persephone

... but collecting scraps from little old ladies is ok :p Hamlet carries his 'cup' around hopefully ..and sometimes ,like today, when Mum can't eat her food , he scores bigtime!

True smiling has the appropriate body language as well... wriggly bum , 'soft' eye expression, good eye contact with us , etc .. it is really a happy expression !We have had a couple ,over the years .. no training, they just did it .. there was no tongue out .. it was purely a grin ...and absolutely no mistaking the intention ! (except for folks who had never seen it ) I just found Now THAT's a smiley dog :p

Great photo-journalism

your dog (cos he isn't really a pup anymore) needs you to learn how to effectively train him If you don't really understand the importance of timing/rewards,etc in training... your dog won't be getting the lesson right! It takes practice , and plenty of it!!! Please book into an obedience class and/or contact a professional to work with you at home . NOT one of the quick fix franchises.. but a reputable person who can take the time to see what the problems are, and show you how to manage them. When he needs a walk? he 'should' be walked twice a day, every day , ideally- but at least once every day ,if you can not manage twice. Dogs need to be walked... they also need training at home - teaching obedience/tricks..

..and remember- dogs can be allergic to almost anything - grasses/pollen/food ingredients/proteins in food/ingredients in shampoos/cleaners etc .. so it is not just a matter of wandering dew or a food ........... allergies need the help of a dermatologist, ideally. The area around the tail base IS the 'classic' flea allergy spot- as most dogs can't reach there to chew the fleas.. so it is where the flea/s settle ;) Hope your boy settles with the polaramine ... and what Steve says in her excellent post !

Perhaps try him on large chicken wings at first?Chicken frames (carcasses) Turkey necks/wings, beef ribs .... these are all big enough ,if left WHOLE to discourage swallowing!

I would advise getting it checked properly..yes. Why are you lifting her around the belly? If you need to lift her.... have her side-on to you .. one arm around the front of her chest.. the other around her hindquarters.. and then lift her that way.. so there is NO contact with her belly at all. ever. Does she have trouble jumping into the car? can you take portable steps or something? Even if she did tear the uterus.. it is removed when a bitch is speyed, so it would not be hurting her now Hopefully you find the problem and can do something to ease things.

that is just beautiful!

Oh...ok, you talked me into it! I probably won't be looking at all the other pics tho, apologies.. but I am limited in my allowance .. and photos chew it up!! :laugh: here-- taken this afternoon

it could be jaw/teeth related ...It may NOT be , but it could be

I use a "tchhht!" sound

Of course it happens It is an important way for pups to learn, IMO. pups watch older dogs hunting/working sheep/barking at strangers/using a doggy door/training owners ..... and they copy .It may take a while, or they may do it in their own style, but I believe a lot is learned by watching/imitating.

you did well!

Losing horses hurts - I know... Johnno looked a lovely gentle old boy... the sort whose presence just makes the world seem a nice place He will watch over you... and I'm sure that you will feel him near you at times :D

After 16 years it is very hard to let them fly free ,away from you.. :D

Hi How long have you had your dog? Is he desexed? What is his daily routine? Have you mentioned this to his breeder?

put your hand on the surface. If it's too hot to leave it there comfortably..it's too hot to walk a dog on

He was a gorgeous,honest looking boy! Love the photo of him with his duck

I also have sen dogs get very ill from large hotspots. I think a lot of folks just see one or two as annoyances.. fair enough... but they are a bacterial infection of the skin , and if a large area is affected, then it is serious.. like a large area being burned....

OUCH!!! the AB's will def help..and carry on as suggested with teh betadine wash/curash

With so many, I think a vet visit may be in order . Just in case. They DO appear so quickly..and as they are bacterial.. can get very nasty. Hope she can get something to sort them fast! (like an A/B injection) Creams are not wonderful, IMO .

good scrub with betadine wash .... make sure she is dry as... apply plenty of curash, and keep her cool and quiet. Hope there is improvement by tomorrow! OUCH

Thanks people.... he was a local legend ..Station folk always invited Freddie to come work ..oh and P***(my brother) better come as well . :D My brother could be working doing something with sheep in the shearing shed... or at one end of teh yard, and Freddie would handle everything else We used to get offers from people who wanted to buy him ... no way. His son, Leo , who is now about 7 is a great worker , but not quite up to his dad's standards .He is also able to be left to do what's needed..and will 'back' for a loong distance , up to where the sheep are 'tangled' or needing to move into a dark area or gate.... His dad's genes know what to do Oh, and Freddie is also my clown, Hamlet's, dad Unfortunately , apart from the fun loving...not much else has carried through

he's pretty cute !

I hope the owner is OK up there in the floods- nasty The fish oil is a long term thing .. hopefully ,with the right dosage it will help. Poor old dog.. I also have arthritis- it HURTS! Looking forward to seeing pics of this rambunctious grey beast , too :D