pebbles

My two, although not puppies now, will hold on for about 12 hours overnight during winter. They can go out through a doggy dog if they need to but they don't fancy that if it's cold and/or wet. Couple of sooks lol.

Constant supervision, toileted separately, calm dog (thank goodness) and, of course, the nickers lol.

Ahh that's why I didn't remember posting a reply lol!

My post was just my personal preference. I'm not likely to breed any litters again but would have to have another think if ever I did. I can see the need to desex some pets, both pure and cross, as there are some people who just don't care and/or are looking to make that 'quid'. That person who started the designer dog fad has a lot to answer for

I only have two dogs now, both middle aged, and when I pop off (not yet for a while, I hope) it's in my will that they are PTS.

Don't believe in desexing either sex of my own dogs/bitches. Unnecessary invasive surgery. Most of my dogs have been show dogs so left entire but even when retired aren't desexed. Never had any health problems related to being entire and never had any dogs going mental when the girls are in season, not hard to manage the girls when in season. JMHO.

Totally agree with Nekhbet. Mins like to rule the roost. I've got an eight yo entire male and, boy, does he take some keeping in line.

Thanks poocow

Is there anywhere on line with the results, please?

One beach incident I'll never forget!! Friend and I took our dogs for a day at the beach. Everything was going great, dogs having a lovely time until friends Irish Setter decided to just keep swimming out. All the whistling, yelling and coaxing didn't work. Friend had to rush along the beach and get a guy with a boat to go out and get the silly dog. Heart attack time! That dog was never off a long lead at the beach again lol.

Bendigo topped at 41d and at 4pm was down to 40d. Too hot for this old lady, let alone the dogs lol.

Over the years I've had a number of different breeds but the Afghans were the ones which always amazed me with their ability to figure out problems - obedience, not so good but free thinking, brilliant!

My point/s is that you are giving a very one-sided view of the Harness Racing industry. It reads that every horse is a bucket head, they all get bad treatment, no-one ever wants them when they are finished racing etc. I said that unfortunately some do end up at the doggers, this will mainly depend on what the owner wants done with them and some can just be too rattle-headed to make a good ride. Son who is training and driving spent quite a few years stabled/worked at Orange/Bathurst with other trainers and he would be the first to reject cruelty by others. Thought a few photos might show that they aren't all bucket head ugly. BTW - The guy/girl on horse back at the tracks are called Clerk of the Course.

BlackJaq, certainly am not going to argue with you but what the 'hobby' trainers do could be vastly different to a what a professional trainer does. Much like a novice trying to teach top level obedience. Your references to 'punishment' scars''outrider' etc. have me a bit puzzled as these aren't known/accepted in the horse world I frequent. Must find the photos of some of the horses we trained.

BlaJaq - I didn't 'work with' any trainers - my OH was the trainer! We trained for a lot of owners the majority of whom had homes for the horses after the track. Pacers/trotters aren't trained with cruelty. Don't know where you are but there were a number of stables in the Victorian area we were and we were heavily involved with the game. OH trained and drove, 2 sons drove, 1 son is still training and driving now and I can definitely say there was NEVER any cruelty involved. Sheesh, the horse welfare was paramount, spent many a night waiting for a mare to foal or checking if one wasn't well, that was my job as the men had the day work. Guess we all have our opinions but mine are based on over 20 years of constant involvment with these horses. TEELA - he's lovely, reminds me of Mel (race name Melriki) that my daughter learnt to ride on.

Sorry, BlackJaq, I can't go along with your description of the training etc of the Standard bred. Been involved with them for many years, right through from foaling to training and racing. Many of our horses were broken to saddle and ridden around the bush as well as track work. Some of our horses wore a lugging pole or a burr when doing fast work or racing, never had one injured actually these are used to stop the horse running with head on the side becoming unbalanced which if allowed can lead to cross firing and/or knee knocking so they stop injury without hurting the horse. A lot of horses have gone back to their owners as riding horses for the family. My daughter learnt to ride bare back on a 16h horse who was the kindest, gentlest animal. Ok some do end up at the doggers but none of ours did, owners generally wanted them after racing was over and we always had people lined up wanting a saddle horse. Will have to find some of the horse photos, they're not all ugly (maybe I'm biased lol).

