darlingdog

It says on the website that they dont use puppy farms/mills and that they deal with breeders, but the huge majority of their pups seems to be 'oodles' or 'mini-xyz' so Im assuming their breeders are more like BYB or the likes.

Web-sites never lie... ;)

Dog club xmas party years ago....tripped over dog in the middle of a xmas game, full face plant in front of everyone ...3 broken ribs, split lip and black eye.... ;) dog ok !!

Any petshop that says 'shipments due to arrive' are getting their puppies from a puppy farm in my opinion. The usual BS shown by this store I am thinking....all looks nice in the shop front...gee aren't we great we have big pens and our pups are so well kept ....pity about the breeding dogs back at the puppy farm living a life of misery . Pet shops that sell puppies are just WRONG . BIG thumbs up to the ones who are working with local rescue and trying to re home.

I think we were all novice dog owners at one point and did not know any better. I had 2 dogs who were very big and i had no idea how to train them. I also got asked to leave obedience class like they did, i tried to train them myself but in those days clicker training etc had not been discovered and the 2 dogs got the better of me. They were feral until the day they died at age 11,5. I did not love them any less than my well trained lab and so i donf judge John Grogen, loved the book and the movie. Think what i love most about John Grogen is his ability to see the funny side of things and i think a lot of people are far too serious about things - i had a sense of humour failure with my 2 so i applaud him

Well put...totally agree ! :D

Hello...regarding the fence height, I have pointers with solid timber 6 ft fencing all around apart from one section which is 6 ft chain mesh and the other day I caught the youngest bouncing right up to the top of the fence with serious intentions of trying to get over it to get to the 3 peacocks that had just walked down our driveway soooo, if I were you I'd go 6 ft not 5ft. We now also have a hot wire across the top of the mesh section. Good luck with your move.

Marley and Me was a book I couldnt' get through.. no way will I watch the film. I find nothing amusing about a dog that was supposedly stupid and untrainable and that was extremely destructive. The fact that he was loved and had an owner that stuck by him doesn't change that for me.

John Grogan loved his dog with a passion but I have to say that I often wonder how well he understood Marley and met his needs. Labs like Marley aren't uncommon as young dogs.

Had John Grogan joined DOL to ask advice about Marley, he'd have been given advice to find a better trainer, provide him with more stimulation and physical exercise. Marley weighted over 40kg?? Eep.

I find the film a bit of an excuse to write such dogs off rather than try to modify their behaviour. I've never met a stupid Lab in my life. I don't find much to celebrate in the story.

But that's just me.

I love the characters in the world both human AND canine who live their lives just a bit left of centre and have the courage and joy in life to be the slightly 'different' individuals that they are destined to be.....just because someone or something doesn't fit into the 'box' as it were, means they are not to be celebrated.....But that's just me.

I would buy a small gift for the dog, bowl, toy or something like that and I'd put a lovely welcome card in it with all the appropriate words and I'd also include a list of vet, groomer, place or website to get the best deals on dog food etc based on your long experience of having dogs. Be very upbeat in your words...things like 'have included a list of all my favourite doggy service providers... thought it might be of help and hope you like them too !' .... oh and other than that I'd keep my thoughts to myself 'till I saw how it was all going to turn out.

Quick update;

He had a great weekend running around beaches etc. Wouldn't even know he was sick.

Then he had a biopsy done on Monday. What a terrible day that was. He look awful after the biopsy and was in the worst state he had been in. Thankfully he had recovered by Wednesday.

We got the biopsy results back today and chemo will start by next Tuesday in Cairns. Today they also started him on a PREDNISOLONE just until he starts chemo.

Thank you guys for all your comments

I wish you all the best, what a gorgeous doggy ! Please get in touch with Rod Straw as has been suggested by a previous poster. He is a leading world authority in the cancer treatment of dogs. I had dealings with him many years ago when my dog too had lymphoma. I think very highly of him. Big hugs sent for your lovely lovey dog.

