blacklabrador

Ditto, but can be any model vac as long as it has good suction to work the power head The suction driven brush head is called a "Turbo Head". A power head has it's own power supply and runs independently of any suction. Another Wertheim fan here - not much left in the carpet after it's had a go with that!

That's a bit over the top don't you think? I rarely take my dog to off leash parks and he rarely ventures into the backyard. I do, though, take him for a 2-3km walk/jog every day. If I want to let him have a big run, I take him up to the local school and let him have a play on the oval. IMO, leash walking for exercise provides for a more stable mind. You can't really go wrong with a good long daily on lead walk - its good for you, its good for the dog and it enforces the pack mentality and leadership. But you know that Dobe puppies shouldn't be leash walked - the same rules apply to them as to Danes while they are growing. slightly OT sorry - I wasn't aware about the "Dobe puppies shouldn't be leash walked"? I did a quick google search, but couldn't find anything... - our dobe puppy is only leash walked at the moment as he has no recall to speak of yet, can you please give me more info? Why shouldn't they be leash walked? Is it bad physically? Or mentally? Got me a bit worried now!! I think it means pups are still growing and should not be over exercised, a short walk around the yard of 5mins is enough. At 4mths you can go to obedience training, but still take it easy. Dobes,GSD's and Rottie pups should not walk on slippery floors for the first 12mths to protect their hips. Yep leash training is fine but I was responding to a suggestion of long daily walks which is not recommended for pups of large breeds until after 12 months. Free running is recommended until then. Any large breed pups should not be running on slippery floors. I wasn't suggesting the OP takes their pup for long daily walks, blab. It was my response to the OP saying that people in the Eastern Suburbs shouldn't be allowed dogs at all if they can't take their dogs off-leash anywhere but their backyards. I was saying that there are other ways to exercise dogs in general rather than just taking them to a park to run around. I think leash walking is important for pups of all ages and most definitely wouldn't wait till a large breed dog is 12months before starting daily walks. It's just a matter of not over doing it with FORCED exercise. I think you need to go back and read your post so you understand why I was making the point. I know it and you know it (which I did acknowledge!!!) but your post didn't mention that it isn't the right exercise for puppies. Considering that you were responding to somebody who has a large breed puppy I just wanted to let HER know that it isn't what you or anybody else was recommending for HER. HER comment about not being able to take dogs anywhere but their own backyard was in response to Lo Pan's comment. It wasn't necessarily her belief... or so I believe. Are we there yet?

That's a bit over the top don't you think? I rarely take my dog to off leash parks and he rarely ventures into the backyard. I do, though, take him for a 2-3km walk/jog every day. If I want to let him have a big run, I take him up to the local school and let him have a play on the oval. IMO, leash walking for exercise provides for a more stable mind. You can't really go wrong with a good long daily on lead walk - its good for you, its good for the dog and it enforces the pack mentality and leadership. But you know that Dobe puppies shouldn't be leash walked - the same rules apply to them as to Danes while they are growing. slightly OT sorry - I wasn't aware about the "Dobe puppies shouldn't be leash walked"? I did a quick google search, but couldn't find anything... - our dobe puppy is only leash walked at the moment as he has no recall to speak of yet, can you please give me more info? Why shouldn't they be leash walked? Is it bad physically? Or mentally? Got me a bit worried now!! I think it means pups are still growing and should not be over exercised, a short walk around the yard of 5mins is enough. At 4mths you can go to obedience training, but still take it easy. Dobes,GSD's and Rottie pups should not walk on slippery floors for the first 12mths to protect their hips. Yep leash training is fine but I was responding to a suggestion of long daily walks which is not recommended for pups of large breeds until after 12 months. Free running is recommended until then. Any large breed pups should not be running on slippery floors.

That's a bit over the top don't you think? I rarely take my dog to off leash parks and he rarely ventures into the backyard. I do, though, take him for a 2-3km walk/jog every day. If I want to let him have a big run, I take him up to the local school and let him have a play on the oval. IMO, leash walking for exercise provides for a more stable mind. You can't really go wrong with a good long daily on lead walk - its good for you, its good for the dog and it enforces the pack mentality and leadership. But you know that Dobe puppies shouldn't be leash walked - the same rules apply to them as to Danes while they are growing.

There needs to be more acknowledgment of this I believe. There are some breeds who when in then hands of dickheads, are more likely to end up with aggression problems. I agree, but even so, it is still entirely the responsibility of the owners to manage these dogs. In that instance, it is deed (irresponsible owner failing to control their dog) not breed. So a combination of breed and deed? ie in the wrong hands, certain breeds of dogs are more likely to have issues?

