Andisa

I personally think that like any diet there are more than one way to serve it up. With or with out fruit and veggies, who really cares? We all know that the dogs can be fed much worse than that. I feed a combination of Barf - bought and home made. Vets all natural mixed with my choice of minced bones. Raw meaty bones with either choice every day. Before I am set upon by the DOL police, yes I do sell the product, but at the same time I always tell people to do the research for themselves simply because they have to learn for themselves just what is in dry/canned foods. What is in a raw diet and the benefits / disadvantage of feeding either way. Bottom line is it is a personal choice on what is fed, right or wrong, hopefully we all feed what we believe to be the best choice of food for our dogs. By the way Billinghurst and Lonsdale promoted raw feeding many years ago together. Billinghurst changed his views when he saw a window of opportunity to make it big in the pet food industry. I have spoken to Lonsdale a few times now, he knows that I have an investment in Barf and I have had some very interesting conversations with him. He is very easy to talk to and will answer any ones questions. I have never spoken with Billinghurst - ever. I am a member of the Raw Meaty Bones group. This is not controlled by Lonsdale at all. I too recommend that any one interested in feeding a raw diet read Billinghusrt's and Lonsdale's books before changing diets. Many people go in half cocked and stuff it up causing more problems than if they stayed on crappy dry stuff. Supplements also are something that you either need to add or don't. I have 5 dogs, 13 yo desexed male Matlese. 6m/o female pug. 3 yo female Rottie and her 2 - 16 w/o female pups. All dogs eat the same diet adjusting to their size and needs. I know so many people who are using a different product for each dog. Way too hard for me.

Check out the Furmintator. They are available from Clipper world. They are fantastic.

Nice dog, but when you abbreviate their name TRD just doesn't sound right.

Minced Chicken frames @ $0.70 kg. Minced Lamb flaps @ $2.00 kg From local butchers. Chicken wings $ 2.20 kg (less on special) Frames $ 5.00 for 10 kg box. Chicken from processors. Lamb necks pack of 3 (1/2's) for $4.00 Lamb off cuts $ 1.50 - $ 2.00 kg - butchers.

I am in Narre Warren, so not exactly round the corner from you, but I get minced Lamb flaps, ox cheek and Chicken frames for the pups from Berwick. They mince it as it is ordered -usually 1 day notice and no nasties are in it. I get it in 10 or 20 kg lots and freeze them in 1 kg tubs.

Well done. What a beautiful puppy. I love the crates. I got to admit before I ever had a crate I used to think they were cruel. So not true. They are fantastic. Toilet training is a breeze and it gives the dogs a "den" of their own. I just love them.

I have never heard anything bad about the Liberty ones. I have a twin motor that just about blows the dogs off the table, as you put it. I used it very heavy for the first yr then I got a heated twin motor from the Melbourne Dog Center, but that was well over $1000. I use this almost everyday and love it. It turns right down to do pups and nervy dogs. I have a friend who has a Liberty heated stand drier and she has had no probs at all in 4 yrs of almost daily use. The flames spurting out the back would be very woring. Have you called Liberty and if so what was their solution. This is not good and I wouldn't be happy with that at all.

Fair enough. Mine was set up with the extra holding tank because I was mobile for a few years. If you have access to running hot/cold water then it is much cheaper to buy a bath without the extra holding tank and heating elements.

It's been said before, why not set up runs side by side that way they won't hurt each other while they are not being supervised and they will still be next to each other. I will be building my yards soon too. I just wish I dug the hole when the ground was nice and soft.....

Mine is from Liberty International. in Somerville Victoria. I love it and would get another if I was to up date it. I am a groomer and it has been very well worked. Twin tank, both heated. They do non heated too and single tanks. I chose this one because it is like having a bath then having a shower to rinse all the bath water off. Ideal for very dirty dogs, or flea /skin problems because the rinse water is all fresh water. Not a cheap bath but so worth it. I have seen others and will stick with this one. What are you looking for. Plastic scratches and scars and can crack - don't know if it can be repaired. Fiberglass can crack / chip but can be repaired - these are thick. (mine is fiberglass - no repairs needed) Do you need heated model or do you have hot water avail. This will save half the cost of a heated model. Do you want a single tank - I would prefer a rinse tank to clean the dog properly. Do you want a twin tank. -Some twin tanks have small tanks - Mine has a large wash tank and the rinse tank will rinse of 4 -6 small dogs or 2 -3 large dogs. Or 1 for a very dirty large long hair dog in need of a good rinse - Newfoundland is a good example. I will often bath my Rottweiler with our Matlese and Pug to save water. They all fit without being squashed. This will be one full wash tank and the rinse tank for all three dogs. It's a bit tricky but we manage. No complaints from them, they are used to it.

