Sagittarian

Thank you, Toohey, for an encouraging update. Jed, dear, you're never far from my thoughts. Baby steps are fine. Phillipa

Quite a sweeping statement - Personally, I have yet to see dry food arrive here that is already anywhere near 18 months old, after many years working in the pet food industry. Let's also keep in mind that not all preservatives are created the same, more and more often being naturally derived. To the O/P, you have some great suggestions, so don't be afraid to keep asking questions as your baby grows and develops. Take on board all advice, but throw out what isn't suitable for your needs. Pictures will be a requirement! Sags

Absolutely heartbreaking. For all the lost ones, but for me, this is hardest to hear. Goodbye old man. You were always there to be with Little Evie in the many hunting expeditions of the past. She is still with us but aging and this brings home her mortality as well. Vale Magnus, The Best Cocker Spaniel In The World. Phillipa Me too. How will we ever be able to tell her ? :cry: Oh, Julie, I don't know. You and the whole team of incredible people who are there for Jane are very much in my thoughts - the emotional devestation of this fire will be there for a long time. Jane has an amazing support system and as this forum alone shows, an abundance of love coming her way. I hope she can draw on it if her own strength falters at times. I do know that every doggie that comes into work today is getting extra cuddles from me. So sad. So horribly sad.

Absolutely heartbreaking. For all the lost ones, but for me, this is hardest to hear. Goodbye old man. You were always there to be with Little Evie in the many hunting expeditions of the past. She is still with us but aging and this brings home her mortality as well. Vale Magnus, The Best Cocker Spaniel In The World. Phillipa

Our deepest condolences at the loss of a dog who was incredible on so very many levels. Run free, beautiful boy. Damnit, what a dreadful day it's been. Our thoughts are with you. Ian & Phillipa

I've had the great pleasure of meeting Jed and cannot get my head around this tragedy. To think that she is so badly injured and also would know that she's lost beloved dogs is utterly heartbreaking. TBCSITW has long been a part of the life of my own Little Evie - they shared threads and went smurf hunting together via cyberspace. My hope is that he is still with us so that Jed has this beautiful old man to reunite with. Vale lost doggies, run free. Recover Jane, be well again - you are such a strong lady and can draw on the extra strength of the many who love and respect you if you need it. Phillipa

Hi Nadz Ziwipeak doesn't make a kibble - it is air dried meat etc and very similar in texture to the treat range. Anyone who stocks Prestige products can order it in for you. We always have samples, and always have Artemis samples as well. Personally, I prefer the small breed puppy Artemis over the EP puppy, but as is often said, it is what your dog does best on. We are in Vic, so feel free to pm me if you need help finding a retailer in your area with those products. Sags

When we set up our runs in Canberra years ago, we used what someone suggested earlier in this thread - laser lite roofing and shade cloth. Laser Lite was over the kennel area. It is true that if the kennel is too large that it is hard to warm in winter without additional heating. While the idea of a huge space is enticing, you may want to create a smaller sleeping room if you are set on something so big. We have a lot of customers with big dogs seeking huge kennels and have found that either the largest of the plastic ones or something like the timber kennels with the side entry tend to be the best solutions. Sags

So why are you using exactly when you could be buying raw meat at under $5 kg. I can understand buying kibble by not hugely price infated freezer dried meat? It wasn't made to be eaten everyday, it was for people who like to feed raw but might be out camping or something that doesn't have a fridge. Which Premimum Kibble costs more than $26 for 2 kgs? Our dogs (St Bernards) always have a wide variety of food, and over the years, this has included full raw diets and complete dry diets, depending upon the dog in question. We have continuously adjusted our feeding approach so as to get the best outcome for the individual. This has not been undertaken without good nutritional knowledge. Now we have only one. Evie, who at 10 plus is still fit and healthy and active. She has slowed down and her ability to digest as efficiently as she once did has changed. Certainly her interest in food is different. I don't intend to have her lose condition, particularly hindquarter muscle, as is common in aging Saints. Meat on its own is not a complete diet, so that 1 kg (which for her is 1 day of feeding) still only forms a part of her daily intake. And she gets fresh meat several days each week. Evie cannot digest bones well, so a fully raw diet is not possible now. I think you'll find that the makers of K9 Natural do intend it to be a complete diet, no different from the makers of Holistic Select, Artemis, Eukanuba etc do. It wouldn't work for me (because I prefer the wide profile of nutrients that a broader diet offers), but I imagine that particularly in NZ, there are people feeding it solely. As I mentioned in my first post, this product is now part of her feeding regime - not all of it. As far a pricing, someone mentioned Holistic Select. Keeping in mind that small bags cost more per kilo than bulk bags, there certainly are a range of foods in the high $20 for 2kg. The new Earthborn Holistic range is substantially dearer, but again, for many people it isn't about price. Sags

I recently introduced it to Evie's diet and she adores it. While it is on the high side price wise, I don't mind paying under $26 for the equiv. of 2kg when some premiums are more than that. Just the benefit of the ingredients and the convenience, let alone how much she loves it, makes it worth keeping a bag in her food bin. Sags

RC Lab Jnr is an excellent option - but if you are only concerned about whether the food was involved in the tummy upset then keep in mind that if you were feeding a bit too much, then that can result (in some dogs) in a bit of looseness. Artemis tends to be very gentle on tummies (no beet pulp, includes milk thistle etc which aid digestion), so nearly always (in our experience), cutting back a fraction sorts out the "poo" issue. Either way, two great choices that are highly suited to your pup. Sags

PM me a neck size. Apart from the Rogz range which do have suitable sizes and are reflective, I have a new brand with a decent buckle and reasonable wide. Happy to measure them. Sags

Yup - so true about checking availability of covers. We have many a customer come in looking to replace the cheapy frame covers and finding out they can't. The sizes are often just that bit too "out" to work. Most of the frames we have at home are up to fifteen years old and we've only ever replaced covers, so that's we kept to that brand for our customers as well. Worth checking around for quality and price as it can vary. Sags

I think the Jedster is changing directions... "Coolie x TBCSITW" perhaps? Able to sniff out a and round it up all at the same time. Oh, that won't work. Coolie is a boy and so is TBCSITW. Unless you found out a new type of designer dogs?? Sags

Oh cool! And I know just the person to give it to this time!!! Sags

As Dyzney suggested, contact Pet Pacific in Sydney direct - or feel free to pm me and we can quote on cost, but if you can source local obviously better option. Sags

I hosted a conference at Stamford a few years ago and the facilities were good. Ian suggested Melbourne Exhibition Centre - it has multiple function areas, is very close to transport and just a tiny walk to Southbank. Sags

Our approach is this: We keep flyers from reputable breeders when they have pups available/coming up (and could use more breeders providing these); Refer to breed clubs where appropriate as well as rescue - beagle rescue etc; Refer to Dogzonline; Refer to VCA; Hold breed awareness days - now this is an important function and not hard to arrange. One was the Amstaff Club, who set up a marquee in the carpark, provided a number of "bombproof" dogs, ample information for interested people to take away, and so on. It wasn't about selling puppies, but educating the public about Amstaffs. Clubs can also use this as a fundraiser by having a sausage sizzle etc. We've found that the approach of providing plentiful information and pointing people in the right direction goes a long way toward steering them from petshops and other sources of puppies that are less than desirable. I can't see a day that we would have rescue pets in store (except as an education process day), regardless of how well set up and monitored the system is, as I truly believe it gives the message that pet shops are still the best place to buy a pet. Most people still don't differentiate between pet shop and pet supply shop. However, if this works well in other stores then I certainly don't discourage that - it just isn't part of our current thinking. Sags

That will vary between retailers I imagine. I'm happy to pm you our price (rrp) once I'm back at work, but you're better off contacting a local supplier as you'll be dealing with them. Sags :D

To answer your question about Pro Pac - we've stocked it for quite a while now - long enough to see puppies of all sizes raised on it well into adult hood. The Large Breed puppy is an excellent super premium food without quite the price tag of some others. As you are in Qld and that is where the wholesaler is, there should be a number of outlets in your area that stock it. Sags

Steve - will come up with some venues that I organised functions at in the past if that helps - they were all hotels in and around the CBD. There is also the Travelodge at Tullamarine Airport - can check out the function facilities next weekend if that helps? Sags

A big happy birthday and may there be plenty more to come!! My Evie turned 10 last January and is still fit and jumps up and down onto the deck without bothering to take the stairs. Her Auntie Penny was with us until almost 12 years of age (bone cancer ), her grandpa Mitchie was 11 plus when he passed. Still trying to catch a magpie until the week before. I'm fairly sure Ian's first girl, Shawnee, was 13 but I will check that and confirm it. What was wonderful about these doggies was that they stayed well and highly mobile until close to the end of their lives. Quality of life is so important. Sags

Let's talk about poo. :cool: Nearly everytime an Artemis feeder tells me the dog is producing soft or excessive poos and I check out how much they are feeding, it is well over the dog's needs. By feeding the correct amount for the individual, poos then tend to be firmer, smaller etc, all the good stuff! White poos can be created by a long of bone in the diet. Aren't you all pleased you read this!! :D Sags

Wow, they've been open such a short time to get a critique like that. Nicki is a Master Groomer who also has been involved in the show world for a very long time. Her expertise is astounding and her passion for grooming leaves me (as an ex groomer) all fired up wanting more. Have to wonder if proximity is an issue? Sags

Well worth looking at as they seem happy to cater to your needs and will certainly give you a decent grounding - then it's up to your how far you want to go. While our salon in Gisborne is open now with our wonderful Nick working part time (and doing uni), we need a second groomer for not only his days away, but to work with him on the busier days. So, hoping to find a great person to join us soon, and if they require any extra training (or a brush up on technique etc) then we'll send them off to Nicki and Melanie. Sags