grabit

Do Vet Nursing through tafe . You wont regret it.. opened up SO MANY doors for me! It's a two year course with a six month work placement.. you learn so much and people are really willing to take you seriously when you've got your cert 4! It can just be a stepping stone to other things too, alot of the vet nurses I studied with have gone on to do Animal Science at Uni..I was considering that until I got pregnant . But yeah, since completing vet nursing I've worked at clinics, shelters, pet shops, done a ton of volunteering and it was all well worth it. What everyone here says is right though, it's hard to get your foot in the door but once you've got some experience under your belt it's much easier to find something to do in the animal industry .

Sorry but i would disagree with this, (in SA at least) i have done the cert 4 course full time and the practical support offered through tafe is terrible, altough i am working in the industry with a fantastic employer i would advise you to do a cert two to get a foot in the door and then speak to your employer about going through animal industries in Qld.

If i had know the trouble i would have with tafe beforehand i wouldn't have wasted my time or money!

i groomed a Belgian Shepherd just a few weeks ago that had horrific wounds on its neck that i thought were grass seed abcess. When the owner collected the dog i started telling/showing the wounds....he quickly put 2 & 2 together and solved the mystery. The dog had been wearing a shock collar loaned from the council after they had a complaint about the dog barking. He was mortified by the damage to the dog, as it had been hiding away in the thick hair.

ok please correct me if i am wrong but i was under the impression that shock collars where illegal in SA for some time now (along with prong collars) there was def a campaign by the RSPCA to make them so. If this is the case the council should not be loaning them to anybody

Please don't missunderstand me to mean i don't agree with these methods of training where other options have been tried and failed. Its just that as an owner and a vet nurse that i would be VERY careful about using them without doing my research on this as i know the collars are still widely available and would not want to be charged for " animal cruelty" either

I always understood that it was an instinct to mask the smell off dog when they are hunting ....ie if the animal being hunted smells the poo of it's own species it is not alarmed however if they smell dog they are off and away.

As you may remember i recently found myself looking for somewhere to rent that would allow pets and not just one or two (I have 2x chooks 6X rabbits 1x cat 1x dog a cockatiel and 2 turtles and are on a waiting list for a new puppy also) After offering above advertised rates on several properties with no luck i was getting really worried about what was going to happen to us (I also am single mum to an 11yo daughter)

I decided to write a letter of application to go with my application form and over a long weekend applied for 7 properties sending each a copy of the letter detailing my work (vet nurse), referances for my pets and that i had a policy of honesty in regards to my animals and hoped they would consider my application .

To my surprise i was offered 5 of the houses two of those i was offered where advertised as "no pets".

The rental availability in my area is well below one per cent and i had been told by welfare agencies and the housing trust that my animals would have to go as i didn't have a hope in hell of finding housing with that many pets

sometimes it pays to think outside the box

The boarding kennels at Plympton Vet clinic are great and the dogs get lots of personal attention (on ANZAC Highway) depending on how far south you are looking I hear there are also some good ones down near mclaren vale would have to dig a name and number up for you though

Does your dog spend time outside during the day when you are at home? I have met alot dogs that freak out when they are left outside by themselves due to seperation anxiety outside=mum/dad is leaving if being outside alone is part of their routine when you are home it lessens the stress/they are less likely to notice when you are not there

It depends on your dog, but my boy has heaps of toys and there are three that he likes best, his kong, his kong wubba and his busta cube he also used to have one of those tyre toys (not sure what happened to that but must replace it) providing your dog is not a power chewer ie some bully breeds that will destroy anything in their path it is def worth the investment in good toys as they will last longer and are often designed to reward the dog in some way making them more interactive when the dog is left alone

sorry to break the news but i believe we don't do hip replacements in SA at the moment think they are currently sent to melbourne but i could be wrong. Just happen to know that one of the girls at our clinic is taking her dog there for surgery later in the year and i don't know why she would go to melbourne if the surgery was available in SA. Penny used to do some ortho work (prob does some) however her specialty is soft tissue.

