Tilly

I have forgotten to feed my boys once in a while ... and even had to get off the bus and come home when I remembered ... but I feel bad everytime I go to work when it is raining. The boys are locked on seperate sides of the yard when I am not home. The older boy has the back veranda side of the house (so lots of shelter) but the younger boy gets the other side which doesn't have a lot of shelter. While we have put a tarp over the clothes line which offers shade it doesn't do a lot when it rains because of the direction the rain blows ... but in all fairness I did have a lovely big dog house made for him. The other day I came home and it was pouring rain so I rushed outside to let the youngest into the other side of the yard with the older dog ... and I find him shivering in his hole under the mock orange bush (he had started digging his way to China). But the main problem is ... his hole is sitting right on top of one of the gravel pit's ... so when it rains heavy the water naturally overflows into the lovely big hole he has dug. He really is too stupid to sit in his dog kennel out of the wind and rain but instead I come home to find him sitting in the muddy water and shiver because he is now really cold and wet!!!!

I was thinking ... there might be too much bouncing around happening in the bed. So maybe a balance problem or an ear problem :D

So will this now basically means any staffy entering the pounds or being dumped really won't have much chance of being rehomed and is more likely to be PTS?

...

I have offered to bring my dogs to work with me so we don't need as much security ... but I think the boss was a little offended when I suggested we could use his office to set up the dog beds for the day. So unfortunately they get left at home to look after the house for me while I am at work ...

He was probably thinking ... don't eat it all - leave me some

My boys give the "Bark ..... Bark ..... Bark" when there is a person walking around at night. This is basically their "we are watching you so keep moving" message. Then there is the "Bark, Bark , Bark, Bark, Bark, Bark" when there is the something I need to check out.

At some point I am going to need a boarding kennel for my 2 GSD's so I am looking for some recommendations. There has been come occasions when I have had to go away for up to 5 days (at short notice) and leaving the dogs at home (with someone coming in to feed them) is not really an option. Last time I went away the neighbours basically said they barked the entire 5 days. Overnight hasn't been so much of an issue as I have a friend (who they have both accepted) who can come and take them for a run. My older GSD is a retired security dog and is strong willed. One of the main problems with this boy is that he can come across friendly and playful but if someone goes to correct him or tries to get him to do something he doesn't want to do (talking non-family members here) he can become aggressive - he can also be dog unfriendly but that usually will depend on his mood. He also has prostate issued which means he must have 24hr access to grass for his toileting (he won't go on concrete) otherwise he stops urinating and then there is major problems. So I am looking for a place with a large grassy run attached so he can have full access ... and kennel staff members who will do as I ask with him. The younger boy isn't really a problem (other then being a brat and having tantrums when he doesn't get his own way) but would need to kennelled separately to the older boy but preferably on the other side of a fence so they can still see each other. So ... if anyone has any recommendations ... please let me know

Baifra, this is definitely not your fault. This could have happened at any time ... even if your parents had been home. Not wanting to sound callous but your parents should never have left the snail baits on a shelf were there was some risk the box could have fallen. The snail baits should have been safely locked away in a dog proof cabinet – or even thrown away. All our snail baits were tossed once we got dogs, as the risk is just too high. Very sorry for your families loss :D

I have "recharge" (I think it is marketed for Greyhounds) for my boy in hot weather when we are doing lure coursing but other then that ... nothing special. I just don't normally exercise or work my dogs in really hot weather (because I personally don't like the hot weather ) and if I must have him out then making sure he drinks regularly and doesn't overdo it.

I was trying to find out some more information on this as I feed my boys raw ... since I couldn't find anything significant I decided to email DELTA to ask them a few questions... I got an automatic response as an acknowledgement which implies responses to questions will be provided on the website (under FAQ's) but I can't imagine they will do that ...

tlc ... how many dog do you actually have? Is it just the 4 or do you have about 40?

I was looking at getting a cupboard like this off ebay but got outbid in the last second ... it would have been perfect

Not all greyhounds ... GAP greyhounds wearing their green collar don't need to wear a muzzle in public.

I am not sure it would be big enough for my stuff Was kind of thinking of an old fashion double cupboard (like we had as kids) where there is shelving on one side and hanging space on the other.

tlc - I do love the idea for hanging your collars and leads ... I think I need to keep hunting for a storage cupboard

I kind of see this situation both ways. At our local smallish fenced off-leash area there is the afternoon session when all the doggy owners go in there and let their kids and dogs run feral while they stand around chatting ... the rest of the time there is dog owners who go into the park for some off-leash park when it empty to have some off-leash time with their dogs. I am one of the owners who use the park in the off time. I also have a friend who has 2 greyhounds - they visit the park at some ungodly hour in the morning so they can have some private time at the park. I have always had the attitude that if there is someone/dogs in the park that I don't know then I like to introduce the dogs through the fence and speak to the other dogs owner to see if they have a problem with my dog/s coming in. If there is an issue then I simply take my dog/s for a walk and come back later when the park is free. There are other dog owners who believe they can use the park at any time and just walk in without finding anything about the dog already in the park ... and then complaint because their dog gets hurt. As a dog owner we all have a personal responsiblity for the wellbeing of our dogs... so why do we put them in unknown situations just because we believe we have the right to use the off-leash park. While I agree the owners of the greyhound's attitude is the real problem ... I would need to know more details about the situtation.

We have a chainlink fence down the middle of the yard (so we can have a seperate area for each dog). If you dog can jump up and put their paws on the top of the fence (which your guys might not be able to do) ... then be aware of any gates. My youngest was jumping up and putting his paws on the top of the gate when he slipped and his paw slipped down between the gate and the gate post ... he was hanging by his leg and screaming at the top of his lungs. Thankfully he only seemed to have bruised his leg but he could have quite easierly broken a leg. I now have shadecloth over the top of the gates (extending over each post on either side) so his paws can't get stuck again.

:D ;) :p definately need photo's now ;)

I am currently doing a clean-up around the house ... and I keep find endless amounts of doggy stuff all through out the house and garage. So I have decided I need to put it all together. There is absolutely heaps of leads, collars, some doggy coats, lots of tug and various other toys. I am kind of thinking along the lines of getting an old wardrobe (to keep the dust out) with shelving and then using the inside of the door for hanging leads ... but I need some inspiration. Please show me your set-up ...

When I was feeding dry food my boys had occassionally been given some tinned food ... I tend to think of it as feeding kids MacDonalds. I have usually resorted to tinned when I want them to swallow a tablet and don't want to try to shove it down their necks ... smother it in a little tinned stuff and it is inhaled My boys are now fed raw and absolutely love it...

Excellent ... I want to do this

Really depends on the area but we have almost lost our older GSD to a tick. More common in bushy areas but still around. Nasty little things that should be wiped off the planet :D

The dog obviously didn't think much of that DVD ...

It is probably easier for boys ... but I just used a glove and the sample jar with them on a leash and took them to a tree. They then do what boys do and pee on it ... not once but numerous times so it is just a case of slipping your hand under and getting the sample. It can look a little strange when you are walking up and down the street with a rubber glove and sample jar asking your dog to "go toilet" ... I do get many strange looks.