Erny

Oh, Labsrule. I'm really sorry and I hope me asking didn't bring on a flurrish of hurt. I have an inkling of how you would have felt as I too have been in the position where you try to do everything for them, but sometimes what's within our powers is just not enough or not possible for other reasons. I lost my avatar girl and stopped my quest on her behalf due to complications to her already serious health problems and had to accept that sometimes life has an 'other' plan and no matter what, it will steer in that direction. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow and follow for the 'quality' aspect. I hope your boy has met up with my girl and are buddies keeping each other company whilst they wait for us on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Stormie - thanks for that bit of insight regarding the Turmeric being in RC. I might contact them or at least investigate what's in RC skin issue diet. I'm a HUGE advocate for raw/natural, but honestly, I'm not sure if I'm really targeting the core of my boy's issue (if it is possible to target at all) and feel as though we're always on the brink of going backwards (which we sometimes do) even though he might be looking really good at any particular time. Don't know yet. I won't rush to a change of diet. Hard to know if I'm on the right track already and perhaps all we need is a good dose of time. If that's the case, wish it would hurry up.

Glad that worked for you. The only thing is that sometimes it doesn't - not if done suddenly and soon after the pup is already experiencing distress at having been drawn away from its litter and brought to an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people. It is best (IMO) done somewhat more gradually, but definitely not by means of (eg) 2 weeks off work, all the time spent playing and looking after pup and then 'poof !!' all of a sudden back to work. Some of the time off work needs to be spent getting pup used to it being ok to be by itself and also getting it used to understanding that (eg) being outside when the people are inside (and/or vise versa) is ok too. :D And that's great! There are so many problems with multi-dog households who never teach their dogs it is ok to be away from each other.

If she stops after 5 minutes, I would not categorise that as Separation Anxiety. I think it can develop. And I strongly believe it rests in leadership issues. Not to suggest that a practised, really intensely separation anxious dog will suddenly come better with leadership, but I do believe that leadership forms a platform if it is ever to be possible to improve.

Without seeing your dog and running by your description, it sounds to me as though he has not been taught denied access from you. He sees you and insists that he be with you when he does. Chances are, there is learnt behaviour there too. He 'created' and somehow or other he gained access to you. It can escalate from there and anxiety at not being able to obtain what he is used to being able to obtain, builds. Practice leadership. Calm. Assertive. Boundaries/rules. Consistency. And I don't mean in the practice of "denied access". I mean generally. In fact I'd start with "generally" (ie your day to day interactions). I don't know what they are, but just to give an example : if he is used to always having a cuddle with you on the couch, stop making that an every day occurrence. Randomise the practice. Note that this is only one example. It's about things being on your terms and not your pug being able to think it is on his terms. Have him work for things that he receives (that he likes). When that's all good and he understands that it is about your terms, not his, then I'd begin teaching him that being away from you even though you're there is ok too.

Good news!! It might do well for this announcement to be made known to the 'powers that be' in our own State. Might also do well to know the evidence/submissions that were made to Vienna's Minister for Environment, so that we too can know that we have submitted similar/same, if not more. Glad that the Government of Vienna is showing some sense and fairness.

Either you have misunderstood me, or I'm misunderstanding you. No - if it were Separation Anxiety your pug would not be fine when he knows you are out and gone from the house. Sounds to me he is not accustomed to denied access. In either case, practising the art of "leadership" (ie yours) is one of the platforms I'd be addressing.

:D ..... there is so much truth in that. Not all truth, but much. I have worked with many people who don't realise their molly coddling is something they are doing for themselves - their dog doesn't need it.

Perse .... I could have checked a couple of things in your poll, but they don't really give the description I would. Through the over-use/over-diagnosis of "Separation Anxiety" I think the condition description has become watered down in the minds of many over the while. Separation Anxiety is when the dog has such a strong attachment to a particular person/animal that it does not believe it can function normally in the absence of that particular person/animal. This is different to things such as the less complex (but not to suggest non-problematic - for dog and owner) anxiety at being left alone; anxiety at denied access.

Well, I won't be able to update on this for a while, it seems. Emailed our Naturopath about it and the message I received back was that she wanted me to stick with what I'm already doing at the moment. I don't know what she actually thinks/knows about the Turmeric as a herbal additive for medicinal purposes. I'll ask her more about it when I see her next (no appointment arranged as yet, but I'm sure to be seeing her in due course).

Sorry, I didn't read all the posts (and I know that annoys some people, but hey ..... I was running out of time today :D ). Ok - I getcha. Pity your Club won't look at other ways, such as accepting Titre Tests.

What is it about the dog's behaviour that makes you think the dog is the "mother's dog" ? The answer to that question could influence my immediate thoughts, but the fact that you are talking about younger children who are perhaps not as naturally assertive as the adult members of the family are could well play a factor, if by "obviously the mother's dog" you mean that the dog takes more heed of her than of the child.

