tdierikx

I'm gunna go out on a limb here and will no doubt get flamed for it but I couldn't live like that Owning dogs for me is supposed to be enjoyable not a constant battle to keep my pets apart for fear of them killing each other. When I was working at the kennels we had two cockers that came in that hated each others guts...with a passion, to the point that when they came in one was on the floor of the car in the front with the lady and the other was tied into the back seat with large pieces of cardboard blocking their vision from each other. The husband told me he wanted to return the second cocker, which was from the RSPCA, but his wife wouldn't let him. It caused constant grief not only for the dogs but had put a major strain on this old couple as they constantly argued about it. I could see the strain on their faces when they came back to pick them up after the weekend and the husband actually said when they got into their cardboard fort..."here we go again" How is that an enjoyable life for all involved? It's actually working just fine for us here. I had 3 options at the time... 1. Euthanaise one or both dogs 2. Rehome one or both dogs 3. Work out a routine where they never had the chance to fight again My choice was number 3 for the following reasons... 1. I couldn't bring myself to euth either of the dogs I had committed to loving unconditionally until the day they go to the Bridge (as naturally as possible) 2. I couldn't rehome either in good conscience, as I know exactly what they are capable of when pushed. Why should someone else have to worry about that happening? 3. I have the means to keep them separated but still have one-on-one time with me, and company of other dogs they DO get along with. That said, these 2 dogs were perfectly fine with each other 99% of the time. We only had 4 fights over the course of 2 years... but as the nature of those rare fights was so intense, I decided that I really never wanted to have to go through it again. Separation means that all of us are safe, happy, and healthy. Besides, once the routine was established, it's been pretty easy for us. I am the only human here, so I don't have to worry about others not following the routine. T.

I found that when I had a male in the mix, the girls have all been somewhat calmer... then again all the males I've had have been very mellow temperament-wise... T.

I seriously though about euthing my two after their last fight... but opted to establish a routine that means they are never loose with each other instead... been working for a few years now and all are happy with the arrangements... *grin* T.

I can see why you've opted for permanent separation. Well - if the policemen had grabbed a pair of back legs and pulled like I asked, it all may have been over a lot faster and with less injury to either dog... I already had hold of the back end of the better fighter of the two so she couldn't get enough purchase to go in for the kill. But the policeman decided that capsicum spray was the way to go... wrong!!! My girls recuperated side by side in their crates, and are still lovey towards each other (one always crated when the other is loose in the house), but I'm not about to ever let them get into a fight again... it's just not worth them getting hurt when I CAN prevent it. T.

See if there are any Herp Society groups near her... for the snakes... http://australianherpetology.com/aushrpsoc.htm#.U1jAbVdfZ8E There are a couple on the central coast listed on that page... T.

3 policemen, 2.5 cans of capsicum spray, boots, and batons - were no use when attempting to get my 2 bitches to stop their last fight... so I've decided that permanent separation is my best course of action to make sure it NEVER happens again. On the upside, my vets declared that last fight to be a "draw" - they charged the same amount for each dog to be patched up afterwards... *sigh* T.

2 of mine are permanently separated due to the fact that if they are inclined to fight, it will be to the death. Both desexed bitches - both I've had from very young pups - 6 year age difference between the two. Funnily enough, the 2 rescue foster failures are less inclined to scrap with anyone... but Pickles is top dog around here regardless. T.

There are worse fates for poundies than being euthed... and some really should be given their wings rather than rehomed. "Saving" everything with a pulse is NOT rescue. Preying on the gullible public to get dogs out of pounds with some flowery scripting and a cute photo is NOT rescue. Advertising animals you've never met and have no clue as to their temperaments is NOT rescue. T.

Hmmm... what about your local State Member (Chris Holstein?)? Local government get really active when a "ministerial" comes down the line... *grin* Seriously - go to your local member personally, armed with the photos and vet notes regarding the injuries to Stan and Maddie, and also photos and x-rays of your hand and foot. Let him/her know in no uncertain terms that you are being fobbed off by Council, and that next time it may not be an adult trying to fend off these particular dogs. You should see some action if the member formally asks Council WTF is going on with your case. Show the bastards that you can play them at their own game... T.

A 16D allows the carer to not have to pay registration on the dog for up to 12 months... however, it must be paid on transfer of said dog to new owner. T.

Meloxicam and understanding... I like your vet... *grin* Zeddy's winters are just that now too... but she's been pretty good through summer just gone. Not looking forward to winter proper - I think it's going to be a colder one than last year. Zeddy's magic temperature is 8 degrees, if it gets below that her arthritis really makes life difficult... but Meloxicam seems to help immensely for that so far... when it stops being effective, that will be her time I think. I'm "lucky" with Zeddy so far, as her eyesight, hearing, and mental faculties are all still intact... she just has arthritis so far. T.

