OSoSwift

Fantastic news, I have been following from the beginning. Was he found far from where he went missing? Maybe he just needed ot hear his mum voice?

I finally have some energy back so have popped in to have some Tim tams and a coffee. **picks up Whippets, plonks on lounge and drapes Whippet across lap again**** Lots of lovely dogs in here *** as a Newfie leaps across the lounge chasing other whippet*** I love it how they can play and not wreck anything, or injure each other. Still checking every day Jed. Hope today is one step forward again today

WHat an awful few weeks for you. She sounds like she is a toughie with all that she has been through. I would also be a little bit worried about the strength of her bones if she slipped and shattered a bone. Yes the bones get more brittle as a dog ages ( same as people) but I have never seen a dog slip and shatter one. I have seen a Sibe slide off a seat when then person had to brake hard and she broke her femur, which was pinned but didn't heal and she had it amputated. I guess at this point I would concentrate on getting her eating and resting and I would consider adding bone food to her diet. It isn't calcium alone and may help the integrity of her bones in general and help to heal her fracture site. I worked for a vet that was brilliant and was an exceptional orthopedic surgeon, but talking wasn't his strong point. Sometimes the bedside manner can be lacking and it is hard as it doesn't help you feel at ease. BEst of luck with your old girl and I am sending all the healing vibes to you I can.

I am quite sure mine understand exactly what I am saying, they just choose not to take any notice. He is one very smart boy though - spookily smart!

Hi Koemi, I pay around $30.00 for one injection. Simba has to have one every week for 4 weeks. XXToughgirlXXxx Wow, I am doing well with my vet - $17.20 per injection. Jessi had her third injection tonight, so far I am not seeing massive improvement but there has definitely been some improvement. THings I have read indicate the biggest improvement is often seen after the third injection. The vet said to us after the initial course of 1 a week for 4 weeks it is 1 as needed and that can be anywhere from once every 3 to 9 months. With 6 months being average. I buy a whole vial at once. At one stage I had a cat and a dog on it monthly. Even with the Stafford on it monthly the whole vial will be used up before it expires. I buy the needles and syringes and the cartrophen and then I give it as needed.

I would still recommend that every time he is taken in you remind them as it will most likely be overlooked. I am sure if he is a working breed that some hair off won't be a major drama?? I have seen dogs shown with hair clipped of a front leg before - it was a Collie (rough) from memory?

Great to hear Jed is over her setback. See all those DOLer vibes must be working. I am not staying today - bit too unwell, just poppped in before slowly trying to get the house organised. Still think of you every day Jed.

My vet hospital is very clipper happy. A spey clip goes half up their sides! A leg clip is always at least as big as Lincoln's. WHen I was showing I was always checking and double checking about how much they clipped off. To be honest to the vet nurses at my hospital I was weird BECAUSE I showed dogs, and they wouldn't care less or even understand why I would want the smallest area possible shaved.

My aged Stafford who had spinal arthritis and also has it in his elbows has monthly Cartophen, Glucosimine, Fish Oil, Evening Primrose oil and I am looking into a couple of other things. He is going really really well on all the additives. You can definately tell when he is due for his cartophen though.

I have always had large guarding breeds (Rotti's & Dobes) My last Dobe died when I was 33 weeks pregnant. I wanted a dog that was smaller, not guardy, low shedding hair, but not a full on grooming requirement like a Poodle. I also wanted a dog with a rock solid temperment as I had young kids and although they are monitored closely with the dogs I didn't want an overly reactive dog I wanted a dog that I could do agility and obedience with - didn't have to be a world beater but something I could have a play with and have fun. I have always liked Whippets and they were always a "one day" dog. Well that day has come and I now have two. They are better than I thought and have exceeded my expectations in regard to trainability and willingness in relation to agility and obedience. They don't require a huge amount of exercise and drape extremely well over the lounge. They are fantastic with the kids, and the kids and dogs seek each other out all the time. The best thing is OH is totally sold on them and we will always have one gracing the arm chair

