Salukifan

Navy blue shoe cream.

I think the clearly obvious answer to what tradies do with their dogs when in Bunnings is the same for everyone. Leave them at home. They're not animated rear tray decorations and quite frankly a lot of them would be better off at home out of the elements during the working week.

Sadly, it was only a matter of time. Distracted dog owners + distracted parents + low general level of dog knowledge = accidents. Shame really, it would have been great for puppy socialisation but my guess is it won't last.

Someone forgot to tell my dogs. Didn't like it at all. Provided you feed variety, I can't see how a dog would get 'addicted'. It's not an ideal meat for dogs anyway - too lean.

Gawd, what breed is this? French Bulldog?

You know, sometimes it's not about you or your dog. Some people simply aren't interested in having their dogs interact with strange dogs on walks. I'm one of them. A dog straining on a leash screaming is not a dog I'm interested in getting closer to when I walk multiple dogs or the little old dogs. The dog might be friendly but its an interaction I'm going to avoid regardless. So don't take it personally. :) I'd not get closer to a dog quietly heeling along beside its owner either.

I wouldn't have signed one on those terms in the first place. But they aren't all like that.

Probably better for the dog that they went at it with spades and not heavy equipment. Wonder how the wombat is doing...??

If she is still lean, I'd keep her on the puppy food. It has a higher fat content. I"m not a fan of canned food - its mostly water. You could always try adding some fresh mince and also try chicken wings - my dogs love them. I feed Royal Canin and I have an extremely fussy boy. Have you tried it? If she's active and lean, I'd not fuss though unless you can see all her ribs and spine - she's probably still filling out.

Yes, I am a Committee Member of the Whippet Club of NSW. The club is focussed on specialty shows but also has an active rescue service. We attend events like Dog Lovers to promote the breed and there is also interest in expanding activities to provide more for pet owners. However, like all clubs, we are limited by the availability of volunteers. As a State club, members are spread throughout NSW (and elsewhere) which complicates things further.

I would recommend avoiding the dog park like the plague and starting your dog off with NONREACTIVE (i.e. neither friendly, nor aggressive) dogs UNLESS you know the dog and owner well. I'm not one for tossing a dog in the deep end with unknown dogs - it may be profoundly stressful for your dog AND that reaction may provoke others to be aggressive. Personally, I'd be letting dog and your wife heal and talking to a professional trainer about how to manage the aftermath of the attack. But don't put your dog at risk by tossing her into the deep end at the dog park.

Very sorry for your loss. It is never easy.

In my experience, the term "staghound" tends to be applied to any dog larger than a terrier but smaller than a "wolfhound" that has a wire coat. Most of them are pigging mixes.

If you want a pup, get a purebred Sighthound. That way you'll know what you're getting. No guarantee that a "lurcher" pup will grow up to look like the type of dog you want - and no guarantee it will have a particular temperament either. Otherwise, I'd be looking for a rescue dog. I'd start with the Pet Rescue website.

Their level of prey drive. If they are "true terriers" they will have it in spades and owners need to be aware of it. Same as sighthounds. Its what they were bred to do. Most dogs will kill a small animal given the chance. We haven't bred the hunter out of them. My poodles have presented me with mice and on one occasion a rat

Breathe deep. People are trying to help but this is never easy when you are the person who has to make the call. I've lost two dogs in the last 12 months. Before I had to confront this I decided that if a dog could not eat, drink and toilet for itself, that would be time. My oldest girl cannot make it up the back steps but is still enjoying life. With Herbie, he stopped eating. My approach with food was enough to make him beat a retreat. It was time. I recommend you discuss this with your vet but I will leave you with the one thing I've learned from talking about this with other pet owners: I have NEVER heard a person lament that they made the decision to give a pet their wings too early. I have have heard quite a few who know that they left the decision too late. Let it happen when your boy is still himself. You might be sorry at first but you won't be in the longer run.

My pleasure. Best spectator dog sport ever IMO :D Looking forward to watching coursing in threes next year!

*flutters into thread spreading fairy dust* Here, with a wave of my wand and with the power of Utube, you can! The Sighthounds run first, followed by CAT dogs. There are some crackers in both categories! If any one has questions about the dogs, they each have their entry number on the bottom right of the video. Any wear marks at 9:46 are from me watching Dodger LOL I think the course length was about 550m - and some of the little dogs just eat that! It's educational to watch the varying breed running styles. At the point Whippets are at full pace (quite quickly),the big guys are still gathering it. Of course this is a short course for a Saluki - they don't really hit it until about 800m I'm told. The Beagle is just awesome!

Totally. :) I just thought I'd offer an explanation as to why some larger sighthound owners might not go.

I don't think those larger sighthounds would be hitting full stride in 100 metres - they'd still be winding up!!

Awwwww crap. I'm so very sorry.

That way might be a behavioral consult.

Back in a past life on DOL, I was about about as anti clipping double coats as you could get. These days its more a case of "meh, as long as the dog is comfortable". If you want to trash your dog's coat, sure beats it being matted. But lets apply some common sense to the clipping. The primary area of heat loss for a dog is through its stomach. There's a reason hot dogs wallow and go belly up to cool.) So why clip the back which is prone to sunburn. (You can follow the logic through to weighing the benefits of cool coats v mats also). Do what horse people have been doing for centuries. Use a trace clip. Dog has some protection from the elements (the idea of a clipped dog kept outdoors does horrify me) but still has the hair gone where it will do the most good. Here's a pic of a trace clip.

If Ernie retrieves he has prey drive - we've modified it in gundogs (and herding dogs)

Interesting article on Sighthound psychology http://www.davidhancockondogs.com/archives/archive_729_789/777.html