tdierikx

Ditto that!!! T.

Well.. no, not really? as I pointed out, some rescues take dogs from pounds so they can pick out the superficially healthy dogs (who may end up having hidden health problems anyway) but for rescues who take surrenders, you get what you get and sometimes, what you get is health issues. I had two dogs dropped off to me once with matching cases of raging kennel cough. As much as it annoyed me to have to deal with that, the only other option for the dogs was the trainer dropping them off at the vet to be put to sleep, on his way home. So you make the best of a shitty situation because that's all you can really do. Also, I feel it's worth pointing out that one person's waste of resources is not necessarily another's. Powerlegs rescues oldies and while many of us would agree that oldies definitely deserve that chance, some people would argue that rescuing old dogs is a waste of resources because they won't live as long and pounds are full of young animals. I took back a very eldely greyhound who could not be rehomed again and although it was a "waste" of my resources, I fed her and cared for her until she finally died. It was a "waste" of money but I'm not in rescue to look after the welfare of my bank account There's certainly a difference between rescuing a dog so elderly/poorly that it can barely walk and rescuing an older dog or a dog with treatable health problems but the thing is, none of us have crystal balls and even with really good vets and all the information, what seems like a sensible call can still end badly. I wholeheartedly disagree with silly shit like putting prosthetic legs on dogs (because I don't think it improves their quality of life) but most of us are just trying to get it right and don't need the added crap of people arguing over how much/little is right. You can't please all the people, all the time, especially not when the everyone has their own ideas about what is reasonable in terms of resource allocation. I think it could also be argued that pregnant bitches should be spayed, rather than allowing puppies to be born. The future desexing/vacination/microchipping of the puppies would far outweigh the cost of ending their lives in utero, so why are rescues creating more costs for themselves? Because they think it's right? Yeah.. There is still a choice made to take on any animal - be it from a pound or as a surrender. You still have the option to say no... or to allocate resources as you feel necessary to treat issues that are treatable. No-one is bagging rescues for unforseen issues arising with an animal they have taken in in good faith (well, I'm not anyways). It is also the choice of the general public to decide which rescues they wish to donate time and resources to... usually based on their own opinion of what is "right" or "wrong" with regards to how rescues allocate their funds. Not much we can do about that though... *grin* If rescue can't agree on what is "right" or "wrong" when it comes to what they do, then how are the general public supposed to work it out? T.

It's never going to be the right time for we humans having to say goodbye to our beloved companions... and that's where the doubt comes in... purely human emotion, and perfectly normal to doubt our own decision making at the time. We need to remember that hindsight is 20/20 too, and wondering "what if I'd tried xyz" will always factor in after the fact. T.

At the end of the day, rescues operate on their own agendas... they choose which animals they will take in, and how much time, effort, or money they are prepared to spend on each. If we, as the public, disagree with their decisions, then we can choose not to donate money or resources to that rescue, yes? That said, I sometimes wonder that some people in rescue get into it for reasons that aren't always in the animals' best interests. It can be a fine balancing act to get things "right" as often as possible and satisfy public opinion... some people are good at getting that balance right, and others seem to thrive on the drama and attention a "special case" garners them - regardless of the outcome for the animal in question. There are a few rescues that appear to be more consistent in their decision making processes, and take on only what they can handle well with good outcomes for the animals in their care... and we should be holding those rescues up as the great examples they are... rather than giving attention (good or bad) to those we perceive are not getting it "right". T.

Eggs carry the highest protein count of all foods... just balance the rest of the diet accordingly to avoid protein overload. T.

I agree DDD... it's never an easy decision... even when it's the only decision you have to make for your loyal friend and companion of many years. And it's even worse when it's your heart dog... 'cos it never stops being as raw as the day they had to leave you - I still weep copious tears and miss my beloved Woosie so much, and she left me in 2004... crying now just typing her name... *sob* I'm all for treatments for animals who have a prospect of a decent quality of life aferwards... but not as fussed on prolonging questionable quality of life because we humans can't bring ourselves to "kill" our pets. It is the most noble deed you can do for them when the time comes IMHO... putting them above our own hurt and feelings of loss... T.

