Kirty

I like to go to offlead places with my dogs so they can burn off some energy. Current favourite is the river at Wonga Park. It is an offlead area and has a great swimming spot for the doggies!

You could make your own? Buy two kiddies pools, pour concrete in one and press the other one on top to make a mould?

I know that, which is why I said the above. But my dog died from drinking water on a hot day (thats what the vets suspect anyway). It would seem that some dogs are more predisposed to getting bloat than others within the same breed. As I said, after my experience, I would not do it. Dogs that bloat later in life don't concern me so much because who knows what the body is doing at that stage. But young, healthy dogs who bloat easily (like my girl did) would concern me.

I would not buy a puppy of a bloat-prone breed from a dog or bitch who had bloated. I lost my Dane girl to bloat at 2.5 years and found out later that her father had died from it too. I think bloat in a young, otherwise healthy dog is cause for concern. I know not everyone will agree here, but speaking from a puppy buyers perspective, I wouldn't do it.

Even if it IS classed as a pitbull, doesn't mean they have to send it back? Can't they just follow the guidelines?

All of my foster dogs and cats have come to me nameless - they all learn their new names very quickly.

Haha my dogs do the same thing with lemons! Maisie actually prefers a lemon over a ball...

Oh no, I am so sorry. Please don't blame yourself, you did the best you could. She might have had a big fall perhaps? She is not in pain anymore and will never have to feel worried or scared again. RIP special little girl, watch over your mummy. xxx

That is so sad. RIP poor cat. If only its owners had cared enough to contain it. I have four cats plus lots of foster cats, and every single one of them is indoor-only. My dogs are OK with the cats but I still wouldn't trust them unsupervised. I am a total cat nut and I strongly believe that cats should be contained. Its easy to cap fences or buy a cheap enclosure or just keep them inside!! It just takes a bit of effort but unfortunately so many people still think cats are low-maintenance, easily replaceable pets. I am sorry you had to go through this and I hope you and your dogs are OK.

Mum attened obedience religously and had several different trainers. Dharma will heel for 2 seconds and then pull. If you constantly remind her she will heel, but it is a CONSTANT battle. She did not improve at all even with regular training and consistent training, etc. She is a very stubborn dog! Mum wants to go for a relaxing walk and at the moment, she won't walk her at all because she is so strong and just refuses to settle. That's why I thought one of these would be good. She currently wears a halti but it does not do anything - Dharma stops to rub it then pulls, stops to rub it then pulls... Anyway, thanks for all the recommendations. We'll give them a go.

My mum's dally is a puller. She has tried flat collars, halties, check chains, etc. Even the obedience instructor couldn't get her to stop pulling! I saw a dog being walked recently with one of those easy walk harnesses (the one that goes across the chest). Has anyone used one of these? Do they actually work?

Does the shop rhyme with wuppy lenter? If so, I bloody hope it has closed down!!!

Isn't there a condition called 'water puppies' or something like that, where they are full of fluid? Thats what it looks like to me. Actually, I just googled and they are also called "walrus puppies'. http://www.google.com.au/search?q=water+pu...lient=firefox-a

I am so so sorry Elfin. Toby was a truly one in a million cat and I will miss him helping me out. I think animals can sense death. My foster cat Gus died on Thursday night and his 'brother' was acting very strange before he left. I think he knew the end was near. I think the dogs will understand that he is gone, and I think its good to show them the animal that has passed.

That was really rude. Some people have no idea. Have to comment though... People have posted about being offended when their dogs were called Mops, hit in the face, etc. I have never really thought about this! I often make comments like these (not to the owners of course) but I mean it in a light-hearted way. Do people really get upset about it?

labsrule, notice I said the dog was the same height and build as my dog - in my opinion, the Lab I saw should have weighed between 25-30kg. He was morbidly obese and suffering health problems as a result. My dog is lean - not skinny. He has a lovely waist, he is not emaciated. deelee, I think Honey looks great. It is much healthier for dogs to be a bit on the thin side, than fat.

Woohoo!! He is soooo cute Tamara!! :rolleyes:

What do you mean by "the hairs don't"? If it is ringworm, the lesions will glow a brilliant green. Only affected areas will glow, so the hairs surrounding the lesion may well not glow. See this photo for an idea of what I mean. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/25966...104536466pkHjGs

I met a 42kg Lab the other day. I have a Lab x who is the same height/build as this dog, and he weighs approx 25kg. I keep him lean because he has joint problems, but he is still a good weight. So that poor Lab was carrying around 15kg-18kg of fat on him. Poor dog.

I also live in Victoria, and here owners have 8 days to reclaim their pets. Our registration fees are not 'unaffordable' - we pay about $30 per pet per year (if desexed or chipped). Pound staff will quite often identify a dog as a totally different breed to what the owner describes it as. If the owner cannot visit the pound in person for a few days, the dog may be PTS simply because of a misunderstanding. 3 days is really not enough time - 5 days should be a minimum. Some people also do not like to leave collars on their dogs and cats for safety reasons, or collars can come off when the pet escapes. Microchips have been known to migrate down an animal's leg or rib cage and therefore be missed when being scanned. There are so many possible scenarios and that's why I believe 3 days is not enough time.

Thanks!

So sorry GB. RIP Tammyfaye.

I have been contacted by a man who is having trouble with his young BC. I have suggested a home visit by a trainer because the problems are all home-based (digging, chewing, jumping up, etc). This is basically his last resort before he rehomes her. If anyone can reccomend a trainer who could do a home visit at Point Cook (Melbourne), please let me know!

3 days is absolute disgusting. Pathetic, cruel, heartless, disgusting. We have 8 days here in Vic and that should be the absolute minimum I believe. How cruel.

She's so tiny though Vickie and her tail is very different to any BC I have ever seen (working lines or not).