divinemissmillie

Deer antlers - keeps all three occupied for absolutely ages.

:) :)

Why did I not think of Scotchguard???

Ok, I just found my Mothers Day Present - a thorough car cleaning and Scotchguard.

Would a wet or a dry shampoo work best in the upholstery?

And a decent fabric odour killer - those you've mentioned sound better than the Febreeze that I've been blasting.

I'll report back next week.

Sounds like your problem is not actually your dog - it's the creek that he swims in. Still or stagnant water is notorious for making dogs stink. Only real solution is to ban the swim in the creek.

I think a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the right breed for me, but I have a question. Would they be able to live peacefully and mix with small animals, namely rabbits and guinea pigs. I have been getting mixed responses from websites, and would really appreciate your input.

I think your question could probably apply to a lot of dogs - there are different personalities within a particular breed - some laid back and some prey driven.

I've had 3 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in the past and all were keen on catching mice and chasing birds - but having said that I got them all as adults. I'm sure if you get a puppy it could be trained to get along fine with smaller animals - just use common sense and don't leave them together unsupervised (same as you wouldn't leave a child and dog alone together).

As far as temperament goes, it's hard to go past a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They're fabulous.

We have 3 cavs - coats clipped off super short every 10 weeks. As we don't show them it doesn't matter - and they still look gorgeous by the way - all sleek and shiny. We are on acreage and we used to be constantly looking for grass seeds etc in ears, feet and coats, brushing out the bits they'd picked up and washing off the mud. They go in an out 24/7 via the doggy door so are never made to stay outside in the cold or heat and usually pile into the one dog bed together anyway (or the sofa, despite there being a bed for each.

People may ask why get a dog with a long coat and then clip it off - well because you can't beat them for temperament and those soft brown eyes !!

Hoping the wealth of knowledge here can help me.

I am wanting to purchase some Doggles in XL size for my old boy who has damaged his eye. I need to get them urgently but would like to try them on his head first before buying to make sure they will fit him properly. Hoping somebody can point me to a store that stocks them so I can take him there to try them on.

Thank you !

I am sure I have seen them in Mega Pet Warehouse in High Street, Epping (opposite Epping Plaza near Bunnings). You could phone and see if they have XL - number is 8405 3033. Good luck with your search !

You'll surely be putting those two Bull Terriers to sleep or rehoming them now that your son has been born !!!!! WTF ??????

My old terrier would bark in the night, too - usually wanted to go out (despite there being a dog flap). I plugged a night light (from Safeway) into the power point in the laundry and then she was happy to go in and out of the dog flap to relieve herself during the night. It could be an easy solution and worth a try ?

I use wee-proof cot mattress covers on all our dog beds, following an episode of serious incontinence suffered by one of our elderly dogs. These are cotton covered, have absorbent padding and are lined with a completely waterproof lining. They were a sanity saver for me as I had found even the waterproof bonofido mattress covers would leak through the zip and also tended to absorb a little urine odour, which was very hard to get rid of. The cot mattress covers largely prevent spillage, wash out well and dry quickly. A spray of preen on the urine and/or napisan in the wash is also a good idea.

I used the same thing for my old, incontinent Lab who I didn't have the heart to ban from the sofa after spending his life getting on and off it as he pleased. Readily available at all department stores (e.g. Target, Big W, K-Mart, etc.), inexpensive enough to have a few (i.e. on on the bed, one in the wash and one on the line). Worked a treat and machine washable.

Hi dandybrush - my older dogs don't even look at it (having said that, though I don't tempt them by having presents underneath. This year we have an addition to our family (a two-year-old - canine, not human) and just to be sure I bought a kids playpen. The tree is in the corner and fenced off at the three sides she can get to (although she has shown zero interest in it so far).

:)

Three of my dogs get fed half dry (Black Hawk) and half raw (Canine Country BARF patties). One day a week they get a boiled egg each added, and one another day they get half a tin of sardines added for each. Plus whatever safe food scraps are left over (although that's not all that often). Why ? Because they all do extremely well on it.

The fourth dog (14 year old) gets half Black Hawk and half tinned (My Dog), plus the extras the others get. Why ? Because she won't touch raw food and she loves that tinned junk food. As she is so old and a little underweight I figure she can eat anything she likes !