Yep.. you're so right there! Can someone tell me why a bitch can compete in the showring when its in season? I would have thought this was unfair to fellow competers? Because bitches shouldn't be penalised for being bitches and coming into season. You can train and correct your males to ignore bitches in season , to a certain degree for the show ring. Mine don't really give a stuff about the girls being in season. The ring is supposed to be about conformation and it's a couple of minutes at a time. Running a triangle and out and back and stacking for 30 odd seconds , doesn't really compare to what you do in the obedience ring, in terms of exercises and time. It's not fair for dogs competing in other dog sports and obedience to have the added distraction, the playing field would not be even if a bitch in season was competing. Thanks CBR and SBT. I will have to see as my bitch is coming into season and nearing her first show, I dont mind upsetting my dog but I would not like to upset anyone elses, mmm a good one to think about. I used to take mine if she was coming into or out of season, but I did not show her if she was in obvious standing heat as I didn't think it was fair, but I also had horror visions of someones dog getting loose and do naughty things to my little girl! Not to mention it's hardly pretty with the short coated dogs ;) Yep can't hide much there!

Yep.. you're so right there! Can someone tell me why a bitch can compete in the showring when its in season? I would have thought this was unfair to fellow competers? Because bitches shouldn't be penalised for being bitches and coming into season. You can train and correct your males to ignore bitches in season , to a certain degree for the show ring. Mine don't really give a stuff about the girls being in season. The ring is supposed to be about conformation and it's a couple of minutes at a time. Running a triangle and out and back and stacking for 30 odd seconds , doesn't really compare to what you do in the obedience ring, in terms of exercises and time. It's not fair for dogs competing in other dog sports and obedience to have the added distraction, the playing field would not be even if a bitch in season was competing. Thanks CBR and SBT. I will have to see as my bitch is coming into season and nearing her first show, I dont mind upsetting my dog but I would not like to upset anyone elses, mmm a good one to think about. I used to take mine if she was coming into or out of season, but I did not show her if she was in obvious standing heat as I didn't think it was fair, but I also had horror visions of someones dog getting loose and do naughty things to my little girl!

Because my dog was bought for herself, not a breeding machine to pump out puppies, or recover her "cost" - as so many people do. I bought her for her and the things we could do togther. If she was good at what she did and people wanted one like her, then I suggest they try to get one from the same lines, or the same bitch or dog as my bitch. YOu are more like to get the same from a repeat mating than from one of her babies. Many mnay people are not into breeding, or have the time and resources to breed. Ooh Ohh tell me where I can get a dog that will recover its cost! I bet anyone on DOL has never recvered their cost! lol Dogs are a never ending hand in pocket expense! lol Well mine always have been! ;) Sorry I should have said "try" to recover the cost of purchasing the bitch. Some do but it usually means they do it on the cheap.

Because my dog was bought for herself, not a breeding machine to pump out puppies, or recover her "cost" - as so many people do. I bought her for her and the things we could do togther. If she was good at what she did and people wanted one like her, then I suggest they try to get one from the same lines, or the same bitch or dog as my bitch. YOu are more like to get the same from a repeat mating than from one of her babies. Many mnay people are not into breeding, or have the time and resources to breed.

I once bought a Mains rego'd puppy from a litter who were all show quaility - yes that was before I know better. I could have bred from him and rego'd the puppies and so on and so forth. Now anybody with even a small amount of knowledge would know that a 25 inch male Rottiweiler with entropian,OCD of the elbows, shoulders and hocks as well as HD and a really dodgy temperment would know that he should never have been bred, never mind been rego'd and able to produced rego'd puppies. He was of course desexed. He was euthed by 5 as it was inhumane to allow him to go on any longer. But he was show quality as he was a Mains rego'd dog, and of course he was good enough to breed from, he had papers didn't he??? Anyway, has your friend found out any more as yet?

My Dobe was desexed as soon as she finished showing as her season were long, she was a moody cow and had phantoms of up to 15 weeks. I just didn't bother training her when she was like that. Once she was desexed we could train every day of the year - brilliant! My bitch was bought for Obedience and showing ( the showing definately was second on the agenda though) not for breeding. As soon as her showing days were finished 'snip, snip"

Where do I start?? I have twice forgotten to feed the dogs, the just huffed at bit more before settling in for the night - I woke up at 2 in the morning thinking oh crap I haven't fed the dogs!!! Both times I had fallen asleep on the lounge, got up put them out for night time toilet, then gone to bed. I have trodden on Rommi's toes to many times to remember, now I never step back I always turn a little circle. It is far to dangerous to step back with both of them behind your feet. I have turned around to call the dogs and put them on my bike to check the cows, then realised I have left them in the house. I have accidentally kicked both Rommi and Lewis once each when kicking a soccer ball for them. I have never felt so bad!!! Now they are put behind me, but Lewis gets so excited he nips my bum, or slightly grazes his teeth down my leg and it HURTS. My hubby would often send a cat flying when he turned over in bed, they learnt very quickly to only sleep on me. 4 cats guarenteed it was a cold night! As Rommi was always JUST behind my feet I would be calling and calling and turning this way and that thinking where is she??? My then 3 year old would go MUummm she's ahind you!!!! Sure enough if I bent down and looked between my knees there she was!!

