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Two Best Dogs!

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Everything posted by Two Best Dogs!

  1. Add your own food guard over about these areas would likely be more than sufficient. You don't needs to do up the sides like the greyhound person did, just the bottom areas so dog cannot smoosh face into the food and get that way. Tape between these gaps as an example: Still able to drink, relatively good airflow, can reward from above. Much like the UK yard muzzles for greyhounds, except those would not fit a staffie at all. Baskerville size 3 or maybe 4 would likely fit. Sorry Perse I REALLY hate the jafocs and my bias shows
  2. I disagree, the jafcos are absolutely shocking for airflow. The condensation from the dogs own mouth rebounds back on itself, the whole area heats up quick, it's not good for drinking through and near impossible to reward in. It's really bad for extended walks or anything of duration, especially in warm weather. Night time and cooler weathers possibly suitable but I wouldn't risk it person. Buying a good open muzzle and then filling in the gaps yourself necessary for the dog (it likely won't need as much as those poop eating greyhounds) allows much more airflow. Plus, if it restricts it too much the tape is easy enough to remove and start over. Jafcos....not much adjustment option at alls. (I really hate jafcos sorry!! any other muzzle but a jafco or those fabric bite restriction ones. so badly designed for activity)
  3. A muzzle is definitely your most reliable way, because if your attention flags or dog is offlead or something just smells that good before you notice - you got that back up. I use mine in 1080 baiting areas, I'm not leaving anything to chance. Make sure it is one that allows your dog to open their mouth to breath. I find they're very difficult to correctly measure so your best bet is trying a bunch on in the pet store. I find none of my online ones really fit as well than the ones I buy in person then alter to fit (e.g. you can boil them to change the shape a bit). Best friends, pet barn, pet stock, pet warehouse. Baskervilles are the usual good ones because plastic is soft. A staffie would probably be a size 3 in baskerville. You want them to fit something like this with space between nose. Kind of like this page but even slightly looser: https://muzzleupproject.com/2014/07/15/muzzle-faqs-measuring-for-a-proper-fit/ Then, after getting a good fit, use something like duct tape to fill in the gaps so they can't squash food in (pet stores don't sell the food guards and the jafco muzzles aren't very good for walks/extended use as they allow NO airflow whatsoever. shitty muzzles especially on hot days) (if you need to reward, practice slipping food in from the top to land in the "bowl" for the dog) I find nobody is really concerned about the muzzles in person. Might get some comments if you share photos on social media, but in person the kind of person to comment on your muzzle would prob find something else about your dog to nitpick in its absence. If it bothers you a lot, lots of people decorate to make for a more friendly appearance: Mine looks decorated but actually I was just making it softer for my dog so it didn't bother her:
  4. I think that's a very important thing to highlight, because out of all the points of contact people get with major groups it's mostly going to be: Vets (who are hopefully very pro-vaccinations for international diseases etc) Purebred dog rep bodies e.g. AKC, ANKC Rescue groups / pounds If those three start skimping on quarantine requirements, it's going to trickle down all over the place. But conversely, if they start promoting stricter requirements and demonstrating it - others will follow. Especially the latter two as the majority of where dogs are acquired from, and those latter two both move dogs across states and countries. I read this blog maybe last month or something, and I thought they went into a lot of good points on the importance of recognising the health challenges and what can be done about reducing the spread. https://puredogtalk.com/trafficking-in-deadly-diseases-from-foreign-rescues-pure-dog-talk/ I hope we can keep rabies out of Australia for as long as possible, alongside other diseases. But I think even with our "stricter" rules, it will get harder and harder as the whole world gets more global and more animals are shuffled about.
