Monah

Obviously I dont know if there is any new legislation, but normally you are not allowed to stay in the car. the trip is about an hour so maybe you could put pup in a crate in the car? also, sea sickness is a possibility, you may even sight southern right whales you cannot take dogs to any national park places, you do not need a 4wd either. The roads used to be all dirt, but there are many bitumen roads these days :D How long are you going? It is a large island.. Pennington Bay is glorious and worth a look for sightseeing value, on the way to kingscote. Penneshaw is very pretty, where the boat comes in, cape willoughby has a great lighthouse and rugged beaches, Stokes bay is amazing, you get to it through a rock crevase. I'd suggest remarkable rocks, flinders chase, admirals arch, kelly hill caves, seal bay, but pretty sure NO DOGS. American beach, just out of penneshaw, at the bottom of the first hill (downhill) is a great walking type safe beach. there are many places to look at even with the dog. the crossing can be rough maybe have stuff handy for the kids. Have a great time!!

We used to own the ferries! lived on KI for 20 years, OH born there. Yes you can take dogs. HEaps of tiger snakes, so be careful, breeding time. and dont' forget that penguins nest all over the place, esp in rocks, beaches even under houses. xxxHave fun!

I've had a dog go exactly like that too. IMO it's pretty normal for some dogs, my ACD had her faculties until she passed from cancer at 15, but my little swf (rescue) lost the plot around 13 years old and lived another 4 years.. We just managed his 'condition' with common sense like lots of supervision, almost like caring for a pup again except that yes, he slept a LOT. to make sure he did not stay awake etc. at nights, I would try and keep him active for a while during the day. His body clock was all over the place. So like humans!!!! All the best for your dear old dog.xxxxx

Oh you poor thing. It's nothing to do with being smart. Dogs can smell. Raw food has an extremely high value. Feed separately. prepare alone.(no dogs) even in separate rooms they will know if one has raw. Yes, raw is best, IMO if it causes a problem, esp a fight, I'd reassess. If raw has become an issue between them or stirred up competitive feelings and resource guarding, I'd give it a miss. They will smell it on breath, fur etc. even poo. You can't keep it 'secret'. Try feeding the same food, separrately and see how they act together, if they are good, keep it up. If not, there may be other issues that you have to investigate. Hope it all turns out well, I'm sure it will. Love to your lovely doggiesxxxxx

Can't wait to see group 3

Love Martin Clunes and all his programs. Men behaving badly is a classic!!!! cant wait to see the dog show! Loved the horse one where his mare had a foal, Alice and martin welcomed her into the Clunes family for hopefully 30 years :p wonderful amazing man, on Islands Of Britain he cuddled every animal he saw :p

My vizsla just chose the one she wants

My two love to swim. The spinone is really water loving. I have not heard of dogs swimming off, but I'm sure there would be cases. Aidan has a great idea ;) Mine have good recall (except when spin sees a roo ) so I avoid dawn and dusk times. Swimming is great exercise, just check ears regularly, and of course, no swimming in dangerous watersxxxxx My daughter has a 9yr old working BC who can swim for hours!

The great dane breed pages may be of help. I've had wolfhounds and they did not need any garden! just the couch The only things Id worry about are if 3 will ruin the dynamics of your family, get a male if you already have 2 girls (I've had 3 girls fine, but many people have had problems with having several of the same sex), and also, I know money is not an issue, but large dogs do cost a fortune, even a worm pill (giant one )!!!xxx Um, Vizsla pic? ;) (what good taaste you have in dogs ;) )

LOL understatement! I have an aquaintance who breeds them and they are soooooo lovely, adorable, just don't forget to keep a towel over your shoulder As far as I know, the dobe crop ears were never done in Aust., USA does it, not sure what other countries. :D I agree with Noisy, as I mentioned in an earlier post, if the exercise thing is one of the main concerns, an older dog is a great idea. Of course they still need a fair bit of exercise, but are less likely to suffer (or the human too :D ) if a walk is missed. Huski, have to mention a young friend has a beagle puppy and I was freaking it would be too hard for him, she is only 10 months now, at his 21st. she (Lola) was incredible, loads of training, she is amazing , I was very clever and wonderful girl! Of course, Vizslas should be at the TOP of that list if only for their manipulation skills and problem solving!!

