Red Fox

Thats fair enough CW EW What to people think about tubal ligation (sp?) as opposed to desexing?

Okay, so what if the bitch is of a larger breed? Say a Dobermann or a Rottie. Would you still desex after the first season or would you wait until the bitch was mature first? eta, just saw your edit PF

Thank you for the reponses. Well I have bought the Gottfried Dildei & Sheila Booth book through Dogwise (couldn't find this one anywhere in Australia!) and I think I'll follow it up with both the others over the coming months. Looking forward to some very interesting reading

Well there have been some interesting discussions on desexing lately relating to both dogs and young puppies, but I would like to hear peoples views on desexing bitches. I am talking about females that go to responsible experienced owners who do not planning on showing or breeding. Perhaps those who plan on competing in dog sport at a serious level. What do you think? Should it be done? And if so when? Do you believe that there are issues related to early desexing? Large/giant breed females? What if the bitch is going to performance home? Do you think it makes a difference?

:D I do the crate thing all the time :D And I'll never forget the time that OH kicked his legs in his sleep and sent the cat flying into the wall

OT but not true. Women with implants have the same risk of breast cancer as those without (some studies have even found that the risk is slightly lower in women with implants). It has been studied and proven many times over. Cancer forms in breast tissue - not silicone Back on topic - what are peoples view on desexing females? Given the risks of pyo and mamory cancers would you leave a female working/sport dog entire or desex after a certain age? From what I have read there seems to be more of an argument (risk v bebefits) for desexing females than males. eta, link to article "The Long-Term Health Effects of Spay / Neuter in Dogs" http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/ddtc/sfiles/LongT...euterInDogs.pdf

This is how I feel.. But then why does a vet say 6 months. its confusing!!!! Because they are stuck in their ways. It's what they believe, what they have been taught, and what they have always done. Just like the vets that will insist on vaccinating yearly even though the AVA is now recommending that it only be done every 3 years

I own a large breed too and breeders advise was not before 9 month (preferably longer). I dont like the idea of desexing before the dog is mature. (unless the dog is a rescue or there are other valid reasons for it). I dont have any great scientific study to back that up but it just doesn't sit well with me. Surely hormones are important in any animals development?

Thanks guys. I might gety the Gottfried Dildei book for now and the other two at a later date Has anyone read the Ivan Balabanov book? I've heard/read good things about the DVD's so was thinking the book might be worth a read too (and a little cheaper!).

These are a good idea too The good things is that you can buy the mattress protectors and sheets made to fit so make it extra easy Are cot mattresses very expensive? Comparatively speaking. (At a guess from what I've seen in Big W) Innerspring are around the $150-$200 mark but they would last a long time. Foam are around $80-$150. These are new prices so if you could pick up a second hand one they would be pretty cheap.

These are a good idea too The good things is that you can buy the mattress protectors and sheets made to fit so make it extra easy

Single bed foam mattress cut to what-ever size you want and make a cover for it?? You could easily get 2 or 3 beds from one mattress depending on the size of your dogs. A good foam mattress is around $100 so that's $30-$50 per bed

I'd like to learn more about Schutzhund. Can anyone recommend some good books? I'm more interested in the what and why as opposed to the 'how to'. Anything that covers training in drive in a bit of depth might be handy too. I'm currently looking at these three but not sure what would be the most appropriate.. HUTZHUND OBEDIENCE - TRAINING IN DRIVE by Gottfried Dildei & Sheila Booth SCHUTZHUND - THEORY & TRAINING METHODS by Susan Barwig & Stewart Hilliard ADVANCED SCHUTZHUND by Karen Duet & Ivan Balabanov Thanks eta, sorry the first title is supposed to be Schutzhund Obedience. Dodgy cut and paste job on my part!

Us too I bought mine from the supermarket for about $5, looks similar to this:

Hmmmm... if anyone wants a treat pouch http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...15&start=15 Be quick though, the auction ends in 15 mins! ^^ooops, no it doesn't. Just had another look and it ends tomorrow (Monday) at 9:15pm

I have the regular sized one and find that while it's deep enough I would prefer that it was a little wider so as to get the treats out faster. The Outward Hound bags are very similar, maybe a better size though?? One of the things I like about the Black Dog pouch is that it's the only one (that I'm aware of) that you can buy the liner for. It allows you to carry oily/smell treats in there (like raw meat, hot dog, roast chicken etc) without ruining the pouch or having to wash it all the time -you just pull out the liner and wash that instead

That is expensive Black Dog regular sized treat pouches should retail for $30-$35 ($32.67 on the Black Dog website). As for Fuzzyard beds you can find them from $50 if you look around. ETA: Black Dog treat pouches for $26.50 here: http://www.thevetshed.com.au/product_info....roducts_id/1285 and $$25.50 here: http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/BDTP#BDTP:...;utm_medium=cpc

Oh my, TLC The bowls, the leads, the blankets! Your house is like a shop Love it!

