Kismet

oh god, Jacki and Shane... i'm SO shocked and sorry to hear this. can't stop crying. i know i never met pyro, but like so many of us, i felt like i knew him... i really wish i'd known him. he was one of the great ones... you could see it in his photos, but even more so in everything he was to you guys. i'm sure he'll be remembered by everyone who knew him... and so many of us who weren't lucky enough to. RIP little man... hope you have all the empty yoghurt containers your heart desires now. Take care guys, Nicky

It really was fantastic! I'm SO inspired and feel so much more confident and comfortable to go out and deal with unknown rescue dogs now. I agree... best dog/learning experience i've ever had. Can't thank you enough Steve! Nicky

Oh pampa... i'm so sorry. You must be an absolute wreck with worry. Is there any way they can biopsy straight away so you can get some answers - I know i'd be going crazy with fear in your situation. Did your vet mention the possibility of it being a benign tumour? Sorry if that's a stupid question - I have no experience in this area. Big hugs to you and your girl - i'll be thinking of you. Please let us know as soon as you have more news. Nicky

The use of these collars aren't banned here are they? Is it just the importation? How ridiculous, when you can buy them here anyway.

I just wanted to thank everyone who offered advice for introducing my dog to my nephew. They met tonight, and it went absolutely perfectly. Chupa was SO gentle, and just sniffed and licked the baby's feet while he was in my arms. Any time I thought she was nuzzling the baby too much, or possibly going to lick it's face (which the parents didn't want), I told her to sit, and like a little angle she immediately sat back. The baby thought the whole thing was hillarious, and liked chupa better than any of the toys my family had got for him. My dad got the whole meeting on video, and it's just gorgeous. A special thankyou to Staffy Rescue for letting me test chupa beforehand with their baby Jackson (who is so wonderful with dogs). Without this, I doubt I could have been so relaxed, and would no doubt have created tension myself. Thanks again for everyone's advice Kismet

I just found a couple more that are meant for "convalescence, malnourishment, young puppies, nursing bitches, old age", so might be good for Molly too. Hearty Canine Combo 4 medium eggs 1/2 cup beef/mutton 1 cup cooked brown rice 1/4 cup grated/chopped veges Scramble eggs lightly and mix with other ingredients. Serve warm. Dog's Delight 3/4 cup mutton flap (or 5 medium eggs, and 1 tsp oil) 3/4 cup cooked brown rice 1/4 cup grated/chopped veges 1/4 cup cottage cheese 2 tsp marmite Scramble eggs lightly and mix with other ingredients. Serve warm. Kismet

Hi Bommy, Here are some recipes from the homeopath vet I used to take my dog to when I lived in NZ.... I use the "Canine Delight" as the main part of my dog's diet (though i've started using roast chicken instead of chicken mince.... because she got sick of the mince and I give her raw chicken wings and meaty bones so she gets the cartilage etc she'd get from pet mince). Hope this is useful to you. General Instruction RICE - Use wholegrain rice (brown). One cup dry rice makes 3 cups cooked. VEGETABLES - Use a combination of seasonal vegetables - carrots, brocolli, pumpkin, peas, beans. Don't use leafy vegetables like cabbage. Cook quickly until tender, preferably by steaming, to retain goodness and improve digestibility. Use the liquid they are cooked in COOKING - There is no law requiring offal to be cooked. We recommend cooking minced chicken. Cooking vegetables improves digestibility, although small amounts of raw grated or pureed vegetables can be used. Try to feed most other food raw. OIL - use cold pressed oil (flax, sunflower, safflower) at a rate of 1 tsp per 5-10 kg body weight. RECIPES Canine Delight 1 cup chicken mince, cooked 1/4 cup cooked mashed veges (pumpkin, kumera, peas, carrots, beans) 2 cups cooked brown rice/potatoes/wholemeal bread 1 tsp cold pressed oil 1/4 cup cooked ox liver Mix ingredients together Fast Fish 425g can mackeral or sardines 2 carrots, raw grated 1/2 cup raw sprouts 3 cup cooked rice or wholemeal bread Mix together and serve. Val's Loaf 1 cup beef mince 2 cup cooked rice 1 cup rye flakes 1 cup cooked veges 1 cup rolled oats 3 raw eggs Mix ingredients and store in fridge. Woffal 1 cup beef mince 4 cups cooked rice 1/2 cup liver or kidneys Cook meat and rice. Lentil Loaf 3 cup water/stock 2 cup rolled oats 1/4 cup oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup lentils 1/4 cup soy flour 1-2 beaten eggs 1/4 cup tomato sauce Slowly add lentils to boiling water/stock and simmer for 20 mins. Add oats and soy flour and let soak for 10 mins. Mix in rest of ingredients and turn into loaf pan. Bake at 350F for 30 mins. Daily Duo for Dogs 1 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal 1 tsp honey Morning: serve as a hot cereal 1 cup choped cooked potatoes 1 tsp oil 2 1/2 cup lean beef 1 tbsp grated/chopped veges Evening: combine and serve warm. Canine Meat 'N' Grain bulk menu 12 cup cooked brown rice 2 cup lean meat 2 cup mutton flap 1 1/2 cup grated/chopped veges Mix and serve warm. suitable for freezing. Potatoes au canine 3 cup boiled, sliced potatoes 1 tbsp food yeast 1/4 cup grated cheese 2 tsp grated/chopped veges 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/4 cup whole milk Layer together the potatoes cottage cheese and yeast in a casserole dish. our milk over them and top with grated cheese. Broil or bake until cheese is melted and slightly brown (about 15min at 350F) Let cool. Mix veges in or serve on side. (Recipes from Akarana Vet Clinic) Btw, all these recipes included a supplement that this Vet made and sold himself, I left it out because obviously you can't get it here... but apparently it contains yeast, kelp, alfalfa, calcium, flax seed fibre and liver powders. Good luck with your pup. Kismet

