Kaffy Magee

I used to use the public dog wash baxknim vic and could do 2 grown bullmastiffs and a grown dobe in ten minutes but I just brought towels to dry them because the dryer was crap. Now I just use a hose since I live in qld and the weather is warmer or if I'm in s hurry or it's a bit chilly in winter I'll I use the dog wash. I used to have a brand new hydrobath and dryer and sold them hardly used because I never got around to plumbing the bath in, regretting getting rid of them now. I'll have to buy another I think.

Not sure if this has been posted before but I thought it was great. Whilst it promoted adopting a shelter dog it also supported registered breeders. Thought others may like it too http://blacksheepcardigans.com/ruff/general/how-to-kill-a-shelter-dog/

I never had a dog growing up despite desperately wanting one, only had cats. As soon as I moved out at 16 I got a puppy and two kittens( real sensible lol). My love for dogs has evolved and while I like cats and will always have them my heart lies with dogs. I have one cat at the moment but am in the process of looking for a Birman kitten. Never had a pedigree cat before, so I'm excited!

Im always thiking about future breeds I might own oneday and one I admire is the Malamute and would like to learn more. I have a few questions. What are they like to live with? Are they constantly on the go, wrecking things, digging up the yard and howling? I live in QLD, would a malamute be able to go for a jog/ride on warm/hot days? (obviously not in the middle of the day heat). Can anyone explain the coat preparation involved for showing a malamute? I plan to move to a couple of acres in 12-24 months and will be looking at adding a more active in body and mind, medium/large breed dog to the family. I currently have Bullmastiffs plus little dogs but I also want something a little more active. Ive had dobes and may very well choose another but also looking at other breeds (Malamutes, german Shepherd, samoyed, keeshond, boxer). Thanks

Bullmastiffs only come in 3 colours. Fawn Brindle and Red. Reds and Fawns are most popular, brindles arent as common. Not too many brindles are shown either, It is harder to win with a brindle. I personally dont have a favourite, I have reds and fawns but love a nice deep rich brindle, and fingers crossed I'll get one in my litter next year!

Toys: Hard one, because I like lots of group 1 dogs. Pug, papillon, Min pin (or pom, griffon or chinese crested) Terriers: Amstaff, Jack russell, stafford Gun Dogs: American cocker, Gordon Setter, Springer Spaniel Hounds: Afghan, Basenji, Ridgeback (or mini smooth dachshund) Working: German Shepherd, Kelpie, Aussie shep Utility: Now this I struggle with picking just 3 because I LOVE group 6 dogs. Bullmastiff, Dobermann and Malamute (or samoyed, boxer or newfie,lol) Non Sporting: Keeshond, Boston, Toy poodle

Just wanted to say I got my boys renewal policy in the mail today and rang medibank and confirmed that as an existing policy holder he is still covered for 100% of vet bills( minus 500 excess). However he said that he can't guarantee that will last in following years. The 80% coverage is for new customers or current customers who want to change their policy. ETA oh and it went up about $4. which better than what Pet Insurance Australia did when I was with them, they almost doubled my premium and I hadn't even claimed anything! Hence why I am not with them anymore.

I often see adverts for bullmastiff as ' bull mastive'. Usually advertised by the feral rednecks that my breed seems to attract and often crossed with other 'mastive' breeds, staffies or 'great dames'.

Ohhhh, der Sounds like a good idea...I might send them an email and see what they say. I honestly couldnt believe this club. They try and make everyone do it "their" way. Not what works best for the dog and handler and I just couldnt believe how quick she was to put a halti on the cattle dog puppy and then to see all but one, wearing them. Im sure haltis have their place but I can guarantee most if not all those dogs didnt need one. Just a quick fix imo. Anyways I will be sure to hang aorund in here, theres lots to learn!

Thanks Corvus.... Weve been working on "focus" and he is doing quite well. Nekh I dont know anyone with dogs in my area much less toy mad ones. None of mine have ever been in to toys or tugs. Everynow and then I'll try and play with him with a toy and he'll wave his head around in play, grab it softly, then spit it out instantly losing interest,lol. Would love to try lure coursing! Dont think its available anywhere near me though, would have to travel for that one. Im taking a break from the show ring with him for a litle while so I want to get him started on the obedience, maybe have go at agility and would really like to attempt some tracking one day. Its not the done thing with mastiff breeds, which makes me want to do it even more. I also have a bitch at home, the one thats very food driven. I thought I would see how she goes with some obedience. She has never done anything, other than show stuff and a bit of informal heeling and drop. But she was sooooo into it, heeling perfectly, very focussed on me, so I'll continue on with her aswell and see how we go. Thanks again

