Odin-Genie

We recently went to Alaska for three weeks and went dog sledding with Mitch Seavey's dogs (Mitch Seavey has won the Iditarod multiple times). I thought I'll share one of the photos from the trip:

Ok, some more photos:

Grizzly eating dandelions on our way to Skagway Summit:

Denali National Park...the colours of the mountains were breathtakingly beautiful:

A female bald eagle in a forest in Ketchikan:

I use large steel bowls. One is kept upstairs and one on the lower level. My dogs have never played with the water bowls, but I feel that having two sources of water ensures that they would always have access to water.

in my opinion, there isn't a downside to walking a well trained/behaved dog off lead.

There isn't...from the offlead dog owners' perspective.

But if you consider all the other dog owners who have to choose a different road or go back home because they can't predict which dog is well trained and which isn't...then it is definitely an issue.

I guess this whole discussion is really about those who prefer to walk their dogs offlead asking "what's in it for me?" And if they can't see a downside to themselves, that's where it stops.

I don't understand the issue with walking past an off lead dog that is well trained and doesn't approach your dog - why is that a problem?

It is a problem because you don't wait to walk past an offlead dog to see if it is going to stay by its owner's side. As many have said before, you can't tell by looking at a dog from a distance that is it bombproof.

There was a woaman in the oval with two large dogs, apparently under good control and seemed to have pretty good recall. We were walking on the other side so weren't too concerned. Then suddenly one of the dogs saw a small dog and chased it out to the parking area. It took the woman a few minutes to understand what was happening before she actually called her dog back. No one was hurt, but this was an instance where a seemingly well trained dog, wasn't quite so predictable. Do I want to take that chance? No.

Hi everyone, just hoping someone has a suggestion re heat rash. I have a small dog, 1/2 this and that, who seems to be suffering from a heat rash under her front legs and under her tail. Unfortunately I'm not that financial at the moment and was hoping there was something that I could use that wouldn't involve a vet visit. I have been washing her with Aloveen oatmeal shampoo which is for itchy dry skin; this does appear to help however was thinking there might be a cream or a powder that I could use at other times, particularly when we're off on our daily walk.

Many thanks

Juanita

Is it a hot spot? My Golden Retriever sometimes gets hot spots particularly when the days are excessively humid and hot. I trim her coat close to the skin in that area so that the skin can breathe, and use cold tea bags.

I can do it if you like :)

Thanks. I will PM you my address.

If people were questioning my intentions with offlead walking. A)she was highly trained before I got her. B) I continued her training. C) Eventually it was mostly used to round up my mothers flighty dog if it escaped since she was disabled and unable to chase the little bugger.

As I said I wouldnt do so with any of my other dogs. While they are reasonably good I wouldnt say to that degree. This old girl could walk through a mob of kangaroos, a flock of birds, children running, balls, cats and was even bitten by other dogs. If she was doing heel work she ignored. If I took my previous GSD offlead she would probably have shot off after most of those! Which is why she was onlead.

Im a big believer in effective control. Id rather train a dog who would ignore everything if possible over relying on a lead which can be slipped, broken or dropped by people.

I would never allow my dogs to rush people. That needs to be clear. If I cant trust them 100% regardless of stimuli they are onlead. That goes for offlead areas too. If your dog takes off in an offlead area they can still run onto a road etc if they dont recall.

I think the issue is not how much you trust your dogs. They may be 100% biddable. But if I see you with an offlead dog in an on lead area when I'm walking my dogs, I wouldn't know how well trained your dogs are. Which means that I will have to take a different road to ensure my dogs' safety.

The oval near my place is on lead only at all times. I usually take my dogs there and we have a great time walking and jogging (always on lead). However, there have been times when I drove over to the oval, saw quite a few off lead dogs, put my dogs back in the car and drove back home. I could have gone in assuming that all those dogs are 100% biddable, but I have no way to tell. I have seen dogs walk perfectly by their owners side, and then suddenly run up to my dogs. It's not worth the risk.

The point I'm making is shit happens, leashes aren't infallible and things can happen.

