Little Gifts

Can you fence her off from the front of the property so this is not a future potential risk in the interim? I don't think your girl will be pts based on this one incident, particularly given you are willing to address the issue and it is a first time offense, no-one seriously injured, etc. Certainly not minimising it but just stating the reality in the hope it makes you feel better. Hopefully some other Queenslanders know of a local behaviourist you can contact, or call K9 Pro and ask if they could recommend someone. It is not the end of things for your girl until you have exhausted all your options. Dogs don't like everyone so she may have thought this man was suss, but obviously you can't risk it happening again if she takes a dislike to someone else. Breathe, behave normally with her tonight and make some calls tomorrow.

One thing I've been disappointed about for past walks here in QLD (didn't participate this year) is the cost of stalls at the event for other rescue groups. I'd love the event to be more about rescue and animals in general than a big money raising event specifically for the RSPCA. There has been a lack of interesting stalls at previous events because of this. They must make quite a bit of money out of it nationally and I'm sure more rescue groups (and their up for adoption dogs) could have more of a presence at it if stall costs and entry fees for the walk for those groups was more reasonable. Sometimes the RSPCA seems to work well with other rescue groups up here then at other times they show a complete lack of understanding about how they work.

LOL ain't that the truth!! I've loved the Destiny and Bonnie stories. So few foster caring stories on DOL anymore. I hope thats not true, if it is, thats very sad. I know there are a lot of loving foster carers out there, maybe they just don't come here. I think they are just very busy people is all!

Thanks PL! Might make some more large coats and send out.

I think foster failing comes with the job. You never know who is going to take your heart or need you and no-one else. I don't think any carer plans it but the risk is significantly high! Congratulations Destiny and Bonnie!

You bought a pony! So happy for you all!

Pleased to see she only had a small litter. Hope all remains well with the cleft lip girl, and of course mummy dog.

Happy Birthday Miss Penny and thank you for being so tolerant of the House Ninja!

See now I'm thinking of Tara off True Blood who was a bad ass herself! You wouldn't want to mess with her as a human or a vampire!

It looks to me like the cat flips around and hits the dog away with a bum swivel - bit like a kung fu round kick, using the momentum to add power. One of our dogs does this when playing - runs straight at the target, does a last minute turn and KAPOW! I think I'd be likely to at least see where the dog went before attending to the child too because if it was coming back for another attack and you were already on the ground with the child then you would both be in a powerless position. I suspect I'd want to pull that child inside a fenced yard or into the house (maybe even car if it was unlocked) as soon as possible to safely check the wounds. I don't think I'd run after the dog after it had left the scene (unless other children were playing and at risk) but who really knows what our instincts tell us to do until we are in that situation?

We have been a three dog household for a long time - three just feels right. But when my old girl was pts it was about a year before I could face the issue and we decided to foster as we weren't ready for a permanent 'thirdie'. After I made that decision and applied to become a foster carer I had several dreams about my old girl and of course wondered whether I was doing the right thing as I'd never had her in my dreams before. We started fostering and had back to back fosters and were really enjoying it. We loved all our fosters but always accepted we were not the perfect home for them. Until Tempeh! She had ideas of her own and chose us as her forever home, so we are back to being a permanent three dog household again! Had that not happened we would've continued to foster until that extra special one arrived.

Even though my sbt has a good fur coat she is a huge fan of doggy coats every since she was a pup. I had them for an old sbt with a thinning coat and she would always be trying to get into them, so of course I got her some to wear. Now if I don't make sure her coat is on before the night starts to chill she will try and put it on herself and come down to the loungeroom with her snout hanging out the neckhole and her legs tripping over the trailing coat. Gotta love silly dogs! KDF - is there a brand name on those rainy onesies? They look fabulous! Does your dog find them comfy to wear?

Jed the pups are due this week.

Done for two dogs and I agree with Grumpette how much it shows the differences between dogs in the same household.

I got a recipe off DOL eons ago for Salmon Cookies that we make all the time. Sorry but I didn't write down the original DOLer who provided it. Salmon Cookies 1 can salmon (or tuna or sardines in oil) 1/2 cup flour 1 egg 3 tsp oil Mix really well together, Flatten on a cookie sheet and mark lines to break apart after cooked. Bake on 160c until hard. This sweeter type biscuit is also very popular! Peanut Butter Cookies (from TLC) 1/2 cup oil 1/2 cup water 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla (optional) 2 cups flour 1 cup oats 3 tsp peanut butter (melted in microwave) Mix together to form a dough. Add more flour if needed. Roll out to about 1cm thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Cook for about 20 mins on 200c until they start to brown.