  5. I definitely have a concern for my lot, that even when collars used properly, it's when things go wrong that the negative impacts are made. Definitely agree if going with harness make sure get correctly fitted harness! I have found these very useful when choosing which harnesses to walk/run/jump/explore in: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1048268555369901 (just a neat video on gait with different harnesses) https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_7/features/the-no-pull-debate_20782-1.html (about how some no pulls can damage gait - what to look for) https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/20_4/features/Best-Dog-Harnesses-2017_21622-1.html (harness pro/con comparisons) https://www.homeskooling4dogs.com/harnesses (that last one just goes into how to fit them e.g. allow space for leg movement) I got started on transitioning Thyme first, as last year we got attacked by two GSDs and cornered. In all the chaos I had accidentally strung Thyme up to stop him adding to the fight while I kicked the dogs away . He had such a sore and sensitive throat after that, was so very twitchy about a tense lead around dogs no matter how light after being perfectly fine his whole life. So I moved to a harness wherever possible to help us move past it. He's all good now, but I don't want a repeat! Much rather grab his harness handle than his neck handle, but hoping never ever to be cornered by someones two angry offlead dogs ever again. But for Thistle yes, keep a handle on her neck so if I do need it I can grab it compared to harness. But then she's so tall I would hope I don't accidentally string up. Even inadvertent pulling like when we get surprised by something and naturally jump or if we are hiking along a cliffside and someone slips - I don't want to be dragging them back up by their necks! Still important to teach how to walk on a collar though, for things where it's mandatory like at dog trials and some workshops and when left at the vet. My training classes too, very anti harness for large dogs in the advanced offlead class. I don't understand why they can be trusted off lead but not in a harness but thems the rules. I use breakaway dog collars at home - these are ID collars that come loose when caught on things much like cat collars but upsized! Cover both my "lost dog" and "avoid strangling" bases with that. They are obviously not for walking though
  6. Yes, I ended up getting insurance after blowing through all my pet emergency savings in two months. The final straw was a freak accident with ball-fetch resulting in a stick in the eye. Got all the pet insurance flyers at the vet that night, ended up going with Bow Wow Meow. It's actually not as expensive as I feared, like $40 for each dog. Since then no major claims, although they covered some of the desexing fees and annual vaccinations. I think when you log in to bow wow meow, there's a PDF of the plan you have chosen you can view, and it details what is covered and not. I think I went the one that covered nearly everything.
  7. The reports I’ve read was chains could be the most damaging of the lot, followed by prongs then standard flats. They didn’t mention head collars but I think they were done before head collars started becoming a thing popular enough to measure. I keep waiting for some solid research on head collars to start rolling into these kinds of studies. One that I was reading (or maybe two and I’m mentally combining them) the results were the strain from collars showing in eye tension, pain based irritability and sore front legs. And that a significant amount of aggressive dogs were found rather simply to be in neck pain. It made me wonder if on thistles more irritable days that could be a factor? Both primal paws and dog wellness centre found she had lots of tension in her neck and I wonder if our collars were compounding it. Same with Thyme, he was coughing a lot and I think has a bit of a sensitive neck. They gave me a lot to think about and even though both my dogs walk rather well on collars I am trying to transition us to harnesses - Thyme is further along than thistle. Honestly the biggest roadblock has been myself - I live in fear it will make them “more difficult to control” but with practice (for me hah!) the dogs are showing me it doesn’t make that much of a difference really. They do need some practice to recognise the new lead pressure angle but they’re not turning into the slippery slope to freight train dominating machines people kept trying to scare me with (roll eyes). I chalk it up to the slow introduction and low distraction places. Barring the adventure dog for thyme but he aced that ! I have found us a bit more relaxed? I think because it’s harder for any tension I experience to travel down the neck. I’ve yet to do both dogs in harness at same time just yet but soon. It has has been quite nice honestly I do keep collars on them just in case I do need more head control but martingales are basically built in handles. I am transitioning with ruffwear webmasters. Like snook I’ve noticed some rubbing on Thistle. Thyme is fine but Thistle has a very thin coat so I’m experimenting with different types of fleece. I’d like to stick with the webmasters if possible but that store that makes escape proof harnesses for greyhounds might be in order ive also started going handsfree set up and that’s really nice too. Have yet to combine handsfree with harnesses! I have what are proving to be irrational fears for it. I keep reminding myself if the trainer with three Rottweilers can walk her three dogs in handsfree a and harnesses on loose leads then one day I can too! fingers crossed we can achieve that! (Especially that third dog part lol) (I do prefer martingales personally due thistles fear bolting in the past. They were not measured in either of the studies so I’m not sure if on the “risk” scale they would act more as chain or flat or somewhere in between on a dog. Or how the thickness level would affect? I hope they are included on future studies)
  8. Uh. Wasn’t much better back then really. I’ve got a very interesting book that is basically dog records over time. People have been struggling with roaming dogs and poor interactions since the 12th century. As well as aggressive dogs, the fashion of walking sticks to beat them off with, poop pick up, late night barking especially in town/city locations. In a way not much has changed when compared like that but I like to think the advent of the internet will help raise awareness Much more visible records across time. The book is “Our Dogs Our Selves”. It’s overpriced so very overpriced but very interesting. I would suggest a Vet check too, make sure there’s no sore vulnerabilities your dog might be defending from dog interactions for fear of pain. Sore hips or the like. Both my dogs went through similar after being attacked. One warmed right back up to dogs the other prefers her small circle of friends. They also both went variations of the BAT2.0 method. We were under guidance. You might want to get the book “calming signals” and BAT2.0 as they go into detail on body language so you can give your dog the required space before they start growling and what to do if they do growl
  9. Enrolling in a school and getting him practice with pre-checked quality dogs is a good move It is not fair to let strange dogs "teach" your puppy - as you cannot ever know if that dog actually has the skills to teach a puppy correctly or will cause an escalation or injury. It is up to you to redirect your dog if he is bothering a dog...or if someone has brought a dog who is not suitable to the park and you need to avoid it. While working on your obedience, you could probably ask around for play dates with dogs of a similar age. Playing with one or two puppies at a time is much easier to practice listening to you than a full scale park visit
  10. Oh very sad the stress you are both going through It is to your credit you have gone through all the traditional avenues to remedy this challenge I would find debarking to be kinder on this dog than a bark collar and citronella collar - these are obviously not working and likely adding to the distress - and of course even after debarking continue to work to reduce the behaviour that leads to the barking and not just leave the bandaid to it. There's an underlying cause there somewhere. I've known one debarked dog, and there was no change in him at all. His bark became a sort of husky harf harf harf sound. He was a small dog.