:D

I have a 8-10 year old male pomeranian in foster care, and he is intermittently snuffling, sneezing and very loudly snorting back snot from one nostril (or he sneezes it out). The snot is clear. He has been on antibiotics and prednisolone - neither has made much of a difference. I was wondering if this a pomeranian version of the reverse sneeze or is there something else poms are prone to getting like an overactive sinus. He is not otherwise sick, and there are days when he shows no symptoms at all. He does seem to be worse when he is excited (reverse sneeze?) or when its sunny and hot (allergies?).

Have an old border terrier that had the same problem (including a runny eye). No medications made any difference. A few months later she had an infected tooth removed and lo and behold the eye and nose stopped running and she stopped sneezing almost immediately. Maybe you could get her teeth checked out at the vet ?

My 12yr old choc lab is really struggling coat condition. He has fully recovered from his "gut" infection/inflammation, has put on weight and is back to his normal goofy self. I am currently feeding him pro plan senior with a tin of sardines or raw eggs, but his coat and skin are still horrible.

His skin is really dry when you brush him he has flakes of "dandruff", and his coat is really really wiry and coarse similar to a wire-haired terrier, it isn't at all soft and lab like. His coat colour is pretty good now that he has dropped most of his winter coat but its just the texture of his coat I'd like to try and fix if possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions?? TIA

Hello - we had an old black lab years ago with the same bad coat condition. As soon as the vet saw his coat he suspected either hyperthroidism or hypothyroidism (I can't remember now which one it was now). Anyhow he was put on medication to control his condition and his coat went back to its soft shiny shelf.

It may not be that at all, but could it be worth investigating ?

Cheers,

sophiethecav

Starting to do a bit of planning for the future...

I'd like to know what areas of Victoria (ideally outer Melbourne suburbs, or at least with 1.5 hours drive of Melbourne) - where I can keep 4 dogs or more?

I'm interested in both buying and renting so I'd like to hear about council rules and the likelihood of finding suitable rental properties. I understand that the further out I go - the more likely it is I'll find something I'm looking for - but I'd like to stay as close to Melbourne as possible.

Fire away!!

Thanks guys!

As far as Hume City Council rules go:

We have four dogs and no permit required (as long as you are on land 1 acre or larger, which we are). If the land is smaller than that anything over 2 dogs requires a permit (and any objections or lack of objections have to be sought by you, the owner, from all your immediate neighbours).

Cheers,

Tina

Hi,

Has anyone used Ponderosa Pet Resort in oaklands junction before, can you provide any feed back? PM if you feel more comfortable. Friend is desperate to find accommodation for her two dogs next week as her usual boarding place has had to cancel due to extenuating circumstances.

many thanks

:)

I live 10 minutes up the road from there. Haven't used it myself, used to look dreadful but has had a change of ownership and what looks from the outside like a big cleanup. Having said that though, a work colleague and her husband went to check it out last month with a view to putting their dogs in there while they went away. She said she had to drag her husband away before he went off his trolley and told the owners he wouldn't house a cockroach there !!! So I guess I would personally go check it out before I booked them in. Is there any chance your friend can get someone to "house sit" her house and the dogs while she's gone ? We've done that before in the past, and it's worked out well.

Cheers,

What I can never understand is that so many people will jump on this op for their decision, but not a word is said about the breeders who sterilise and rehome ex breeding bitches. Or dogs that have done their dash in the show ring.

THAT is apparantly just fine.

I can't see how it can be justified for one but not the other???

I'm with you there !!! Most of our dogs have been ex breeding bitches or dogs not up to par for the show ring - given up to us without a backward glance (in fact most didn't even want a follow up email letting them know how their dog was going with us).

Bellackcs, my vet referred me to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic (a teaching facility who have specialist vets working and teaching there)who then did the MRI on my dog (about 8 years ago and cost around $800 back then). I know you're not in Victoria, but your state would surely also have some large facility similar to here (or veterinary specialists). Good luck.

Indy is going to be turning 10 this year and has been fed BARF since he was about a year old.

Recently he has started to baulk at things with bones such as his chicken wings. He eventually eats them but takes his sweet time about it and spends a lot of time licking them first.

He's been to the vet to have his teeth checked (they put him under and did a full dental check) and there are no breakages and no specific problems but the vet did say his teeth have worn down a fair bit and he's worn a lot of the enamel off so it may be painful for him to eat bones now and that there is not much we can do about it.

I bought a meat mallet and have been trying to bash the shit out the chicken wings first but that doesn't seem to be making too much difference.

I bough him some of the Billinghurst BARF patties with the thought of switching him to those but he's turning his nose up at them and won't eat them.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do for him going forward?

Also do you think the bones in chicken backs are denser and harder than in the wings or less so?

There are different brands of BARF with quite different textures. There's one that I think the Guide Dogs use (can't remember the name - Canine Country????) that has different formulas based on age. It apparently has a more attractive texture than Dr B's. It might be a better fit for Indy?

I used to get Billinghurst's patties, too and found them too finely minced, and therefore pretty sloppy when they were thawed out. I now buy Canine Country patties - they are more coarse in texture and you can actually see the veges in it. My 13-year-old Border Terrier happily eats them.

Just wondering if anyone else is getting different consistencies, especially in the kangaroo variety? I was very pleased when I discovered that Big Dog Barf had kept the rights to Dr Billighurst's patties (I think that's what happened, when they parted company)But lately,the last 3 times of purchase,the kangaroo patties are sloppy and full of blood!!! Still able to see the veggies, but not so much the bone pieces.

The lamb and chicken ones seemed to vary from dry to full of blood also.

Anyone else experiencing this?

I used to buy these too, and found all the varieties are just too sloppy. Have changed over to Canine Country patties - they have less blood in them, are of a much firmer consistency (not ground down so finely), and you can actually see the veges in them. I'm very happy with them and the dogs love them.

:D

Is it ok to feed BH and BARF patties together?

Yes, arjay - I always feed BH and barf patties together. Along with an occasional egg, or a tin of sardines or some low fat cottage cheese - and any suitable leftovers from our dinners as well !).

Didn't know they could get these in their mouths ! And I didn't know they could fall off by themselves, either. Both my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have them. My boy has a few on both his ears (where the ears meets the skull) and one on the side of his face. My girl has one on one ear as well, and also on the side of her flank. They've been there for a few years - vet says nothing to worry about. You can't really see them through the fur anyway, just feel them.

My advice is research and take your time buying a French Bulldog. I was after an adult frenchie - and it took 15 months to find the right dog. In the end I bought a 10-month old bitch - much younger than I wanted, but the trade-off was great breathing and good health (and she is so fantastic in every way that I bless the day she joined our household). I looked at quite a few frenchies over that time and although they all looked gorgeous, some didn't seem to breathe too well, so I didn't proceed with buying. There were some in contention where the owners admitted the frenchie could be aggressive towards the same sex, and as we already had 3 other dogs I didn't want to risk it, so a few otherwise suitable dogs were ruled out on that score, too.

I avoided all cheap dogs - I figured I would get what I paid for - on the other hand I felt that anything over $3,000 was just cashing in on their popularity. Having said that there were some top priced dogs that didn't seem too healthy. I researched legitimate breeders (not back yarders) and just stuck with ones that had been breeding frenchies for many, many years and did health testing of parents before breeding them together. The majority of the breeders seemed to have just popped up "overnight" as it were, and I avoided them, too. (A work colleague went to pick up her dachshund puppy from a breeder - and the breeder's comment was "that's the last of the dachsie's - I'm going to breed frenchies from now on - there's more money in them ! - and that's what I mean by "cashing in" and not having the best interests of the breed at heart.) The breeders that I chose I contacted and let them know what I was after and my details. I kept in touch every few months to remind them about me. My patience paid off - I was contacted about the little girl I ended up with before she was advertised.

So my point is expect to pay around $3,000, expect that the parents are health tested for the appropriate things before they are bred together, and expect to be patient.

Also, the breeder gave me a written full money-back guarantee if the dog was returned for any reason whatsover within two weeks - no questions asked. And as well, the dog was to be returned to them if I could no longer keep it down the track and they would rehome it. You can't ask for fairer than that - and they are the sort of breeders that I trust.

