VJB

I was sitting on our deck having a coffee with my friend when hubby brought Heidi home from a big walk. She was panting and a bit slobbery after having a nice big drink. My friend and me were sharing some funny stories at the time and she was laughing with her mouth wide open about something,,, and Heidi shook her head and a big slobber flung straight into my friends wide open mouth.!!!! She was so mortified, and got up and gagged and spat into my pot plant. I was just laughing so hard, trying to apologise.

I have no help with the bone issue as my dog reacts badly to raw bones as well.. unfortunately. If your dog is a bit bored, you could scatter his dry food around the yard for him to search for, as this can take some time and use his mind a bit. I do this with my dog for one of her feeds each day, and she happily walks around our yard finding all the dry food.

I've never done sledding before, but I have heard a few GSP's that have done so. Very limited grooming requirements, very people orientated, loyal and affectionate. Could possibly fit what you are after. Most cope well with cats if exposed to them from a young age.

Congratulations!!!! Celebrate!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!

I'm no help really, but just here to say that a lot of what you are wanting describes my GSP very well. But, of course..gundog. I guess a Boxer or R-ridge.

My girl is fine in the mud and rain. I don't necessarily love going out in the bitterly cold wind etc... but either way, she still needs a walk/run, so I just get on with it and get it done. It is a bonus when nobody else is around though.

I would definitely contact and go to a after hours vet. Your dog sounds very unwell.

What a great photo. !!!! Lovely pup.

It is very easy once you get the hang of it. Like others have said, open mouth and put your hand right in... down back of throat,,,, drop tablet as far back as you can, then follow with a treat. It won't take you too long to get the hang of it. Keep yourself from getting uptight, as dogs can sense this and start reacting to your tenseness. Just walk up casually, with the intention to succeed, and get the job done with as little fuss as you can.

He is totally adorable. Happy Birthday handsome boy.

We sawed out antler in half the other week.... OMG,, the smell. It stunk the entire neighbourhood.... but settled when the dust died down. Heidi has loved hers much more since sawing it in half. Its a bit of a job though, and took some time...but worth it. I love that she has something to chew on now, and that they do not smell at all... (only when you saw them in half).

I give my dog venison ears. They are 99% fat free. Sheep ears are smaller, and we give our dog one a day. She loves them and sometimes has a gag on them, but I always supervise when she is eating them.

I have a walky dog bike attachment, and I loved it at first. Then I heard that it was illegal to ride a bike with your dog attached and I haven't used it since.... although I want to. So, for those who know, what is the rules with all of this? Someone even said to me "poor dog"... although my dog seems to love the bike ride, paces herself well, and we don't go fast. We stopped regularly for breaks etc. It was great in the school holidays with our kids. We'd head off in the morning and ride to shops to get ice cream. I also have a dog who's paws are well use to the road. I think you would have to be careful of sore paws if your dog is not use to road walking.

My dog has had a year of success with the implant, and we have not long ago put a new one in her. Fingers crossed we get another year out of this one. I have had to use Propalin for a few weeks while the new implant is taking effect. We are on the trial register for this drug, which is known to be very safe. I have heard it can be different for each dog, and collecting information will be helpful in the treatment of this condition.

Your dog sounds quite similar to my dog re stomach/bowel issues. We were advised to put Heidi onto a 'light' dry food. This has solved all her problem with poo. We add sardines weekly, plus tuckertime, which is also compatible with sensitive tummies. On the odd occasion, if she is given the privilege of a piece of cabanossi or similar, we usually always notice it in her poo the next day. So, we stick with the light diet as far as dry food goes, and I am very picky about any 'extras' she may get.

News just said that it could still increase to a high category 5, with winds exceeding 320 km per hour. This is just too big to fathom. I'm nervous, and I'm sitting here in Sydney, and so worried about the next 24 hours. Apparently the energy of the storm is enough to power to whole world for an entire year. Whoa!! Unbelievable.

I have parents in Cairns. Town is very busy with people preparing. They are very use to getting cyclone warnings, but this one has scared them. I may not hear from them for a few days, as they do not have mobile coverage at their house, (Gordonvale) and it depends what the aftermath is like as to whether they can drive down the road to get signal. Apparently the price of flights out of there have sky rocketed. My father has been in Brisbane for a few days and is currently on an emergency flight back into Cairns so that he can go home and start preparing. It looks massive. I hope everyone stays safe.

Heidi will do one short bark when she finds a bee on the ground. It alerts me, and I know that bark well. People visiting think it is odd when we are sharing a cuppa and my dog does one bark. I say "Excuse me a moment, my dogs found a bee" :rolleyes: She also keeps time very well, and will stand up and wait at gate just before the school bus comes home. Its routine. I have a feeling she knows the last click of the washing machine, as she often gets up and goes to stand by the machine. She brings the mail in, but drops it too soon. And she is great at catching flies hanging around the windows, I just never want it to be a wasp.

I am feeling as if the kibble is 'off' in some way. She has certainly not been her usual self since returning from kennels, but is very much on the mend now that we know she has a sore back/leg that is being treated. showdog, I am sure that the fact that she shared with other dogs the whole time proved too much for her, and I am almost certain that she hurt herself halfway through her stay. I provided the food, as well as the Tuckertime, and I guess there is no telling who ate what definitely, but I would like to think that the staff are thorough at these kennels. I've done the whole soaking of kibble etc,,, and it gets left uneaten for an entire day, whether I pick it up after 10 minutes or not. I have to throw it out. We are going to pick up some fresh stuff tomorrow. I was told today that Eukanuba actually had a recall recently on some of their food. This batch may have gone bad. She loves sardines, and I mixed with water and poured over dry food.... but she just 'fished' out the sardine pieces. I'm going to get to the bottom of this business..... somehow! I will leave her the dry food and absolutely nothing else once I purchase a new bag. I will be interested to see if she eats from a new bag or not. I need to make sure that this stuff is not rancid or something before I get tough and insist on eating it. She is not a 'food fussy' dog, and has always enjoyed her kibble.

Thanks Lab Rat. She is currently on Eukanuba light. Originally she was on Advance. I have recently tried Royal Canin. The Eukanuba is the only one so far that has not given her grief. Seems to have something to do with the fat content. I only recently slowly introduced the Royal Canin, as this is what they opt to feed at the boarding kennel,, but within a few days I could see the telltale signs of it irritating her system. Thankfully, kennels allowed me to bring my own food.

Red meat seems to affect her mostly, chicken works well with her. Anything fatty doesn't agree, and bones make her vomit very soon afterwards. I tried a raw roo tail when she was a pup, and she did alright on this, but once the red meat started affecting her, we've not been able to successfully give her anything again, as the poo problems begin quite quickly. Tuckertime does have red meat in it, although it has a reputation in not seeming to affect dogs who are sensitive to red meats.

She does not tolerate raw foods well at all unfortunately.

If I leave the dry food down, it will stay there for several days. I have to pick it up after a day at the moment, because I saw a possible rat the other night run along our back fence. She had a gnaw on her deer antler yesterday for the first time in a while, and she is able to eat a deer ear. Her teeth and mouth have been checked twice. I am giving her the fish, though not enough to fill her normal diet needs. Maybe a third of a cup at most. I am sure the kennels gave her the food (very reputable kennel), although she was sharing with another dog (peak period) so who knows what the situation is re feed times??????

Since returning home from boarding kennel mid January, my dog has not touched her dry food or Tuckertime, which is her normal diet and she continued on this while at boarding. She has been vet checked thoroughly, and other than a few issues with back pain which we are dealing with, I have no idea why she won't eat her dry food at all. Any ideas....? I have tried adding water, pumpkin, fish etc, but she tends to just be going for the fish bits and nothing else.

Stormie, when I came in to see your boss last week, I asked his opinion on whether I should watch Marley and me, as I'd been given the DVD to borrow. He told me he couldn't watch it, and doesn't watch vet shows, animal rescue shows etc, because it would upset him too much. I stood there staring at him, and then felt amazed at the fact that he must do such a wonderful job at feeling empathy for pet owners, and taking on the role of holding it all together and supporting them so much when dealing with their grief. I can imagine how hard it is for you too, as you can surely relate, having seen your bond with Orbit. Me and hubby did watch Marley and me, and we both suffered a tearful meltdown at the end. I'm not sure it was worth the pain. Should have taken vets advice.