indigirl

Costs $110 at my vet for male desex regardless of weight of dog. Retained testicle can cost a little more depending how long it takes for it to be located.

A heart dog is a dog that truly owns part of your heart and soul. My heart dog 'Truck' was a kelpie cross i rescued as a 3 week old pup. She has been gone over 8 yrs now. She lived to 13 and when she died I felt like my world had caved in. It was like part of me had died with her. I withdrew from everyone and fell into a deep black hole of depression. I couldnt look at any pics of her for 6 motnhs, and it was ayear before I could handle having any pics of her displayed in my home. I dont know how I would have climbed out of that dark hole if I hadnt had my big old boofa Spud. Spud died in 2007 aged 12 and while i grieved him and still miss him I wasnt destroyed when he died, just very sad. Ripley the pup in my siggie was only 12 weeks old when he died in a ghastly freak accident in my backyard. I believe he would have become my 2nd heart dog. I was just connected to him in a way thats hard to explain. Losing him so young and so horribly shattered me. I withdrew from the dog world, stopped attending dog shows etc for more than a year. I also fell into the black hole again when I lost him and it took me months to climb back out. I currently own 8 dogs and love them all, and although I know I will grieve and cry when they eventually pass on, I know I will be ok. A heart dog is different. I still miss my Truckie-poo and often call my current kelpie cross (named Chilli), 'Truck' without thinking. Its only jsut coming up to 2 yrs since i lost Ripley so thats still quite fresh in my mind. Truck is buried at my parents house, but Ripley was buried in the backyard of a house I have now sold. It was so hard leaving him behind there. I will always have dogs, but doubt I will ever have another heart dog. Two heart dogs is more than many ppl get in a lifetime. ETA: My first litter is due on the anniversary of Ripleys' death.. makes me feel both happy and sad at the same time. Also I bought a stud dog (an italian greyhound) around ayear ago. He was 3 yrs old when I bought him and when his papers arrived I realised he had the same registered name as Ripley. They were both named (kennel prefix) Firestorm. This little dog is very dear to me, and I am extremely attached to him. He is easily my fav iggy (i have 4 of them). Because of the way Rippley died I guess I have always tried to find meaning in his death. Having another dog with the same reg name as him and having a litter due on the anniversary of his death adds a little meaning for me and I take great comfort in that.

What about kids? They add a LOT of pullution. Kids nappies are terrible things. I hope more eco conscious ppl decide not to have kids so that they dont pollute our world...

Wow a year already. RIP Bindi

oh god. I was minding Reg, a friends elderly golden retriever earlier this year an unbeknown to us he had eaten rat bait at her house before coming here. Its a terrible thing. Please brace yourself for whats coming. It almost defies description. I dont want to sound ghoulish but the blood loss in unbelievable, i would send your kids to relatives until the dogs have either died or recovered. Its a very traumatic thing to witness. My carpets, walls, lounge were covered in blood. Ive had to buy rugs to cover the bloodstained carpet. Ive never seen so much blood come from a living creature. After the bleeding finally stopped we nursed him for around a week, around the clock. But he was still bleeding internally and despite several blood transfusions he died. I posted bout Reg as it was happening, many will prolly remember. I felt so helpless and so overwhelmed with sadness. He wasnt my dog but i loved him and often cared for him. I was devastated at the way he died. I am crying now jsut thinking about that terrible week. Please dont blame yourself. Accidents happen in the best of homes.Understand too that your lives will be completly consumed by their bleeding once it starts. There will be no time for kids, work, sleep, anything. Myself and his owner barely slept in a week, she was unable to work as she couldnt leave him and she slept beside him on the floor and i would go around before and after work and care for him so she could get a few hrs sleep. The vet bill was over $1500 and we still lost him. I dont think Reg was in pain, thugh he was uncomfortable and very weak. He couldnt walk after the first few days and had to be carried outside and held up to toilet. I wish you strength for the coming week.

My two italian greyhound girls are litter box trained. I just use an oversized plastic tray lined with newspaper. I also have cats and occasionally the girls will use the cat litter trays as well.

