minimax

You can add sheepskin slippers to this list too!

How do they work if it's not at all uncomfortable for the dog? If it goes across the nose I think it would have to cause some discomfort?

It sounds like most puppies would fail purely for being excitable and mouthy!

Oh that's a good idea. I happen to know where there are a lot of witches hats laying around if you need one *cough*

LOL I love it! That's one of those "be specific when you ask for something" moments

I know with my dogs, using a good brush like a furminator is much better than a rubber brush. If you think that's getting lots of hair off, grab a furminator and you'll get about 100 times more. I try and do my pugs daily (haha yeh right, who am I kidding, it's more like weekly ) and it really does cut down on shedding. So yes, get used to the white fluffy look, invest in some white clothes, but also invest in a furminator! Whats the difference between a furminator & a Mars Coat King in the way they work, & how are they different to a rake...are they suitable for double coated dogs like mine. I don't know, I've only ever had short hair dogs so don't know about long hair/double coated. A Google search should bring up a bit though, and I know the furminators do come for longer coats.

Budgetpetproducts tends to be really cheap, don't know their price for the large dog ones though.

If that's the actual way the test is written, with caps and bold on the negative responses, then it's psychologically designed to encourage the tester to "mark up" and give a more severe score than may be nececessary. Psych 101 - semiotics!

And an update today: THE MP leading a review of the state's companion animal laws has backed the RSPCA's use of controversial ''temperament tests'' to determine whether dogs are put down, despite a study showing many shelter staff across the sector are untrained and believe the tests are deficient. The rest is here: http://www.smh.com.au/national/mp-backs-rspca-over-use-of-controversial-kill-tests-20121009-27bcc.html

I was told over the phone by one of the companies (cant remember which one) that they do cover recurring conditions. I asked her to double check. Good job I did. They don't. The explanation I was given that, effectively, each year you are renewing your policy so the condition is then considered pre existing. Maybe that accounts for the price difference. Yep, that's the difference between Pet Plan and everyone else - Pet Plan covers conditions for more than a year and no one else does.

Max chases her own tail if Boston stops playing bite face poor thing, she started out as an only child and had to amuse herself LOL

OK, the packet says "Australian made" but I don't know if that's a phrase that means product of Australia, packed in Australia, or what. You could email them and ask if you were really concerned?

I'll grab my packet for you when I get home and see what it says.

Sometimes I think mine (12 months and 6 months )forget they are just playing. Especially when the younger one had more baby teeth I was often pulling chunks of dried blood out of the hair around the others neck, where he must have grabbed too tightly and hurt her. Sometimes one walks away with a scratch, but I don't think it's intentional. It's just bound to happen with those teeth and claws!

I had a series of vet visits over the span of months for Max when she was going through a UTI, but never thought to claim them as one illness. I wonder if they have a time limit on when you can claim.

Chicken is easy to get cheaply, as everyone has said. It's the red meat that's the hard one! I got 10kg of beef offcuts for $40 the other day from the butcher next to Aldi at North Strathfield (sorry, names and me don't mix :laugh: ), most butchers will happily bag up their offcuts for you, and mince them once they get to know you. Just the offcuts can be a bit fatty, but I adjust my guys diet accordingly and reduce the fat in other areas to make up for it (or make OH cut it all off). I can't get 60kg at once, my freezer isn't that big (plus as much as my Pugs would love it, they don't eat that much), but I easily get 10 or 20 kg at a time in my deep freezer.

I can relate! I had to take my winter sheets off this weekend, it was getting too hot in the bed with the two PugHeaters!

We always have to turn the TV up for "pug volume" then they eventually quiet down and I get mad because the TV is so loud :laugh:

OMG Yes!! I've never though of it before, but absolutely :laugh: You have to have sneeze breaks in the middle of bitey face! :laugh: yes! My pugs have to stop for sneeze AND snort breaks, and often drink breaks too (I think it comes with not having a nose)! But then they trot back to the lounge together and resume right where they left off.

The person who asked. It's just a discussion and something that does interest people. I'm always being asked what breeds my dogs are (all rescued from various pounds). It's called having a conversation about something that interests you :) :) It's also against the rules of DOL. Silly rule IMO. And one that's not enforced, so I wonder why it's even bothered to be a rule in the first place.

