Pheebs

Thanks everyone! :)

A friend of mine is seeking a behaviourist to come and help shed some light on the best management for her Cav x Poodle. From what I understand she and her husband both work for the same company and both have been lucky to dodge a redundancy bullet - only problem being where they used to be on alternate shifts, they now work alongside each other on the same shifts. They have two Cav x Poodles - one of which is being incredibly destructive in their absence and they've received noise complaints. They've tried the usual distractions, treats, enriching toys etc to no avail thus far. They also have a cane toad problem so are unable to leave them unattended in the yard. She tells me she's had a trainer come out which didn't really help but I've reassured her there's a difference between a trainer and a behaviourist. Can someone please recommend a behaviourist in the Brisbane area that may be able to assist? Thank you!

I'm posting here for a dear friend of mine. Bit of a backstory: her Stepmother unexpectedly passed away last week and they need to make arrangements for her sweet little Cav x Poodle. She was incredibly bonded to her owner and has been staying with my friend for the last month while her owner was in hospital. She's suffering separation anxiety greatly and my friend has since received noise complaints despite sharing temporary accommodation with two other Poodle-mixes. My friend loves her dearly but is not a suitable long-term solution. "Female, 8.5 months old, up to date with all vaccinations (had annual Heartguard injection about 1-2 months ago). Shy and nervous around other dogs as not much socialization but gets on pretty well once she gets to know them. She's never had interaction with children or cats, so unsure if that's suitable? But she loves human attention, craves it - so has separation anxiety therefore needs someone who's home a lot, or would work on her separation anxiety or has a small dog that she can be friends with to keep company. She does have a luxating patella on her rear right leg, but will usually go back in place on its own - vets are not suggesting surgery at this point... We want to meet any prospective people though to make sure they're a right fit so not keen on interstate adoptions etc" She is located in Brisbane. If you know anyone who might be a suitable home for this girl please PM me and I will pass on owner details :)

Thank you all for your thoughts and advice :) With a heavy heart we decided to pass up the opportunity for the Bulldog pup this time The breeder was an absolute gem. We're naturally disappointed but as you all say it can be so very hard to predict so would rather be cautious :)

Hubby and I are blessed with Maggie, a 8yo Boxer/Bullmastiff mix. After our Great Dane, Lucy died in November - we set out to find the perfect breeder for a British Bulldog pup. All was going well, we met with our breeder, went to a few shows and all was going swimmingly. We were (are?) due to bring pup home in the first week of August. That was until hubby and I (excitedly) found out we're nearly 8 weeks pregnant - our first bub will be due in the last week of February. Now I'm scratching my head figuring out what to do. Maggie is quite simply amazing - I had my 18mth and 5 year old nieces stay with me the last week and she was superbly behaved and gives me great confidence that she will take to the new human addition fairly well. I don't want to jeopardise that in any way, shape or form. I've had experience with multi-dog households, I've had experience with pups. What I have zero experience with is babies of the human variety :laugh: I'm fortunate enough to be able to stay at home and don't see myself going back to work any time soon. Hubby is semi-retired. Any suggestions for those who've been through it? Part of me tells myself it'll be okay as we'll have a solid 6 months of commitment to successful integration of a puppy with Maggie and enforcing rules, boundaries and appropriate behaviour in a pup (which is a lifetime commitment but you know what I mean). I also feel that it might be somewhat easier with a bub than with a toddler. I also feel it might be a welcome distraction for Maggie as she's about to undergo a whole lot of change. We love Maggie dearly, and at 8 years of age know she's not going to be around forever so would like (perhaps optimistically) her to show any prospective pups the ropes and hopefully some of her delightful personality might rub off :laugh: I also think the timing is wrong, I'm feeling all kinds of seedy and am wondering if it's more effort/energy than it's worth. Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences please!! The breeder has been an absolute star and is very supportive of us whichever path we choose.

Hi all! :) Was wondering whether it's commonplace for many registered breeders to not health test parents? I've been in touch with a breeder who sounds great but upon asking whether they health test their response was no "mainly due to the fact that bulldogs fail there is no standard currently available as to what score is appropriate for bulldogs". Does this sound right? Obviously a healthy pup is paramount for us, but having had a questionable experience with a registered breeder in the past - a reliable, balanced temperament is as important to us and we're unsure now what to do.