Are you referring to the OP? Where on earth has it been said the kids are left to deal with the dog on their own?? Here Huski LM, is your dog crate trained? Could you possibly keep him in a crate overnight rather than the pen to ensure that this doesn't happen again? Sounds like your daughter was just being a kid and trying to do the right thing by letting him outside, and yep it's hard to watch them all the time. A crate might help with that. I think BB may have meant that you should correct your dog when he mouths the kids, not the kids to correct him themselves. Well that was my interpretation of it anyway. Of course letting the kids correct the dog themselves is a BAD idea...! The best thing you can do (IMO) is to manage the situation by knowing where your dog is at all times -crating him or keeping him on leash inside (tie the leash to your waist if you have to), and not allowing the kids near him unless you are right there to control any interactions - while continuing to work with your trainer to solve the problem. Of course this is all easy in theory, but not so much when you have a family to deal with and a household to run! Do your best and I'm sure you'll get through it. Good luck

Sorry Cosmolo, quoting that line on it's own probably took your statement out of context a bit I didn't mean to, it just struck a chord with me in the fact that I personally would not ever leave a dog (particularly a large breed who may or may not be agressive) alone with kids. If I thought it was a problem I would have that dog crated or next to me on a leash when there were kids around. It's just too much of a risk. I'm not by any stretch saying that this is the OP's situation though, or that the dog in question is aggressive or that the trainer is wrong/incapable

Is he the guy that breeds black Malinois? Just curious as I have heard his name before.. but not sure where? Crysti_Lei, would it be worth your Grandma joining an IPO / Schutzhund club? (http://www.adelaidesportdogclub.com/) Perhaps if she was not physically able to work the dog then she might know of someone else that would like to handle it for her during training? It sounds like she knows her stuff, particularly if Belgians have been the family breed choice for such a long time, so maybe just another outlet for her and Addy? The Malinios he trials aren't black, but he does have a black GSD also. He's a Schutzhund and security dog trainer. I have heard from people very pleased with his results with high drive and aggressive dog rehabilitation in SA:) Okay thanks. I must be thinking of someone else then

Kenzie is a tart There was a thread about this not too long ago relating to odd things that pop up in purebreds - colours, long coats in short coated breeds etc. I think someone posted a pic of a long haired Rottie there

Did the breeder say how long it would take for the jaw to self correct? (if it does at all) How well do you know the lines? Is the breeder well known and well established? Do they show their dogs? And if so are they successful? I'm not involved in showing or breeding so have limited knowledge of what you would look for in a show puppy - but I'd think those things things to be an important starting point. Perhaps post this question in the breeders forum?

Is he the guy that breeds black Malinois? Just curious as I have heard his name before.. but not sure where? Crysti_Lei, would it be worth your Grandma joining an IPO / Schutzhund club? (http://www.adelaidesportdogclub.com/) Perhaps if she was not physically able to work the dog then she might know of someone else that would like to handle it for her during training? It sounds like she knows her stuff, particularly if Belgians have been the family breed choice for such a long time, so maybe just another outlet for her and Addy?

Seem as my house has NO inbuilt storage I bought a cheap bookcase to stash most of the everyday stuff in. I keep collars, leads, coats (well some of them lol), books, and bits and pieces that I need quick access to there. I have a big basket on top for all the tug toys. Then there's a big container and a small storage shelf thing in the laundry for treats, biscuits, bowls etc. Doggie PJ's are on top of the crate in the bedroom, extra coats and bits and pieces are stashed in the laundry cupboard, grooming stuff is mostly on top of the crate in the kitchen (the rest seems to be scattered around the house lol), blankets are in a container behind the lounge. I usually have a spare collar and leash near the front door and a leash laying around on the desk. Spare room is for all the things that we dont use often enough or dont have room for ...toys, tugs, balls, training gear. And I only have one dog here's the bookcase, the only semi organised thing in our house