pebbles

I'll join you there BD. Not going to take mine either We'll end up in the 'News' thread

Well aware of what a full spey is. Son has had dogs for years, mainly bitches which were always speyed as was this one - anyway she came back from the Vets with the usual operation signs. Having got to her age, at times running with entire dogs, without any pregnancies or signs of a season, something must have taken a long time to develop.

There's a bit about it in Health etc. September 24 '09 under "Phantom Pregnancy - with Lactation". Sorry I don't know how to post a link to a topic. I think there was a separate thread somewhere but this one gives the general outline.

Some may remember me posting about my son's 8yo speyed girl producing 3 pups? Apparently a botched spey is not so unusual?

Oh my gosh, Len Goffin was my Chief Steward at the Gippy shows I ran for many years starting in the early '70s and his wife Joan always ticket wrote for me. Haven't seen either for years. If anyone sees them and remembers, please say 'Hi' to them from Fran from Warragul. ETA - I had a great band of Stewards for the Warragul shows - Len Goffin, Tony Syme, Vic Hewitt, Wally Rice, Don Watkins,Mick Mooney and Peter (can't remember his surname, had Corgis).

Wow, that was nice and easy - although Ziva probably didn't think so - wish I had a trip to Melbourne in the near future, would be visiting very quickly lol. Now you have to get camera happy please.

Betadine, as you did, and just keep an eye on it. I've occasionally knicked a foot when scissor trimming feet. A spot of Betadine and never had any problem.

Cancel - there's always next week. You may think he's fine but dogs are pretty tough and don't show if they are just off colour too much.

Sheesh, the first litter is hard - to panic or not to panic. My first litter was Afghans and I did a panic at about 2am - Vet was not impressed lol. On the phone to the poor guy saying the pup's stuck when out it came followed by 5 more bubs, easy as anything. Will be waiting for all the good news! ETA - You were typing as I was - it's fun, isn't it?

I've always used those ones but when I got Abby I as given a set of the scissor type. Must admit I find them easier to use but Mickey has a fit if I try to use them on him so I use the original type.

Just a query - the implants when used for chemical castration cover either a 6 months or 12 months span. If you used the 6 monthly perhaps that's why it's wearing off?

Mick will start with a gentle paw on my leg but if that doesn't get any action the paw gets impatient and starts scratching harder and harder until attention is given - not a nice feeling when this old girl is wearing shorts because of this stupid weather, only in the house, don't want to scare anyone lol. Abby stands and stares at me, then there's a soft whine, then a bit of a grrrr which esculates to a high pitched yap if the soft approach isn't working. Sheesh, I'm well trained

I grew up right in middle of Melb. 'burbs and wouldn't swap my 'way out back of beyond' for anything lol. When I go to Mildura shopping I drive past all those rows of streets with neighbours all around and wonder how they do it, yet I have friends who shudder at the lack of theatres, shopping malls, etc when they visit lol. My guys go everywhere with me, a bit restrictive sometimes, 'specially this weather.

Oh Nekhbet, that sounds like a lot of fun but it's a bit hard when you live next door to the 'never-never'. I have to take youngsters at least 40ks for them to see more than two people at a time and that's only on livestock market day.

Hehehe not here, Miss Helena. If they're not big, tough workers then they aint dogs

I think the actual situation of the yard has to come into it as well. If you are talking the average suburban yard with 6ft fences on 3 sides and the house on the other then getting out regularly is essential. My guys haven't had a lead on since their last show a couple of months ago, no way will I take them walking in the heat and it's still hot overnight. I have 2 house blocks and the spare one has mesh wire on the front. They run there morning and evening while I watch them, scared of snakes, I am , with a view of the goings on in the street, people, bit of traffic, loose dogs (grrr), etc. They survive quite well with this. Cooler weather we go for long walks through the bush about once a week.

Supposed to top at 43 today but it's there an hour ago, don't think I'll check BOM again, just pretend it's not getting hotter. I'm another who is a bit scared of a clam shell in the yard attracting snakes which we get enough of. Abby would love one I'm sure, Mick reckons water's only for drinking, but she has to manage with the following in the kitchen - Enough water over the floor from that, I can imagine what a clam shell would shed.

Spot, glad to hear your littlies are OK. I had a huge ant problem here, mainly outside, if you stand still your legs turn black. I had been using a sheep fly treatment but was unable to get it this summer. I heard/read that ordinary talc powder would work. I had a container of cheap and nasty so used that on the ant trails and around areas where I didn't need the little devils - amazing - it works and my yard smells so sweet lol. Could be worth a circle around your dog runs?

I'd never had a dog distrubed by thunder, fireworks or guns until a few months ago the farmer over the back was shooting his shot gun at something. Abby had not taken any notice of really loud thunder up until the shotgun blasts and she started shaking and pacing then the next storm she was the same. Last night we had a huge dry storm, thunder and lightening for about 3 hours. Naturally the power went off so I sat on the verandah with the dogs and watched the light display. About 11pm the kids over the road started letting of small crackers. Abby was a bit upset but by the time the evening was past, she was sitting watching the lightening and taking no notice of the noises. So a good start to the year for her.

It looks like your dog has a chocolate colour coat and just the sun can play havoc with some. My chocolate Min Pin girl spent summers being told to stay inside out of the sun. Her colour was normally a rich shiny chocolate but a few days between shows out sunbaking and she would end up a lovely burnt dry orange. Could be worth a thought as well as adding some oils to the diet.

My old girl was named 'Pebbles ' by her breeder as she spent all day picking up pebbles and bringing them inside. Thankfully she didn't chew them and grew out of the habit at about 5 months.

If at all possible size wise then I totally recommend a crate. I've used them for years but I've always had a van type vehicle so size wasn't an issue. The dog/s travel safely and all mine have loved their crate travel, been a lot of miles, took 3 from Victoria to Darwin and that trip really sealed my faith in crates. Fairly warm day, miles from anywhere and naturally I get a flat. I was able to put the dogs out under a tree safely in their crates while I changed the wheel which took me quite a while

I've only once had a big flea problem - moved to a new (old) place, cats had been living under the house and the fleas were in the ground. Used Malathion wash on the dogs, bedding etc. and got a pest exterminator in to do the ground. That was about 15 years ago. Came home from a show once with a couple of fleas but always check the dogs when I arrive home so they were quickly dispatched. Apart from those 2 incidents, never had a flea on any of my dogs. eta. I'm another who never uses any regular flea treatments.

Sorry to hear that your poor pup has suffered this reaction, hope it all heals ok. When apparently any dog can have a reaction to these chemicals at any time I wonder why they keep getting used?

Sorry Cavalier - I meant that I've never had any of the other problems, ie- cancers, allergies, metbolic, other side effects etc. Did have the one case of parvo when it was rife in our area. At the time I had a number of dogs and pups and the Gordon was the only one who got it so I guess her immune system was down as she had been immunised although she then lived to about 12 years without any other problems. I can believe the dog numbers in some of the indigenous communities, seen quite a few in the NT. You're doing a great job to get so many immunised