Katdogs

I still haven't seen the full story but they showed the #%^* owner's barking bit again tonight because it's a big Internet hit - shame on you all for making him a star!! The poor wife's expression was priceless!

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-...00410-rzpj.html R.I.P. Flog. May your sticks be short and thick ANDREW DADDO April 11, 2010 For ages, I've joked around with the kids about the dog being old. Really old. I've suggested they should keep an eye on him to work out his favourite spot in the garden because that's where we should put him. Forever. I used to laugh, maybe to soften the blow. They'd kind of laugh. I was preparing them for the inevitable conclusion that was looming for our 15-year-old dog, Flog. I'm not sure how possible it is for children under the age of 10 to understand that someone who's always been around, like the family dog, may be going away. He's always been there, underfoot, in the back of the car, on every couch and bed, and scrapping about at meal time. He was the perfect newly married accessory; a bit of practice for the real thing later on. Here's the theory: the gestation period of a baby is nine months because that's how long it takes for most of us to get our heads around the reality of having a baby. Why most of us are still painting the baby room when the baby comes home is another matter. Then, according to the theory, everything in baby land happens relatively slowly, so we can get used to what's going on. There's good reason to fear the nappy of a two-year-old meat-eating monster but no reason to worry about the nappies of a newborn. We learn by degrees. Gently, gently. Mustard to seeded mustard to it's-time-to-potty-train-NOW! Our dog was the seeded mustard of family life. In fact, Flog was the completely nutty mustard, the way most Staffies are. Maybe it was our fault for calling him Flog. Flog the Dog. We thought it was so funny and cute, but 15 years on it means something completely different to what it did then. On Easter Monday, Flog died. The end was mercifully quick. Unfortunately, and I'm not sure there's a lot of fortunatelys when the family dog dies, he was at my sister's place as we were visiting the rest of the family interstate. I'd warned her but hadn't really believed it. He'd been slowing down for a while, was eating intermittently and not drinking much. Grumpy. I suppose he was grumpy. But then, as my 102-year-old grandfather said before he died, "You'd be grumpy if you lived this long, too." I just didn't think he'd go; not without us, anyway. We'd told the kids he wasn't well but then, he hadn't been well before. One of the girls suggested sitting in front of him and clapping. "That always makes him feel better." I'm not sure it was part of the vet's repertoire. "You're not going to put him down, are you?" "You mean put him to sleep?" "Is it the same thing?' I nodded. "Are you going to put him to sleep?" Lie or not? Not. "Only if it's best for him." That's when the tears started. But these tears were nothing compared with those that came with the news that he'd died under his own steam a few hours later. I wasn't surprised by the emotion, more the intensity of it. Sometimes kids can get their heads in a tailspin and not be able to find a way out but this was different. This was finally falling asleep and waking up to cry again. And again and again. We wished for a bigger bed so we could all fit together. Eventually, the five of us went outside to find a star. A Flogstar. One especially for him. Of course, the kids all wanted to have their own Flogstars, which we were more than happy to concede. Clouds came and tucked the stars into bed, so we finally retired as well. "What do you think he'll find in Doggie Heaven?" It was a great diversionary tactic from my wife. "New teeth." "Clothes pegs, but meat-flavoured. You know how he likes to have one hanging out the front of his mouth all day? Well, if they were meat-flavoured it'd be much better. He could smoke them all day." "Fleas?" "That's Dog Hell, and he's not going there!" "Bones." "Sticks but not long pointy ones. How about the time he chased that stick and it went straight down his mouth and got stuck there? Remember? The vet said he should be called Flog the stick swallower!" "That happened twice." "He was a bit of slow learner." "Lots and lots of trees to pee on." "A plate full of scraps. Warm scraps. Straight off the table." "And no rangers, so he could walk around without being on a lead. He could poo wherever he likes and no one would be there watching him wondering who would pick it up. Dog Heaven is a place where dogs could poo in peace!" "Did anyone say teeth?" "Real teeth, not falsies like Pop!" And we carried on like that until the kids invented a home as good as the one he had left. Until we all knew he'd be OK, that he'd never have to eat a full bowl of onions again because he thought the chickens would eat them first. That was funny. He literally ate a whole bowl, watching the chooks who hung about like feathered hyenas. In fact, he was funny in that Staffordshire terrier completely nutty way; and that's the way I think we'll all remember him. The kids'll make sure of that. We fell asleep talking about all the other family dogs he'll be seeing up there; it actually sounded like he was up for a pretty good time.

