caslero

Good point poodlefan - below is the link to the Associate Register application for DogsNSW. Associate Register You will also have to be a member of DogsNSW - application form here

It's pretty basic Huski and done on lead. A group of six or so competitors at a time line up with their dogs sitting in a heel position (you can push their bum in to the sit position). The judge will instruct you all to walk forward..... you move forward with the dog in a heel position for about 5-10 metres, you then about face and place your dog in a sit position (again you can "help" them into position). You then tell the dog to "stay" and walk forward to the end of your lead. The judge will then ask you to "call your dogs". You then call "come" or similar encouragingly and get the dog to come to you eagerly - then get them to sit again.... and that's it!! ;) The aim is to show that the dog is obviously eager to "work" both before and after strenuous activity.

Here's a description from DogsNSW of the Endurance Test: What is an Endurance Test? An endurance test is an official event run under the rules of the RNSWCC. During the test, dogs are on lead and run 20km over a 2 hour period beside a pushbike. The dogs have a 15 minute rest break after 8km and a 20 minute rest break after 14km. Stringent veterinary checks are carried out before the start of the test, during each rest break and at the conclusion of the test to ensure the welfare of the dogs. Dogs also undergo a short obedience test before and after the Endurance Test. Dogs that complete the test to the Judge and veterinarian's satisfaction are awarded their Endurance Test Title, which allows them to use the initials ET after their registered name. Under the Rules, the Object of an Endurance Test is to demonstrate a dog's ability to work after being subjected to a certain degree of physical strain. Achieving the ET title can be seen as evidence of physical fitness. If you're interested, here are a couple of "stories" I wrote on two of my ET experiences: 2001 Endurance Test 2003 Endurance Test

Hey Monelite :D I'm planning on doing it this year with the brown Dobe.... this will be my 4th ET having done it in 2001, 2003 and 2005 :D Haven't started training yet but the dog won't have any probs with his fitness - he runs non-stop around here all the time, will start training him beside the bike soon... might have to get myself fit though!

Tin of sardines or mackerel in oil 2 to 3 times per week on top of usual meal (raw meat and bones). They also get 3,000mg of fish oil (capsules) per day.... dogs weigh @ 30kgs

I give 3 x 1,000mg Fish Oil capsules per dog daily (1,000mg per 10kg bodyweight). I just add the capsules to their dinner bowl and they eat them whole. I also give them 1 x 500mg Vit E capsule every second day. Hope this helps

Congrats on your new puppy - sure sounds she is a little "red devil" Look forward to meeting her

I've done the ET with my two Dobes (in 2001 and 2003) and did it with a friend's Dobe last year. As far as I know, the handler doesn't need to be a member of the RNSWCC and you can swap handlers. You can read more about the Endurance Tests I did with my Dobes at the following links: Link 1 Link 2 Give the ET a go - it sure is fun!

I've seen mentioned on several nutrition lists that the ideal dosage for fish oil is 1,000mg daily per 10kg of bodyweight. I'd say either 1,000mg or 2,000mg per day for your girl would be fine. My Dobes eat them straight from my hand like they're lollies... I'm sure it won't be long before your girl does the same :D

Dremel is the way to go... here is a link to the Doberdawn "How To Dremel" site: http://www.greytalk.com/~jrosenberg/dremel/dremel.htm

Just looked at a receipt from December last year for my boy and it was: Consultation $44.00 1 x Cartrophen $16.50 I seem to recall the 3 other injections (all one week apart) were @ $10.00 each with no consult fee. Highly recommend the cartrophen injections - worked wonders for my boy

My Dobes are 32kg (bitch) and 38kg (dog) and have been raw fed for over 4years. A sample of their meals would be as follows ie: today they had.... AM: 3 chicken wings PM: 1/2 lamb flap and 4 wings (plus some offcuts from my dinner) other sample meals are: AM: 1/2 tin mackerel in oil PM: 1/2 lamb flap and 1 chicken carcass AM: 1 chicken carcass PM: 1 chicken carcass and 3 wings + 1/2 tub of natural yoghurt AM: 6 chicken necks PM: 1/2 lamb flap, 3 chicken wings, 1/2 tin mackeral in oil AM: 1 raw whole egg PM: 1 chicken carcass 1/2 lamb flap and 3-4 chicken livers AM: handful of beef/lamb/pork (whatever is available) mince PM: 4 chicken wings, handful of beef mince and slurp of vegie mix AM: 1 chicken carcass PM: 2 chicken thighs, 1/2 lamb flap, diced lamb heart I rarely feed vegies (approx every few weeks or so - just get some bok choy and defrosted frozen mixed vegies and put in blender with a whole raw egg and a teaspoon of crushed garlic - pour this mix over evening meal). Both dogs get given pears, apples, carrots and leftovers as snacks. Most meals are based on chicken and lamb - both are very active dogs (we are on acreage) so are fed accordingly.... I don't weigh food - if they look a bit thin, I up their intake and vice versa. Both are supplemented with 3,000mg of fish oil daily (3 x 1,000mg capsules) and 500mg Vit E capsule every second day. Hope this helps

My 9yr old boy had a course of 4 weekly injections of cartrophen late last year for arthritis in his front pasterns/feet. We noticed a distinct improvement @ 5 days after his first injection and he continued to improve from there. He's hardly lame at all now and much more inclined to play and run around The vet did say for us to take him in for another course of 4 injections before the real cold weather sets in this year though.

