LizT

Strange. When we first moved into this house just over 10 years ago when my husband and I got together we had five cats between us. His two and my three. We kept seeing cats everywhere and my kids called me the crazy cat lady as when I came home in my car they all came running over to me. We are down to two now, as this was 10 years ago. Anyway, we kept seeing this light grey cat IN our house at odd times. Sometimes it would be sitting on our washing machine and at other times just drifting through the family/kitchen area. We knew it wasn't one of ours and it always 'vanished' when we tried to look at it closely. We began to refer to it as "the ghost cat'. It was strange. Then after we had been here a couple of years my OH had to go under the house in a very low area to help install some gas pipes for the plumber who was less than agile. He found the skeleton of a cat down there, brought it out and buried where we have our dear departed cats and dogs buried. Sightings of the 'ghost cat' stopped. But on occassion, and just recently I was standing in our driveway talking to my OH when I felt what I thought was one of our cats pushing up against the back of my leg. I was annoyed and gently pushed backed saying "stop it" as I didn't want hairs all over my pants. No one's there my OH smiled. Must have been our old friend.

I also bought one recently (at the Melb Royal) and as I've borrowed one before from a friend I have to say I too am very impressed with this brush. Also clearly it does benefit quiet different coat types as you have Pugs and I have Cavaliers. :rofl: LizT and I got one at the same time, much to Sab's delight. ;) It is fantastic on the cavs coat. I sprinkle them with an Isle of Dogs product, brush that dry leave until just about to go in the ring then brush with CC and beautiful shiny coat. So did your sister, we bought all three. Wasn't warned about not using any spray products though. Glad to know that as I wouldn't want to stuff it up by oxidizing the brass.

I have always found it easier to introduce a puppy to existing pets than and older dog. Have had a few disasters in the past. And having horses, multiple dogs cats etc. it's very important they get along and know the rules. Not saying a new adult cant learn the rules just find babies are accepted without question. Also like to have an age gap between my dogs too.

Loyalty Beyond the Grave Rusty was the classic mutt. And in classic fashion, he acquired his owners, rather than the other way around, by finding himself a family – in this case the Ahrens family of Wisconsin. Mike Ahrens always wanted a dog, but his wife Bridget was against the idea. She worried the canine would careen wildly through the house, knocking over the antiques, digging up the yard, and making enemies of the neighbors. But Mike persuaded her to give Rusty a chance. Rusty was a brownish, medium-sized dog that had hints of Labrador, bulldog and hound. He promptly fulfilled Bridget's expectations and added a few others – he escaped the yard and made acquaintance with some of the female dogs in the area before the Ahrens. Rusty did have one redeeming quality. He was devoted to Stephen, the couple's 2-year-old son. Rusty took Stephen's playful tail pulling and the poking in stride. He slept outside Stephen's room and was there to greet the boy when he woke up. Rusty continued to find ways to escape the yard, leaving for a few hours and then returning on his own. One day, however, he was crossing the road in front of the Ahrens house when a car struck him. The Ahrens rushed him to the vet, but his conditioned worsened quickly. Wanting to spare Rusty pain, they decided to euthanize him. The family grieved – losing Rusty had punched a hole in their lives. A month later, Stephen was walking with his mother along the same stretch of road when he broke free from her hand and ran after a ball he saw in the street ... and into the path of an oncoming car. But before the car struck, something threw Stephen to the curb. Bridget ran to her son. He was shaken and crying, but unhurt. The driver, relieved that the boy was all right, said he was sorry he couldn't avoid their dog, but that he was a hero. Perplexed, Bridget said there wasn't any dog in the road. The driver insisted there was – a brown dog had knocked Stephen out of the way, and the car had hit the dog. "I felt the wheels going over the dog's body," he said. When they looked, the dog – if there was a dog – was gone. When asked if he saw a dog, Stephen nodded and said, "It was Rusty."

Same. That's a good idea. Don't forget obedience and agility clubs.

I doubt it will attract popular support. We could also add "must be certified clear of all inheritable conditions that can be tested for". That would rule out a few current GR CHs. The idea that the conformation ring is the be all and end all of selecting breeding dogs is a nonsense IMO. If we're going to have bigger and better titles then they should have some kind of additional requirement. Be nice to see dogs that still perform a function being required to have a title at the other end of their names too. There are a few appitude/instinct tests at least that could be used. What would be the criteria for a Cav KCS? Must excel as a comforter dog and be digent at lap sitting. Two of my three would be "Supremes" already One prefers her own space more but would qualify as a "Grand Ch cuddler".

They are very, very "wash 'n wear"! Well compare to the Lhaso Apso I also had at the time!!