Nekh Im not sure they would allow me to train in with them everynow and then for "tweaking" unless I paid my $100 and did the 6 week course. They are also on their own grounds too I think, so I dont think I could just go along and train next to them as if it were public land. I'll check out some videos though. Aussielover, Im not %100 sure how they were rewarding the dogs that were using clickers. When I first noticed the clickers I dont recall seeing anyone treat their dog after clicking, but I wasnt really paying attention too much to what they were doing. No one had treat pouches on from memory though. I might take some video of Chase and I soon and post it up to get some feedback, but we do really need to try it under distraction first.

In went outside after my post to see if I could get him worked up a bit and I'm pleased to say it was successful to a degree. The problem with that though is he gets exhausted much quicker and then stops responding as well as he was because he is worn out,lol. I'll keep working on it, I'm pleased with how he did though, seemed much more "alive" and willing to work. Thanks for the info I would love to go to a k9pro workshop one day. Imissed the recent ones here in qld but maybe next time!

A little while ago I emailed the local obedience club about classes. I really want to trial my boy and figured he could do with the experience of training alongside other dogs and distractions, which may not even be an issue. I explained what experience I have and how much my dog knows and I was told I had to do a 6 week basic course for $100 and then could do normal classes for $5 a session. Anyway I left it because I refuse to pay $100 for me and my dog to be "taught" stuff we already know and are beyond. Anyway tonight I went along without dog just to watch. They had two classes , the beginners and the advanced. There was a young boy with a young cattle dog and it had a bark and a bit of a snap at another dog. Next thing the instructor is whisking it off and fits it with a halti! Then I hear her say " he was being dominant" and "now he realizes he's not in control". as he was trying to get it off. Anyway the instructor drags the dog off and around the place so as not to give it a chance to fight the halti. I ask the boys the mother sitting next to me how long they have been coming and she said it was their first night! It was then I noticed that all but one dog in the beginners class had haltis on the next thing I noticed was there was no food rewarding. I asked the lady next to me about the no treats( and no toys either) and she said they arent allowed to have them. As the night went on I watched these miserable bored confused little creatures get dragged around by their faces, pushed into sits and not a word of praise, not a happy voice to be heard, no reward for what they were doing and not one looked happy, like it was enjoying itself, no tails wagging, nothing. I also noticed in the advanced group they all had clickers, which I have no problem with clicker training but he fact they all had them makes me think they have to use them. Anyway I asked the lady next to me who also shared my concerns, about the training club in the next town, 25minutes away as I would have gone there but apparently it's run by the same people. as you can probably guess I won't be joining. However what do I do? The next closest club is over an hour away. I am really keen to trial but it's really not practical or economical or even possible to travel that far every week. Has anyone trialled their dog without going to obedience classes? Can one learn what's required for more advanced obedience from videos? I'm really disappointed, i think being part of a club is extremely beneficial. I'm no expert and would need further guidance in the more advanced stuff. Does anyone have any ideas?

When I had my dobe, he was fun to train and after a bit of reading I started training in drive and it was awesome, with awesome results. I used a toy/tug because it got better results than food. Now Bullmastiffs are very different to dobes and at this stage not "fun" to train,lol. How do you get drive in a dog thats not that drivey to start with? I have a female bullmastiff who would do back flips for food (but not toys/tugs) but Im not training her, Im focussing on my 18mth old boy. He "performs" for food, but its not much fun and he isnt the type to get excited about toys or tugs either. So whats the solution? You dont see many bullmastiffs in obedience because they just arent the sort of breed that thrives on it. They learn something and they dont want to repeat it over and over and then after 10 minutes theyv'e had enough, which is fine as I mix it up and keep to short sessions. Im keen to compete with my boy, but I want that fire in his eyes and for him to look like he is enjoying it and getting something out of it. Is that asking too much of some dogs or should all dogs be able to train in drive?

Laeral, from what I have read Pet Plan are still %100 cover. I hope it doesnt change.

I'd like to know that too. My boy is with Medibank, we signed up when it was %100 cover. Its about to run out so would like to know if I stay with them will it stay at %100 cover or not. If it doesnt I'll go to pet plan, more expensive but atleast %100 cover which is what I want.

