KitKat

From whay i understand...for the three martingale types there isn't much difference...the two quick snaps and the standard - i like the quick snap that doesn't look like a dog clip as i've seen it in the 'flesh' as it were and it stands up to a pretty tough dog safely. Just don't like the look of the dog clip one...and the standard one makes my woosy widdle fingers ache putting it on and off :D (not really but it can be fiddly whereas the quick snap solves the problem) The ones that look like a normal collar are incredibly interesting tho...would be interested in hearing if anyone has used one? or what people think? K9Force...any comments?

It's a problem ordering them into the country apparently - some places will apparently break them up and send them in a few separate packages...i don't know. But because it's considered a restricted item by Customs...they usually nab them as they hit the country. But you can order them from some places within Aus which isn't a major problem. It's just a matter of finding the type you like - i've been quoted up to a $100 including postage from within Aus for one standard prong collar...

I know they are available in Aus...as someone i know has one but they got it from someone who got it new from someone else kinda thing so...still tracking it down...lol. Hey K9Force...you wanna stock some of these things?? Make it easy on me??

Found these here on the Sprenger Website This is the type i am after... This is similar... This is one of the other type they do... And here is that one with the cover on it... You'd never know it was a prong once on! But they do covers for each type of prong they offer. The Aus supplier listed on the website doesn't import any of these so they said.

I love the pouches from the Aussie Dog Company! They are great! And indestructable...however i think my dogs hid mine as i haven't been able to find it for a lil while...

Tracking down types of prong collars recently but not having much luck...seems no one carries the ones with the quick snap release - (so you don't have to peel apart the prongs to put the collar on and off). Anyway...one place told me that they were out of pinch collars all together (didn't stock the quick release one anyway) but they were waiting for their new type to come in. These 'new' ones have a metal plate cover across the back of each prong and apparently looks like a 'metal plate collar' rather then a normal prong. I did check out the sprenger site and they had some covers that fit to the prong but not as was described to me. So...anyone know what was meant? kinda curious now!

I might be a tad biased but i have heard good reports on the Lab food - and know severl GR's on it as well. It's even low GI ! But honestly it is a very good food. If you email your states RC rep they will send you out a sample of it

Check out the ProPlan Sensitive one it's based on Salmon...and available where you can get Proplan

So sorry for your loss Trevaniz Fly free young Rio.

And just another one to consider...Royal Canin has a specific Labrador food available...

I to tried raw/barf and it didn't suit my dog...I am also paid by a kibble company to promote their product a couple of times a month - however it doesn't stop me offering up all options (other brands and of differing budget levels if needs be) that will suit the dog/cat in general - in or out of uniform. I will also offer up barf/raw as an option but do suggest they read Dr Billinghursts book before starting. I prefer getting a fair view of things and so i offer the same to others. I'd also rather be known/remembered as the helpful person from such and such company then the pushy so and so from That company etc Mind you people tend to remember Bronx more so then me

All that matters is how well the dog goes on the food, raw/cooked/dried/tinned/whatever. Unfortunately there are some that will push their point of view no matter what the subject matter is - and won't 'hear' anything other then their point of view.

I can't answer that...but Sabre loves doing it to chicken wings and frames It's sooo cute to watch

:rofl:

I did say i hated to do that to you

Hate to do this to you TrustMe - but...Supercoat also does a sensitive range...one of which is for coat and tummy sensitivities...

I'd recommend Nutro over Nutrience

I don't disagree with feeding raw/barf...i think it's great if it works for the dog and the owner. I did a lot of research into it before i decided to feed my GSD a barf/raw diet. The meaty bones my dogs got were all of human consumption quality, the premade stuff was perhaps a different matter due to my not seeing exactly what went into it. Vegies and fruit were also of human consumption quality. I actually bought a chest freezer specifically for my dogs food, and everything they were given had been frozen first due to the fact i prefer to do so with any meat coming into my household...for me or my dogs. Storage was as if for my own food as with handling and preparation - mind you their food preparation was of a larger scale then mine. I never said that it doesn't work well....i said it doesn't work if it doesn't suit your dog. Barf/Raw did not suit my GSD - there were no supposed money savings because i was having to feed so bleeding much to my dog to keep him from looking like he came out of a POW camp. As it was he still looked very underfed. His coat was harsh and crappy and all in all he was out of condition. IT did not matter how much effort and research i put into it - i was doing it by the book except where i tried finding new protien sources that would perhaps ease Bronx's issues on the Barf/raw diet...to no avail. Within a few weeks of being on a high quality processed (dry) diet with raw on the side he was a new dog...and looked as healthy as a young dog should. Yes but you make out that what you say is FACT...Proven Fact which it is not. No one would have a problem with your advice and sharing of experiances if it wasn't for the fact that you don't give a fair indication of the diets. Eg you make out that a dog will be severely unhealthy, will stink and fart, will have rotten teeth, will be very hard to toilet train, won't enjoy life and will constantly be hungry if you feed anything other then a BARF/Raw diet - which just isn't the case. Again i could give you examples of dogs that have done badly on barf/raw - and i could give just as many examples of dogs that have done badly on a commercial diet. I can give more good news stories regarding both types of feeding. Each dog is different...feed what suits the dog be that raw/barf/kibble/tinned/whatever - don't feed to suit some person on a computer, or who lives downthe street, or who sees your dog on occasion. Feed what suits the dog and yourself.