Well, yes, that is what I was told too, re the soft tissue. My guy said he wasn't sure if she had done any replacements and he does them all the time. I'll have to ring them and find out. If that's the case, I'm better off staying here somehow and renting. Thanks (I think :D )xxxx

on the better side of this i'm sure you can finda good vet in sa that would be happy to work on the follow up stuff if the surgery is done up there i would be looking into having the surgery done asap and speaking with AVSARC about doing the follow up/ liasing with the vet up there after the surgery is done.

sorry to break the news but i believe we don't do hip replacements in SA at the moment think they are currently sent to melbourne but i could be wrong. Just happen to know that one of the girls at our clinic is taking her dog there for surgery later in the year and i don't know why she would go to melbourne if the surgery was available in SA. Penny used to do some ortho work (prob does some) however her specialty is soft tissue.

Allergy is not an issue, these ppl used to have a GSD and are just trying to avoid the mountain of hair that comes when a double coated breed sheds....you know the grooming that never seems to end so a spaniel coat? or poodle coat would be more suitable for them clipping is not an issue as they have said they are happy to pay for a groomer and i have offered my services ( can't guarantee the quality as i am still learning )

I have suggested a ridgeback but i think maybe erring a little on the large side for them

A standard poodle has also been suggested not sure about that one

I have also considered a curly coat and portugese water dog however was under the impression they where high energy breeds so haven't sugested them a dally also falls into this catagory

the other suggestion i made was a greyhound or whippet however they are concerned about the prey drive with the bunnies

the rabbits are not free range or house rabbits but i spose they still want a dog who is fairly trust worthy with their other pets will they get this with a sighthound?

Sandra you took the words out of my mouth! I met a PWD at my last dog show and it took my breath away, amazing dog!

Just a side note, smooth hair does NOT mean minimal shedding, mums chi x sheds more than her Poodle x + my 4 Papillons combined! I'd suggest a pap if they weren't so small

they can shed a bit but just not after a dog that is gonna leave mounds behind unless it is at the groomer ....its more the GSD type coat that they are trying to avoid

and you don't have to sell me on the pappys ...we are awaiting our puppy

Friends of mine are going to get a dog and are doing the breed consideration thing

requirements are

minimal hair- smooth coated breed or non/low shedding are happy to clip and brush a couple of times a week but high shedding double coated breeds are out

medium to large (not giant) breed

easy going- dog will be obedience trained and must be child (over 10) and other pet friendly (as they have rabbits etc), also needs to be able to cope without walks every day of life

any ideas?

[Just to be clear all the dog owners in this case where consenting and aware of the issues we are having so it was a controlled evvironment and i am very aware of the fact that yes one day he is going to pick a fight with the wrong dog that is why i am seeking advice i already have a refferal to a behaviourist but can't see her until i have had a chance to make an appointment, so just thought i would wrack the brains of some DOLers in the mean time

That doesn't make it ok. You're the boss, you need to get in there are tell him that is not an appropriate way to approach, put him on a lead for meet and greets if you have to.

I take my boy to the off lead park once a week on lead to address a problem I have with my boy who rushes forward at dogs, he has to learn what is an appropriate way and what is not an appropriate way to say hello is and he also has to learn to ignore dogs like yours which is hard work for a dominant little prat like my boy.

I am in no way excusing his behaviour that is why i am seeking advice on the matter, however as i mentioned the problem seems to be significantly worse when he is on a lead.

I am very aware that i am the boss and so is he, however so far "getting in there and telling him" is not working to stop the aggresion prior to it starting, so other measures are going to be required

Someone I greatly respect on another list suggested that dogs that "greet" with lunges find out very quickly how far this dog can be pushed and whether they are going to get flattened or not. They likened it to socially awkward people who lunge in with inappropriately intense leads into conversation or interaction purely because they are so nervous about interacting at all that on some subconscious level they just want to know fast whether this is going to turn out good or bad rather than agonising about it and living in horrible uncertainty.