Silly, but cool! http://www.doggelganger.co.nz/

You may need a fast internet connection.

Great fun...I am apparently a mastiff cross LOL!!! How about you ?

It seems to be a sad fact of life that where money and business are involved that often the line of what's right, fair and humane can get very blurred indeed. The fact of the matter is that this unhumane treatment of living creatures whether they are here or in Indonesia is WRONG with a capitol W .....

Now we have no control over what happens in another country but we can as a nation say enough, this must stop NOW...not in 3 years, not next month... but NOW ! No amount of talking or explaining can ever make this ok. I cannot give a rat's arse whether this is acceptable for another religion or nation or whether or not from a business point of view it will make things difficult for producers either here or over there..it's WRONG PERIOD ! If we as a nation cannot get up off our sofa's and say stop it...we should be ashamed of ourselves.

There is that old saying 'the end justify's the means'...so if we apply this we are saying...well it's a. shame the cattle have to be tortured and suffer prolonged deaths but it's ok because all those people have jobs and food.

I really hope the media keeps the light on this in the hope we can get something done that does not just scratch the surface but that really can make some changes and that it doesn't degenerate into the whole muslim religion thing.

Hello this is just in answer to one of your questions about having the fleas outside in your ground. We moved to this house late last year and inherited the worst flea problem I have seen in my life....it was horrendous and you could not walk out side without being landed with hundreds of fleas. We tried all the usual sprays with no success and eventually used a spray we got from the produce called Pidgeon's Termite Spray. We sprayed the house yard and paddock with it and it worked brilliantly. We kept the dogs off the yard for 2 days after we did it. I know it's a strong chemical but honestly it was the only thing that worked. We treated the dogs with Comfortis, cleaned and washed everything and have not had a flea since.

This is so terribly sad. I know the story about the horses is completely true. We lived there working with horses many years ago and my horse friends over there have told me some awful stories. They have been using their horse truck to take in what supplies they could. I know the domestic pets are in a terrible way too. I know we get hit by a lot of requests for donations but the animal rescues over there at the moment are really getting hammered. JEARS is the combined rescue that is in need as well..

I love the ads that say""Free to good home 10 year old dog owner relocating real estate won't allow pets".JMPO but this one makes my blood boil.How can you have a pet for so long then give it up for rental reasons.I am a renter always have been always will be and have done so with dogs for 20 years.I don't hide them I just find a place that lets me have them.I've been lucky to stay in this area but if I couldn't I would relocate to where I can!I would never give up my four legged kids for love nor money.

These ads make me really angry also imagine that poor dog lived with them for so long and they just up and leave him/her some people are mean.

Really piss poor excuse. I think these particular adds actually mean....dog is now 10 and starting to cost us money with a few small health issues therefore we don't want him/her anymore !! Let someone else take the responsibility.....I agree with the other posters..look to rent property's that WILL take pets !!

We went to work overseas many years ago and in the first month there we found an extremely emaciated dog who we took in and looked after. At the end of 4 years when we returned here he came with us. It was VERY expensive to bring him back but I remember the conversation my husband and I had when we first took him in to live with us, I told him that if he was our dog then he was coming back to Australia with us no matter the cost. We saved the whole time we were away so he could come back with us. I always say he was the most expensive 'free' dog we ever had !

black hawk holistic, they advertise in the banner along the top here on DOL

this is between 5 different breeds, the emu oil is the only 'food' additive either in a food or extra that has worked. My friends dogs have come leaps and bounds quickly on the food too

Ah I thought you might say it was that one. I have recently been looking at the web site and debating with my hubby whether we would try it. I would say it might be time to give it a go. Thanks so much. Cheers.

emu oil. It's the only additive that made my dogs coats so soft! Luckily I have it in their food but you can get it in capsule form. Fish oil helped the joints but not the coat at all

I'm assuming it's in the kibble you feed ?? If so, which one is it please ??

