Erny

Why can't a Covenant be put into place? They place Covenants on Title and these regulate what people can and can't do with their property beyond the initial date of their ownership.

My understanding is that the substance actually changes the pH level of their saliva. Not just while the substance is in their mouth, but works through the body. Perhaps I'm wrong. Oakway .... do you think I've misunderstood? But I agree with Oakway : if there's any way a good chew/not swallow bone can be given, nothing really replaces bones as being the best general dental care item. The only thing to watch there would be (my guess) that if your oldie's teeth are brittle/fragile, a hard chew bone might cause tooth breakage. Again - I'm not an expert in that department and learning as I go.

Good idea, although I think my horse and the other he is agisted with have regular enough farrier attendances that there isn't so much of horse hoof trimming as there are filings. If there are trimmings, there wouldn't be that much of it and small enough to swallow before much chewing was to occur. I'm not usually there at the times the farrier comes out, so I'll double check. But I would like something that would keep my dog happily pre-occupied and chewing for a while, if I could.

Ahhh ... - silly me, should'a thought about sheep hooves. Although are they small enough for a large dog to eat and potentially swallow without chewing properly? I don't like the idea of it, but what about horse hooves? (Shudder .... even suggesting it makes me feel like a bit of a traitor to my own horse ).

Not true, it seems. City of Frankston : So it appears that it is not Victorian State Law, but Council By-Law ergo whether you were legally obliged to desex would depend on the Council jurisdiction you lived in. Silly .... for those who recognise that keeping their dog entire for a longer period is actually of benefit to the dog's health, the By-Law only encourages people to dodge registration, at least until later on. Yet again another law that tears naturally law-abiding people between abiding the law as they normally would, or following what they believe is something that is in the best interests of the welfare of the dog. Banning things (in this case, undesexed dogs and dog breeds) only drives things 'under-ground' and out of reach of control, order and delivery of education.

Friends of mine have just come back from one of their regular holiday trips to Holland and Switzerland. Showed some beautiful photo shots of the country-side and national parks where they ARE allowed to have dogs (off lead) and where tracks are even made for the purpose. I love Australia and I don't hate snakes so much that I think they should be killed, but I do like the thought of being able to enjoy the beauty of nature in the country/bush in beautiful sunny weather with one's dog WITHOUT the fear that your dog would be likely to come across a snake, as is the case here in Australia.

I found the same. My boy will have a little chew on them, but I think finds them too hard to make any headway with them and so gives up on them. What other hooves other than cow's hooves or pig trotters can you get and give to dogs, and where can you get them from? My boy might enjoy a chew on them because they are at least chewable, yet tough. He's intolerant to beef (proven by saliva test) so I avoid anything 'cow' and he's been ill on pig's trotters before (and I'll admit they make my stomach turn when I have to handle/see them to give them to him).

Thanks Oakway. But hey ..... life might get boring if my dog didn't keep me on my toes and guessing, wondering, trialling, spending $$$$$ on him, all the time, . Don't think lamb will be the 'thing' for him, not long term at any rate. Not going by his farts. Just watching and waiting atm. But the silver lining is his teeth cleaning up .

I might be a bit slow on reports. Whilst waiting for the arrival of the product, Mandela's body did a dummy spit on the Hills Science Z/D diet (after being on it for 7 - 10 months or more) and I've had to change diet again. Long story short (because this thread is not about him), I've gone back to lamb and after even only a couple of lamb shanks, his back teeth have cleaned up a lot. I'm going to hold off from feeding him the product to see if I can get his teeth back to very clean without needing to add it to his diet at this time. Much depends on how he copes with the raw meat/bones and whether this time his guts remain settled on it.

Mine arrived today.

I purchased and paid for mine (through the EBay seller : net.pet.shop.ltd .... on 9th August. Site says it was posted on 9th August. How long did everyone elses' take to get here?

Funny .... I was wondering why mine seemed to be taking a while to arrive by comparison to others. I've not received anything, yet.