Not sure what I think of it or if it's any help, but just thought I'd throw that out there as a possible insight into the behaviour.

oh well in that case he probably gets it from me

thanks for all your help guys i am going to make an appointment with the behaviorist this week, am unsure what kind of wait there is will let you know how I go.

For a start I'd stop taking him to dog parks, I'd be furious if an offlead dog came up to one of my males in that manner, no wonder he's starting 'scraps'. One day he'll pick the wrong dog and the 'scrap' will turn into a full blown dog fight. From what you say it doesn't sound as if he can be trusted to interact safely with other dogs on or off lead, as corvus says it's time to consult a behaviourist.

Just to be clear all the dog owners in this case where consenting and aware of the issues we are having so it was a controlled evvironment and i am very aware of the fact that yes one day he is going to pick a fight with the wrong dog that is why i am seeking advice i already have a refferal to a behaviourist but can't see her until i have had a chance to make an appointment, so just thought i would wrack the brains of some DOLers in the mean time

He's finally mature and he's acting like a big tough male dog would. Being an AmBull just adds fuel to the fire

Stop the dog park. They're useless and teach dogs nothing but bad habits. Socialisation is better from dogs you know that get along well with yours.

Just be careful, there is happy tail wagging and then there is stiff 'i'm gonna stuff you up' tail wag from a dog. Many owners think that all tail wagging is good when in actual fact it's a huge signal somethings going to explode.

Contact Mark Singer in SA www.caninetraining.com.au to help you with his behavior. There is a vast difference between obedience behaviors and proper socialisation and control. Mean time keep on top of any little quirks he's pulling and dont continue at off lead dog parks

The dog park as i said before is not a regular outing acctually the first time we have been there and after this experience probably the last.

In regards to the tail wagging thing... I am aware that many times ppl mistake it for a "i'm happy and all is fine" signal, however in the scenario i am describing this IS the case as all of the other bodylanguage and posturing suggests a relaxing and happy dog.

I am also aware that obedience and socialisation behaviours are different things only mentioned it so you guys could get a feel for the background of the situation and my relationship with my dog ( ie he is not a poorly socialised dog with no training who is confined to the back yard)

I AM finding the socialisation thing is becoming harder partly because there is no a huge dog community in my area and partly because the developing behaviour is off putting (understandibly) to dogs and their owners any tips on how to find more appropriate socialisation situations for him?

I am having dominance issues with my dog Bosley.

He is a 3 year old male Australian Bulldog who was desexed at roughly six months of age.

He has always shown a tendency toward being a dominant dog, we do obedience (which we started early on currently level 3/4) and I would consisder him well socialised.

Just to make it clear we have no issues with him being dominant in the home or toward ppl and he is fine with our other animals (rabbits chickens etc).

Recently (over the last few months) he has started to behave in what one would, i suppose consider an agressive manner toward some other male dogs desexed and entire and always the same size or larger than him he runs up to them tail erect, ears forward in a very assertive manner and stands over them, no growling or warning, sometimes it is ok their i tail wagging and it continues on to normal play other times it just turns into a "scrap" (not a fight as such as he seems to have good bite inhabition but a great deal of vocalising) these are broken up quickly when i growl at him and tell him to leave it.

I took him to the dog park last week and watched him with some other dogs , when he is on the lead it seems to escalate much faster and with all larger range of dogs than when he is off the lead.

However what i did find Very interesting was his behaviour toward one particular desexed female akita x german shepherd. He was cutting her out of "the pack" and would not allow her near the other dogs. she was the only female there and this "pack" consisted of male dogs desexed and entire but she was not welcome he hearded her out and if she came near would chase her off.

Nothing has happened to trigger the aggression ie he has not been attacked or menaced by another dog

Help!

