Blue Fox 001

I bought the Pixie Dust to try out on my Mum's Maltese so she won't mind if it comes off on her Does it really make them sparkle? The Reviva Coat is for him as well, he's going to be my first real guinea pig for clipping, scissoring and trying some new products and a bit of colouring too Quite looking forward to it.

Thanks guys for your replies. Sorry I forget sarcasm doesn't come over clearly in print - I didn't really NEED the last lot of stuff I bought - except perhaps the Theory of 5 book :D but I just can't help myself! I see so many products I would like to try, and cause we're quite a way from anywhere I keep thinking what if *such and such* comes in I might need double sided thinners etc. I think I pretty much still only have the basics and I'm sure it'll continue to grow. Cockerlover it doesn't sound primative at all, we might end up creating our own. While I will have the area and most of the equipment in the grooming salon I need I am still a learner and not offering to much at the moment. I hope in a couple of years I will be able to contribute with some confidence to the grooming threads

Thanks BC - I have a grooming arm which came with a table I purchased so think I will try that (if needed) first before I go out and buy anymore grooming equipment which I may not even use. Think for starters I will not use any restraints seems the safer way to go and we'll see how my learnng curve develops. I can't stop looking at catalogues and there seems to be more stuff every day I NEED to buy Just sent off another order yesterday and as I said we're not even open yet! Thanks for the link to pet network, I found a frame so if I need to go down that avenue later I know where to look. Thanks also for sharing your experience it really means a lot to me. When your learning you tend to question everything and being able to talk to experience people if a god send.

Thanks for those replies - should have known I'd get you at this time of night Siv Settrlvr - do you not have any problems with biting dogs, spinning dogs etc. My understanding is the two restraint is good for dogs who move away all the time, or sit down perhaps old dogs? We're still not open yet, this building is a tedious and time consuming thing, so still doing research without any practical Edit - I wouldn't leave the dog but you hear some horror stories both of dogs being restrained and it seems equally as much with dogs not being restrained - I just want to cover all bases I suppose and make the best decision I can.

Sorry Ari I haven't use it but I have just today ordered a couple of Plush Puppy products - Reviva Coat and some Pixie Dust as I have read through here that their products are very good so thought I would give these a go. Hope some one can let us know about the OMG.

I have been surfing an American grooming site and they all rave about a grooming restraint system called the LIP System. It seems to be a two point restraint under a grooming frame. I am wondering if Aussie groomers use an arm, a frame or perhaps do not put dogs in any type of restraint? And what your experiences are? I am sure I read something quite some time ago here somewhere about a new u-beaut frame but for the life of me I can't find the thread! Would appreciate your thoughts as I am having hot flushes about dogs jumping off tables, hanging themselves etc .... If frames are the way to go if someone can suggest where I can get a good one that would be appreciated also as I have been unable to find a retailer.

It certainly looks good - I have the furminator but as you said it can't be used on dirty animals so this would be good to have as well. 4 Paws could you put up a link or PM me your wholesaler. I am looking for other alternatives to my current one, especially for grooming products

Our bloke has arthritis and we found Sasha's Blend in his food every night has kept it generally under control. When he has had a really big day out he will get Metacam that night. This seems to be working very well for him, and we have only used the Metacam three time in the past 4 months.

Don't buy the "cheap" (about $450) manual hydraulic ones off e-bay (think the brand started with C but I have thrown away the packaging now and can't remember the brand)! I bought a supposed large one and while the top is large enough for a big dog the table is so wobbly that a big dog would not be or feel safe on one. It seems OK for SWF's and I have DIY'ed a four legged table for the big dogs now - unfortunately I also have to DIY a ramp to get them up there :D

Thanks bebete and Gomez for your replies. We will have only one flight of stairs so that sounds very doable I was thinking about the balcony but didn't really want to start where we weren't going to finish as we would prefer he use grass. We have 46 acres so it seems a little silly to use a 6 x 3m balcony Edit - typos, to early for me LOL

I know around here it's usually for foxes and they just use meat on the ground, no burying, that would be way to sensible.

tollersowned where are you if you don't mind? You can PM me if you prefer, I see rural SA in your details, as I am, and just wondering if your close.

Here's a pic....one full bag of kitty litter fills it up perfectly so that the grass sits right on top and there's no ledge for them to step into..... That looks great bebete - very professional. I don't want to hijack you thread but was just wondering for those living in multi storey apartments with puppy training how do you get down the stairs or lift before pup does the business? I am reading that once pup wakes up say you have to run them outside to their toilet spot - how can you do this when you are dealing with stairs or a lift? Hope you don't mind bebete it doesn't really warrant a new thread I was just curious as a couple mentioned it.

