Tilly

My oldest boy has finally killed his shade cloth cover on his bed ... so I went out to buy him a new cover. Only problem is all the shade cloth covers seem to use velcro rather then the cable ties (with metal eyelets) ... I find the velcro useless because as soon as the dogs jump on their beds the velcro lets go. Does anyone know where in Brisbane / Ipswich I can buy the covers that use cable ties?

http://www.positiveresponse.net.au/current...le-classes.html http://www.cleardogtraining.com/

I recently stayed in a caravan with my GSD, a friend and her 2 greyhounds ... lets just say it isn't something I wish to repeat any time soon. The caravan wasn't very big and it kind of felt like it was going to fall off the foundations everytime we moved. There was very little room to move ... I think I would have had more room in my tent

I am usually the one out on the veranda yelling at the dog to get in out of the rain and to stay out of the mud puddles and then needing a bath when the said dog comes charging at me at full pelt wanting to share the joy of the mud / rain ... so I usually end up soaked.

Apparently I can't use electric fences (on the boundary fence) or barb wire on suburban fences ... personally can't see why it would be a problem I am looking at putting a new fence/gate in front of the existing gate (in line with the front of the house) but this can't be locked because the meter reader will need to get to the meter box which is why the gate was initially set back to its current place. Something like shade cloth would be great but the youngest would see it as a new toy and rip it to shreds. Making the gate solid timber would cut down the breeze they get on the hot days and would probably cause them to bark more - they like to see what is going on out the front. I just can't take the risk of something happening for the sake of the dogs.

We left our 7 year rottie alone in the back yard for a day while we spend Christmas day with our family ... he relocated about a cubic metre of dirt from the garden bed into the swimming pool ... while he tried to tunnel into the garage. It took us about a month to get all the dirt out of the pool. It is amazing what they can find to amuse themselves with when you are not around

My two GSD's probably cost me around $200 to $350 a month to feed ... but it depends if I can buy their food in bulk and cheaper. Winter is more expensive as they eat much more. They are both fed raw ... and it is getting more difficult to buy decent quality raw food at a reasonable price. Vaccinations used to be around $75 per dog ... the youngest was vaccinated yesterday and it is now $90. Registration with the BCC council for an entire dog used to be $75 per year - it is now $90. Desexed dog is $39. I have one of each. Heart wormer and all wormers (I use Heartgard Chews and Paragard) are around the $190 for the older dog and $105 for the youngest (at the moment) for the year. I use Permoxin (sp?) for tick treatment - that is about $100 for a litre but if can be found online for around $60 for the litre!!!! Thankfully we don't use too much of it - so a litre lasts about a year. Normally we don't have too many vet bills but the older boy became sick on night and $4,600+ later he was desexed and diagnosed with prostate issues. He later got a paralysis tick - that was another $1,000 in a weekend. Ear infections with antibiotics and drops are usually around $200+. I try to put away about $150 a fortnight for both dogs to cover vet bills - sort like a savings account for the dogs rather then paying vet insurance. I haven't even considered the costs of damage to the yard, chewing through the aircondition, chewing up for plants, the temporary fencing to keep what is left of my garden, the sleep less night, the dog training, dog crates, hydrobath, blankets and bedding. No wonder I am broke .... If only dogs were considered dependants on my tax ...

I use BioZet in warm water (hot water kills off the emzymes ... apparently) to clean up any marking left by my youngest on the concrete. So I would probably hose the grass stuff off and then soak it in a bucket or tub with some BioZet for a while.

Unfortunately I can't close the gap between the house and the gate as this room is needed by the hinges to allow the gate to open fully. I think I might need to look at some pool fencing style gates off the front of the house ... problem is that we use this side gate to get the trailer down the back for when we buy mulch or dirt for the back yard (and it is a tight fit). By putting another gate in we will probably loose this access. One would have thought an 8 foot fence, padlocks and signage would have been sufficient but it apparently isn't. I just don't want to risk my dogs because of stupid people...

I was home yesterday afternoon when both my dogs went mental ... barking their heads off. It was not their normal bark so I headed out to the front yard ... and found a young boy (in his school uniform) at the side gate and his mother standing on the footpath. She said "it is ok, he just wants to pat the dogs" ... to which my immediate reply was "no it is not ok to enter my property to touch my dogs". I then turned to the boy and told him never to enter anyone property and try to touch their dogs. His mother said something about "we didn't know they were aggressive dogs". I told her all dogs can be territorial in their yards and it is never a good idea to pat any dog without checking with the dogs owner … and the kid cut through the neighbours yard and the mother just walked off. My front yard is not fenced. My dogs are securely fenced in the back half of my yard with a side gate coming off the side of the house to the side fence … it is set back about 2 to 3 metres from the front of my house. The gate (padlocked at all times) has timber palings which are no more then 1cm apart but there is a smallish gap between the house and the gate post due to the house foundations – I can just squeeze part of my hand through the gap but a child could probably get their hand into it. I rang the council to find out what my obligations were in regard to “if the boy was bitten” sticking his hand through the gate … and they redirected me to legal aid. What should I now do? Should I now create a second gate to keep my dogs away from the side gate to protect them from stupid people?