Wow!!! Stunning photos as always huga... and gorgeous subjects to boot! T.

The RSPCA (at least in NSW) are very much "do as we say, not as we do" when it comes to managing kennels... has anyone seen their facilities in Yagoona? Funny how they actively avoid letting people visit their kennel blocks... there is a reason... Let's face it, when you feed animals, they poop and pee... and keeping on top of that is what we staff that work in kennels are fully aware of. It's so frustrating to bust a gut meticulously cleaning a kennel or run only to have the animal go back in and lay a huge steaming one on your nice clean floor... grrr! Even more fun when you have the ones who think running through it and spreading it everywhere is the order of the day... *sigh*... you aren't only washing the kennel, but the animal too... daily! Keeping on top of cleaning, exercising, checking body condition, hand feeding Pookie their special diet from their own special bowl, or making sure medications are given at their designated times of the day are things kennel staff have to be on top of every minute of their working day... no mean feat when it's peak boarding season and the kennels are full to capacity. Good boarding facilities make sure they have enough staff to cover the workload at all times... and that is what makes all the difference. Note: there will be times when "Pookie" will have to share space with his/her own excrement... but we do our very best to make that time as short as possible, OK? T.

Rescue does seem to attract a large number of "if it has a pulse, it must be saved" types... and I sometimes wonder whether some people are in the industry for the animals, or for their own personal "feelgoods". I've had to make the heart-rending decision for a few rescue animals who were physically healthy, but mentally broken enough to not be adoptable safely. I've held my share of rescue animals while they were given their wings. It's not fair to keep an animal indefinitely who's every day is a torment of emotional issues. It is not fair to keep such an animal indefinitely in the vain hope that some member of the public wants to adopt an animal with severe issues... what normal person really wants to devote years of their lives trying to manage such issues in a pet? Spending massive amounts of money on diseases and ailments that leave an animal compromised in some way, and needing management for the rest of their lives is also a bugbear of mine. Some "rescuers" seem to thrive on the drama and attention they receive when they put out their pleas for funding help to deal with such issues... and I sometimes wonder about who/what exactly these people are doing it all for... because I don't believe it's for the animals' sake. It is hard to know exactly when to make that particular call with any animal in your care... and even moreso when it's a beloved family member you have shared your life with for years. Westiemum, you made the right choice at the right time for Mac... no 2 bones about it, OK? And you will get it right for Sarebear when her time comes too... *hugs* T.

Sounds pretty good to me... shouldn't need extra calcium input. You don't want to grow him too fast either. Check out http://www.greatdanerescue.com.au/Docs/diet_section.pdf - written by one of our very own DOLers... it will explain a bit about growning giant/large breeds, and where caution needs to be exercised. T.

One of my co-workers is doing a course in dog training... maybe I will offer her Harper as a case study... lol! Dog knows, Harper needs to get a fair bit of training still, and some extra socialisation with new people and other dogs (in a controlled environment of course). Trouble will be 11 in February, and I just realised yesterday that she is starting to look her age... still doesn't act it though. T.

We've never found the second battery from the remote that Trouble chewed up as a pup... xrays proved that it wasn't inside her though... but there was some gravel... lol! Pickles' specialty is coloured bedding... can spot her poos a mile away in the yard... hehe! Harper only chews things like door jambs and skirting boards, so is crated when she can't be supervised... errr! T.

Trouble, my Lab, used to destroy and ingest (and pass) black kongs! She'd be your stereotypical fat Lab if owned by someone who thought that was the norm for the breed. One of my friends keeps saying she wants to take Trouble home and give her a good feed... no matter that her own 2 Labs ended up having to be euthed at a younger age than they could have reached due to the fact that they were grossly overweight and simply fell apart... *sigh* T.

Lamb puffs are dried lamb lung... and most dogs love them to bits. I always have some on hand when I'm at work for the more timid dogs so we can make friends... As for extra calcium, be careful you don't overdo it... if Zagan is getting a balanced diet, then he doesn't need extra calcium... and dogs are notoriously lactose intolerant. If you must use cheese, definitely go for goat or other low/no lactose products. T.

