Tilly

My guys are on the PureSea one ... they absolutely love it. I like it because it is grain free and has no beef - as my youngest is sensitive to both :)

My dogs are allowed inside but decided they prefer outside. Inside there is rules about running around silly, drinking water nicely (no bathing in it) and throwing their balls around ... outside doesn't have any such rules (other then barking) ... so guess why they prefer outside ... ;)

From day one I start with name, coming when called and sitting (because they sit to be fed). Then add drop/down, leave and out/release ... heeling comes later when they are able to walk outside the yard on a leash.

Permoxin ... I have used Advantix, frontline, tick collars etc and they haven't worked as I still find live ticks on then.

I have a quick release with the normal dog clip ... it fails constantly and is now used for spare links. We also have quick release with scissor snap - fantastic - has never failed. Consider using a back up collar ... I use a light weight nylon check (K9Pro also sell them).

Also ... maybe try one of those rubber suction mat in the bottom of the tub ... it makes the surface less slippery and they tend to feel more secure with their footing. My older boy stopped wanting to be bathed after his feet slipped out from under him in the hydrobath ... the rubber mat makes it easier for him.

He is likely to be stressed and then he picking up on your stress. Go back to basics ... no unsupervised house time, lots of rewards and attention when he goes outside ...

Vegemite is fab with ulcers in humans ... maybe a little wouldn't hurt (even though it is rather salty)

Yes, it wouldn't have been the parents of the child who were at fault . It is his right as a child to go into other's yards and steal. I totally agree! However in the eyes of the law and the anti-dog doogooders if a dog attacked a child in this situation you can get your bottom dollar it would be the dog and the owner who are at fault with the dog being PTS Nope. Read the law. A dog that attacks in its own backyard is not generally held to be at fault. Just did a quick check on this and from what I could see the law in Tasmania doesn't differentiate between a dog bite in public or a dog bite on private property specifically. It does however say that a dog is not considered to be "rushing or chasing" if confined securely behind a fence but the laws given for actual bites don't seem to make any distinction between public or private property. Kind of ambiguous really... We had a similar issue with a child approaching the side of my yard and wanting to pat my two (security) dogs who were barking loudly at him. Dogs where securely confined to my back yard and the child came in through my unfenced front yard and then down the side of my house about 2 or 3 metres and was about to put his hand in a small gap to pat the dogs ... while mum stood on the front footpath waiting for him. Thankfully I was home at the time (normally I would be at work) and was heading out the front door when I heard them barking - as I came out the front door when I saw the child heading down the side of the house and mum stated "its ok, he just wants to pat the dogs". I don't know any idiots that would want to pat two large dogs who are going mental ... but obviously mum through it was ok Lets say they where told in no uncertain terms what I thought of the child entering my yard and approaching my dogs (was firm with child but my anger was directed at the mother) ... and then to back it up I contacted the childs school (he was in uniform) and explained the situation and suggested it might be a good idea to contact the RSPCA Education Program ... they got back to me and were very concerned. They apparently regularly have the RSPCA out at the school and would ask them to reinforce no patting unknown dogs without asking, they were going to add a reminder in their newsletter and were going to mention it on their school parade (which I thought was fantastic). We have extensive warnings on the gates and while the gates are padlocked and the yard is secure for the dogs ... there was a smallish gap between the gate post and the gate to allow for the swing of the hinges. A hand through that gap would most likely have resulted in a bite ... and my dogs would could have been declared "dangerous" and even potentially destroyed. We have now restricted the dogs access to that side of the yard and have placed shadecloth on the inside of the gate which blocks the gap without restricting the swing on the gate. After numerous discussions with council - basically if anyone enters my yard (invited or otherwise) and is bitten or if my dogs are on the loose and someone is bitten - the dog would be treated the same. The fact they are secured in my back yard doesn't offer them any protection.

Only you as her owner know her well enough to know if she will cope with rehoming or flights/quarrentine. Some dogs are so bonded with their owners that rehoming is not a good idea. If you do decide to rehome ... do it sooner rather then later so you are still here for a while incase it doesn't work out.

We have security dogs which are very much part of the family ... they know the difference between home and work but are still protective of their family. One is only muzzled when taken to the vet. I do not allow stranger to pat either but both dogs make it clear to me if they like a person or not. We previously had a rottie who was never off duty ... he was muzzled if he was anywhere near others. We had an incident with him at the local vet one day. I had taken him in after he got a very nasty scratch across his eye and we needed to check if the eye itself was damaged. Dog was far from happy to be restrainted and test done ... it took 5 people to hold him and one person left a dent in the plaster wall. So I had a very cranky dog (the test was uncomfortable and stings a bit). Waiting room went from full to empty ... when it was finished the vet led the way out and I took the dog out to put him straight in the car. In the moment it took to lift the door on the back of the car, a parent with toddler saw the dog and started urging her child to "pat the doggy". Thankfully vet grabbed the child while I got the dog in the car and safely locked away. Parents reason for wanting her child to pat the dog was because "he was sitting so nicely". Vet told parent in no uncertain terms never to allow her child to approach an unknown dog without checking with the owner first.

