halfthewords

She got off easy! I clip my Bichon and staffy/terrier to a number 10 EVERYWHERE! Some fluff left on the head.

I'm reading some of these and really pitying you guys with the early risers! It varies between ours. Carl and Mischa always sleep in my room, Jag sleeps with my mum and occasionally me when she's away, and Cleo sleeps in my sister's room unless she's at her bf's. Jag is up at the crack of dawn and scratching on the door to get out because he knows sunlight = breakfast! He usually meanders around after that but you're hard pressed to get him back to sleep. Cleo is also up as soon as she hears mum or dad get up. She'll sometimes slink back in to her bed if she feels like it. I'm very grateful that my two sleep in as long as I do! I had a big night last night, wasn't home til 1AM, and didn't get up today until 9. Never a peep out of either of them unless one needs a potty break. If I show signs of stirring, Carl sometimes gets up, stretches and sniffs around under the bed. Mischa usually has to be kicked out of her bed! Carl sleeps on my pillows so usually when I roll over I get wet dog nose in my face. They routinely stay in as long as I do. In some instances as late as 11AM (I''m a night owl, don't judge me!) and they do the same if I sleep during the afternoon as well. On the odd occasion Mischa will get up first and want to go downstairs but that's only if she can hear someone apart from mum or dad in the house, e.g. one of the guys who works with dad or my uncle.

What about a Cairn Terrier or Norfolk? Both are very robust little dogs, and are more than capable of running with the bigger, more active dogs. My boy is a Norfolk x staffy, and he excels at agility--focuses easily, maintains concentration for a sustained period of time, hard to distract once in the 'zone.' The only downside to Cairns and Norfolks is the prey-drive. Although I have yet to meet one who isn't bold and outgoing. Not much fazes the little guys!

Fluffy toys. They're too valuable to Carl for him to ruin.

Carl and Mischa will happily sleep for as long as I am--before, I've slept in until 1pm and when I woke, they were conked out on my bed with me! Cleo and Jag, on the other hand, are up the minute they hear my parents up. Parents = breakfast. Cleo sleeps in my sister's room so she gets woken up, but Jag sleeps with my parents, so that works well! I sometimes pull all nighters and the dogs stay awake with me, and then during the day when I want to sleep, all they want to do is keep playing.

Is anyone else planning their day off around their dogs? Carl is outside in the sun with his pig ear, the Min Pins have a knucklebone each, and there's a half-shaved Bichon Frise running around the house because I'm not done yet! Later we'll be off to the park/beach, and this afternoon, a good long pack walk. Gotta love Fridays! What's everyone else doing?

I wish, but owning Miniature Pinschers rules the possibility out completely.

I walk my four together, and one of my dogs is fearfully HA, Mischa is slightly DA (more like she doesn't tolerate dogs getting into her space), Cleo is friendly to small dogs but very easily intimidated. Jag loves everyone! There's always this woman down at the offleash school oval we go to on route with her gundog x and it is forever attempting to chase the little ones. : I've told her off a couple of times--and she is STILL surprised when Mischa growls and "air snaps"! Jeez, people.

Thirding the worming advice; one of mine regularly kills birds in the backyard and drags them inside to eat. I stepped in birdy guts once. But this is coincidental because I took one of the rescue dogs from work to Bayview today, and he dragged a grey mynah from the shoreline back to the car without me noticing.

I throw a whole raw egg in with some dry wibble usually twice a week, sometimes less. They get sardines, mackerals or salmon maybe twice, and kangaroo meat mixed with carrot and other vegies other nights. I sometimes have to scramble the egg for Mischa because she's too dainty for the yolk.

Mischa is notorious for being stubborn! She tends to shiver at night, so when I take her out of her bed and put her into mine (under the covers where it's warm) with Carl and I, I wake up to her squirming out of the bed a few minutes later! This is practically a nightly routine. I was surprised when I woke up the other morning to find her still in my bed. ;) Jag has a lot of attitude, typical of a Bichon. He has "selective hearing" at the park. He'll come as long as we have the ball! Carl and Cleo have stubborn streaks, but are both too soft and sensitive to act on it. Sometimes we get the occasional attitude, though.

