PuddleDuck

We had an issue with a human/dog name dilemma about 15 years ago, and its put me off human names for pets since then. When I was a kid I had a dog I had named Kerry who was very much adored by the family. Within about 6 months of getting her, I had one brother engaged to a girl called Kerry and another one dating a girl called Kerry. It got confusing, and the girls werent exactly popular within the family, generally not nice people. Not a family BBQ went by without someone yelling "Kerry, come here"....pause for effect...."oh, no, I meant the bitch. Oh wait, thats all of you"....pause for effect...."OK, just the one who eats pal then".... Amazingly, only one of the 3 Kerry's stayed with the family beyond a few months, and she had more than 2 legs..... I think I'm pretty safe now with a dog called Doofus

I agree with Erny and Jaxx - I dont think it should be discriminated who the money/relief is given to - I think it is really best to go to ALL animal owners needing assistance with their pets, not just those with purebred dogs. I think the same thing happened with Dogs VIC after the bushfires as well? For my own personal preference, I'll donate to PACERS, although others may feel differently.

Brilliant brilliant brilliant book! One of the best dog books I've ever read - I finished reading, flipped it over and started it again!

We are looking at the pig in mud one as well - we would need an extra large Does anyone know how heavy the flap is? My concern is that we want to give the dogs the extra access, but we have an inside only cat that would probably see it as her port for freedom (and then get stuck on top of the fence all day.... )

We used the beer traps at the kennel I used to work at - it was brilliant. The kennel owner used to empty the containers in with his ducks afterward and they were still pretty interested in them (when the alcohol had evaporated off them)....we called it drunk duck stew (I'm not sure this method of disposal is recommended but not one duck ever got sick!)

I've got 2 highly active dogs (a Toller and a Kelpie x Shepherd) and we live in a 2 bedroom apartment with a small courtyard. Thankfully our strata has no issues with our dogs being here and our dogs are absolutely fine. Kodi (Toller) had her puppyhood here, and they are both happy with well enriched lives. I do have it easier because they can toilet outside without me taking them for a walk. People often tell me it isn't fair to keep dogs in units and I always say "look, if I give you 2 options - option 1 is that I lock you in a HUGE, completely empty room all day, and you can do whatever you want but you cant leave that room, OR, option 2, I lock you in a small room all day, with books, a TV, a laptop and a bed, and you can do whatever you want all day but cant leave that room....which one are you going to pick?" Everyone picks the small room, then gets my point that dogs can actually be OK in small spaces. I also point out that it is incredibly common overseas, particularly in places like New York.

This has probably originated from the Australian Veterinary Association starting to warn against offering bones because of potential issues: LINK

I don't refer to myself as a behaviourist, although I don't have a problem with the term being used and if it's the only way to explain to someone what I do then I will use it. I only train dogs when it suits my schedule, I've not noticed anyone else run off their feet doing it down here so I doubt it would be as reliable as my other business (unrelated). I have no formal qualifications in dog training, clients come through referral based on my past work so it hasn't been an issue. In fact, I've had referrals from a veterinary behaviourist (vets and other dog trainers make up the bulk of my referees). I plan to work in academia when I've finished my post-grad qualifications, not sure that I would enjoy clinical psych. I have an interest in affective neuroscience (how emotions are processed in the brain, particularly anxiety) so I'd like to see where that takes me, too early to say. Probably not dogs, although I expect much of that field to be relevant to dogs. Interestingly, I would be no more entitled to use the term "animal behaviourist" when I finish my degree than someone who has never trained, owned or even seen a dog! I am currently doing an animal behavioural degree through Macquarie Uni in Sydney - it is a B.Science, majoring in Brain Behaviour and Evolution through their Centre for the Integrated Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB). As far as I am aware, it is the only undergraduate Animal Behaviour degree in Australia (and its awesome!) My degree is part behaviour, part evolution, part biology and part psychology.I got into it in the first place because I wanted to work with training dogs but honestly, this degree wont be the one to get me there. I adore it, it is SO interesting, but we spend a lot more time looking at insects than we do at domestic animals (I have lecturers working with bees, ants, and butterflies at the moment. Most of my biology lecturers seems to have more of a background in marine sciences so far). Even though it will give me a good understanding of learning and behaviour, to work with dogs I feel I would need to spend a lot more time doing heaps more dog-related study (I am a qualified vet nurse) - such as NDTF, etc. I will be more than qualified to put "animal behaviourist" on my business card when I finish but I do not feel in any way that I would be a qualified canine behaviourist when I have that piece of paper behind me - although there are many others that would. Aidan, I am most likely going to end up in academia and research when I'm done as well

We missed the race this year - we go down every year for our anniversary and left a few days before the race started coz I had to get back for uni Yep that is the giant pile of snow, it had been there for a few days and when OH saw someone had dug a tunnel through it he got really excited and we spent an hour playing there with the dogs (he's the photographer of the family!). We've got more snow photos HERE - last year and this year. The dogs love it there (and OH is trying to wear me down on the idea of moving there )

My favourite sequence of our guys at Dinner Plain this year.... Doof: Hey! I haz found a tunnel Kodi: What? Lemme see! Doof: Bwahahahaha! You shall never escape! Kodi: Maybe if I just.....try....to sneak....... Doof: I iz the winner!!! Now smile for the camera or mum will get mad...

