ShellyBeggs

Just an idea.....Have you tried her on tin Cat food jellymeat type - that was all my little aussie would eat for ages... and Satin ball mix??? It may be a bit potent.....but could be worth a try, my little aussie was really fussy about food and I was having to mix cat food in everything just to get his interest and then he wouldn't eat. Now he eats the satin ball mix really well. I started rolling them into tiny little balls (not much bigger than a tombowler marble).....and would offer upto 10 times a day......now he just gets it for dinner! It certainly improves their coat and puts weight on quickly! I have a great recipe with the nutritional breakdown if you are interested PM me! Good luck......it can be frustrating but the rewards in the end are great!

Big brag I say!!! Way to go Bam...... :rolleyes:

I have never been prouder.... Anzac...my 8mo kelpie pup out in the garden, lifted his leg to pee yesturday.....instead of peeing all over his front legs! Sure it was my good azalea bush he peed on.....But he did it!!! :rolleyes: And 3 minutes later Aniken....my nearly 8mo aussie pup decided he wouldn't be out done and lifted his leg to pee for the first time also.......he fell over having not got the balance right and sheepishly looked around to make sure no one had seen!!! My boys are growing up.....

I have a 8mo kelpie and a nearly 8mo Aussie.... They are both going through a fear period at the moment....... Due to personal circumstances I may have to put them in a kennel. I realise this can cause all sorts of problems..... Any ideas on what I should do, what to expect??? Any idea on a kennel that could be most suited to handling these sorts of problems? And what about if I have to leave without my vaccination cards....will a stat dec be enough?

My dogs have always been taught to all sit or drop in a row, they get a pat and then a treat. I always mix up who goes first but usually its who ever sat the fastest or is giving the best sit. I am trying to teach the two pups this and its absolute chaos.... I can get them all to sit in a row but as soon as I pat one dog the pup or pups (if I pat the older BC first) all run up and jump on me or the other dog to get attention first. And its more over the attention rather than the treat. I then take them back and make them sit and start all over..........but no matter how many times I got back to the start, they can't wait.....thinking their attention span was too short I tried starting with the pups....and tried it at "superman speed"....but this excited them more. How can I teach them to wait until their turn??? I have never had any problems teaching this before but I have never had double the trouble before (2 pups at once) ......I think the compete with each other and make it competition..... I was thinking of using a tie back maybe.........but help from the experts would be great..... Thanks gurus!

It works now !!!!

I would suggest the fish and cod liver oil tablets too..... maybe try a sprinkle of LSA (from the supermarket) on his dinner too...... Another suggestion a friend of mine tried was a few hours before bathing her scurfy dog she would massage olive oil into the skin.......then would wash with gentle baby shampoo. It worked for her!!!!

Ok I learnt this from a friend who had cancer treatment and have since used it on myself (in the form of tablets for my yuk fine hair - grew much thicker) horses (helped summer coat come through faster as I always has a fluffy bunny come the royal) dogs (grew the coat back on my labs hot spot in no time at all....it was amazingly fast) My friend's hair grew back so fast even the doctor couldn't believe it.....and it looked much better than before. It also gives lovely shiny hair/coat on animals.... "livermol" you can get it from most produce/grain stores...give a tablespoon sprinkled on their dinner. Its usual red granules/powder Warning: Livermol can darken coat.....works great on chestnut/bay horses for this.....I had a washy coloured bay filly that after 6 months on livermol was lovely blood red bay by her first show season. or plain Seaweed Kelp (in powder form) which isn't quite as good but won't darken the coat at all. OR feed both for an extra boost. It works, seems expensive but it takes ages to go through 1kg, and is all natural! Hair will grow back faster and looking shiny! P.S if they don't like the taste, mix it in with a little bit of gravy and they won't notice it at all!