It's unacceptable behaviour in dogs of any size. I own two medium-ish dogs and two tiny dogs, and I am ALWAYS on alert. Carl never tolerates being harassed by larger, more boisterous dogs and will tell them off right away. Conversely, he loves to play with friendly labs/collies/oodles that we know and encounter at the dog park. If a big dog gets in his face, he will snap. I have never corrected this because it usually warns the other dog off and all is well. However...with the two tiny dogs, I'm very wary of them being approached by anything bigger than the size of a schnauzer. Generally speaking, big dogs always look much more interested in them than small dogs. It would only take one bite or mis-step for one of them to be in a critical condition. I have zero hesitation about getting between a big dog and Mischa and Cleo. In fact, they remain behind me until I have managed to assess the other dog, on leash or not. I carry a stick with me on walks. They've had big dogs in their faces and been attacked or chased WAY too many times in the years we have owned them. I think a lot of people forget that dogs are intimidated by both some small thing yapping at them and a noggin the size of their whole body sniffing them eagerly. ;) Edited to add: the other reason I'm wary of big dogs near the Min Pins is because of what Carl has done in the past. Mischa was once chased for a full lap of a soccer field by two Sharpeis (resulting in a torn nail : ), and Carl, who is extremely protective of her, went in pursuit, and brought down the male Pei by the hindleg. A lot of blood and mess for naught, because the Sharpeis just wanted to "play."

Our dogs have an endless amount of toys. They're strewn all through the house. Our friends must think we're nuts. ;) Carl has a collection of toys that are 'his' and that he won't let Jag play with--includes 1 plush monkey, a plush kangaroo, and some other things. He retrieves them by name. I only buy things from Vinnies and cheap opshops. Mini tennis balls in packs of 3, soft toys already missing eyes/noses (Carl goes for the eyes first, then he just gnaws it), tug rope toys, things that squeak... We've only had one 'death' in the toy collection. Unfortunately my mum is forever stitching up Carl's favourite monkey because he pulls the fluff out of the same arm every few days.

People throw around the word "aggression" too much. A dog who growls or snaps is not truly aggressive. In regards to your dog, 100% normal behaviour, especially given that the other dog was a) much younger and b) boisterous. Carl is the most social and tolerant dog I know, but even he, at his wit's end, will growl at an excitable pup/dog. He follows through by either briefly chasing (I'm talking a few steps) or mouthing the scruff of the neck. Simply doggy-language for putting them in their place. A pup must learn these things or it will become one of those adults that bounces all over smaller dogs, and will end up being bitten or attacked because it doesn't know when to lay off. One of my Min Pins harasses Carl when we go for walks; she growls and chases him, mouthes at his muzzle but he eventually tells her to bugger off, and she does. It's a daily occurrence.

One of the Min Pins (from a breeder) has a luxating patella. Had it all her life, apart from some hopping every now and then it never seems to bug her, and she's almost 8. The other Pin had some hip problems a few years back, but that resolved itself with weight loss. She literally eats out of the bin. Both rescue mutts are sound and healthy so far! :p Carl has sensitive skin that sometimes flares up when I use clipper oil on my blades and Jag recently had a yeast infection in his ear, but otherwise they've been far better off than a lot of dogs I know. Does a foul farting habit from eating kangaroo count as an ailment?

I am for the unbanning of all restricted breeds.

