Simply Grand

I do have to agree with rallyvalley, they don't start the actual hard mouthing until 6-7 weeks and mum and siblings are best equipped to teach what's ok and what isn't.

Nope, they don't need puppy milk, water + good food is fine and you can even introduce bones, only with supervision.

Oh also, I wouldn't have her back for play dates with mum until mum's milk is well and truly dried up. If it isn't she'll still want to suckle and if mum lets her the milk will never dry up, and then she risks mastitis without full time pups to keep thing moving.

IME with shelter litters, as long as they are eating 3 meals a day of good quality solid food she should be ok. I would start feeding the pups their meals separately if you aren't already so you know that each of them is actually eating a sufficient amount of solid food and she isn't missing out to her brother and just being topped up by mum. She will probably be upset to be away from mum at first whether she's fully weaned or not so I'd suggest sending bedding that smells like mum with her, and warning your brother to be prepared for some crying :) But 6 week old + pups don't need milk anymore.

Looks like there is snow at Tidbinbilla, apparently dogs are allowed on lead at Woods Reserve: http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/recreational_activities/camping-in-the-act/woods_reserve_recreation_area

So sorry for your loss DDD As others have expressed, I'm so so glad that she found you and got to enjoy a great life being properly cared for for her final four years, and that she passed knowing she was loved. Run free little Myrtie

Oh yes, that would make sense GrufLife.

The bike rider was probably at extreme risk whether he swerved or kept going straight at that speed. I'm no expert but doesn't a sudden course change at high speed make it incredible difficult for a bike rider to keep any kind of control? Maybe he tried but instantly lost control and the trajectory still took the bike into the back of the car

I think you can contest that if the other driver is negligent or deliberately does something to contribute to the accident, even in less extreme situations than this one. She obviously just wasn't thinking clearly about the risk she was creating and I don't think she deserves a life sentence either She was definitely negligent though. It's very easy to foresee the risk of this happening. Awful for the family of the two victims

kc, I just saw a new Viva paper towel ad featuring 'Bruce' the totally gorgeous Basset and instantly thought of you :)

Aww, sooo gorgeous! LG, I agree, you definitely see their little personalities come out when they're one on one. And I swear that puppy breath smell has addictive qualities, I used to crave it with each of my three when they were babies and I spend plenty of time nuzzling shelter puppies to get more of it

I know emotionally it wont be that helpful but do remember that people will have their stupid prejudices about certain dogs no matter what the actual dog in front of them does! People don't like small dogs, people don't like big dogs, people don't like black dogs, people don't like fluffies, people don't like pit bulls, people don't like squishy faced dogs, people don't like "ugly" dogs (??), people don't like huskies, people don't like jumpy dogs, people don't like "aggressive" dogs etc etc etc... Even if all they see the dog do is literally sit there! Working in a shelter we hear this EVERY day, based on people's ignorance about what dogs are actually like, how individual they all are and what motivates them all individually. Try to disregard them as just ignorant, and remember yourself all the good things and all the progress you make :)

I'd be budgeting twice that (at least)! Not including purchase price. Depends on the area and male vs. female / simple castration vs cryptorchid but desexing alone can be $500 :) Insurance will be $30 + per month. Good quality food... Puppy should already be chipped by the breeder, and have had first vacs but you'll need the following 1 (or 2). You can go cheap on beds, toys etc but not worth skimping on the above! A healthy, happy, well bred puppy is well worth the investment though :)

Poor Esky But great news about Fritz

Uh, you don't have to read the threads?! Edited to add the missing words.

The wait will make it all the more rewarding when it finally comes to fruition! Working in a shelter and sending people home with their new adoptees, I'm constantly reminded how exciting it is to bring home a new dog or puppy and I keep being jealous coz it will be a while before I get another of my own :)

Oh my GOD! I love it I noticed mum's face too, it's like she thinks "hang on, someone's missing" then "where does he think he's going?" :laugh:

That is unbelievable, what a complete and utter f*wit

I don't know enough to comment on specifics but I don't think the RSPCA has much choice but to seize the dog in order to prosecute. The problem is they don't own the dog so it has to be held in their temporary custody and can't be fostered out. I have had this discussion a few times with the view of doing some research into the behaviour and welfare of seized dogs. And no - domestic pets unfortunately have very few rights. Yes, if the owner won't surrender the dog to the RSPCA I don't think they can hand it over to someone else's custody (foster) and they certainly can't permanently rehome it to someone until the court process is finalised. I can understand as an owner not wanting to surrender your dog if you thought you had a chance of getting it back but it's really putting the dog in a horrible situation to be stuck in a shelter for years

Could you try cutting the foot off a sock or the sleeve off an old long sleep top/jumper over his leg and tying it on or putting a rubber band around each end to keep it on? I suppose that would only work if he's just licking, not trying to chew or pull a bandage off

Do they really?!

It's an episode of The Simpsons! Wikipedia excerpt: Bart and Marge take the lizards to the Springfield Birdwatching Society. Principal Skinner, a member of the society, explains that they are Bolivian tree lizards, a type of lizard that steals a bird’s eggs and leaves their own eggs to be watched after by the mother bird, which is then eaten by the offspring once they hatch. Skinner says the lizards must be killed by law, because they have killed many bird species. Bart escapes and runs away with the lizards, but before he can get away, Skinner catches up to him and they both struggle on top of the building. Suddenly, the lizards glide to the ground, where they start to eradicate pigeons in Springfield. Since the town considered the pigeons to be a nuisance, they are delighted with the fact that the lizards have eaten all the pigeons. As a result, Bart is thanked and honored by Mayor Quimby with a loganberry scented candle. Lisa worries that the town will now become infested by lizards rather than the pigeons, but Skinner assures her that they will send in Chinese Needle Snakes, then snake-eating gorillas, and then "when wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death." http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_the_Mother

I'd workon building a positive association with the fluffers rather than punishing his unsure reaction. You can use the ones you see at the park then, just start off at a big distance from them. Call him to get his attention back on you the instant he spots the fluffy, before he has a chance to get worked up, and shove a treat in his mouth. Wait till he glances back at the fluffy then repeat, repeat, repeat. Gradually move closer, keeping him under his arousal threshold, and you can also gradually increase the time he has to look at the other dog or br calm in its vicinity before he gets the treat. If you find you've gone a bit too fast and he starts to react, immediately move him calmly away until you have enough distance for him to settle again. Given that you say he's generally a social boy and he is able to eventually calm down around fluffies already I reckon you'd have pretty quick progress and probably only need a few sessions before he gets over the hurdle of that initial reaction :)

I googled 'black terriers' as I'd never heard of them...that's all that came up. Perhaps Perse is correct :)

Don't be disheartened though Snook, you obviously know Justice back to front now, you said it in your post, you could see he was uncomfortable and your knew to give him a break. He has the more positive experiences now so hopefully will recover quickly and it sounds like he actually did fantastically well after a quite traumatic experience!