He is always very naughty........and nearly got called Santa's little helper but since we got him Anzac day he got his name that way......now I wish I had of called him demon or devil....he is sooooo naughty! He holds his ears like this a lot Sorry I have none of him holding them briefly up, I will try on the weekend......I only just got my camera. His mum has nice dish ears but I can't remember about his dad. Apparantly all his litter mates have their ears up already.......hence my lazy sod comment! Hmmmmm he may just keep his down ears......it doesn't bother me, I just love big dish ears of a kelpie...very expressive If he holds his right one up any longer than a few seconds it tends to flop sideways over his head in a comical lopsided look.......but to feel his ears they dont have any firmness about them....they are like nice soft velvet labrador ears! Poooh.....I knew he was broken when I got him, but not this busted!

thanks Deltron..... does having a aussie pup that is only 2 weeks younger but half the size to chew on count as a chew toy????

My kelpie Anzac is 8mo. His ears still do not stand up.....he will hold one up if something interests him (rabbit in the distance) but it either flops back down or flops over the top of his head.......as soon as he looses interest. I think he is a lazy sod who won't hold them up...... Any ideas how I can help them stand up??? or will they ever stand up? Here they is....... Thanks guys!!! P.S sorry about the demon eyes......but they suit his nature!

Yep but he is no better and no worse eating them......(he had the problem before starting on satin balls) Although he is actually putting on weight now which he wasn't before the satin balls.....

AT least he will have friends!!! I still feel the need to share, each day I seem to cry more.... But here we are.....in our younger days! and as an old man......with his mate Diesel (b/w bc) I miss you heaps Sarg! and the lemon tree looks lovely on your grave with all the dew and the sun on it in the morning......tennis balls you can eat mate, your fave! P.S sorry i dont know how to resize the piccies, I only just worked out how to get them on there!

My 7 1/2 month old aussie pup has had yellow runny poos since I got him...... He didn't have it at the breeders so I thought it could be stress related and/or change of diet.... nearly 8 weeks on and he still has it.... He is a happy vibrant puppy that in all other aspects is healthy and active. He was a 'picky' eater at the breeders and was underweight. He is gaining weight steadily at home (despite the runs) and is regaining a shiny fluffy coat. He can still only eat small meals at a time but if I dont watch him he will eat until he vomits. two vet visits to different vets (fresh samples in hand).......has given me 2 different diagnosis.... one is irritable bowl and to give him steriods.... and the other a bacterial infection based on his general 'smell' (he has bad breath which transfers to his coat as he grooms a lot.....) I am $200 poorer and none the wiser on what is wrong with him......neaither vet sounded 'convincing' that they really knew what was wrong.... and neither vet was concerned that he had btoh testicles and now they have both retreated and yet I think they should be removed ASAP. Any ideas????

My hubby had a fit at the cost of the olive oil that I put into the satin balls...... any alternatives?

As a kid I remember watching a german guy (in Pakenham I think) train his schutzhund dogs....all in german of course so I don't know what the commands are.....but his dogs were GSD's, rotty's and dobe's.

i think that is banned. dumb really i know! but thats what i have been told could be wrong though. and yes there is alot of clubs in vic i just got my GSD from vic. Google search 'Schutzhund Training Melbourne' and I had a few pop up in Vic. edited because Schutzhung just sounded silly......

Thanks Monah, its a bit of a worry and I hope any posts I get can help you out when the time comes too...... Its interesting the different doggy personalities... Sarg was a good strong pack leader, just a slight crinkle of his forehead was enough to get instant obedience from the other dogs. He rarely ever had to even give them 'the look' let alone snarl at them.......and yet Diesel reminds of a little rooster, just pick pick picking to make himself look the biggest and strongest. If Sarg had of made it another 6 months or so I am sure it would have been a different story as Anzac the kelpie pup has a much stronger and more determined nature (I am having leadership issues with him myself) and I am sure Diesel wouldn't have been able to stand up to him. maybe he knows his time as top dog is limited to when Anzac is older/bigger and so is making the most of it?......trying to get him bluffed before then.

