Erny

I'm not sure the exact answer to your question, M-J .... but it would relate, I would guess, at the adversity any animal would suffer if subjected to too much stress.

I am so sorry, RL1 . Strength wishes to you.

My previous girl had a heart murmur which to my knowledge was there all the while (I adopted her at 7yo) but it was so minor it never affected her even into her older age. But, whilst I won't go through the whole story as it is irrelevant to your situation, I will say that we also ended up at Werribee. Back then I saw Dr Russell Mitten - he is brilliant (IMO) but I believe he is fully retired now (he was partially retired back then). As a result of my experience (where prior Vets wrongly diagnosed a "very enlarged heart") I got to understand there is quite a lot they can do to help hearts these days. So hold on, be strong and take one step at a time. I send best wishes to you and your dog for a good prognosis.

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I probably wouldn't have been aware of it had it not been posted here. I haven't watched the YouTube yet as I need to leave to an appointment, but by the sounds of it I say "good on you Nathan". So long as things stick to the facts and not get lost in hysterical propaganda (something that some orgs haven't necessarily been innocent of) then I expect Nathan can stand proud for the movement he's trying to establish. MDBA also are running a petition - not against RSPCA but to have RSPCA accountable to someone or somebody other than nobody. And if RSPCA are doing nothing incorrectly and everything in favour of animal welfare, then from what I can think it shouldn't have any objections to this move.

I don't know, Oakway - it's a thought. Although I imagined using a grass seed thrower/spreader (one of those hand ones) to spread the Bicarb powder over a lawn, if fleas were a problem there.

Yes, I think this goes in the book of "Universally understood words". My boy also understands and responds to my cocked eye-brow, which is generally accompanied with a "I don't think so" look from me.

A dog is alone all day in a kennel anyway, in a cage mind you, alone from breakfast until dinner with heaps of others dogs barking and whining and with MAYBE an short grass break.. to me that is not a great experience. Goodness! I'd not want to send my dog to the type of kennels you seem to know about and of. I could negate every one of the negatives you've raised. And kennels where the dog is alone all day? I don't know any kennel (and I know a few) where that is the case. Generally kennels are so busy cleaning, feeding, moving dogs around, giving meds, washing/bathing the ones who are going home, and so forth that those dogs see humans for more hours per day than they would even when at home with their full time working family.

Lol .... shall I change Topic Title and open it up? Did you know that Bicarb deters ants and cockroaches? (So says THE book). Oh .... and slugs and snails, apparently.

I absolutely agree with this. It's why I think we dog owners who want change need to be almost a bit over the top and exemplary with demonstrating how good our dogs can be (just as you do, Staranais); with being very conscientious about courtesy to others (offering even more than perhaps they need or would expect); and that includes how we communicate to those people ourselves.

Oh .... and as to the "why" ??? I don't know how it began. I think society attitude amplified by much of media attention to 'bad dogs' (so to speak). Perhaps influenced by new cultures (I'm not sure what Aussie culture is anymore, or how much of it there is around) and their attitudes towards dogs??? Complaints to authorities followed by the resultant restrictive laws that now seem to be going a bit out of control??? A trend of attitude. I think the best thing to change the situation would be to change the attitude trend. I've mentioned this before - kind of like how peer pressure made smoking an anti-social act. So we need to make people who don't pick up after their dogs; who don't train their dogs towards good behaviour; who are irresponsible in their ownership of dogs, feel like lepers. Just as I felt when I used to still smoke and needed to nick out for a puff. I think that if this could be achieved (getting the snowball rolling in the opposite direction than it is now is going to be the absolute hardest and longest thing to start) then public opinion could be swayed. Maybe. Just my thoughts.

Lol .... next stop to the supermarket will have me stocking up on a bucket load of Bicarb. Didn't realise so many uses for it, in and around the home, garden and pets.

