ash1

We had a similar situation some years ago down our old street. I was out walking early one morning and saw two dogs curled up in leaf litter under a tree in 4 degree weather. Made sure I went out the next morning at the same time, and they will still curled up under the tree in the freezing cold. So hubby and I bought a couple of second hand kennels and got some old rugs together, went and knocked on the owner's door and said that we wondered if his dogs would like "our old kennels", as we were "a bit worried about them" sleeping under the tree in such cold weather. He was very grateful for them, and I felt much better walking past each morning and seeing the dogs curled up in their kennels instead of under the tree. Would have preferred seeing them inside the house, but it was better than nothing, at least they were off the ground (raised kennels) and had a few blankets to snuggle into. If you don't want to approach the owners, perhaps you could get an old kennel (usually dirt cheap on ebay/gumtree) and just jump over the fence and put it in the Cocker's yard for him (and fill the water bowl) - owners should pretty quickly get the message.

I have not read the entire thread, but just wanted to send my sympathies to you. We had to make the same decision last year with our old GSD. Was so difficult to know exactly "when". The worst thing was, we would decide, then he would rally and be great for another week, so we'd cancel the appointment, then he'd go downhill again, so we'd re-book. But our wonderful vet told me "It is better a day too early than a day too late" and I bore that in mind when we took him up, even though he had been quite good the previous day. Remember, dogs have no concept of future, it is us who suffer that (i.e., knowing she will be gone). With my first childhood dog, my mum has never lost the guilt she feels about being "a day too late" in giving her her wings - i.e., she feels the dog struggled too long before the final decision was made to let her go and that we kept her alive for us, instead of for her, we just couldn't bear to let her go, but we were being selfish.

This happened to me a few months back, I was doing a letterbox drop and a large x-breed dog slipped through his fence, started stalking menacingly towards me, growling, hackles up. I was alone on a rural road in the middle of the day... gulp! Didn't even think about what to do, it was just an instant, instinctive reaction; in a very deep low growly strong voice I hurled a loud "GET OUT OF IT!" at him. I'm a female, but the words came out sounding quite masculine and low pitched. I think I might also have clapped my hands together loudly at the same time. Fortunately I must have sounded like I meant business, the dog made a hurried retreat, then so did I, back to my car! I'm not normally frightened of any dog, but this one looked like he wasn't looking for friendship. I was fortunate.

Charlie, a very full-of-his-own-importance little cross-bred terrier, marks on anything and everything (only outside, thank goodness). A couple of the most embarrassing that come to mind are; A friend came to visit, took her shoes off at the door (not a requirement of our house, she just did) and Charlie promptly went over and piddled on them. When we were attending obedience school when he was quite young, he disgraced himself and me beautifully, twice in one evening; he piddled on MY leg (obviously marking his territory - she's MY MUM!) and later on in the evening, piddled on the head of another dog - a mis-judgement, the other dog had just piddled and Charlie was piddling over the top, the other dog turned and got wee'd on his head for his troubles.

I was appalled to read through this thread and so very sorry you are going through this Hazywal. I hope you get some resolution soon. As far as walking the dogs in future goes, is there any chance there are some farms/large acreage not too far from you? It was just a thought that, if there were, perhaps you could approach the owners and ask if you would be able to exercise your dogs on their land. I just mention it, as I am a large acreage owner and I know that if someone approached me and explained the situation, I would be more than happy for them to bring two well-behaved dogs for a run once or twice a day. Then you would be safe from any other strange dogs and be able to relax and enjoy your walks.

I watched Hachi yesterday and bawled my eyes out. Wish, wish, wish I hadn't watched it. What cruel *bleepers* let a dog wait outside a train station for almost TEN YEARS for his dead master? I just about stomped on the disc before returning it to the video store.

Love it :laugh:

Our dogs always want to taste-test anything that the humans are eating, but often when they are given something "odd" (i.e, olives, lettuce, etc) they will take it politely, then spit it out when they think we aren't watching! Our dogs also love carrots cool from the fridge.

Sure can relate to this. I was mowing the lawns earlier (acreage - ride on mower) and scared a brown snake who was lingering around the shed (I hadn't seen him, or would have given him a much wider berth!). He zoomed inside the shed, so my guess it that he may have been living in the shed where it would be quite cool with a concrete floor. He is now somewhere in my husband's incredibly messy shed, so I'm keeping the dogs indoors today except for toilet breaks. Hopefully snakey will leave when it's cooler - don't fancy having to try and find him/get him out of the shed that looks like several bombs went off in it.

Our dogs love watermelon too, and I've not had any issues with them eating the rind as well. Some of the dogs will just eat the flesh, others will hoover up the whole lot.

Skyefool, thank you so much for coming back to let us know you're okay - was a bit worried I really do admire you for being brave enough to put the welfare of your dogs' lives first, shows you are a strong and loving person. Hope things start looking up for you very soon.