Off to bed now... Will take those pics tomorrow and upload them. Thanks for all your help all.

Hi Little Mary.

My 8-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has been scratching for about 2 years on both sides of his body (on the flanks) usually when he is patted there (occasionally for no reason). Despite many visits to the vet, and diet and shampoo changes there has been no change, but no worsening either, and we have learned to live with it. He doesn't do it constantly, just occasionally.

I did have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel about 5 years ago with syringomyelia (can't remember if that's the right spelling)and her symptoms were different - more of an "air scratching" near her ears, and she definitely worsened over time.

Afghan Hound: Sir Walter, Faxon, Lochie, Bluey, Miffy,

Airedale Terrier: Abbey

Akita: Kyojin, Kuma

Alaskan Malamute: Indiana, Kira

American Staffordshire Terrier: Tua, Max, Juno, Cash, Loki, Jessie

Anatolian Shepherd: Trojan

Australian Cattle Dog: Elvis, Matilda, Katie

Australian Cattle Dog X : Frosty

Australian Shepherd: Banjo, Archie, Lottie, Millie, Alice, Hannah, Hudson, Flynn, Gossip, Ava

Australian Silky Terrier: Holly, Rolle

Australian terrier: Bailey, Brandy, Jasper

Australian Kelpie: Revan, Abby, Bluey, Cahill, Franky, Izzy, Safire, Milky, Kinta, Banjo, Rosie, Skye, Emerald, Gem, Meg

Australian Kelpie X:Toby, Cooper

Basset Hound : Gemma

Beagle : Teagan,Ollie, Ellie, Dusky, Brodie, Billy, Piper, Briar, Scarlett, Buffy, Emmie

Bearded Collie: Charlie, Bonnie, Bailie

Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael): Fleming, Ivy

Bichon Frise: Jag

Bichon Frise X: Harper

Bloodhound: Earl

Border Collie: Roy, Molly, Kirra, Rory, Rumour, Diesel, Kobie, Emma, Kenzie, Maggie, Ella, Shelby, Jayde, Ashli, Mia, 'Bubba', Wyc, Echo, Topolino, Sally, Xena, CK, Wikki, Gemima, Carter, Maddy, Charlie,

Border Collie x: Anna, Cally

Border collie x kelpie: Jasmine

Border Terrier: Tammy

Borzoi: Oberon, Boris, Sonya, Kurgan, Ursula, Apollo, Atlas, Adonis, Argus, Alektos, Arinyes, Athena, Aphrodite, Aidos, Andromeda, Ares, Alexander

Boston Terrier: Archer

Boxer: Bruno, Nelsson

Brittany: Zora

Bull Terrier: Bonnerville, Atlas, Stitch

Bull Terrier (Miniature) Lainie

Cane Corso: Ali

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Ben, Bree, Ingrid, Jersey, Lacey, Fern, Floyd, Indy, Arnie, Joey, Renae, Bailey, Murphy, Maggie, Millie, Chloe,Toby,Zonda

Chihuahua: Chelsea and Pansy, Heidi, Bertie, Moose, Archi,Pepe, Squirt, Limpet, Jasper, Bella, Dobby, Bud

Chihuahua x Maltese: Midget

Chinese Crested: Louis, Daisy, Cyrus, Madeline, Sarge, Pepper, Fletcher, Darla, Oz, Xander, Faith

Chinese Crested Powder Puff x Tibetan Terrier: Dee, Carrie, Benita, Jenna

Cocker Spaniel : Maggie,Jesie, Bonnie, Chelsea, Darcy

Curly Coated Retriever: Angus & Freddie

Curly Coated Retriever x Labrador Retriever: Maggie

Dalmatian: Appollo, Cleo

Deerhound: Rhys, Calleigh

Deerhound X: D'Arcy

Doberman: Opal, Brutus

Dogue De Bordeaux: Moose, Chevy, Bella, Molly, Digby, Dexter, Viva, Vegas, Griffen