Thanks so much guys!!! I miss him heaps......and wish he could have been with me forever....!! If there was any way you could love them more when they are here....ya would! And I am sure he is having a great time running around chasing tennis balls without any pain....and him and Dodge can wander around taking care of all the youngsters......and looking right smart when doing it. Thanks so much, it helps!

Sadly my black lab was put down last week Run Free Sarg..... But the problem is that my nearly 3yo border collie, Diesel, has decided to take over as the dominant dog now that Sarg is gone. Problem is, unlike Sarg who put up with a lot of crap before telling a dog off, Diesel is being nasty in showing his dominance. I knew there would be a period of adjustment but this just looks and seems too nasty. He will walk up to the pups (7mo's kelpie & Aussie) and just snarl and snap at them for no reason. Its not over anything they have done or any 'prize'. He has even walked through three rooms to do it....the pups don't seem concerned and do not cower when he snarls at them but I don't want it to esculate his snarling because they are not showing any reaction. Its not like him as he has always been quite a submissive dog to human and other dogs (although a bit of a fear snap biter if a strange dog is too bold in greeting) and so I can only guess its all over Sarg no longer leading the way. I am always very firm with him when he does it and I tell him off and seperate him away from the other dogs and ignore him, as I have a no 'fighting' rule and I am the leader and decide the rules, not him. Am I doing the right thing? What should I do to stop his nasty behaviour? I treat my dogs all the same. Who ever gets affection/food/treats first is who over sits and shows mannes first. Should I change this to make him higher/lower in order? (he is usually last to get anything) and will he settle down once he realises that no one is contending him as the 'top dog' as the pups are too interested in playing with each other to care what he is doing? or could this get worse? Thanks in advance with all your 'guru' like help guys!!!

I remember the day I got him nearly 12 years ago, a little round 7wo black pup, so round he nearly got named Turtle as when he rolled on his back he couldn't turn back over. But Sargent Major - Sarg, was my greatest joy in life and sadly he was put to sleep on Tuesday 14th August when his arthritis and fluid on the lungs just got too much for me to let him go through. I have never owned a dog that has been more special, and so much my best friend. He was there when I moved out of home and lived on my own, I moved so far that he was my only friend and family within easy reach. He was there on my first day of my first jon. He was there on my 21st birthday and everyday until he went we would always be so excited to see each other when I got home from work. He was there through tears and through happy times......and he always had a big sloppy kiss for me and I always had a belly rub for him....sometimes even at 3am when everyone else was asleep. His whole life was about pleasing me so much so that at 8mo they banned me from obedience training for a month because he was too serious! He would sit so straight and proud..a good soldier matching up to his name.....like he it was his honour to be with me.......we went everywhere together, holidays and so many walks and swims in the river and its not the same without him. He has driven my car into the letterbox, eaten an entire 8kg bag of dog dry in a day, stripped a lemon tree down to just a stick, destroyed a tent out camping trying to flee a thunderstorm and was washed away in a fast running river. He had lots of adventures and a pretty spoilt and happy life. I miss him so much, its been over a week and it still breaks my heart to open the back door when I get home and not see him the first one rushing in to greet me. I have owned many dogs in my life and will prolly own much much more in the future, but none will ever make me forget my boy....my little soldier! I love you Sarg and it will all seem far too long until I see you over the bridge....at least over the bridge you can eat all the chocolate you want and there are so many tennis balls that you won't know which one to chew up into little pieces first. R.I.P Sarg

Have you ever tried Satin Balls with your fussy eater??? My fussy eater seems to inhale them far faster than could or should be natural......... It was recommended to me on this board and it works a treat, I can even hide his medication in it and he never even notices.

