noisymina

Put your boots on when you get up. Maybe coat them with one of those deterrent products. :laugh: Hopefully that will break the habit. More seriously, tho. As you progress with training, teach her commands such as "no" or "enough" and that will help with lots of things. Maybe even "sit" or "drop" and a treat will do as a distraction in the short term.

Hahahaha.... Very good!

I might even have to take you shopping. :)

Ams - please tell her to call or text if there is anything I can do! I'm not very far away, I believe!

Call them both up, ask your questions and get them to send you all the details. THEN we can have some real fun. :)

Only when I'm trying to clip her. :laugh:

And all the claims made add up to the premiums charged. With some added for administration , profits, and paying telemarketers like the guy who called me yesterday from that company! It's all in the figures. Whether or not it is worth it to an individual depends on circumstances and choice. Personally, I don't see any value in pet insurance. I'm intrigued by this statement. Do you insure your car? Insurance is there for an emergency, it's value is in the peace of mind it gives you that no matter how expensive a treatment option may be, you can make a decision purely on the interests of the dog, not your finances. That's why I have it anyway. Yes if you never make a claim you could consider it wasted money but that is the nature of insurance, no one has a crystal ball. Personally, for us, there is no value in pet insurance. The money we have "saved" by not paying pet insurance over the last 30+ years is actually quite substantial. We do have resources available which would cover any emergency. We only have one dog, not multiples of them either. That is our situation. I'm not inferring that it is, or should be, the same for everyone. The car is far more "valuable" than the $ we could conceivably spend on our dog. Not to mention the damage we are covered for in case of accident - to us, our car, other people, their car and any other property damage. Once a car gets past a certain age/value, we revert to Third Party Property, Fire and Theft and drop the comprehensive. House and contents are covered too. That does not mean ALL insurance is a good thing. The H&C goes up by a substantial amount every year and every year we re-assess and decrease cover or increase excesses etc. Insurance companies are out to make profits. They pay actuaries huge fees (out of our premiums :laugh: ) to make sure they win. We have to do our own risk assessments. Individually.

And all the claims made add up to the premiums charged. With some added for administration , profits, and paying telemarketers like the guy who called me yesterday from that company! It's all in the figures. Whether or not it is worth it to an individual depends on circumstances and choice. Personally, I don't see any value in pet insurance.

I started out with an older dog - with needs - and have never looked back. I actually prefer taking on an older dog. One we got was an obedience "champion" before she was re-homed. The last Dobe was a real handful - but became sooooo beautiful! I get a great deal of satisfaction from gaining the trust and loyalty of an older dog. Old dogs DO learn! I'm one of them! :laugh: Horses for courses. What suits your situation, time available (long term), the effort you are willing to put in - etc.

My new girl does this too. My two sons have actually made it worse, which has not helped! More a case of training them than the dog! At least one is now working away and the other visits infrequently. But when he does, she thinks it is great to get bark practice in. HIS fault for stirring her up rather than ignoring it. She thinks it is a game. We have some success with distraction training. At one point, I had my brother sitting on the kitchen floor, with his back to the dog, offering her treats. :laugh: My little grandson comes straight to me for treats to give her now. The way to her heart (and to distract her from the barking) is to give her a few treats. UNLESS you are my son, of course! She is learning the "quiet" and "enough" commands and on occasions I have crated her if she is not paying attention to me and over doing it.

I got a burn from one lead when Kaisie lunged one day - lesson learned! I was then supplied (by a nice Doler who made them) with a soft, plaited Roo leather lead - right length so it can't have too much slack to pull through and and the "handle" on the end. Be aware that a lot of materials will burn your hand (including rope)when the dog lunges - either wear gloves or get a leash of appropriate materials and length. If the leash burns well enough, you will let go! I was lucky. the dog did not lunge too seriously.

Funny - I read most of this thread wondering why keep playing tug when it is counter to the action wanted? I stopped playing tug with Woo and am slowly teaching her to "give" me other things eg her balls. And it is taking a long time! :laugh: But we are getting there. I fully expect that at some point we will get back to playing tug - and the "give" will then work with it too.

Awesome higher level thinking! That is problem solving, not just "instinct".

You're right Mrs RB, any money that's donated goes to the rescue dogs. I'll bet you ten bucks that someone would nick the Staffy anyway :laugh: :laugh: Yep - they probably would!

This is mine. She grabs stuff I can't even see in the grass. Often I can tell she is zeroing in on one and can pull her away - thus harness for walking now - but she still gets a few. Can't go over 5 acres and pick up every duck, bird, cat, possum, koala etc etc poo there is! :laugh:

This made me laugh. :laugh: I can't say I have ever been able to "hide" treats from any of the dogs I've had. :D

I'm over 60 and have always been ok with grooming but I am now teaching myself to clip as well - due to lack of acceptable grooming outcomes nearby. I'd have to travel quite a distance to take her to a good groomer. It's a hobby I never planned on but am finding very interesting/satisfying. It does help if the dog is smallish. The point I would like to make is that it is not really a matter of age alone. Anyone can have medical issues etc. Dog friendly accommodation can be found, although not as easily. If there are back up plans for the dog's care if needed, all the better. Support with it's care can be organised too - in case it is needed. The lady has just retired. The choice of whether or not to take on a dog has a lot to do with her plans for retirement, the activities and hobbies she wants to pursue etc. A dog - or two - may well be part of that. But then again, they may not fit in with her goals. That is more important than the age aspect IMHO.

Does your mother actually want to take on a dog and be committed to it?? Does she want to go through bringing up a puppy? I'm not much younger than her, and I thought long and hard before taking on a new mature-age dog. Came very close to not doing so. Make sure that is actually what she wants. And if she does, I'm sure she would have a breed in mind. Ask HER what breed she wants, not us!!

*adds Banana to the list* Mine does not just nibble from time to time. She is obsessed! Changed from walking in collar to harness because I have to keep pulling her away from it. It is everywhere here. Not necessarily dog poo - cat, ducks, bush turkeys, foxes - you name it! The Wild Forage is on my "wish list" at Vet-N-Pet to come in the next order. :D Pineapple cubes are in the freezer to go with each meal! She loves it!

:) Poor guy. Totally agree. I think there is a good chance he will survive this massive trauma.

I can't remember, tlc. Just a few months. DiscoDobe, there used to be a Doberdave - or something like that - a long time ago. I can't remember, tlc. Just a few months. DiscoDobe, there used to be a Doberdave - or something like that - a long time ago. DoberDave is a mate of mine, top bloke. Unfortunately Troy permabanned him. Let DoberDave back Troy. Cool. Mantis - please say "hello" for me. I miss DoberDave. Although he probably does not remember me. :laugh:

We had a dog at the vets once and they wanted her to eat before sending home. Eventually they sent her home anyway and the first thing she did was hoover down the food. They were right! She was just pining for home. We decided to give it an extra day and then see if he should come home. You're probably correct in what you say, but I just don't want any complications and prefer to have him at the emergency than home just for now. He is very attached to me and I have not been in to see him because I think the stress on when when I leave him there may upset the applecart. Oh for sure! Wait and see for a while. If you do try it, just do it in the morning and if eating is a problem, go straight back.

We had a dog at the vets once and they wanted her to eat before sending home. Eventually they sent her home anyway and the first thing she did was hoover down the food. They were right! She was just pining for home.

My DH used to say that Kaisie was taking me for a walk. Which was probably true about 50% of the time. Given she was a total steam train to start with, I used to think that was a compliment! To walk her at all was an achievement! :laugh:

:rofl: