Ms Genki

What an utterly gorgeous dog, thank you for sharing his story and I hope you know that you and your family gave him the best 12 months of his life. Seniors are certainly one of a kind and after seeing so many end up in pounds and rescue, it is my personal preference to only adopt and/or foster adult dogs in the future.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for teaching this. If responsible pet ownership was taught in more schools, it may go some way to furthering intergenerational change, fostering greater respect for animals and result in fewer flippant and inexcusable reasons given when pets are surrendered to rescue groups and pounds.

No, I didn't know their background. Are you the DoLer who wrote about 4-5 Dallys in need previously? If the leash terrifies her, it wouldn't be a bad thing gradually trying to condition her to it i.e. place it near the feeding bowl or toys and let her associate it with good experiences before introducing it to activities. In the end, she'll need to know that it's not going to hurt her if she's to be rehomed. You don't have to put it on her to toilet. I see you have a thread on her toileting indoors and the others have written some great advice already. In this poo muncher case, if you want to minimise it, you can only exercise vigilance, get to the stage where you can follow her out when she does it, praise her for going (particularly if she's stressed about doing it in front of humans) and quickly lure her away from the site to pick it up. It's a drag following out my dogs out at 10pm in winter, but the alternative is a lovely lab that I don't want a lick or smooch from. My dog is slowly learning to step away from the stinky stuff and go for the treat instead. One treat for toileting in front of me, one treat for not eating it. I know it'll be a long process gaining trust from a traumatised dog so good luck.

There's one cafe in Belconnen, opposite Westfield by the lake, Black Pepper Cafe. Dogs are welcome outside, food is delicious....and service on weekends is just way too slow for my liking every time I go there (former waitress here). I walk mine to Tilley's, mainly because I like the atmosphere, know that there will be other dogs there and there is always a breed that I haven't come across before. As for day care, I know someone advertises dogsitting on All Classifieds pet section and there are a few centres in the Fyshwick area but haven't needed to try either. Individuals like dog walkers also advertise through vets, so perhaps call yours and inquire.

Just returned from the vet who said some dogs are susceptible to hair loss on the ears when spending time in cold weather. Reuben spent a night at the RSPCA last week when he busted out so we're guessing it's attributable to that because he's an indoor dog who only goes out for toilet breaks and walks in winter. We're to keep an eye on it for now in case it worsens to bleeding or cracking. Some flea treatment medication is on it's way via Aus Post but I'm so relieved I don't have to spend the weekend cleaning and sanitising everything. Thank you to those who replied anyway. After trawling through the numerous flea threads last night, I wouldn't wish fleas on my worst enemy.

Congratulations on your doe-eyed dog, she is beautiful. Re the poo munching: I have one and the only way to avoid this look on her face :D, and this look on our faces, is to let the chronic poo muncher out to toilet before the poo provider and dispose of the yuck immediately, or keep her on leash when when she looks particularly hungry to eat her own. Good luck and remember, the leash is your friend!

I'd highly encourage people to read Norman Doige's The brain that changes itself as there are chapters that discuss this subject. He touches on people with the rehabilitative capacity and strengths of people who had disabilities including strokes and general loss of mobility- whether it be from birth or a later development. It's amazing to learn how their other senses can take over and become super senses. I really enjoyed learning that there are ways to recover a degree of what has been lost and to know how humans affected by the ageing process. Really recommended for everyone, but especially for those who are carers for humans and animals.

I've noticed recently that the ear fur on one of my dogs comes out easily and it doesn't look like new fur is growing back. He's about 4 years old. The ear looks a little dry but isn't bleeding, itchy or scabby. I don't like these little black bald skin patches and am calling the vet clinic tomorrow but was wondering whether anyone else has come across this at all? Could it be food intolerance or allergies? EDITED: Uh, never mind. I think it's the first case of fleas since having dogs for over 10 years. My other dog has a bald patch on her leg, thinning hair, dermatitis and suspicious little black specks. Sigh. It had to happen on a Sunday night, just after school holidays too....

I'm going to be trying this out too on my anxious loony bin this weekend....

My deepest sympathies to you, Kirty. I've only had my first loony dog for a less than a year and am struggling to cope. You have, however, inadvertently created a genius thread. I now know that I am not alone and that other people have suffered far worse than a broken window within the first week, dented (brand new) corrugated iron fencing and muddy trashed door bottoms! I can't tell you what a relief it is to know that. It is a constant struggle.

One of my dogs is a resource guarder and while I know how you feel - that the other dog doesn't deserve to be treated that way, it is important that you exercise leadership and discipline consistently in these situations. For me, Brodie is fed in the kitchen, Reuben in the laundry. They have to earn their meals with down-stays for 3-5 minutes and when they're done eating, I check that Brodie has finished and wait a few minutes before removing her bowl and letting Reuben in because he has rushed at her and become possessive over her empty bowl in the past. Give my nervous under-socialised pushy dog an inch and he will run a mile, and then some, breaking several things along the way. If I cut him some slack, it will result in large vet bills and chunks of dislodged fur from a traumatised lab. Funnily enough, Reuben has never had a problem sharing drinking water with Brodie, or a dog bed. It's just food and certain toys.

