flame ryder

When we lived in rural SA OH used to have a job which entailed going onto many different vineyard and farm properties. I often went with him just for the drive. Nearly every property had a dog. Not one of them had the dogs behind fences. They ranged from large purebred dogs to mutts and crosses of all sorts. Seemed like no one cared where their dogs wandered, or had the stupid attitude that dog wont leave property cause that's where it's fed.

Can't help being cynical here, because the phrase is so often used by breeders - but instead of 'rehoming' the dog, couldn't they just look for a 'forever home' for it? :) I hate that phrase "forever home" in the real world there is no such thing as a forever home. There are so many ways the circumstances could change...including death, and no one can control that.

I don't see what's the problem with responsibly re-homing a dog. Horse owners do it all the time and no-one questions it. Sometimes one has to go many years and own a lot of different horses before they get the right one. They may want one that's better at showjumping, or better at dressage, endurance or whatever. A certain horse may be a great horse but not suited to what the owner may have wanted to do with it...therefor selling it on to a more suitable home. Same with dogs...if the dog just doesn't suit you then I can't see problem with re-homing it?

Thanks Riley. Just after I typed in that 1st message the rain started here...properly this time. Hope it keeps raining as it's been a bit on the dry side here in MT Gambier

Hi Warrnambool people. I confess I am a Mt G lurker in here from time to time. Just wondering if someone can tell me if dogs are allowed in the Tower Hill area? I drove through there briefly once on my way home from somewhere, it looked so nice that I'd like to go back there for the day, do some walking, take some lunch and the dogs...if they are allowed. Also can someone tell me what the weather is like in Warrnambool today (Sat 3/3) as my boys were supposed to be coming down for a thing at the Model Aero club today and tomorrow and have decided not to go cause it says on the radar that it's raining and windy there...but who can trust the radar??? No proper rain here atm...no wind either.

I went out to my chooks to give them some left over chocolate cake and briefly put it down on the ground when Bentley my 5 month old Boxer pup ate the whole lot in 2 seconds flat. (naughty boy!). I made that cake myself so I know the total chocolate in it is about 4 heaped tablespoons of coco. Seeing as just over half of it had been eaten by us that meant Bentley would have only consumed about 2 tablespoons of coco at the most. He's fine by the way but it just made me wonder...as you do. Interesting isn't it how dogs can consume the most hideous things including poo, rotten meat ect and yet something like chocolate or onion can kill.

I have the Sureguard one. Pretty happy with it so far. When I did my research on these types of fences I was told to stay away from the cheaper imported ones as they only work for a short time then break. Sureguard is Aussie made and their customer service is pretty good. Like you we have roughly about an acre and a half and there's no way to properly fence it, and then you always have the gate issue. We have a German Shepard and a Boxer that it contains. I have heard they wont work well with some breeds that have strong hunting instincts as they may run through the fence after a cat, rabbit or whatever. I use marking paint to show the boundries and train the dogs not to go past that line. Or you can use the little yellow flags that come supplied with the system.

I know chocolate is not good for dogs, but what about chocolate cake, choc custard, pudding ect? Would something like that be harmful to them or are we talking actual chocolate? I always forget to ask this when I go to the vets. And while I'm here...what about onion, cooked in small quantities, like for instance in a bit of left overs? All my dogs have had a bit of both from time to time, with no apparent ill effects but should I avoid it completely?

My vet told me I should be worming my new puppy (now 5 months) every 2 weeks. That's way over the top. He was wormed when I got him at 9 weeks, then 1 month later, now he will be done along with my adult dogs...3 or 4 times a year. Does anyone know if Advocate will do Hydatit worms. I currently use Frontline but am thinking of swapping to Advocate so it includes worms but if I then have to go out and buy a separate pill for Hydatit I wont bother. And yes in answer to the original question I do think we over medicate. When my small dog was vaccinated I asked the vet is same dosage given to a Chihuahua as a great dane?...and yes it is the same dosage. Then I started to think the same question.

I just don't get it....could some kind person please explain. What is a thundershirt and how can simply wearing it comfort a dog in a storm?

When I was looking for a puppy...oops sorry breeder...my e-mails similar to the example one were ignored. Wasted my time, and not even an acknowledgement of my e-mail. Phone messages too were ignored. They may have been wonderful breeders but terrible correspondents. Quote///That’s the kind of e-mail that gets a response, and usually pretty quickly. If I get something that says “I hear you have puppies on the way; how much?” it goes in the recyle bin before you can blink/// all I can say to that is HOW RUDE!!! Most likely the sender has already wasted his or her time with longer e-mails only to be ignored so has resorted to shorter more to the point e-mails.

