lokelani

Yes, my German Shepherd has always had white muzzle I also want to add that most people here who are saying their dog is old - have a 15 yo dog, mine is only 10. My dog is not even 7, and I tell him every second day he is getting old and fat I lost my girl before she was three I think, (she was a rescue, so not sure exactly how old.) and I would do anything to have her back now. She would be about 8 maybe 9 by now. I think you are taking it to heart too much also, but I understand if people were turning their noses up or something like that, but it sounds like they were just general comments in passing, not intended to offend.

I'm so sorry for your loss Nek. Run free gorgeous boy

I'm so sorry to hear about Atlas Teebs, he was a beautiful boy and will be missed terribly. Massive hugs to you Run free Atlas xoxo

I take Bosco to general obedience club and it costs me that for a whole year, which is one class per week and use of the grounds whenever I want. Like others have said, it depends on what you are after, but I find it works for us. Bosco has fun, and we are now training for trialling. I have had a couple of occasions where I have not liked the instructor so much,, but I just asked to be moved to another class. Good luck with your pup :) Edit for spelling because the keypad on my phone is too small!!

Thanks sas. I might give him a go in it tomorrow while I am at work. Boz wears other coats during the day when it is cold and has no issues, but I thought I read somewhere that they should be checked every couple of hours or so incase they start to get sore where the pressure is applied?? It sounds as though that does not seem to be such an issue though so will see how he goes :) Thanks all!

Lovely, thanks Snook :) Bosco is not storm phobic as such, just overall general anxiety. I will start leaving it on him during the day while I am out to see if he is any different when I come home.

I got mine the other week for Bosco. His anxiety has come back with a force since Kyah left and I have had to put him back on his meds because of it to try to keep him a bit relaxed during the day. I have not had a chance to really test it out on him yet, because I don't want to leave it on him all day, but I will see how it goes when we go to training this week. I just watched the link to Dr Harry, and Ned reminds me a lot of Bosco!! I didn't think you could leave the shirts on all day long though due to the pressure?

I'm so sorry wags - I saw the name in the title and my heart dropped. Run free Riley

I made a donation yesterday :D Would love, love LOVe to win the photo shoot with Ruthless... Bosco is a apunk, but I know Ruthless can make him look even spunkier :)

I got goosebumps! Permission to share also please?

Thanks again for all the replies. I have also enquired with Best Friends and have asked to go and see them. Fingers crossed I find one that I like, but it definitely won't be a regular thing. As I said I usually get my brother to dog sit for me and I still intend to ask him when I see him tonight, but he usually goes out of town over long weekends.

See, this is what worries me. Bosco is not necessarily a fighter, but he can be reactive, so I have mentioned this to both places and said that he can not be run with other dogs, just incase. And also the fence jumping. He would have to be supervised carefully if he is allowed to run free. I will have a look at McGregor now. I definintely plan to go and see for myself any place that I intend to leave Bosco.

Thanks for the reply's so far everyone :) I had a quick look at Rover's, and they look fabulous, only they do not do pick ups or drop off's on long weekends. We are due back from our trip late afternoon on the Monday public holiday, and I'm not sure I could live an extra night without my boy :laugh: Will definitely keep them in mind should I need someone again though. And unfortunately with Zoohause, I don't think I could use someone who only 'visits'.. Bosco is a bit of a special needs boy, and when my brother looks after him he actually stays at my house for the duration of the time. Bozzy is a very experienced escape artist so needs to be kept in his run while no one is home, and he can't stay in the house unsupervised as he will destroy it, which I found out the hard way a few years ago. I know I sound fussy, but I don't really want him out in his run for long periods of time with no people to fuss over him, and especially overnight. I know that is what will likely happen in the kennels, but at least he will not be alone so to speak. I have made appointments now to go and see the others, so I will make sure I have a good look and ask lots of questions :)

Hello DOLers, I was wondering if anyone had experience with either Tara boarding kennels or Dogotel out at Hall. I am going away on a work trip in October, and I usually ask my brother to look after Bosco if I ever have to go away, but being a long weekend he will likely be unavailable so have been looking into boarding kennels. This will be the first time I have ever boarded Bosco, so I am a bit nervous about it really. I am going out to visit each kennel over the weekend so that I can see them for myself, but any experiences with either would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! :)

Yes, it is the best news I have had in a while! I saw the vet's number come up on my phone and my heart stopped, then he told me the news and I nearly started to cry :laugh: I'm at my mum's for dinner at the moment, but I know that I will probably tear up a bit when I see him once I get home, I am so relieved and happy! Thank you again to everyone. When I first posted, I was so scared - I have never had a dog with any sort of serious illness, let alone something so scary as cancer, and I was in a bit of a panic about it all. So happy :D

I just thought I would update, that Bosco's pathology results have come back, and the area they took out last week has come back with clear margins Thanks to everyone for the help, suggestions and support :)

Dropped Bozzy off at the vets this morning for the next round of surgery - hopefully the last one he will need. Keeping everything crossed that he comes back with all clear results.

