flame ryder

Interesting that the retirement age has been raised to 70 and yet there are some who think owning a dog into your late 60's and into your 70's is too old. A lady at my obedience club is 78 and still actively doing obedience and taking her dog for a daily walk, sometimes two. She didn't get the dog until only a few years ago. He gives her a reason to live, keeps her company and gets her out and about. And yes she has told me she has made plans for his re-homing should she drop off the perch. She also embraces modern technology such as the internet which some older people refuse to do although it can bring so much enrichment into their lives. But I'm getting off topic now...my bad

I could not imagine my life without a dog so I will always have one till the day I die (if I can). To me life just wouldn't be worth living without a dog, failing that a cat could also fill the space. I saw an elderly lady walking 2 rottis along the main road recently. I said to OH "that's one little old lady no one will mess with". But yes something else to consider when one lives alone and is elderly and vulnerable. Too many old people get robbed, home invasions ect, a good dog could not only be a wonderful companion but protection also.

wouldn't bother me as long as it was bagged up. It's a bin. Gross things get put in it. That's what bins are for. Back when we lived in the city some drunk threw up in my bin...now that was eeeeeewwww

Here's one of my firehogs

Funny you should say that...I have always been afraid of Rottweilers. Now I have one

Yep mine do the same, I send them out to do toilets but they all have a quick pee and run back in. It's pretty cold here atm so maybe in summer they will linger longer and have a poo. It would be ok if they didn't step in their poo in the kennel/run. I guess what I'm trying to find out is how long their digestive system is...like how long before dinner becomes poo? But probably every dog is different. Some people crate their dogs all night without poo so it must be possible. And yeah I know part of dog ownership is cleaning up poop but I can be hopeful :) less is best lol

Seems like most of you are feeding twice daily. I only feed once...oh dear my bad. I used to feed my young one twice a day but he is 6 months now, I think he should be ok with just the one feed and a snack of chicken wings mid afternoon. Also another reason I decided to change feed time was after reading the bloat topic. I have high risk breeds. Often we take them out walking during the day, but of course never at night, so the risk of bloat should be less.

I normally feed my dogs their main meal in the morning. I am thinking of changing it till evening. Reason being I am sick of cleaning up poos in the morning before work...yuck!! They don't do a great amount but what they do do they manage to step in and spread around their enclosure/kennel area, themselves (sometimes) and their bedding. Starting today I am going to trial feeding them around 7pm (after we have had our tea). The best outcome I could hope for is no poos at all during the night...hmmm I am ever hopeful but time will tell. They are in their kennel/run from about 11pm at night till 8am in the morning. Their diet consists of good quality dry food, raw mince and chicken. What times do others feed their dogs?

I found these on someones FB page - ✿⊰✿⊰✿ 10 PEEVES DOGS HAVE ABOUT HUMANS ✿⊰✿⊰✿ 1. Blaming your farts on me...not funny...not funny at all! 2. Yelling at me for barking. I'M A FRIGGIN' DOG, YOU DUMMIE! 3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway? 4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose.....Stop it! 5. Any haircut that involves a bow. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home. 6. The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Wooo Hoo!! What a proud moment for the top of the food chain. 7. Taking me to the vet for "the big snip", then being surprised when I freak out every time we go back! 8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered that handshake thing yet. 9. Dog sweaters. Hello??? Haven't you noticed the fur? 10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth; you're just jealous. Now lay off on some of these things. We both know who is boss here! You don't see me picking up your poop do you?

I just looked into boarding kennels for my October holiday. I was quoted $16.50 per night. I have 2 dogs so would have cost me $33 a night. The kennels were pretty small and I knew I wouldn't be able to have a happy holiday knowing they were cooped up in them all day, so we are going to take all 3 with us. The thought that came to mind for me was a total of around $300 to put my dogs in jail for 10 days. A few days would be fine...but 10 days in those cramped conditions...no way.

I disagree. You cant compare a dog to a human baby/child. Since when do we leave human kids home alone while we go to work, go out to dinner or the cinema, or even nip down to the shops for 10 minutes? Plus dogs are easier to train ;)

Thanks for all the replies. I really think we are going to take them. They are a part of our family and it would not be complete without them. No doubt we'll run into some places they just can't go but that's the sacrifices one pays for having dogs. The idea of putting them in boarding kennels just for a night or 2 while we may want to go into a national park is a good one. As for sneaking my small dog in well...he would most likely be in the motorhome asleep on the bed, when awake he is quiet as a mouse and hardly ever leaves my side. Hubby and I are a bit over rules when it's ok for governments to break them with mining, logging and un-neccasary burning off in National parks so we feel sneaking one tiny dog in is nothing compared to the environmental vandalism we are currently seeing with the Abbot government. Now I'll get off my soapbox! For those of you asking who we are hiring our motorhome through, that I will reveal later, AFTER our holiday. If we are happy I will gladly pass on the details.