There needs to be more acknowledgment of this I believe. There are some breeds who when in then hands of dickheads, are more likely to end up with aggression problems.

I'm still listening to hear what the real solution to the problem is. ;) Not letting dogs offleash outside their own yard is not a solution. I'm thinking that you don't acutally have a real solution. So there you go - plenty of listening and thinking happening. Lo Pan has advised to be aware of off leash parks for the obvious reasons which makes perfect sense. The solution provided is not to visit off leash parks and avoid the associated risks. Why is that not sound advice??? Perhaps you didn't read his posts? He has said that any attack that happens to your dog in an offleash park is the fault of the owner of the attacked dog for taking it to the park. He has recommended not to take dogs to offleash areas at all. It isn't sound advice because it's not an option for some people who have nowhere else for their dog to run. We are all "aware" that there is some risk. The point is that we need to weigh up the risks and try to provide a balanced lifestyle for our dogs. One of my dogs in particular just loves the surf and I love watching him throw himself into the waves to fetch a stick. Under Lo Pan's advice I could never ever do this with him again. How is that sound or even remotely practical advice? MOST of the time my dogs don't get attacked (just like most of the time I drive I don't have an accident). Where are people to take their dogs to run if they can't take them to an offleash area? Our yards are getting smaller. What's the practical and sound solution? Lo Pan was talking about taking 11 week old puppies to off leash parks in reference to the thread I thought???. My GSD can be aggressive towards strange dog's with attitude or dogs that rush at him and I wouldn't let him off leash at a designated dog park for that reason with other dogs around. I let him off leash to run in areas or times that other dogs are not in close proximity and leash him if other off leash dogs are heading our way. Same at the beach, just pick your spots and times. Lo Pans' quotes applied generally and not just to puppies. "Dogs are NOT supposed to run around together and socialize. This is a fantasy dreamed up by some in society today. Dogs are said to be social in the sense that in the wild they run in packs, it does not mean strange dogs "socializing". By taking the dog and allowing it to be exposed to an offleash situation with other dogs you are putting it at risk. Now i'm not saying don't do it, i'm just saying do not blame others if there is a problem. In combination with the nature of dogs, we also know that irresponsible owners are frequent, so there should be no ground for complaining if your dog is attacked at an offleash park the risks are clear." Really you shouldn't be taking your GSD off lead if it has issues. If a puppy rushes up to it you could find yourself in a horrible situation. You can't be aware of every dog in the vicinity and the young, immature dogs who find it a game to run a kilometre from their hysterically chasing owner is pretty much the same dog who will delight in bowling up to your dog. I feel completely responsible in taking my dogs to a dog park because none of them have aggression issues and I trust them as much as anybody could ever trust a dog. ETA My older dogs have no hesitation in growling and snapping at a young dog to put it in its place but that is as far as it goes - I actually use them to help teach pups manners when my friends get new puppies. In a general dog park, you wouldn't know most of them..............you are obviously talking about arranged meets with friends which is a much different situation. When the general public turn up to a place and randomly let their dogs off leash, you have no idea which dogs may react aggressively, by then it could be too late. The OP didn't know the owner of the dog who attacked her puppy or know the temperament of the dogs present. That's more how I take Lo Pan's posts I am talking about general dog parks and beaches. Even the arranged DOL meets are held in these areas - you cannot book the area out and prevent other people turning up so the dogs are mixing with known and unknown dogs.

OT Newfsie - it's completely a personal decision but the danger of parvo lies much more in the ground than it does in other dogs. Socialising a puppy with vaccinated adults may be giving you a false sense of security as the ground can harbour parvo for several years (ten I believe). Most obedience grounds are free-for-all grassy areas which are frequented by offlead neighbourhood or stray dogs at other times. I know when I got my first puppy I took him to the beach at 9 weeks thinking that parvo couldn't survive on the surface sand after the sun and the salt water etc. I later used to date a veterinary epidemiologist who let me know how wrong I was! Parvo is so extremely hardy that the beach is also a great place to pick it up unfortunately.

I'm still listening to hear what the real solution to the problem is. Not letting dogs offleash outside their own yard is not a solution. I'm thinking that you don't acutally have a real solution. So there you go - plenty of listening and thinking happening. Lo Pan has advised to be aware of off leash parks for the obvious reasons which makes perfect sense. The solution provided is not to visit off leash parks and avoid the associated risks. Why is that not sound advice??? Perhaps you didn't read his posts? He has said that any attack that happens to your dog in an offleash park is the fault of the owner of the attacked dog for taking it to the park. He has recommended not to take dogs to offleash areas at all. It isn't sound advice because it's not an option for some people who have nowhere else for their dog to run. We are all "aware" that there is some risk. The point is that we need to weigh up the risks and try to provide a balanced lifestyle for our dogs. One of my dogs in particular just loves the surf and I love watching him throw himself into the waves to fetch a stick. Under Lo Pan's advice I could never ever do this with him again. How is that sound or even remotely practical advice? MOST of the time my dogs don't get attacked (just like most of the time I drive I don't have an accident). Where are people to take their dogs to run if they can't take them to an offleash area? Our yards are getting smaller. What's the practical and sound solution? Lo Pan was talking about taking 11 week old puppies to off leash parks in reference to the thread I thought???. My GSD can be aggressive towards strange dog's with attitude or dogs that rush at him and I wouldn't let him off leash at a designated dog park for that reason with other dogs around. I let him off leash to run in areas or times that other dogs are not in close proximity and leash him if other off leash dogs are heading our way. Same at the beach, just pick your spots and times. Lo Pans' quotes applied generally and not just to puppies. "Dogs are NOT supposed to run around together and socialize. This is a fantasy dreamed up by some in society today. Dogs are said to be social in the sense that in the wild they run in packs, it does not mean strange dogs "socializing". By taking the dog and allowing it to be exposed to an offleash situation with other dogs you are putting it at risk. Now i'm not saying don't do it, i'm just saying do not blame others if there is a problem. In combination with the nature of dogs, we also know that irresponsible owners are frequent, so there should be no ground for complaining if your dog is attacked at an offleash park the risks are clear." Really you shouldn't be taking your GSD off lead if it has issues. If a puppy rushes up to it you could find yourself in a horrible situation. You can't be aware of every dog in the vicinity and the young, immature dogs who find it a game to run a kilometre from their hysterically chasing owner is pretty much the same dog who will delight in bowling up to your dog. I feel completely responsible in taking my dogs to a dog park because none of them have aggression issues and I trust them as much as anybody could ever trust a dog. ETA My older dogs have no hesitation in growling and snapping at a young dog to put it in its place but that is as far as it goes - I actually use them to help teach pups manners when my friends get new puppies.

I'm still listening to hear what the real solution to the problem is. Not letting dogs offleash outside their own yard is not a solution. I'm thinking that you don't acutally have a real solution. So there you go - plenty of listening and thinking happening. Lo Pan has advised to be aware of off leash parks for the obvious reasons which makes perfect sense. The solution provided is not to visit off leash parks and avoid the associated risks. Why is that not sound advice??? Perhaps you didn't read his posts? He has said that any attack that happens to your dog in an offleash park is the fault of the owner of the attacked dog for taking it to the park. He has recommended not to take dogs to offleash areas at all. It isn't sound advice because it's not an option for some people who have nowhere else for their dog to run. We are all "aware" that there is some risk. The point is that we need to weigh up the risks and try to provide a balanced lifestyle for our dogs. One of my dogs in particular just loves the surf and I love watching him throw himself into the waves to fetch a stick. Under Lo Pan's advice I could never ever do this with him again. How is that sound or even remotely practical advice? MOST of the time my dogs don't get attacked (just like most of the time I drive I don't have an accident). Where are people to take their dogs to run if they can't take them to an offleash area? Our yards are getting smaller. What's the practical and sound solution?

I think Jed's suggestion is great - take her to a dog show and show her the full range of what is out there. Talk to some breeders with her. Then let her do research online about temperaments, grooming requirements etc. and work it out for herself (with guidance of course!). Some breeds would actually require you to be on a waiting list for a while.

I'm still listening to hear what the real solution to the problem is. Not letting dogs offleash outside their own yard is not a solution. I'm thinking that you don't acutally have a real solution. So there you go - plenty of listening and thinking happening.

There's no solution present in your post 63 either. I choose to not take anything away from it because "don't let your dog offleash out of its back yard" not a practical solution for dog owners. Your attitude however, is typical of somebody who has/had a DA dog. I saw what Puppy did to another dog. But that wasn't your fault right?

It's your truth Lo Pan, not necessarily everybody elses. The point I was making is that we were totally minding our own business and my dog made no attempt to approach these dogs. The dickhead who owns them shouldn't have them in an offleash area. The dickhead is the problem and is responsible. So what is your solution to the problem? Where can my dogs swim? Where can my dogs go to run? My backyard is no longer big enough. What's your solution? Your suggestion is as illogical as telling people to stay in bed so they don't get up and risk anything bad happening to them. It's also as illogical as suggesting that somebody who is injured in a car accident when hit by a drunk driver is completely responsible for the accident because they took the risk and went out driving in their car. So yeah if you make ridiculous generalisations then you are going to get people disagreeing with you.