I am inclined to agree with the above, but only to a point and that point relates to individual dogs. See below (*). I think the most important factor is the "boundaries" component. IE The dogs sleeping on human's bed at the human's bidding, not their own. I also know that it is often far more difficult for a dog to learn to only sleep on the human's bed when specific permission to do so is given, when the dog is already well and truly accustomed to getting up there of its own accord anyway. Far clearer for the dog to learn the new rules if taught (a) to stay off the bed; and then, when that is learnt, to teach (b) to be able to get on when invited. (*) My own boy will ONLY come up on my bed or couch when invited. This is how it has been since day dot for him. But it is very clear to me that sharing my personal space means a lot to him in terms of his relationship with me. I notice deterioration of his behaviour and responses to me if I permit him to share my bed too many times in a row, and/or for him to stay on my bed with me completely over-night. I notice a bit of the same when I do similar with allowing him (on invitation) up on the couch with me, although I don't think this is quite as important to him. When I need to back him up and mind his manners, place and respect, not being invited on the couch or bed with me does bear as a factor to his improved behaviour. As a consequence of this, I disagree with anyone who says it makes no difference. Perhaps it doesn't to some. But I can certainly attest that it does to my boy. How many dogs are out there where people simply don't notice direct correlation between "bed/couch -vs- behaviour" ? ETA: I agree with crate training. Doing this makes it possible for errorless "stay off the bed" training.

Thanks, Nekhbet - I think I'd be more comfortable with "stripped" and I'm not sure Mandela would know what to do or do anything with any that had fur on. Just let me know when you have them and we'll sort out getting together. Appreciate it. I have been feeding him just a little fresh lamb meat recently. At first he was reluctant (??? memories of paired stomach pain from earlier days ???) but now he is loving it. I have given him a lamb shank (2 x halves) but funnily enough he seems to enjoy burying them more than eating them. He's so proud and he is very coy about his bury spot .... doesn't like to think I know. Like I go around stealing them back :rolleyes: - yeah, right. I'm keeping quantities really small and watching for a fresh skin outbreak. Yeah - the Vegetarian diet is on the cards, but I'd like to give things one more shot to see if I just stuffed it up the first go around by giving him too much, too soon, and too much variety in too short a period of time which might have led me to inaccurate conclusions about what he finds upsetting.

Mandela has been on so many different supplements. Pro-biotics. Pre-biotics. And more. Would have to go rummaging through the cupboards and records to remember which and what, but I know these things were included, although I don't recall brand/type. We were under the care of a naturopath for a good while (9 months or more ??) but ideas ran out.

Tried that. No go. That's an idea - thanks. I don't recall using those.

Thanks Nekhbet ... I would like to be able to source some fresh organic rabbit meat. I checked with the source I was recently informed of and they confirm that the rabbit meat they get in is treated with Preservative 223. I would like to get Mandela off dry food. No offence to Black Hawk as I believe that as a dry food, it is up there with the best and better of them. Getting to you on a regular enough basis could be a problem, Nekhbet - but I could do a trip to start with and see how things go from there. I would be grateful for the help. If he turned his nose up I'd at least know it was to the rabbit and nothing else whatsoever that was added to/with it. I will have to go look up all the VAN stuff I used, but I know I used the pre-packaged meat combo (for allergy dogs), a powder supplement, and Omega Blend Oil. He went really well on this for about 7 months and then his body did an almighty dummy spit and broke out into full blown hives. After that, he has turned his nose up on any roo meat, including roo tails which I used to supply as bones for him to chew on. Mandela's hives seem to be receding. He is still enjoying the Coconut Oil (which I not only also am eating but am also wearing .... lol, going through it fairly quickly). He's not looking too bad now, but still isn't thrilled with dry food. I don't like that I am basting it with coconut oil to encourage him to eat it - my tendancy is to trust his instincts. But I just had to have him eat something. I'm not sure what meat source is left to be able to be considered a "novel protein" . Hi Shelby-001. Thanks for posting. Seems beef is definitely 'out'. Pork does revolting things to his stomach. I'm not completely sure about lamb - lamb necks were one of the first meats he went off when he was younger .... I'm therefore not overly sure about Black Hawk for him, seeing as it comprises of lamb. It could prove negative with more time, although I hope not. I want to hasten slowly this time around with changing food proteins. I think I'll be less open to so much confusion. Maybe. Mandela is intolerant to cows milk - I'm avoiding anything dairy atm. The Food Intolerence Test that is available is not yet complete. More protein sources will be added to the test to expand it. I'm waiting for the next one to come out. I'm hoping the Coconut Oil proves to be the miracle food Mandela needs. I like to have something I can hang my 'hope' hat on .