This is doing the rounds on FB: "Dylan Carpenter Enough of the B.S!! DID YOU FEEL THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE TO THE STORY OF LINC THE 'STOLEN' DOG? WELL HERE'S THE TRUTH. Please share this.. Many of my fb friends got involved and will remember, 5 or so weeks back I shared a post of my friend Petras. She was trying to find a good new home for a dog named Linc, who was neglected and not being looked after by his young owner. The boys mother and neighbours had had enough of the poor animal always crying in distress, and as the boy still would not take his responsibility seriously, the mother had decided to give him away. One of my mates Matt jumped at the opportunity and was over the moon to be getting a new best mate. Petra and Matt organised to collect him with Kath the mother. Matt even made two trips down from Brisbane to do so, but on arrival he was asked to please give Kath a little more time to talk her son Jackson into doing the right thing and letting Linc go wilfully. Matt was also told that regardless of whether or not Jackson did come round, Kath couldn't bare to see the animal neglected any longer. She felt cruel keeping Linc like this and they would defiantly give Him away. Jackson did not come round. And Sadly Instead of setting the right example to her son, and doing the right thing by the animal, Kath still did not step in and Left Matt and Linc hanging Despite the fact she knew Jackson was never going to change his attitude towards his responsibility. This was very upsetting to myself, Petra and of course Matt, who got the address from Petra so he could go there and try to get through to them face to face. He drove down again and as no one answered the doorbell, sat outside waiting for some time before talking to a neighbour who's accounts of the boy's care for Linc, added to Matts state of mind. Still nobody came home so stupidly and impulsively, thinking it was the right thing to do for the animal, Matt did what he did. Two wrongs don't make a right and Matt knows his actions of stealing and trespassing were wrong. For that he's remorseful and has accepted he will be punished. But he acted out of passion as he is an animal lover. Not because he is a selfish thief or lowlife scum who would harm an animal, as Kath and Jackson left the media and public to assume by lying to them about the situation. AND SO THE RESULTS ARE.. * Matts name has been dragged through the mud nationally, and he has been tarred with the same brush as the scumbags who steal people's pets to be used as fighting or bait dogs. *The media, and the overwhelming number of good Australians who shared the story and helped search for Linc and his cold hearted thief have all been deceived and played. *Jackson has not only NOT learned valuable life lessons like being responsible for your pets, he learned that right or wrong, he can get his way. And that its ok to destroy a mans name and manipulate a story to mislead police, the media and the people of the entire country if it helps you achieve what you want. Shame on both of you Kath. And Jackson, after all this, mate I hope you will at least have enough eyes on you that you might feel the need to man up and take responsibility for Linc. Give him the love he needs, like you and your mother SAID you always did when you both lied to the media."

This is exactly what I've been telling myself and am so very grateful that someone else would echo the same sentiment. Thank you so much

Vandown Graffin von Lucy 04.06.2009 - 11.11.2014

Our baby girl was given her wings this afternoon. The cancer was well into her shoulder cavity and the bone had already been compromised to the point where if we brought her home she would have sustained a pathological fracture. My heart is in a million pieces.

I think for your own good you would want to xray because otherwise you could feel concern that maybe it wasn't Cancer? Sorry, should have clarified - we're getting x-rays anyway.

So there's no real need for x-rays, the vet can already feel thickening in the bone :'( Please tell me what I should do - I don't know whether to bring her home or not :'(

Thanks all for your advice and thoughts. So sorry to those who have gone through it - it's just horrible. Will keep you posted after Tuesday

Thanks for your input, ish - sorry for your loss It's a hard one. If it gets to that stage part of me wants to let her go now (she's crying, not whining/moping but part of me wants to say it's cause she's bored silly in her crate but I know that's not the case).