I'm not surprised. I have to say as obedient as our girl was to commands somehow we forgot to teach her not to kill our chickens! She did it once when she was young and then at about 11 years old became a "repeat offender" killing regularly despite several strategies which failed miserably. She ended up spending her twilight years at my mothers.

Mum always told me to stay away from those that are white underneath. That the brown underneath are okay. Although what is toxic to people may not be to another species and visa versa. Also all the good eating mushrooms are usually around in the late Autumn here in VIctoria.

This is true, a few years ago my B.I.Law took on a Blue Heeler dog of about 9 months. He had already had three owners and had been to "Puppy School", several vets and so on. He was described as "difficult", but my B.I.Law is a softie and the dog was "at risk" of being sent to the pound or even P.T.S. He took it on, had it desexed and it was only after it had been with him for seveal weeks that someone at his training school (an instructor) suggested it might be deaf. Tests were done and Yes, that was the case. From then on things really changed for "Ollie" and his training went leaps and bounds as they taught him special signing. He had a long and happy life.

Jebee...just read through your posts and so good to see to you. You have it pretty much covered and I think you probably have good instincts too. Don't forget to trust them too.

That's interesting. Last year with my bitch who had been on Sentitnel for most of her life my vet said that the puppies would be well and truly protected against parasites an not to bother to begin worming until 4 weeks old.

Are you sure mum is not just doing a sterling job of cleaning up the poos? My bitch kept everything spick and span and I think it was her favourite part of being a mum! YUK. Also now that she is probably feeling a bit better and less muscle fatigued she does need to get up and wonder about more. So long as she comes back to feed and you don't let the puppies get cold it shouldn't be a problem.

Well I had my Cavalier girl scanned last Friday and I was prety sure she was pregnant but wanted to confirm it before I listed here. She has had some nipple development so I was hopeful. The scan shows one foetus! Gosh I hope there is another hiding somewhere in there. The senior Vet was away until this Wednesday so we are rechecking then. Of course, I will have her x-rayed at 8 weeks (I hear you all say ) to confirm size and numbers since she will have to have a c-section anyway by the looks of things. This is her first litter ,poor girl, I know I shouldn't beat myself up but I feel so guilty. putting her through this. Oh. and she's due 30/11 - 1/12.

Strangely enough ALL animals can swim. It's more a case of whether they enjoy it or not. When in danger, a bushfire or such most will go into the water without hesitation to escape danger. Making it an enjoyable experience will be the key. I had a bitch once that was happy to swim in a dam, river or such, really you couldn't keep herout on a hot day but she didn't like the noise of waves when we first took her to the beach and would stand and bark at them rather than go in for a swim. Eventually she became used to the noise and didn't bark but as it was a surf beach she didn't attempt to go in but used to race along the foam snapping at the waves. We didn't think it was a good idea for her to go in anyway as she would have been dumped.

Congratulations! I love that you did three tests Never mind at least when your older kids are bigger they can help with the new puppy, when that time comes.

No Fordogs you are right. Something in this whole sad saga just doesn't jell does it. It makes no sense at all. Why X-ray a dog before desexing? That isn't routine. Why if the x-rays showed HD desex it? Why not contact the breeder since the dog was only purchased a few short week earlier? No, much of this whole sad tale make little sense. And yes, it's the poor dog that paid the ultimate price and the family and you that have suffered.

Many years ago I had two entire bitches and one entire dog. When the dog tried mounting the bitch she'd always throw him off and hump him. We never had puppies, which in hindsight is probably a good thing but in those days there was always people in the neighbourhood who would give them a good home. That's how people got crossbred dogs in those days. Nowadays knowing so much more than I did back then, many breeders have told me that some males can need some training and assistance to learn to be good stud dogs. And then there are those that happen without trying and often unwanted.

Wow, glad vet didn't try to remove dead pup!! What breed Karlmore? I'm guessing a larger one with 12 pups LOL

"Meant To-be" ;)

"Prefix Oops who left the gate open" ;)

Was that a professional assessment or just your experience? I'm assuming you've had your people look at them? I remember your original thread, it was heartbreaking. But legally (and I'm not saying what they did was right) isn't the dog theirs to do with as they wish? If their vet advised them to have it PTS then this is something they can do. Although why on earth they didn't call you and see if you could get a second opinion 'dog' only knows. Especially given the short time frame, it's not like they had the dog for long.

Fortunately we are both on the same page when it comes to the animals here. We talk it through, look at the pros and cons and then nut out the cons so we can make it work WHEN the time is right. LOL Importantly though make sure it is not something he is dead against. If he is then maybe now is not the right time.

Indeed. You are the multi faceted trainer. Grief councellor amongst many other things. Oh, the "should haves" of life.....

Thanks Leema, it helps alot. This is also my 2nd litter but her first. Healthy pup and healthy mum. A happy win/win.