Exactly what I was thinking poodlefan. Poor dog hope it recovers quickly.

I would say goldens are more sensitive and are very attached to their owners. They love everyone but are sensitive to ppl's moods. I think the breed should have been born with gills they love love love being in the water. My golden has a digging fetish, she is obsessed with digging. Not sure if labs dig like mad too?

Finally a kennel that understands the need for a dog to have a crystal chandalier in their 'suite'! Blueberry facials sound edible so Im sure my lot would enjoy that. Hmm i hope they have lovely manicured lawns for Karma to dig up, otherwise she just wont be happy. As for the gourmet chef in attendance my dogs would have everything on the menu at each meal time. Some ppl have more money than sense.

I thought you were in Wagga :D No we rescue dogs wherever they come up in pounds accross the state. If i was in wagga i wouldnt have had to use that shitty establishment as I have a quarantine run at my house. I live way wayy wayyy out in the stix lol.

Gawd if Karma destroyed my car or trailer I would jsut sit and cryyy lol

When dogtainers is doing a pick up of an animals for me I phone the day before and the morning of the pickup to remind them to do it! I think that one of the ppl who works there has some.. challenges, and as such forgets things constantly. I also phone a little later to ensure the pick up was made, I never assume. Theres no excuse for thier poor service to you HW, I would be really annoyed if I were you. I fly dogs quite regualarly and always use dogtainers as I find their prices are the most competitive. I always avoid flying dogs on Fridays if possible as this is the day that dogs are most likely to get bumped from flights if there is too much baggage on the plane. I also always ask how many other animals are booked on that flight. I try to only fly them on flights were they are the only animal. I will also only use my own crates. I am not convinced the pet courier services properly clean out crates between custmomers so I never risk it. Ive seen a crate being hosed out at the local airport after a dog poo'd in it. They appeared to be satisfied that the hose had cleaned the crate sufficiently. I think dogtainers is fine to use if you know the precautions etc you need to take with them. Ive never lost an animal or had one not turn up. If the dog is flying to an airport ive not used before I also phone them to ensure they will accept animals at the time of the scheduled flight. The main airports I use are Sydney, Adelaide, Broken Hill and Mildura. Have also had flights going to/from Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane without any problems.

Yet another reason to be grateful I live in the stix. I am allowed (and now expected lol) to be present for each and every surgical or medical procedure carried out on any of my own animals, plus my fosters, I stand at the Operating table and hold the animal while they sedate it. I stay throughout t the procedure and only leave when the procedure is finished and the animal is caged and sleeping off the aneasthetic. Once the animal is awake i return to collect it. I cannot think of any reason why I would leave any of my animals overnight at the vets. I have no issues bringing them home on a drip if necessary. I know they will get a lot more diligent care at home with me where I will sleep beside them and watch them all night. If I have any concerns I would phone the vet immediately. I doubt I would be allowed that kind of unrestricted access to my pet in the city. I would find it difficult to entrust someone who I didnt know very well on a personal level with the care of my animals, especially overnight. I dont believe my vet charges me for anything he hasnt actually done, and his rates are very reasonable. An AI last weekend cost me $45, cant complain about that! Its scary to think what may go on behind closed doors at big city vets

Given she likes to dig long narrow holes i was thinking more along the lines of grave digger.. Ok I called NetPave very nice lady. Its $25 a sq mtre. She suggested I lay weldmesh over the entrire lawn and peg it down securely, she says the grass will grow up thru the weldmesh and wil be fine for the little iggies feet after a short while, and it will be able to be mowed. I might try this in spring/ summer. At this time of year the lawn doesnt grow at all.