FWIW I'm an on-leash person. I'm not disagreeing. I just think arming yourself and being on high alert and panic stations is a really dangerous standpoint.

If your friendly dog suddenly managed to break his leash and ran up to my dogs, I wouldn't kick him or hurt him. I understand that leashes can be fallible. I have an issue with people who deliberately walk their dogs off lead in on lead areas.

I have had many instances when offload dogs have run up to my dogs. This is particularly a problem when I take my dogs for a bush walk in lead only areas with narrow trails. Off lead dogs often run up with owners far behind. In general this is not an issue since my dogs aren't aggressive. But it stresses me out.

I can recommend this lady in your area:

http://www.beautifulcreatures.com.au/

Thanks. I will check them out.

Have you considered a shadecloth covered area/run..and dog door ?

My backyard gets direct sunlight pretty much all day. So if I had a run it would have to be completely covered, even the sides. I did think about it and may have to do that if nothing else works out. Is it possible to buy a dog run that can be put on and taken off easily?

I assume the other people I come into contact with are making their own risk assessments. When they see a dog who is quite clearly under control I expect them to continue on about their day and return my 'hello' as we pass.

Your dog might be a perfect angel but I don't know that. No one can tell by just looking at a strange dog while walking how predictable it is. Which means that all those who want to keep their dogs safe will have to avoid walking on the roads where you walk. It is good to have some consideration for others, particularly when doing otherwise is clearly breaking the law.

What are they like with kids? I am in Mt Colah.

They are good with kids as long as the kids aren't harrassing them. They have grown up with my nephew, niece and their friends. But I would want all interaction with kids very closely supervised. You've met my dogs (a few years back in the dog park). Do you want to PM me and come over to my place if you are interested?

Hi,

One of my dogs has canine DLE and is not allowed to be out in the sun. They are both inside the house while we work (about 7-8 hours a day) and we have an inside petloo which we are trying to train them to use (no success so far, they refuse to go inside).

My dogs are walked morning and evening and get lots of playtime.

However, it looks like we may have to work additional hours due to extra work responsibilities. I am looking for someone who could come in everyday at about 3 pm (except weekends) on a paid basis in the Mount Colah area, take my dogs out to the backyard for about 20 mins and feed them. I don't know anyone who can do this. Can anyone provide any recommendations?

Some people are actually very proud of their offleash dogs.

And I have no problem with that personally if the dog is under effective control which means not approaching other dogs or people.

I love letting my dogs have off leash time, it is great exercise for them, I personally wouldn't enjoy never being able to let my dog off leash.

However I intentionally look for places to run them off leash that aren't frequented by other dogs because not enough people do have effective control of their dogs.

I let my dogs offleash as well, but only in designated areas, and that too if they are not next to a busy road.

But I find it annoying when people let their dogs offlead in lead only areas and feel proud of doing so. When I go to lead only areas, I do so because I don't want strange dogs running up.

Some people are actually very proud of their offleash dogs.

I have had a number of people tell me that they always walk their dog offleash, even near busy roads, since their dogs are perfectly trained. When I tell them I never do so, my dogs are always on lead (except in offlead areas that aren't near busy roads), they smirk and tell me I need to train my dogs to walk off lead!!!!

He comes to our local area all the time-he never has pick up bags either "Cause he never does it on walks"

Not sure if the correct emoticon is or

Well if you don't look, you don't see, so it never happens. :)

I remember being at a dog park and there was this guy who would quite happily let you know, "Excuse me, your dog left a job for you." And would give you a poo bag. It seemed to be his mission in life. :laugh:

Even funnier was when he followed this lady who was studiously ignoring her dogs (cos if you don't see, it didn't happen) and stood there till she obliged, pointing out the very spots where they had deposited.

I used to do that (give people poo bags if they didn't pick up after their dogs) when I used to frequent the dog park. My OH once stood behind a teenager giving instructions while he picked up his dog's poo. The teenager had apparently never done so even though he walked his dog everyday.