Thanks for the info Oso. I had to give my boy the implant for medical reasons. Originally was going for the 6 mth implant then when it came to it, the specialist pretty much told me me, hes decided on the 12 mth and I went with it, because with everything going on, my head was all over the place and I hadnt had time to actually sit and think it out. Im regretting the 12 mth implant, especially now after reading your update. Its been 3 months now since the implant, his testes have shrunk but not as small as I was expecting. Do you think they are likely to get smaller as time goes on, or should that be it now? My boys behaviour has changed. He IS lazier, he is not as happy, excitable and out there like he used to be, which I really miss and he is also not as confident as he used to be. He is very well socialised but now some things he reacts to that he never would have prior to implant. He is not "nervy" just not %100 percent confident like he used to be. I have read that castration/implant can have an affect on dogs like that. Im also concerned that he was given the implant at 14 mths old, no where near mature. Obviously its going to have an affect on him maturing fully whilst the implant is in. Do you think once it wears off he will start to mature again, once producing testosterone again? I have heard of larger dogs having the implant wear off sooner than the 12 mths, I can only hope that will be the case with my boy, then again my next worry will be whether the "problem" that required the implant in the first place has settled down. I just cant wait to have my "old" dog back. I still love him like he is I just miss the old him.

I wa sgoing to send in a couple of entries but I just got my roster and I now have to work both days

Ive just started using it. they had their second dose a couple pof days ago. M papillon ahs a flea allergy, so was scratching like mad. After I gave comfortis, it killed the fleas but he continued to scratch like crazy. I did find a couple more fleas on him but they were dead, so I figured they were in the environmet and still jumping on him and biting hence him still scratching but then dying. After about the 3-4 week mark he stopped scratching and was fine BUT as soon as I gave him another dose of comfortis (I hadnt notcied fleas, just wanted to keep on with the preventative) he strated scratching like crazy again but no fleas All the other dogs, and I have 6 all up, are fine, no issues, but it seems to be making my boy scratch, even though it says it treats flea allergy dermatitis too. So I dont know

Thank you all for your suggestions! I did consider a cot mattress but after measuring one in the shop I felt it wasnt as wide as I needed, so thought I would go for a proper dog bed. As it turns out a lady was selling a cot mattress on a buy sell facebook page yesterday for cheap so I went and bought it. It will do the job for now, but its really not as wide as I'd like. One dog fits on ok, length ways, but they hang off the egdes if there is two on it. I might go and have a look at the foam mattresses in Clark Rubber too. If I find something better the cot mattress will still get used, Ill just put it in one of the other rooms for the dogs. Cheers,

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dog-Bed-X-X-Large-Comfy-new-extra-durable-bed-great-Floor-kennel-and-tramp-/300616543872?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item45fe246e80 Just wondering if anyone has bought one? If so, what was the quality like, of the cover and the filling? Did the filling compact down to nothing like some beds do? And what does the cover feel like? Is canvasy or softer? Not so keen on the colours but like the dimensions. Will also pop into Clark Rubber tomorrow and price similar sized foam, but then I would have to make a cover and that probably wouldnt turn out well,lol. I also like these: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MOJO-Doggie-Maxi-Dog-Bed-/170720671361?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item27bfbeb681 Dimensions arent as big though. Has anyone got one of these? What are they like? I either want one x large dog bed that will fit 2 bullmastiffs on it at a time or two smaller beds, that I can then stack on top of eachother when not in use, which is probably the better option, so as not to take up too much room all the time. Must have removable covers and be easy to keep clean. Any other ideas??

I'd get an oztrail compact gazebo(2.4 x 2.4) with wall kit if you want to sleep in it. The compacts fold down real small and light enough carry. I have a compact but I don't sleep in it. I bought it because my big gazebo is too bloody heavy and doesnt fit in my car too well although when i do takeint oil one I camp in it because its big enough, very sturdy and the wall kit very thick and waterproof. I also bought a 2 person pop up tent to sleep in when I take my compact gazebo. It's very light pops up instantly, no poles and folds down flat in to a disc shape instantly. You'd need a mattress or a camp stretcher, the fold down fairly small. I can't set up either of my gazebos by myself but have seen people mention they can set up the compact on their own. Having said that most people are happy to help you out if you need it

Yep, Im another with a list of names for future pups....glad to see Im not the only one. Ive got a list for the 2 pups I plan to keep out of my next litter and a list for the pug puppy I plan to add ot the family in the next 12 or so months,lol.

LizT, Schipps can be born without a tail

Will send in a couple of entries this week for both days