I just looked on the map...will be picking it up East of Melbourne so will stick to that side I reckon. So warragul, Moe area...whats the Bunyip state park....and Moondarra state park, anyone familiar with these places? Dogs are allowed in state parks aren't they?

The 12 apostles? Do you mean the Great Ocean road? Because I have heard that you are not even allowed to let your dogs out of the car in some places, I dunno if that's true, hopefully someone will verify. Hmm Broken hill, now there's an idea, I do like outback places, but that is technically NSW and there's school hols in NSW at the time we are going....I think

Nah we'll probably keep to vic as their school hols will be finished by then and everywhere (hopefully) will be more peaceful. Oh and for anyone wondering...we are allowed to take the dogs in the motorhome, it's dog friendly.

We are hiring a motorhome in oct and I am wondering if I should take all my 3 dogs with me. Originally we planned on taking just the small one but I will miss the other 2 boof heads so much it will spoil my holiday. On the other hand I dont want to be stuck because dogs are not allowed anywhere. Just one small one would be easy to sneak in somewhere that doesn't allow dogs (inside the motorhome), but the big ones...not so easy. All 3 of my dogs are very well behaved, I doubt they will be an issue, I am more worried that we will be limited where we can go with them. For other options we went and inspected a boarding kennel here the other day and I could not believe how small the space is. And this is a well known and respected kennel facility. We have no set itinerary, just pick up the motorhome and hit the road for 10 days....so can anyone recommend good dog friendly places. We dont usually like staying in caravan parks, The motorhome is set up to be self sufficient. We like peace and quiet, bushwalking and wild, windswept beaches. I am torn...take them or use the boarding kennel...or risk it and just take all 3? Arghh help

Boarding kennels should take puppies after they have all of their vaccinations (around 16 weeks old). Once you get your dog and start going to puppy classes, obedience lessons, taking it to the dog park or just walking with it you will meet other like minded people. You may then make doggie friends who might offer look after your dog when you go away and you in turn can look after theirs when they go away.

I have had a similar thing happen at a vets visit. Now when I phone to make the appointment I ask how much it will be, then after the appointment if the bill is more than I was quoted I will ask why.

Those beds are great...however my larger dogs would shred them to pieces on the first night If you read my earlier response about my blanket vandals you will know what I mean. So I decided to try something a little different...I used an old flannelet sheet, it has the flexibility which allowed me to tie it onto their trampoline bed, apparently my boxer can undo knots. So there's a sheet trashed, that was plan b. Plan c...warm coats. Good weather beater brand coat, nice and warm and soft...um no he also has the ability to undress himself...trash coat and for good measure drag it through some poo and water. Oh well, thinking about plan d. Come on summer

I agree. While it is interesting to hear others experiences and opinions on heart murmurs, read with interest but at the end of the day the vet is the one to listen to. He/she would know best.

Sorry, but you are just being plain rude. My partner and I are very responsible, dog loving people. We do our research. We have been doing research for a long time and we are ready and committed to taking care of her. I don't appreciate your judgmental attitude. She was weaned, vaccinated and micro chipped when we adopted her. She is friendly, obedient and genuinely well trained. I have grown up in a house with several different breeds of dogs and not one of them have ever had an aggression or health problem (mind you that includes a Siberian Husky and Pomeranian, both of which are known to have a tendency for aggression). We know what we are doing and I would appreciate it if you kept your negative attitude to yourself. We may be young, but we are smart enough to know what we will be handling. We are more than ready to give Kirby a life of love, friendship and good training. Yeah you tell em!! She is very cute. Would love to see more pics as she grows and look forward to hearing how she progresses with her training.

For all those of you that give your dogs blankets...how??? I wish I could give mine blankets. I've tried, they shred them to pieces then drag what's left of them through poo, mud, water. All this in one night. I finally gave up. There's only so many blankets in the world

aaaawwwwwww she is SOOOO cute looking forward to seeing more pics of her.

The dog in the 3rd pic looks like a pretty normal Chihuahua to me (unless I'm not seeing something?) The 4th pic really upset me. He is holding that dog like I would hold something distasteful, and looking at the poor dog in the same way. What a horrible man, what a horrible way to treat an animal Wish I hadn't looked either

if you worry that much about a puppy then god help you when you have a real child lol