Kirty

I am so very sorry for your loss. I am sitting here in tears, because you have just described the relationship I had with my own horse who died 6 years ago. Sending you massive hugs.

Hi guys, I live in Kilsyth and am in need of some obedience lessons for my Dane. I would love to go and see a professional trainer again but I just cannot afford it right now. My dog is a timid Great Dane who, now her fear is improving, is getting pushy. I want to get her socialised and start her formal obedience at a club somewhere localish. Any recommendations? My friend goes to Croydon but was disappointed. I used to go to Knox and was fairly happy with them, but I had a 'normal' dog then. Any other suggestions for places/strategies appreciated!!

I don't know if it has changed or not, but my family were not animal people (we are going back 20 years here). I mean, we always had one or two pets, but that's it. We were taught about approaching dogs, etc but my sister was only 2, hence why she stuck her fingers through the bars. We thought if you went to a show, the animals were on display for the general public. I had no idea about why shows were run or rules, etc. I'd suggest that many people still believe that.

I honestly think people just don't know though. I think a lot of people think that dog shows are where breeders show off their dogs, and where people can meet dogs. My sister got bitten by a Chi when she was about 2 because she tried to pat it. I know my family had no idea you shouldn't touch dogs at shows! Its the same at cat shows. Most people think you can walk from cage to cage, giving each cute kitty a pat. I personally don't have a problem with it, but I know many breeders do. Perhaps the show organisers should hand out info pamphlets at the gate explaining show etiquette, or perhaps exhibitors should have signs for their cages/tents/etc.

Love the last pic - it needs a caption like "OMG I have no idea what I did last night, but my head is killing me".

LOL the weight thing annoyed me too! No way does a half grown leopard only weigh 18kg! And an 8kg GR? LOL! Very cute story though. I did a quick google and most leopards weigh 60-70kg and are mature at 12-18 months.

I was always told that dog's can't be jealous, and that what we percieve as jealousy is actually dominance? Not sure if I believe that though! Sorry, that didn't help! LOL!

I'm so sorry Jules.

Please post some photos of Pele with her 'sticks'!!! Please!!

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Has the dog still got its eyes? Glaucoma is very painful. But no, he should not be PTS. Blind dogs cope very well.

Thanks everyone for all the replies. Cordy looks so gorgeous and I am glad she is recovering well. I have seen a few three legged greyhounds but they were all amputated later in life I believe. And yes, it is Sam. He is such a sweetheart so hopefully we can get him 100% very soon. His leg certainly doesn't seem to slow him down, but I just don't think it can stay the way it is. Not sure I'll get to the vet again this week, but I'll let you all know how he goes.

I'll try and get some pics tomorrow. He seems happy enough. I guess I am worried about him being sore - its hard to tell though because he is still quite active, and doesn't limp as such. puggy, I knew his leg had been broken as a puppy, but the truth was bent slightly. I was told his foot turned out but he was not lame, etc. Well, his leg swivels out as he walks, and he swings it out wide when he goes up steps, runs, etc. When he stands, it doesn't quite touch the ground, so he is always balancing on the other leg. There is a big lump where the bones have knitted and as I said, a bit of muscle wastage. I was hoping that once he came here and got to stretch his legs, his leg might get stronger. But I actually think it has gotten worse. When he gets up off his bed, he doesn't use that leg at all and its a bit of a struggle. My other issue is rehoming him. I don't want to rehome him and then the owners have to amputate a year later. I guess he is going to be a long term foster... ETA: I'm not chopping anything off yet staranais. Just wanted to get some opinions in case that issue is raised. I wasn't sure if it would be wise to do it to a puppy.

Would you amputate the hind leg of a med-large breed puppy? Why? Why not? Basically, my current greyhound foster had a broken leg (femur). He is 5 months old. It was apparently broken when he was very little and has been left to heal on its own. The bones have knitted, but they are sort of crossing over where the broken pieces meet. As a result, this leg is a bit shorter than the other and is not growing properly. The whole leg is slimmer and smaller, it also has some muscle wastage. He has been checked by a vet who thinks it has healed and is not painful. But he often seems a bit stiff when he gets up and he definitely doesn't use the leg normally. I am worried it is painful and will cause more problems as he grows. I'm going to have him seen by a greyhound vet soon to get their opinion, but just wanted to see what the general consensus was here.

I am so sorry MissPriss. RIP gorgeous big boofa. Watch over your mum.

How do they get the colours like that, and the images so clear? They do look like paintings...

Absolutely disgusting. So this moron now owns FIVE dogs and STILL has crappy fences? Far out, our legal system is a complete joke. ETA: And sorry, I would rather humanely PTS a dog that was suspected of killing 5 other dogs, than to hand it back to a moron like that and risk them killing more innocent pets.

Poor little girl. I don't have any advice about her behaviour, but I would not desex and vaccinate at the same time. Its a lot for her little immune system to deal with and is she is a stress-head, well that will make it even worse. I'd get her vacc'd now or wait a few week after she is desexed.

She should be full height by approx 12 months old. They will fill out a bit after that though.

No advice sorry, but just wanted to let you know I'll be thinking of you. Its the hardest decision you'll ever have to make for your pet, but thank goodness you are strong enough and caring enough to let him go when he needs to.

And what did they eat? I'm pretty sure they didn't have fridges in those days, so how did the carnivores survive? Perhaps they actually took a lot more than 2 of each, but they only had 2 of each when they finished...

So far, my dogs have all found me so I didn't get a choice. But one day when I get a pedigree, I will have a colour preference. It doesn't mean other characteristics are less important though, and I realise it may mean waiting a bit longer but what's wrong with that? I also have pedigree cats and I was very fussy on their colours. I'm currently on a waiting list for a new show neuter and I only want one colour so I'm happy to wait until the perfect kitten comes along.

Oooh got any more freebies left? I want to test my dogs!

I'm not sure, but I used to groom a Newf (I was a mobile groomer) and after the first time, the owners would book an appointment for when they were at work and I'd just walk into the front yard and catch her! Not at all protective of her house! LOL!

I have three desexed girls and one boy, and they are all fine. My oldest girl has become quite bossy with the youngest girl, but its not aggressive. She is just a party pooper and if the young girl starts to have fun, the older one steps in and tells her off! The younger girls are both submissive to the oldest though, not sure what would happen if they were more dominant themselves.