Don't know too much about it nor how true the good effects are, but Coconut Oil is something that I'm using with my dog at the moment. Coconut Oil apparently does so much, is good for helping so many things (including irritable bowel; arthritis). I can't attest to it as I've only had my dog on it for about a week and my purpose is to try to soothe and protect a sensitive stomach and/or irritated bowel. It might be something that you might like to at least look into and do some research on. I'm also taking it myself and I must admit that there has been less stiffness than there has been, but it's early days for me too. Just passing this on for anyone's interest, not as a recommendation (yet). Just don't know enough to be able to confidently affirm the results for my dog nor myself at this stage, but things aren't looking too bad atm. If you do choose to try it after having researched, only use virgin - unrefined - organic Coconut Oil. I got mine from my local and favourite health food shop. ETA: I think it is Oakway who has a fair amount of knowledge about natural remedies and may be able to comment on its use.

And that's someone who, when an accident happens, would say "but I WAS right there supervising!" :rolleyes: .

Beef has definitely proven an intolerant food protein, according to Dr Jean Dodd's test (and according to troubles I've had when I've fed it prior to the test), so even though it might be clear of other problem ingredients, it's not something that is likely to sit well with Mandela. I'll take things as calmly and as slowly as I can and will do what is possible to introduce one ingredient at a time. Not always possible, I know. Pure rabbit (not something I was able to source within practicable ways before, but have now been informed of a possible local source) is something that I intend to try next, I think. Just want to give things a bit more time to settle down. Have to see if the current bout of hives disappear before I do anything, otherwise I won't know what they relate to.

...

Got Mandela 'in' to his Coconut Oil coated Black Hawk kibble tonight (it was originally his breakfast). He ate the full quota of 2 cups (representing half of his daily quota, which is my goal amount for him to eat) and looking for more. I gave 2 more cups - he ate perhaps 1/2 cup. Mandela does love food. As a pup he couldn't get enough of it (except I had to hold it back, even though he was a skinny thing, because 3 days of him coming home with me he developed what became severe carpel laxity syndrome) and ate as though there were no tomorrow. He still carries this trait - even today and now, he shows me he is hungry, but unfortunately when presented with the foods he can have that is unlikely to upset his stomach, he is disappointed and not hungry for it. He would absolutely do somersaults for chicken at the moment, but that will bring on a bout of diarrhoea . But I'm happy he has at least eaten some food today and we'll give it a bit more time to see how things settle down before I look at doing anything different. I think the fact that I now don't panic/worry over him missing a meal here and there is very indicative of how much stronger he looks these days. Either that, or I've desensitised, <sigh> lol.

Lol ... yeah - for a long time I've been a bit paranoid about broadcasting good news, except I've found that it hasn't been lasting even when I don't say something, so I figure a whinge/vent or just sharing might as well take place . Mandela's energy level ebbed along the way of his walk, quicker than I'd have expected - but fair enough, he's barely eaten today. Hives still appear to be receding, so there's a plus. Poop (what there is to poop) is ok. There's another plus.

Dr Jean Dodds You can order the Saliva Test Kit on-line. Today's update : I'm having trouble getting Mandela to eat the Black Hawk kibble at all now, even when coated with the Coconut Oil. He still loves the Coconut Oil on its own though. I hope he gives in soon, as he is now beginning to look a bit too thin for my liking.

It is. I think that, especially once it becomes a more advanced/complete test, it will save a LOT of time and trouble. I like that it is not only something that doesn't take much time, but that it is also something that is non-invasive to the dog and helps to remove doubt.