Poor Osha's boobies are never going to be the same again! The good thing for those pups if they need to be weaned earlyish is they could go in their own little litters of three or four to foster carers. That would give them company and socialisation skill opportunities. Better than fostering them out as solos and having to find 17 carers!

It's weird but I would never go to someone else's house and tell them what their dogs can and can't do while I stay there. I'm not the freaking Queen! (who probably loves some corgi bed cuddles anyway!)

If I could I would happily travel the country house sitting for people! I especially love looking after dogs that like couch and bed cuddles as much as I do! Sadly, my sister threatens to have a breakdown if I go away too many times a year or go away for too long each time. Plus I do miss my own fur babies.

I've custom made quite a few coats for cold dogs and can double layer them wherever it is needed. I have several different styles now too as not all dogs like or can wear the pj style but still need good fabric coverage on the back thighs or belly. I aim for cuteness and comfort! Go to the link below, check out the Custom Made Coats photo album and all the styles are there. I base my price on how much fabric is needed.

We have 3 girls - 2 are desexed. Their ages are 11, 7 and 2. It was not my preference to get a third female as we had three girls before and the youngest was always trying to fight with the oldest (the oldest never lost a tussle). We had to get assistance from a behaviourist and really keep on top of the youngest's behaviours. Now the youngest is the middle child and yes, she remains the one we have to be the most vigilant with. It is not because there are three girls, but because that particular dog gets over stimulated and upsets the apple cart with the others. If I had a choice I would have two spunky girls and a sooky la la boy for some balance, but dogs tend to choose us, not the other way around. I really do think personality matching is more important than what sex the dogs all are.

I'll be up front about what I've been given/charged. $100 per week. I will do whatever is needed and look after however many animals is necessary (14 pups and 4 adults is my top score!) - for me it is all about keeping things stable and routine for the animals, I come second. I will also visit you and your dogs several times before you go away (if needed) and like to stay the day/night before with you so the transition is easier on the dogs. I will eat food from your fridge and freezer but I will also give the house a clean before you get home, wash the linens I have used etc, as well as play and exercise the dogs, pick up poo, clean their runs while I'm there, etc. If needed I do airport runs and will leave you a meal ready for your first night home if you get home late. On the down side I am heaving handed on the washing powder and always seem to break something! (nothing valuable I promise!) I love all breeds of dogs so pretty much do it to learn a bit more about dogs and gain a new experience. I wish I started when I was young and could've done it for a living.

Do you know anyone who knits? I have a fairly simple pattern that goes up to quite large sizes that I'm happy to share with you. I only ever knit dog coats in 100% wool because it will keep a dog warm even if the knitted coat gets wet. I buy my wool at Spotlight or Lincraft when it is on special so it might take time to knit a big coat but it doesn't have to cost a lot. There will be a large temperature difference between what Nixon was used to in Cairns and down here in Brisbane but hopefully he will make the adjustment naturally, growing a thicker coat. It doesn't really get cold enough here (I'm Brissy southside) for dog coats on a healthy young lab but I know I have an SBT that has always loved wearing coats in winter and will even crawl under all my blankets to sleep while wearing one. No idea how she doesn't overheat because she is well furred. Hopefully you will be able to tell by how Nixon is when you get home whether the cold and wet has been too much for him? He'd be all shaky if he had trouble warming back up after getting wet. As long as he has somewhere dry to hide out if it rains then he should be ok.

Warms the heart!

Good on you both!

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I will tell her about rose hip vital as that sounds right up her alley. My sister was determined to get a magnetic mat to try and has now bought one. We are also covering her dog up at night when she has settled with blankets and will be trying those doggy heating pads tonight too. She is mobile enough to move away from any heat source if it is too much. Unfortunately our heated dog bed that I bought last year for Tempeh got nibbled on while unplugged but at least the heating discs survived last winter unscathed! And even though she has a good natural coat I am going to make her up a fleece coat to see if that makes any difference. The pain seems to be mostly in her neck. She let out a couple of squeals last night and one today so we can at least tell the vet the problem area at the next visit. She is not accustomed to pain and is not shy in letting us know when she is suffering the slightest twinge. You ought to see the faces she's already been pulling for sympathy!