persephone

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

You can also make your dog work for all its food ......

Best of luck - I don't think she should be home just yet ... but I hope I'm wrong! Don't forget to be absolutely scrupulous in your hygeine now ..and all her vomit etc has the potential to infect other dogs ...as do your clothes/shoes/fingernails .... Thinking of you and the poor little girl.

Good to see his smiling face

I feel sorry for the kid's Mum .. she doesn't really want a dog , but gets one which is going to GROW ,and GROW

Is it ribby , with spine showing?Does it look really bony? If it really needs to put on weight .. then feed it meat with some fat on - lamb/ox cheek - for example . These people have just acquired the dog? My guess is that it will put weight on , if it is not racing around as much - a new ,more sedentary lifestyle may be all that is needed .Boiled chicken mince & pasta doesn't sound a wonderful diet ..even when combined with some dry ...

corvus- freerange- fair enough .. it's how the animal is transported to, and killed at, the place of processing which always concerns me . Are all these freerange critters still piled into crates (chooks/rabbits) or onto trucks,yarded, forced up a race etc.. or hung on hooks while still alive, before being electrocuted or stunned or having throats cut? Honest query .. was just wondering if animals raised 'humanely' are spared the distress mass produced ones are.Does anyone know?

I hope they don't send her home too early , but glad she seems a lot better!

5 months! I would not be leaving her outside unsupervised at all . The neighbour's staffy may well be castrated, but he may still try & get to your girl.. and there is a risk of injuries , with her being so young

Oh So Sorry for you & your family. Run free Sophie - enjoy meeting all the other DOL dogs over the bridge !