Reddii

Hey jamesanddean, I think this is a really good attitude - stick to your guns! A lot of people on here will try and sway you away from having a pup when you work full time, but as a couple of others have said, it's about making it work for you and the dog. Sure, in an ideal world we could all sit at home all day and play with our dogs, but the world is not ideal so compromises have to be made all the way around. My OH and I both worked full time when we got our pups (one from a pet shop at six weeks :rolleyes: lesson learned and the other at 12 weeks from a registered breeder). The boy we got at 12 weeks has always had a mate, and the six girl did have a mate from the time we got her until she was 6 months, but then spent 3 months on her own with no problems. Both are well adjusted and very well trained dogs, but are still left to their own devices 3 days a week for about 10 hours a day and are occasionally at home on their own when the other dog goes somewhere. That said we are at club training 4 nights a week between agility, herding and flyball and have them out on a walk or run and do some training every other morning and night. As you say, it's about assessing whether you are prepared and able to adjust your lifestyle and then doing the best you can. Best of luck with it!! Tony

I know this doesn't cover it, but I am so sorry for you loss. We made a similar decision 12 months ago yesterday with our 7 month old BC. The good thing is the pain does dull, but the happy memories your boy brought you will never fade. Rest in Peace Oakley.

I got a rake yesterday and spent about 20 minutes using it with him last night - WOW! I can't believe the amount of coat he has shed, but also how easily it takes it all out. The few remaining tangles in the under coat were still a bit of a challenge, but we are close to back on track and should have it fully under control by the end of next week I think. It's amazing how his coat was still looking ok (to most people's eye, including mine), but how much work it really needed. Yet another lesson learned! Thanks all for your input! Tony

I just came back to this thread and it is SOOOOOOO funny to read through everyone's experiences. Since I last posted Xena hasn't changed a bit, in fact she's worse if anything - has taken a bit of work to get her to ignore other balls at flyball! It's funny when we get the the end of her run and instead of just her ball ther are 2 or 3 just lying there to be had - talk about BC heaven! Now our other little man is just as bad, only it's either squeaky toys or tennis balls! What others have said about the off switch is so true. Great to train them and be able to have them working, but equally important to be able to turn them off.

I've been really slack with my pet insurance (not claming) and just found that they have a 60 day rule.......oh well lesson learned. (RSPCA). I think that's probably cost me about $200. That said I've just sent in all my receipts for worming/flea treatment and vaccination that we've accumulated in the last month and received a cheque in the mail for $160 yesterday - no hassle, no fuss, just fill in the claim form and away you go. Hopefully they are as happy and cheery to pay next time something goes wrong with one of the dogs. No complaints, just an upper cut for self. I wouldn't be without it, just in case. I'd hate to be in a situation where money made a difference to a decision and we couldn't afford or justify an expense. Tony

Thanks Dru. will give it a go. I'm beginning to think grooming is harder than training! bloody long coated BC's......

Thanks again to all who replied a few weeks back. Last night was our first run in a month due to various factors. CK was great. He'll never be a psycho high drive BC, but works at his own pace and very effectively. Trick is to get him 'on' the sheep. Once I do that he'll work them any where. I even broke up the sheep a couple of times and he ever so calmly grouped them back together. He gives the sheep plenty of room, but takes no rubbish from them. He puts appropriate weight on them w/o spooking them. He'll never be a world beater, but he did REALLY enjoy it last night - couldn't wait to get in there for his second run! He's really come alive in the last couple of weeks as he gets fitter and stronger and develops a bit more drive an focus as he does more work. Will be interesting to see how he progresses in the next couple of months. Cheers. Tony

Thanks all for your replies. I'd like to work up to a rake, but at present I'm pretty sure the little man would not tolerate it - he's always been quite happy to be brushed, but doesn't like the pulling sensation of a comb so I'm nervous about going straight to a rake. Would the rake be more or less harsh than the comb (not having used one before.) Cheers. Tony

That's funny - my two are pretty similar, in fact the $30 toy is probably less appealing than a towel, cheap tuggie or the rope toys I've just started with.......at least the $30 toys last - if only because they won't play with them. ;) Xena doesn't like toys at all, she loves tennis balls (only allowed them at flyball now), the new balls I have for them to chase and retrieve (grudgingly accepts that tennis balls get thrown away and she has to use these) and tugging, but isn't much in to squeaky noisy stuff. CK also loves to tug, but REALLY loves anything that squeaks, especially his 'CUZ' toys that make heaps of noise.