If you wish to allow your dogs free rein of your property, lock your gates and post a sign alerting to the presence of the dog/s.. That way there are no surprises. And if entry is required quickly and in an emergency, expect your dog to pay with its life if it offers resistance - emergency services won't be cooling their heels waiting for the ranger.

So, while chasing a wanted person if a police officer jumps into your fully fenced backyard and your dog barks and runs up, would they have the right to shoot your dog? Or is that only applicable if it is front yard?

To be fair, you obviously have inside info melz as none of that information is in the story.

The breed is inside info but the story posted clearly states that the JRT was off leash running around.

Kelpiecuddles The breed was not Staffy or AmStaff - if you have seen that on the news it was stock footage. The dog was a Bull Terrier.

How can anyone jump to the conclusion that the dog is outright DA? Many dogs of many breeds would react to an off leash dog rushing it while on leash - many DOLers dogs would judging by the posts on here. Why should the dog be muzzled if it is leashed in public? The only way an incident would occur is by someone else breaking the law and allowing their off leash dog to rush the dog.

If the Bull Terrier was on leash, the reporting is highly inaccurate. The only way the Bull Terrier could have 'attacked' (the story sounds like the Bull Terrier instigated the attack) an off lead Jack Russell is if the JR ran up to the dog, or the BT was off leash as well. While I don't condone any dog attacking another, I have full sympathy for owners who follow the leash laws but are constantly hassled by morons who think it's funny to let their offlead dogs run up to other leashed dogs in a leash only area.

I recommend Akuna near Hunter Valley. I board my dogs there. My requirements are:

• I provide their food
  
• They are fed twice a day
  
• Two walks and a playtime per day
  
• No interaction with other dogs
  
• Medication as required
  
• Airconditioning
  

One of my dogs has canine DLE and the owners of the kennel have been really accommodating with his medication and putting tarpoline on his grassy area so that he doesn't get direct sun.

He is really good looking. Lovely photos.

I have a golden retriever as well and she is my little princess. I can't imagine how anyone can look into those trusting eyes and give them away!!

I would think a dog which growls, barksor runs at a person is menacing.

So, if a dog barks from inside the house at a door knocking sales person, it would be declared menacing?

When I was in Alaska recently, I saw this in one of the petshops: http://deluxe.quickfinderclipper.com/

Has anyone used anything like this before? Does it work?

It apparently detects where the quick is and tells you when it's safe to cut the nails.

If my dog ever did that, regardless of what the child did I would euthanise and this is coming form someone who loves working kelpies with a passion.

Agree'd 100%!

Regardless of what the child did ..if the kid needed hundreds of stitches then..."this was a mauling"... it wasnt just a quick snap to say stop standing on my Paw !!

Kids can be pretty awful. I've often retold a story that a vet told me. Family comes in to pts the family Labrador cause it bit a kid. After the green dream is administered, they find several staples through the poor dog's ear.

PTS may be appropriate, but it would be good to hear the full story before forming an opinion.

I will never say 'regardless of what the kid did'. Kids can do pretty awful things to a dog if left unsupervised. And I'm not one to punish my dog regardless of who is at fault. However, I also would not expect a dog with a solid temperament to cause multiple bites. A single warning bite if really provoked....that I can understand.

I trim my dogs' nails every two weeks.

My goldy used to be a real terror when it came to cutting her nails. Two different vets gave up and said they couldn't do it without sedating her. But I really didn't want to keep sedating her all the time since her nails grow fast. So we started trimming her nails a little bit when she was in the bath and her nails were softer. It took a lot of patience and a year to get her to accept it.

Now I can cut her nails easily. She actually offered me her other paw the last few times when I finished with one.

My golden retriever whines in her sleep. Most of the time it is minor but sometimes it sounds like she is whimpering. I usually just hug her or pat her and that seems to calm her down.

carefull odin, if its a really bad dream she could snap at you without realizing or waking up in time

She has never been aggressive. It is more like a pitiful whining. Both my dogs are very used to being handled when they are sleeping. Mostly because they tend to sneak up on the bed and we have to move them in the middle of the night!!! My goldy seems to immediately sense when I or OH touch her. All we have to do is gently touch her and she stops whimpering.