Zombie Bait

Mike - please get in contact with either nehkbet or cosmolo to give you an unbiased and educated opinion before making any descisions. You may still end up at the same conclusion (put to sleep) but you will know that at least you tried with her and that you are acting on professional advice. I have had to put to sleep our first rescue dog, Koni, a 14 month old doberman. On advice from a behaviourist and a vet, we made the decision to put to sleep. Whilst it was truly heartbreaking, I do believe that we did the best possible thing for not only ourselves but also for her. She was DA, dominant with other dogs but submissive with humans due to a history of mistreatment from her previous owners. She was unable to retain knowledge (whilst she seemed to learn and understand a command initially, she would be unable to retain that same knowledge for the next time somewhat like groundhog day or 50 first dates). She also had no pain threshold and would injure herself in order to try and attack other animals. The vet and the behaivourist felt that she was possibly brain damaged (had been bitten on the head as a pup from her mother) and was unable to be rehabilitated. This may not be the case with Missy - she may be able to be rehabilitated under the careful guidance from one of these great trainers/behaivourists. Or they may offer up the same assessment of safer for all concerned to put to sleep. Better to contact and find out rather than always wonder if you have done the right thing.

IF I had to rehome one of my animals it would depend on the breeder on whether I called for their help. Sierra is never going back to her breeders, if she couldn't stay with me or be rehomed successfully she would be pts. The next breeder I buy from I will have done a lot more research and I've learnt alot since we bought Sierra, so hopefully I have a lot more trust and faith in them.

I used to foster Shar Pei's. While most of the dogs were lovely that I met and after careful introductions with my own 2 dogs were great, I must admit to avoiding them if I dont know them as they can be bloody horrible in the wrong hands. I like staffy's if I dont have my dogs with me, unfortunately I dont trust most of them with my own dogs. My male crossbreed has issues with any entire male or dogs with pricked up ears/tails, like huskies, malamutes etc. I just find its easier not to take him offleash in populated areas and to be very proactive when we are walking on leash. My girl however is a total wuss - she submitted to beagle puppies at the first DOL meet I went to She is much better these days and actually will interact with other dogs and will play sometimes. I definately have a bigger problem with well intentioned or ignorant owners rather than their dogs. I was once one of them...but have now learnt

At the moment we have a crossbreed rescue and a RR. My partner and I have agreed that when they pass he would like another female RR and I would like a male great dane. We have also discussed that when we are much older I would like a small dog as we can't have cats as OH is allergic ( that's the spin I'm putting on it anyway as OH is not keen on small dogs!). I would like both( or at least one of them), to be of a show quality, as I would love to get into showing. It is many years off yet (at least 6 - 10) but I am obvserving a couple of breeders of each breed now to get an idea of health, temperament and conformation of the lines they are breeding with. There are many breeds that I wouldn't mind owning one day but I have a feeling Danes and RR's will always be part of the family.

Ive had to lock mine in on occasion and they have held it for 9-10 hours. I dont like doing it regularly but I know I can if I have to.

I just wash their blankies first (polar fleece as well), then their towels, then our sheets, then our towels, then our clothes. Everything is put in the dryer after washing (load by load). I find that the hair is usually gone from the washing machine after the dog towel load and it doesnt really stick to our sheets, so by the time I go to do human clothes there isnt any dog hair in the washing machine. PS - I have a top loader. PPS - My dogs have short hair, but lots of it

We feed Royal Canin giant breed adult day in day out to our 2. They get a bone once or twice a fortnight and occasional sardines. They love the royal canin and seem to be doing very well on it - nice shiny coats, firm stools, maintaining weight etc.

I just liked - 68 to go

When we only had Brembo, we tended to take him everywhere with us. He was welcome at 90% of our friends places so we would take him over for BBQ's etc. He is a very quiet dog that is happy just sitting at your feet taking in the atmosphere. He also used to stay over with my OH at his best mates place on boys only nights (well he's a boy too ;) ) Then Sierra came along and although she is very well behaved, toilet trained etc she has no concept of personal space and just tends to get in their faces....which wouldn't be an issue if she was the size of a chi (she thinks she is) but she is very large (bigger than the average RR, more small GD size). So we only tend to inflict our non dog loving friends on her when they visit our house Our only exception is when I visit my parents. They live 4 hours away, so we tend to stay for a weekend when we visit and the dogs come too. They have their own 2 dogs that are strictly outside dogs, so our 2 stay outside until bedtime, then they come in and sleep in the loungeroom with us. This is a compromise that my parents are happy to make as they knoiw that our 2 are very well behaved and toilet trained and will sleep better in with us than outside with their 2. If they insisted that they had to sleep on the patio with their dogs then I'd do it as I rarely visit any who due to work and social comittments. My dogs are fairly tough anyway and can happily survive a night out on the patio, its more cos I like them close by

I'm safe in Logan.

