Steph M

Possibly silly question. Eek! At what point would it be appropriate to start titre testing? Instead of 12month vaccs or after (be it 1 or 3 years, in place of the next vacc) I'm so totally braindead today. Can't even google.

One careered headfirst into my knee while running around at great speed with one of my guys at the beach the other day. That's the limit of my experience but the bruise I have is almighty and his grin was epic. He just shook off and kept running. He did look a lovely happy dog though. Poor girl who owned him was telling me (while I was admiring/lamenting how strong he was) that he loves kids and is very gentle with them but parents always shoo him off. He seemed cool I can see why you'd be loyal :)

We've had a good mix as kids, a handfull of crosses from small to large but our first PB dog sold me, he was an English Setter, the ultimate kids dog. Happy to tag along, cuddle or entertain himself. He was easy. I loved his temp and his build, but he was very very placid and never paid much attention to toys and was an awful swimmer (lol, he would swim out with you to save you, then panic and have to be carried back in in a panic) I wanted something more in line with mine and my partners personalities, so we got a flattie. That says a bit about us...He's fab and a perfect fit for us as we are and if we had kids we would be hard pressed to find a better mate, but the bloat and cancer just leave me cold. I'd like another setter, have seriously considered a Brittany and a Frenchie, A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling ret, a Tibbie and an Aussie (did come dangerously close to an Aussie before Rosie showed up) I saw a flattie in a park in Yarraville at about 16? She raced up and threw herself in my lap and I thought that is the dog for me when I 'grow up'. I waited a really long time after moving out, I got myself ready and then a litter would come up at a bad time etc etc. I feel like Gus has been a cosmic intervention almost 10 years in the making. Rosie is a whole other story, I always thought I wouldn't own a sighthound or x. Lovely dogs but never thought they suited as as we will always have cats, and always love our off leash runs etc etc, so just kind of wrote them off but she's great. Very busy but easy settled with a good run, naughty but responsive and so so snuggly. Might reconsider that but wouldn't want to ruin a good thing.

Oh I feel for you! Sounds like my MIL Dropped her off at the station this morning, back to 'starving' the poor dears They eat a little too well under my ungodly rein anyway, IMO. Now to quietly dispose of the Lucky Dog bikkies. Ick!

Mum lives around the corner so we will be there. Keep an eye out for a big black clunking flattie and a mishmash whippet x! Would love to meet some of you! :D

There's just the two of us, and if Brooke eats it I'll be in danger of dying laughing! We call it 'cat candy' in our house. Disgusting but once I spotted him getting it from the source...like a soft serve machine. Cat is so tolerant...

We're trying the Tabasco sanga today. Will keep you all posted. Found motion sensing single beep alarms online, that's next. Hopefully we don't get there, if she starts at night I'll probably have a heart attack.

Gus does this. Oh it's vile! And then he just wants to kiss...

Maybe a can of air could be rigged into an air freshener sprayer? I was thinking an alarm, but would have to look for one with a single bleep not ongoing, we might be very unpopular! Very funny! Pugs have a lot of spunk and seem to love their food, bet he/she wasn't to be trusted again!

It's not even always food, it's things that interest her. Can be clothing, boxes, a garden pot..haha. I like the image of an IG scoffing a muffin, dogmad! Haha! And Stan is just my hero. I bet he spends his days cursing out that door and trying to will it open! Haha.

Yes, that was my thinking. Certainly not heaps. I don't touch the stuff, way too hot for me! Haha. I'll plant some irresistables for her.

I was thinking of lining the floor with towels, but good point. I didn't think Tabasco or chilli sauce could do much harm in a small small quantity? Perhaps double sided tape or something loud.

Yes she has that aspect of it, and has that sighthound clever too! Good fun though! Glad she's not the only one. If nothing else I'll have a clean kitchen, I'll have that to thank her for. I might try something hot or wet. She isn't much for getting wet either.

That's the next step. Will have to arrange it when we go our for dinner tonight. Knowing my luck she'll just sleep quietly and I'll look like a loon instead. Hahaha!

Absolutely, I worry about just that. Especially as it's when we aren't home so something happens and we won't know til later. If outside has to be it, then so be it. Was just wondering if anyone had any good fixes we could try with an empty bench to discourage it all over. I've read trays of water, bottles of vinegar, motion sensing alarms (would have to find one which shrills once!) leaving a bowl of chillies...water would probably be a detterent for her but the chilli might be a bit much, Gus would love it. The laundry also has a big bench which usually houses washing so that looks to be something we might need to re-jig. At least it's warming up!