Yes, get her to read the thread . Sounds naive and irresponsible to have an outside labrador with one little child and another being planned. I have a 4 year old lab who is lovely, well-trained, independent, given plenty of love and attention.....and still insists on bouncing off the walls at any given moment. If they simply must have an animal, start with a low-shedding toilet trained cat, otherwise I'd have to agree with a previous poster, a lawn ornament is preferable.

Thank you for the kind thoughts, everyone . After being monitored at the vet's today, Brodie is home, tucked under the blanket with a water bottle and a wheat pack . She had a very very lucky escape as the vet thinks that she got clipped by the car and rolled. Three teeth are broken, her lungs are bruised and she's wheezing, and her pelvis will need to be monitored. She'll need to rest for at least two months.

One of my dogs had cherry eye, fortunately the eye was set right again after one day with some topical medication, avoiding surgery. It depends on each dog, but it's not a condition that is so severe that you would euthanise a dog.

I usually wouldn't post this, but I think it's a cautionary reminder when it comes to dogs and the front gate. Today I got a call from an emergency vet hospital just as I was on my way home. We always get the dogs into the house before we open the front gate to get the cars in because they still have to learn not to rush out of the gate. This time, my more than slightly deaf father opened the gate, my dog evaded my sister and dashed out towards the main road around 5pm. She's at the vet being monitored overnight and besides several cuts and a compressed back disk, she has somethingwhatsit-thorax (air leaking from her lungs) which I was told is not too serious. She'll be monitored tomorrow at my local vet's clinic, I'm just relieved there's no broken bones or internal bleeding because my other dog developed cherry eye last week! In other news, we learned that my boy can clear the 1.8m front gate, including the thick plumbing pipe which is supposed to prevent him from getting a grip at the top. I am heading out to the hardware shop first thing in the morning to buy another pipe to block the small gap between the carport roof and the gate as it is clear from today that we do not ever want to have a dog land in a similar scenario again. The phone call itself was harrowing. I am so grateful to the lovely vet nurse who was on her way to work; she stopped (along with five other cars and a cyclist), put my gal in her car on a baby blanket that someone loaned and took her straight to her workplace, the hospital. We are giving her, the vet (and the lady who found my roaming dog) brownies when we pick up Brodie tomorrow. The vet was very lovely and informative, my gal could not be in better hands.

Yayayayay, Spottychick! I haven't read your post yet :rolleyes: but I know of all your good deeds with helping initially reluctant people to come around and take responsibility for their dog, and of your challenges with Tango, and I've have missed your posts!

Baifra, it was not your fault. It is not analogous but I am only in my twenties and had not seen a good school mate for 2 weeks, both of us having recently graduated and started working. I got a call on a Monday morning to say that she was in a coma and that life support had to be turned off. I never got to say farewell to her when she was conscious, or tell her how much I appreciated her friendship and I lost one of my most compassionate inspiring friends. Her birthday is next month and it has weighed on my mind. Death happens in terrible and tragic ways that no one could ever comprehend. You must not blame yourself. Guilt stems from helplessness, regardless of whether one is present or not. You were by her side at her time of need, you relieved her of a great deal of discomfort than if she'd been alone, you gave her love and that made a difference. I truly hope that you and your family will be okay sooner than later. :D

I just hope that neighbourhood is vigilant in looking out for the culprit and keeping a closer eye on their pets (and children). There is a sicko out there who may have the audacity to try it again, depriving them of another opportunity is key.

That's all nice to be able to dine al fresco with the dog, but I'd welcome a greater open attitude towards responsible pet owners who rent, more.

I have signed up to be a member as well. Having witnessed the dedicated and altruistic work that you all do, this is certainly a community that I would be privileged to be a part of.

There's more to this story. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/11/2896450.htm

Can anyone explain why that is?

Sounds like those survivors are a lost cause or not too far from it. I do not know exactly how much it will require to make judges apply tougher sentences but posting this link can't hurt. Further reading material: Sentencing under our anti-cruelty statutes: why our leniency will come back to bite us - by Katrina Sharman, member of Voiceless, [Warning: does describe graphic acts of abuse by oxygen thieves] http://www.groups.psychology.org.au/Assets...arman_paper.pdf Will be looking out for sentencing day to see what eventuates.

Stories like these make me wish there was a Name and Shame website with all the names of animal abusers who are caught. Excrement-covered dogs.... what a nasty nasty piece of work. Oxygen thief.

Agreed, I was attacked by a local dog (though not as severely as your aunt's two lovelies) and though it was years ago, I still feel crap that I never found out who the owner was as that dog would have gone on to bite kids or dogs for all I know- it had a reputation of roaming the streets. A persistent campaign to find this duo or at least warn people of their existence is imperative. Better action than inaction. Perhaps use photos of the victims and list the medical and psychological costs, door knock around the area, definitely ask little kids as some may know and fear the dog, stick up posters about the incident, get a news article about it. I wonder if you can inquire about pet records at other vet clinics, assuming she ever took the dog to one. Good luck to all of you now this is a great idea. it will also warn other dog walkers about this dog if they are walking in the same area