Ok i jst phoned TurfPave wo have a similar product to Bodpave only their produce locks togther. Alas is costs $27.95 per square metre not inc GST. I would need close to 100sq metres, so Im thinking this is jsut wee bit out of my price range. arghh. The guy advised me to shoot the dog LOL. I told him im tempted at times but nahhh. He says to me whats Broken Hill near? and i said umm nothing. He says where is it and i said.. if you go due west around 1100km from Sydney you should see BH. He was silent for a few moments - clearly a city boy who had never ventured over the mountains - then he says umm you might have to get it delivered there. Doh! hes a rocket scientist that one!

portaloo on wheels maybe? lol I could sit on it and push with my legs, that way im 'in position and ready for action' so to speak Gastro is so undignified. ugh. ETA: She's had her thyroid checked. No problems there. I have to say they must have taken the blood for the thyroid test from deep within. The scab took a week to fully heal. I almost had a seizure at the cost gawd.

Oooh Bodpave may be the answer!! It would have to really lock together tho or she will dig one up hmmmm They seem to just lay side by side.. wonder if anyone makes one that is locked into the ones around it?? This is a dog who ripped thru two layers of dog wire with a loan of compacted road base between the layers of wire and another load of compacted road base over the top. She ripped thru it like it wasnt even there. I dont know how she doesnt damage her paws but she doesnt.

Thanks for the tip I will go pull the lawn and see if it comes up easily. Re: flocking birds - I have 8 dogs I dont think any bird is THAT stupid/brave lol

Nope but I hope she doesn't. Me too bloody cow of a dog lol

Unless I can take a toilet with me, leaving the house to go anywhere is not an option. Ive been off work all week with this bloody gastro bug, its really nasty. Don't you think I would have loved to be able to take the dogs for a run everyday? Im climbing the walls here. Telling me I need to exercise her every day and imagine how the dog must feel jsut makes me want to slap you. YOU try being this friggin sick and living in your loo and then see if you could walk your dogs every day. To others who have made suggestions thank you. She may need more exercise than shes getting. I will up the exercise when Ive recovered and see if it helps. She spends the day while Im at work in a concreted run which is roughly 5m x 12m plus it includes half the back verandah, my kelpie X and staghound X are also in the run with her. However if she needs to go out at night i just let her out the back and I stand near the back door and watch her. The problem last night was that I felt too crappy to stand and watch her in the freezing cold wind so i went and lay on the couch. I must have dozed off cos i woke up with a start and raced to the back door - and it was too late shed already been digging. I am so tired of throwing so much money at fixing the lawn. I cant jsut leave her to dig and live with the mess, ive tried that. She kept digging up my water pipes! That meant 24hrs - 48hrs with no water plus several hundred dollars each time to the plumber. She also digs straight down about 3 feet then will start to dig sideways - like a mine shaft. Hence my fear of the hole collapsing on top of her. She was actually underground and almost completely out of sight more than once when I found her. If 3ft of dirt collapsed on her I'm pretty sure it would kill her, can you imagine how much that would weigh? Strangely enough her sandpit doesnt interest her at all these days? I have to admit dog boots and vicks has never crossed my mind. WHat if she got it i her eyes? that would be my fear. I guess its possible there may be some anxiety in it, but I cant believe shes digging cos shes anxious about being in the back yard. This is a happy confident dog (unless there is a storm). Not sure how i would test to see if its anxiety related? any ideas? I think digging is like her heroin.. she adores it.. gets some kind of endrorphine rush from it or something. I used to have weldmesh laid over most of the lawn so she couldn't dig it. But I worried about my iggie's feet on it, they avoided the weldmesh and stayed on the back verandah and on the pavers. The yard is the only place the iggie's can run free as there's no fenced dog park here. Being sighthounds you jsut cant risk letting them off lead. So i removed the weldmesh so they could run around again. I have seriously considered laying fake lawn but fear she would dig holes in it trying to get to the dirt beneath. The only solution -when I can afford it - that ive come up with is to have a deck built over the larger stretch of lawn. A deck wouldnt heat the place up and the iggies can still run on it. But im a long way off being able to afford that, plus it still leaves me with the problem of the smaller strip of lawn. To give you an idea of size, smaller strip is around 11m x 3m. larger strip is around 16m x 5m. Anyone have any ideas what i can do with the smaller strip of lawn? It needs to be dig proof, not too hard on the iggie's feet, not terribly ugly, and not something that will heat up too much in summer and be too hot to walk on. We get 40deg+ for weeks at a time here in summer. Ok i just got back out of bed. i forgot to press the Add Reply button lol. Ok i LOVE the idea of the open concrete pavers.. someone PLEASE show me these I will walk over hot coals to buy some!! Umm the alpha roll think sounds exactly like the what the dickheads who run the local dog obedience would do. Brute force isnt my thing sorry! I cant imagine how the dog would react. Either be absolutly terrified or think it was the best game ever. If that what it takes to get 'respect' from my dog (will she still respect me in the morning? hehe) then I will stick with disrespect. I appreciate that you think this alpha thing is the way to go. Those who us who aren't obedience gurus and who actually want to teach our dogs to learn - not just get the desired behaviour through fear.. are not into that kind of thing. Ive seen how the local dickhead "Im the Head coach" treats dogs. Two weeks ago a dog he was handling growled at another dog he swung the dog off the ground and held it in the air while it was wearing a check chain!! He swore at the dog and threatened it for maybe 10 seconds .. when the dog finally got its feet back on the ground it was cringing and terrified. Did it growl at another dog? No. But that to me is NOT training. Thats cruel and abusive. This is the head trainer mind you. I spoke up against what he did and omg they went for me. I told them it was abusive.. he got very verbally aggressive to me then LOL. Stupid prick. So I have ZERO faith in anyone who thinks they know how to train a dog just because they are an obedience instructor. Sorry. I have no need to have a power trip over my dog. I will diligently exercise her o the point of exhaustion but $100 says she will still dig the moment my back is turned. Anyone wanna take a bet?