LOL, I think this is why it was so easy for me to train the scent discrimination exercise this last week. Food + being encouraged to smell = one very enthusiastic beagle. Daisy has had her share of hysterical food moments too. Like the time a single cat biscuit got stuck behind a box in the book case. I don't know when it got stuck there or how, but one day Daisy walked past and caught a whiff of it and then realising she couldn't reach it threw herself on the ground hysterically barking and crying until I came along to see what was going on because I thought she was DYING... or something. No, she just knew there was a cat biscuit behind the box and couldn't reach it, which was obviously very traumatizing for her. ;)

In the Crestie I am pretty sure it was just where her armpits rubbed. You see it in overweight humans too - darker, hyperpigmented skin under their arms, around their neck (if they have neck rolls) and between their legs.

And if it's not donuts, it's ZOMG THERE IZ SCENTZ ON TEH GROUNDZ! ;) The other day I was throwing some treats to the dogs and one went off the verandah and landed on a section of roof. It was out of reach and there is a section of horizontal steel wires between the dogs and the roof. Dash laid down as close as he could possibly get to the treat and laid there licking the wires. All for the love of a scooby snack. That dog cracks me up. He also stole a packet of uncooked cous cous from the kitchen bench and ate it outside. I dunno.. these food obsessed dogs will turn our hair grey!

;) I find it very interesting! Daisy isn't overly fussed with other dogs either so fortunately that means they aren't usually a big distraction when it comes to training. Definitely a plus! She's just so food focussed that nothing else matters... where's the donuts Mum?

There can be a stage of "detoxing" when changing a dogs diet to raw. Sometimes existing skin and ear problems worsen while the body gets rid of toxins. It usually improves in the long run though. My Crestie had blackish skin under her arms. No allergy though.

Sorry if I'm reading this wrong but if I take my dog to an offleash park, have it offleash (as it is allowed to be), it's playing nicely, romping in the grass etc. and then is suddenly attacked by another dog then it's my fault?? Pretty ridiculous statement Lo Pan. I had my T bone at the beach last week. Off leash beach, plenty of space and a few dogs walking up and down with their owners. T bone was retrieving a stick into the waves. Having a wonderful time, we were minding our own business. Two dogs were walking along with their owner both boxer/ridgie/mastiff type crosses. Both left their owner and pursued T bone into the water who was returning with a stick. One grabbed the stick out of his mouth which he surrendered without protest (he is a gentleman) and then the other attacked him. WTF is with that? Goddamn bullies! The attacking dog backed off when I approached them with my arm over my head yelling at it to bugger off. He came away with a puncture wound in his head which I didn't find until we got home but I sure as hell would have had a piece of the owner had I found it at the time. So my question to you is - where can I legally and safely take my dog to swim?

Where is the black skin? Sun exposed areas?

Good on you for taking him on at that time. RIP Dude - what a happy retirement you had.

Is that a slag off on the fact that I have a small drinking problem????????????????????Do you want to take that further??? At least I admit it. At least I am not a bullshitter. If you have a drinking problem then it's not something I know about or would joke about. However your posts don't make sense - it was a comment regarding your behaviour. If you've had too much then I suggest you log off and go do something else. You're certainly not making much sense here.

You really need to lose the nasty attitude and stop making personal attacks. BL has been extremely civil considering your repeated snipiness. Diet is not just BARF or dry. It is not black and white. I sometimes use a good quality dry too, but prefer to feed human quality natural food when possible. What is wrong with mixing and experimenting? You think we have to stick to one rule when feeding the dogs? Why? Gareth where have I said that you have to stick to one rule???? I have never said that. Why would I when I mix and experiment myself and have always said I do. I dont slag off dry feeding, nor mix nor barf. each to their own But I also dont say one thing, yet do another...... Yep sure my posts may come across as having an attitude. If you or anyone else doesnt like it then that is your problem, not mine Not being rude of course But I dont tell someone one thing while bullshitting to someone else. Can I make it any clearer???? Backs away slowly. Just have another drink love and calm down.

So you feed a kibble that doesn't contain chicken? I feed my dogs chicken pieces no more than twice a week - they get turkey quite often though. For us I buy organic chicken - it's not chemical free but it contains less. Yes Holistic Select make a whole range of food with different flavours. I like the Anchovey, Salmon and Sardine at the moment. Their is also duck and lamb. That's an awesome range of flavours. I do have an "no anchovy" policy when it comes to Pizza though. Not sure what my dogs think about it.