FHRP

Probably because he's already getting all that But, for directly helping with the actual muscle loss she seemed to think that the fish oil was the most beneficial??

Awwww, so cute! My dogs like the upside down sleeping position too Polo brings his own pillow for snoozes

My nearly 13 year old has lost a lot of muscle in his hind legs over the past couple of years. He has spondylosis in the spine, which I'm sure is a big contributing factor. He now weighs under 20kg which is very light for a male Vizsla, even for a small one like him. More recently though he's had noticable muscle loss on his head which is a bit sad even though I know it's just an age thing. When I mentioned it to my vet all she suggested was fish oil tablets.

Yes, I think it is a very common thing with dogs. Of my four current dogs there is only one who doesn't do it and he has never been interested in toys once past puppyhood (and he's a gundog!). My GSP constantly has something in his mouth and usually uses whatever he has grabbed as a 'pillow' when he lays down. It can be very cute My gundogs are always rewarded for bringing me things as I want to encourage any retrieving from them and never want them to think it's bad to bring me something. It does backfire at times when presented with some not so delightful presents. Polo brought me some fish heads while at the beach last week :D

If I'm walking around the neighbourhood I usually walk two at a time. If I'm taking them to the forest or the dog club I take all four. I find three easy enough to walk, but four too many in suburbia, so I take the two oldies on a shorter walk and the two younger ones on a bigger walk. Keeps me exercised!! If I have three or more I often get comments. I've been known to pass the same people with the two oldies and then with the two younger dogs, it does confuse them

Poodles were used as water retreivers, it's where their 'funny' hair cuts evolved from, they were shaved down to ease movement in water but the puffs were left to protect their organs I believe. In the USA STandard poodles can compete in some hunting events, but not in Oz. The one Standard poodle that came to a retrieving trial I was at was scared of the birds!! But I do know several poodles that are keen retrievers.

This sounds more like retrieving instinct to me My Whippet always grabs a toy when I come home too, and he's not what I regard as a natural retriever!!

I have had a 9 year old dog surgically desexed and a 12 year old chemically castrated. No changes in personality with either of them. The surgically desexed boy has become more 'attractive' to some entire males who will make sexual advances towards him. It can be annoying as it has upset the dynamics in our 'extended pack' when out with friends dogs and caused a few minor tiffs.

I have two snorkelers who seem to get more water on the floor than in their stomach. Their dribble strings after a drink are also quite impressive. Polo especially seems to take a mouthful and then walk away spitting it all back out ;) 90% of the time I just plain don't have a water bowl inside! I have water outside and a doggy door for them to access it. If I do have water inside it's in one of the non-spillable bowls with the smaller opening so my boys can not snorkel. They still manage to dribble a bit, but not as much.

My boy is nearly 13 years old and has spondylosis, at his age I am less worried about the long term effects of drugs then say with a 3 year old dog. It is not time (for him) to be putting drug options off if they work IMO, his comfort and quality of life are my first concern. Flynn gets Previcox, Valium and/or Tramal, all depending on his level of discomfort. He has not had valium or tramal for many months now and the Previcox is only when he's had a lot of exercise and is showing signs of soreness.

Licking can certainly indicate a site of pain. Have you talked to your vet about pain management options? My old boy gets monthly catrophen injections and daily joint guard as well as various drug options for when he's in pain. It did take a little while to work out what drugs worked for him best.

I had many 'guesses' as to the breed of my Italian Spinone but the best two were goat and Afghan Hound!!! My parents neighbours thought there was a goat in the yard when Bella was visiting and at an agility trial I had someone ask if she was an Afghan??? More usual was Labradoodle.

Fantastic obedience results Seita & Ptolomy

Congrats on the ADM! Lovely run, and very nice lead out in JDM!

Not planning on entering a trial soon, I haven't put in the work to enter All Age yet. We may not get there this year as I want to try Field trials. So I'm going to give that a go this season We'll keep doing some retrieving training though, Polo just loves it, and you never know I might take the plunge There are a few Novice dogs and some friends dogs recently into Restricted that I really want to see run, so I may pop out to a trial or two anyway

Great stuff TSD Has she finished teething?? Been too hot to do too much here, and I'm not a morning person so miss the best time to train :D I did go out with a friend on Australia day and do a few marks and memory blinds. I was pleased that the work I've been doing on "backs" seems to be working and stopping on the whistle again has improved. Had a few issues with the come in whistle now, he seems to think coming in three steps and then stoppping is good enough I again got a new appreciation of my smooth coated dogs. Our training partner was running a working springer with little coat, but the dog was still covered with grass seeds in minutes!!! Her owner spent the afternoon grooming and de-seeding her, I spent it lazing in front of the a/c

Lovely photo's Vickie and so sorry to hear about Zues.

Thanks everyone! That will probably be our 2011 highlight ;) Congrats to all the other great starts for the year too, this is going to a big thread I can tell :D

Yep, Charlie is a popular dogs name, my GSP's sire is a Charlie I love the name and although it has special meaning to me for humans and I'd personally never name a dog Charlie, I have no problem with other dogs being named Charlie! I know of several dogs with my own name, that is a little weird to me, but I don't have a problem with it.

There are people with those names too!! There are 'human names' I now think of as 'dog names' and think it's odd when I hear of a person with that name. My nephew is named Toby, and to me that is a dog name!! :D Name your dogs how you like. I still love my old boys name and if the highly unlikely event that I have a male baby, I would still consider it for the baby!! The kid should be flattered :D

Have to add a brag, and so early in the year Tonight we had a ribbon Agility trial. It was Polo's first run in agility since our weave training over Christmas. I did run him a couple of times in Agility last year knowing he didn't weave. I was chuffed that he did lovely contacts tonight and then... he weaved!!! All 12 poles He finished the course with only one crunchy part to go clear and take 1st place ;) Rogan then put in a nice run to win Masters and backed it up with a nice run and a generous see saw call to win Open Agility too!! So three runs for 3 Q's and 3 1sts!! What good boys I have

hairycoats, maybe you can answer megan's question about whether she can take her poodle x http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?s=&a...t&p=5120793

Why do they have to hold obedience trials?? The ACT Gundog Society is conducting our first RATG in April in conjunction with another clubs Obedience trial! Works out well for both clubs involved. The ACTGS does hold an obedience trial later in the year but found running both on the same day too taxing on our club committee.

can poodle x's come? Poodle x's aren't permitted to compete in either Retrieving Trials or Retrieving Ability Tests, they are open to Gundogs only. I'm sure you would be welcome to attend information and training days as an observer, but 'working spots' may be limited to Gundogs only.

I think you'll find that "Reliable Kennels, WA" are in Washington State USA A Pointer can try just about any dog sport! Agility, Obedience, Flyball, DWD, Tracking plus the dedicated Gundogs sports - Retrieving Trials & Pointer & Setter Field trials! I'm not in WA and have no idea what NOR means so can't tell you where to go for training though...