Diva

I don't think they are necessarily 'do-gooders' or even dealing with human issues, I think they often don't just don't understand dogs. The average person on the street is going to think abuse if a dog consistently shys away from hands, brooms or whatever, they haven't heard of socialisation periods or seen the effect of lack of socialisation, nor do they understand that some dogs are naturally shy. Often they are reinforcing the behaviour without realising it, but in my experience when that is pointed out in language they can access you frequently see a big change in their approach. It's an education thing, that's what pet dog trainers are for in my opinion, to help people who are trying to do the right thing but know no better. Just my opinion, lol.

Yes I understand, I hope it does resolve at 12 months. Mine just ate a shoe, first time since she was a little puppy so I had become complacent and left them out. I must admit I'm really not that fond of teenagers of any species, lol. I'll take the babies and the adults, and someone else can do the bit in between.

How come? Mine has just hit a year old, and for the first time is giving me 'the look'. I think she has hit adolescence (she's a big dog) and a second fear period all at the same time. She decided to be terrified of a teenager with a football on the weekend, before that wouldn't have care at all, and for the first time completely ignored a recall, just a flick of the ear showed she heard but all the other body language said 'when I'M ready, sucker.' Guess it had to happen sooner or later, but just to suggest that the 1 year old mark isn't magic! Guess it serves me right for feeling like I'd escaped that stage!

I'm afraid that I agree with Ahona on this, a 19 month old, a 3 month old and a husband who works long hours makes me think you may have too many demands on you at this point to cope with a baby puppy. Puppies are gorgeous but need a lot of attention and make a lot of work. The return in the end is well worth it, but the effort may just be more than you can give at the moment with your other responsibilites.

So sorry to hear that it's HD Hortfurball. Poor baby.

hortfurball Happy to hear you are taking her to the vet, it does sound a bit like she could have a lower back injury. Perhaps just gently test if she can stretch her back legs out properly or has any sore to touch spots on her back. Pups don't usually have the sense not to 'zoom' just 'cause it hurts, they compensate with other muscles then pay for it later. Will be interested the hear the diagnosis.

Good luck with it, sounds like everything else is going well.

I think you have answered your own quesion Rhi & Jak. At 8 months you need to have moved from being her 'mom' to being her leader, and 'leaders' have a certain attitude about them. They give attention when it suits them, not on demand. It can be hard for us touchy feely primate types not to cuddle all the time, but it looks like it makes your dog a more settled little soul so I'd be sticking with the approach for a while. Not that there shouldn't be cuddles, just not so much that it stirs your dog up and not without being earnt.

If she has a potential adult weight of 40 kg, she has a lot growing to do over the next couple of months and I'd still be feeding 3 meals a day.

In the case you mention, with behavioural issues and a young large dog with an uncertain outcome from the operation and doubtful future quality of life, no I wouldn't proceed. For one of my own dogs, yes in a heartbeat. The only reason I wouldn't would be if the outcome of the treatment was too uncertain to put the dog through the surgery, or I just didn't have and couldn't despite my best efforts borrow the money. I have recently spent several thousand dollars on an operation for one of mine as a result of an injury, and don't regret it at all. Another some years ago was diagnosed with bone cancer. There was a drastic surgical treatment available but the odds were so heavily stacked against her surving the operation by more than a couple of months, given the aggressiveness of that form of the disease, I chose instead to pts. For me there is a lot more to take into account than the cost.

Was she vaccinated at the same time she was chipped? Lumps like that as a vacination reaction aren't uncommon.