I'd be more worried about the mentality of those deciding to buy a dog from the pound because of those reasons - rather than getting a dog carefully matched to them and their lifestyle by a reputable rescue or a registered breeder. It will only end in tears, and I'm betting they'll be contacting YOU to take the dog off their hands when it doesn't work out... T.

Hmmm... I have the 60D... This lens is now officially on my wish list, but I'd like a 70D first... *grin* T.

What camera are you using with this lens CC? T.

Call me a cynic, but I agree with ruthless... This fellow probably wants the laws changed so that there can be no challenge to the declarations... thus meaning less cost to council... Isn't Monash one of the council areas that took to the new legislation VERY enthusiastically? T.

A fear aggressive dog that is actually willing to attack is quite likely to warn, warn, warn while you're facing it then lunge when you turn your back. I wouldn't risk turning my back personally. I'd rather be bitten on my arse than on any part of the front of me... T.

When it's time, you WILL know... I feel it may be sooner rather than later now for sweet old Penny... so the only advice I can offer is to just enjoy each other for however long that is, OK? T.

I got more experience with scared mums than I care to mention when I was volunteering with rescue... they can be pretty scary, no matter what size they are... I would have filled my pants with a defensive GSD mumma barking that close to my head... errr! Then again, I suppose if I'm game enough to get up close and personal with a Pittie mumma defending her babies (no-one else could get within cooee of her), I probably would have done the same as you did with the GSD... *grin* T.

Lost and frightened mums with pups can be VERY dangerous... you did good! T.

I can vouch for the fact that capsicum/pepper spray doesn't work if the dog is already in the rage stage... and you will suffer from the stuff as well! T.

I get a bit tilted sometimes when out taking photos too... to the point where I'm now VERY conscious about it... like taking lion photos the other day, I was lining up the platform they were on to make sure it looked straight... *grin* T.

Our girl (Nellie) has lost 3 now soon after birth... the keepers said that it can take up to 6 births before some gibbon mums "get it"... Our girl and her man seem to have taken it in their stride, and were getting up to some lovin' the other day, so maybe we could get lucky with the next one... Oh, and apparently the only time our girl gives her man the time of day is when she's ready for mating or pregnant... so seeing them so snuggly with each other was good. T.

Hero (the lab on Bondi Vet) wishes you'd told his owner and Dr Lisa that so he didn't have to go through the indignity of having it fished out of a certain personal area on tv Haha! There is one thing we think Trouble ate, but have never found... one of the small AAA batteries from the TV remote! We know it wasn't inside her soon after it went missing - x-rays proved that... but we have never found that battery anywhere - in the house OR the yard! We did find lots of other interesting shapes inside her though, much to the vet's horror - nothing that wouldn't pass though, which was fine by me. Pickles the Camp Dog has a penchant for bedding... she chews it up into bite sized pieces and swallows... occasionally I have to help her with "danglies" as it passes... *sigh* Harper likes to shred bedding, but she doesn't swallow it like Pickles does thank dog! T.

I had a medium sized mutt get very ill after ingesting a couple of Ratsak flakes... 24 hours of vomiting is not much fun for the dog or the person that has to clean it up. Never had a dog get ill from eating a poisoned rat/mouse though... but my dogs have all been much larger than your tinies Moosepup. One thing to remember is that the reason the poison is so effective on rats/mice is that they can't vomit - therefore they can't get the stuff out of their system like a dog can. T.

Not many dogs on their own will come at you from behind (unless they are going for another dog trailing behind you on a lead). I've found that if alone and approached by a larger not so friendly dog, the thing that has worked for me was to turn my back on it. It can't see your eyes, and only has your butt, legs, and back to try to latch on to if it still decides to have a go. NEVER back away from a dog - you will be off balance, and that is when they are more likely to jump at you. If you MUST engage with the dog at all, a really hard kick towards the chest area can be effective - and possibly kill the dog if landed right... errr! I was attacked by a nasty medium sized mutt when I was about 11. I was walking to a friend's place, and this horrid bloody thing scaled it's fence and just launched at me. I managed to get hold of both it's front legs and reefed them apart... and I actually killed the dog in doing so. The owners were quite upset until I showed them the bites it had inflicted on me before I managed to fight back... and being native Papuans, they were then way more concerned about me asking them for "compensation" for the incident that the fact that I'd killed their dog. When I finally got to my friend's house, the mother treated my wounds and all was good for playing all afternoon as kids do... I would have no problem fighting back hard enough to kill a dog that was attacking me - adrenaline can be an effective tool in those situations. Not the first course of action if you can avoid it, but when it comes down to me or the dog... well... T.