Golden Rules

Here you go! Drizabone for dogs They look so good on small dogs!

You need an Oilskin one maybe Amypie?

Some people are just a bit precious! Personally I love the waitress but can you just make sure she washes her hands and face before facing her audience? :D

Wash it a couple of times, or use it more often :D It will soften with use.

Toby looks like he's thinking "How bloody long does she expect me to model this thing?" All my dogs have had weatherbeetas - great value coats and I have always bought the showerproof ones so we could walk in rain. I gave a friend one of my spare coats which wasn't a weatherbeeta, and the dog flat out refused to walk, instead just collapsed on the floor every time they put it on :D

I'd eat anything you made Bub, you know that!

I think it will depend on the type of canapes you make whether Bitty drools or not! It's not a conscious behaviour is it? Just like we drool when we see a hot guy chicken or chips?

My security screen door was made with an opening and there were heavy plastic strips over the opening for the cats and dogs to come and go through. Then one day one dog chewed off all the plastic strips when he accidentally got locked outside (not happy Jan ) But in answer to you question, yes they do make pet flaps for security screens. Mine had to take into account the fact I have a cat flap in the back door and this needs to open through the security screen door, hence the heavy plastic strips but there are other options available.

If you don't have time in the morning for a walk, then do a couple of 10 minute obedience training sessions with her. Tiring out her mind will work just as well as a walk in the mornings. The more she has to think, the more tired she will be so you need to vary the training once she has mastered a task. Marrow bones are very hard and not good for the teeth if given too often, they will actually wear the teeth down more quickly than any other bone. Ask your butcher to saw a marrow bone into 8 pieces (half, half and half again, all lengthwise) which make a marrow bone go further without too much wear on the teeth at any one time (my theory anyway!) Chicken carcasses are great for teeth because the bones are rubbery and bend around the dogs teeth as they chew. Smear some peanut butter well inside a kong, sprinkle in just a few bits of kibble, then stuff half a banana into the Kong and freeze it. Or just fill a kong with some natural yoghurt and freeze it. You might have to plug one end with a piece of cheese or something. Treat balls with their kibble breakfast inside would be good (although my Goldie broke his treat ball open with his teeth rather than work for the kibble) A cardboard box to shred is great. Once they work out they can rip it or chew it, they have a lot of fun. Cheap and effective but you need to clean up the mess afterwards (and it's real messy!) Large soft toys from the Salvos cost a couple of dollars each, often cheaper. These are great if you are happy for your puppy to suck or chew on them. You need to make sure there's only dacron filling and no beads or anything that the puppy can ingest which may cause problems. You would also need to cut off the eyes and nose if they are plastic as these are the first bit a dog would go for. I would suggest a plastic coke bottle or milk bottle with some kibble in it however I never do this myself as the plastic when chewed can become quite sharp. But some puppies are happy to just play and try to get the kibble out. Is there anyway you can hide little treats to be found in the run? Is there a nice comfy bed in the run? One last thought is doggy daycare once or twice a week?

Same thing happens to humans if they eat too much licorice!

I've had rescue dogs with absolutely brilliant recall from day one, whereas some others took longer to train. Not all rescue dogs have bad recall - it really depends on the individual dog. And I suspect the owner I need to practice more.

I would call your regular vet and see if they will come out. They often do. When Duncan died, Dougal couldn't have cared less. It was like "Well I'm still here, what are we going to do today?!" I'm glad you have your bestie there today and Ella will be a comfort as well.

Bumping again Just to make sure no one will miss out!

No ruski, I don't breed Goldens (I wish! ). What about roo meat? Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with pasta and veges with mince (or even table scraps) IF your dog does well on it. Many here would say the same about cheap brands of supermarket food .... as long as the dog does well Can you keep your dogs inside but in separate rooms?

Well there's the answer to your first question (and it makes me think he's howling for a different reason rather than because your bitch is on heat, eg being separated from his pack maybe? ) Depends on where you live but there are places in Perth that do pet mince for between $2 per kilo to around $5 per kilo. I'd like to feed human grade beef mince to my dog all the time too but it's too expensive. He gets it as a treat occasionally, otjerwise it's raw chicken frames, meaty bones etc.

Bump!

I'd just keep going back to that butcher for dog bones only, just to piss him off!

Sorry, just a little OT, but here in Perth there is a vet that specialises in Opthamology and she rarely needs to use a GA on her patients for blocked tear ducts. I would say a lot has to do with the person's skills with this particular procedure, rather than the dog.

Bump again

Anywhere that sells dog training stuff will have whistles. Black Dog have them, Clean Run, your local pet shop might even have them. I read the best one to get is a pealess whistle. (I have one of every kind and forget to take them out with me )

I sympathise but can't help All my rescue Goldies have had bad recall. A lot of people have told me it's because I didn't have them as puppies A few Doler friends have seen Dougal look at me when I call him and he turns in the opposite direction and runs for his life!! He has a strange sense of humour A Doler friend said she would lend me a copy of The Really Reliable Recall DVD so I am patiently waiting for that and hoping I might learn something new. I have read also that you have to go right back to the start with recall and NEVER let the dog off lead until it does come back when called 99% of the time. If the training takes a relapse at any stage, you have to go back to the lead again. And yes, when on a long lead, you call the dog and if it doesn't come, you reel the dog in and reward. I'll be interested to read other's responses and recommendations. Good luck deelee!

Bump!

Metacam is an anti inflammatory that you would need to get on prescription from your vet. There is an equivalent human form but speak to your vet first. I was very reluctant to use it regularly initially as it can have some nasty side effects (as any anti inflammatory can) but in my boy's case, it has given him great quality of life and I am so grateful to my vet for persisting in changing my mind about giving it daily.

Unfortunately it sometimes happens when a knee requires a second op. My Dougal has had both knees done and then started limping again within 8 months - vet thought it may be a build up of scar tissue which was hindering his movement or possibly the cruciate need redoing - it was both. So he had another major op (poor boy ) but we are now coming up to 12 months from the last surgery and he is doing brilliantly, the best he has ever been! Some things to keep in mind if you end up needing another op: We did have some acupuncture work to help strengthen the muscles around the knee which in turn supports the knee joint and I am sure that has helped. Also, I was giving Metacam to my boy for about 8 months post op - this allowed him to be pain free and use both his legs without favouring one over the other, therefore not putting any undue stress on the good leg and putting that knee at risk again. He was always exercised under supervision and not allowed to do anything excessive, plus I have a ramp to get in the car etc so he never has to jump up on anything. He is currently running for 30 - 40 minutes at a time around our local park and still doesn't want to come home. This is a huge improvement in his endurance and I believe the Metacam and acupuncture (enabling muscle strength to build) has a lot to do with his recovery and current health. After all that though, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that another op isn't required and that it may just be a pulled muscle or something less worrying.

Similar story with my first Goldie. He went off his food and a week later had been diagnosed with Lymphoma after going blind overnight. He was PTS that night, just a week after he went off his food :D Do as winpara has suggested and don't wait too long before saying goodbye (and take a BBQ chicken with you!)