Diva

I've seen goats milk widely recommended for sighthounds, so Howie should be OK . It's when you take a special trip to the natural foods store to get unpasturised organic goats milk for them that you know you have a problem That said, they don't need milk.

If the dog was listed on your site, you held her for ten days, and you were constrained by a parvo outbreak from moving her on for rehoming, it's hard for me to see what blame the Council carries. Just a sad set of circumstances.

Hey. I just naturally sound like that. Combine it with the gasping for breath on the third time around and I can probably distract anyone I'll skip the rissoles but I do like a good fruitcake...

There is also a health/nutrition/grooming sub-forum with lots of threads about raw feeding which should help with some of your questions on balance. If you post what you are feeding him in there and ask for advice you will usually get lots of feedback from experienced raw feeders.

Maybe spend some of the time you cut out of the walk doing some simple training exercises with him, so he tires his brain out as well as his body. Teach him some tricks, or retrieving. The cautions about walking too far at once with a youngster are mostly about not putting too much strain on young, still growing, joints. If he really needs an hour, could you do a 1/2 hour in the morning and a second in the evening? Even that is probably safer than a straight hour. I feel your dilemma though, one of mine was very full on energetic at that age as well.

I'm sure the first thing you'll get in response is that 1 hr is too long for an on lead walk with a 5 month old pup. I'd cut that back, or split into several much smaller walks across the day, or increase the opportunity to free run - where he will stop if tired - instead of on-lead time. Apart from that, I don't think he looks too skinny in the photo, but photos are hard to judge by. I prefer a pup not to be too heavy. What does he feel like? You should be able to feel ribs but under a light layer of flesh. If his bones are too prominent, he may be too skinny.

Sounds good Jacqui. Can I suggest that you do the chasing off your property yourself and without involving Charlie. Don't just let Charlie do it if you then want him to tolerate the cat being in its own yard (where he can see it) without barking at it. You want him to think cats are 'ho hum', not that they get 'mum' excited and its his job to move them on. That will lead to barking.

I asked the local Ford dealer and he told me at least 12 months for the diesel Territory to come I'll call HQ and ask I think. Edited to update - Ford customer service say not until mid 2011. Damn. Agree it would be a good option - I'm looking for a big dog car. The Territories already have a 5 star safety rating.

If it's just the barking that is a concern - and I can understand why you'd be worried about it becoming a habit - I'd probably just try and train him to tolerate the cat. It can be done. Sit out there with him when he can see the cat in their yard and teach him to be quiet in its presence, and hopefully the novelty will wear off. It's all I can suggest. If it was coming into your yard you could ask them to keep it inside, but as you say it's allowed in their place. I had to teach one of mine not carry on at possums. She still watches them but doesn't react anywhere as much as she did.

And I'm pretty sure wild stallions don't usually mate their daughters either. I recall reading a few articles on the effect of familarity/paternity on breeding choices in wild horses a few years ago to this effect.

I had a male Groen who smiled like that, thanks for the pic it brought back memories. A lot of people seem more nervous of black dogs too, not sure why but I sure noticed it when I had him.

I forgot you were DeShonko!

Of course if we went next year we could do the Borzoi international conference in Switzerland as well. You could pretend they were big hairy whippets (well aren't they? )

Next year the World Show is in Paris pf. I'm thinking of going again, come along!

No wonder you needed to vent. Next time tell her the only ugliness is her attitude. I wouldn't want someone that rude patting either of them.

He suffered from it on and off for a couple of months. He was on a lot of cortisone for IMHA at the time. He pulled through it all only to pass from a hemangiosarcoma on the heart a couple of years later. It's awful watching them suffer from it.

No, I expect them to scan thoroughly for a microchip. And I mean thoroughly, in case the chip has migrated from the injection site as they sometimes do. Not just wave a scanner over the neck. You asked if I expected Council to come around to my place and find the dog's collar. I replied that no, I expected them to scan for a chip. Sorry that a direct response to your quoted question was too difficult for you to follow and that you became confused. By 'them' I meant the Council. Great. I accept your judgement for your dog. I notice you've edited your original post 91 to remove comments implying I am irresponsible in my choices. Thank you for that, they were unwarranted. Balancing probability and consequence as per the standard risk management approach, the greater risk for my dogs is leaving collars on at home.