Dogue De Bordeaux x Boxer: Madeline

English Cocker Spaniels: Jesie,Bonnie, Chelsea

English Setter: Spartan, James

English Springer Spaniel: Buddy

Field Spaniel: Moo

Finnish Lapphund:Halo, Vienna, Jaana,Magnus,Aurora-Rose,Niina,Paddington,Maximus, Ahsoka, Fable, Demi,Varda, Asha, Boots, Echo, Alera, Annika, Ella

Flatcoat Retriever: Moraig, George

French Bulldog: Lola, FeeBee, Alexis, Claire, Lilly

German Coolie: FlashBazil, Latte, Razzle, Willow

German Shepherd: Java, Odin, Tlaloc, Rebus, Indi, UnoBuffy, Bronx, Sabre, Kynan, Brennan, Jack, Santha, Molly, Max, Jenna, Acteon, Roxy, Scout, Rumour, Skye,Banzai,Imba, Kira, Chloe, Duke

German Shorthaired Pointer: Pip, Coco, Polo, Riley

German Spitz (Mittel)- Amber

Golden Retriever: Onslow, Matilda-Rose, Chester, Genie, Ella, Rosie, Bruce, Chloe, Chaos, Ruby, Sasha, Aria, Archer, Lexi

Great Dane: Sparkles, Whitney

Greyhound: Harry, Kiff, Sally, Clyde, Ryan, Amethyst, Stan, Maddie, Skye, Rosie, Ruby, Roxie, Jazz, Gypsy, Ernie, Gus, Rufus, Joey, Woody, Coconut, Cleo, Freckles, Ziggy, Candy

Griffon Bruxellois: Mocha

Hungarian Vizsla: Flynn, Rogan, Kobi, Ari, Belle, Monah

Irish Setter: Fionneaghan, Maia, Aneira

Irish Terrier: Kate, Duke

Irish Wolfhound: Zac

Italian Greyhound: Bella, Tari, Blaze, Zoey,

Italian Spinone: Roisin. Enzo

Jack Russell Terrier: Ringo, Nandi, Chief, Louis, Matilda, Tess

Jack Russell terrier X: Thomas

Japanese Spitz: Emmy, Angelo

Keeshond: Jedi

Kerry Blue Terrier: Juno, Joxer, Bahsha, Louie, Cinders, Solo

Labrador Retriever: Lestat, Bailey, Tia, Mieka, James, Harry, Lily Rose, Zep

Lagotto Romagnolo: Rizzi, Lucca

Leonberger: Singe

Maltese: Luna, Mia, Basil

Maltese X: Chase, Pipi, bella, byron

Maremma: Dennys Dog, Grace,Gina, Angel,Honey, Hollie, Snotto, Hairy Beary, Tadea

Miniature Fox Terrier: Cleopatra

Miniature Long Haired Dachshund: Mini, Rover

Miniature Pinscher: Mischa, Cleo

Murray River Curly Coated Retriever: Aggie, Soona

Neapolitan Mastiff: Miniera, Pacchia, Bruno, Pasquala + 3, 1 week old pups

Newfoundland dogs: Annabelle, Katy, Lukey, Xanthe, Maddy

Norwegian Elkhound: Odin

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriver: Nova, Darcy, Jovi

Papillon: Blaze, Minka, Portia, Tyson, Coco, Tonka, Mailka, Sarge, Dodger

Pekingese: Edwina, Lyle

Pointer : Kite Audrey Poppin konrad, Badger

Poodle (Toy): Chilli, Maggie

Poodle (Minature): Caroline, Brody, Prada

Poodle (Standard) Merry & Pippin, Poppy & babies.

Pomeranian: Daisy, Comet, Jester, Polly

Pug: LotusFlynn, Elyse, Ted, Misty, Elly, Poppy, Sally landers,Archie, Beau, Haidee, Millies, Ivee, Jack, Bert, Cheddar, Maggie, Swank, Monte, Boof, Olivia

Pyrenean Mountain Dog: Sasquatch

Rhodesian Ridgeback: Meisha, Bakari, Boss, Sierra, Kei

Rottweiler: Roxy, Feonix, Radar, Neo, Abby, Dyzney, Fame, Jag, Nellie Rose, Baylee, Dee, Zephyr, Mini, Diesel, Fire, Flint