Crockwell Vet Hospital may have a 75% success rate but I would suggest it is very much lower for most vets. Maybe cause in the country it is often such a long way to the vet that there is no chance of early intervention. 1080 is used extensively through out National Parks (here in SA anyway - not sure about other states) and it is a horrific death for any animal - I deplore the stuff. Don't take your dogs into National Parks, I know your not suppose to anyway, but a lot of people do and they are playing with their dogs lives. Have seen a few come in to the vets in my early days and honestly there is not a much worse site IMO - with very little hope of a successful outcome.

Great advice - just keep in mind that when you reward her you are rewarding the behaviour you want (not because she is frightened). Don't baby her and pat her when she is scared or you will be reinforcing this behaviour and all your doing is telling her there is something to be worried about. It sounds like she is a nervous dog and once fully vaccinated you should take her to lots of different places, with strange people/things and all the time ensuring she doesn't get any unneccessary frights and rewarding the instant she shows that she is interested/calm etc..

You are already going into this with a preconceived (sp) idea and YOU obviously have a fear of going to the vets! The pup will pick up on this the minute you load her into the car and YOU have created the traumatic experience right from the word go. Going to the vet is not a big deal, she won't even know the needle has been given and the basic check up consists of nothing more than temperature (maybe), a feel all over and looking into her mouth and ears - none of which hurt or require any stressing about . A trip to the vet should be considered a fun outing as any outing which starts with a car ride should be; she is going to see other animals and meet new people all of which makes for a great day out for a pup - why would this be traumatic? If you go into this with the right attitude your pup will not have a problem - if you do not, nothing you can do will make any difference and you will condemn you pup to hating the vet surgery when this is not necessary.

Well kinda hoping he might just turn up one day so perhaps no RIP message yet - I am forever the optimist

And another one in case no-one likes the first two

The talent in this thread is simply amazing. If anyone wants to have a go at either of or combining these pics I would really appreciate it - doesn't matter if it's a sig or an OOB or a b/w with colour. The puss is my Hamish who has been missing since last year so is very dear to me and of course our Locky the GSD. Thanks

I think I will need to check with our local vet and see if she will be doing 3 yearly vacs. Hopefully she will be happy to sign a certificate for three years and that'll fix my dilemma

Glad it wasn't just me amypie My understanding is that pups still need their first annual vacc (so usually at 1yr after the last puppy shot he had), after that you can choose when you titre test - some people are saying vaccinations last for 3 years, 5 years, perhaps even for life. So you need to make a decision when you believe the dogs immunity may have become to low to provide adequate cover (this is the tricky bit) and have the dog tested to see. Vets would like to still see your dog every 12 months for an annual health check (could be $$ motivated or not depends how cynical you are) and you could have the titre test then instead of the vaccination. Some vets are now vaccinating and saying this lasts 3 years, some vets are saying this is a new vaccine, some sites I have seen say it is the same old one we have always had. You need to go back for kennel cough annually (if you think your dog needs kennel cough). So as you can see it still seems a little up in the air about exactly what is the new protocol. I haven't been able to find a site yet that adequately has answered all my questions. I think I am going to ask my vet to titre test this year as the dog is 9 years old and has been vaccinated each year for life with C5 - my only concern with this is the hypocrisy of being a kennel owner and possibly having to insist my clients have vacc certificates as opposed to titre tests!! Sorry long post - will stop now I have you completely. Hopefully someone else who has been looking into this longer than me will come along. ;)

Will you give the intranasal KC yearly then InspectorRex? Do you ever need to board your dogs or have you found a place that will/can accept the 3 yearly vaccination cetificate? We are opening our boarding kennels and cattery hopefully in a couple of months and I am having a real dillemma about vaccinations, titre testing etc... and what to accept! It seems SA still do not have any statutory regulations governing boarding kennels, the RSPCA Code says yearly vaccinations must be produced, but I can't seem to get a straight answer about what will happen if I don't comply and accept titre testing as proof that the dog is covered. ;)

Thanks Tess - I have been telling my OH about it and pronounce it different everytime so now I will know

I think with so much talk going around about over vaccination and the vets responsibilites sounds like the company are doing some research of their own. Lucky you, will be interested in the results as I'm sure many others will. Don't want to hijack your thread but my question doesn't seem worth it's own - could someone explain the pronunciation of this titre test? I am going to ask my vet when next I go and don't want to sound like a complete idiot. So is it pronounced: tighter test, teeter test or tit er test - if you get where I'm coming from?

Thanks for that Helen, I imagine I will do a bit of both but will give the clicker a real shot with the next one. I am quite looking forward to having a go with it.