I agree about not assigning all responsibility to the Council. But I don't blame someone for not leaving collar on at home either. Compulsory (and well enforced) microchipping should be the standard everywhere, IMHO. Disagree. Dogs are usually at home before they go missing. Tradespeople leaving gates open, wind blowing gates, dogs digging under fences etc etc etc. So an owner bears full responsibility when their dog manages to get out (or be left out) without their collar showing ID disk, rego tag....& even the tag which shows they're microchipped. What do you expect the council to do.....notice your dog is getting out & come round to your place, find its ID collar & put it on? No, I expect them to scan thoroughly for a microchip. And I mean thoroughly, in case the chip has migrated from the injection site as they sometimes do. Not just wave a scanner over the neck. Far, far too dangerous for mine, even with breakaway collars. They way they play I won't take the much greater (compared to the fences and gates failing) risk of one strangled dead dog and one with a broken foot or jaw. Of course we have very different breeds you and I. I'm sure it is safe with some dogs. Prudent risk management dictates that mine can't wear collars at home when I'm out. That I don't leave them on is responsible, not irresponsible. I won't be the only one in that boat. Edited to add - we have lifetime registration in Canberra too. And higher fees for undesexed dogs that are not show or breeding animals. It's a good system by comparison with many others. Probably the area least well attended to is compliance and enforcement.

I agree about not assigning all responsibility to the Council. But I don't blame someone for not leaving collar on at home either. Compulsory (and well enforced) microchipping should be the standard everywhere, IMHO.

My IMHA dog developed immune mediated poly arthritis as he was recoverying frm the IMHA. The vet seemed to think it was all part of the same immune-related 'package' in his case. He did get over it.

Does anyone have the diesel Captiva? If so, are you happy with it?

They fed your dog from behind in the line-up weisnjac? That's outrageous.

Did someone suggest doing it back? I must have missed that - except pf who was joking. In the first post I said I wouldn't stoop to their level. I like the gentle touch of sarcasm The handler in front of me this time had already asked for heaps of room on the grounds that their dog had previously been attacked. So I did have room to move, but doing so would have taken up that space I was leaving them. I should have said tough, I'm being crowded from behind so you lose the extra space I've given you, and if the one behind follows it becomes even more blatant and a reason to move out of line. I will next time.

Cr Antoniolli, it's great you came on the forum. You are to be commended for taking the trouble. I stongly support compulsory microchipping. And of course registration. But I'm less convinced by relying on compulsory wearing of rego tags. If my dogs ever ended out and about without me it would be because my 2 metre fences had been seriously damaged or someone had broken open a padlocked gate or locked door. They wouldn't then be wearing rego tags or collars, it's too dangerous to leave them on at home, even purpose designed 'breakaway' collars. The way they play someone would get a jaw or foot caught in someone else's collar and I could easily end up with one strangled dead dog and another badly injured. If I take them out deliberately, then of course they have collars and tags. I'm not in Qld, but I'm sure there would those who are who also don't leave collars on at home for the best of reasons, not disregard. Probably not in the majority but not to be penalised for that all the same. Not having a collar on a stray dog may not mean irresponsible ownership. Hopefully such careful owners would have microchipped.

That's a pain Alyosha, I hope that doesn't happen to you too often. If it does I'm happy to practise proofing at a show some time after the judging - I can make a hell of a racket with different dogs until yours gets used to ignoring it. So far I haven't had it on the move. Probably because it's often you behind me in breed, or someone else who is too ethical to play dirty. And in group they'd have trouble catching us if they tried to do that. I'm less upset about the one instance and more just trying to figure out how to handle it if it happens again. Despite the disorganised appearance, I'm a planner at heart.