Kaz

The dog is often left with the ducks with no problems. This was the first time he was left while the family was away from home for a long period as far as I understand

One of my rescue dogs, a 10mnth old male bordercolliexlab was rehomed recently to a lovely family. He has settled in perfectly except for the one critical issue. When left alone yesterday he rounded up the ducks and then started to play with them. The ducks are ok but are very the worse for wear. Apparantly minus a lot of feathers. The family are devastated that they may have to return Marley and are hoping for some help so that they can trust him not to destroy their livestock. He is not acting aggressively towards them - it is simply play behaviour but that can't continue. I was hoping I could maybe put them in touch with someone who may be able to offer some helpful advice.

I'm one of those annoying mums who spits on a tissue and wipes their ked' faces as soon as they see any gunk. Or if I don't have tissues handy, I just spit on my finger and use that

Thanks Rappie. I was just told there is a new vaccine on the market which means all puppies only need the one shot if this is used.

I too have a vaccination question. A foster pup went to get her vaccination from a vet we don't usually use. She is 16 weeks old and as far aw we know, this is her first vaccination. He gave her a C3 and told me her next was due in a year. Does this sound right to you?

No Cosmolo. Unbelievably pup has been rehomed. To a vet of all people. She knows his problems and is happy to work with him. If it doesn't work out, I still have my hand up to take him on. Fingers crossed on this one - I'm a little disappionted as I was all geared up to take him. Thank you for your help though and if it doesn't work out, I will be emailing you straight away for advice.

I've read Jan Fennell's book. I even have half of it left after a foster dog decided to have a snack Will hopefully take him later this week as the renovaters have just ripped out two walls and a bathroom and our house should be put back together by then. I don't want any jackhammering while puppy is here.

Thanks Cosmolo. I've done a bit of work with a fear aggressive adult so I have a basic idea of the concepts but have never done anything like this with a pup - and one that is not showing aggression at this stage, I have to add. Most of the hard work was already done by my dog's foster mum, but I had to smoothe out a lot of rough edges (with help from k9 force). I don't like the idea of flooding - best left to the experts. Slow and steady is my plan. I think I need to understand a bit more about puppy develpment. I'm not a real puppy person myself and have very mimimal experience.

Thanks Cosmolo. We are going to try him at my place later this week or early next week. If it works I can get some video on my camera

Keep the helpful hints coming guys. I'm afraid we have no behaviourists in our group.

We're not wonderful - the pup is absolutely adorable! Wish I'd got him as a foster from the beginning he's so cute. The only halfbaked plan I have is not to baby him and encourage his fearfullness. gradually give him exposure to more new things and give him lots of encouragement. It might not even happen as he may be too terrified of my dogs for me to even take him. He hasn't met them yet. And they are VERY big

Train him not to take the washing off the line while you're there, and don't put any washing out when you're not until the training sticks

A friend has a rescue pup who is extremely fearful. In fact he is terrified. He has been this way since he arrived and hasn't improved at all. He is basically scared of anything new - people - dogs - all situations. He is ok with his siblings and carers, but that's it. My concern is that if this is not addressed, she could end up with a dangerous dog on her hands. I am going to attempt to bring him to my place and work with him on socialisation. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this?

I agree, no antibiotics for kennel cough unless it turns into an infection. And you will know if that happens, the dog will have green slime oozing from its nose and the mucous can sometimes even be bloody. There will probably be listlessness as well. The Manuka honey is something I am going to try next time around. You can use a cough mixture but NOT a cough suppressant as you need to get all that gunk up rather than have it sit on the chest and turn into pneumonia.

Aloveen of course!

My Wolfhoundxrotti had a triple pelvic osteotomy on one hip with resounding success. It was done by Tony Black at Kuringai Veterinary hospital. It was unfortunate that the other hip was too far gone to do anything about as the procedure went so well. So he's on the natural remedies as well as his elbows are also buggered.

Two vets have told me that it is the actual ringworm site that is contagious. Does that mean I could bandage the area and I could let her mix with the other dogs without putting them at risk of infection?

That's very reassuring busterlove. I am hoping when she's ou tof quarantine and living full time with the family that there will be a change. Emmala worried me... that was up until I realised she was discussing a chi They are wolrd famous piddlers!

I have just got a 16 week staffyxmastiff pup from blacktown pound. (Foster dog) Everytime I arrive at her quarantine pen she pees herself with excitement. Is this something she will just grow out of do you think? Never had a frantically piddling puppy before

Structured classes are a great way to help him get over his fear of other dogs. You could try turning up at the dogpark at really ungodly hours so there are very few people there if any. How about organising play dates swith other pups and dogs who you know to be friendly and whose owners you trust to be in control.

Very helpful thread as I just picked up a pup from Blacktown Pound with suspected ringworm. Took her straight to the vet who did the blue light thing but couldn't confirm it was actually ringworm. He is growing a culture though and I should hear in a few days if it is that or something else. I have been given a bottle of Dermotic ear and skin suspension to rub on evry 12 hours. Interestingly, the vet said that ringworm in dogs is not as contagious as in cats and that the edge of the site is where the spores are active and contagious. He said nothing about bleaching clothes etc though I am to handle the pup as little as possible and apply the cream wearing rubber gloves. Also to keep washing my hands in disinfectants. Would be interested in hearing your opinions on this. Of course the pup is naturally being kept quarantined in case of parvo anyway regardless of the ringworm or other skin infection.

Maybe gulping water combined with food? I really don't have a clue what it could be causing it..

Please follow fifi's advice and discuss this with a vet. It sounds worrying for the future. I'd be researching bloat and having an emergency plan just in case. I believe there is something you can get from the vet to be administered in the first stages of bloat that will slow things down so you can get help. Someone on here may knowsuggest what this is. Also a diet change may be called for.

I have used this on occasion with no ill effects except for one dog who scratched like crazy after it. I figured he might be allergic so I washed him again in alloveen which is what I usually use but had run out of on this occasion. Itching then stopped. I usually treat fleas with advantage or revolution and just wash with a mild oatmeal shampoo.

From what I've gathered, your vet is right in a way. Bones can be bad for some dogs and different types and sizes of bones are better for some dogs than others. I have an older dog here at the moment that recently suffered a blockage because of bones. I have been advised the same as you were, to only feed large bones that she can't chomp up and compromise her digestive system. I am going to follow that advice to be on the safe side but I still feed my other dogs bones regularly. I wouldn't be too worried about it in your case MLH. I like Lillys Mums recipe for a healthy diet though I have no problem feeding a high quality dry food either. ETA Never had greys though.