The police have confirmed it's not the dog in the picture. The child was asleep in the bed with her Mother when the dog came in and attacked. Few things on there that I can't follow? Poor little girl R.I.P.

Well, got the walking machine home, set up this am. Mickey jumped on with it not going and said 'where's the food', Abby hopped on/off and said 'where's the door'. This evening I took some of the banned food (smackos)Mick was happy, he walked at very slow speed (his weight is ok) then Abby got on (not going) had a bit of bribery then I started it on very slow and she actually walked a short distance with me waving a piece of smacko in front, did that twice. So I reckon we'll get there soon and be able to discard the bribery.

I would rather be feeding meat and then the vege as filler but this weight just has to come off. Hoping with the basically vege diet and the walking machine this will get some results. Abby is 5 years old and has never really been into playing, she would rather a good bush walk. With this being a hot area and this summer predicted to be very hot, just have to reduce her weight. Next big town shopping trip I'll look to get some other meat to add - mince was in the freezer, people grade, supposedly lean. Maybe blade steak with fat cut off? Crisovar, you think I should get rid of the dry food? Giving just a small amount hoping it will help cover any losses from the diet she's on. Once the weight goes (hopefully) then I'll go back to a more balanced diet and maybe I'll be able to start the walking again (I hope!). Thanks everyone for all suggestions.

Update - Meal is now boiled cabbage, grated raw carrot, raw peas and beans with a very small portion of mince, still about a spoonful in mass and very small amount of BlackHawk dry. I'll up the cabbage soon, wasn't sure how she would take it. Tossed the Smackos, carrot stick or apple piece for any treat. Chicken neck about twice weekly. AND picking up a second hand treadmill on Friday so wish me (and Abby) luck lol.

Great idea, Leah82, I'll make some enquiries, maybe someone around has one to sell or loan.

That's lovely, Jed. Ben, my Border Terrier was a special boy. I used to take him and the others to the old racecourse out of town for a free run. Ben was always pottering behind. After I had to have Ben PTS I couldn't go near the racecourse for ages then one day I took the others down for their run. They acted strangely, kept running back along the track. I could feel Ben there behind us. This kept happening every time we went there and I'd talk to Ben. As summer came on and I didn't go there because of snakes, one evening I told Ben that we wouldn't be back for a while and he could rest now. I did go once more a while later and didn't feel Ben's presence then. I still miss that boy dreadfully.

Thanks for those ideas - cabbage, veges, no Smackos, dry food one piece at a time - I'm going to read all those to Abby then she can hate DOL instead of me lol. Unfortunately there's really no-one here to walk her, wish there was. I was driving the dogs down to the old race course for a free long run, tried it since I can't walk now and the silly devils jump out, have a pee then sit down waiting for me to go. Not happy doing that now anyway with summer here the snakes will be about. The chasing the ball/toy works for one run up the yard then she looks at me as if to say, "your turn"! If one of these "Specialists" don't come up with something to fix me, I swear I'm going to my Vet, reckon he'll do a better job!!!

Have a weight problem - Abby, 5yo Silky needs to loose at least a kilo. I've changed and cut her food back, evenings she has a tablespoon of wet food,(My Dog) the same of Blackhawk dry, couple of nights a week fish oil capsule, a small chicken neck twice a week. The neck nights the wet is cut back a bit. Used to feed chicken mince but felt that wouldn't help with the weight. A 10mg tab of Allersoothe (or Phenergan) daily for a contact itch. This works 80% of the time but if she needs a boost then 5mg of Microlone. This would only be about once a fortnight, often longer. Maybe a half of a Smacko during the day for a treat. She is sure she is being starved. Due to a stupid health issue I have I can't walk the dogs now, used to average a mile a day so I realise this has a bearing on the weight issue. She's not into chasing a ball etc in the yard and because I have to rest a lot she is resting with me. Any ideas, suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

Some may remember a while back my son's girl had three dead pups. She was about 7/8 years at this time if I remember rightly. She had been speyed as a young bitch. Males had never been attracted to her in all those years. Vet advised that there may have been some tissue left behind. Son decided against operating and just kept an eye on her and there's been no sign of a season since then. One of nature's mysteries.