NotMidol, Do you mind telling me where you get you chicken parts for that price? I am paying much more then that. Boxer05, Baiada at Girraween (15 mins from Parramatta) has chicken at that price and sometimes cheaper depending on what specials they have: Sydney 13-15 Amax Ave Girraween NSW 2145 Mon-Fri 5:30am-4pm Sat 5am-1pm ph: 02 9842 1137 [email protected] It's well worth the drive even if you're not that close as long as you buy in bulk :-) At Lenerds Chickens I get frames at around 20 for $5, or more than 20 because they don't actually count how many they chuck in, last time it was closer to 30 for $5. Red Lea chickens has wings for $2 a kg as well. Both have stores all over place.

I get all my treats from http://australianpettreatcompany.com.au/ They have extra large bully sticks for big dogs too! http://australianpettreatcompany.com.au/products/Beef-Whizzers-EXTRA-LARGE-Pet-Treats-1-kg.html

The person who asked. It's just a discussion and something that does interest people. I'm always being asked what breeds my dogs are (all rescued from various pounds). It's called having a conversation about something that interests you :) :) It's also against the rules of DOL.

My two play bitey face constantly, the noises that come out of them are hilarious. I should record the sound sometime, it sounds like feeding time at the zoo, lol

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/rspca-criticised-over-claims-test-to-decide-fate-of-dogs-is-misused-20121008-279b7.html THE RSPCA has been forced to defend a "temperament test" used to decide whether dogs are re-homed or euthanased, amid claims the assessment is being misused and animals are not given the best chance at life. The RSPCA euthanased more than 4800 dogs in NSW last financial year, about 40 per cent of dogs brought in. More than 60 per cent of those were euthanased due to "behavioural" problems. The overall rate of dogs killed far exceeds some council pounds that work with "no-kill" animal rescue groups, such as Muswellbrook (3.7 per cent) and Wyong (12 per cent). Late yesterday, the RSPCA released to the Herald a copy of its behavioural assessments, otherwise known as "temperament tests", after initially refusing the request on confidentiality grounds. Advertisement It showed dogs are scored negatively for behaviour such as barking, trembling and jumping. Those that accrue more than 100 points are deemed "unsuitable for adoption". An RSPCA spokeswoman said the document was used as a "guide", and options such as rehabilitation, behaviour modification and foster care were investigated before euthanasia. But the Principal of Lawyers for Companion Animals, Anne Greenaway, said so-called aggressive behaviours were often exhibited by animals that were "terrified". "It's a lack of proactive measures to try and save animals, rather than put in the monumental effort that rescue groups do, the RSPCA appears to find it easier to kill [them]," Ms Greenaway said. She believes the RSPCA was ''threatened'' by other animal welfare groups with which it competed for funding and donations, and often would not work in collaboration with them. She described its approach to animal management as "lazy and apathetic compared to other groups", citing th low numbers of cats and dogs advertised for adoption on its website. Several animal rescue groups contacted by the Herald reported the RSPCA had not responded to offers to release dogs into their care for potential re-homing. Nathan Barnes, a former RSPCA employee and animal behaviour expert who claimed to have helped devise the behavioural test, said it was used incorrectly. "The idea of the temperament test was not to fail the dog; it was to discover what the actual true behaviour is,'' he said. ''After the results of the test, you need to carry out rehabilitation if it's required, which is not happening, then reassess the dog." Mr Barnes said the tests were often carried out under the wrong conditions, such as assessing a dog before it had adjusted to the pound environment. The RSPCA NSW chief executive, Steve Coleman, said a dog that displays "overt aggression" towards a person or other animal "will likely be deemed unsuitable for placement". He rejected claims the RSPCA was unwilling to collaborate with other animal welfare organisations, adding that "discussions have been undertaken, and continue to be undertaken, with a number of community-based rescue groups". He said the organisation relied on shelter staff and volunteers to photograph animals available for adoption, and staff often had more pressing duties. He denied that behaviour assessments were conducted while animals were still settling in, and said rehabilitation was considered in light of the animal's background, behaviour in the shelter and "available rehabilitation opportunities". The RSPCA also helped dogs find a new home through a state-wide foster care network and other programs, he said.