persephone

Lots of dogs have one or both floppy ears :) As long as he is healthy and happy , why interfere?

Coopex may indeed get rid of some fleas - also earthworms, ladybirds- crickets ...... a very drastic measure . Fleas are more likely to be inside, as they like warm, secluded spots like carpets, under mats/deep in furniture - that sort of thing - so flea-bombing the house may be sensible . Clipping and application of something really only needs doing if there is any skin damage - skin looks red or mucky . Calendula would be terrific in the case of chewing because of itches . :)

What's wrong with macadamias? Never done it, just curious. I give a little mango, Apple and strawberry. Not much so it doesn't go through them. they are quite toxic . A friend shared a few with her dog ..and dog collapsed , had to be rushed to the vet , and was a few days getting back to neurologically normal.! it was an expensive lesson

dante - Hmmmmm

I used to train a dog who would ,ever so gently, pick her own blackberries :) LOL Does Dante eat lemons????? or just the peel?

Oh - our dogs pick up walnuts from under the tree and shell them to enjoy the treat inside - they love them . NEVER FEED MACADAMIAS .

Sounds like some of ours as well - they will use up whatever is in there- even if it's not ready to be evacuated! Tops of bushes are a favourite spot to leave a deposit . Excitement/stress does add to the frequency when on walks ... . if it were mine- I'd not fiddle with diet yet . Does this dog do the same thing whatever the environment? park /beach /controlled walk around a few blocks/walking in a built up area?

Not a 'bad idea' ;) Our dogs love bananas- apples are one of their first toys! They also enjoy strawberries/pears/tomatoes & figs. :)

..and don't wash the pee post down with vinegar ;) the smell needs to be there ! I just use ordinary cheap white vinegar

it is mentioned in the post ;)

LOL @ the big hand wacking you ! itching at the tail base is almost always fleas . Did you know it takes ONE flea bite to set it off ? Most internal flea treatments float around in a dog's bloodstream . a flea needs to BITE a dog to get a dose of poison ;) Don't panic - don't believe spellcheck, and best of luck :)

perhaps if you had talked about this with the breeder and your vet prior to getting a pup - you may have felt better about it. here is the definition of icthyosis (NOT itchyosis) : ;) - no it's not an itchy gene . It is a hereditary condition ... CLICK here fromTHIS SITE - A skin disease prevented thanks to a DNA test Ichthyosis results in a profusion of dandruffs. A majority of the Golden Retriever are carriers of the gene responsible for the disease. A reliable DNA test can screen stud dogs and brood bitches, in order to adapt matings and avoid birth of affected puppies and spread of the disease in the breed. An incapacitating hereditary disease Ichthyosis leads to a skin disease. The first symptoms appear between 1 and 18 months by multiplying large dandruff visible on the back and belly. The skin looks dirty and scaly, and becomes dry, rough and with a hyper-pigmentation. Increased hygiene measures (special shampoos) should be considered to prevent infectious complications. The breeder or veterinarian can confuse Ichthyosis with the presence of parasites on the skin that may also be responsible for dandruff. A very frequent disease More than 50% of Golden Retrievers in Europe are carriers of the genetic mutation responsible of Ichthyosis. A breeder can mate without noticing a male « carrier » and a female « carrier » and produce a litter containing affected puppies. A dog « carrier » of the mutation will not develop the disease but transmits it to 50% of the puppies. A stallion « carrier » of the mutation which is used a lot for reproduction, spreads the disease through the breed and helps to increase the frequency of the mutation and multiply the number of affected dogs.

Sounds much like some sort of senile or neurological thing ....

Donatella ... when you get a chance - lie your largest dog down ..fully stretched out .... and measure the length from nose tip to hind toes ... a crate needs to NOT be at all restricting in letting a dog be comfortable - they must be allowed to stretch fully , sit , and comfortably turn around..without the wire touching them .

he's a lovely boy :)

stressmagnet - to (legally) bait rabbits , 1080 poison is used, permits acquired, notices need to be displayed on property boundary fences ..and I really doubt a smallholder would bother- or could get permission. 1080 is quick acting and deadly....and is NOT available just to buy from a hardware store ;)

http://youtu.be/2MzrMpM8OKcTHIS ONE is nicer ;)

last night I set two live catch traps - ended up with 9 mice YUK.

Agreed - if he is not aggro - and is bouncy & friendly , it sounds as if he may need more to occupy his brain , and some training to channel that attitude :)

teela - yes, Talon has the same active ingredient . I do beg to differ with the pest controller ;) I've been picking up dead mice (and smelling them) all week from their ratsak feed last weekend !

TSD - - I would panic in case a dog got one mouse ....now, I can save the panic for something more likely ;) . For the birds, too - some visitors throw dead mice out onto the lawn - I would tear strips off them - seems as if things are much less lethal now :)

wow! :) Some gorgeous collars . LOVE the one Gruf's modelling :)

for those with a mouse/rat problem , there MAY be a bait which is HEAPS safer to use around domestic animals/wildlife!! I do not like using poison ... however, mouse numbers have suddenly skyrocketed , and they are everywhere Folks around town are seeing mice when they haven't for years ..and we have them in places never before used by them , Horrible . have been reading /asking Dr.Google - and come up with DIFENACOUM . yes, an anti coagulant rodenticide , but one which requires massive oral intake by a(non rodent) pet to be fatal. I hope to have some very soon- and be able to reclaim the house ( now- to get rid of 'that' mousey smell... If all is as stated on the toxicity sheet, I will be able to put bait stations in the aviary as well, and not worry so much about the bantams getting dying/dead mice . What i will also continue doing , is to only place baits out for 48 hr periods once a week . Enough time for mice to have a feed or two - but not be continually eating it. This table explains it well - obviously it is for one particular brand name product :)

Oh My .......... an absolute delight of a squishy, delicious Christmas Pudding!!!

pia is, of course, gorgeous . kitten .....................awwwwww.. PUDDING............