Its not anything in the soil - unless its in soil nationwide. She will dig like she is posessed anywhere anytime she has access to a lawn/dirt. Ive stayed at friends and family's housed with her, she has duh up thier yard too. Its hard to convey just how bad it is. She digs like a lunatic, she can dig a hole 3 ft DEEP in about 30 mins. I was always so afraid one day a hole would collapse on top of her and she would sufocate. Shes dug up my water pipes and put holes in them (thanks Karma!) several times. She also dug down and somehow got into the sewerage line but i suspect it was damaged as I cant see how she would smash a concrete pipe. That was beyond revolting. The damage to the pipes and the fear she would be smothered by a hole caving in is why I paid to have concrete put down. God knows what I will do if the pipes ever need work as they have been concreted over now. I live in an arid area, lawn is grown only with a lot of work and $$ on water. So when she destroys it time and time again its heartbreaking. I only have two strips of lawn, the rest is concrete or paved. I dont want to concrete the entire back yard - can you imagine how hot it will get in summer? I have 3 shade sails in the yard already to keep the existing concrete/paving cool. I dont want to have shade sails over the entire yard, sunshine is lovely in winter. I hate that i cant leave her alone for even a minute or two or she will dig. it makes me nuts she is so destructive. I have to walk away from her when she destroys the lawn or I fear I would hit her. I think unless you have lived with a dog that is destructive on the level she is, its hard to grasp jsut how hard it is to keep your cool when they destroy your property over and over again. Its not boredom. She does it for the sheer love of digging. I accept she may be frustrated as she hasnt been walked this week, but honestly thats not why she does it. As i said before i can take her for a long run out of town where she can run to her hearts content, bring her home and if i turn my back on her she will dig dig dig. When shes been digging shes soo happy, her tail wags nonstop and shes so full of energy. She just loves to dig. She knows she isnt meant to do it. She will come bounding past me then soon as she sees me heading over to investigate the damage she will make herself scarce. I can yell at her, ignore her, hit her with a newspaper (the ultimate punishment here).. nothing changes or stops the behaviour. I've tried all the supposed remedies.. putting poo in the hole, putting chilli in the hole, putting rocks in the hole.. NOTHING deters her I laughed when I read the post that said she doesnt respect me. What the f*** does respect have to do with a dog thats obsessed with digging? Until you have seen her in action its difficult to understand I guess. Shes normally well behaved, she does get barky at times but I have a barking collar that I use on her bad days. She isnt destructive at all in the house, she doesnt chew up bedding or even stuffed toys anymore. She can be trusted to be left in the house for hours when Im out. She will sit, stay, drop, and has a brilliant recall. She heels when i insist and I am always getting comments on how well behaved/trained she is. She understands lots of other commands too, things like get in the car, wait, roll over etc. I ask her if she needs to go to the loo and she will go to the back door if she needs to go. She is a well behaved dog, trained to a point where she is easy to live with. Ive taught her manners, she knows not to barge past me to get in the door - stuff like that. I used to take her to obedience but it was just too boring for her and she didnt enjoy it. She is great in the ring - unless its windy or she's in season then shes a bit scatty. She is storm phobic but soon as she hears thunder in the distance she will start barking and i crate her, she settles very quickly in her crate. She is a lovely affectionate happy dog. Its just the digging that does my head in.