I'd like to be able to take my dog and have other people take their dogs to more places and be welcome. I tend to agree that here in Australia the dog world is in a spiral going backwards (generally speaking) with our laws becoming more and more restrictive and with that, our freedom to take our dogs to different places with us more and more prohibitive. Dogs brought up in a community where it is common place to visit busy places; learn to sit patiently whilst their owners eat/have coffee; learn to ignore people (this comes with the concept of neutralisation as the people in those OS communities are so used to seeing dogs around they wouldn't crow over seeing a dog so much and the dog wouldn't learn to be so excited and distracted by their behaviour) would be habituated to that sort of environment - it would be considered normal to the dog, no big deal. I take my dog to populated places when I can. Outdoor Cafe's mainly because there's not that many other shops (if there are any at all) to which I can take him with me. Trouble is that sometimes I need to visit one or two other places, which means I need to make a special trip just for him. I could drive and leave him in the car, but not if it is warm weather. And who wants to sit at an outdoor cafe when it is cold? (Although I have done this in the name of Mandela's critical period socialisation/habituation experiences ..... he was born in Winter.) And so it goes that I can't take him where I might want as often as I might want. And so he is not permitted those experiences. I would not want a place where dog poop on the streets is the norm, but I would like a place where dogs with balanced minds and temperaments populated and were an accepted part of community, rather than a society where (even though it fortunately did not get in) a law to ban dogs at cafe's because a dog hair might land in someone's meal had to even be entertained before it could be knocked on the head.

I thought there was a thread by someone asking for natural flea remedies/treatments. I used the search engine and after 20 minutes I can't find it and so I've given up and have begun a new thread instead. I bought a book today about 100's of uses for Bicarbonate of Soda and in it, it says : "Fleas do not like bicarbonate of soda either. You can sprinkle it on your lawn, where they often congregate, believe it or not, or you can sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda directly on to your pet to make sure they don't stay on too long." I don't know about this, its effectiveness or whether there can be an issue with powdering our dogs with the stuff, but thought I'd post it here and ask if anyone has tried this and found it to be helpful. I don't have a flea issue here *touch wood* so can't trial it myself, but I like the idea that something that is otherwise pretty benign might mean being able to avoid the use of a more harmful chemical substance. *Edited for spelling.

I'll send a link to this thread, to those that I know down here. Although Schutzhund is another one of those things down here in Victoria where politics has gotten in the way of the sport being able to be conducted as it should.

Thanks for putting that up. I'm curious about this (highlighted by me) part. I understand (note : definitely don't agree with it) the mutilation of dog's feet to prevent them being used to poach royal game. I also understand why they'd have to agree to not enforce this on dogs used for shepherding etc. But how would docking a dog stop those dogs poaching royal game? Or would it simple be something about making the dogs more identifiable? Anyone know? NB: Apologies to the OP for going OT but this is quite interesting.

Ooooh yes - that would be my first port of call if it were me in your shoes too, Rubeedoo.

Your post (#41) is very interesting, Shortstep. So it seems that docking was not initially introduced for anything related to safety of the working dog; advantageous to the working dog; at all. Where did that info come from?

Me too. Me three. And kudos to the brave owner who would well be feeling as though she is swimming against the tide on her lonesome at the moment.

Your friend needs to engage a trainer/behaviourist who understands and is experienced in working with dog aggression. Until that occurs, advise your friend to avoid those situations which provoke the dog to react aggressively. Every time the dog exhibits this behaviour is another time it gets to practice it. Your friend should not do anything where your friend is likely to incur an injury. What do you mean by "all health checks have been done" ? What health checks, in particular?

That's good ;). It was better re-worded as it said something different. But the main thing is that the OP receives some direction towards some Dog Breeding Courses that will help her and suit her needs. And in this I hope the thread has helped the OP .

No need for apologies, Jed - didn't expect or need one. I agree with you that getting some feedback about things (whether it be courses; trainers; groomers; breeders; ..... even rescuers/fosters) is a huge advantage. And I'm in more agreement with what you've said in this last post - you should find out about things first and it is great if you can possibly find someone who has done the same thing. That's a bit different to what you originally said but now that you've reworded and explained, I'm inclined to agree with you in regards to the above.

There's really no argument now. The course has been recommended. Not that I agree with what Jed originally said (because if that were the case according to you, Jed, no-one would ever or should ever venture into unknown territory), but regardless, it's a moot point now.

I stumbled across a site that advertised a dog for sale. Claimed it as being a Shiba Inu. "Tinker is a quality Shiba Inu, with a fox like appearance and combination of boldness ,calmness , alertness , good nature and gentleness. Shiba Inus are faithful little dogs that love being part of the family. Picked up as a stray and not claimed- now available for adoption." Ummmm ..... Really? Sure. Right.

Ahhh .... get you.