Hey Jodie, Nothing new on Bozzy at the moment, he goes in for the next surgery on Friday this week to take a bigger area from his chest and to do the needle biopsies on the other sites. I should hopefully have those results back before the end of next week, and I will be keeping everything crossed that it all comes back clear. Otherwise, he is good, happy and full of energy. He has not been sick at all so that is always a relief :)

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions guys. It has been really helpful and I am grateful for the support. I think I am going to try to take it a day at a time for the moment, and hope and pray that after this next surgery he comes home with the all clear, and as others have said, being only a grade one, I am hopeful that his chances are good. It's just hard not to worry about the what if's. Thanks again :) sas, I'm sorry to hear about your boy

Thanks Jen, he is a special boy. Thanks for that info too Jodie - I am really hoping that everything goes well from here, and he does not need any further treatment after the next surgery. I have been told that his chances are good being only a grade 1. Bosco is still healthy and well, and I want to do the best by him that I can, I just can't help but get nervous about it.

Thank you for that info dancinbcs, I will defintely keep that name handy should I need it! I was wondering if there was an alternative to chemo! cowanbree, I agree. The thought of having to find the huge amount for chemo is what worried me, where as if he just needs surgeries over time, then I can keep topping up my credit card or savings account to pay for these. I just won't try to think about all those little amounts as one big one :laugh: Thanks again everyone, I appreciate all the comments, advice and well wishes. :)

Thank you Erny, I really appreciate that :) I know I should concentrate on one thing at a time, I am just one of those people that worries way ahead of time. Thanks again.

I know that this is probably more of a personal choice scenario, and of course taking into consideration the well being of the dog, but I was just wondering? My Bosco had three lumps removed the other week, and one of them came back as a grade 1 mast cell tumor. The other two were fine. He also has one on his eyelid that we were going to leave and just keep an eye on it, as at the time of the first consultation, the vet said if it needed to come out then he would likely lose part of his eyelid with it. Anyhoo, took him in to have the stiches out yesterday and at the same time booked him in to have more surgery to the site of the cancerous tumor to have more tissue removed. He has had another growth come up since the first operation on his hind leg, and I also asked if the one on his eye should now come out. The vet said she would check with the pathologist about that one. So, get the call this morning, and the pathologist has recommended taking fine needle aspirates of the one on his leg and his eye, just incase they don't need to come out at all, so he will only be getting the chest surgery done this time around. But, if the new sites come back with cancerous cells, then he will have to go in for yet another surgery to remove them, and I have been told that he will need a skin flap for his leg as it is right on the bone, and his eye will likely have to be removed. He will also have to have any new growths tested/removed as they pop up. Obviously I am hoping for all the results to come back clear, but I am so scared and worried, because if his chest area is not clear, then chemo is the next option (I think) and another surgery if the other area's come back not clear - I mean he is a healthy dog otherwise, but when is too much just too much?? If he does need another surgery, I will do what I can to have him clear and healthy, but I really don't think I can afford chemo. I know I may be jumping the gun a bit, adn there is every hope he will be fine, but I feel guilty already about not giving him everything I can if he needs more and more. Sorry, I just have so much going through my mind at the moment.. ETA: Just thought I should clarify that I am in no way giving up on my boy anytime soon. He will get all the treatment he can within my means, it was more a question of how much surgery is too much, and of course I am worried about the off chance he comes back with dirty margins.

Thanks for putting this up, I was about to come on and ask the same questions!! Bosco has just been promoted to the Novice class at Obedience, so I wanted to get in early and fill in all my necessary forms so that when the time is right, I can start to enter. (I am probably WAY ahead of myself, but I am a little bit excited at the prospect of the so called 'trouble' dog actually competing :laugh: ) The forms I have printed off are the 'ACT New Member Application Form' and the 'Registration of an Associate Dog' form. I think these are the right ones, but will ask on Sunday because there are a few questions I am unsure of too. Thank you!! :) Edit for spelling and spacing malfunctions...

Nothing yet They will probably get a new toy each, and I will attempt to get a stocking up for each of them. Bosco has more fun unwrappnig presents than what is inside, but this will by Kyah's first real Christmas with us, so will be interesting to see what she does. So long as no fights break out, I will be happy