I was on another list today where they recommended adding a small amount of natural yoghurt (or kefir) to their food daily to eliminate gas. The yoghurt aids to production of "good" bacteria in the gut. Someone on the list said that they had run out of yoghurt for about a week and had noticed almost immediately an increase in the amount of gas production. Worth a try

Thanks for that Mana..... just reread the thread and saw the word "lotion" - I have only used the shampoo in the past. Lotion sounds ideal - might get some to keep on hand - thanks again

Yep - it's great stuff! I've used it in the past for "puppy staph" on my Dobes (typically can appear on their neck, chest and upper front legs during adolescence), lather it up, wait 5-10 minutes and then rinse off.... repeat every couple of days and very quickly the rash went away I purchased it from my local vet

Thanks Anne - definitely a better price!.... need to order some soon so I know where I will be going :rolleyes:

I've been using Sentinel for over 8yrs now (adding tapeworm medication every 3mths before it became Sentinel Spectrum). It's great, one tablet once a month and that is the only medication they get.... have never had any problems and have never seen a flea on them in all that time :rolleyes: I buy it online from www.petdirect.com.au - Sentinel Spectrum White for $69.95.

He's home! :D Thanks for all your well wishes.... the vet rang me as soon as he was out of anaesthetic as she knew how stressed I was.... should have seen me dropping him off this morning... I was a blubbering mess! :p He's up and walking and has done #'s 1 & 2 since coming home so everything seems to be working He's just having trouble getting comfortable lying down at the moment - poor guy. The lump was a tumour and the vet is confident that it has all been removed

Thank you LP - can't wait for it to be all over and done with and have him home again

Thanks Morgan and LP (glad your girl is ok).... I think I'm more of a "stress head" than him I've just given him a bath and shampoo so he'll be nice and clean for his big day tomorrow (LOL) and he's had a great time doing zoomies around the backyard afterwards - he probably won't be feeling as energetic this time tomorrow. Re the Vit C - thanks for the info... will definitely discuss with my vet tomorrow. He is on a raw diet and supplemented with fish oil, vit E and I have supplemented with vit C in the past. Will let you know how he goes. Thanks again

Thanks for your comments. I took my boy to the vets yesterday for another check up (one week after lump detection) and already it has grown so he is booked in tomorrow for desexing. Hopefully everything will go ok.... I'll be stressing til he's back home again

I have recently changed to a new vet and took my 8.5yr old boy there last weekend for a general check-up. Whilst examining him, the vet found a hard lump in one of his testes (no obvious outward change in size/appearance at this stage) ..... she's asked me to keep an eye on it over the coming weeks to see if it growing as she said it may just be from an old injury, but felt that at his age it is more than likely a tumour and he will need to be castrated. Has anyone experienced testicular cancer with their boys - and if so, what was the outcome? I guess this is also serves as a good reminder for people to check their older males regularly in that area as well

Thanks for all the info - very interesting. My 8.5yr old boy has problems in his front pasterns/feet. As you can see from the photo below, he has bony growths in his sesamoid bones (started @ 3yrs ago) and now in his left pastern (started @ 6mths ago). The vet describes it as "severe left fore digit medial deviation and carpal medial lump" At the moment he is on glucosamine/chondroitin with MSN and application of DMSO when he is especially bad (he is lame full time unfortunately) - he has been fed raw for the last 4 years. The vet has just started him on his first course of Cartrophen (3 more injections to go) and said that it works very well in conjuction with the glucosamine/chondroitin. She also advised that if he is in a lot of pain we can administer Metacam - and later on may need it full time..... anyone know more on this drug and it's side effects?

My Dobes have black nails also and I have been using the dremel tool on their nails for years with great success. Firstly I borrowed my Husband's Dremel from his workshop which worked well but then he wanted it back Then I had a "cheapie" no-name brand which lasted only a year before it burnt out.... I have just recently got a cordless Dremel 800 (link below). It's great - so much better being cordless as well - gives you much more freedom and great for quick "touch ups" http://www.justtools.com.au/prod3187.htm