Its a bit ridiculous isn't it? I own two dogs, both desexed at a young age. Brembo was an RSPCA special that was desexed at 8 weeks, Sierra a purebred RR desexed at 5.5 months old. I will never desex before sexual maturity again given the choice. Whilst I have had no major health concerns that can be linked to their desexing at an early age, they are only 4 and 3 respectfully, so who knows what the future holds. I do know that Sierra is massively over sized for her breed and I do feel that some of this is attributed to desexing before her first season. She is abnormally tall and very fine boned for a RR and whilst some of this is linked to my poor breeder choice, much of the onus falls back to me and having her desexed at a very young age. My partner and I have discussed our future breeds - I wish to have a male Great Dane and he wishes to have another female RR. Neither will be getting desexed before 18 months of age. I totally back desexing of rescue dogs before being sold - does this make me somewhat of a hypocrite?

I have one for each of my dogs. Marketed under the name of a volhard collar, cheap as chips and is a dream to walk my ridgeback girl on. It sits in the correct position and doesn't slide down her neck therefore when a correction is needed to be made I can do it instantly. Much easier to use than a check chain and more efective to use than a limited slip collar. I didn't even realise there was a different name for them and a different use. Tilly, pm me if you would like to try the sizes of the collars I have here. I'm in the logan area.

Ok is it just me or is Moselle just like a mosquito that buzzs next to your head in the middle of the night. Bloody annoying and hard to squish. I have no problem with hunting or slaughtering your own meat. I do believe that it is more humane and better for the environment. And yes Im a woman.

I know this sounds lame.....but I wont be able to make the weekend of the 10th due to Bathurst weekend. We have a huge BBQ starting at 7am and finishing at 5pm. I would probably be quite um smashed by 10am. (I know its disgraceful, but its only once a year) The weekend of the 16/17 would be heaps better for me

Brembo (male) is an RSPCA special and doesnt have a tattoo (from 3.5 years ago). Sierra (female) has one, desexed at private vets 2 years ago. Dozer (male) foster dog desexed at same private vets got tattooed a week ago. I dont mind it, Id probably reconsider if I had "prick" ear breeds or I showed in neuter classes but until then Im happy to have easy id of desexing on my dogs.

Not a huge fan of Dr Chris in general due to his apparent stupidty on certain things but he is a public figure that the general public believe when he speaks about animal issues because he's a vet, he has his own tv show etc and so in doing a story on puppy farms and talking to people like Debra Tranter it has brought it more to the general public's attention, which is fantastic. And he is kinda hot in real life.......which sucks cos I still want to yell at him

I loved watching your boy on his second run. He's so drivey I wish Sierra had that much drive, she only got half way round then got bored. Ah well, we'll give her another go next month

Im lazy and so are my dogs! They really fit in with whatever we are doing whether thats nothing or going for walks etc. I have been known to break the foster dogs....they come to me hyper and leave all chilled out and relaxed Brembo is loath to move out of my bed of a morning and has been known to stay there if I dont touch his food bowl lol Sierra will take every oportunity to get on the bed with me, so as soon as I start towards the bedroom she is up as quick as a flash and onto the bed, she really loves an afternoon nap

Im so sorry Ruth - Hugs to you and your OH and pats to Angel, Chopper and Trixie. Run free Ivan

If we both are gone, Brembo would go to one or the other of two of our close friends. Both have stated they would take him now given half a chance. If Brembo is not coping without me after a period of time, they have permission to PTS. Sierra would go to Ams with the option of either rehoming or PTS if she felt she warrented it. If one of us passes the other gets the dogs. If we seperate I keep Brembo, OH gets Sierra on the previso that she copes without Brembo. If she frets too much she is to be returned to me and I will retain full custody of both with OH having weekend visits if he wishes. OH knows that Brembo is to stay with me no matter what - he is very attached to me. He would survive quite happily without Sierra or OH!

