tdierikx

"If" the wounds were there on entry, why were they not addressed during her stay? I'd be asking some very pointed questions myself... T.

May I also mention here that blue Staffords are as "rare" as rock nowadays... plenty of unscrupulous people are "breeding" them because unsuspecting others will pay large sums for them. While I like the "look" of the blue Staffords, knowing what I know from info here, there's no way on the planet I'd deliberately seek to purchase one... T.

My Zeddy (Rotti/Pittie) will be 12 this year. She has some grey around her muzzle, a few funny lumps and bumps and skin tags, gets a little stiff in Winter - but don't tell her she's getting old! She still plays with my foster pups, just not as energetically as my 5 year old Labrador... I think Zeddy might be with us for a few more years yet, as she's in pretty perfect health... Happy birthday Maxi... remember - you are only as old as you let yourself feel... T.

It's even more bewildering if you actually have lived in any of those areas... T.

I met an adorable Chi today... his name was Buddy, and he was tiny - just under 1kg at 2 years old. He was quite happy to be handled by everyone, and gave the best kisses! I was a silly today and put my finger too close to a 10 week old puppy eating a chicken wing - well, actually I was trying to take it off her to take her to have her bath. I have a nice little rip in my finger now - and it hurt lots! Note - she didn't bite me - just that as I tried to prise her mouth open and take the chicken wing, she decided to bite down harder on it... T.

Poor little bugger! I bet he'd have rather been playing zoomies in the mud than all ponced up and looking "pretty" at a show... T.

You're right about the mouths and front ends RSG... our little trooper has a shockingly shaped mouth, but he is quite capable of chowing down on a chicken wing which is keeping his teeth in great nick. Thankfully, his general structure is quite sound - and he loves playing zoomies too... *grin* After all the matted fur came off, he is actually a stunning little man - with those huge brown eyes that just stare into your soul and make you melt... Sheesh - anyone would think I'd been "converted" to being a "little dog person"... aarrgghh! T.

We have a few Shih Tzu's (and crosses of) at the rescue I foster/volunteer for - not met a nasty one yet. One desexed boy we have at the moment is the most divine creature... he is such a sweetheart. Came in to us after being surrendered to the pound as part of a relationship breakup. He was terribly matted, but sat patiently while his fur was dealt with - and that took hours! He lives for cuddles, and will make any future family very happy methinks... T.

I've come to the conclusion that Chi's don't like being called Pepe... every one that has ever gone for me has been called Pepe... *grin* T.

I'd go the GSP - they do great at agility stuff... Funny how I saw 2 of them at Renbury Farm (a pound) today, then come on here and read that someone is thinking of adding one (possibly) to their family. Both of the ones I saw today were lovely dogs. T.

I'm sure the little GP had a very quick end... if that's any consolation... T.

Since becoming involved with rescue, I've met lots of very nice Chi's and Chi crosses - maybe they were in the pound because they weren't nasty little ankle biters? Quite a few people I know who own Chis think it's a breed trait that they will be snappy - and let them get away with it... *sigh* T.

Mine have done all the skirting boards and up the door frames also... we fixed the 30cm round hole in the hallway, but haven't bothered with the 15cm one in the kitchen... T.

Looking good! T.

Where I grew up it didn't matter what colour or breed the dog was - if it was worrying or killing stock animals, it was shot at by the owners of the stock. Our house dog decided to rack off and "play" with another roaming dog from down the valley one night... our dog came home with a bullet in him, but it wasn't a fatal shot. My dad (after getting the bullet removed from the dog) found out which neighbour/farmer had shot him, apologised and asked if the dog had actually damaged any of the farmer's stock. Luckily he hadn't actually killed any of the cattle they had been chasing - but the other dog wasn't as lucky as our boy. We kept the dog chained if unsupervised after that. You are fully within your rights to shoot any stray animal attacking your stock... no flaming from me... T.

It's been 6 years since my heart dog Woosie crossed to the Bridge... and I still cry for her every time I read about someone else's pain over sending their best friend there too. The pain of your loss doesn't heal, but you learn to live with it a bit easier over time... I was a complete mess for quite a while after Woosie passed, and still lose it when I think or talk about her. You need to grieve in your own way - and bugger what anyone else might say about it. If you want to go and scream at the sky, do it... if you want to curl up in a ball and wallow in your pain, do it. I used to sit on my back step with one or more of my other dogs and just howl like a dog... it helped me cope... and I don't care what the neighbours thought about it... A piece of your soul leaves with such a dog - but you must also believe that they are also very much alive in your heart. Remember your friend well and know that they will be waiting for you to join them at the Bridge when your time comes... T.

