Erny

If you are comparing leather collars that have buckle attachments to webbing collars that have plastic clip attachments, leather wins every time. IMO collars with plastic clip attachments shouldn't be used to take the dog out on lead with. But you speak of "rough play" - do you mean there is a second dog in the family? I wouldn't have collars on dogs who live in a multiple dog family. I don't even leave a collar on my own dog when he's unattended and he's a 'single' dog.

Thank you - I'll check up on her latest info. It would be great if the International Courier isn't necessary. But I presume you would still need to declare to Customs? ETA: The other thing that I like with Dr Jean Dodds testing is their analysis base. They take into account not only whether the dog is small, medium or large, but also what breed it is and what age the dog is. Out here I believe the analysis is simply based on small, medium or large dog.

I'm not exactly sure what you're arguing about. The thread is about NDTF -vs- Delta Courses. NDTF teaches all four quadrants (P+ P- R+ R-). Delta not only doesn't do that but it vehemently prescribes against P+. We're saying that causes limitations, and often to the detriment of some dogs. You agree that P+ has its place. So ....... I'm not sure what you are arguing about.

If you do get to watch the dog more closely, watch to see if he doesn't seem to be arching his back as he should (or, if he is arching his back, that it in itself doesn't look 'funny'). If this is the picture you do see, then I'd be suggesting a back/spinal issue.

Sounds to me as though you're doing fine, MM. Good on you for giving a dog in need of a home, a home. And obviously a loving one at that :D .

Good. I was reading up on Pyometra (because of the 'brown smudge' you mentioned) which can occur in some cases even after desexing, although apparently this is rather rare. Drinking more and having diluted urine are a couple of the symptoms. So I am glad of your answer. Possibly not a cause, but worth ruling out.

KismetKat ..... when the dog is running at speed, does it appear as though it is for a moment doing like a hand-stand with its front feet with its butt coming up in the air in a somewhat exaggerated manner, before the back legs finally come under .... at which point the front end lifts higher off the ground than one would think was normal?

Or perhaps the dogs who exhibit this awkward gait are not likely to be the dogs that are shown?

Has she been drinking more of late? Is her urine diluted? Has there been any sign that might suggest she is sore/uncomfortable? (eg. skeletal/spine injury; stiffness)

Unfortunately Jeanne, there are trainers and then there are trainers, regardless of which 'camp' they are in. The point being though, that those who vow to never learn and/or use any one particular quadrant of training method no matter what, have limited their expertise and knowledge and in turn this can and has affected the possibility of rehabilitation for some dogs. I have had a person with a GSD who informed me that she trained with a "positive only" (so to speak) trainer but her dog's issue could not be resolved. (Well, maybe if she'd spent another couple of years on it, during which time her dog would have matured and perhaps settled a bit more ..... or maybe not.) The trainer advised her that she may need to PTS. The dog's problem? Pulling (a lot) on the lead. It was causing the owner a lot of grief - the dog was young, strong and very energetic. Inside that lesson we had the dog giving a loose lead for the first time in its life when outside of its yard. How? Yep - a correction was delivered. But there was a heck of a lot of positive reinforcement and reward given to the dog in the windows of opportunity that had suddenly opened widely as a result of that correction. I watched as tears of joy and relief tracked down the owner's cheeks as before that lesson she'd come to fully expect there was no hope in controlling her dog and that she was going to have to face taking her dog for a one way visit to the Vet.

Not pretending to understand any of this and I can tell that I've copied it word for word, so it's not my head that knows this stuff, but from my 'notes' folder : "Total serum T4 levels are compensated until there has been significant destruction of thyroid tissue. As free (unbound) T4 drops, the hypothalamus releases TRH, which stimulates pituitary secretion of TSH, with the remaining thyroid tissue increasing its T4 production. As the disease progresses, T3 levels are maintained as more T4 is converted to the active form of the hormone (T3). Total T4 (TT4) and free T4 (FT4) levels are artificially elevated by T4 autoantibodies (T4aa), while T3 autoantibodies (T3aa) depress total T3 (TT3) and elevate free T3 (FT3)." This is where and why the TT4 might not pick up (especially) early stage thyroiditis. But you probably know all this already . (And, what's more, you probably understand it too! :D)

In your instance, quite possibly. In my boy's case, it was for building muscle at his back end - there was no injury to heal. Perhaps it is time you had a "swim-spa" installed. You could both use it then . Claim it on your "Veterinary Educational Tools" account or something? :D