Abbey AJ Akira Alera Ali x 2 Alice Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Annie x 2 Anastacia (Annie) Angel X 4 Anishinaabe Annabelle Annabella Anouk April April RIP x 2 Ari Arizona Arki Asante sana Asha Ashka Askari Ashleigh Astro Athena Aubrey Audrey Aura Aurora Ayla Baba Baci Bailey Basha Beanie Beans Becky Bella x 5 Billie Bianca Bit Blaize Blossom Bonny x 5 (Bonnie) Bonita Boss Brandi Brandy x 2 Bree x 2 Brianna Bridie Bronte Buffy Buttercup Cally Cara Casey Cassie Casper CC Cedar Chapparelle (pronounced Shapparelle, and shortened to Chappa (Shappa)) Chelsea Cherrie Chevy x 2 Chloe x 3 Charley Charlie Charlie-May Charlotte Chiko Chilli Choo Choo Chops Cider Cinders Cinta CJ x 2 Claire Claudia Clover x 2 Cleo Cleoparta Coco x4 CocoNut Colour (for a greyhound who's not grey!) Cookie Cossette Courtney Crystal Cristie Crupi Daisy x 2 Dallas Dancer Danika x2 Darla Delilah Delta Demi Dempsie Dexta Diazz Didge Dinky Dixie Diva Dizzy Durham Dusty Dyzney Ebony Echo x 2 Elizabeth Ella x2 Elley Ellie x3 Elsa x 2 Emily Emilly Emma Emmy Enya Erin Esky Evie Faith Fanta Feather Feonix Finta Flame Fleur Flossy Flute Frenchie Froggy Gabbie Gabby Gael Galadriel(Gala) Gemma x 3 Genie (not exactly a girly name but I thought it suited my goldy) Genevieve George Ginny Gita Glitter Goldie Gooby Grace Griffin x 2 GT Gypsy x 6 Gyrle Harlow Havarna Hayley x2 Heather Heddy Heidi x2 Holly x 6 Honeyx3 Honour Hope Imme Imogen - Imy Indi India x 2 Jade Jamie Lee Jane Jasmine x2 Jaxx Jay Jay Jazz Jazzman Jedda RIP Jelly Bean Jenna x 2 Jess x2 Jessi Jesie Jessica Jessie x 4 Jeune Jezebel x 2 Jindi Jinxy Jodie x 2 JoJo Joy Juliet Juno Kara X 2 Kari Karma Karmen Kaos Kassy Katie x 2 Katy Kayla X2 KC Keeta Keilani Keira Keirra Keisha Kelli Kelsey Kenzie Kibah Kiesha Kimba Kiri Kiri-Lu Kirra (agility name Kiz) Kishka (called Kish most of the time) Kitty Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) Lacey Layla x 2 Lea (lele) Leader Leia Leila Lexi x 2 Lexie Libby Lily x 3 Lizzy Lobo Logan Lola x 2 Lottie Lucia Lucky (yes, a bit tacky, but I loved her) Lucy x5 Luna Luuka Mable Mac Maddie x2 Maddison Maeby Maggie x3 Magic Mallee Marie Claudette Marina Marlo Maya Meeka Meg x 2 Meisha Merrique Mia X 3 Miekah Migaloo Milky Milla Millie x4 Mindy x 2 Minky Minnie x 2 (Mynni) Minouche Mischa Mischka Missy Missie Mistletoe Misty Mitzi Molly x 9 Molly Coddle Monet Moochie Mung Bean Mya Nala Nandi Narla Natasha Nena Ness Nora Nyima Olivia Ollie Pagan x 3 Panda x 2 Paris Paxy Pearl Pebbles Peggie Penelope Penny x 2 Pepper x 2 Phoebe x 2 Pink Pip Pippin Piper x 2 Pixie Polly x 2 Popcorn Porridge Porscha Prada Quince Quinn Rani Razzle Reba Rebel Reno Rhoda Riki Ricky Rizzi Rogue Rommi Rose Rosey Rosie x 2 Roxy x 3 Ruby x 4 Rumour Sabine Sabrina Sadie Saffron Safire Sahli Sally x4 Sarah Sarah Jane Sari Sascha x 2 Sasha x3 Sarsha Satu Savannah Scandal Scruffy Serena Sha Shae Shandy Shannon Sharnie Sharon Sharna Sheba Shelby Shimmer Shine Siann or Cyan Sinta Sienna X 2 Skye SkySnow Sola Sooty Sophie x2 Sophia Sparkles Springy Sputnik Spook Stella x2 Stimpy X2 Storm Stussy Sue Summa Suzie x 2 Sybill Tait Tamar Tameeka Tango Tara x 3 Tasha Tashi Taya Tayla Teegan X 2 Tess x 4 Tessa Texas Tia x 2 Tieke Tilba Tilli Tilly x3 Tinka Tinny (tin tin) Toot Tori Tully Tyra Tyneal Vada Vicki Viviane Voodoo Wandy White Whitey Winnie Winter Wilhelmina Wolf Xena Xanthe Zara Zillah Zippedeedoodah Ziva x 3 Zena Zoe x 3 Zola

I've worked as a kennelhand at a high-profile dog rescue in Sydney since I was 16 (now 20), and I've worked as a junior vet nurse for the last six months. Neither job is well-paying (around $18 per hour) but at my age it's pretty good. I was ecstatic when I got out of the fish industry and got my kennelhanding job because the pay was better and I was working with my favourite animals! I will say, though, they have their perks and negatives. As a KH, I get to rehabilitate and work with abused animals (but it involves a LOT of cleaning, medicating, washing, feeding, etc), and on the other hand, as a vet nurse, I deal with a lot of people's spoiled and sometimes neglected animals. I had a stint as a grooming assistant that I hated because of the physicality it's often necessary to use to clip a dog. Short of sedating some, it was near impossible. I never felt comfortable manhandling somebody's pet. It paid considerably more, but long hours and a very sweaty, hairy, ITCHY job. I got my vet nurse job with zero qualifications, apart from experience as a kennelhand. I am about to go into vet science, which has made doing nursing more important. I enjoy my jobs but there are certainly bad days. Euthanising animals, seeing homeless dogs, neglect, being around a lot of people with conflicting ideas of how to care for/train their animals...