Time for training some recall methinks... lol! Simple move for when he thinks he has something you will chase him for is to squat down and call him to you in a fun voice, arms wide as if he's going to get the biggest cuddle for coming to you... then swap the "bad toy" for one that's more appropriate and let him play with that for a while. As for training only males for protection work... beats me... I reckon females would be so much better at it... *grin* The place I work, a majority of their patrol/protection dogs are male, but they do have a few equally huge and imposing females working too... and they are definitely scarier than any of the males when they get into "the zone"... T.

You know you have a Labrador when you don't even bother with hand protection to help them pass something... because you do it so often... lol! The worst one I have for pica is actually a mutt... she will eat anything at all... and poo patrol is an adventure here... lol! T.

Just thank your lucky stars you don't have a Labrador puppy... you should see what manages to get swallowed and passed through just fine by a Lab... scary! One of my Rotti boys decided to chew carpet when he was a pup... and ended up with a rather embarrassing dangler that mummy had to help him pass fully... *sigh*... things you do for your furkids... T.

I find that an "uuuhhhh" in a low growly tone works rather efficiently on most dogs and delinquent pups... *grin* "Leave it" is also a fave of mine when I want my own dogs to spit out whatever is in their mouths - be it a toy, ball, bird, my arm, etc... funnily enough it's also worked on a few boarding dogs at work when they've been turds trying to eat the water when I'm hosing their kennels - and the buggers have a whole exercise yard to run about in, but decide that playing with the hose is more fun... grrr! Could be the growly tone I've used too, but they get the idea pretty quickly. I've also found that most dogs are more protective of females and children over the males in the family... male dogs in particular. Most of my females have been pretty protective of everyone in the family equally, but the males more protective of female family members. Personally, ifI was going to get a dog for protection, I'd get a female every time... they don't call them bitches for nothing... hehe! T.

I'm not a fan of that idea. I want my dogs to be friendly under normal circumstances. I want to be able to take them out in public or to the vet without them constantly being on alert and mistrusting everyone. Most dogs will naturally do what's needed to alert or stop an intruder if they are a part of the family unit... T. Deep down I know you're right & I can't disagree. Funny thing is, there was 2 occasions when Ponti didn't like a certain person (friends of friends) Rather than greeting them, he'd 'dog their steps' from a distance of around 12 feet & not take his eyes off them, with no aggression, just vigilance. The first time it occurred the visitor noticed before I did & said "I don't think that your dog likes me." As it turned out, the bloke was apparently a wife basher. Our doggie mates are a lot more intuitive than many people. I've got some thinking to do. I always trust my dogs' reactions to people I invite in... if the dog is leery of someone, there will always be a reason, and if that person was to do anything threatening, the dog will have them - even if I've invited that person in. I've not had to train any of my dogs for that sort of thing either. T.

I'm not a fan of that idea. I want my dogs to be friendly under normal circumstances. I want to be able to take them out in public or to the vet without them constantly being on alert and mistrusting everyone. Most dogs will naturally do what's needed to alert or stop an intruder if they are a part of the family unit... T.

My uncle had a Rotti who let a burglar into the house and watched from the couch as the guy collected all the electronics and put them by the door... but as soon as the guy went to leave, Vandal jumped on him and pinned the poor bugger by the throat until my uncle got home... lol! The burglar was so scared he had messed his pants and was actually taken to hospital in a state of shock when the police came to deal with him. Vandal hadn't left a mark on him... *grin* Good boy Vandal! T.

Most parks have signs stating that your dogs must be under effective control... and that cannot be achieved with your head down playing with your phone. I'm not a fan of constantly being available to others, and unless I'm expecting a call or text, it is in my pocket and on silent. I prefer face to face communication with others thank you! T.

None of my 8 Rotties over the years have needed any training on how to behave when someone tried to enter my proprty without an invitation... *grin* Invited guests were there for cuddles though... and who can say no to a Rotti demanding cuddles? T.

Lucky Tamar to have a mummy and vet who give her such awesome care... and that she's now much better than before. Please give her a kiss and cuddle from me... T.

I think the dog that went "off his head" was his previous Rotti SG... I think he said he'd got it as an adult also. T.