Polgara's Shadow

Vulcan has a bad habit of toileting in the veggie garden I've just today started sprinkling dog off granules over the veggie garden area - the granules contain strong citronella and eucalyptus smells which is supposed to be overpowering to pets sensitive noses... and so they stay away from the area . Got it from Bunnings and there were a few other brands available also The packet says it needs to be be re-sprinkled every 4 days and re-applied after rain for a few weeks until the dog changes its behavior. Its a pretty cheap solution if it works...maybe worth a go for you too?

That is awesome

Vulcan has a ruff wear life jacket. Its not the cheapest option, but really sturdy and goes all the way under his belly supporting him while in the water and it also has a handle on the top for emergenccy grabs. I think its great and so does Vulcan.

I have been nagging my darling OH for years now about adding a Frenchie to our family...and I think your little fawn and floppy eared munchkins nearly have him turned...keep posting the gorgeous pics I'll get my Frenchie eventually

Just flicked back to the pics of Pearl on the front page and difference to the joy on her face has really brought a tear to my eye. Carlo11 big congrats on your official foster status, the new pups in need of some lovin are in good hands Kelscats thanks for the updated piccy they are really heartwarming! Looking forward to plenty more of a happy healthy Pearl in your capable hands

You've done an awesome job with her Carlo11 I bet you are heartbroken for her, what an ordeal you've all been through!

I got a real belly laugh reading many doggy nick names - so cute! Vulcan aka Baby cakes, Puppy cakes, Cakes, Wolf-en-stein, Stein, Cake-en-stein, Woofie, 'Him', Vulcie, Vulcie-moon, Puppy-moon, Moon, Little one, Little-puppy-cakes, pup-pup-pup He'll answer to all of these...but when I want him to do actually something other than be cute and look at me adoringly its Vulcan or Vulcie Edited to add...I forgot 'Puppy of mass destruction'...though probably coz he's growing up and hasn't caused major mayhem in a while

Hey Lollipup...its a dilemma isn't it. We are fortunate to have very accommodating family and friends so we get to share the love around a bit and reciprocate when their animals need caring for. They all adore Vulcan and love having him, they even bicker over who gets to have him when we go away :laugh: . But... he's often out of sorts when we get back, even though I know he's well loved while were gone. Doesn't last long..he's always back to his usual happy self in a day or so. we hate leaving him behind. I'd to be able to take him with us everywhere we go, but its not always possible. We went to Fiji ourselves earlier this year for my brothers wedding, and loved it - its a very easy place to vacation especially if you've never been overseas before. Leave your doggies with whoever you'll be most comfortable with. And most importantly enjoy your break.

She is looking soooo much better Carlo11! your doing a marvellous job. I love the pic of her gnawing a stick - she looks very happy. Your old stafford looks like a happy chappy too.

Ooops double post

I don't have much to add...you are being given excellent advice. If yourstill looking for a good quality dry, as the owner of an allergy dog, I recommend Nutro chicken and rice formula (dry) - its low in most common allergens. Readilly available at most pet food stores. Ingredients are: Dried Chicken, Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavours, Oatmeal, Iodised Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Antioxidants (including Mixed Tocopherols and Rosemary Extract), Vitamin C, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulphate, Marigold Meal, Dried Kelp, Ferrous Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B1), Niacin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Selenium, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid. What I really wanted to say is that I think you are amazing I reckon it would of taken a lot of guts to perservere with getting her out of her situation. And that you are now putting so much effort into her recovery is truly inspiring.

Hi All My mums new dog seems to get travel sickness. She is fine with short trips in the car, but anything over ten minutes causes her to vomit. She ate about 5pm last night, no breakfast this morning, but still vomited when mum drove back home about 6:30am. Jackie is an otherwise happy and healthy 2 yr old JRTx. Would love to hear how others manage travel sickness in their dogs so I can help mum with this problem. All the dogs I've ever had, or known, have been fine in the car so I have no idea what to do.

oops double post

Wow, judgemental much? Way to go Tralee :rolleyes: As Nik said, back beach is the Western Port side and front beach is the Port Phillip side Oh and I should have said you can usually find a nice stretch of beach to yourself, especially if you time your walk. Edited to add..i was at Blairgowrie dog beach this morning from 6:45 and only came across two other dogs in our whole walk. If you are prepared to go even earlier I think you'd have it to yourself.

