LizT

The Euros usually don't get active around here (Yarra Valley) until late summer, when the fruit is ripe on the trees. They are a pain...literally! And very agressive.

Current dogs are thought to have been domesticated about 19,000 years ago (after an earlier failed attempt about 30,000 ya) As a zoologist I consider them the same species, and the taxonomy in most common usage does too We must be reading different literature :laugh: The DNA studies I've read indicate delineation 100,000 years ago but put domestication at 10,000 years. Can you PM me some authors please as I would like to read further. Thanks! Aw man, you mean I can't just talk crap on the internet without sources? Dammit :p :laugh:On my lunchbreak so don't have my referencing skills up to snuff, but - http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/2011/08/110819-dogs-wolves-russia-domestication-animals-science-evolution/ Under the Biological Species Concept dogs and wolves fail at the first hurdle, by gettin' busy and having fertile pups :) Edit - this looks interesting (but inconclusive) too - http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/05/15/1203005109 Of course you can...it's what the internet is for! :D

I agree with cats needing meat to thrive but they will scavenge if they have to. I did a project where I analysed the gut contents of cats living at one of the dumps in a town between Brisbane and Toowoomba. Kitties were dispatched for me and I opened their guts to find glass, alfoil, plastic, rocks, alongside native marsupials, reptiles, frogs and birds and some feral mice. I was surprised at the garbage they did eat. WOW! Cats are more like people than I thought. As a species I think people definitely eat the most diversity (and garbage) than any other, althought hopefully not glass, alfoil, plastic, rocks etc. However, there are some disorders where people do eat weird types of stuff such as glass, charcoal, wood -Pica.

It doesn't matter what you write as your first post. You obviously felt compelled to respond because you're passionate about your beliefs. I'm not sure what Liz T meant by that comment It made me feel a bit paranoid actually - I feel like going back and having a look at my first post now :laugh: Actually I think I followed and read a fair bit of threads before I posted my first comment too! Can't remember what it was but I certainly skipped the "meet n greet". My comment wasn't meant to be provocative, just noticed the number 1 at 'posts' and new name 'tis all. But as a heads up, "off the cuff" comments (like mine) can often get miss interpretted here on DOL. Have you been fitted for you "Flame suit" yet? May you never need it. :)

I think its sad your kids don't get to chose themselves Why? Most kids eat what their parents want them to eat. Free choice comes when you leave home. Because becoming a Vegan is a personal choice and not one your parents should make for you. I believe children should be free to sample all foods and decide what is palatable to them. I'm not sure how well it would be policed in a school ground anyway with children swapping lunches, getting tuckshop, having sleepovers. Isn't choosing to feed meat forcing your choice on children? Part of being a parent is making decisions on behalf of our children and they will reflect our own beliefs in all areas. I have never énforced by choice outside of the home, I have found that beyond some curiousity and experimentation the children have reached their own conclusion. Perhaps it is easier as we live in area where vego/vegan is not uncommon? I think giving your children all foods of the world and letting them decide, along with the education behind it, is the best way of letting them chose what path they take. I'd be devastated if my first taste of a steak wasn't until I was an adult. Obviously children follow their parents in many ways so if you live a strict vegan life, then no doubt they will chose to follow that path too but I believe they should be able to make that choice themselves. Not as simple as it sounds...nor easily doable. it's like Religion, a child will naturally have the Religious upbringing it's parents choose it to have from the onset. If it chooses to change religions as an adult that is up to them, it's rare though, as these things become ingrained. One raises one kids with what one believes to be their best interests, whether the majority believe it to be so or not.

You've obviously never lived with pugs - they'll finish both bowls then come asking for more And Cavaliers. :laugh:

you can post where you like :) Of course you can, I just find it interesting to think there are those watching and what subjects bring them out. :) Welcome to DOL.