I think the key is consistency. Set the rules as a family, and enforce them. The joy of puppies is when they start to get alittle older and start to push the boundaries - they are working out if they really need to listen to you or not. A few months ago I have a word with my pup, who at the time was 9-10 months and told her "you will save us both alot of trouble if you just work out now you must do what I say!!!!". We had days where she would jump up on something she was not meant to be on, I would pull her off, she would jump back on, I would pull her off and so on (sometimes 3-4 times). However this only last a few weeks, now I say "off" and she gets off. I know what you mean ... my youngest was perfect until he was about 6 months ... then he went feral. It was hard work to get him back under control - I didn't think either of us would survive it. He is almost 3yrs (OMG where has the time gone) and a perfectly beautiful dog about 98% of the time but it is the 2% of the time that I want to kill him!!! :laugh:

Weight really means nothing ... each dog is different and you can really only judge a dog on its physical condition. I have large breed dogs so they are usually on the lighter side during the puppy growing stage. I assume you are following his breeders diet suggests ... and if you dog is healthy and doing ok on his current diet - then stick to it and change vets. My youngest GSD boy came to me on raw ... and silly me tried him on different dry foods and I ended up with nothing but runny messes to clean up. Switched him back to raw and he was fine. I gave my boy the BARF patties, chicken frames/necks/wings, turkey necks / wings, yoghurt, sardines, fish, eggs, and brisket bones. We now also add Canidae Pure Sea (grain free fish based) but only because the boys prefer it - the youngest went off the raw and I found they loved this stuff so they now get both raw and dry now. I had a vet tell me my older boy was about 5kg overweight (he had just had a bath and was rather fluffy) ... until I told her to physically feel him ... and then I got told to put another 3kg on him. ;)

How long has the microchip been in for and when did the lump appear?

Rehome ... Never PTS ... maybe Keep ... probably Has it ever bitten anyone else? What was the circumstances of the bite? Has it ever shown aggression towards the child or other family members? Is there any known triggers? I don't feel the this particular incident was the dogs fault ... if the dog is 11 yrs and being picked up incorrectly (and from behind) then maybe it has pain. Because it has bitten and shows "aggression" then it is the owners responsibility to ensure the dog is under control and is no risk to visitors. They need to ensure the dog is under complete control (lead and/or muzzle if required) or removed from visitors via a crate or another room / dog run. Aggression can be effectively managed but the owner has to accept complete responsibility ...

Don't forget to have a contactable number on Badgers microchip. No point having just a mobile if it is out of range or home if no one is there. Also don't forget to pack his vaccination paperwork etc ... Oh ... and have fun

Some councils will seize and destroy dogs for a dog bite (with no history of agression) regardless of who started it ...

My guys go to Rowan (Animal Options) - and he is the only vet my older boy actually likes. With his regular vet he is muzzled and can't wait to get out but with Rowan - he wants his attention. My older boy had ongoing bladder issues and one session with Rowan and he fixed it.

Maybe also step back from Jazz and have your daughter take over her complete care (or at least all the "good" stuff) so they form a close bond ... then maybe Jazz will want to be with her at night ...

My boy often is the bouncy annoying puppy ... he gets told off, moves off but is then is back 2 seconds later to check if they really mean it ... gets told off, backs off but keep coming back to check to see if there is a change of mind. I don't allow him to annoy and he is given time out.

RIP Lucky ... poor little baby

Chicken and pumpkin ... one meal is usually all it takes

Poor little baby ... fingers crossed he/she makes it. How is it doing? My mum ended up with a kitten in similar circumstances but thanksfully it wasn't sick and maybe a week older. It then got cat flu before it could be vaccinated and the vet didn't think it would make it but we sat with it and kept the fluids up and thankfully it pulled through.

We had a small dog go missing (many years ago when I was a child) and he was found on a golf course drinking salt water. When we got him he could barely walk straight, he was vomitting and had the runs. Plenty of rest and fresh water and he recovered quickly. I would be more concerned with dehydration after running around and swimming and then vomitting for any significant length of time. Ensure they get access to fresh water ...

I take my boys (security dogs) to a local doggy swimming pool. They are fully fenced and I start by swimming him on-leash until we take the edge off the energy levels then we play with his ball in and out of the water. Also we do have a nice size fenced off- leash park with is only used on the afternoons by the local crowd ... the rest of the time it is usually one at a time. So we do some obedience and play - one ball thrower and two balls = one very tired dog.