  11. "Buy Swap Sell Australian Dog Gear" on facebook is for reselling items for dog activities. They quite often sell assorted harnesses and a large re-sell of those who do bikejoring. You could post a Want to Buy add.
  12. They do them Tuesday nights at KCC https://dogsvictoria.org.au/uploads/Training-Nights-2019.pdf
  13. Love initiatives of this. If anyone you know is struggling with homelessness or the risk of, in addition to Pets in the Park (what the article is about) there is also Pets of the Homeless which works with many councils across Australia: https://petsofthehomeless.org.au/ and many vet and animal welfare organisations have smaller programs for those struggling with homelessness. e.g in Melbourne we have Lort Smith Hospital, Animal Aid, RSPCA, Underdog rescue, Save-a-dog scheme They have also recently started some pets in family violence programs, for those in such a situation and cannot leave for the sake of their pets e.g Jessie Street Domestic Violence Services and Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre and if anyone wants to volunteer to help out when such organisations are doing bigger intiatives like the post, they frequently get listed here: https://www.volunteer.com.au
  14. It sounds like he’s gone into the red tape areas of liability. I cannot imagine them adopting him out if they think he’s a liability but lawyers for animals might be able to help you out. Are there reasons you don’t think he will pass? The claim comment sounds to be about the reclaim time period. You have missed your chance for that by months. It’s gone and closed. But adoption might still be an option. While you’re getting this all sorted - any in person meetings ask them to write down everything they explain. This will help you remember the details and if you need to provide evidence in a claim. Especially if an aspect confuses you. Phone calls write down as much as you can remember at the time. If you can have a friend or even better one of the lawyers for animals - have them go with you both as emotional support and to help you talk with the rspca. Probably not the family members who lost him in the first place. I suggest calling up every other day - keep it polite and friendly and quick but this will help you become memorable to as many staff as possible since it may be a different person every day. Explain the reason you’re calling - you were on holiday and your dog got lost. You’ve come home to find he’s in the rspca and you couldn’t afford the reclaim fee at the time. You have saved funds for him but you’ve missed your reclaim chance so you’re hoping to adopt him when he gets through the assessments. Doing this will help demonstrate your commitment and have you stand out from the general crowd to the workers. It’s not a guarantee you’ll get him or have him scrape through assessments but it gives you an edge of being memorable. Plus when he does pass through assessments you will know nearly immediately through near daily calls and can get in to adopt him before he starts being advertised online and someone else might adopt him. Fingers crossed for you. Ps you should probably remove your mobile as anyone can see that member or not.
  15. Ive only bought muzzles from these guys but they arrived pretty fast: https://australiangreyhoundproducts.com/dog-kennel-coats-trialling-vests they don’t have yellow or pink tho
  16. First up check out our new collars! They're (again) from collar & ruff in WA - double collar and lead set. This time in leatherite (fake leather) for more durability in adventures with the added bonus of being half the price of a leather set. They feel nice, clean super easy, are nice and durable and pretty quick turn around between purchasing and arrival. Because they have enough size to allow for both dogs, I can mix and match the collars and leads between them :D although technically black is for T1 and white is for T2. (there should be a little arrow to see the other pics) Next up - decked out in our fancy new collars - Thistle has a visit at the new dog wellness centre - it's a new rehab physio centre in melbourne! has all the works with balance items, hydrotherapy treadmill etc. Most importantly, they identified the potential cause of our onagain-offagain limp. Imbalance issues from favouring the now-known-to-be-an-old-broken-leg-that-ISNT-CANCER has some muscle loss on the affected leg and compensation/overworking the other leg and lumbar spine. She took some photos and videos for me to show the difference and then them muscles working on a simple balance exercise. Look at them twitch in the video! Here's hoping this helps get the gait to balance and nice strength (i have been looking at older videos and I'm dismayed to see she has always been imbalanced somewhat. Better spotted late than never!)