It's true. HDW. I've experienced this first hand with a travelling butcher and his mobile refridgeration unit. The cattle are not stressed prior to death and so there is no lactic acid present in the muscle. Unfortunately intensive animal farming comes hand in hand with intensive populations in small areas.

Just look at our teeth and you'll know what we are supposed to eat! Anything we can get our hands on!

Interesting what topics people will choose as their first post in a forum.

I don't believe a cat will do well on a vegan diet. Cats need meat to thrive. If a cat is self sufficent it will always choose to hunt for fresh meat, it will not scrounge for garbage like a dog will. A dog will "survive" on just about any crap. I too, feel it's wrong for carnivoires to be imposed a un-natural diet.

It doesn't matter what breed they are, it was a horrible attack by two badly trained dogs, with an irresponsible owner. Yep. Two sweet innocent litle puppies...once...now grown up and so poorly managed that they have been labelled by society as "vile Monsters" and will be "made to pay" for their anti-social behaviour. Hopefully, so will their owner. But really, if their owner had a better understanding of what can happen when dogs are allowed to grow up without the training and supervision needed to make them acceptable members of the community or at least to restrict their free roaming so as to make sure they don't harrass dog or person, then there would never have been a problem ( or with any dog for that matter). It doesn't matter what breed of dog they are, they have been allowed to become what they have, have inflicted a terrible injury on a person due to a lack of responsibility and now will pay the ultimate price. Does anyone learn anything from these incidents...I truly hope so.

Another classic case of someone under estimating the ability of their dogs to make it ever so clear they do not like another dog...and it's owner. As Tralee stated, I don't think dogs can ever be under managed, yet time and time again they are left in situations where they have the capacity to become agressive and opportunity to show that agression in spades. Much to the detriment of innocents. And the repurcussions are endless...for all.

Oh she's just lovely. Pups look to be doing well. Glad she is a happy mumma now. :)

Try to be patient. One needs exposure in order to learn. It can't be lectured. When I was 21 I adopted a Maltese X entire bitch, I later purchased a Lhaso Apso X Maltese from a Sunday Market for a weeks wage. I had grand plans. I was going to breed some very cute lovely puppies, have fun doing it and make some money to boot. All my friends wanted a pup and kept asking if anything was forthcoming. I knew nothing about breeding dogs at 21. Fortunately the "fates" took hold of the situation, and despite both dogs remaining entires they never mated. I thought I was unlucky. I really can't believe how lucky I have been. If your co-worker lives in an apartment in the Docklands it's unlikely she will be beyond the day dreaming stage. Maybe get her to come to a dog show and look at some breeds.

That's good to hear Mojopoodle...now all that's left is for you to post some pictures of the little family! :D

Congratulations on your soon to be new puppy "Sammy". :) May he grow strong and healthy and have a long and happy life with you all.

Congratulations BB and Zarah....definitely not Cavalier babies! :D

Congrats. :) I would recommend some inner health plus, just open a capsule, mix with cooled boiled water and pop on mums nipple or a drop direct on pups tongue, just in case.

:)

Have some fun and show her yourself. Go along to a few shows and watch others, observe their dress, you will need a number holder. Possibly a crate for you puppy and a nice fine show lead. AFTER the Cavaliers have been shown talk to a few exhibitors. Enter some shows, have a go. You will both learn and benefit from the experience. You may even be lucky like I was and make great friends and find some people who are keen to share their knowledge and experience. :)

My pup loves the water squirter, she worked out that being naughty meant she got squirted, so she would intentionally be naughty and then stand there with her mouth open to catch all the water I squirted at her face Some "mum's" do have 'em! ;)

Or if you have an oil burner put some in that. Sweet dreams. :)

That's really interesting. My dog has been on BH for about three months and for the last two of those has had dandruff intermittently for the first time ever. I've just taken him off of it so I'm very keen to see if the dandruff disappears. My Cavs coats became very dry and dull and yes, dandruff as in dry flakey skin was part of that. It took a few months on a previously used food to get them back to glossy and shiny with healthy skin.