megan_

They cover illness too - I have made a successful claim for this ($4000!). There are some that cover check ups and vaccs - but the extra you pay = the cost of paying for these things yourself so it isn't really worth it.

A lot of vets are still vaccinating annually because the manufacturer will only guaruntee it for 1 year. What if a dog gets vaccinated every 3 years and then gets parvo in year 2. The vet is exposed. You'll also find that Frankston has a very low immunisation rate. Vaccination rates need to be above 70% (I think) to get herd immunity (ie prevent an epedemic). So I think many vets in the area would want to vaccinate often. I think the AVA did a bit of a bad thing changing the recommendations without getting all the ducks in a row first... Having said that, my vet agreed to vaccinate every 3 years with the 1 year vaccine and provide me with a vaccination certificate. This is because he knows me and the standard of care that my dogs recieve. They still get annual checks and annual CC vaccinations.

I don't know anything about PH, but this comment is inaccurate. Dogs are allowed to be at foster carers - they aren't hidden. The permit is for dogs on the property. I understand you have issues with them and if only 50% of what is said on here is true then they need some serious work done (and not just donations, but mgt and processes etc). However, let's stick to the facts...

He might not know what you saying outside in your house means. If someone else asks my dogs to sit, they'll ignore it too. They only take "orders" from me (or Erny... when she speaks, they listen!).

be strong and ignore him. My boy could cry all night - that is no exageration (sp). For three nights he cried, barked, thew tanties etc. Now I say "crate time" and he runs to his crate. Some helpers: * never use the crate as a punishment * never let him out if he is crying/barking etc. Wait until he stops, praise and let him out. * I gave mine a little treat if they ran into their crates nicely. Soon crate = a very nice thing. Good luck!

Does this exist? HeartGuard Plus does intestinal worms too. I want one that only covers heartworm, preferably a chew.

People have the right to walk down a street and not encounter off lead dogs. This man may have been terrified of dogs. Put the dog on a leash. If you have too much shopping, then leave the dog at home. This man may have been terrified of dogs and may have had no control over how he reacted. Many of us have been at the recieving end of a growling dog that is "friendly". This man doesn't know your dog from a bar of soap. I don't trust owners when they tell me their dog is friendly either. You own a large dog and like it or not, MANY people in the community would be scared of it. I would be. Show them that dog owners are considerate and responsible. I only have littlies but I always make way for people, move over so that the dogs can't touch them at the end of their leads and often put them into a sit. People always smile at this and say thanks.

I wouldn't. What if the dogs are then declared dangerous rather than just being a nuisance? Not sure of NSW laws, but the nuisance dog order doesn't seem to be too onerous. In Victoria, I think the dogs would have been declared dangerous. Even rushing another person or dog fits the bill.

Not all well socialised dogs are mentally "hard" and stable. Breeding has a lot to do with it. I have to drive my girl down my street due to an idiot walking three dogs off leash every night. Sick of it.

I recommend he gets professional help NOW. Most people (and some dodgy trainers) think socialisation = playing with lots of dogs at the park. If this guy doesn't have a clue then he needs help now.

Good for you. Look your mum might be the best driver in the world but you just cant account for all the idiots out there behind the wheel. God forbid she should ever be in a car accident but you can just never be sure some twit might not come out of nowhere. It's just safer all round if your pup is restrained. I really don't want to harp on the point but if you buy him a little harness now (they come in XXS) he will get used to it and be much better in it. He is the perfect age to get used to those things (still a puppy). Much harder to get a dog used to it. Mine cost $15. If I still had it I'd post it to you, but alas, I gave it to someone else. That, and the teeny harnesses are very cute

In those circumstances, the aggressors would have been on the end of my boot. I'd not have been standing around waiting for help or for the dogs to cease the attack. I kicked a dog off mine before and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. 2 bullies and a GSD? I wouldn't kick them - I'd be worried about landing up in hospital or worse. I'd "happily" kick away a less powerful dog though.

rhubarb leaves are poisonous to people too! Can't feed dogs macadamia nuts (apparently even one can kill) and anything with artifical sweetner (deadly too).

I bought my boy online from a puppy farmer (Freedom Kennels). He is a wonderful dog - great with people and dogs, very focused on me, great little agility prospect if I ever get my handling right etc. I love him to bits. Many people love him too and ask me where I got him/will I get another one. NO BLOODY WAY! He is wonderful, but his mother lived a crappy life caged with no real exercise, no real human contact etc. I won't be handing over my money to anyone who doesn't have the dog's best interest at heart ever again. That means health testing (not vet visits, very different things). That means a lot more than just mating two nice dogs together. Most people here are passionate about dogs being bought into this world by ethical breeders. Personally, I couldn't give a rats what body they were registered with, but I have yet to hear about a truly ethical puppy farmer or BYB.