I am in SA but happy to help with free accomodation until things get sorted or you know which way is up with your strata corp, same with the other SA post er "grabbit", we have Mastiff's and St'sbut also have a couple of seperate yards if needed to seperate. our babies are our pets and not kennelled, always happy to help if needed, especially when things are so shitty

Thanks for the offer Zali Lane, but they will have to step over my dead body before i let them win

am currently fighting them and should i fail the next stop is the media!

worst thing is that they have not been able to find a reason for their objection about my pets no complaints about noise hygiene etc. they started with oh it is against council bylaws which was funny.... coz i had checked already and the government gives these ppl houses to manage!

Di I am in a similar situation atm,I moved into a co-op house around 8 months ago on the understanding that my animals were not an issue and that it would be a long term arangement, however after being here for just under six months they are trying to kick me out, it seems that the member i spoke to about my animals failed to inform the commitee about the situation as SHE couldn't see a problem with it.

Speak to the tenancy tribunal and also contact the housing authority in your area (they often have contacts for free tenant advocacy service), find out your rights and then appeal, appeal, appeal! While an appeal is in process they cannot evict you or your pets and this may buy you some time!

What ever you do, do not give in and if it comes down to the pinch go to the media and/or your mp (remember it is an election year!)

hope this helps at least a little

And there is an option to wash a cat!

Saw this the otherday while searching the net for my daughter to find animal related news topics for a project she is doing at school-she got really upset at first she thought the woman was putting the dog in a microwave!

Feel sorry for the poor dogs but feel worse for the person that has to retrieve the cat from this machine

I am a Veterinary Nurse

My dog Bosley would be a dole bludger

My dog did this to a little old lady with a walking frame at the dog park about 6 months back funny thing was that he kept going back to do it again had never shown this behaviour before and not since......but was determined to mark this lady come hell or high water. needless to say after one successful and about three failed attempts he was put back on lead and we went home

Adog at my obedience club used to do this to his owner. One of the funniest things I have ever seen. Had been going on for weeks and everyone had seen it, but the guy just stood there and pretended like it wasn't happening.

Finally one week the instructor looked the guy dead in the eye and said with all seriousness "your dog is peeing on you,"

the guy replies simply "I know"

Instructor repeats "your dog is peeing on you"

the guy replies again "I know"

the instructor just looks at him in disbelief and asks "well aren't you gonna do something about it"

at this point everyone in the class just peed themselves laughing because someone had finally drawn some attention to the elephant in the room

never saw the poor guy again...

but it still makes me laugh

Well imagine if you have a dog that does bark at other dogs and you haven't worked out yet how to stop it! Some dogs bark more than others; sometimes it takes work to find out what's going on, and decide whether it matters to some degree or not. I get tired of so much judgement on dogs and owners and manners and generalisations

I do agree with this somewhat,( i am having problems with my dogs manners atm ) however i do find that a simple "sorry" for my dogs (very) bad behavior goes a long way, most owners in my experience, are happy to tolerate bad behaviour around their dogs providing that it is not going to cause a fight or injury to their dog and that something is being done to correct the behaviour

I have a small yard about the size you are considering and i have two chooks and 7 rabbits living out there as well as my dog during the day when i'm out. It's not the size its how you use it my dog has toy rotation (so do the rabbits) including self rewarding toys like buster cubes etc we used to have a large yard and when we moved I was worried about how the animals would cope, however i have learned that size does not matter when it comes to yardsas long as they are fun. I mean would you be happier sitting in a large bare room or a small room with a heap of books and a t.v. etc?

oh and walks etc are always important regardless of the size of the yard

I would be concerned about the fact that there is a waiting list for people to surender their animals....I know if it where me I would have exhausted every other option before even contacting the RSPCA to take any of my animals....what is happening to the animals whose owners don't have time to "wait" as they are homeless.... or the person caring for the dog has passed away..are they seeing an increased dumpage rate? This in my oppinion would be worse than having to euth the animals (and i have to assist with it every day).