I can attest to the escalation of nastiness over time with 2 bitches. My 2 had 4 fights in 2.5 years - were absolutely fine with each other and best buddies in between said fights. Both are also perfectly fine with all my foster pups, and behave perfectly when out in public places - even when challenged by other dogs. They just don't do being challenged by each other. My Lab would kill my Rotti/Pittie if there was no-one to "referee" their fight - there is no way that I'm physically capable of separating them when they decide to fight. The last fight happened to have the police attend (they were across the road for another matter, and heard me yelling at the dogs) - 2.5 cans of capsicum spray, batons, and boots, nothing was getting those 2 apart. They finally stopped due to exhaustion, and we could get them to the vet... $1400 (discount rate no less) later, my 2 girls are not ever going to run together again... My girls are 11 and 5 - both alpha - and have adjusted just fine to being separated. It is worth the peace of mind to keep them that way, trust me! T.

Big hugs to you and the little one... please let her know that Abbi will always be with her in her heart even if she can't cuddle her for real. Is she old enough to understand the Rainbow Bridge story? It may bring her a little bit of comfort knowing that Abbi will wait for her patiently at the Bridge until they can be together again... T.

So when recommending a "registered" breeder, we should qualify that by saying "ANKC registered"... yes? Being that the ANKC is the only truly nationally recognised body for registering purebreed dogs... But where does that put those looking specifically for certain working breeds (for example) - they have their own registry due to their breeds not being recognised by the ANKC. What if I don't want to buy an ANKC recognised "breed" of dog? What if I have a preference for a particular mixed breed? Is there somewhere I can go to research what to look for from "breeders" of mixed breed dogs, so that I can make a more informed decision as to the possible health and temperament issues one may face down the track? As an average joe, I have purchased dogs from internet ads, petshops, CC members, etc... maybe I have been lucky that none of the many pure or crossed breed dogs I've brought home have had any inherent issues that we are told that these sorts of dogs should (or will definitely) have... T.

Dannielle, I remember when I had to make the decision for my sooky Rotti boy... he had bone cancer in his neck and damaged it when jumping off the couch. I had the option of trying to treat his problem - which would be purely for my own benefit to give me more time with him - or to give him his wings... he got his wings because I couldn't bear to have him suffering just so I could have him longer... Sometimes I wonder if I should have tried to give him more time. It's the second guessing yourself that is actually the hardest part of these decisions - especially if the dog in question has good days and bad days... Whatever you decide for Abbi will be the right decision at the right time, OK? T.

Of all of the females I've owned that I've had desexed, only 1 had showed any signs of incontinence at a later date. Bear in mind that this one had 2 litters before being desexed aged nearly 3 years old. She started leaking while asleep when she was 6 years old. It's possible that her problem was completely unrelated to her desexing status. My current 2 girls were desexed at 2.5 years old each - after having a litter - neither are even vaguely showing signs of any incontinence at all - and the old girl is 11.5 years old. T.

There could be something else brewing up her nose other than a grass seed... I'd get her looked at even if it means subjecting her to an anaesthetic... better safe than sorry I reckon. T.

http://communityvet.net/2011/01/lost-childhood-companions/ My brother sent it to me... T.

My local vet staff know my voice... even though I don't call them often. They do have one woman who isn't very pleasant over the phone, but when I mention that I'm "Trouble's Mum" she gets a whole lot less frosty... *grin* The regular clinic manager is the best ever - she always can find time to get one of my furkids in to be seen if they need it... considering that I tend to foster pups, and go down for weigh-ins on them, all the staff love having puppy cuddles... hehe! Don't need to bribe with money... *grin* T.

When one of my Rotti girls passed and we buried her in the corner of the back yard, the male that had paired with her sat on top of her grave for a whole week. We even had to bring him his food there... it was pitiful to watch him grieve for his girl. He was fine after that week though... The girl above had a sense for when there was something seriously medically wrong with people too... T.