Have PM'd you my email address. As said in my message, :D to you for your effort and initiative

If it were me, and going by what you've said, the first step I would take would be to rule out hypothyroidism. And I wouldn't be satisfied with having the blood tests and analysis run through our Aussie laboratories, I'd be sending them to the USA via Dr. Jean Dodds. Cost would work out at approximately $210.00 (give or take, depending on exchange rates) including international courier fee.

We wish the same here, too. But the upper ranks above us with a different and more personal agenda, have vetoed the sport making it really difficult to partake in. Shame. Much.

Generally speaking, if a dog's teeth are ok, I agree that there's no need to brush. And my first recommendation to anyone would be offering the dog bones and asking if this is already done (and what type of bones). If this is already done, or if there is an issue with the dog eating bones regularly or at all, then yes, the dog needs more, if its teeth aren't in the state of health they should or could be, and brushing its teeth wouldn't be a ridiculous recommendation in those instances. I don't see anything wrong with the Vet saying that eating a bone is like eating an apple. It's an analogy only - at least that's how I hear it. The general lay person doesn't need to know about the movement of a dog's mouth in the process of chewing a bone. I could imagine the Vet simply trying to conjur an image - people well know that apples are recommended to people for oral health. If a person will think a bone is doing what an apple might to us, what's the problem? Maybe I have missed something along the way in these posts?

Is your dog still irritated badly by the affects of the skin condition?

A little smear of paw paw ointment, to keep the skin pliable/soft might assist?

If it is something you HAVE to have the Vet sign off on (such as for rescue dogs ready for rehoming; going to kennels; and such like) then I'd understand. But what "fight" do you have to put up with in the absence of these things? My local GP Vet knows my stance on over-vaccination. He might not agree with it (for whatever his own reasons) but he knows he has no choice in the matter. I've just rung them and made an appointment for a general check up (need a couple of other things looked at as well, just for his opinion) given that I don't go for the regular vaccination consults. I guess my question is, do you HAVE to have the Vet sign off on the vaccination for some reason or other, or are you feeling the 'pressure' from their disapproval that makes you feel uncomfortable? I do agree though that it is a shame we cop the burden of their disapproval and the discomfort that can bring, when all we are doing is what we believe is for our dogs' good health. And it seems so wrong they should impose that pressure on us, especially when they are going against even what the AVA is recommending.

Hi Labsrule - thanks for your post, but sorry for the passing of your lab boy . What do you mean by "as much as he could tolerate" ? How much was that and what were the signs of him not being able to tolerate it?

Not too much of a problem. I already syringe different things down my boy's throat to ensure he's getting what he needs and he's such a trouper. He even gives me a tail wag when I tell him he's a good boy in between the little breaks I give him as a chance for him to swallow. Bless him. He's only 21 months old, a big dog and strong. Yet he's so compliant. Gotta luv 'em. Oh - I was thinking it was a powder form. I'll check with the Naturopath about it. I'm thinking of taking it myself as well. The part about 'falling asleep after eating' (or wanting to) is a symptom I've been experiencing of late. My boy is already on a couple of other supplements and for all I know, maybe this is part of it. I don't want to double up or give him something that's incompatible with what he already is getting, so I'll definitely check first.

Can't advise - we're a training school and we pay our instructors. The only instructors we take on are those who have their NDTF Cert III Dog Training Course under their belt, which gives us a head start. I don't mind if they don't have much or any instruction experience .... we teach that as part of our curriculum. How do we get them? We have been lucky, perhaps, in having enthusiastic people who want to further their experience and just love what they are doing and are happy for the opportunity and the good like minded company. We only have a small crew on board at the moment but enough for what we need for the time being (with another coming through the current NDTF course) but I am blessed with having a great crew who happily and willingly embrace Pro-K9 and what we do. I find I don't need to 'push' them to helping out with things such as pack up and the like ..... they just hop in where things are needed. Perhaps you could contact NDTF and ask them to notify their distance learning students that you are seeking instructors? Not sure if you are a private run professional Club or one that runs on a volunteer basis only, but there are likely to be NDTF'ers out there who might simply gaining the extra even unpaid experience on an ongoing basis, beyond what they've gained through doing their course??

Are you talking generally, Bindii, or specifically to the OP about the OP's dog?

If the skin reaction doesn't return, then chances are you got rid of the cause. Glad your dog has found some relief though, whether that be from the Calendula or not.

Health Food Stores I purchase mine from Berwick Healthy Life 03 9707 1148 if you want to call them (if you're localish and/or can't obtain at your own Health Food Store). I use the "Health Reflections" brand. About $8.00 for 50g bag. "Health Reflections" can be contacted on 03 9720 3503 if you need, although I don't know if they deal direct. ..... Not sure if I have broken any forum rules by putting those names and numbers up. If I have, please point that out and I will delete reference to those details.

No it isn't.