I can't think of anything! Blank, zip, got nuthin'........ Maybe an older dog? A dog of around 6 or 7 can still be around for another 9 or 10 years 'behaving in general' is a training issue, not neccessarily a breed issue.xxx

Rude and inconsiderate, or the very reason he has people living in HIS HOUSE while he's away at all? We don't know do we. This arrangement may be by prior agreement with the OP or her OH. We also don't know that this dog is aggressive, he apparently has a reputation for 'not listening', he lay on another dog's bed in a strange place, and he is reported as having shown his teeth - which or may not have been a growl - to a stranger staring at him thorough a window in a place that is strange and maybe confusing to him. I feel a bit sorry for this poor dog, he's been demonised with very little evidence. And he is now in the charge of someone who fears he will rip her face off and thinks there are magic 'silver bullet' techniques for 'dominating' a dog. Very sad. also sounds like he may have been from pillar to post, not much routine or stability? maybe not, but it does appear so

It's the housemate's house, no reason he should find alternative accomodation. He might though prefer to find a housemate who is comfortable looking after his dog while he is away, and that may be the best outcome for all. Including his dog. whoops, sorry, I thought they were all just sharing a house together. missed that post. In that case, if possible, I'd live somewhere else, not put yourself or dog at risk.

greyhound then! great pet, couch potato, very very sweet and loving Lots out there need homes

Wow is all I can say. You will only make the situation worse if you do any of those things and you will be extremely lucky if you do not get hurt in the process. I hope you contact the owner asap and make alternative arrangements for the housing of this dog as you are clearly not ready or qualified to be looking after him. I agree, this could be a disaster, even for your own dog. don't put yourself or dog in any danger, can you kennel housemates dog for him? Tell him the situation and he will have to pay for it? Housemate may have to find alternative accommodation.

I agree with the poster who said that most of the "smart" dogs require a high degree of mental (and physical) stimulation. If you upped the amount of exercise you were prepared to give the dog then something like a utility gundog might fit the bill very well. Intelligent, highly trainable but higher maintenance in terms of exercise than you currently want to do. Quite a few have short coats. Edited to add: a Smooth Collie might suit. :p ;) I WAS going to say vizsla until I saw the exercise requirements, very very clever and easy to train, but pretty high on the exercise requirements. Plus, stunning looking ;) ;) Don't labs and Mals meed a lot of exercise too???

Behaviourists are an excellent investment and in the scheme of things, not expensive at all. I dont really see how you could have people like that at every club and also most dogs dont need it. I'm very happy with the experiences I've had with behaviourists. I have found another place to go to agility and it's great The first thing she said as a person turned up with a CHOKER was, I dont use chokers here but can lend you a collar the guy was a bit put out but they had a chat about why etc. and he was happy. the local kennel club is OK, a little antiquated though. The issue I had was that it is treated as a socialisation time with humans and dogs chatting , playing during the hour. That's great if your dog enjoys that, but if it doesn't, you are left right out of things and treated like a pariah and also never know if someone is going to come over to talk, with crazy puppy in tow :D :D WHere I go now, she says straight up, some dogs may not appreciate meeting yours and so on, and no one is made to feel like they have a revolting dog and no pressure to 'join in and play'. It's such a relief to know that no one is going to think they can play with us, I dont have to be 'on guard' etc. and can relax and enjoy training. There are several reactive dogs going there, none what I'd call aggressive. Monah has been great, she focusses on her 'work' and loves it and we have a ball. She likes one or two dogs and they have quick hellos as we leave. She has never attacked or lunged etc at a dog anyway. ;) but can be nervy.

