Red Fox

:D I've no problem with dogs who dig. Digging is natural. Feral lawn, wallow pits and sand are all great fun :D Just the owners who get a dog, put in their pristine backyard, leave it to it's own devices and then wonder why Fido decides to do some landscaping . These are usually the ones who find it hard to grasp why someone would get up early to train, or walk their dog in the rain, or let their big dog in the house. I read an intersting section in a book recently where the author suggested (re frustration barking and behaviours); Food for thought? There are many people out there that "probably shouldn't have a dog at all".

a swim then?

Haha huski, but you are mad - you've trained a BEAGLE in drive Here's one from my 9 year old niece (that actually did make me laugh) "Figure 8's are STUPID, it's not like you're ever going have to actually do them in real life"

"Why would you walk your dog in the rain? " "You get up at 7am to train your dog?" "You must be mad to have a large dog in the house, he needs to be outside!" "You make your dog work for his food?" ...."So your dog NEVER pees in the house/eats the couch/digs up the backyard/barks all night??" Yeah funny about that People are so dumb

x 2 And blue to blue matings.. either highly ignorant, highly unethical or both. why is that? Just to give you an idea of what can go wrong... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=213239

I've been using the Rufus and Coco "Bug Off" spray, it's about $12 from Woolies/Safeway. Seems to work quite well though it stinks like citronella. http://shop.rufusandcoco.com.au/p-28-bug-off.aspx

Thanks Vanessa And yes, Kei is doing well ...Or as well as a Ridgie can do in this weather, currently sprawled out under the aircon

Thanks Burkes I'll have a look. Do you mean the marketplace (OT) or the for sale section on the main page? Main page section Thanks, found it. Good price too but the postage costs to SA would be very high... I'll look into it though

Thanks Burkes :D I'll have a look. Do you mean the marketplace (OT) or the for sale section on the main page?

For new crates; eBay (look for the seller named "puppypower"?), Vebo is pretty cheap too (stonecutter has given you the link above). C-crates are in QLD and make awesome crates, though not the cheapest... http://www.ccrates.com.au/apcrate.html For 2nd hand/near new have a look at the DOL for sale section on the main page http://www.dogzonline.com.au/classifieds/forsale.asp?cat=7 always new stuff popping up there. Also check out your local trading post and eBay. ETA, I agree 100% with what PF has said below. I have 2 metal crates - an AP C-Crate which is just fantastic (if you can afford one get one!) and a steel crate bought 2nd hand so don't know what brand it is but it's old, heavy, has a solid steel tray and is built like a brick. Savic also make decent quality crates which are a little cheaper than a c-crate, though they dont have the steel trays (or option to powdercoat).

Pfft. They're not human names - they're your two dogs' names. Just ignore. They've probably got a kid called Moon Unit or something. dont worry about it. :D :D :D Kei shares his name with a few of my sons school mates (surprisingly popular name!). I didn't really think about it being human, just short, sharp and appealing. I met a boy around 6 years old not long ago who was holidaying on the river with his family. He ran up to me as I was walking my dog and cried "Is that a Rhodesian Ridgeback?!" when I told him it was he told me "Wow! I have a Ridgeback too called Milo! What's yours called?" when I said "Kei" the kid just about died of excitement "MY name is Kei too!!" Every time I passed that houseboat for the next week you could hear cries of "It's Kei, it's KEI!" coming from inside :D

Yep, someone sent me the link. Except I'm not in Adelaide so he wouldn't be able to install one for me. (Unless he likes REALLY long drives ;) ).

That's the one I was looking at to be installed in a wall. Sounds like they hold up well then? ;) Can someone who has an XL Pigs In Mud door please measure the width for me? I can find details on the flap size and height but nothing on the full width of the panel.

Oooh good link and looks like they do custom sizes. I am in SA but not in Adelaide though

Yep, I was a bit worried that the opening would be too narrow. Especially with kids bringing bikes in and out etc. I measured the space with the glass door fully opened and it was only 86cm... I'm not sure how much the XL PIM door would take up of that?

Or they can just break a window or crowbar a door off its hinges. Locked doors only stop honest people. Most thieves will avoid a house with a dog though. If you lock your gates and have a security system, a big dog door shouldnt be a problem IMO. Exactly. If someone wants to break in they will. I had this argument with a local supplier today who told me that the biggest door they could sell me was 25cm x 40cm because "any bigger and a person can climb through". Well that's all well and good but my dog won't fit through it either!

