlie....unfortunately, they are out of stock too Thanks for the link Raffikki...but they are too small. I have found this sight that have 23-26cm (350g) ones for $20. So if nothing else comes up I might try them. Extra large Antlers

Thanks BC...they are currently out of stock

My last border collie got dementia. Within six months she went blind, deaf & got alzheimers & dementia...it all seemed to happen so quick. Sad part about it, was that she no longer recognised me & would put her tail between her legs & run away scared if I approached her. Biggest fear was that she would go swimming in the dam & not be able to find her way out. She also lost control of her bladder. The day we organised for the vet to come to our farm & give her her wings, she disappeared & was missing for two weeks. She was 13.

It is about time I replaced my dogs deer antlers as they have chewed them down to about 4 inches long & I reckon soon I will have to take them away in case they swallow them. I bought them so long ago, that I forget where I got them from They have lasted so well...the dogs only have access to them for about half an hour each night when they are getting ready for bed. I would like to get bigger ones next time. Any recommendations for a supplier who might have them in stock??

Agree fully with this The dog probably looks forward to its regular outings to the shopping centre. Better to by tied up in the shade with water, than left out in the car in the hot sun. Sounds like it has a very caring owner who could be quite distressed if he/she couldn't take her dog with her/him just because one person...you....didn't like it. A dog being tied up at home for an hour at a time is no big deal to a dog. Plenty of people to keep an eye on it. I wouldn't do it unless it was a last resort. I would be worried about someone stealing my dogs.