BC Crazy

I didn't get to choose either of my current dogs. They were the only ones available in the gender that I required. I was after certain lines so that narrowed down my selection a lot. I would definitely appreciate having breeder input/ advice when buying a puppy. After all they are the ones that have handled them from day 1 & know each puppies charactor/ flaws etc. Once I explain my requirements in my new puppy,they will usually match us up accordingly if possible. Thats part of what responsible breeders do. I would never not buy from one :)

Very interesting post once again Nekhbet. I love you insight into different aspects of training. So true about the herding breed. My 2 BC's both love tug & yes they both have the stalk/chase thing going on & the catch. I do own the game though. I start it & I finish it. Then the toy is put away. They leave the toy & restart the tug game first time they are asked to. Mine do tend to thrash their heads about a bit if I let go of the toy & they still have it in their mouth. Is that in effect a "win" for them is it? Should I not let that happen too often?

OH I couldn't get the link to work previously. WOW they are awesome !!! Very fancy :)

Kalma is alprazolam, which is the same as Xanax. Oh sorry rappie my mistake I stand corrected. I knew it was either or Prozac or Xanax.

I know they don't smell do they. Neither do my guys as they don't get the chance to LOL...

Oh I would love hydro bath but am barely 5 feet tall so I tend to find the higher sides a bit difficult. Both my guys put themselves in the booster bath after each beach visit without me even asking to be rinsed off. Sonny always is first but Stella is ready in the back ground for her turn :)

Thats what I have kelpiecuddles . . Mr BCC is a plumber so I'm very lucky he installed an overhead shower for us 2 legged folk & the hand held shower comes off the same shower at about waist height & I have a Booster Bath so no more aching back for me. Works a treat :)

Many thanks megan ,will do :)

May I ask what the SAS program is? I haven't heard of that.

I am no expert hankodie but my boy is very soft mouthed as well. What really improved his tug skills & increased his drive was to run around with the tug toy & verbally encourge him along the way. Move rather quickly & erractly change direction keeping him engaged. We also are big flirt pole fans here. Both mine absolutely love it. You don't have play very long as they are totally focused & they are on the move. I always quit with them wanting more :)

Stella my 3 year old BC has been on Kalma which is Prozac for over a year now. She is going well on it. She started on the 2mg tablet but was increased to 5mg.. She is normally a very anxious, nervous girl who is also severely noise phobic. Once spooked her anxiety levels remains in the heightened state for hours without meds. Stella also would get very minimal sleep without medication as she is 'noise patrol' & the slightest sound she takes off yelping & barking. Prozac has helped Stella's over all mood. It takes the edge off but she isn't in a medicated haze either which is great. She recovers from being frightened far quicker & is not nearly as reactive. She also manages a day time nap most days & sleeps most nights. Getting the dose right can be a little tricky I found. Trail & error,I tend to gauge her mood each day & also whats going on around us at the time. If there is any of her real triggers happening like thunderstorms,mowers,whipersnippers then I give her a 5mg tab. But if it fairly quite I will give her 2.5 mg. If she is having a bad day I have doubled her dose. Must add she is also on Endep medication as well which I also find works well in conjuction with her Prozac. Hope I have been of some help Dogmad :) Had to edit as I forgot to add that my girl has always very needy & doesn't handle being on her own. So yes sep. Anxiety issues at times.

Nothing is 100% to ensure a tick free dog. I have found Advantix is best for us but as Jed has said it MUST be reapplied every 14 days. I have reapplied a day earlier at times as I would rather be a a day early at 13 days than have a tick sick dog. We get some nasty ones here as well.

If your dog goes swimming rinses wont be effective though. Just something to remember. I don't think there is an " off season" for ticks anymore. If there is I still wouldn't trust it. My Vet recommends fortnightly Advantix all year around in any tick regions as the off season for them is long gone unfortunately.

Great news Stitch. No more scratching !! :)

Sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving her a second chance at life in a loving forever home Tarope. R.I.P. Opal girl

Cuteness overload .... just beautiful. Lovely to see :-)

THIS....

Oh yes I love this clip. Very clever little guy :-D

All paws crossed here that he is found very soon. Poor little fella. Extremely worrying for all concerned.

Great news Snook :) Gosh hankdog, a Vet that makes house calls at no extra cost, Terrific !! Especially for us folks with reactive dogs. I too have found Stella has dramatically improved her dog reactivity using LAT rather than BAT style training. She just doesn't like other dogs. I don't think she ever will so I am not going to continually upset her by trying to make her. As far as meds go, I also tried to gradually reduce Stella's Kalma dose by a small amount. Her actual liveliness didn't change at all. She still did her zoomies & played like she does on the higher dose of meds so no change there. The big change was NO sleep. No nap during the day at all. She was on full noise patrol. The slightest sound & she would take off ,screaming & barking till I calmed her down. She barely slept at night either. Same thing she would hear something & bark. I would be up half the night with her. She is a pacer as well like Jake. So we are back on our regular dose. She & I are now getting some rest. While I wish she didn't need meds, I have excepted that she does for some quality of life. I have found of late that since I have stop trying to wish Stella was a 'better' or normal dog & just embracing her for her courage & how far she has come. Handling her doesn't seem as hard. I think I have changed the way I view her & try to focus on all her positives. She tries so dam hard to please me & is the sweetest natured girl, honestly. If that makes any sense. Sorry not very good at expressing myself .

I have posted my condolances on your other thread. So heartbreaking for you ..... So sorry for your loss:( R.I.P. Bruno.

Yes to the Advantix. I do mine every fortnight all year around as there doesn't seem to be an " off season" with them as there was years ago. Daily tick searches are also a must. Just using your finger ttips go all over your dog against the way his coat lies. Also check ears, anus, feet between toes & under stopper on front legs.

OMG Brunobella I'm ever so sorry for your loss It only takes one tick to kill. The first the signs of tick posioning can be so insignificant that they go undetected. A slight change in your dogs bark. A slight wobble in their gait. Please don't blame yourself BB. I have always lived in tick area's & I have missed a tick on occassion while doing their daily tick check. I detest them with a passion. For such a small insect they can cause tremendous heart ache for dog owners. Between them & snakes ,they are both a constant worry. Thoughts are with you at this very difficult time. Be kind to yourself. Hugs to you.

Giggle hankddog. Jake is a smart boy alright. Stella does exactly the same thing. She pretty much demands a treat when she hears any motor bike that vaguely sounds likes the posty as I have been using LAT with her to stop her trying to chase him. Same goes for mowers,whipper snippers, birds. She is by no means backward when it comes to letting you know just how good she can be. When she wants to that is LOL :)

Same here. All human grade here as well.