I am after a dog door, large to extra large in size, to suit a Ridgeback (approx 27" at the shoulder). My first preference would be a door that could fit into a sliding security door, though I don't seem to be able to find anything big enough.. Second preference is fitted into a wall. I do like the patio style doors too but am thinking that the largest size once installed would not leave a big enough opening for the people? (the space is approx 86cm wide with the glass door fully opened). I do not wish to spend more than $400 if I can help it either. I am currently looking at the Staywell XL Aluminium pet doors http://www.petdoor.net.au/index.php?option...4&Itemid=10 Does anyone have one? Are they any good? Expensive or difficult to install? Any other suggestions on what to buy or where to get it from. I'm willing to buy from O/S too if it works out cheaper.

What I really cannot understand is, why would anyone pay pedigree price for a crossbred dog?? My brain just cannot process this logic. Because people are stupid and gullible and like to believe that they get what they pay for. A bit like "rare blues staffies"

It's a touchy subject but if they really want a Labradoodle the ALA is the place to look. Breeders follow a COE, breed to a standard, dogs are health tested and they are working towards having the 'breed' recognised by the ANKC. There is a BIG difference between an ALA bred "Australian Labradoodle" and a BYB/puppy farmed/pet shop lab x poodle. Each to their own ...but your friend may change their mind when they are given a price On the other hand to call you "biased and crazy" for trying to give them the facts is just plain rude, and for that I wouldn't bother with helping these people again. Let them find out the hard way. Plus I suspect that any ethical breeder, ALA member included is going to tell them much the same as you already tried to. A former grooming client owns a male from a member of the ALA - they were always purebred owners and unfortunately the breeder who is a member of the ALA must have been a very smooth talker to suck this lady in. The conditions on the dog are unlike anything I have heard of from any breeder. HOWEVER when he was hip scored - he was TOO HIGH to breed on with and also a carrier of ???(forgot now) but this was not enough to have him desexed - they said that they will be right as long as they are very careful what he goes over.....so much for health testing. In my breed - that is enough for the chop - not without tears - but all over just the same. We had a falling out over this dog. That's sad :rolleyes: But keep in mind that some of the not so ethical purebred breeders would do the same.. Not defending DD's and their "breeders" at all, but I do think that ALA bred Labradoodles and your average DD are worlds apart.

It's a touchy subject but if they really want a Labradoodle the ALA is the place to look. Breeders follow a COE, breed to a standard, dogs are health tested and they are working towards having the 'breed' recognised by the ANKC. There is a BIG difference between an ALA bred "Australian Labradoodle" and a BYB/puppy farmed/pet shop lab x poodle. Each to their own ...but your friend may change their mind when they are given a price :rolleyes: On the other hand to call you "biased and crazy" for trying to give them the facts is just plain rude, and for that I wouldn't bother with helping these people again. Let them find out the hard way. Plus I suspect that any ethical breeder, ALA member included is going to tell them much the same as you already tried to.

What's the breeder going to be feeding the pups? I'd be inclined to continue feeding whatever the pup has been eating at the breeders for the first month or two, maybe more, then slowly wean onto the diet you want. Being that the pup isn't even born yet you have plenty of time to do your research. As Sandra said, ask around and see if you can find breeders (of your pups breed) who feed raw and can give you advice on how to start. Perhaps have a read of "Grow Your Pup with Bones" and "Give your Dog a bone" (Ian Billinghust) in the meantime.

I have a Ridgie As far as your concerns go; My Ridgie would bail up anyone (outside of immediate family) who entered his yard/house without permission, even if he knows the person. They are pretty hard to train, they're certainly not stupid, but harder to motivate if that makes sense and have little desire to please anyone but themselves. They won't work for the hell of it, there must something in it for them. They also get bored easily, don't like repetition and often become creative when you ask them to do something they think is "stupid". If your aim is competetive obedience I'd probably go for a Dobe, but a Ridgie can teach you a lot about training too. IME Dobes do tend to be more energetic over all, Ridgies can be pretty lazy! But they are what you make them too. There is a guy around the corner from me who takes his Ridgie on regular 10km jogs. Mine needs two walks a day but wont go mad if he misses one either. And yes, they will walk nicely/run by your side fine if you train them to do it. yep, but you can overcome that with training too. yes - or they go to sleep Yes and no. You can train recall, I do let my dog off leash in certian areas and train off leash, but I'd never have him off in a busy area. Reason being that he can take off to chase or sniff something at an area like an oval and come back fine when I call him, however being able to call him back would do no good at all if he darted across a busy road...

I got the impression that the OP was more concerned about the fact that the dog walker did not have the dogs under effective control, that they were posturing over her dog and jumping on other park users, than the fact that some of them were muzzled

Puppy pen inside with a tarp underneath if you have carpet. Or gate off a room (kitchen/laundry/bathroom)? 5 hours isn't that long and you could leave some food toys to keep her busy. Not sure where you are but I'd be worried about the heat when leaving a puppy outside at the moment.

Thanks Aidan