My old lab when he was a pup he killed everything.......within seconds, actually all the way up until he was about 7yo! And yep even his 'king' kong, I took it back in pieces for my money back the very next day! In the yard I gave him a small old car tyre (no rim of course).....like from an old datsun or something. He sat in it, chewed it, dragged it about.....I could roll it for him to chase and could hide stuff inside it. I got it from the wreckers for like $5 and is still around now and he just passed away at 12. The milk/soft drink bottles are great......in summer I used to 3/4 fill a 1.25 bottle with water and freeze it. He had a great time playing with it and loved the icy cold water that came out of the many holes he put in it. This is a non-carpet area toy though....... For balls I got him solid plastic softballs or hockey balls, he could never kill them! It also took a long time for him to kill a cricket ball....although they have cork inside so once dead there was a lot of little bits of cork to vacuum. Sometimes I would get some C grade apples (often sold as horse apples), we could play fetch with them on the grass for ages and then when finished instead of killing it he just ate it. He also liked lemons too (tennis ball size and almost colour.....yummo) And I too donate to my dogs old retired uggs (although I am a northern burbs chick so its my moccos) and even old leather work boots (ya blundestones)....there is something about the leather they love to chew. And they do know what is their "boot" and what are yours. My kelpie pup tries every now and then to pinch my boots and a simple "that is not your boot" is enough to send him to find his own, more chewed on ones. I just usually cut the elastic sides out of them and the soles are such hard plastic not a single dog eat has managed to chew off a chunk to eat. A good size tree limb is a great chew toy too.....I always got the biggest I could find (go searching around the parks).....the thicker the better....the branches get chewed off into little pieces and the leaves shredded and then the bark ripped off and then the wood chewed. I always went for a wattle or gum limb and I know they are not poisonous. In the end it goes into the green waste bin and the smaller bits into the compost.

I would say....Don't expect to much, notch this one up to gaining experience and getting both of your nerves out of your system......yes a pass is nice but what you are really doing is laying the groundwork for "this is fun" rather than "this is crap mum so I am going to misbehave". A positive experience for you both is more important than points......there are plenty of other trials to get your pass. certainly tell the steward and judge it is your first time as they will then usually help you out My first trial the judge was so nice and would warn me about what was coming up and would ask if I understood what she wanted before we did the exercise and congratulated me on a job well done as we left the ring. It helped boost my confidence and we didn't get a pass (mostly my handling errors) but we came out feeling like we had done really well and the next time I wasn't nervous at all. And if you have told them its your first time and you do need to ask a question they will really try and help you out. And remember judges are doggy people too and are probably there after years and years of going through the same trials and tribulations of trialling as you are starting on. They would have surely had good days and bad days with their dogs and will understand you are nervous and will certainly secretly commiserate if your dog does something it shouldn't.....some will even openly cringe and give you a sympathetic look... They won't send you to the principles office if you or the dog do something wrong..... and lastly.......if you are lucky enough to be lower down the list, try and watch a few run through your ring first (without your dog preferably).....so you know what to expect and what order the exercises are likely to be in. AND remember you are doing this to have fun so....HAVE FUN......!

I was appalled that my local supermarket was charging $9 per kg for crappy 'hamburger' mince and since my satin ball recipe calls for 4.5kg....that was a lot of $$$$$ I spoke to my butcher and he sells 100% beef pet mince.......since it also includes a lot of the fat and offals.....he recommended it as ideal to use as a higher % fat content then his usual beef mince providing it wasn't for human consumption.....its also minced to a finer smooth texture and I found I needed less of the wet contents to hold it together. My dogs love the satin balls......and considering how fast they scoff them I doubt they stop to ask what sort of mince it is. Even my poor thin little bubba loves them and he is a picky eater and would soon as not eat as eat...Its the protein % and fat % to gain weight. I dunno about sausage mince but I suggest talking to your local butcher. The recipe I have includes all the breakdown of protein/fat/carbs etc for that recipe......and has a scale on how much to feed....if you want a copy send me a PM with your email addy! Cheers!!!!