flame ryder

I too have the Sureguard. We have had it for 2 years and are very happy with it so far. So good not having gates to open and close...and no need to nag kids to keep gates closed.

is it possible she could leave the dog in her own home during the time away at work rather than a kennel? What about getting a trustworthy, dog loving housemate? Kennel stays would be expensive and also unsettling for the dog. But if the dog could stay on it's own territory it would be a happier situation for the dog.

Beans as in bean bag beans are really warm. My Chinese crested Mojo make's himself a cosy nest in a bean bag. Mojo doesn't chew things up luckily...but if a dog did rip up a beanbag it would be a catastrophe.

Sheees that's a bit expensive. What sort of dog?

I just finished reading a Cesar Milan training book. While I agree with some of the stuff alot of it seems weird and a bit un-doable. Like for instance in one chapter he says 'don't become a slave to your dog and get up to open doors when he wants to be let outside. Make him wait until you decide he should go outside" why would anyone do this?? Dog will wee or poo inside. We train them to ask to be let out to do their toilets. I just found that bit of info crazy. I like to read anything I can get my hands on re dog training. Pool all the info together in my head and only use what I think is useful, good advice that suits my particular dog.

Nah I haven't bought anything from that website...but of course I had to have a look. Some very cute outfits in there. But having a dog who wears alot of clothes (Chinese Crested) I noticed that although the clothing was really cute alot of the styles are just impractical. They seem designed more for the owner than the dog. I mean who's the idiot that decided that a dog needed to wear a hoody? Everyone knows dogs HATE things on their heads and over their ears. The outfits would look great for a photo shoot or a special occasion but I reckon they'd drive the dog wearing them nuts long term.

Favourite breeds - Chinese Crested, Boxers...what a coincidence I have both. Also like Great Danes, Salukis, poodles. Least fav breeds - Neopilton Mastive - saw my first one at a show over Easter, sorry but it was the ugliest dog I've ever seen. Also dislike Pitballs, staffies, Sharpeis

I was at a show recently (just as a spectator) and saw a beautiful dog. I looked at the dog and spoke to it saying "oh arn't you lovely" the owner told me in a rather harsh, unfriendly voice "dont touch my dog" Well I wasn't planning to....jeeeeeeeeeeeeze take a chill pill lady!

I have been reading this thread with much interest as I have a fear aggressive dog. I used to take her to obedience classes but I stopped taking her because I could see it was making other members and their dogs uncomfortable. Also I got sick of all the different ideas, and when I'd try something myself (after all this is MY dog and I know her best) they'd say "oh don't do that, do this..." yadda yadda. I instead leave her home now on a Sunday morning and concentrate on my other two. It's a pitty as I think she would make such an excellent obedience dog. She gives all other dogs in the class the stink eye then like the stealth just lunges without warning. She's fine with people and our other 2 dogs. In answer to the original question...how do I exercise her off lead? Easy where I live is rural and when we walk out in the forest we have never once encountered other dogs or people. However there are many Kangaroos who she will think about chasing, lucky for us she will listen when we tell her NO and has excellent recall. Also the beaches around here are beautiful and wild and fantastic for exercising dogs off lead...there's hardly anyone else in summer and no one is mad enough to go there in the depths of winter (except us). So all in all it works well for us and our fear aggressive dog...however if circumstances were different I would seriously re-think about keeping her. I don't have big bucks to spend on behaviour specialists but enjoy reading any info i can, hoping one day I can take her for a walk in town, or back to obedience classes without incident. I am currently on the library waiting list for Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed.

I dress my dog up...but I think I can be excused as he is a Chinese Hairless. I think he currently has more outfits than me. I've dressed other dogs up such as Chihuahuas or other dogs with short hair, especially as they are getting into old age. But I can't see the point in dressing dogs that have good, thick coats of their own fur. That's just plain stupid and the dog doesn't need it.....although short term for a special occasion would be ok. I was never into rugging my horses either...I reckon mother nature does a good job giving them their own winter coat...but that's another issue.

