OSoSwift

Wazzat - your boy looks fantastic, wonderful conditioning and muscling. People would have been so suprised I am sure to see a Xolo.

Baby gates. The one I have is self closing, it can be attacthed to the wall with a screw, or can be tightened up so as to sit in the doorway and stay put. Mine was screwed in

The old male Kelpie was never fat. Mum's Kelpie cross was overweight for probably of her life, but not obese.

I am about to put a claim in for my dog who had a urinary tract issue. As part of the treatment for that the vet suggested desexing - not an option at this stage- or the suprelorin implant, I didn't want to do that but ended up having to. I am interested to see if they will pay out for that as although it is ineffect chemical desxing (and desexing is not covered)it was done more medicinal purposes and I would not have had it done if it could have been avoided.

Sorry this has happened to you. I would ask them if they are prepared to have your vet look at him, can't hurt to ask. If they cannot bring him to you can they get a second opinion of another vet that is closer to them. You are not saying that their vet is no good, but from your point of view you need to know as the outcome could change your breeding program. I think refunding the purchase price of the pup is more than fair and I would not expect the surgery to be covered. As much as I would hate to have a puppy that had that sort of problem and needed surgery sometimes things in life just happen. You have done everything you could of to reduce the incident of the puppies having a problem, but nothing can guarenteed to NEVER happen. If I get a rescue or BYB bred puppy and I have the same problem I am on my own. So I think the fact you are willing to refund the puppies purchase price is IMO an act of good faith. Good luck. This also sounds reasonable to me.

Lewis's is the song "Louie Louie" he goes nuts Rommi doesn't have one???? Mine usually do though.

I think given some time and maturity she should strengthen up and gain some muscle back. I imagine if she hadn't had to be confined she would have much better musculature than she does at the moment. Even a small amount of time with restriced exercise can see my dogs loose a little of their hard muscle, it doesn't take long to come back though. I would also think her ligaments and tendons wouldn't be very toned either. I would be really interested to see her movement 6 months after more exercise and some road work.

I have an almost 5 yo and yep I could imagine the carnage! As far as I am aware - things may have changed- the shoulder is the best candidate for good return to function after surgery, so hopefully she goes back to being sound. I had a dog with OCD in her elbows - not so good! I can't rememebr if you have already mentioned it but how old is she at the moment??

My Dobe used to do "say your prayers" and when you pretended to shot her she dropped dead! Both crowd pleasers and not too hard to teach.

They will have her put down because they can't get their crap together!!! Unbelievable. I agree though they may have being trying to evoke an emotional response from you. Either way don't let that sway you. Glad they have called back. I wonder what she is like with other dogs??? If she may have a go at your dogs then that could be another worry if she comes over again.

That is great. A fantastic student, but also a fantastic teacher. A student can only learn as well as they are taught You both need a pat on your backs

Hey Jed, hope they have made your suit more comfortable for you. Each day is a step towards your independence and having your babies home once more Thinking of you always

They don't have to have had problems....genetics goes beyond just the parents. Yep true, I never saw/knew his grandparents - BYB doggy.

I was told years ago that anything in the correct dose is theraputic and anything at a too high a dose is toxic. And yes that was anything, even the stuff that is good for us. I am sorry but dog and cats bodies and roadkill put into pet food - puleeze! I have never known of a vet - and I have worked with a few- that have ever got more than a free tshirt from any company who makes anything used by or sold by vets. Although one drug rep did offer to cook me breakfast in the morning

I babysat a Kelpie who lived until 18. Got got fed Pal working dog dry food with the odd bit of cooked meat and bones a few times a week. He died with all his teeth in his head - although a little worn. He hadn't been to a vet for about 10 or more years. He was rarely washed nad spent his life outside. He slept in the laundry on the floor with a wool blanket thrown on the floor. After he stayed I sent him home with a dog coat, which he loved (they said he freaked when they had tried one years earlier) an old cot mattress and a couple of extra blankets. He rarely ever got washed and never really seemed to smell at all. My family Kelpie X lived to 16 and finally got euthed due to a sinus tumour. She was blind and deaf but her heart and lungs were clear and strong. She ate what we ate, inlcuding onion. My mum always made five plates, hers, dads my brothers, mine and the dogs. She had some bones and ate frozen whole herring we would catch while on holidays then freeze and bring home for her. She only got a bath when she rolled in something dead. She slept inside and on my bed.

She doesn't appear to be really reaching with her front, although that could be because she has not built her muscle back up again, and she is also looking at you nicely, so that may be the cause as well?? She is pacing when you are going slower but I think that is more the fact she can and she is a reasonable size and it would be easier than trotting at that pace. SHe is trotting quite evenly but doesn't appear to be really reaching or driving as yet. It may be lack of condition, immaturity or she is worried about pain/has fallen into the habit of moving with less drive as more hurt her shoulder. I think with some road word and a little time she will improve.

I would drop in again tomorrow maybe, they could of been unwell or asleep for some reason (My hubby does not answer the phone, knocking on the door or anything when he is sleeping after a late night or shift work) If they do not speak to you then leave them a note asking them to keep their dogs home and if they don't you will have to notify the ranger although you would prefer to not have to go that far.

I use Plush puppy sunsrean, it goes on nose, toes and testicles

Especially when she keeps breaking her stand to come over and see what it is I'm doing with the camera! In her credit, she's never done a stand stay before we took those photos, so it's a miracle she stayed still that long at all. It is hard enough when they DO know what a stand stay and being stacked are. IT really needs two people to make it easier. The other thing to do is to try and take a photo when she is watching a bird or something that really interests her.

More like this Her outside front leg is slightly forward of where it should idealy be.

Nearly but not quite! You want the legs in line from the side ( ie when you look at the dog from the side you only see two legs!), The bottom photo, the back leg on the side closest to camera is almost right, hock to foot needs to be perpendicular to the ground. IT is very hard when you are trying to do it by yourself

This is Lewis heeling. You can see he has lowered his back and and is driving from behind and therefore his front end has lightened and elevated

Driving from behind. Loved getting that from my horse - the feeling of sooooo much controlled power. And the extended trot is the ultimate expression of that controlled power engaged. Absolutely! A horse or dog cannot truely extend unless its centre of gravity is in the correct spot. The extension starts with the drive from the hindquarter. I like my dogs to work in what would be considered a collected frame for obedience, the front is higher and the hind end lower. For gaiting in the showring I want lower movement with good reach and drive, so the front is still elevated, but not as much as if I am asking for obedience work. I clicker train for gaiting and the showring and for obedience. Staranias I would think that she would break out fof the pace when she goes faster purely because when they pace their legs go to the sides more and are moving in a rounder arc. When they start to get some speed up they end up with their legs being a bit out of control so switch to the trot as it reaches more is more efficient and covers more ground. PF is correct in saying it is very hard for them to pace a small circle, due the fact they use the legs on the same side when they pace they will feel like they are going to fall over on a small circle. With trotting they use the diagonals and are much more balanced and their weight is more evenly distributed, so they can do a much smaller circle. http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/profile.asp?dog=33598 This has a couple of nice stacked shots.

That is what I am after in obedience PF Weight back, front elevated and centre of gravity shifted back. Perfect illustration

Lewis has only hit is front leg once I have seen ( and that is because he was rushing it to go and play and walked while peeing!) and as they are white I would most likely notice I think anyway. He cockes his leg and sometime does a funny twisty squat thing, but still misses. I am not quite sure how you would go about trying to train it differently????