Erny

I'm really sorry for your loss, Elfin. RIP Toby. He was obviously a beloved member of your family unit. You've done what you can as far as giving opportunity for your dogs to understand that Toby has departed our world. Don't expect them to take direct notice - they might, but don't worry if they don't. They'll know. We once had a cow who gave birth to a calf that was unisexed and who had displaced organs. We had the Vet let the calf go and left the calf in the paddock for a while, so that its mum could have time to know it was gone, and not fret for it. The cow paid little to no attention to the calf, that we could discern. And never fretted for it. For your dogs, the best that you can do is to be as 'normal' as you possibly can in so far as your routine with them is concerned. In the meantime, to you and sleep knowing that Toby had a wonderful 'earth' life with you, and a tremendous innings for a cat .

Just spoke with Mandela's Naturopath (a bit rough when your dog has one, but you don't ;) LOL) and was advised feed raw, but only after it has been frozen for 2 weeks.

Jeanne - I can remember the other thread where the CASI Diploma was discussed, but only vaguely the details. I remember talking about the accreditation and whether it is recognised here, and I don't think that was the case. Do double check this because I am not confident that I'm right, but I think what THEY meant by "nationally recognised" is that CASI recognises those who pass the course, not necessarily that it is formally recognised by our Government. I think. I get a bit confused at times with the logistics of bureaucracy. I would be interested to know whether Cosmolo went ahead with it, and if she did, what she thought of it. I agree that it sounds like a good course.

Thanks - that's what I've done in the past for my previous girl, although she didn't like it much anyway, so I ended up giving most away or using it as treats for some dogs. Is cooking better than 'freezing and thawing and then feeding raw', do you know?

Resurrecting an old thread here, save creating a new one. My boy is a bit "off and on" his food (reasons why is another story, but we think relates to his stomach becoming irriated). It doesn't seem to be the food itself that causes it, although he doesn't do well with pork and seems to reject lamb more often than not. So, for a variation to his diet (I'll feed him whatever it is that he will eat, provided it is good for him, other than pork), I picked up some calf liver from the butcher's today. Can I please confirm with those who know, that I'd be best to freeze this, and then thaw it, before I feed it? Or would it be best to cook it before I feed it? I've read through the posts here, but I'm still being left feeling uncertain. That's if he'll eat it at all. My question might end up proving to be moot, if he doesn't eat it regardless of what I do with it.

I would stop the frequent bathing. By the sounds of it, he doesn't need it. Ok - sorry, a couple more questions, but I am narrowing my line of thinking down, so bear with me ;). Just to clarify - only his back feet are affected? Or did you mean that with an Elizabethan Collar, he could still reach his back feet, but not his front? Do you find he licks more when you are not home, or that it makes no difference whether you are home or not?

SC ..... I can feel your joy . It's not a 'small' thing when these things happen. And they ARE great. I remember a time when Kal, my avatar girl (since passed, bless her) actually played with a young lab I had been looking after for some friends. Kal - who started out as a 'fear-aggressive-to-other-dogs' type dog, who improved to a 'can cope but would prefer not to have to' and quite a sober/serious type dog, actually having wrestle play. I was so stoked and would love to have been able to record it, but I knew if I moved the moment would be over. It is a wonderful feeling and brings much joy. I hope you get to share in seeing many more of these shared-play moments . I laughed at your relation of the shoe thing.

Thanks LeoneH. What is his skin condition like? Is there apparent damage/hair loss/inflamation? Has your Vet done any skin scrapings? Does your Vet believe it is a contact or food allergy? Just trying to find out what you've done and what you already know and to get a 'picture' in my mind. Not that I'm a Vet, so anything I might offer by way of suggestion is only that, and would only be based on my own experience.

Have you actually worked out WHY he is licking? If it is not allergy, I'm wondering why he is on steroids and why he is bathed so often? I'm not being judgemental or critical, but I would prefer to see whether we can know if this is a behavioural thing, or whether there is actually an allergy/skin issue. There are other things that you might do, but what they are will much depend on the cause for the licking in the first place.

on the up and up? please, my uncle uses them for work. I'm sorry. I meant no ill intent - poorly worded.

Why don't you ask the Roads Authority (eg. Vic Roads, if you're in Vic) what they are made of? I presume you acquired them on the up and up, and that you wouldn't be dobbing yourself in by asking.

Nekhbet ..... thanks for the offer, but I think I'll pass. LOL Actually, I'm not squirmish about them if I know they can't get to me. And I have touched one - they are so sleek and surprisingly soft, I found. But it won't stop a shudder going through me. I was a "blue tongue lizard" tom-girl in my younger years, and although it surprises me now, there was a period when I held a fascination for snakes and did a project on them. I have a more than healthy respect for them. I also used to catch field mice with my bare hands. I think I'd now be more inclined to jump up on a table - they too give me the heebies, but that was after having a plague of rats and then mice when I was younger - the stares from the rats freaked me a little, me thinks. I'll be quite satisfied for you to give your snakey a pat on my behalf, thanks ;).

That's the point - the dogs aren't supposed to know what an e-collar is. They are meant to associate the stimulation with the proximity/presence of a snake. But it needs to be done with thought and structure, as the stim could just as easily be paired with something else in the environment that the dog glances at just at the time of the stim. E-Collar I think would be one of the only and best ways of teaching your dog through operant conditioning that snakes are a no-no to go near.

Snake Catcher ..... hope you'll come out to my place if I ever have the need of snake removal. ;) .... hope that never eventuates. Beautiful creatures, but they make me shudder. I think that's because, apart from the fact that they are often venomous and can be lightening fast, I can't read the expression on their faces. Now, if they had Ridgy Wrinkles, I might feel a bit differently ;).

Possibly something that is completely new and novel to her. Not every behaviour has to date back to something in a deep dark past. Is her behaviour towards it such a worry that she needs desensitising to it? How often do you come across sky writing? Maybe she'll just get over it by herself, if you yourself don't make a big deal of it either.

RIP, Daddy. Very deserved of the honour and recognition bestowed upon him. To CM, family and friends - sorry for your loss which I know would be deeply heartfelt.

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You will find that your dog is not testing you, it's just that you've altered the command. She is thinking this way : When my owner says sit AND moves her hand like so, then I sit. You've taught your dog that way. Your dog has paired voice WITH hand signal. You need to separate them and teach each of them separately. Same thing often happens with drop. People often bend over (comes from when they first taught their dogs the position). Then people have a habit of bending over. And all the whle, dog is thinking "ahhh ... when owner says "drop" AND bends over like so, then I drop". Then people don't quite understand why dog doesn't comply with the "drop" command at other times and forget that it might be because they aren't bending over. Remember, dogs think in 'images', not words.

Hi Bel. I'm sorry to hear. I'm sure your wracked with worry, but try to sleep good because your girl is going to need you. Were there no earlier symptoms that could be explained as Addisons? Seems to have occurred mighty sudden if not. Good luck and best wishes and thoughts for your girl's recovery coming from here.

Is it a full moon tonight? I saw no tormenting. I saw from the video that the 'strike' warning was when the snake coiled up. Don't know how you can look through a video camera when a snake is coming towards you. I'd be all eyes on the snake. Actually, I'd be outa there Sure - didn't need that bit at the end of the clip, but hey .... not something I'm gonna dwell on. Thank you for sharing the clip with us. Don't know how you do what you do. Your reflexes would have to be pretty darn quick.

We have talked about it. I had other things on my plate at the time. But I think that if Steve is still of mind for it, it could be on the cards. Just not sure when yet. What would you want covered when we do? ETA: Sorry, Steve. Perhaps this should be a separate thread.

Not sure how that will go. When Pro-K9 and K9 Force ran a 3-day workshop there, I received a worrying phone call from KCC Park about 2 weeks before the scheduled date. They informed me they'd received complaints from members that K9 Force has PPCollars on his website. They told us they didn't want us using them. No probs - it was a "drive training" workshop (positive). They told us they didn't want us selling them. No probs. They told us they didn't want us to speak about them. They, or one of the Members, called the RSPCA on us. The RSPCA was impressed with the behaviour of all the dogs there . The RSPCA Officer went on to mention that his own dog wouldn't be as well behaved, laying in amongst the group.

Thanks Rappie. The memory that strikes me the most is of a dog belong to some friends whom I used to work for part-time, looking after their horses. Owners were away and I found their dog one afternoon, with its foot in a rabbit trap. Took said dog to the Vet and he treated and bandaged it, and told me to leave the bandage on for a week, then come back to see him. The owners were home by that stage and when I told them what happened (no mobile phones back in them days, LOL) they took their dog to their usual Vet. When the bandage was unwrapped, the wound was rank and the flesh had turned gangrenous. The Vet had to amputate a toe. I think this memory stays with me because in some way I felt responsible and guilty for not checking on the wound and keeping it cleansed, regardless of the Vet's initial instructions.

I had EW's nesting inside one of the exterior walls of my home. They made their way in their through a very tiny gap that was between the brickwork and the window frame. I rang our local Council (Casey) for some help, but they told me that because it was in my home property, it was up to me to deal with it. Glad your dog is better, Pheebs. That was a big and fast reaction, which would have made it all the more alarming.