Thanks guys, little fella has now forgiven me (yes, he decided to forgive me once food was forthcoming :laugh: ) and is currently lying asleep in my lap. He's hobbling around a little bit (foot is bandaged), such a sooky boy, he's milking it for all he's worth as it is resulting in lots of treats and cuddles (tdierikx, your cuddle duly passed on :) - gee $86 now sounds like a positive bargain compared to your Rotti. Mind you the vet accidentally printed out my financial year to date of what I had spent since July and I just about fainted dead away )

Is anyone in contact with Skyefool? I've just read through this thread and hope all is well. Skyefool, please take care of yourself, I think you are wonderful for putting your dogs' needs before your own. Time will soon come that the sun will shine for you again :)

Thanks again everyone. Just home from the vet, who did exactly what we contemplated doing last night - i.e., cut it off at the break, them gave him a shot of AB's to ward off infection. $86 later and a wee fella who is currently not talking to me (I held him whilst the vet snipped), all is well :)

Thank you so much everyone, for your quick (pun unintentional!) responses. We have bandaged it up and will take him up to the vet in the morning. When we discovered it I suggested cutting it off to hubby, as soon as I said it we both just grimaced at each other - guess we're a bit too sooky to manage that ourselves and nothing here to stop any resultant bleeding.

The hormones released from the maturing sex organs also contribute to growth and development. The two males that I had desexed I severely regret. My rottweiler was one of them, I wish I had left the testosterone to help build his bones and muscles. Yes he had severe HD/ED but removal I think made it worst. Oh, he was the only one you could consider a PITA when the girls were in heat and the one that picked the most arguments. Not the entire dogs. I don't frankly prescribe to the story of every dog escaping because a bitch is in heat. I have two bitches in heat at the moment and an entire male. There is no whining, breaking down doors, carrying on etc because I do not allow it. I've had entire males and bitches together for 10 years and never had an accident, destruction, noise etc. It can be done quite easily. As for desexing, a bitch will go a fence post if she's hormonal enough. If the neighbours bitch breaks out take her to the local pound so they might learn, or call the council and report them for a roaming dog. I don't change my dogs for other people's lazyness. You should see the idiot dog I have to live with next door, some AmBull thing trying to rip down my fence because the girls are in heat (well more then usual). They come put him inside now as soon as he makes a peep ... trained them better then the dog. Thanks Nekhbet, I respect your opinion. This is the first dog we've had that wasn't already desexed before we got it (rest of dogs shelter dogs), so I think I'm just going to leave him be for now. No point putting him through an op if it's not really necessary and we have no reason to desex him at this point. If he knew what we were discussing, I'm sure he would be sending you big doggy kisses right about now! :laugh:

Our little fella has just broken one of his toenails - sorry, claws!. It is split in half very close to the toe and the quick is exposed, it's causing him a bit of pain. Should we cut it off where it's broken (this will hurt, right through the quick), or leave it for the vet in the morning? (Our local vet is open for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings). If leave it for the vet, should we bandage it or just leave it? Sorry to post in general, but not sure what to do and figure this will probably be the busiest place this time of night.

We went through a heatwave last week and as our house has absolutely no insulation and no air con, it was a real struggle to keep the dogs cool. We had fans running in every room, I bought some super cheap doona inners and soaked them in the bath, then laid them down, soaking wet on the floors for the dogs to lie on (luckily all hard floors here, so not a problem being wet). I filled up our shub (shower tub bath thingy) with cold water and kept dunking the little dogs in it, and used the hose to wet down the big dogs and let them dry naturally, as evaporation is cooling. At night I laid damp towels on top of the dogs so they could get to sleep. We got through it, but will be investing in aircon as soon as finances allow, even if it's just a portable or window unit - it's horrible to watch the dogs struggle with the heat and not be able to do a lot about it.

Sorry to hijack, but Nekhbet, could you please elaborate? I too, have a 10 month old young lad and we have been debating when to get him "snipped". No real urgent need, as we are on large acreage, he is behind secure fencing with no bitches (entire or otherwise) nearby and all our other dogs are desexed, but why do you suggest waiting until 18-24 months old? I'm presuming development, is this physical development, pyschological development, or both? Our vet said 8 months, but with xmas etc, he hasn't been done yet.

I wonder if this is a pom thing? Our little pom (RIP) used to LOVE ears - anyone's ears who would sit still long enough for her to clean - the other dogs, people, the cats...

I love the way he's "smiling" in the bath. Must feel soooo good to get all that hair and filth off him.

This has been my guilty secret for quite a while now, so it's a relief to know I'm not the only one! We have six dogs, all ex rescue and really are at our limit (according to my husband, anyway). But it doesn't stop me looking at least a couple of times a week. Three of our dogs are only young, between 8 and 18 months old, so realistically I have my hands full and don't have the time for another one at this stage, but maybe in another six months or so....

We lived on the Gold Coast for a number of years and used Chris Dixon at Oxenford Vet Surgery. It is only a tiny little surgery, but Chris was great with all our animals (multiple dogs & cats) and much cheaper than most of the other vets in the area. Also very personable. Before that we used Ross Evans at Tallebudgera Vet clinic, he was an excellent surgeon (IMO). Quite a gruff man, but great with the animals.

When I found out about the dog treats issue I went and bought myself a cheap food dehydrator and now make all my doggie treats in that. I use human grade food (liver, chicken, etc), slice it really thinly (slice it semi-frozen, it's much easier) and set them in the dehydrator. The dogs and cats all love them and I know that they are safe for them. I got a dehydrator from Homeart for $35, but you can get them cheaply on ebay too.

Just got an email through from Brands Exclusive for Dean Russo Dog (and Cat) prints for sale. Really amazing pop-art style prints in a range of breeds. You have to join as a member (free) to view pricing and purchase (each print is $24.99 + postage). I'm not affiliated or anything, but know a lot of dolers like doggie stuff like this. I'm purchasing the GSD as it is a very good representation of our dearly departed Tango. Dean Russo Prints