Personally I would not desex before 18 or at least one season - the reason I say this is Rommi had her first seaon at 18 months. I have the facilities to contain and manage entire dogs of both sexes, never had a mis-mating as yet (I guess there will always potentially be a first time- usually husband or child induced!) However if the average man on the street asked me I would say 6 months. If I sold puppies it would be 6 months as I would be more concerned about a bitch getting pregnant. I do not have breeds that are high for a BYB so that is not a consideration, if I did then I guess early desexing may be favourable. I personally would not buy a puppy already desexed as I feel strongly about allowing them to have at least one season. Not only for soundness but also to try and stop spey incontinence which I have had in bitches more than once and it isn't much fun. Our Stafford was castrated at 8, my Dobe was speyed 5, my Rotti was speyed at 8 months and she had already been diagnosed with OCD of the elbows.

Been a little unwell so have had a small break from the waiting room, just checking in to see how Jed is and everyone else. I agree HFB so many things remind you. I saw the most beautiful black and tan Cavalier down town - not a breed you see too mnay of down here - and I immediately thought of Jed and wondered how she was doing. I might quietly slip out after grabbing a latte, kids to get to school and I really need to go back to bed. Fingers crossed and many many positive thoughts sent for Jed

I agree that vets say 6 months because then they will not have people having a bitch who has a season and falls pregnant because they have no idea what needs to happen, or do not have the facilites to keep a bitch contained. I have the facilites to have entire dogs so to me there is no problem, but many people who brought dogs in had it recommened to have them desexed by 6 months as if they didn't there would be babies having babies. I guess the average Jo Blow is not like the majority of us on DOL. I tell my vet what I am doing - if they ask, which they don't - and if they tried to tell me that I HAD to desex my dog at 6 momths they would get a flea in their ear. I am not the person with miss mated bitches and the one dumping puppies.

I do. I seperate them from each other and also have them say in the dog run when I am at home for a hour or so. Lewis came to me at 8 months and hadn't had that happen and he is the only one I have seperation problems with. If Rommi say had to be hospitalised overnight or similar he would find it difficult to cope. He also yodels and carry's on while I am training Rommi and he is in the crate. If I was to leave him in the dog run and take Rommi away, or inside without him, he will scream and try and rip down the chain mesh. He is getting better and is much better than he was. I can now leave them in a dog run (each has their own) and give them a treat and go out without him screaming the place down and trying to snap off his teeth. All my dogs from puppies are taught it is okay to be by themselves

I took my dogs to work with me for ten years. When I changed jobs I took them in sometimes, but they were not really supposed to be in there, but my bosses didn't mind (as long as I didn't abuse the privildge) as they were well trained and well behaved. At my job where I took them for 10 years we had 2 Dobes (mine) an Anatolian and a Vizsla. All got along really well, all were bitches and two were desexed in the beginning, then one was enitre and the rest were desexed.

I would not desex my Whippets until 12 months either and they are not large at all. If I had a toy breed I would quite likely do it at 6 months because they are far more mature

I also cut down a foam mattress and covered it with polar fleece that is removed for washing.

Sounds like you're doing a great job with your pup. And don't let the, 'are you sure that's a lab' comment get to you, people just accept and even expect dogs to be badly behaved. I have a doberman and just the other day, someone asked me what he was whilst they were patting him (and he was being his usual beautiful self I might add), and when I told them, they were like, oh aren't those the vicious dogs? :p Have heard that more than once myself. My general answer to them while they were being throughly loved and smooched was "Well has she taken your arm off yrt" General answer was well no she hasn't. I would complain to a higher up person. To have an aggressive dog in a store is idiocy and they are liable to be sued if a problem arises, having a bitch out in season is just as stupid. Not to mention that they are promoting dodgy breeding practices. If I was was closer Dogmad I would be your wingman. And you know what horrifies me more than anything ..... these are the people that customers go to for advice :D