persephone

..and they are usually very accepting of reasons ,such as 'scared of strangers' ... worried about being hurt ...a bit too bouncy ...

just don't give him thick warm bedding - make sure he can CHOOSE a cool spot .

I can understand - but perhaps if you had explained to them that your dog was not good with strangers ??? I will usually crouch down to a kid's level, and say how pleased I am that she wants to pat my dog - but my dog gets very worried by strangers, and doesn't like being patted by them ... the kid usually just nods & agrees

Why don't you buy him a proper hat ? :p :p VERY cute

You can NOT safely/effectively weave the tape thru a wire fence. the fence needs proper fittings - with poles/ insulators etc . Ideally , it should be placed 30 cm or so inside the boundary fence .. so she comes in contact with it while she is standing ..and where it is safe for her to run away a`waist high fence is not much obstacle to any dog Whether they are going out, or coming in!! Don't forget , if a baby like her can climb out - other dogs who may not be friendly can jump/climb IN ...and a dog tied up is defenceless :( Please make her a temporary run .. look in freecycle or weekly times for an old bird aviary ..buy compost wire panels from bunnings, and some pavers so she cannot dig under ..ANYTHING . Or - clean out your laundry/shed and leave her in there Getting tangled in a chain is a possibility if the setup is not done well . edit to clarify

Hi - rescue remedy every hour or so a drop on her gums ..rather than tongue Lots of walks/games ..and don't let her mope /crawl on your lap . Invite her onto your lap at times.... but preferably don't cuddle her etc when she is so miserable ...let her lie somewhere and look sad.. her hormones will be all over the shop ..and she needs to recover from the actual whelping ......but don't give her attention at these times Basically carry on as normal.... The food? offer her raw or something nice- stick to one thing..and just do the put down for 10 minutes/pick up again thing. keep up the nutrigel,and if she will take it ..try her on an egg flip, made with lactose free milk - just a tiny drink a couple of times a day

Picking at food left out for days ... what happens if a dog goes to the vet and is hospitalised-- or to a boarding kennel? Food left out can attract mice/rats/flies/birds/cats , depending where it is . It may also make medicating or adjusting diet tricky ..as the dog is not keen to eat, and will just wait... thinking the food will still be there when he's ready. I leave puppy dry out for baby pups learning to eat .... they need to eat little & often , and to take their time learning to chew..and they don't usually overeat. Adults tho - they get their one or two meals a day . Feeding at a set time also enables an owner to check if all is OK with their dog. If, after eagerly eating their meal every day ..the dog eats slowly, or appears to not be hungry, then an owner can get onto the problem early ! If, on the other hand , a dog takes 3 days to finish its food- then there may not be an obvious symptom of inappetance (the first symptom of MANY illnesses/problems)

10 minutes eating time for a healthy dog is not 'gorging' 20 seconds eating time is gorging!! If they are healthy, active,and not hungry .. then they wait until next meal time, when they may be hungry .Leaving food out all day just encourages 'picking'. It doesn't mean a dog's a slow eater- just means they have learnt the food is always there, so they can take one bit at a time.

he doesn't HAVE to eat dry But the put down/pick up rule is the best way to get him eating ... just remember NO treats in between . You may like to read here as well CLICK HERE

moocards

We live in a sandy desert- rabbits abounding..and everything is full of 'stickfast' fleas. All I do is use permoxin on dogs when fleas are active .. fleabomb the house every so often during Summer , and we all survive The indoor cats haven't had a flea for years! I don't treat them with anything (oh, and indoor dogs which have contact with cats have ADVANTAGE applied during Summer a couple of times.) I am not in favour of spraying insecticide liberally outdoors- it kills EVERYTHING - worms/butterflies/crickets.... and the birds etc which feed on them

My first thought was that there may be a bitch in season somewhere................and the 'neighbourhoodpack' instincts are kicking in .. My second thought was pain. My third thought was senility... but that's probably not the case :D

How old is he? Desexed? Anything changed in routine/house layout/neighbours? is he healthy and fit and agile still?

Gosh... I may be wrong, but in wild populations of any animal...not EVERY animal gets to 'fulfil' ALL its urges . Only the best /fittest will mate , and only the healthiest will rear young and live to a ripe old age. sex drive is only ONE of the urges- albeit a powerful one. Entire dogs can still, with the right owner, run/dig/sniff/bark/chew bones/hunt .. all 'natural urges' which can be adequately catered for :D Being entire and not breeding is certainly not the worst that can happen to a dog :p An entire animal , with lots to occupy it , and who has never had a breeding opportunity is certainly not doomed to a life full of frustration! Growing up, none of our farm dogs were desexed .. puppies were only bred from the select few , occasionally , and the dogs were certainly not lacking in excitement/exercise/fulfilment .

Killing by shelters/vets is not 'cruelty' in my book. Leaving pets ( often desexed) on short chains, or in bare yards, with no food/training/warmth.... THAT is cruel. Mixing up breeds ,producing pups with mismatched bodyparts /coats... that can be cruel. dogs housed in cages at puppy factories- THAT is cruel. leaving a cute little fluffy dog until its coat is so matted that the dog cannot see properly, or walk comfortably ...THAT is cruelty. Mass desexing will do NOTHING to stop humans treating pets badly ..and THAT is cruelty.

yes, I agree with erny's slant ... find something in which YOUR DOG gets to be the 'clever one' let him show you, and share with you, his talents. is he a good sniffer-out-of treats/tracks/toys? is he able to carry things well... or fetch/retrieve? Will he pull a rope to open doors, or dig a hole on command? Does he always do a particular thing which you can turn to your advantage? I LOVE hunting with my dogs ... even if it is just following rabbit scents across a paddock.. or trying to find feral cats . Working sheep, too :p they are PARTNERSHIPS ... I rely on the dogs' skills/senses/instincts ...the dog relies on my eyes , and my ability to read a scene and provide guidance . It is a two way trust, building a great enjoyment Just my experience

It's interesting to read these comments. A few of my Brothers' dogs I do not have much communication/connection with ... but they are HIS, so that's ok :p Some dogs I have had around me, though, the connection is so strong it is felt as a physical thing!

Your training does sound pretty 'tame'.. :p What else do you two do together? What 'thinking games' or exercises do you do - where you both take part ?

You need to BOTH 'do' something- to learn to trust each other, and work in/as a TEAM ! All my dogs have been love at first sight - my heart skipped a beat, and that was that . Maybe because I never sought then out - none were planned ..they all just 'found' me ?

Out of pain, now Goldie.. R I P . Sorry, greytmate.

Hope everything's Ok

Our dogs kill feral cats- and sleep with our house cats supervise for a while ...they should be fine

Vet Visit, I think .. she may have an infection, or little stones , which will hurt a bit The sooner she gets treatment, the sooner she'll be comfortable again, and you can both sleep!

Aaawwwww