I'd be doing the Omega's and using a product like this: http://www.hishine.net.au/

I didn't think about also treating from the outside. I'm familiar with horse products, will give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion.

Thank you for your replies. I will start trying him on what has been suggested and see how we go. Cheers. Thanks again.

Hello everyone, I have noticed one of my pointers has a dryer coat than the others, he is the oldest at 7 years, and I was thinking of adding a tin of oily sardines to his diet. Would this help do you think and if so would once a week be enough or should it be more ? He is taking much longer to dry off his coat after swimming in our dam and it's just not feeling as silky as it should. They are all fed a diet of kibble and fresh lamb flaps or chicken wings and frames. He is a very picky eater and would not eat an additive to his food. Thanks for any advice. Cheers.

Hello all the best with your search for a pointer. GREAT choice of breed, I have 3 of them as pets. This is off topic and I'm sorry I'm not any help but please please consider carefully if you are thinking of breeding. We are having more and more pointers turning up in shelters that appear to be coming from backyard breeders breeding for field and it's heartbreaking. There is currently a male on the rescue section here. I hope you really enjoy your new pointer puppy when you get him or her,once you have one you'll be hooked !

Pointer....drip dry, no grooming ( but they do shed little white hairs) really fast for rabbits and LOVE being with their humans. Only downside in my experience would be you have to REALLY put some effort into training the re-call !

Why not try the stem cell process?

It is $1800

My friends Westie just had it done

I know they do it at Norwest Vets and Ryde vets also

Might be worth looking into

It is same day surgery

I know I am going off topic and apologise but what is the 'stem cell' process ?

I'm about to have my older kelpie given a course of Acupuncture as everything else has failed, will let you all know how it goes.

Good luck with the acupuncture. Many years ago we lived and worked in Japan. The horses we worked with ( dressage horses ) were treated each fortnight with acupuncture and I have to say when we rode them the day after their treatment they always felt so much better.I hope you get some good relief for your kelpie.

My 11 year old staffy has severe arthritis and she has been to a specialist in Sydney about 2 years ago. He recommended cartrophen injections, gabapentin tablets (a human drug that has had excellent results) and carprophen tablets. I also use joint guard which i think has helped alot as well. She is a little fussy but eats the joint guard no problem.

Pip's mum thanks for the reply. Will make a note of that drug for the time when we have to start down the road of drug therapy and it's good to know your fussy eater will eat joint guard as my boy is also a fussy bugger. Are the gabapentin tablets expensive ?

I work for a vet hospital so am lucky enough to get tablets at cost. Normal price is about $3 a tablet and she has 1/2 twice a day which is a high dose and you may not need that much. You may be able to get a script from the vet and it may be cheaper from the chemist. Honestly without these tablets i would have had to have her PTS as one elbow was so bad she would not put any weight on it. She gets around so well you would not know she had a problem. They apparently do not have long term side effects and are used for nerve damage patients and severe pain in humans.

Also another big thing he said was to keep the weight off her - the slimmer the better. (easier said than done)

Not surprised to hear the cost YIKES ! but that's ok, if we need to go down that road we will, whatever we get the best result with. Re the weight, no problems there, I have trouble keeping the weight ON him and he's very fit. We have 3 pointers and we are on 2 acres so they are always on the move. Thanks again for the information, I will be discussing it with my vet. Cheers.

My rotti is now ten and a half. I had no luck with any supplements or injections years ago and recently as well. I see an animal chiropractor regularly and once your dog has its pinched nerves released and it is in alignment its amazing how the symptoms that are attributed to "arthritis" seem to disappear! Worth a try

Rottie fan funny you should say that, my vet actually suggested some kind of release that is done in the greyhound world but it was tried and in my boy's case did not work. I have seen his xrays and the joint damage is severe and we have also seen a specialist so I know we have to go into maintaining him as best we can but thank you for your suggestion. Pleased to hear your dog gets good results with it.