Does it matter if you feed both? I do. Like any diet there is many ways of feeding raw. I live in the suburbs and would love to throw a whole roo in the back yard and tell the dogs to get stuck into it. But I think the neighbours would go nuts over that one. I have been feeding a whole raw diet for almost 3 yrs. I used to do dry and raw before I swapped totally over. I feed Barf, (bought and homemade) Raw Meaty Bones and the Vets all Natural which has some grains in it. I think as long as it is raw and they are getting variety it doesn't matter. I understand the theory of dogs not processing fruit and veggies but it won't hurt them so it doesn't matter. Lets face it there is much worse that they can and do eat than fruit and veggies.

I know a lot of breeders would never sell two puppies to the same person purely for the reason of the pups bonding more with each other and making training more difficult. This was mentioned before. I would not do it either. The pup that I have still here is here because I would prefer she go to a single dog family. She needs extra training because she is so determined. I could have placed her weeks ago but I am thinking this is the best interest for this pup is be be one on one. As it is both of these girls are very close and I am having to separate them when I am going through some basics with them just so the listen to me and not wanting to play together all the time. But as mentioned before also it would depend so much on the temperament of the pups. Many people have got two dogs at the same time and would do it again. How committed to training are you, and can you handle both pups together? Do you have someone else to help with the training? It would be a shame to give up one pup now. Would the breeder take one pup back since it has only been a few days? I would talk to the breeder before I make the decision to re home one of the pups if I were you. But it is your call and you need to be comfortable with your decision. Good luck.

I have 2 Rottweiler puppies from my litter that are still together They will be 12 weeks tomorrow. They play very rough at times and I know that the longer they are together things will get more serious. I am keeping one girl and the other girl is still waiting for the right person to come along for her. I have been concerned about their play and I have spoken to the stud owner and my girls breeder about them. I have been told that it is perfectly normal puppy play. I would like to separate them soon and if the other girl stays much longer I will be setting up separate yards for them. I would really love to keep both of these pups but I don't think I am really prepared for what they would put me through if I did. I have been told that 2 females together can be very hard if they fight over the top dog position. If they don't care then maybe you won't have this problem. But the fighting can be very serious so keep that in mind as they grow. I know this will be a big concern for me too even though mine will be mother and daughter. Right now I have both pups asleep on the floor at my feet along with their mum. I also have an elderly desexed male Maltese and a 6 mth old pug bitch here too. All can be together under supervision. The Maltese is still trying to put the pups in their place but they are too rough for him which is why they are supervised when they are together - which is only when they are in the house. It can be done but it is pretty full on most of the time. I know it will be much easier when I do find the right home for the other pup. Good luck with you two puppies, you will have your hands full.

I used to feed my Rottie bitch half frozen food in summer and I would notice her kicking at her tummy. Reminded me of a horse with colic, so I don't feed food that is too cold anymore. I think it would be like eating ice cream too quickly - you know the head freeze that you can get ----or is that just me. Animals that live in the snow areas must eat their fair share of frozen foods. I suppose it mostly depends on the dog. I would be worried about tooth damage and digestive problems though.

Melbourne Dog Center in Rosebud , Victoria - Mine is fantastic, you can turn it up or down which is great for the face, nervous dogs and puppies.. Heat on or off. Not cheep but this is worth it. Liberty in Sommerville /Langwarrin, Victoria - They make a few different driers so worth checking them out too. I also have one of their driers. They make them with or with out heat - Mine doesn't have heat in the model that I bought, but it is a big blower which is great for blasting the crap out of heavily shedding dogs which saves a lot of elbow grease. I am pleased with both driers even though there is a big difference with them. Just out of interest both are around 5 yrs old and I use the MDC the most. The LIberty one was around $900 at the time and the MDC was over $1300. I would buy both brands again. I have seen cheaper driers on the market and have no idea how they compare. If you plan of grooming dogs as a business, trust me if one goes it is GREAT having a back up. Worth saving up for the second one. (I have done both elements in the drier and it was a Sunday - of course)

The ones on the face - mouth could be from a plastic bowl. If anyone is using plastic food or water bowls throw them out. They can have an allergic reaction to them..Stainless steel and ceramic are the way to go. I noticed my little pug and Rottweiler have little pimples on the inside of their thighs too. I have put it down to the long grass. My battery for the mower need replacing so the grass it at it's all time record high. Dogs love it, they have half a yard that is short and the other half is their own private jungle. I haven't seen these before on my dogs, so I have put it down to the grass.