I'm so sorry, how awful! Hope there is a quick and full recovery.xxxxxxxx

No ideas sorry. Just keep them separate. dear little deerhound certainly don't need him to become fearful either.xxx There is an excellent behaviourist in QLD, she is in the Caboolture/redcliffe area though. I dont know of any up your way. It can happen to anyone, dogs :D !!! Good luck.xxxx

I don't know what type of terrier was involved, but terriers have MASSIVE canines, even a small terrier can have larger teeth than a large dog Poor baby

I bond very quickly, too quickly really, just visiting friends i can bond I love a demanding and affectionate dog, and have always had ones like this, the viz takes it to a whole new level though I choose the breeds for this trait which is why I've never had an independent breed. Even the wolfie , although a sighthound, was VERY cuddly. I know many friends see how the dogs I have are always in your face (and the cat breeds I choose), and often wonder how I can stand it, but I love it that way (I suppose I'm needy ) Breeders have usually chosen the dogs for me, although one was a singleton so no choice there.

Big growlers here too!

I wish you all the best Paddy, how awful. If you were here you could have our place in a second!xxxxxxxxxxx

I don't see a difference between worrying about interest rates (mortgage) and worrying about rent increases??? I certainly do not think everyone should own a house, and dont believe investors are materialistic either. I see a lot of older people in big trouble, the ones who have to pay rents on a pension and with the basic neccessities rising in cost all the time it is very tough for them. All I can do is listen, I'd love to be able to help. It's very upsetting. A very very high percentage of them had many opportunities to be in a better position at this time in their life, but didn't take them. I find it sad. :D

we have a surplus of rentals in our area and cheap too. I completely agree that Aust is way behind in renting to people with pets. It's a terrible state of affairs. I also agree that renting can be fraught with stress, a house can be sold under you, issues can come up that would not if it were your home. Really awful. We all make choices, sometimes we dont have a choice, but it should never be 'renters vs landlords'. All are people, that's it. It's not an us and them situation. Just like it's not a 'bosses and employee' situation in the workplace (or shouldn't be). We all feel pain, have emotions, can be nice or horrible at different times. Empathy would be nice. I've thought about buying an investment property several times, we did use to own two waterfront units, but sold them when things got tight a few years ago. Rent money does not cover costs in the majority of cases, which is why we have not gone down that road again. One large outgoing for damage (carpet, plumbing, etc.) can break a landlord and I'm not prepared to take the risk. We were going to rent our house out when we moved to darwin last year, I did not care if they had dogs, cats, chooks, cows, etc. but after having a good look at what was going on in the rental market, and how much one little incident could cost us, we decided against it so had a house sitting empty for 12 months. I dont see this as selfish, we could have had an income to help cover our massive Darwin rent, as it was we came home majorly out of pocket as rentals in Darwin START at around $600 a week. So I have seen both sides. When we left our darwin house, the landlord inspected it and was in shock as it still looked brand spanking new, no different to when we moved in with 4 cats, 2 dogs, birds and our son. I would have been thoroughly ashamed if there was so much as a mark on the walls. Debyork: Of course many people need to rent (my own kids do), but really, if you have spent $80,000 on rent I think you need financial advice. With that amount outgoing, there's no reason you could not have bought your own investment property. I dont understand why you are havinga go at your landlord's income? It's no business of yours at all, just like as you say about paying an employee, that it would be no ones business what someone earnt. You say yourself, you have a great life, things repaired for free, move when ever you want, no mortgage, no responsibility.But, the landord is evil??? Bit confusing. What on earth makes you think those people with investments dont spend time with their families? or are materialistic freaks? And surely you have had to work long hours to pay all that rent? why is that nay different than paying a mortgage? From you post, you appear to be very bitter about something, dont take it out on those of us who are trying our best to look after our own security later on so we are not a burden on an already over burdened pension system. You can rent all your life, whinge about it, get a pension, rent assistance etc. later on, someone else can work hard, use their money wisely to look after their future , and get NOTHING at all. Yet you have decided they are doing this to be greedy. There is no 'right or wrong', this is different for each individual. but please give property owners a bit of thought, they are not the devil in disguise. If you are there paying it, dont complain, do something about it. Get your own place. or sit back and enjoy the lack of responsibility.