Saluki: Bella, Arella, Moss, Lucy, Jadir, Mab, Floyd

Samoyed: Mistral, Alchemy, Yngvie, Dante, Bundy, Kamikaze, Fergus, Kato

Samoyed x: Jenna

Schipperke: Taz

Schnauzer (Miniature): Maximus, Coconut,Betty,Jigga, Riva, Amy, Indy, Amber, Grace, Guy, Blue, Connie, Paddington

Schnauzer (Standard) Baillie, Remy

Schnauzer (Giant): Tara, Darcy

Shar Pei: Askari, Acheron, Asante sana, Sirius, Chippy, Christina, Diezel, Cassie, Orsana, Cimba

Shetland Sheepdog:Shady, Ruby

Shih Tzu : Gizmo, Daisy, Zeus

Siberian Husky: Akira, Tikaani,Romeo,Baby.Riddick,Indie, Esky, Blacky, Zuess, Zero, Mya, Suggen, Freyja

Siberian Husky x: Luki

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Shaemus, Nellie, Ciara

Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Kiara, Zola, Diesel, Kaos, Brutus, Monty, Chaos, Bean, Brock, Benson

SWF: Zoe

Tibetan Spaniel: Annie, Nina Zena, Lily

Tibetan Terrier: Prue, Mindy, Holly, Tara

Tenterfield Terrier: Cinder, Zoom,Spirit,Heidi,Kimi, Heidi, Dotty

Rescue Bitsa: Keely, Fred & Ginger, Ozzie, Tess, Maverick, Bosco, Kyah, Charlie, Astrid, Mala, Bella, Tiny Tim, Jen Jen, Lilly, Judy, Mini, Pixie, Ozzie, Dozer, Alaska, Logan, Buddy, Leela, Rusty, Pip, Brembo, Satchmo, Henry

Welsh Corgi (Cardigan): Shandy

White German Shepherd: Casper

White Swiss Shepherd: Rakim,

Whippet: Herbie, Buzz, Lewis, Rommi, Daphne, Elliot, Mindy, Whiz, Arizona aka Zassy , Griff , Penny, Kibah, Feather, Tag, Puck, Orlando

Weimaraner: Ariane, Lulu, Louie

West Highland White Terrier: Penny, Mac, Daisy, Mac, Sarah, Andy, Sweep, JJ, Flash, Fergie, Crystal, Glen, Jingles, Jinnie, Loui, Mitch, Maggie, Smiekie, Zac, Roxy, Winnie, Cricket, Nova, Jo

Wire Haired Fox Terrier: Zedley aka Tawnyoak Dream Weaver

We've raised four puppies in our time, and then the last four dogs came to us as adults (or almost adults) - 9 months old, 2 years old, and two dogs at four years old. House-broken, past the chewing stage, past the crying stage, used to walking on lead. Only one had never lived indoors and she caught onto house training and lead walking within a week. We've even changed the name of some - no problems.

They make fabulous pets and seem to know when they're well off. They bond just as well as pups. I highly recommend adult dogs to anyone. I have a theory that nature made pups so cute so people would fall for those beautiful faces and lovely puppy breath, because it's literally like bringing up a kid (only thankfully not for so long). Everyone wants a cute pup, but believe me there is so much to be said for an adult dog - just a pleasure to live with !!

I say go for it - you won't regret it.

:D :D :D

Been through the luxating patella thing, too - but with a Cavalier King Charles Spanel (who already had it when I got her as a 4 year old).

Vet told me a price for them to fix it (with a possiblility it may happen again) or told me the name of an excellent specialist at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hopsital in Werribee (Victoria) who does the operation differently (but at a greater cost) with a higher success rate. I took the expensive option (cost was about $2,000 and that was 5 years ago) as I didn't want to possibly go through the whole 3 months rehab again (what a pain that was trying to keep an otherwise healthy dog quiet !!!). Her leg was in bandages for a few weeks and then slowly started taking her for walks for a few minutes and then building up the time until her 3 months was up and she could run around as normal. No matter how we tried to confine her, we'd come home and she'd always managed to escape and join the other dogs. Despite this, her leg came out great and she has never looked back.

Good luck with your lovely lab - hope all goes as straightforward as ours did.