My bath is from Liberty in Victoria, I have been using it almost daily for about 5 yrs and I have left it on over night without water more times than I would like to know about. Not a good idea, wish I didn't. I have never burnt out an element, this model has 2. 1 in the wash tank and 1 in the huge rinse tank. I don't know about the bath that you said, but thought that I would comment about the heating element. Honestly if I had been burning out elements I would be wondering just how good the product is. I would recommend this bath to anyone. If I need to replace it I will be going back to the same company.

Unless your prepared to spend a several hundred dollars for a good one, just ask the butchers to grind it up for you, they don't usually don't mind. Do a google search for a commercial meat grinder.

Some people never get it. Ive' even had people try to talk me in to doing their dog when it is so hot that I wouldn't even do my own. You know the ones - "She is really matted I should have had her done MONTHS AGO" . When I ask why the dog wasn't done months ago it - you guessed it - too cold. When they won't take no, not now for an answer - Easy come back is "ok make you a deal, my garden is in desperate of weeding - you weed my garden for me and I will clip your dog", - "no bloody way it's too hot for that" that's when I tell them that is the reason why I am not going to do your dog. They aren't ready for come backs sometimes I was mobile for about 4 years and for the past couple of years I have been working from home. I know how rude some people can be. When I first started I would try to please everyone - at my own physical expense, now I don't bother, it's either done when I want to do the dog, or they go somewhere else. Sooner or later they do come back, those that don't aren't worth it anyway. This way it sorts out the people who are going to be loyal clients or just users, who ever can get the job done first. I don't mind fitting in the nice clients as I do think that flexibility is important for business. If they are being rude then they don't get the next avail appoint. but one that I want to give them - they can take it or leave it. Just ask them do they work on there days off or when they are on holidays. I bet they don't.

I've known Vets to charge up to $20 just for a nail clip. Well they aren't getting a consult fee, so I guess that makes up for it. But then they also give complimentary nail clips for surgery cases too. -WithEverythingIAm I've never had a vet do the dogs nails ever, when my dogs have been under.

Or if you're up for the drive, Murray Clarke in Kilsyth

You could try Monash Vet Clinic. 1742 Dandenong Rd (cnr of North Rd) Clayton. 95447455. I find them pretty good. Also. David Clarke in Hallam Vet Clinic. 55 Belgrave - Hallam Rd Hallam. 9703 1776. He is pretty good too, especially for dental work.

Are there any chicken processors near by? I get the dogs food and our own for much less than the shops. I pay $2.00 kg for wings and $1.50 kg for necks. $0.80 kg for frames. These are regular prices. I also get whole size 10 chooks for $3.60 . All the organs are pretty cheap too. If I'm lucky I can get it cheaper, and stock up. I make up my own Barf or use the bought patties. The latter is not cheap if feeding big or many dogs. It doesn't take much time to make your own and you know what is in it. At a discount butcher I buy lamb necks on special for $3.99 for 4 neck pieces. Lamb flaps and brisket when on special. It doesn't take much time or effort to run a bit of fruit and veggies through the food processor, add it to the minced meat/bones, put it in meal size containers and put into the freezer. Do you have the freezer space to stock up on fresh stuff?

My Rottweiler sinks a bit when she swims, so the vest has been fantastic for her. She is able to swim more laps with less effort and speed. She does look a bit woosy and we have been the joke a few times but the difference that it makes when she swims makes it all worth while. When my pug pup it old enough to swim she will be getting her own vest as well.

I am a distributor of Barf. I find that many people feed barf and bones, or will alternate barf and home made barf - depends on time and funds avail. While Barf is my first choice, I would encourage those feeding many dogs or large dogs who don't want to buy Barf patties to make their own. Billinghurst has written 3 books on Barf so I would start with Give Your Dog a Bone, then The Barf Diet. He explains why feed raw and how to make your own. The patties should be fed with bones at a 50 / 50 ratio. I feed a Rottweiler and usually feed her 1 - 1 1/2 patties and chicken bones - necks frames and wings. Lamb bones - necks, shanks and off cuts. If she is a little on the light side I will increase her meals, or if she is getting too heavy I will back off with the bones until she is at a good weight. Get an idea of the right weight for your dog and take some photos at the weight. It is easy to forget the desired weight and get the dog a bit too heavy. I did just that as I enjoyed watching her crunch away on bones. There is more than one way to feed a raw diet. Do your research and you will find the benefits of Raw feeding is so worth it.