A very good reminder - thankyou Just got back from the emergency vets as Brembo was displaying signs of shock - pale gums, trembling, chattering teeth, cold ears and paws. He seemed to improve after about 30 minutes. They did bloods and feel he has eaten something mouldy - possibly a mouldy manderin from our fuit trees. He has been sent home to moniter, if he gets any worse Im to return to emergency vets. Bloody dogs, theyll be the death of me!

I honestly can't believe this. It's been 2 months since you first posted in a panic about bindi's HD and weight and yet in that time she has gained 500grams? To put that into perspective that is like my very lean 45kg dog putting on 9kg in 2 months. I really don't know how she has gained if you have lessened her food. My boy, brembo, is 35kgs. He is a perfect weight for his height and structure. He has a beautiful tuck up. Over Xmas the dogs were left with a house sitter for 10 days. I came back to brembo being about 2kgs overweight and he had lost his tuck. Well it only took 2 weeks to get that tuck back and those 2 kg off. I cut his food by half and no amounts of puppy dog eyes would get me to give him more food. My dogs get fed twice daily. Brembo gets 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup in the evening. Sierra gets 2 cups n the morning and 2 cups in the evening. They get fed royal canin large breed adult. On the days they get a bone, they get NOTHING else. The bone is also removed after a couple of hours as brembo will stay out there all night if need be. You need to get serious. Your dog has been diagnosed with HD and is grossley overweight. She needs to be on pumpkin and not much else to work that weight off of her. It's not cruel. What's cruel is letting her get to such an obese weight in the first place. You've had 9 pages of good advice. Get real and be "mean" to bindi and stop feeding her so much. She'll be happier in the long run as will you.

This is the breeders problem, not the fact she doesn't show or trial due to distance. She is not breeding with a purpose or to better the breed. My point is: She has no way of comparing these dogs to other examples of the breed in the real world. RnL - I have no problem with what you have written, you are a previous show/trialling person who due to current circumstances (ie living very far away) do not have current access to shows/trials. You have stated that you train with these dogs to such a level that if you were able to trial, these dogs would already have a firm background in what to do. You also sound like someone who is actually in contact with other whippet breeders and have a goal in mind of why you want to breed (ie furthering your lines). I dont agree with breeding untested stock (health, conformation or work ethic) just for the hell of it and because you know you will make money off of it. Unfortunately Sierra's breeder falls into that catorgory - breeding purely for the pet market and not to better the breed. Unfortunately I was uneducated in the world of registered breeders and thought I was doing the right thing by purchasing my pup from a registered breeder. Next time it will be a registered ethical breeder that has history with my breed of choice - either showing or trialling.

I already own a dog from a breeder that doesn't show/trial due to "distance". Sierra's grand dam and grand sire on both sides are champion show dogs. The breeder bought the sire and dam, health tested them and bred them. Sounds good in theory, is absolute rubbish in practice. Sierra is so far from the standard it's not funny. She is regularly mistaken for a RR x great Dane due to her sheer size. This breeder has pumped out litter after litter even though she continues to get such inconsistant results. RR breeders that show and have proven bloodlines will not sell to her so she has bought dogs "second hand" to get the blood lines she wants. Only found out all this after I already had Sierra, you live and you learn. My next purebred dog will be a great dane. It could be 8-10 years before I am ready to purchase this pup but I am already researching bloodlines, breeders and what health tests are applicable etc. My future pup will be coming from parents that have been shown, health tested and critiqued by people that I trust within the breed. And more than likely this is for a dog that will never step foot in the show ring (unless I'm talked into by then ) I want to be proud to say where I got this pup and be able to recommend this breeder to others unlike Sierra's breeder.

My prefered breed is the Great Dane - have always been in love with photos and the such but totally fell in love when I went to a show and got to hang out with Riesenhaft and her crew. Her old boy Norton was just a dream to hang out with and now I read and research lines for the one day that I will be able to bring a dane into my life. Ive always loved boofas and thats how Brembo came into our life. He was an 8 week old mastiff/rottie cross at the RSPCA and my OH and I fell for him hard. Turns out he is more than likely a staffy x lab ( 2 breeds Im not overly fond of) and he never quite grew into the huge dog we thought he would be but we love him all the same. He is my heart dog. My OH always had Blue/Red heelers growing up and wanted a blue heeler bitch but I couldnt do it as I had a Red heeler bitch growing up and couldnt replace her. So I convinced him that a Rhodesian Ridgeback was the way to go. We have had Sierra for 2 years now and he is smitten. We will always have at least one RR in our life now.