Carl and Jag wear martingale collars (with a check chain attached instead of the nylon--as seen in my sig), Mischa and Cleo wear slip leads as they pull out of their collars and don't move the way they should in harnesses. I think they reckon it inhibits their Min Pin movement. ;) When we go rollerblading, Carl is harnessed. He's such a good boy, he never pulls.

Jag hates licking or being kissed (by humans and dogs), Mischa is a chronic face licker if you are close enough to her midget height, and Carl kisses on command, but if he finds you lying down, you're fair game. ;)

My heart dog (Carl) found me at the dog rescue I've worked at in Sydney. He came to me when I was 17; in fact he was processed from the pound less than a week after a breakup with my girlfriend that I have only recently come good from. He has been physically and mentally abused worse than any dog I have seen come through DoggieRescue in four years. Monika herself could not get near Carl and difficult dogs are usually easily handled by her. For some reason, I never noticed his extreme fear-aggression, and treated him as I did the rest of the dogs. The area he slept in was specifically built so he would avoid any contact with staff; he would simply walk to and from his day yard to his kennel. At the end of my shift, I would give the dogs in his area some chicken wings as a treat. I would crouch and he would prop himself on my knee like everybody else. The manager at the time saw me petting him and she yelled at me, saying "he would take my hand off, he is dangerous, he should be PTS." I was confused since he had never shown any aggression toward me, or fear. But I had never treated him as an "abused" or "special needs" dog. From then on, I was on a mission to adopt or at least foster this dog. It took me eight months to convince my parents that I would be able to rehabilitate him. (My family is big - sisters, a younger autistic brother.) I started walking him at the beginning and end of my shifts, and taking him to the beach where for some reason I let him offleash. He always came back. He had quite a reputation at DR for biting staff and volunteers so there was a strict rule that nobody was to handle him but me; he wouldn't take food from anyone else. When he was sick and had to be medicated, I was required to be there every day to do it, even though I was doing my HSC at the time. The look on his face was nothing but grateful. After a particularly bad incident in which he bit a feeding volunteer who, as many tried to, attempted to make friends with him, despite the fearful body language, I knew had to get him home ASAP. I brought him home once I convinced my dad in May 2008. After two weeks, I fostered him officially on my birthday. His adoption followed six months later in September, and there hasn't been a moment since I've regretted taking this dog with so many issues, both fearful and aggressive, into my care. He has expanded my knowledge of dog behaviour and psychology extensively. I've learned different ways of training, feeding, and exercising just from owning Carl. He and I have a bond that is unexplainable, and understandable only to us. He's come a long, long way in that time. Carl has his issues, but he is fearless when it comes to protecting me, loyal, hysterical, and so loving and affectionate, that I wouldn't want him as a "normal" dog. ;)

I work part time at two jobs, but I always work both days on the weekend, so weekdays I am gone between 6AM and 12PM. My family has four dogs, my parents both work fulltime and my sister also has two part-time jobs. Our jobs allow us to take the dogs to work if we want, although I avoid it with my human-aggressive one. They have run of the house & yard at home. Between my OH and I, there are six dogs. We usually have 5 at any one time. He works at the same job as me and as a personal trainer for his other, where he can also take the dogs. He has a friend with three Huskies and a Pom X, any one of whom stays with him for up to 3 weeks at a time. It's usually a full house!

It drives me up the wall! Not only because I like to know what my dogs are eating and when, but because tidbits and treats cause obesity, diabetes and other diseases. One of my dogs is extremely fear-aggressive (he was abused) and he will not be handled by anybody except me. People always try to win him over with food but he is not interested; I trained him to accept food only from me and my sister. We snap our fingers as the signal for it being OK for him to eat. Our other three dogs will take food from just about anybody. I'm known as the 'treat nazi' in my family because I yell when I catch tidbits being given. The only thing I don't mind is raw chicken offcuts, but I then subtract that from their evening meal. The other thing with people feeding your dogs is the teeth problems. My dogs have clean, white teeth because all they eat is their raw diet supplemented by bones, wholegrain biscuits etc. :

It's probably a good idea to keep an eye on it as suggested - you never know if the rat was already dead, or in the process of dying when your dogs found it. My Min Pin is an achieved bird killer.

My staffy/cairn terrier has always walked beside me, the Min Pin was a pain until she turned 6 or so, then she started walking calmly next to me. I don't tolerate pulling or walking in front because it is annoying and I prefer them to be beside me, especially when approaching another dog/person since the staffy is human aggro. I always give them 1/2 hour of offleash time before we do walking as it takes the edge off. They're super obedient and even offlead are usually at heel or they catch up quickly!