Staffyluv

My old SBT, Ollie has mast cell tumours and one of the effects is that MCTs release histamine (the same reaction as a allergic one).. We dosed him with 1 polaramine tablet a day for 6 years and it bought the histamine release to a point of rarely happening. When it first started, he always had what looked like hives on him, his fur standing up in circular sort of patterns and he used to scratch heaps. I think by the 6 month mark of starting him on the histamine, he may have had about 4 more of these episodes in the next 5 years... Ollie was about 21kgs. There is a thread pinned at the top of the health threads that gives the doses of all human antihistamines for weight.. Page 3, post 42 of the General Health thread.. I have used claratyne before and it didn't seem to work as well as the polaramine..

Mine too..

The credit card said no but next time you have a sale, I will definitely buying something blingy for the lad :)

Thanks BC, I just love their work - I am sitting here trying to justify a third collar and lead set :)

Totally agree Mel.. Although from the first account, he did help her to her car (even if she thought it was begrudgingly - he was probably terrified the dogs would go at her again, if he stayed near her, I know I would be).. In saying that - it doesn't look like a bite. It looks more like she has been headbutted.. I have had a black eye and swollen nose from a boofhead dog before (we were just mucking around and it was a headbutt, but by crikey it hurt).. Still poor bugger - hope she heals quickly.

Sharing this around as I know how many have asked about great quality leads and collars in the past.. Ruthless Leather is 4 today For anyone that has ever wanted an awesome Ruthless Leather collar and lead set (and lets face it, who doesn't want one) - Ruthless Leather are having a birthday sale today and you get the presents... They are giving away a 4 foot lead with every collar purchased on their birthday today!!! So, if your furry family are in need of an awesome collar (and free lead) pop on over to the website, choose a collar, colour and even bling it up if you want!!! Zig has two of Ruthless's collars and leads - one for about town and one for work and play.. He swims in it every day and with minimal care, it is still looks amazing.

What a horrible thing for your friend to witness..

I am so sorry Mon.. Now pain free at the bridge with so many of our DOL dogs.. RIP Divani.

Hard call.. As a dog lover to see an animal purchased as a trophy dog but it happens all the time. Could you offer to buy the dog for your child, who is so in love with the dog?

My link

Devastating.. The poor pup and those poor kids that saw their dog killed (one wonders why you wouldn't shove the kids inside, so they don't see any more than they had too but I guess that is easy to say in hindsight).. I had to read the kids names twice - I thought it was some sort of typo..

For the water issue, we use a water bottle with a pop up top - I keep it behind us in class, so it is near whenever he wants a drink.. I just squirt it and he drinks it like drinking from a hose.. I do a bit of static work with Zig in class (I think most dogs get bored in a class environment, when not 'working'). We also do quiet tricks (like pick the hand the treat is in). His favourite at the moment is springing from heel position to front, then do a return back to heel.. Zig is also having fun with the dumbell retrieve and sometimes in class, I will toss it just half a metre in front, let him retrieve it, give it and return to heel (we are usually at the end of the group when doing this one as it can be distracting for some other dogs). Another of his fave things is to catch stuff - so I might use his tennis ball or a tiny bit of treat and say 'ready' when he focuses, I count to three and toss it on three - he jumps to catch it.. This stuff just breaks up the formal training and stops him getting bored.. Maybe give her less food or no meal at the meal before training. Zig would get half a meal the night before training and never have breakfast (we train at 10am on Sundays) - this was the only way, I could get him to work for food.. However, I usually only train with tools, not food as he will always work for his tennis ball or a game of tug... It sounds like you are making great progress..

There aren't many dogs that don't shed 'much'.. Even short coated breeds like Staffords shed like crazy - I can sweep my place every day and get a good handful of tiny black, eyelash shaped hair.. If you are averse to shedding, I do suggest one of the non shedding breeds.. Most dogs like something to do, so training, socialising and time with you is important - if you don't give a pup something to do, they will find it on their own.. Great things like pulling the washing off, or digging your garden up or worse, escaping the yard to find something to do or someone to play with.. :) Good luck - I don't have any suggestions for breed, I think choosing a dog breed is a very personal thing (as they don't all appeal to all of us). I would pick a few breeds that appeal to you and research them, find a good breeder to ask questions and go from there..

:happydance2: :happydance2:

Agree with this :) Personally I think that my dogs have benefited from the environment a dog club provides but some do find it tough. I have a very excitable and boisterous 7 month old and he does really well in classes, it also provides me an opportunity to work on overstimulation issues in a more controlled environment than say, out on a walk. Enjoy your classes! :) I really believe it wuffles. I meet so many people who say that 'obedience didn't work for their dog'... Zig is very excitable - our beginner instructor just suggested that we train a few metres away from the rest of the class and as he calms, we come closer. If he plays up, we move further away - good behaviour gets him into the group, which is where he wanted to be. He now heels off lead in a large group of dogs and as much as he loves all his class mates, he never leaves my side.. It can be done! Good luck to the OP on your class - I hope you have lots of fun :)

I saw a post the other day on a local FB buy/swap/sell group - wanted miniature english staffy!!! When told there was no such thing, we were all told that their friend has one - so I suggested they contact the same breeder that their friend got their pup off..

Happy birthday gorgeous..

I think we had 3 classes of 9 when we did beginners a while back. My lad did just fine, for a dog that is overly excitable, totally dog focused and very vocal.. He came first in the beginners group :) I think a lot of it depends on the experience of the instructor, your own confidence and the amount of work you are prepared to put in outside of the weekly class.. If you put the work in, your dog will do well. We spent the first few classes on the outskirts of our group because Zig was so over excited. As a reward for being calmer, we moved closer to the group - if his behaviour changed back to over excited, we moved a little bit away from the group. He wanted to be in the group, so he soon picked up that calm behaviour got him there.. These are things you will learn from your instructor. I tried one on one classes at a huge cost.. We did OK but really didn't start to get results until we went to formal group classes.

Sorry for your loss.. RIP Grover..

It was a tiny Chi cross - who owns a chi cross and keeps it outside on a chain???

The listed breeds are pretty uniform globally with countries of BSL legislation. Someone began with a list of certain breeds and rest followed suit for the most part. I am an anti BSL activist - I detest the legislation and help out and donate where and when I can. I am a professional 48 year old woman, with my own business, own my own home and own a staffy cross.. I have never flaunted the law and would never breed dogs.. I hardly see myself as you describe the 'anti BSL activist' type.. Every person that I know that owns a pit bull - are all professional people (all 6 of them)... No they don't flaunt the law or breed them either... Talk about dumping all types in the same bucket - this is EXACTLY the ATTITUDE that bought BSL about in the first place.. Thinking that because it is a pit bull it must be bad, so kill it.. So everyone that owns one must be a bad person who flaunts the law and breeds them...

No dogs (or cats for that matter) should be wandering the streets but plenty do and don't get a death sentence for it.. Just because of the way he looks.. BSL sucks.

I believe they have held an innocent dog, that isn't a danger to the community, for so long now.. I believe BSL is a load of crap and we shouldn't judge a whole breed or type of dog, based on a few dogs bad behaviour (because they usually don't know any better and have ignorant owners).. I believe the council should release the dog.. For no other reason than he isn't a danger to the community..

Brisbane City Council say he wasn't bought from the council pound. I read that earlier but the original owner said they bought it from the council - I will see if I can find the post about it and add a link..