Steph M

I can attest too for buying from a DOL-listed breeder. Our dog (not a shiba) is fabulous and everything we wanted. The breeder knew who we were, what we wanted in a dog and has picked so well for us it's almost spooky how well Gus slots in! Plus despite being in another state the puppies are everywhere so we get a few sibling playdates and the support aspect that comes with it is really excellent.

Gus has the cheese one, it reeks to high hell but he loves it. He does try to grab it sometimes on the fly but I've never thought of him popping the ball out, it's hard enough to turn sometimes I imagine that would take a lot of force! He loves it though. Great for things like loose lead walking that you can have it there and they don't have to stop. Rosie is much more delicate with it, I find it much easier to carry too. I always have a handbag full of the dregs over liver treats etc.

We had one woman telling us how fab a school here in melb is, and we're doing our dogs a disservice by going to any other. I said thanks politely but we have a school organised, so she proceeded to call her dog over and show us how obedient he was. Dog totally ignored her, I felt very smug :D

Perhaps you could start your own get togethers in the mean time? Can you rent the equippment or know someone clever with carpentry? It sucks, It truly sucks. We've just had to ditch daycare, find a new obedience club and even a new hydrobather if we go down that route. That's before even finding a vet to do it. Ridiculous!

We'll be grabbing a jar of this next week. I'd love to try it. I think our guys are in pretty good nick but certainly can't hurt in that case! Will take before and after shots!

That's a whole other issue, I'm coming up against that a bit here too. Of those that care to answer one vet has asked what it was I wanted as he'd never done such a thing. Wrote him off quick smart.

Loving the banana fiends! We have two of those too! Also Tibbies are such cool dudes. Hahaha.

I wonder if different livers taste different. I picked up chicken liver cheap at the supermarket and he won't touch it but maybe he'll try lambs liver? I've been meaning to get some (haven't had lambs fry in ages!) so maybe I'll see if he feels differently about it. He eats better then me :laugh: He turned his nose up at canned salmon but when I got some fresh salmon he couldn't get enough of it. I'd actually been dreading the whole raw feeding thing but it's actually been interesting reading all the different thoughts on it and trying things out with Hansel. Jeeeeeez! I hardly buy raw salmon for us unless we're at the market and it's fresh enough to justify the cost! Can I come live with you? FWIW my two garbage guts dogs won't touch liver either.

I'd quite like to make an appearance with our clowns to have a look about. Any info links or anything? ETA found it! http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=pdf/477/67.pdf&siteID=18&str_title=Frankston%20City%20News%20-%20Pets%20Day%20Out.pdf Rosie would so love a crack at the lure and obstacle course!

Might I be super nosy and ask where from? That sounds excellent! He has a butcher in Kew, cant remember the name of it but he has to buy large lots so it takes a bit of co-ordination from his friends as well. Maybe if you just ask your local butcher if they'd be willing to get large lots in for you. Might do some grovelling!

When I rang the vets I had all this info up on the screen right in front of me (about vetpath ect). I asked to talk to the actual vet rather than the receptionist and still got quoted the above prices. My vet still insists they need vacc every year. Yes I may consider another vet Steph but there are only 3 vet clinics in my hometown. Perhaps you could ask if they could take the blood and you could arrange the shipping or something? Not sure if they would ok that but that seems absurd to me! Maybe call vetpath have an online 'how to register' page and you could offer that to them for their perusal. Haha. No idea! Sorry! I didn't realise you were short of options, silly me! I should read more thoroughly...

Actually, I've thought of that one! The dobermans usually walk early mornings, the mastiff late arvo, that maremma is usually on the lead now (that was a mongrel!). But... they vary a lot. I keep waiting for the horses to stomp invading dogs, but the girls in the closest paddock are good. They mostly just look. I guess my reply is a bit late, but I would install an offset strand of electrified high tensile wire on nose height on the outside and really juice it up. Like bull strength. Don't forget one of those little yellow electric fence signs ;) Cheap and, in my experience, highly effective. Actually, BlackJaq, that's what I did! I've got a good strong electric wire to keep my dogs off the fence, but I'd need to clear a lot of scrub to do the outside as well. I did, however, put a nose-height strand along the horse paddock. It seems to have worked really well on those dobermans! It's also zapped a couple of nuisance teenagers trying to come in and feed the horses. They can't read the signs :D Hope it was at crotch height, hit em where it hurts

It does even out fairly well as a triennial thing. Still, 200 is a big whack. Even so the vets all recommend vaccinating EVERY year. So I start to get nervous when my dogs are way overdue and there is Parvo in the area. One does not know who to believe...the vets themselves or random people on a forum. What about titre triennially? My vet is happy to vacc every 3. If you suggest it and they won't even consider it I'd be looking for a new vet personally!

It does even out fairly well as a triennial thing. Still, 200 is a big whack.

+1. Rules are for all or none.

She sounds like loads of fun though. I wouldn't change the hard work for anything. Bloody dog geniuses!

I'm a derp and didn't realise this thread was started last year (as pointed out to me ) But this is on again this Sunday if anyone is in the area! Derp moment. My work is incredibly quiet this week, sigh.

Sounds like a great plan of attack to me! Good on you!

Keep us posted, better to know for sure rather than drive yourself mad. I know you've had a rough trot, we're all behind you so do keep us posted! Sure it'll be nothing serious and you can have a laugh after! :)

Nappies? Did he steal any away? Could be an obstruction, could be anything. I'd give the vet a call and ask if they think you should bring him in. I would be off to get a check in that situation.

And I'm quite happy with my happy waggy poopeater too!

Well we've planted a few tabasco sandwiches on the benches and all have disappeared but the ones this morning. I was fast enough to discover one left in the doorway this morning but the others are MIA... We set up a laptop on the bench with skype running and went into the other room with a cup of tea and left the sanga plants on the bench. We witnessed Rosie leap up and take one, jump back like it bit her and leave it. Enter Gus the Guts (Named after Augustus Gloop. Rookie mistake) and starts wagging his tail at the sight of discarded food (I’ve honestly never seen a dog wag his tail at unattended food before, but he’s a special one) took a lick, jumped back and then scoffed it anyway. So she’s learning fast and he’s developing a taste for hot chilli. Hahaha! Progress!

Do you use Vetpath? My vet is in the process of getting a quote from them for a titre test. If it wouldn't be so nosy would you mind sharing when you get it? We're thinking it's the way to go but having trouble with a suitable vet.

Might I be super nosy and ask where from? That sounds excellent!

No fleas? Silly question but some dogs really flare up in areas and underarms is a flea haven!