I leave the harnesses in the car. We walk to the car with leashes on (it is outside of my property). I have trained them to face their backs to me and sit still when I say "seatbelt time" so it takes no time at all. I did this with my boy by saying "seatbelt time" to my boy each time a physically put him in the position. After a few goes, he did this automatically - he even raises one paw to "help" me put the harness on. I trained my girl by giving her a small treat when she was still and relaxed. Took a bit longer but now she is fine. She sometimes would get herself twisted, so I have changed the position of the harness (I put her facing the window, rather than me). She is now relaxed in the car and loves going for a drive. It helps that they go in the car almost every single day. It isn't a special/scary/thing to get excited about event.

But in an accident he will become a projectile. He could (would) die and could hit someone else, killing them too. If he is on your lap, if he doesn't go through the windscreen, he will bounce back into your face - going 60km/hr or faster. Put a seatbelt on him regardless of the law. It will take a few seconds and could save his life. And yours.

Kelpie-i - We have a behaviourist and we do training. We get A LOT of very good help. I hope my behaviourist isn't reading this and thinking I'm criticising her :D . She has gone to obedience classes and is a total angel (the dog, not the behaviourist). She does agility and is focused and happy - not at all interested in the other dogs. Everyone comments on what a "sweet and soft" dog I have. I have gone from a dog that wouldn't move out of a crate and would totally shut down in the presence of a human to a dog that will happily walk along St Kilda peir, with kids running etc. She does agility and loves it, she loves her walks and will way her tail and happily say hello to lots of dogs and people. I couldn't have done this without my behaviourist help. The problem is that certain things (dogs in her face, people who are scared of dogs and have that strange stare/tense thing happening). She also reacts to some things rather randomly. She sometimes does her "I am scared" act to people who she knows well - people who she would wag her tail upon seeing a few days earlier. I am getting her thyroid tested (behaviourist recommended this). I guess I was just complaining out loud that you can have a lot of good advice, try your very hardest (and my hardest isn't good enough obivously) but still it can all go to sh*t in a handbasket as someone tries to follow you so their dog can say hello.

JulesP that is what I do - I must look manic to passers-by! I sing little songs like "who's that man? what is he doing?" in a high pitched voice. I also try to smile as it lets off endorphins (sp). Bit hard to do when two staffys are jumping on your terrified girl and their owner doesn't give a crap. I used "Look at That" for a while, but she seems to be desensitised to it when one of her "arch enemies" (eg poor muslim man who wears traditional garb) walks down the street. She also seems to react very randomly. She gets very upset by some people and not by others (when there is no difference that I can discerne) I have had some success with getting her focus and then getting her to do some "training" as someone walks past iwth a very high level of reinforcement. The problem is if someone has an off leash dog/walks very slowly and is looking odd it is hard to sustain this. Sigh. It seems like it is "easy" in theory. When you have a reactive dog and live in a high densisty area with no back yard, you have to face off leash dogs every day unfortunately, no matter how well you plan things.

once you've wheelbarrowed the attacking dog away, how do you let it go? Aren't you at a high risk of getting bitten yourself? Will it just try to attack your dog again?

nothing wrong witha dog with a mohawk!

. abed, which is why I find it important to keep the dog just under threshold at all times when going through the desensitisation process. Kelpie-i - how do you suggest that an ordinary owner does this (genuine question)? I have a girl that can sometimes be set off by things. I only walk her at odd times at on leash areas - but there is always a moron with an off leash dog. One guy will even follow me with his off leash staffy (I cross the road) so that they can say hello. Am I never meant to let her leave the house until she has reached a certain level of desensitisation? It becomes a vicious circle because I get stressed when I see off leash dogs on our walks and she picks up on that and reacts accordingly.

Mine prefer lots of shorter walks - it breaks up the day and gets them out of the house more often. For us, anything under 1/2 an hour is a shorter walk. We do go on longer walks on the weekend, but they still get some short ones to keep it interesting.

Here here! I wonder if people who don't want to put down nervy dogs have ever raised one? I have one and as much as I love her and she has bought me joy, she has bought me a world of heartache too. It is more compasionate to PTS at a vet than to leave a dog shivering in a pound for a week, and then be put down bya stranger.

At my little "club" we train on leash. Only dogs with proven focus are allowed off leash. When we started, when they wanted to give everyone a go off leash, we all stood outside a gated area. This took up time, but it meant that everyone was safe. We are now at the point where all dogs can run off leash, provided the other dogs are standing back from the course.

Glen Eira is having a review of off leash laws/areas. There is only ONE more chance to participate before the report is written. This will then be published for public comment in Feb, but it is much better to get dog owner's needs met if we have input into the report. Details here: Bentleigh McKinnon Youth Centre — 7pm, 8 December Higgins Road, Bentleigh East Mel Ref: 77 F2 There is also a summary of problems listed on the council website (attacks, dogs harrassing people, people not picking up after their dog). My position is that laws exist to address all of these things already - they just aren't enforced by the council. In my two years of walking my dogs twice a day, I have never once seen a ranger. I also believe that the council should focus on people walking their dogs off leash in on leash areas - that is a real problem in my area.