On the Mornington Peninsula most of the back beaches are also National Park. Some of the back beaches allow dogs on lead early morning and late evening, but I don't think during summer. Rangers do patrol back beaches regularly and are happy to dish out fines. On the front beaches many leash free areas exist: Mornington, McRae, Rosebud, Blairgowrie and I think Sorrento too, not sure about Portsea. There's a beachside walking track that runs most of the bay side of the Peninsula which you can walk with your dog onlead.

Frenchies make me go gaga

My boy seems to react to lamb, fish, pork and turkey ... So I'm always interested in finding out other options for him... within the range of things he can eat. PAV LOV...that looks like a terrific variety, with lots of bones to crunch into - great for staffy jaws and teeth I'd love to add a wider variety of bones to his diet. Where do you get your whole rabbit from? I've only been able to find it minced or diced where I live. yours must be very sensible eaters..mine tries to choke down chicken necks whole :rolleyes: SNOOK...I've tried him on raw only before but he seems to do best when there's some dry in his diet (even tho theres lots of preservatives and stuff in it). Nutro is the only brand I've been able to find that has just chicken with no other meats or fish or their byproducts in it, I'd love to find another dry that he can tolerate (I'd prefer his diet to contain less chicken). My Vet always comments on how terrific he looks and his coat just gleams :D

Its an indoors day here today with all the rain and I just mixed up a fresh batch of VAN & roo mice for Vulcan. He's enjoying licking out the mixing bowl as I type :D . It got me to wondering what others feed their staffy's. Vulcan gets fed twice a day and I rotate through the menu at each meal. Here's his menu: Nutro dry - chicken & oatmeal VAN mix & roo & VAN Omega blend VAN mix & beef & VAN Omega blend VAN mix & rabbit & VAN Omega blend chicken carcass beef soup bones *VAN = Vets All Natural He doesn't usually get any extras but on the odd occasion he'll get an egg, a Schmako's chew strip, left overs from dinner or the empty yoghurt containers. Vulcan's an allergy dog so its taken me a while to arrive at his current meal plan. I am really happy with it as it manages his allergies whilst keeping him in in great condition. Sooo.. out of curiosity... what do you feed your staffy?

That looks awesome ..I've been looking for something to carry treats, phone & keys in! I've been trying to make myself interested in the dog walking belts, but I just don't like the look of them. I've got enough padding round my middle already thanks .

My old staffy boy had both back cruciates done. I think it was about 1.5k for the pair of them (memory might be a bit dodgy tho). As Tassie says there's a few different ways to go depending on the issue and the size of the dog. Our old boy had arthritis as well. At the cruciate op they injected some stuff for the arthritis into his knees (so price above may have included this). Whilst the healing took quite a while (6 weeks, each leg) once done he was 500% improved. I was stunned at how good he was, he could have passed for a 2 year old!!

Hi there, We got our young SBT an oversized chicken flavoured nylabone to chew while he's inside on his mat this is the least messy inside chew toy I've come across. Note: I never let him have it unsupervised and always check its integrity. Definitly recommend freeshaping with a clicker I got this book to help us and loved it...When Pigs Fly!: Training Success with Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion Starting the foundations for loose leash walking is a good idea. You don't need to go very far or fast while the leg is still healing. Once the leg is healed..I'd recomend a staffy ball from aussie dog toys.

Sounds like you are ready to find out everything you can about labradors. Health concerns, conformation, colour, behaviour, temperament, drive, energy level etc.. (the Breeds 101 pages here are a good start). Once you are equipped with everything you need to know about labradors along your own preferences for sex, temperament, colour, drive etc.. its time to find a breeder that is going to meet your needs. I always find reccomendations the best, I'm sure the lovely people in the lab thread here on DOL will be happy to help you out.

We went to a BBQ one afternoon, left behind a sleeping puppy and a pristine porch..came home to this :crazy: :crazy: Vulcan's longest lasting toys are his Kong, Staffy ball and nylabone...fluffies get demolished in seconds I don't bother buying them anymore . :rofl: Gretel & Donatella!

How adorable are their little mouths while sleeping...too cute

Hey Jase, so sorry to hear about your old boy. You did the right thing by relieving him of his pain. He looked like a lovely soul. We lost our old stafford a couple years ago to a mystery illness. I still miss him very much. RIP old guy.