Pailin

That is actually really exciting for me. To know that the breed she adores could work. I have yet to fully research myself and have met a couple of really high drive Border Collies in my time and thought "Collie" might mean too much to handle. Absolutely looking for a laid back family dog. Will start to research myself a little now and see what we come up with. Thanks for your response.

Our current family pooch is an RSPCA pup and she is such an awesome dog but you are right, we don't know her breed, can only guess at her history and it makes it hard to be prepared and researched on breed etc when getting into the mixed breeds. There is something to be said for knowing what to expect from a well bred dog and given the breed she is looking at (and people are saying might indeed fit) rescue doesn't seem like much of an option.

Thank you. Starting to think she may already be looking at the right breed for her and there is a reason she is drawn that way.

1. She has been on the Rough Collie bandwagon for at least a year and a half so far so if we find the Rough Collie can indeed fit into the family well...I don't think she will change her mind at all. 2. That is a brilliant suggestion. Are breeder/exhibitors happy to talk to the general public at these kinds of events? She has her heart set on the full coated Rough so would be a great idea to introduce her to grooming needs and techniques from an experienced owner. As her mother and a huge dog lover there is no way that I would allow the grooming to fall down the wayside, even if I have to pick it up myself. I am going into this as a parent supporting her child but at the same time knowing that this dog will be family and *I* am making the commitment to the animal for it's lifetime. 3. She fell in love with the Rough Collie breed prior to even seeing the Lassie movie. She has already spent a LONG time researching the breed before she watched the movie so she is definitely in it for the breed. 4. I did look at the Sheltie but they seem to have higher energy/needs.

My daughter is a dog nut. Always has been. She is starting to save up for her own dog and I am looking for breed recommendations to point her towards. She is 11yrs old so this will be a long process, probably 2-3 years away still. Saving will take her a couple of years, she is already heavily researching. She has her heart set on a Rough Collie however I am concerned that being a working breed they may end up being too much dog for her (and us as a family). She has an interest in training and obedience but not sure full on obedience is in the cards. She essentially wants a dog that can sleep on her bed, go for a walk daily, chase a ball, go to the beach etc. I tend to preference low shedding dogs (given I am the one that cleans the house lol). She is homeschooled, dedicated and very dog centered, obviously she will be fully supported and guided by myself as well. The dog would rarely be left alone. No size preference really but not too large. Ideas? Thoughts?

Mackiemad- You are right. I have been scared and that fear is not rational or allowing me to listen with an open mind to the vet and people on here. It is why I am so conflicted and struggling with the choice so much. If you look at the website productreview.com .au and read the reviews that have been left on there for the Bravecto it is easy to see why people are scared. It is not just a couple, there are a LOT of stories on there and I do know that people complain much more than they praise but it is concerning. Thank you for your posts and thoughts. I appreciate your time. Sheena- Thanks, I think Nexguard would be a possible option for us and will consider it carefully. Thank you.

I am genuinely not trying to stir trouble and I do realise that some adverse reactions are common. The sheer number of reports from owners of dogs who have reacted poorly to the Bravecto is still really scary. It really feels like I am caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand this tick could have killed her, watching her struggle with her balance and be so unwell was heart wrenching and gutted us all. On the other hand, if I give her this product to try and keep her safe from the ticks (fleas are not an issue) and she has a reaction I don't know that I could ever forgive myself. It is concerning that if she reacts to the Bravecto it will remain in her system for 3-4months. No way of backtracking. I have been reading so much online recently...thinking I may go the route of a tick collar and daily checks. I will know not to 100% trust the collar alone, hopefully daily checks and being more aware of the risk to her in the new area we have moved to will be enough. At least with the collar I can remove it instantly if a reaction occurs. It is really scary to read the online reviews and be so indecisive. A tick could kill her, the stuff to prevent the tick could kill her... I just want to wrap her in bubble wrap and never let her outside again.