My understanding is that a full blood panel test comprises of six analytes : TT4, FT4, TT3, FT3, T4aa, T3aa, TSH. I won't pretend to understand the science of all the testing but I have read that "a TT4 assay may fail to detect thyroiditis, especially in its early stages". Also, the TSH test might not detect thyroiditis until 50 - 70% of the thyroid tissue has been destroyed. Apparently an "elevated serum cholesterol" is another good indicator of thyroid disease. I have notes from when I did a bit of study on hypothyroidism affecting behaviour in dogs and although the "elevated serum cholesterol" might be the result of other things, apparently hypothyroidism is the most common cause.

I have polished floor boards (hard wood) in the family/lounge room, tiles in the wet areas. Carpet elsewhere. I have a considerably large decking area outside. The floor boards will scratch. But IMO more importantly, they are slippery and if your dog is an active dog, it is easy to slip even going around corners at a trot. It bothers me that the 'splits' could be a possibility. I purchased rubber backed carpet from Clark Rubber and also bought a long strip of rubber matting for the outdoor decking area when I got my boy. This has prevented many an accident that could have done some damage (to the dog) if it had not been there. My boy is pretty active (being young) but my previous avatar girl (Kal - bless her cotton socks) was considerably docile and 'measured' in her activity, so she didn't need all the covering, although for her I still had non-slip carpet pieces at corners as even she would slip from time to time. ETA: My carpet is filthy. Was great when dainty Kal was around. But my current boy missed out on "dainty" when it was being passed around . I plan to one day have most of the carpet pulled up and in its place, lay tiles - something not too slippery.

Apart from the travel making it a bit awkward, do you know how much it costs to use? We have one near us, but it is $55.00 a 'go' whether that be for 5 minutes or more. I thought it would be good for my boy but opted for a drive to the beach and walking in chest height water. A lot cheaper, even though the drive is 45 minutes each way and even though it can be awkward timing to follow tides and being subject to weather conditions. I'm sorry, Staranais - I'm not meaning to go off topic and I do think about you and your girl and wondering how things are going. It's just that I know nothing about your girl's condition and consequently have nothing worthwhile to contribute. I do wish the best for you both though and am hoping for the best possible outcome for your girl.

Then I'm confused. By "rocking horse" I'm picturing a gait just as a child's rocking horse would look like. As though there is little flexion in the dog's back. Pacing rocks from side to side. KismetKat, would you please clarify what you mean?

Could be numerous things. Spondylosis might be another (I think)? When they have patella issues, they normally 'skip' don't they, rather than "rocking horse" gait?

Which survey was that one, Corvus. Do you have a link or would you otherwise direct me to it please? Especially interested in the "have or would use a prong collar ... " . "Balanced" does not mean 50/50 or that a correction must be used. How much experience outside of your own and your Mum's dogs have you had, in so far as rehabilitating serious problematic behaviour, Corvus? Not all need corrections, granted. But I get the feeling that your insight to the problems that are out there might be a little hazed.

You can have a full panel done here, you just have to request it... ZA - unless it has changed over the last few years, I spoke to a couple of the laboratories (one referred me back to Gribbles) and they told me they do not have the facilities to check for the full blood panel tests as are done in the USA. The fellow I spoke to also informed me that it was unlikely to ever change due to costs -vs- demand (dog population in Australia insufficient by comparison to USA). What do you consider to be the "full blood panel test" ?

You're right, Showdog. I missed that point. What about chemical castration?

SnT - Star lives in New Zealand.

As mentioned, leadership and management needed. But it's your sister than needs to want to do it. You'll be able to let her down gently on that score once the dogs are done and come home.

Puggerup ..... good for you for being concerned and wanting to do something about it . Many people don't and even when you tell them they do all the 'nodding' and make all the right murmering, but then just go home and feed their dog the same, or perhaps potentially more to make up for the guilt the human feels. Good luck for Ollie.

Hhhhmmmmmmmm .... swimming against the tide here . IMO once a week is too often and I do not see it helping with a dog who already has skin issues from whatever other cause.

If desexing does anything at all, it can raise the threshold to reactivity (ie they may still react but the 'fuse' might be a little longer, or the intensity of the aggression might be marginally reduced). No guarantees though. And the dogs do have a learnt behaviour. Leadership and management is required here.