Tasmania is so beautiful...I so want to go back there. I like the sunset pic the best :)

Nice looking Damaras! I really like your ram...I wish he was mine. I'm in the market for a new ram. I have 16 Damaras and Damara crosses

Sorry it's off topic but I have a question for snake catcher seeing as he seems the snake expert in here.... Is it true that an animal that is bitten and killed by a brown snake would decompose faster than a normal death?? This was something I heard...supposedly the venom in the animals system breaks the body down faster.

I often take my two bigger dogs to the dog wash in town...you know the type that are in with the car washes. The cycle goes - shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse, flea wash and finally disinfect bath. So does this mean we arn't meant to rinse off the flea wash? I feel like I should so I turn the dial back to rinse and rinse it out....but maybe it's meant to be left in...I dunno, does anyone know? Also I find the blow dries too cold...poor dogs all wet from a bath would prefer a warm blow dry not cold air blowing on them, especially on the really cold days brrrr. Is this just our dogwash or are do they all have cold blow dries?

As I already pointed out in my previous post...it was done while my dog was being de-sexed, the dog was already on the operating table and it was listed on my bill separately as microchipping = $60. But when I rang to ask the vet how much (for another dog) the same price ($60) was quoted. Although I am in rural town it is quite big (second biggest in SA after Adelaide) I'm sure if the council did it for $30 there'd be a lot more people turn up.

Yes $25 is reasonable....but $45 from the council I feel is not. When I got my other dog done it was by the vet during the de-sexing operation, but it was listed on the bill as microchipping - $60. I don't mind paying out for my dogs but in all fairness it should be roughly the same price everywhere. Hearing that others can have it done up to $35 cheaper sux.

This works with hearing dogs too lol...I have 1 dog with excellent recall the other 2 have selective hearing but luckily will follow her. Her re-call is amazing...she can be in full flight off after a kangaroo and we'll call her and she'll turn on a dime, dust flying and come to us. Sorry getting completely off topic...my bad

I know it's slightly off topic and I'm no expert either...but...the boxer in this pic looks a little strange, like his face is just not squishy enough to be a pure boxer. Also in regard to white boxers there are a few people in this part of SA that think it's a good idea to breed a white and a white together...I dunno if the pups would have any issues but these pups are backyard bred and they ask around $800 each for the puppies. When I was looking for a boxer puppy I saw plenty of white ones from registered breeders for way less than that. Just wondering about deaf dogs too...not just white dogs but any deaf dogs, I imagine they would be incredibly challenging to train. Imagine them running towards a main road or some other threat and no re-call argh!

I've just read 2 other posts about micro-chipping days. Both were Approx $25. Where I live (rural SA) the council are doing a micro-chipping day pretty soon at the reduced cost of $45. The vets I go to charge $60. It seems crazy that this same procedure has so many different pricings. What is everyone else paying?

I know this wont help you short term (Easter) but long term your puppy may grow out of it. My In-laws had a dog that used to get car sick as a puppy but is fine now...I myself used to spew my guts up on long car trips...I grew out of it.

Wow that's awesome.......I'm immigrating Off to pack

That's it!!!! No more pigs ears for Bentley. He just tried to swallow one before he'd chewed it enough and as a result spewed up all over my cream coloured carpet (which I hate). YUK

Oh! well I they usually last lots longer with my other dogs. I though Bentley was just being a pig. Once one hung around here for a few weeks (before Bentley).

I just gave my boxer puppy Bentley a pigs ear that was supposed to occupy him for an hour or two...but no he consumes the whole thing within about 15 minutes. Whats the record for your dog eating pigs ears? Can anyone beat 15 mins? Does anyone know where I can get elephants ears lol?

I don't clip my dogs nails ever. I don't need to. I think they wear them down on our daily walks on gravel roads. I noticed on my Crestie that his nails got really long while he was recovering from a broken leg. But as soon as he started going on walkies again the nails wore down. But I have done it with chook's claws and recently our sheep's hoofs. Blood everywhere and I felt guilty too.