Hi all, Lucy is a 5.5 year old Great Dane. I had noticed for a couple of weeks that Lucy was a bit 'off colour'. At the time I hadn't thought much about it as we'd moved house and thought she was just making the transition to the new house. During the moving process we kenneled them and usually when we bring them home it's not uncommon for them to sleep for days and days undisturbed. Anyway Saturday before last I started to notice the slightest limp in her front left leg. At the time I thought hubby had just been overzealous with the nail clippers as we have floorboards now. Slowly it got worse so we took her to the vet the following Wednesday who expressed concerns about possible osteosarcoma. He said there was a very real chance it may not be and put her on 'Prolet' for pain management for a week in case it was a muscular issue. She responded really well to the meds initially in the first day or two but then plateaued and eventually regressed. The vet is of the belief that it's probably Osteosarcoma - as far as we can tell (she's very stoic) the pain is between her shoulder and elbow and not isolated to a joint. We've booked her in for X-rays this coming Tuesday for an official diagnosis. I'm a expect-the-worst-hope-for-the-best kinda gal so assuming the worst and it is osteosarcoma, the facts are as follows: - Husband and I both agree not to go down the route of amputation - The vet has been very matter-of-fact with me and has said even with amputation we probably won't have more than 12mths with her. I'm selfishly having great trouble in trying to make a balanced decision on what's best for Lucy. She's had 3 bloat episodes (gas bloat never proceeded to torsion thankfully), she has a long and complex history of behavioural issues and husband and I are planning a family and I'm not convinced if she lives long enough to see us have children that they would be safe in her presence. The vet has suggested that PTS is an option whilst she's sedated for the X-rays but I feel like this is very much giving up on her and it breaks my heart. I don't know how I can in good conscience put to sleep a dog that is still so enthusiastically seeking ear rubs. It goes without saying I'm hoping beyond hope she's just given us a horrible fright and Tuesday's appointment shows nothing sinister, but in the event that it does I want to be mentally prepared. I'd love your guidance and stories please

Edit: Nevermind :)

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Someone's having a sook because her Great Dane sister commandeered the comfy cushions :laugh:

Thanks all, have tried the white vinegar which has slightly improved it but seeing as this is the long-term place for them peeing I'm looking for something easy maintenance without having to bicarb/scrub each time they toilet. Will look into the equinade - thanks!

Hi all! We've recently moved inner-city to a little property that has a large deck and a small strip of concrete down the side of the property. The previous owners had two staffs which used to toilet down the side on the concrete and we followed suit (predominantly because it was easy to hose down immediately and because our two took to it immediately without any problems). Now it goes without saying that as soon as they pee I hose it down immediately and pick up any poop straight away but despite all the hosing down of the concrete it's still starting to smell? I have no idea how the previous owner managed to have the place smelling nice but I'm really starting to notice it and am worried the neighbours on that side will too soon. Any suggestions please?

Oh look at his smooshyness

Oh you poor thing. As an owner of a difficult Dane you have my sympathies

All very valid points. I guess the appeal to me was that I'm pretty non-confrontational... as a tenant I wouldn't care so much but for somewhere we plan on settling down long-term I'm a bit more mindful of this sort of thing. I know also that the next door neighbour has a cat that roams, and like Hazywal I know it would not end well should it come into our yard. I would hate to be the neighbours whose dogs killed the cat

Also, whilst on the theme of moving house and settling in to a new environment - any recommendations on how to train dogs to use a very specific area for toileting? We've never had house training problems before but our new place has a small section of grass but mostly decking (which we will no doubt have to surgically remove Maggie from on sunny days :D ).

Hubby and I are all kinds of excited about our impending move to our first home. We have Lucy, a 5yo Great Dane and Maggie a (7?) year old Boxer X Bullmastiff. Whilst I've no reason to believe they're nuisance barkers in our absence, I really want to make a smooth transition and make people aware that we'll endeavour to curb any nuisance behaviour that may affect them. The suburb we're moving to is fairly pet-friendy, and I remember seeing a picture doing the rounds on Facebook where a couple had taken a photo of their dogs and written up a little letter as if it was from their dogs ie: "Hi we're buster and we've just moved into number #, just to let you know we will be working on our behaviour but please know that there will be a settling in period etc". Do you think a letter along these lines would open us up to people who then felt they had a right to complain? (You know the type I mean: serial naggers :laugh: ) The vendor and I have been writing emails back and forth and she seems lovely (she has two staffies) and appears to be quite close with the neighbours so hopefully we'll have the same luck :)