Labs will enjoy anything as treats, so unless you need him to be extra desperate e.g. for training purposes, steer clear of cabanossi etc, you can just use some of your dry food and deduct it from the overall amount for the day. Perhaps measure the day's dry food into a jar, then you can use the jar for treats and give the rest of the dry for the evening meal. I feed my 36kg Lab X a base diet of one-and-a-third BARF patties in the morning, then a cup of Royal Canin Lab dry for evening meal (my Kelpie X gets the other 2/3 pattie). More than 90% of the time, though, the dry evening meal is replaced by bones/frames/necks/wings/tinned fish/vegies and fruit etc. She needs more exercise though, I know that she could lose a kilo and look fitter.

That's her!!! Thanks so much GayleK. I was so sure they said French but I was being snuffled by a very large American at the time so must have got mixed up with Italian. I wonder if I should suggest herding training to the family, after she's done some basic obedience?

Oohh so many gorgeous dogs! It's so hard to tell, because most photos are of beautifully groomed dogs so I don't know if they turn to ringlets when natural. I've been through dog-a-log and Bouviers are the only breed that sound similar - there's an Ardenne version too - but this dog's ears weren't really visible, certainly not pricked. Will get a photo next week and will write down the name straight away. I wish my memory was younger!

Even more obscure than that - I saw a Bouvier on Cesar, so I'd recognize if it was those names. The fur was almost in ringlets. It looked like the dulux dog with a bad perm!

Everyone was guessing some sort of OES/Bearded Collie type dog, but a lovely big fluffball I met today was a purebreed - a French shepherd de something or other. She's bigger than Stevie (Lab x Golden) already at ten months, though mostly fur. Can anyone point me to the right name so I can read more? Also met an American Bulldog today, big sook he is!

Stevie does this, and is very very gentle. The problem is that it can scare children (or their mums mostly, the kids are often ok), and elderly people with tissue-paper skin can get damaged by accident. We redirect her to her 'bear' - whatever soft toy is closest - so she whacks people with her tail trying to get them to admire her bear, rather than mouthing them. I wish we'd worked harder on this when she was a pup because although she's so gentle, all people are 'her' people, but the ones she loves most, she mouths most, and that especially includes some elderly members of the family.

Barker's sad death also sparked this long discussion about leaving collars on unsupervised dogs: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=105495 Stevie & Jodie had a fight when rough play one morning turned into Jodie stuck in Stevie's collar. It was horrible and if it hadn't happened when we were home, I know that one or both of the dogs would have been dead. I'd rather find a breakaway collar in the yard or have a call from someone who has the collar in their hand, than face coming home to that. I've also heard recently of a foster dog that hung itself on the hills hoist winder. Who'd have thought that possible?

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions. First episode, lumps seemed to form a rash of small heads that then burst to make patches of big bloody sores. It did look like one of those horrible necrotizing spider bites, especially as it spread so quickly. More recent episodes it's just been swelling, except a couple of spots where she's obviously rubbed/knocked at them. My husband has reminded me there was another swelling episode a couple of months after the vacc one. The branch she was chewing a couple of days ago is from a grevillia street tree. We do have mainly natives in the garden. Might talk to the vet about a dermatologist visit, if it helps us know whether we're dealing with plant, insect or vacc problem. We've also had the worst summer - three hot spots and bad ears. Husband is thinking DDT and napalm to kill everything!

We do have a little bit of wandering jew, but not in areas she normally goes. It comes under a neighbour's fence, and is ripped out as soon as I see it (but it's sneaky and keeps changing shape). Yesterday she was chewing on a rotten branch which is why we thought insect/spider again. This morning it was perhaps rifling through the Lillypilly/Smithii hedge clippings we spread around as mulch yesterday afternoon (or the spiders that might have come down in the clippings). Lots of jasmine mixed in with it - does it cause reaction? Vet yesterday suggested it might be a bee-sting, but to have been stung so many times in a yard that doesn't really have many, it sounds unlikely. If we could only pick a pattern to it all...

HELP DOLers! Stevie is 4 and a half year old Lab x GR. We got her as a pup. She has had a few episodes of getting nasty swellings over her face. We (and the vets) can't work out what could possibly be causing them. They're getting more frequent. * First one she had a small lump in the morning, by afternoon it was all over her face, next morning they'd burst and she'd started banging her face on the walls in pain. First vet was scared of her and didn't look too hard, just gave her antibiotics (and tested for mites, which it wasn't). Second vet next day gave cortisone and antihistamine injections, and more of both as tablets over the next few days. Took a couple of weeks for the sores to heal and she still has scars from that episode. That was three years ago. This one remains a complete mystery. * Another time, about a year ago, she'd been vaccinated in the morning (C5) then spent the day with my husband in a back shed clearing out rubbish. I saw her and thought she had socks in her mouth, then realised her muzzle was that swollen. Raced her to the vet (with panicking when she started making 'hoiking' noises in the back of the car) and she had cortisone and anti-histamine injections. Cleared up slowly over two days. She MAY have had exposure to red-back spiders, that's what we thought it would be. * Due to the coincidence, she stayed at the vet for a few hours after this year's vaccination Saturday before last and showed no reaction at all. Two days later though she did develop a hot spot under her ear, where she'd been having Dermotic for yeasty ear. Started antibiotics last Wednesday for that, because it was a bit bloody looking, plus shaved and Neocourt. * Yesterday, after perhaps chewing at a rotten branch in the backyard, she started swelling up - we noticed it quite early this time. Again straight to vet, cortisone and anti-histamine injections, swellings gone within an hour or two. The vet gave has antihistamine and cortisone tablets to keep at home in case it happened again, to give her immediately we saw swelling. * Today, she did it again. Absolutely fine at 8.30am, I thought she spent her time inside dozing until about 9.30, then she started to rub her face and by 10am she had noticable swelling. Gave her antihistamines but the b!@#$ managed to spit them out AFTER having a treat and leaving the room - which we only realised a couple of hours later, when her swelling was still getting worse. Gave her the anti-h and cortisone together and tonight the swelling is much better. Her eyes and muzzle puff up so much it looks like she's losing fur (she doesn't, it just spreads out). It's not evenly spread, it's lumpy along her nose/muzzle, around her lips, and over her eyes. After a while she starts rubbing her face on the floor, bed, walls - it's obvious pain. We're worried that if we're not home when it happens, she might start swelling down the throat. What should we be looking for in our yard? Can this be a plant, spiders, ants? Her diet is so varied it can't be that, hopefully. Anyone else had reactions like this? It's getting very scary.

My best mate through teenaged years was an Aussie Terrier. It was a long time ago now, but I have only heard good things about the breed when purchased from a breeder who studies temperament (I've met some nippy BYB versions). ETA (because I'm now on a real computer and not my phone), my boy was great at keeping secrets, learnt commands in French and German as I did those languages at school and practiced them on him, and never ever let me down which is better than my 'best friend' at the time! My dad inherited my boy when I had to move away from home to Uni. After he passed, my dad had a Jack Russell that was full-on Energizer Bunny and he wouldn't have suited me as a teenager. It depends so much on the breed, the breeder, and your expectations. Meeting lots and lots of dogs and breeders is the best way to research - and lots of fun!

I was thinking about this. I'm not sure about other states, but in NSW all pups are meant to be microchipped before sale, and I'm sure most 'professional' breeders will stay on the right side of this law. However, do the chips actually have to have any details recorded against them? Aren't puppy buyers given rego forms/advice, not change of ownership? I've heard of lots of dogs that are found in pounds to have chips but no details.

A couple of times when threads were going badly off the rails or blatent rule-breaking. It would be impossible for Troy to read every post.

I'm just starting to realise how many DOLers I didn't meet It was lovely to meet you Troy (I was very impressed by your bold fashion choices - pyjamas AND tin-foil hat!) Congratulations again on your award. Sags was sitting next to me and whispered how Dianne would have been so happy with the decision.

I couldn't find any other thread started yet about the Sydney Royal, even in the Show Ring forum. I'm planning to go on Friday 9th - to see Golden Retrievers, Flat Coated Retrievers, Aussie Terriers and Cairn Terriers (and the rest of it!). Last time I could only be there for a short time in the afternoon when most people had started to pack up. Still met some lovely Tibbies and Lagotti though! Is there a 'best' time to go through the dog pavilion? ETA Schedule

I'm too scared to add it all up! Bigger harnesses, beds, collars, flea stuff, food worm stuff, vacc - all adds up compared with a smaller dog. What I find a bit daunting though is the thought of one day being in a situation with Stevie when she's helpless and I have to carry her. She was bitten by a bull-ant at the park one day and wouldn't put weight on her foot but we were a slow limping 20 minute walk from the car. If it had been a snake, I don't know how I'd have found someone to help me carry a 38kg dog, let alone lift her into the car. I do love my boof-head though, with her big eyes and beautiful ears and never having to bend down to give her a treat!

I haven't looked at many breeder websites but I liked seeing the older photos of dogs that have been part of the family, even if different breeds. Also 'before and after' puppy then grown-up shots. I also want to see dogs in the home and interacting with people and other dogs, not just 'stacked' or set up for pretty puppy shots. Please please proofread or have somebody else check/edit the content - it looks so unprofessional to have odd apostrophes scattered around. I also judge sites by their links to other sites - for a breeder, links to DOL or specialist breed assocation sites (especially rescue/rehome, for people looking for older dogs of the breed) - it's a way of sorting puppy farmers from ethical breeders, because the puppy farmers seem to have links to massive pet food supplies or other puppy farms.

Banner ads: Muttlery (lovely gifts) and Vebo pet supplies for the puppy pen we got when my cat was sick, and have used parts of every day ever since. DOL generally: Dr B BARF, Breakaway collars (need to find a new source), Jointguard. Salvos stores as a source of toys and blankets. Orijen food (unfortunately). Houndbag, but mine didn't last very long. Probably heaps of other things I can't remember straight away!

It's been very interesting reading the comments on Mia's website. Tim from PetRescue has written some good stuff!

One of my fondest memories is bringing home a big no-name boofer foster dog in the back of the car and seeing his eyes light up when I called 'Tommy' - we must have said about 50 names by then! Though it might be because we'd just gone through Macca's drive through and he wanted a hash brown... Still, Tommy he has been since! Another foster was microchipped as Terry, but he converted to Ted (Terence Teddy-bear) very quickly - it was better than "You horrible multi-sh!@#" which was my loving name for him!

Hi Rozzie Admired you for years. Come stay at my place and we'll get a cab over, my treat. Dog friendly house if you need the option, and can Mr Rozzie come?

http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2010/03/b...mpulse-buy.html Mia talks about how many puppies have been bought by her friends, but end up being rehomed after a year or so. She's discouraging impulse buys, especially from pet shops, and promoting adoption of rescue adult dogs. The article was in today's Sun Herald, and probably the Melbourne Sunday paper as well?

BTW isn't it amazing how fast a dog can run away when you're trying to help it? I have more success with the big ones, especially boofhead types. Little dogs can get three blocks away just while I try to find a parking spot!