Erny

Subject to what GayleK said above, I just had my boy's teeth cleaned and polished by Dr Bob Cavey - $270.00 for the procedure.

It's ok ..... like someone said - you're cute, so you get away with things .

Can you say that?!!!! Rude AND chatty :p . Edited to add incase above is misunderstood.

Hahahaha ...... I actually wondered what time it was before we left. I wasn't wearing my watch. Yes - I am thought of as 'quiet' by some. :p

Could you hear Huski chatting? lol

Oh no, Nancy ..... we definitely want a picture of THAT. So come on ....... . And I reiterate a very deserved congratulations to you.

Rebus Congrats! What a cute pup.

Good question. I think it was a combo of these things : Skin issues Behaviour The "Behaviour" I wasn't certain about, but with past research that I'd done I couldn't ignore thyroid as having a possible impact on it. Also thought possible 2nd fear impact period - but given the skin issues I couldn't ignore thyroid. Something goes back to Kal days as well (previous girl - avatar - bhcs). I strongly suspect thyroid not functioning properly was the trigger for what was to become her demise, over time. I didn't know back then, in time at least, what I since learnt and researched. I wish I had run a thyroid test on her. So I vowed to not leave it too long for my current boy if I felt there was a possible reason. I was not definite in my suspicions. But I was definite about knowing I needed to either rule it in or rule it out. I hear a lot about allergies - food and/or contact. And the question I can't help but ask myself is "why?". "What is it that has our dogs not being able to cope?" Given that the thyroid is responsible for the proper function of just about every organ in the body, it seems common sense to me to make that the first target of investigations. Of course, there's the other question .... "Why is the thyroid not functioning as well as it should?" But that's a question I can only guess the answer. Is it the commercial diets we've been feeding our dogs over the generations? Is it the pollutents in our air, our drinking water? Is it stresses in life beyond what is natural/healthy? I don't know the exact answers to those things and I do not have the ability to test or do much about.

It's possible that a 'faulty' thyroid could go undetected by a TSH and/or T4. T3, T3aa, FT3 etc. all form a part of a thorough thyroid test. I suspected thyroid as an issue for my boy when he was only around 8 or 9 months. I knew that even Dr Jean Dodd's testing recommended dogs be a minimum of 1 year old, but because of all the things happening with him, both she and I agreed it could be worth checking him even though at that time he was only 10mo. His test results showed negative. Twelve months later (all the while trying to deal with and work through his health issues and symptoms) and I decided to test again. This time the results showed a very low functioning thyroid. I know of someone else who had their dog tested for thyroid. She sent bloods to Dr Jean Dodds and as an exercise of curiousity, she also had the bloods tested here in Aus. Dr Jean Dodds' results showed positive for hypothryoid. Our Aussie tests showed negative. This person's dog is, the last I spoke, considerably improved with the thyroid medication. You're welcome, and of course if you're not sure Dr Jean will not mind if you want to email her with questions that you might have in relation to thyroid function and/or testing. She's a wonderful lady who has never not had time to respond to even the most insignificant of my questions. And her responses are generally very prompt, as are the results of the blood tests (I get mine generally in 1 - 1.5 weeks, and this counts the days taken by Fed-Ex to deliver the bloods to her).

Ditto to this. Putting yourself and your dog in an uncontrolled environment is not (IMO) what your fear nor what your dog needs. Build your confidence by working with your dog in an environment where you know nothing bad is going to occur.

It was a fantastic night, wasn't it? . My congratulations too, to all the nominees and the award winners - well done ..... you're 'up there' because you've made a difference to someone/s and that's a lovely testament to tuck in your pocket in your lifetime . Julie and Leslie and the MDBA for arranging and holding what is very obviously becoming (has become) a prestigious event . No mean feat to organise and have something that ran quite flawlessly and was such great fun. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening : all the people I met and those I'd previously met but hadn't seen for so long, it was great to catch up. Fab people at my table and not a moment when there wasn't chatter (even coming from other table ..... hey, Huski ???? ). Nice to meet Madwoofter, too . It was great to catch up with Steve (K9 Pro) and Al and of course to meet their new daughter Hunter, who handled the big night and noise really well. So many other people that I couldn't list all without risking forgetting to name someone - it was great to have had the opportunity to chat with you . Congrats to Debbie for taking out the category sponsored by Pro-K9 (Responsible Pet Owner Award) and I am very pleased my contribution to that award has gone to someone so well deserving, and a lovely person to boot ;). I hope you enjoy . Well done to K9 Company, who took out the Best Dog Trainer Award. Pretty fierce competition so you've done really well to receive that and should be very proud. Congrats also to Bernadette (Bisart Dobes). I know Bernadette from many many years ago and well enough to know that when she puts her mind to doing something, she aims for a very high standard. Your dogs are a testament to you and you deserve the "Best Breeder" award. Very well done . I could continue by congratulating everyone individually but I'd only be repeating the same over - they were all very well deserved and everyone was very proud to receive them. Alas, there can only be one Award winner in each category. In my books, all the nominees are winners. Well done to all :D .

Lol .... a sock fell off the line and fell on my dog's rump as he walked beneath it, a few days back. He tucked tail, cringed the haunches, shied away and then turned with very perplexed expression to see what evil beset him. I best not use this method if/when I need to distract him away from intent I do not want.

Our Aussie laboratory tests will reveal something if the thyroid issue has progressed to the point that 70% of the thyroid tissue is destroyed. USA tests (Dr Jean Dodds) tests are more thorough and can detect issues a lot sooner than that. Our Aussie analysis is based on the size of the dog. USA tests (Dr Jean Dodds) analysis is based on the size of the dog; the age of the dog; and the breed of the dog.

Oh well. if I must. Ok. Send one over. Lol ..... I have always struggled to go past a labrador puppy.

Lol. It's funny to wish a disease, isn't it? But when your dog's not well, of all the ones which are possible, thyroid is the easiest, least invasive to check for and the easiest and often most successful to medicate for. I know I felt like celebrating when I found my boy to be thyroidic. Yet at the same time it felt wrong to feel that way.

These are the typical clinical symptoms that occur when the thyroid tissue is 70% destroyed. Thyroid dysfunction to this extent is usually what our Aussie tests will pick up. The OS (Dr Jean Dodds) tests are more thorough and can pick up thyroid issues before the thyroid is that far gone. I wondered whether Dermatologists would think to test for Thyroid. I think thyroid test would be the best done first and then dermatologist, if thyroid unequivocally (as possible) found to be A Ok. But not to badger the OP. I've already shared a PM with her and she has a pretty solid plan . Perhaps for other readers though. And as ever, it's only my personal opinion and experience from whence I speak .

I agree with Steve (Post #12) (Still reading through the others). In response to the above, Frufru ..... I have met quite a number of Labrador x Poodles and they have actually been very nice and intelligent dogs. The sample numbers I have met would not form a majority though. Would yours?

It's not a matter of "breaking" instinct. It's a matter of working to condition that instinct to work for and with you. But yes .... it would take your time and the ideal would be that you would be enthusiastic enough to want to try. I'd suggest you give it a try - as the others have recommended, work with and under the supervision of a behaviourist and under that supervision, join in with a training group where you can work in and around other dogs knowing it is a controlled environment. Combine this with obtaining Counsel for yourself to help you through your own fears. This is just a rough plan, to give you an idea of how it is all possible. But if you've made up your mind to re-home, that's certainly your prerogative. I just don't know how easy you will find this to do.

Good post, Kelpie-i and I concur. Although I'm not that old. Lol. (However there are some days that it might feel that way, rofl)

So, is that the point of your posts in the other thread? And what is it that you've found "REALLY" works?

There are so many things in your post that I could respond to, but I don't think the discussion it would raise from there is going to be in keeping with the thread title. However, in reference to the bolded part above, are you asserting that "so many frustrated owners" are the product of trainers? Are you saying that the reason there are "so many dogs with behaviour problems" is also the fault of trainers? I'm not entirely sure where you are coming from and why and that makes it difficult for me to understand or see your point, if there is one. Perhaps an explanation as to why you seem so anti-trainers (even though you've at least acknowledged there are great trainers around) would help? What are your experiences? What do you want training to be like? I agree with Aidan's post above. Who says it's "bad advice"? You?

OT but out of interest, MB ..... did you end up doing the NDTF Course you were looking at doing a year or so ago?

Assuming your dog proves positive for thyroid issue, yes. She will make the suggested medication (thyroxine) level and your Vet should be able to arrange this. Some people have had success in using Aussie International Courier system. Cheaper and easier, so I understand. When I went to use them the fellow I spoke with catagorically insisted that no animal bloods, not even those spun down to serum, were allowed to be shipped by Aussie Post. He even went away and checked with another of his colleagues. Yet there are others (DOL members) here who have had no such response; advice to the contrary; and no issue. Perhaps you might like to look into this?

That's a fairly strong "anti" post, Muddybear - you're entitled, of course, but do you really think it is "most" (that are using unsuccessful methods and who are incompetent and who are idiots)? And I'm not sure what you would mean by being "only interested in the mighty $". Are you talking about fees for classes? If so, what is it that you would expect? Genuine interest. Genuine questions.