Which way should I brush? My little man is moulting like you would not believe (OK, you would, but it's my first experience with a full BC coat) - should I go against the grain of his coat or with it for best results? I've been brushing with a normal brush every day and removing heaps of coat, but it's just not cutting it. Not sure if grain is the right word, but you know what I mean hopefully. Thanks in advance. Tony

I don't suppose this matters one way or the other as long as it works for you, but I was still curious about others' opinions on this one. I have two dogs and until now have used one tug toy for both of them - they only use it when training so never together and the toy is 'mine' and I let them play with it and me when they have done good things. It seems to heighten the drive when the other dog has been using the toy so I've always thought of it as a good thing (naively or otherwise). We are now at the stage where OH may have to run one of the dogs in flyball in the not too distant future (months) so I'm going to need two tug toys for the odd occasions when they are running against each other or for that matter in the same team. It got me thinking - would you give each dog their 'own' tug toy (even though they are 'mine') or would/do you swap and chagne them between the two dogs? Interested to read your thoughts. cheers. Tony

Sorry, I can't help either. My girl is TOTALLY obsessed about tennis balls (16 month BC). I've seen her stand and watch one for 15 minutes when she was your pups age, now she's learned to throw them at me. We've taken the tennis ball out of her world, except for flyball training. Other types of ball are OK, just not a tennis ball. The trick will be to convince her she has to play with something else before she gets the tennis ball, that way the ball becomes the reward (OK as long as you don't want to do flyball!) It's a long process, but it is worth it!

I've never thought so much about it until I saw someone comment on it the other day. My little girl (16 month BC) frequently has a glazed or mucous (sp?) coating on her stools. They are almost always well formed and fairly small and dry out very quickly, but wondering if the glazed thing is a problem or something I should be looking in to. Thanks in advance. Tony

I'd love to get them to swim a bit more, but we live inner city and the best we could do is to let them loose in a drainage ditch around the corner - Our other dog decided that would be a good idea one day and I still have the scars from retrieving her - bit of work done on the stay since then and she has lost all privileges! . We are about to begin taking them to the beach a bit more now that summer is here but it's still at least 45 mins, but more like 1hr 15 to somewhere decent - too far for a regular (3 or 4 times a week) outing. We were doing the hydro therapy thing every sunday night, but it was just getting too much after a long weekend of things to do, then not getting home until after 8pm. I feel bad, but sometimes OH and I have to come first (she feels that way at any rate and fair enough.) He's going to get a swim on Sunday at he beach - can't wait! Thanks again - and SB thanks for the hope - funny how even when it is people you trust (vet and breeder) it still makes you feel better to hear it from an independent source. Tony

This is what the vet and his breeder are suggesting. Will organise photos on the weekend. At this stage we've had such a long haul (not compared to some, but still a long haul looking after him) that I just want to cover all bases and make sure I've not done something that might help. Got the Ester C last night and he won't take it in his food, so down the hatch with the fishoil tablet. At least he knows he eats it or no dinner! Thanks again to all.

on it.........

We were going to hydrotherapy, but it's a long way from home and we simply don't have the time in our week to keep it up. He already gets a 'c' tab each day, would you suggest increasing the dose? Can't really hurt I guess.

Hi All, Just wondering if someone can offer a little advice/alternative opinion. My little man is a 11 month BC who is quite big (20kg), but very lean, tending towards skinny. At 4 months he cracked his elbow and took about 6 months and a course of 4 cartrophen injections to come right to the point where the vet allowed us to put him back into regular Border Collie activities. He seems perfect now and is beginning to run (was not allowed outside a small run for the six months) with no ill effects for the last 8 weeks. My only concern is that he is still just a little east west in the front - more so on the leg he hurt. The injury was a crack on the very tip of the elbow and we have had it re-x-rayed and it healed 100% with no wonky bits. It seems to be SLOWLY straightening and both our vet (qualified as a vet first of all and then with a masters in vet chiro, along with a heap of other holistic stuff) and the little man's breeder feel he will come good once he develops a bit more chest (has done no exercise so has not got a chest at this point). I'm wondering if there is anything to add to his diet that might be able to help. He is currently on Eukanuba performance with chicken wings + mince + vegies + fish .(rotated, not all at once). and an egg once a week. He also gets a spoon of natural yoghurt ever day or so. He is also on Glucosamine/chronditin power and a fish oil tab once a day + Vitamin C tab once a day. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. cheers. Tony