Poor Zedley ... If you want to see a dog dramatise a situation ... think greyhound and a ant bite ... then think extreme drama queen While I know it hurt I could do nothing but laugh at her behaviour … sorry Brindle – I know she is your girl but she is really a serious drama queen…

No pictures please ... who would have thought dog training was a contact sport Lure coursing has enough pictures of me on my butt ... good thing I have so much padding Not sure how I got the big bruise on my arm which seems to be getting darking by the minute ...

My GSD was 6 months when he decided he didn't want to recall ... so I got excited and ran off away from him. He then came running after me and got big reward but I also put him back on his lead and went back to doing recall on a long line. Maybe look at the DVD "Really Reliable Recall" ...

I definately think the owner was over-reacting and you did the right think by taking your dog away. Unfortunately you can't get through to some people and it is best to walk way. Many years ago I tried to explain to an owner of a very small young dog that it wasn't a good idea to turn up to an ofleash park and drop the dog over then fence while he chatted on his phone (with his back to the yard) ... particularly when there was a large breed dog that he didn't know already in the yard. His view was that if the dog wasn't friendly it shouldn't be in the park. I tried to explain my boy was friendly but as he was over 40kg (and a very much rough and tumble pup) and still a young puppy and his was such a small pup could easierly be hurt accidentally - and it would be a good idea just to check with the dogs owner (given it was an unknown dog) before dropping the pup in the yard. His view didn't change - that the dog shouldn't be there if it wasn't friendly. I couldn't get him to understand that for his pup's safety it would be better to double check first - I put my pup on his lead and left. Our off-leash area is a smallish area that is generally empty during the day - except for a regular afternoon session which a number of doggy owners attend. Outside of the regularly afternoon session you can use the off-leash area by yourself a majority of the time - which is great for owners who don't want their dogs playing with others but still want them to have some off-leash time. It is normal practice during the day that if you take your dog to the off-leash park and there is someone already in there to talk to them over the fence first to see if it is ok to bring your dog in - otherwise you can go for a walk and then come back later to use the park.

Definately depends on the dog ... my older boy gets a little annoyed at small dogs and sits on them ... all 60kg of him

She sounds stressed just getting in the car ... so even before short drives start by putting her in the back set and giving her treats, playing with her (low key), cuddles, fussing over her and then take her out again ... without moving the car. Keep doing this so she will happily go to the car without needing to be picked up and carried. Then move on to having someone starting the car (with you sitting in the back with her initially), give her a treat (ginger nut biscuits are a good treat) and reward good calm behaviour. Build this up to reversing the car down the driveway and back again and then eventually drive around the block. Having the window down a bit with fresh air is also good for travel sickness (those window shade soxs are good for keeping heads in the car and the fresh air in).

Mystiqview - Greytmate's offer sounds more convenient for you with less running around.

Mystogview - I have a friend in Ipswich who might be able to have him in her yard if he isn't a jumper or escape artist - she has the pool fencing out the front. She has 2 greyhounds who are normally inside dogs - I can check with her this afternoon. Alternatively - if he doesn't mind some time inside in or in a crate - he could come to my place. I am about 30 min from Ipswich at Algester but I could meet up with you as I have the day off work. We are both going to Coolangatta for the weekend

The next date is this Sunday (25/7/2010). There is also a fun run and 20th Anniversery celebrations on the 22 August 2010. Their website is http://www.qldlurecoursing.com/racing_information.html

Bring your dogs and join in the celebrations - see the Old Lure machine - History of the club will be on display-photos-magazines -memorabilia etc. - BBQ, Tea & Coffee etc available - Fun Runs for all dogs-No Charge!! - Fly Ball Demo - Video of early Lure runs - Parade of all Lure Coursers of merit - Fancy dress for dogs & owners Come and see the best lure coursers racing!! http://www.qldlurecoursing.com/Pursuit/201..._20th_Anniv.pdf

Maybe take her water and her bowl from home and practice with her drinking in different locations around the house, in the car etc ... I think water tastes and smells difference from different locations.

I will be there ... and I have packed my extra warm PJ's (plus the dogs extra warm PJ's)

We have always given our boys their food in the morning after they came home from work. Now the boys aren't working their main meal is still in the morning so they have the day to burn off the calories. They get a lighter meal/some bones at night before bed.

The older GSD ... 4 mths - 19kg 6 mths - 26.5kg 9 mths - 41.3kg 1 yr - 43.4kg (he had been sick so had lost weight - he took a while to pick up his weight again) 18mths - 47.5kg 2yrs - 54.8kg ... Then he started to fill out and ended up reaching 60kg!!!! He used to range between 55kg and 60kg while he was working but 60 was a good weight for him. He is now about 65kg so he is on a diet. The youngest GSD is almost 15 months 2 mths - 7.8kg 4 mths - 20.5kg 6 mths - 31.7kg I stopped recording his weights after that ... I did weigh him weekly but just never recorded them. He is currently 46.8kg .... and on the thin side.

Grace1979 - where about are you going for the training? (if you don't mind me asking) I have contacted them about doing a basic obedience class at Regents Park...