I did really consider this or one of those cat zapping mats but she's a sensitive super softy. Probably ok for Gus who has the pain tolerance of a rhino, would be like poprocks for him.

I think you might be right, though I am loath to think where we'll find the storage for the kettle and toaster etc! She's only been with us a fortnight, I think she's just finding her naughty feet! Haha.

What do you do to stop countersurfing when you’re not home? Rosie is showing herself to be a pro counter-surfer when we’re not home. Was just food the day before yesterday, she stole a loaf of fruit bread. Naughty girl. So I put all the food up and left nothing edible on the bench. Brooke’s mother left a box of dog bikkies and a packet of nuts and a few eggs out when we went out yesterday and we came home to them perfectly intact and untouched but random things taken outside, including a 500gm can of tomatoes (label intact and undamaged, no toothmarks, a mystery )a bottle of water, (unplugged) powerboard, roll of glad wrap and a jar of thyme, all were outside slightly chewed but otherwise intact. These had been taken from around the dog bikkies and eggs etc, so I think her motivation really is just general opportunistic stealing, rather than the classic shelter dog appetite, though that is pretty impressive too. Of course she only does it when we’re not home and it’s totally self-rewarding, they don’t lack toys or bones or interactive treat toys, kongs etc she just takes things, will do it from the bedroom too but the baby gate solves that problem. The bench however can’t be sectioned off or closed down and I like to give them house access as she really feels the cold/heat etc and I wouldn’t want to leave a coat on her all day or anything. I could lock them out entirely as a last resort but would rather solve the issue if we can. Anyone have any helpful suggestions or ideas? As I said, locking her out is a last resort really. Would like to nip it in the bud now while it’s a new thing. Thanks in advance, DOL! ;)

Major point of contention in this house. Haha. I'm with you, that NSW bred boyfriend of mine is a weirdo :laugh:

Perfectly said. Exactly my POV too.

Brooke's mother has been staying with us since Wednesday and I'm quietly losing my shit. She's a lovely woman and I adore her but she's shocking with the dogs, she's been letting them on her bed at night, so they consequently think ours is ok too, I mentioned this too her and she looked hurt, but rules is rules. And the feeding! Good god the feeding! She clucks around cooing to them 'are you hungry? you look hungry!' (Rosie the whippet x is of course too skinny, we met two really fat whippets at the park and she thought they looked perfect, despite the owner saying they were recent additions and very very fat. (Her dogs look like coffee tables too. 3 x JRT crosses who are built more like staffies) The dogs usual diet consists of 3 cups of kibble for Gus and 1.5/2 for Rosie. A RMB for lunch or a chicken frame or something like that, it's enough and neither are fat etc. They have sardines, yoghurt or egg on dinner and usually get some table scraps too. The other day they had that PLUS (unbeknownst to me, as I was at work) a second serve of kibble for breakie, a second bone, a slice of buttered fruit toast, umpteen lucky dog bone treats (her purchase, going in the bin when she leaves)a bowl each of leftover mashed potato, 2 pigs ears each and a monte carlo each. I had to say to her 'just because they're in the kitchen with you or watching you eat doesn't mean they're starving, they actually eat a little too well under me and the extra weight to carry will do them no favours developmentally' Needless to say they're both sucking up for food now too, which we had nipped in the bud. Only a few days left, thank baby jesus.

That line right there would mean I would never go to one unless there is no other choice at all - scary! Yep. You wouldn't ever even catch me dead in one of those places. Me neither and I worked for one for a short time. All the more reason, I gather. Ick.

Snipers throwing rocks of their own. Little dipshits!

Actually I have the exact same problem! He knows not to jump up on me and my family members but I've been struggling to train him to not jump on strangers. Argh. That does happen, I find myself disciplining people more than the canines. Hahaha.

I would think that might make the general public less likely to hand them in. If poor fluffy is found wandering the streets some gentle soul might put up some flyers or ask around but couldn't bear sending her to the pound, and having her scanned means just that what happens if they're miles from home or the flyers are missed or owners out of town? I would rather my dog be picked up, scanned/tag read and myself contacted by whoever found them or a local vet, but if they'd lost their collars etc and the vet had to impound them then I would much rather pay the fine and be done with that chapter than they just be kept by the finder out of perceived kindness. I agree totally that it sucks and is bureaucratic horseshit, it works so hard against animal owners and businesses.