I love this cow of a dog dearly, she just drives me nuts with her digging. No she hasnt been for a run this week, but on many occasions she has been run, had a mental workout at obedience, had loads of time spent with her .. then I take my eyes off her for a minute and she is digging. Its just overwhelmingly frustrating.

This is very true - Campbell would love to show a Fauve regularly but they are just too heavy for him to lift on to the table. Instead he will have to make do with run-offs for a while. I'm sure I will offend many Sheltie owners but will run the risk anyway. They are a stunning dog with a definite working ability thereby making them ideal for agility etc BUT all the Shelties I have known bark like nothing else I've known. A friend was recently set up next to some at a show and every single time I visited her they were in their crates barking - I kid you not! I have spoken with some Sheltie people who have said that they highly recommend debarking to keep your sanity - and these were Shelties who did high level obedience & agility. Then there was my friendly Telstra technician who was recently moaning at how his neighbour's shelties did not shut-up ever if he was in his backyard - it has got to such a point that he no longer has bbq's etc. I'm not sure if it is something that is in lines (as howling is apparently with Fauves) or if it "simply" a trait of their working background but worth investigating unless you live somewhere where barking doesn't matter at all. x 100 I have an elderly sheltie that never shuts up. He will prolly be PTS eventually due to the barking. I will never had a sheltie in my home again. Hey Trish Campbell could easily lift an iggy :D

My 4yr old golden retriever BITCH of a dog has dug up my friggin lawn again! I am unwell and let her out to the loo and went to lie down and dozed then woke up and raced out to let her in. I cannot trust this dog for 1 f***ing minute unless Im watching her Tonight cos im sick i accidently l4ft her outside for around 15- 20 mins. Sure enough shes dug a massive hole in my lawn its approx 2ft x 1ft deep and all the subsoil irrigation is exposed and no doubt damaged AGAIN. I am so f***ing sick of her doing this. Im at the end of my tether. I honestly think if declawing dogs eas legal here I would seriously consider it for her. I spent 4 grand concreting a large area of my yard and fenced it jsut so she couldnt dig the lawn. I cannot trust her at all on the lawn. I have spent thousands fixing up the damage shes done. I dont know how many times ive had to have the irrigation system repaired, I have literally lost track of it. Shes obsessed by digging. Ive given her a sandpit and she has loads of toys. She also has loads of other dogs for company. But if i take my eyes off her for more than a minute shes digging. It makes me crazy mad, i feel like punching her in the head for destroying my yard yet again. I dont know what to do her. She has dug thru 2 layers of wire with compacted roadbase over the top. Nothing deters her but concrete. She has some kind of need to dig dig dig. Has anyone else got a dog like this? How do you cope with it? It feels so bloody personal, like she does it deliberatly.

Can you maybe suggest a different breed if your sister still decides she wants a dog? The care for thier coat is phenomenal. Spoke to a yorkie person at the most recent dog show here. They have to have their coat oiled EVERY day and rolled up so it wont get matted or stuff caught in it. It has to be meticuolously combed out each and every night. I am able bodied and I could never manage the care of a yorkie coat!