Thanks MV. I've sent them the link to Val's website and the Grand Mum (my friend) is quite excited about the idea. Even if the son doesn't end up taking the dog there I think my friend might - they lost their dog (a BC btw) about 18 months ago and love the little pup we are talking about. Cheers. Tony

When I first got our dogs and got into training I said there was no way that I'd trial - just wanted a sound dog and a good family pet. Then I got into agility a bit and caught the bug, then it was flyball, now it's herding. With my little bitch I can't wait to get to our first agility trial and have only 2 weeks to go til our first flyball outing - WOO HOO! She will really enjoy the ring and loves to perform in front of others. With our boy I'm not sure if we will reach that standard just yet, he's 11 months and has had a couple of set backs so we haven't done a lot with him at this stage. He doesn't get too excited, but as we have more and more fun he seems to be getting into it. To me it is a matter of finding what you and your dog enjoy and doing it. Personally I find the lower levels of obedience disinteresting, but love flyball and agility so that is where we tend to spend our time. As for the dogs - if they enjoy a bit of a run around with some weaving pegs and jumps thrown in and you are there to help set up and pack away and you aren't getting in anyone else's way then I don't see a problem with that - just the same as a really high drive dog who goes nuts every time you get to agility and loves to work the whole lesson. (That said at 11 months the psycho dog would also switch off after about 30 minutes too.) I guess at the end of the day I'm saying I can see it from both sides of the fence - there is a LOT of commitment involved in getting a dog to that level and sometimes it can impact on your overall life. When that becomes the case it just isn't worth it - i'm sure there are plenty of dogs that are very happy with their lot, but don't trial.

I'm sure on the job he was probably fine, but apparently it didn't transfer to home life. I don't know any of the other boys in the squad, just commenting on what seemed strange.

Much the same happened with me and a working beagle - can't remember if it was a Customs or Quaranteen dog tho. We were at an Opening of a place and the dog was there to show what it could do. Much like i was there with my dog and a group of others. I'd walked through - out of sight of the beagle and was watching - and i was asked to move further away. Further away waan't far enough and i was asked to move my dog to well away from the arena - so i had to crate my dog before i could go and watch. Through all this Bronx hadn't made a sound nor showed any interest to what the beagle was doing - but the beagle was apparently very interested in Bronx - which was the reason given that the beagle wasn't working properly As to QLD Police dogs...for the most part i've had no issue in regards to the dogs (seen some things happen - but as far as i was concerned it was handler error)...however some of the handlers have left a few things to be desired over the years. Interesting you should say this. My BIL used to be in the dog squad and when we got our dogs made all the right noises about training and seemed to know what he was talking about. They've since got themselves a weimaraner that is the most under stimulated, ignored dog I've seen in quite some time. They've finally begun to take the situation (big dog completely out of control and going to hurt someone with his playful/boisterous behaviour) seriously and are doing something about it, but his handling skills are even worse than mine - a complete novice! Thumbs up to them for beginning to address the situation, but it really shocked me that someone who was meant to have spent two years in a professional training environment had so little idea about handling a dog. On the bright side both the dog and it's handlers are improving rapidly. I'm sure there are good and bad in every lot, but this is my one experience on this issue.

Thanks heaps.

Hi All, A lady here at work's son is having a few pack order issues with their staffy x lab and a newish baby. Nothing serious yet, but she can see there is the potential for real problems if it isn't addressed. I don't think from the sound of it that it's time for a behaviourist just yet, more that the son needs guidance about how to train the dog. Does anyone know the nearest obedience club to Keperra to at least point them in the right direction. Failing that can someone recommend a good at home trainer who's name I can give them. Cheers. Tony

So would you suggest slow metabolism - adult, fast metabolism (trouble keeping weight on) energy?