I had a Belgian Shepherd diagnosed with this when he was 8 years old. I took him to the vet because he was very lethargic when I got home from work one day. The vet told me he was fine and basically that I was being overprotective. I knew he wasn't fine and insisted on a blood test. When I rang in for the results the next morning I was informed that his red cell count was so low he was unlikely to survive the weekend. This was on a Saturday morning. Nonetheless we nursed him through the crisis and he then went on heavy doses of cortisone for some weeks (months? I can't quite remember) afterwards. He came off the medication and had a good quality of life for another two years until he suddenly started to haemorrhage internally. He could not be saved this time and the autopsy diagnosis was haemangiosarcoma. Veterinary advice was that the two diagnoses were unrelated, but I remain unconvinced. It was definitely worth treating him for the IMHA, we had another 2 good years together. It was reading up on supposed causes of IMHA that started me thinking about how often we vaccinate our dogs, and my current 2 are now on the three yearly vaccination protocol that some local vets are adopting. Not that I know that was the cause, but I'm taking a precautionary approach. Baron

Feeding meatier bones should help. Sounds like he is getting too much straight bone, which causes constipation in some dogs. If you feed bones with a reasonable amount of meat still attached it's less likely.

Good to hear that someone else is carrying it. I've never bought it for that reason but I like the ingredient list and protein levels and have read a few good reviews (of course reviews aren't always unbiased). I hope it delivers good results for you.

I have heard it is a very good food, but as far as I am aware only stocked by a pet store chain which most DOLers won't buy from because they sell puppies out of the stores.

Yelling never works for mine, esp in chase mode. If I yell they they seem to assume that either -I've lost the plot and am best ignored, or -I'm just as excited by whatever they are doing as they are, and I'm urging them on. A single command like 'leave it' in a no-nonsense tone of voice, then a happy enthusiastic recall command, is my best (only!) chance to get them off a chase or away from duck poo. Agree the instructor of that class should have been intervening a lot ealier.

I was wondering that too, some perverse side-effect of the epidural. It's reassuring anyway to know that this is common and the hair does eventually come back.

Rappie, you are right, she did and I didn't connect that with the back shaving (I can be amazingly thick sometimes)

Thanks, I'll go searching for it.

Hi I don't know why her back was shaved, but noticed the same pattern on other dogs leaving the clinic (specialist orthopaedic surgeon, so lots of dogs with legs in castes coming and going). There is no scar tissue, and no sign that anythign was injected there, but it may have been. She's a Borzoi, 6 years old desexed female with a massive coat - combination of breeding and cold Canberra winters I think. I'd never heard of 'Post-clipping alopecia', but it sounds right - thank goodness all the shaved bits weren't affected or she would be a very sorry sight. Re the facial scars,I know what you mean - my other dog, also Borzoi, has a tiny scar on her nose where she pushed the cat too far one day - I don't think anyone else notices but everytime I look at that snowy white face, I do! Thanks for replying, looks like I'll just have to sit back and wait.

Hi, I am hoping that some of the DOL groomers, or anyone else for that matter, can help with a coat regrowth issue. One of my dogs had an operation in early May to correct an old injury to a front leg. The affected leg and shoulder, the opposite foreleg and a patch on her back between her hip bones were all shaved for the operation. All areas have grown back well except for the patch on her back. About a third of that area has regrown, leaving a patch bigger than my palm which is as bald as when it was done 3 months ago. Is there anything I can do to encourage the coat in this area to regrow, or does anyone know why this area should be so slow to come back? Any help would be appreciated. The "Friar Tuck" look was cute to start with but getting a bit old now! thanks!

Thanks Mack Truck, I've been considering that product and it's good to hear it worked for you (sorry for hikjacking your post KM)

Night-time restlessness can be a symptom of canine cognitive disorder -'doggy dementia'- but if he is showing no other symptoms of that, like getting confused about where he is, it would be hard to say that is the problem. Maybe a vet check is in order, there is medication for dementia I think if that is what it is, Omega 3 oils are sometimes suggested as a natural aid too. Hope you can sort it out.

It's not something I would ever have thought of, but the Australian Chiropractic Veterinary Association website (chirovet.com.au) has an article by Dr Ian Bidstrup which indicates that Dry Eye can be an indicator of spinal problems in the lower neck/upper chest region. I'm not endorsing this, and it's only a possibility, but it is a reputable site so may be worth checking.