I was watching Dogs 101 on Animal Planet while I was home sick a while ago - they were saying that Labs come in four colours - yellow, black, chocolate and blue I've never seen a blue lab (and am quite happy to not see one!!) but has anyone ever encountered one before?

What a terrible week you've had. I am so sorry to hear about your dogs, as well as your friend and family. Healing vibes ;)

:D Thats gold! I got a good laugh driving home recently - there was a yellow lab on the side of the road answering natures call with a horrified looking teenage boy at the other end of the lead. Next thing I see is him ripping a plastic bag from his pocket, frantically opening it and attempting the squeeze it inth the ever-decreasing gap between the descending poo and the ground. Unfortunately the light changed so I'm not sure if he made it, but the look on the poor labby's face was priceless!

Good idea Persephone I didn't even think of the DAP but it would probably make more sense than ongoing RR. I think they might become desensitised to RR if it was used regularly. Quick background is there are 2 dogs, I think around 3ish years old, JRT X's. They aren't related but have been together since they were quite young. One is quite nervy/stressy but is actually overall OK. The other one is also pretty nervy and currently just showing some really undesireable behaviour like destruction (washing, kids toys etc) and did nip at a child to get at some food (was supervised but still, ). They both get separation anxiety so when they are removed from the situation (i.e. put outside, in another room) they will bark until someone comes back. As my friends have a young baby who is waking up when the dogs bark, they are trying to avoid them barking too much. Both dogs would benefit from more training and obedience practice as well, which they are working to remedy. They have moved house recently (but the dogs have always been barkers) and the family living arrangements have changed as well which they are probably still adjusting to. I'm absolutely recommending a behaviourist but looking for other options to help as well

Just wondering if anyone knows a rough dosage guideline for rescue remedy? A friend has 2 dogs, JRT sized and pretty anxious. I've only even put it in their water - is that the norm or is there a better way to dose them?

For accomodation try here they have heaps of pet friendly accomodation, just ask them which places you can take dogs to. Obviously they are happy to have the dogs inside - not outside in the cold! There are no place that I know of that have yards though, and all walkies are on a leash, unless you go right down the back to the offlead area. I'm not sure how far from Melbourne, its about 10-15 minutes out of Mt Hotham if that helps though

Dinner plain is the only place in Australia where you can take dogs to the snow. I spent a LOT of time researching it last year because I was determined the dogs needed to see the snow :D Its totally awesome - we just got back from 10 days down there with the pooches and had an absolute blast. Its the second year we've been, and we'll be going back next year! Its not crowded and doesn't have that "trendy ski resort" vibe, more like a country town. Heaps of walkies, but you do have to be carefully not to stray into the national park - they have fox baits in there usually. Photos from our trip are here - photos from this year and last year. The dogs LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE it, have a weird fetish for eating snow, and honestly think its just the single greatest thing in the entire universe. If you get the chance - well worth it

Oddly - every day when we come home from work the kongs are neatly piled in the far end of the yard in a small space between the kennel and a big pot plant. The dogs eat them throughout the course of the day on the deck but for some reason always deposit them at the other end of the yard when they are empty. On the other hand, it does make them easier to find at the crack of dawn!!

Jed, you are welcomed, loved and such a very critical member of the DOL family. It is so very good to have you back home

Interesting that others have the same issues. With the tendons and cow hooves as chew treats I am sure mine don't miss out! Next question, can anyone explain why they only spew on carpet??

Doofus (Shepherd X Kelpie) is a mongrel. He and I are both OK with it I have to say though that I was incredibly offended when someone told me no, he's not a cross breed mutt, he's a SHELPIE :rolleyes:

Ever since I've known Doof he has always vomited within 3-12 hours after having a bone. It doesn't seem to matter what sort. I would love to offer them as a treat but it just doesn't seem like the right thing to do. Right now the closest they get is to have the dried beef tendons, which are really hard and they keep down. Has anyone else had the same issue with vomiting? Were you able to work around it?

Oh I gotta get me some of them lap hedgedogs. I'll take 7 but I need them in different colours coz I wants to race them. I cant afford a thoroughbred and there is a real market for hedgedog racing in the city (patent pending, dont be stealing my idea).....I just need them to be able to run at hyperspeed, the punters lose interest if they have to wait for them to finish a lap at randwick. Also, can you recommend a place where I can get some miniaturised jockeys? ETA - I need papers too - I'm not one of them unedumacated consoomers.

I'm not sure from a canine perspective :D but endep is brilliant drug for managing chronic pain. I wouldn't consider it to be an easily interchangeable drug though, you really have to be weaned off it slowly.

We do much of the same, kongs which amazingly at times take me a hammer to wedge huge pieces in there and the dogs get it out every time!! We chuck cat food out over the mulch (our dog yard is mulched because the Kodiak Bear likes to dig) and then run a rake over it so it falls into the mulch. I hide treats in different places and smear peanut butter on stuff (above head height etc). Frozen ice blocks - we 1/2 fill the container, freeze it, then put the treat in, more water and freeze again, so that the treat is right in the middle. They love frozen apple pieces (and it uses up any apples we dont get around to eating). They have a clamshell pool in summer as well. Despite all this, I expect they knock it all over in about an hour and then go sleep for the rest of the day. Kodi also has a weird habit of stacking the kongs up neatly at the far end of the yard when she is finished with them.