Bahahahahaha Shek...no...i'm broke...and now you can see why!

Wow Lillysmum...don't know what processed foods you fosters etc were fed...because my boys don't seem to have any of the problems you described and they are fed mostly a commercial diet... My dogs only get a doggy smell when i've been slack and haven't brushed them when they are dropping coat...the only get a bath at most 4 times a year...and don't smell or stink as you put it...or fart for that matter. When my GSD was on BARF he smelled...of meat and bone if he hadn't cleaned his forelegs enough to get the 'leftovers' off. Again i would have to put that down to the quality of food being fed...my dogs poo a shortish period of time after eating and that's about it - they are fed a high quality kibble. As to drinking...well...they drink and pee more in summer...but i put that down to the fact it's freakin hot here in summer. My two GSD's have been toilet trained from about 8-10 weeks old...in fact at 10weeks Sabre was working with me day in day out as i wasn't willing to leave him at home, for all that he was eating and drinking thru the day he refused to go to the toilet even tho given the opportunity numerous times thru the day. However would wait till he got home. None of my dogs have had issues 'holding on' when required. Mind you i do give them loo and drink breaks as i don't keep water inside for them - due to their enjoyment of playing in water and my cats enjoyment of knocking water over. When i do my weekend work and Sabe is left home he is crated inside - and has no problem 'holding on'. My dogs woof into their kibble, and lick the last scerrit out of their bowls, sometimes i stuff part of their food into kongs for some variety. However they do get bones regularly...but their enjoyment is somewhat limited by the fact they feel they have to eat it so quickly in case the other dog gets it - mind you both are separated when they have bones. My dogs have beautiful clean teeth and always have - even my old boy Harm (RIP) and he was fed a kibble diet his entire life...and a cheap kibble for most of it at that. My boys get bones regularly...but not enough to put that down to their lovely clean white teeth. I have seen some dogs recently that have a diet of almost jsut bones who have quite worn teeth and that's at only an age of 4 and 6 yrs. However I do believe bones should be part of every dogs diet (except for those dogs who can't have them due to such causing problems, eg compacted bowel) My dogs seem hungry all the time anyway...just wave a treat around and they act as if they have never eaten However when my GSD was on Barf he was eating well over the amount he was supposed to get, was always hungry and looked very underfed - however Barf didn't work for him...a shame but so be it. As to the 'full feeling' dogs take a lot to get that...eg instinct is to eat as much now just in case there isn't more later - and most dogs are still like that today. My old boy Harm could put away a large roo tail or lamb neck away in under 5 mins and come looking for more, and i always picked the big ones knowing how he could put them away. A Raw/Barf diet is fantastic...if it works for your dog and yourself. And same with a processed diet...if it works for your dog and yourself then it is fantastic also. Or go with a mix of each if that works for you nad your dog. Just do your research and go from there, don't let anyone push you into a direction, or feel pressured into feeding a way you aren't sure about.

My last three dogs have all been trained differently...mostly because they have all been different to train what worked for Harm didn't work for Bronx - tho both were food motivated. Harm was a lot harder to work with and stubbon, whereas Bronx as very easy to work with and quick to learn. Sabre on the other hand has been completely different to the other two - he's not food motivated but is at least toy motivated, and he's also a lot brattier then any dog i have had. But he does love to please me, but also wants my attention all for himself...lol.

Hehehe....both my GSD's were toilet trained by 10-12 weeks...even giving me a certain yip when they needed to be let out at night However now Sabre won't pee or poo outside his yard (except at the breeders). Even at 10 weeks he was waiting all day before going - we made loo breaks/stops but he wouldn't go till he got home! Worked around that with Bronx as he will pee on command...but still won't crap anywhere other then at home (or at the breeders - where we visit regularly)

After finding i'm not the only one addicted to buying equipment for my dogs...i thought i'd find out what everyone else has? :D So list your fav place to buy from, your fav pieces of equipment etc etc I'll start... My fav pieces would have to be the leather check/flat collars and the multi use leather lead Got these from www.fordogtrainers.com Collars- 2x leather check/flat collars, 4x fursaver checks of different lengths 5x checks of different lengths 1x prong collar 4x plain buckle nylon collars 2x padded buckle nylon collars 2x metal snap nylon collars 2x plastic snap nylon collars 2x martingale collars Harnesses- 1x rogzdogs harness 1x leather agitation harness 2x nylon padded tracking/pulling harnesses Leads- 1x long multi use leather lead 1x average length leather lead 1x leather snub lead 1x multi use rogzdogs lead 1x short short lead with heavy duty snap 1x short short nylon lead 1x extra long nylon lead (matches tracking harnesses) 2x Big Dog stretchy lead 1x Long line lunge line type nylon lead 1x Macleather lead 2x 6ft nylon lead 6x basic nylon leads 1x thick soft rope lead 3x show leads 1x fine nylon lead Hmm...i think that's it... ETA - 1x soft nylon muzzle, 1x metal and leather muzzle, 2x drizabone jackets - all having been collected in the last few years with a total of three dogs...lol And i'm not even going to start on my grooming stuff or toys!

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Woohoo! I'm not alone in my addiction! :D