She especially went out to buy a kingsize bed for her two German Shepherds...oh dear...is this lady single cause what happens when she brings home a partner to share the bed. 1) Dogs get the boot? or, 2) Partner gets the boot?

Just a bunch of numbers to clutter up the add. Stupid idea (not to microchip), but to write the numbers in an add. Reader wants to read stuff like, age, sex,colour, breed ect.

No dogs allowed on the furniture here...um...

In relation to leads...I have a dog aggressive dog and the lead I use for her is actually a horse lead rope. Nice and strong, designed and made to hold a half a ton of horse so shouldn't break on a small German Shepard dog. Owner of the pit bull (or whatever breed it was) should know his dog and had a similar strong lead. I agree both partys are a little at fault...however it is nice to allow one's dogs freedom to run and be dogs, even the nicest dog can 'lose it' we can't read their minds. Interested to know what happens next...

I'd be wanting to see the kennels before hand too. After all we pay alot of our hard earned cash to leave our dogs in these places and I think as customers we have a right to see where the dogs will be. Shouldn't their public liability insurance cover anyone on the premises? I was once thinking of opening a dog/cat boarding business but a neighbour beat me to it.

I wouldn't drop the leash...I imagine my dog would run straight under a car and the attacking dogs would disappear un-harmed.

I'd love to go away/travel more but separation anxiety is an issue....not for the dog but for me. I spend the whole time away stressing and missing my dogs. Dogs probably don't care but I like to think they miss me especially my heart dog. Due to MY separation anxiety I prefer to plan holidays where my dogs can be included.

yes like a Chihuahua

Five whole days and nights while we went on a camping trip. Dogs stayed home with my daughter. I was counting down the days and then hours till I'd be home with him again. Then first thing I did when I got home was greet the dogs

Hello from one Crestie lover to another. I know what you mean about Crestie zoomies...I love those moments too, I have a nearly 2 year old male, de-sexed hairless crestie named MoJo. How long have you had your new dog? It may take a few weeks or even longer for them to become good friends and fully bond. So far since having Mojo I have introduced 2 new dogs into our home. First dog a German Shepard rescue Bessie, approx 2 year old bitch from the pound. I was worried after the 1st few days as Bessie used to bare her teeth at Mojo and I thought I'd never be able to trust her with Mojo. It took a coupla weeks and was all good...now Mojo acts like the boss can even steal food from her bowl, they are great friends. Our most recent addition was a Boxer puppy Bentley. Mojo hated him at first and growled every time Bentley came near. I reckon it took about a month before I noticed small changes with Mojo's tolerance to Bentley, he gradually accepted him. Now I have trouble keeping them apart as all they want to do is play. I have to be careful of Mojo as he is recovering from a broken leg. So I guess you might need to give it a little bit of time. And I would also love another Crestie....but that would make us a 4 dog household...but hey, you know what they say about Cresties - "They are like Pringles, you can't stop at just one!" Oh and hot in Tassie...really??

wow 30! How do you remember all their names? I started naming my sheep...but now I have 16 and have given up naming them as I keep forgetting who's who. Years ago my sister had a dog named 'Funny Face'. Maybe we should start a topic ' weird dog/pet names'?

I hope your dog is ok...what were the injuries? It is unfortunate that there are morons like this and I think he should be paying your vet bill. I have a dog aggressive dog and there's no way I'd leave her in a situation where she could get at other dogs...if she did I'd be paying the vets bills...my stupidity, my dog, my responsibility. If this dog attacked unprovoked he needs to be contained, PTS or re-homed to someone that knows what they are doing. Actually to tell the truth if this happened to my small dog I'd hunt down the owner and dog and take matters into my own hands.

So if one has say a litter of 8 puppies to sell they'd need to quote each individual micro chip number in the one add? I imagine the newspapers are going to love this as you usually need to pay per word and a number is included as a word...so that's 8 extra words you'd need to pay for. Would also be very annoying to read an add with all the numbers cluttering up the add. I'd also hate to be the person who has to take an add over the phone, too easy to get a number wrong...phone numbers are bad enough.

used to have a dog named Anna...vet always used to get confused and call me Anna.