Crisovar

Well, you were not using the check chain correctly.

Playpen the tree or put it up high. It isn't just about them trashing the tree it is some of the presents and decorations that they can get into that are dangerous to their health if they ingest them. Chocolates etc are a major cause of Xmas heartache, as is bowel obstruction and perforation from decorations etc. So if you cannot block off the room at least enclose the tree.

They were called chokers or choker chains when I first became involved with dogs, the first thing you learnt at training was how to fit one correctly and then how to use it correctly to CHECK not choke your dog. Like anything prongs or choker/check chains can be misused, but some people will also damage their dog on a flat collar. Like any method or tool it is how it is used that is the key.

I find Petway Petcares Diamonds and Pearls excellent on whites and smells divine, their new Wicked White is awesome too. I love that the Diamonds and Pearls is so gentle, and brings the coats up beautiful. It is definitely my favourite shampoo :)

I find the VAN Omega Blend oil is excellent :)

Thanks :) I'm one of those people who have a problem with handling raw, bloody meat. Do you sell it in chicken or lamb? Or just kangaroo? Just kangaroo. Bruce really likes chicken and lamb as protein sources, if they were not so intensively farmed. Kangaroo is essentially organic and free range. Oh, organic and free range? I didn't know that. Also, what puts put me off feeding Vets All Natural is that it contains grains and yeast. In the past I have owned Labradors who couldn't tolerate grains or yeast - so, I'm a bit hesitant to try it. Also, the added calcium scares me a bit because of the tendency towards hip/joint problems in Labs :) The gains in the VAN complete mix range are not cooked, processed grains = problems for my dogs but the unprocessed do not affect them at all. I am sure there is some info on the VAN site regarding this?

Pups can be raised outside and learn to be clean, and they can be raised outside and not confined exclusively in kennels. Pups do not need to be brought inside a house to socialise them, many people spend the majority of their days outside out and about doing things especially if they have a number of animals to tend to. Good Breeders go to great lengths to ensure they raise pups with an excellent start, and these sort of Breeders are the ones you want, where the pups are raised is of little importance. eta I have purchased pups from both house raised and kennel raised litters with no problems.

Comfortis only teats fleas :) It does so very well though some dogs do experience some nausea and the tablets MUST be given with a meal. Panoramis from the same company is Comfortis plus heartworm and intestinal wormer :)

From my own experience there are breeders who can raise a pup anywhere to be a successful family member and there are breeders who cannot, and it has little to do with WHERE the pups are raises. All sorts of noise and activity happens around well raised pups, clattering feed dishes and buckets, radios, people going about their daily activities with pups underfoot, lawn mowers, pressure cleaners the list goes on. That quote seems to refer to Breeders who are barren females who raise their pups in a dungeon of silence. :laugh: Certainly the extreme. There are many drawbacks to having a litter of large breed pups like GSD permanently in your kitchen, and not everyone has the space inside their home to enable this. That doesn't mean that pups are secluded and locked away from the world. I have seen pups that do not know what grass is, and have never felt earth under their feet. There is no single correct place to raise pups, and many busy kennel situations see pups exposed to much more than some house raised litters. This is where you have to research, and if possible go see for yourself.

It is so very dependent on the individual Breeder, their methods of raising and the temperaments of their breeding animals. All things to be considered when you are choosing a Breeder. What made you choose this Breeder in particular? Just because animals are kenneled does not mean they are not exposed to wide range of experiences and people. Do you know anyone with dogs from this particular breeder? Have you met them and their animals?

I have never needed to use one either. The majority of animals are just fine after surgery chances are yours will be too.

All animals must be microchipped prior to disposal by sale or gift. So in the case of Breeders it is the Breeders responsibility and pups must be microchipped before they can be registered with DogsQld.

A like button is needed here.

Can you name an Australian product that uses dogs or roadkill please?

Skip tooth blades ie #5 instead #5F give a rougher cut and make it much easier to nick or cut your dog.

You need to prepare the coat properly for clipping, that means a full groom out and comb through then bath and blowdry, fluffy dry the coat by brushing as you dry or use a high velocity dryer that will do most of the work for you. The when the coat is completely dry and totally not and matt free you can clip. Go slowly :) You will get a better and safer finish using #F blades. Small battery trimmers like the Sheer Magic are excellent for small feet and tricky places.

Have you seen any photos of youngsters from those bloodlines at the same age as yours? They may well all go through the lanky stage before getting it together. Some lines of dogs are chunky monkeys from babyhood others go through different growth stages before they get to their finished form. You cannot make her what she isn't so just let her grow and develop at her own pace, being lean and lanky will no doubt be better for her joints :)

Is it the ingredients or the way it is presented? Would he eat minced up meat (i.e. no effort to eat)? Cooper is our first dog and thanks to DOL I was able to learn about raw feeding. Whoever it was above that said that commercial foods are marketed to make you feel that you "have to have them or your dog will miss out" is totally right. When we swapped from a puppy kibble to adult kibble we tried a few different varieties and none seemed to appeal to him (sniff and walk away) or on the last food he got a very upset tummy and I couldn't think what else it could have been. It was at that point I decided to try chicken wings and he went nuts for them - which was a far cry from his fussy ways on dry foods. I wasn't confident that I would get the right balance to his food so I then started buying the BARF patties and he currently gets 2 chicken necks or a wing for brekky and half a BARF patty for dinner. He will occasionally get table scraps but not very often. I'm happy that it works out cost wise cheaper (or at worst when chicken isn't on special, roughly the same price) as feeding premium kibble. I also like the fact it is closer to a natural diet (less processed) and the main part is he is so happy at meal times. :) If/when I get adventurous enough may try making up my own BARF mix and freezing them. How does your guy go chewing chicken wings and necks? I can't risk them with mine - have never risked a wing, but two chews and a neck is gone (swallowed) which scares me to death and defeats the teeth cleaning purpose. I've tried lots of things, but lamb flap has been the best so far I think (I trim off excess fat). I am wondering what else I can try - roo and beef are a bit too rich for them. Do others have suggestions? THey are only small dogs - 7kg. Some bones are too big for them. Turkey neck pieces?

Pretty well sums it up I think :)

Puppies can handle minced frames and bones yes, but you need to balance that with other things to avoid constipation. Up her vegies, add some cooked pumpkin, a bit more offal maybe or the puppy VAN. She is telling you a bit too much bone :)

I buy minced human grade chicken frames that are labelled as pet meat, it is all about the source and the handling :)

Well I think the woman on the bike was probably a DOLER and we call them couplers here too :)

The proof on how well MY dogs do on a RAW diet as compared to a kibble diet is right in front of me....and it shows on my Vet bill as well.

Really??????? No vet clinic I have ever worked in was paid for selling any food. I would love to know who does actually get paid for selling dog food Me tooo....this one always cracks us up at work...

I don't think there is any such thing as a Boston pup that isn't lively and cheeky :laugh: