Scarlet

I went through one catagory 3 and a few red alerts with a staffy cross. She never reacted at all. Though she was possibly the most laid back dog I've ever known. Even when we sat up all one night in terror she slept through the whole thing.

Lovely photo. I gather your Mum is back home. I hope she (and you) are doing well

The RSPCA are running a shelter from the Rockhampton Red Cross evacuation centre but apparently they are fast running out of spaces. The radio said they have over 30 cats and 20 dogs but they are also calling on locals to foster them. Also on today's radio it was announced that in Theodore (the entire town was evacuated and I believe many pets were refused evacuation) council, SES and RSPCA workers were going around in boats and walking and swimming through houses to feed some animals. I think there are some wonderful people trying to protect as many animals as possible.

I have border collies - so a walk without question

I've had a dog attacked in an off leash park-I managed to grab one of the dogs legs and flung it as far as I could. I think this shocked the dog enough not to come back! The dog was about 20kg. I have NEVER gone to an off leash park since if any other dogs are there. If other dogs turn up I go home immediately. This doesn't help with socialising but that's OK. I have 2 dogs and they play together. If I'm walking and an unleashed dog comes up I stand in front of my dogs and growl quite /very deeply at it. So far this has worked but I don't think any of these dogs that I've come across have been agressive.

She really needs to see your vet and you are not overacting - you know your dog better than anyone.

Another quite interested in this thread! Checking out the website now. Charlie hates thunder, I can calm him when I'm home but I worry when I'm at work. Someone post if they have used it on cats. I have 2 cats but 1 just doesn't like the other and I have to keep them separated in the house - not an easy task. If Gypsie didn't run I know Forrest wouldn't chase her

This is a "bugbear' of mine as I believe most pet dogs can only be asked to be watch dogs. That is they alert you to something different. Some might step up and actually do some protecting but unless you have a professionally trained guard dog you just can't expect too much. Having said that male dogs can have a deeper bark than females so that can be a deterrent. But if you already have a female dog I believe that dogs of opposites sexes "usually" get on better together so I would get a male.

I'm so sorry that your girl has had such bad health. I have had a few dogs with lumps - and especially from middle to older aged dogs. They have all turned out to be Limpomas (sp?) and been easily treated. I'm pretty sure they are very, very common so hopefully this is what your girl has. I think in my dogs they have all been biopsied then left. I had a foster dog who had his Limpoma removed because it was HUGE and rubbed when he walked, otherwise they are often just left. My best wishes for good news from the vet.

When I was about that age, 10/11 yrs, my family got a Shetland sheepdog (Sheltie). He was perfect for 3 young girls. I took him to obedience and he was very smart and easy to train. They do need quite a bit of grooming and I have heard that some are barkers although ours wasn't. Again some have a reputation as being very/too shy but ours wasn't. I would be picky choosing breeders-but that is like all dogs.

I only have 2 now but have had 3 and 4 dogs in the past. I don't know if it was good management or luck but when I had multiple dogs it was whan I lived "in the bush" on large parcels of land and before I had children. The dogs had a fenced 2 acre house block and played well together so did a lot of self exercising. On weekends we were always outside and usually on the river so the dogs continually swam and ran around - all off leash. These dogs lived on Pal with a lot of cheap lamb that we got from neighbours. They slept on hessian sacks outside or human beanbags in the house. They all rode in the back of the ute. The dogs were very healthy - we had a few accidents - broken leg, fish hook through nose - but apart from that no illnesses. But I know we didn't protect against heartworm or ticks so a HUGE savings there! I don't know if preventives were around or not but the vet never mentioned them. I know when we had a single dog, some 12-15 yrs later we used heartworm and tick prevention. Must have been because of a vet's recommendation. We were also in another part of the state.

I've had some pretty rough and tumble dogs over they years and I certainly wouldn't worry about their play if both dogs are happy and one is not hurting the other. In my experience most dogs adjust their play to the level of the other one so my rough dogs have played very gently with smaller dogs, pups and cats. Of course they need supervision, especially in the early days.

Nothing better than mud running

I don't have air conditioning so the dogs have to go without too :D I think most dogs can cope with shade, access to water and rest when its hot. I prefer them outside when I'm not home because they can move around to find the coolest spot, especially if a breeze springs up.

Thank heavens it is over!!! Hopefully the poor woman can have some peace now. I'm sooo pleased it didn't go past a mention. Another who would like to know if she needs some assistance with costs and who also understands that it is none of my business and I too an asking out of order.

Ipswich to Toowoomba is about 100kms and about 1 hrs drive depending on where in the cities you're driving..

I have previously looked into it. In Qld you must take the pup to regular training / puppy school sessions at the centre. This was, I think, weekly for 6-8weeks then monthly as the pup gets older. They also visit you "regularly" or whenever you ask for assistance to assist you with raising the puppy" I got the impression that they would check with you more often if you were new to them, which I completely understood.

This came to me by e-mail and I thought I'd share it. I have NO idea if it works but I can't see any harm in trying it. Tick removal Spring will be here soon and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. Give it a try. Please forward to anyone with children... or dogs, or anyone who even steps outside in summer!! A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!! I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc. Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.

The DOGS get bathed about twice a year. usually at the car wash-I do wipe the tub out with tea tree oil before I use it though. such spoilt dogs!

Keep the grass cut and don't have piles of "junk" around that the snakes can use to hide in. Don't have chooks or birds as they and their food attract snakes as does leaving dog food outside.

My dogs usually get walked 5 days out of 7. But them sometimes they may get 2 or 3 in a day-it depends on lots of things. Rain doesn't stop us but extreme heat does - then we usually walk at 4/5am or 9/10pm. Or I might drive to the river so they can have a swim.

There are ferns, ivys and conifers. Philodendrums and cycads have "flower cones" but I don't think they attract bees. Quite a few hedging plants don't have flowers or don't if you keep them well trimmed. Flaxes and agaves don't flower often and when they do it is usually on long spikes that you could cut off before they open.

It is councils - local legislation - that limits the number of dogs walked by one person. I think it is 4 in most parts of the country.

No but I have heard of it happening with humans and it is a relatively minor op. I'm sure you'll be amazed at how well he recovers. Good Luck

Totally agree with this part ;) I think it's really important to provide leadership to your dog. I don't think that should mean that you are forceful or intimidating, but that you are someone your dog respects, trusts and looks to for guidance. You set the rules and control the resources. You dictate what behaviour is and isn't acceptable. I don't think trust and respect can be developed by pinning your dog to the ground and growling in it's face, but it is a great way to get bitten :p Agree with this too. I have always had multiple dogs and found that there has always been a pack structure. The dominant dog rarely fights for his place and does use body language and LOOKS to put the others in place. My current bitch is an expert at this! In my experience the dogs usually sort it out themselves and it rarely comes to a physical challenge, though maybe I have been lucky. I believe I've always been the leader and a glance from me can work wonders sometimes too I have never hit a dog though I will admit to yelling in frustration the odd once or twice. The alpha roll sounds stupid, dogs know when you are not happy with them without having to roll them!