  17. I gave up very quickly on trying to stop thyme from jumping/climbing/falling and instead focussed on avoiding repetitive things with hard surfaces eg steps and sustained city path walking (not that he ever walked in a straight line). I did enforce mandatory breaks if he seemed to be getting cranky or frantic but that was more for mine and thistles sanity
  18. I can’t track it, it’s too upsetting Especially on Facebook that plays videos without warning. It does seem to be shaping up to be the worst rescue/hoarder/exploition of dogs I have heard of. Obviously hoping it’s one of a kind and not others that are similar in existence. If there are rescues or individuals finding this similar to their conditions I hope this is their wake up call to get the animals to people who can care for them. Don’t let it get worse and hope for the best
  19. I think I would like to see rescues loosely aligned with the same legislation breeders get that is managed by their local council area. IMO RSPCA should be the exceptional cases like storybook farm and puppy mills in regulating rescues but for things like annual visits to see things like the five freedoms are happening and the rescue not becoming overwhelmed. I think annual inspections would go a long way towards spotting those struggling. Might not help with things like storybook where they are specifically covering up but the more genuine ones needing help or outsider eyes to point out they’re slipping.
  20. Blue heelers nip ;) It's a breed thing, although you can teach them some self control in time. There are classes you can take, guided by trainers, that can teach you how to teach your puppy how to behave around others dogs, greet them etc. The benefit of extra eyes who might spot something going on you are not aware of, and can help you find suitable playmates for your puppy. Not sure where you are in Victoria - I'm in Melbourne so here's a few places I've seen and am familiar with (all slightly different, so check out the websites to see if one appeals more): https://www.positivek9training.com.au/ http://www.thek9company.com.au/ http://www.crosspaws.com.au/ https://www.canineclubhouse.com.au/
  21. Absolutely breaks my heart. I hadn't seen the video - here's a link to it - there are puppies, a staffie who appears to have lost a leg with no treatment? A poor cockatoo in too small cage with no feathers. Poor Barry was one to have the worse of it, but the rest are also so very bad. They're all so quiet but I wouldn't wonder if it's silence out of pain and discomfort. It seems to me a lot of them would have very low quality of life, but I do hope there's someone out there who can help them. Even if it is for a long sleep. At least they're out of that hell hole
  22. I think of it this way - there's thousands of people employed in the RSPCA. Some will be very "good" and some will be very "bad". Most of them are going to be somewhere in between on the gradient trying to do their job alongside whatever their own personal goals through the employment or volunteering with the RSPCA is. Be that helping animals, reducing overpopulation, helping owners or just needing employment etc etc. Their level of experiences and knowledge will vary between physical locations, teams, the types of dogs etc etc. It's not some hivemind where they all think the same thing and act the same way. You'll find people you agree with and others you do not and probably most kind of shrug at it. Overall though I am very glad for their work. I might not always be pleased, but things like this is what they're there for - not many places can take in so many animals with so many medical issues all at once. And when there's things I don't agree with, I sign the relevant petitions, send an email, fill out the relevant legislative consultation surveys etc. In a way I find them easier to deal with than when rescues / breeders go bad because there are more avenues for reporting things I don't agree with. Unhappy with how a rescue or breeder group acts? If it's not at the big RSPCA level I've no idea where to go to register concerns. Maybe I will come complain here or leave a facebook review but what does that get done? I was at an dogsvic event and I saw someone hit their dog across the face with a lead. Nobody else even blinked. If someone in RSPCA did that to a dog, I know where to go to report it, that I can escalate it, that they will at least talk to someone. I've no idea where to go in dogsvic for that. I followed the knitting company that made those coats poor Barry was photographed in. They only went as far as the driveway when dropping them off and didn't see anything alarming. It really does read like a few dogs got the public treatment and the rest have been left to the horrible conditions. I know I would cry if I had been the one to see Barry's injuries in person. How that could be ignored That poor knitter is so upset that they didn't realise what was going on but I can't blame them, it looks like the rescue went to a lot of effort to disguise the care failures. I am very glad the rescue I've been helping with lets me pop by randomly. While busy and a bit crowded and chaotic - the bunnies are fed and watered, there's a never-ending rotation of cleaning and exercising, I'm allowed to roam through the whole property. I have general concerns in an "oh they're so busy I wish I could help more" but nothing more than that - they know they have a network of foster carers they can (and have!) to call on when it gets too much. I would hate to have helped rabbits only for them to go into a situation just as bad (or worse for the animals in the article).
  23. Warning on the pictures some of the medical issues these poor animals suffered is graphic its heart breaking. I feel like this year there have been lots of mass seizures. I hope it’s because media is reporting it more often or people are recognising and reporting improper care and not that this is happening more frequently :’( this article i think highlights something easily forgotten. The dally that was pts had a happy looking photo post the day before the raid. Maybe it is an older photo or they doctored it up for the best look. Certainly highlights how easy it is to cover up conditions over social media and make it harder for people trying to be responsible. https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-20/rspca-seize-animals-storybook-farm-animal-garden-rescue/10922372?pfmredir=sm
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