My poor girl has had a nasty paralysis tick that she could only have picked up out of our very own yard. She seems to be recovering, not out of the woods yet. My vet recommended Bravecto. The reviews and complications people seem to be having with the product terrifies me. What do people recommend to make sure she never gets another one? Will pair with daily checking, happy to try topicals or collars but need them to be cat safe for our cat (not for use on our cat but they share the house). I'm also looking for an option to treat the yard with. Vet said there isnt really anything that can be done for the yard but thought someone on here might have an idea. It is tiny, suburbia and doesnt have a single tree or shrub. Thabks in advance.

We are soon to be traveling around Australia with a van and my beautiful dog Lolly will be coming with. Everything is very up in the air and rushed at the moment. House sale finalises on the 7th December, we have to pick up the caravan (leave from Brisbane, collect it from Gladstone) and then we have managed to get a last minute cancellation spot on the Spirit of Tasmania for the 17th December. It is going to be insane but my sister (who I am traveling with) is determined to spend Xmas with our brother in Tassie. Problem is that the spot we have secured and paid for does not include a kennel space and the kennels onboard are booked out currently. I have rang a few places and gotten quotes to fly her over ($300) but I really would prefer to keep her with me. My SIL and brother are the only possibility to pick her up from the airport if I go that route but it would be early Saturday morning (we would arrive the next day), they have a selective staffy who is super full on and my girl is getting older, will fret being away from me and may not tolerate their dog (I would like to be there for the introduction). So at the present moment I will be calling daily to check if any kennel bookings have been cancelled and booking the flight if we cannot get her on BUT I have been told that if I sign an indemnity waiver she can travel over on the boat and remain in the car or caravan (will be in the canopy of the Triton). This information has been given by other people, not by the Spirit booking people I have talked with so not even 100% sure if it can be done. There seems to be quite a few people who have done this, we are on the night trip so heat shouldn't be a factor, but I have read an article where two Rottys passed away 5years ago on the Spirit and the owner suspected carbon monoxide poisoning... So my question is, what would you do if this option is even a possibility. Would you leave your dog in your vehicle where they are comfortable and used to being and traveling, with their own comfortable bedding, water etc but with a possible risk of carbon monoxide and not being able to check on them, or would you fly them- a short flight-, not knowing how they will cope and knowing that they will spend a day fretting with strangers? Has anyone taken their dog/s over on the Spirit? Thoughts? Thanks

I've used the Kirklands Natures Domain grain free for my cat since we adopted him 2yrs ago. He does really well on it. His coat is soft and shiny and he has no issues at all. I cannot fault it.

I am just wondering if I am the only person who makes sure that my dog cannot interact with strangers coming onto my property, especially in the way of meter readers/ tradies etc. The news article about that poor tradie getting attacked by the three AST's has me wondering. In addition to that my sister recently had an open home where one of her neighbours attended and asked the real estate agent to come back to her house for an evaluation. The real estate agent went over and in the process of looking around the house with the owner she was bitten quite badly by one of their French Mastiffs. The poor woman was terrified. It bit her on her back/butt... I just don't understand how giving dogs unfettered access to strangers, who are in the dogs territory, is a good idea. I trust my girl, but I don't trust people I don't know and in circumstances I could never begin to predict. She gets shut away if someone is coming in.

Yep. Exactly what has happened for us. The hardened callous wore off and became infected instead.

And another. It WAS a huge big old callous but it became inflamed and swollen once she got a proper bed. Go figure!

Vet says it is a Callous Pyoderma. Gave her a cortisone shot and antibiotics. At a worst case scenario it is actually in a good place for surgery as it is on the outer of her elbow. Going to research other methods of treating it now that we know it isn't a tumor or anything more serious. Will attach pictures.

How did you go with this? Have a similar thing on a Neo Mastiff. Off to the vets in the morning but hoping it is nothing major. Ironically it became inflamed after she came into my care and had a proper bed and mattress for the first time in her life.