McGuinessMagee

J's post I think the best way is to catch them at it. :wink:

I don't think it's really that big a deal. If you're happy and it's your bed, then go for it. Patrick comes up for a morning snuggle after his morning toilet stop. Paladin likes to think he can get up on the bed, but as yet only succeeds one time in three. Both ours are trained that they have to lay down on the bed or get off. There are no other options. Kylie

Erny, you're a Godsend! I really hate the idea of spraying that much chemical around my house. If there's a natural option I'd prefer to try it. Kylie

Thanks everyone! And whoever said about the Advantix, you're righ! That's what we tried on Patrick. We had the cats on Advocate. Revolution is next on the list for the cats and I have no clue where to go next with Patrick. But I'm organising a full pest control of the entire property next week (don't you hate having to work witha budget), so hopefully that will help. And not set off the asthma. Ange, I think for now I'll get a professional in to do it. Being asthmatic, the further I can stay away from where chemicals are being sprayed, the better. I wonder if I sprayed the garden with teatree oil, whether that would work. Kylie

Shona, there is an Advantix for cats - covers fleas and worms. I thought I'd try it because McGuiness in particular hates being wormed with tablets and can become quite vicious about it (have the scar on both sides of my finger to prove it - now use a pill popper with two adults, one to hold her and one to administer the tablet). I would never use a dog product on a cat, or vice versa. Akitaowner, what is ACV? Poodlefan, I hadn't thought about wandering animals. We frequently have stray cats come through our yard. ;) I don't think it's somewhere we're visiting because it's an ongoing thing and we don't go out regularly enough for the problem to be coming home from outings. These are not little fleas either, so not a new hatching. I really want to get a handle on this because we're planning a trip in September and I don't want to be sending flea-ridden creatures to a boarding kennel, not to mention the ongoing discomfort they're experiencing. And I'd really like to have no splotchy insides of my forearms. Kylie

I tried Advantix on the cats to no effect. I stopped using it after the third month of no results. But I'm beginning to think they're breeding super fleas here. Kylie

Yes, I've treated everything, as I said, even let bombs off in the house (something I'm very wary off as I'm asthmatic). This is driving me insane! Kylie

I just can't seem to get rid of them! I have been treating all the animals regularly (Frontline for Patrick/Advantage for the cats). I've even bombed the house. They just won't die! ;) Help!!!!!! I just don't know what to do anymore. And I'm mildly allergic to them. Kylie

Persephone, it was probably up there with one of the hardest decisions ever, made so much harder because she was so happy around us (even going to be PTS), and extremely healthy. ;) It took me a good six months before I was even ready to think about another pup, and then Patrick has just fit in so well, and is so good with strangers and other dogs that it almost makes me cry thinking on how different they are. Kylie

We had struggled with China's behavioural probs for nearly her whole life, having a behaviouralist working with her, training her in some way every day, spending time with her and rather than get better she actually became worse, eventually biting my father with no forewarning and drawing blood. We decided at that point (when she wouldn't even give a warning) that we couldn't afford to chance her doing that to a child, and so we had her put down. She was 4.5years old and the first dog I'd ever had to have put down. ;) Kylie

She is fantastic!!! Kylei

Rozzie and Trisven, I only just noticed this thread! You are both in my thoughts and prayers, and I'm just floored that Pirate is gone so suddenly and so young. Who would have ever imagined a snake about in this cold weather. Kylie

China used to steal the strawberries too. Dh even tried growing them outside the gate. One day when he was putting stuff in his truck and had left the gate slightly ajar she snuck out and ripped into them. We still didn't get any strawberries. Dh was most unamused. Kylie

On Patrick I'm using a harness right now because that is what is working. On a leash attached to the collar he simply stops dead and it becomes a drag. Kylie

The bath (with bath mats in the bottom as recommended when I was asking a couple of weeks ago). Patrick had his first bath this afternoon when he got home and then got to sit in front of the heater for an hour. He did so well. Kylie

What time does it go until? We've got some stuff on at 9.30am, but are free after a couple of hours and I'd dearly love to check out lure coursing as something we might like to do once we get a puppy at the end of the year. Kylie

China's DogAge is 34.5! That's 12.4 years younger than the average DogAge for China's breed. That is actually a relief to me, as I often wonder whether I do all the right stuff that I should. Kylie

When we had China done for heartworm earlier this week it cost $80.00 Kylie

China gets an annual C4. Our vet says that he treats so many dogs for kennel cough despite their being vaccinated with C5 that he considers the extra expense a waste of money. The boarding kennel we use doesn't require C5, so we don't pay the extra. She also gets an injection for heartworm at the same time. Kylie

I grew up in the country. I've never known it to take more than one shot for any animal. The thing is that no-one who loved their pet would let someone who was incompetent with a gun do something like this because no matter how out there this may seem for those who think that shooting an animal is unnecessary pain, the point of shooting the animal is to minimise the pain which a long trip to the vet (or the time for the vet to arrive) would just prolong. By using a gun the owner is actually minimising the pain, and yes this method is much harder on the owner than the pet. Kylie

I was talking to a friend today who recently lost her dog (he died at home). It cost her nearly $200 to get Pets at Peace out to have him cremated. She said she plans to plant his ashes in a pot under a rosebush. Kylie