Thanks Helen, That was a really interesting link... think we could try something like the throwing treats (as long as the baby doesn't try to eat them himself). Kismet

Thanks Mina and Anthony, That would be great if I could get Chupa to meet Jackson. I'm sure you're right, she's just so gentle that the thought of her hurting anyone seems completely ludicrous. It's more that I don't want her to be afraid - because she definately is of this other baby now. See you soon, Nicky P.S: those photos are absolutely adorable!!!

Thanks noisymina - that makes a lot of sense.

Haha Dru, that's hillarious Actually the baby isn't here till Late Jan, so I could in theory try the doll thing, except that I don't know any babies, so getting baby smelling cloths could be difficult. Thanks Mary-Jane, i'll definately try that with the treats

Thanks Rusky and Kylie, I will try the leash thing then. Chupa isn't allowed in the carpeted areas of this house (as it's my parents), so she sits in the open doorway, but never comes into the lounge room. I might let her get accustomed to seeing the baby in the lounge for a bit before bringing him over to her. Thanks again, Nicky

Thanks showdog... hadn't thought about the smell thing

Thanks Kylie, It's funny actually, i've never had a problem with Chupa jumping up on children. EVERYONE else - yes! But from the first time she met children, she seemed to know that she had to play gently. A family with two young children used to mind her when I went on holidays, and I was so surprised when the mother of this family told me that her 5 year old holds chupa's lead when they go out on walks. At that stage it used to take every ounce of my strength to keep her from pulling me down, but she seemed to know that she couldn't do that with a 5 year old. Yeah, keeping her separate from the baby won't be a problem, I just hope I don't have to - she's always been so good with children, and I think babies would have been a similar story if it weren't for my idiot relatives! What you said about keeping the dog in a sit with no slack on the lead was interesting, but i'm wondering if in this situation it might make things worse. If she's already a bit anxious, would keeping her on a tight lead heighten that anxiety? Maybe she won't even relate this new baby to the other one? Truth be told I think it's more the parent she was afraid of. Thanks again, and Merry xmas too! Nicky edited cos I left out a word

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice on the best way to introduce my dog Chupa (4 yo Amstaff cross), to my sister's 9 month old baby, when she comes to visit in January. I wouldn't have had ANY concerns about this previously, since Chupa has always been good with children (although more the 5 year old plus group). BUT since i've moved back to Sydney with her, she's had a couple of encounters with a 2 year old, who was visiting my family. Now I wasn't there for the first couple of encounters, but apparently she initially wanted to meet the 2 year old, but his overprotective parent freaked out, and scared Chupa away. Anyway, ever since she's been quite scared (understandably) to go anywhere near this 2 year old, since if she does (even by accident), the parent panics and pulls their child away. So, today at christmas lunch I saw this happen for the first time myself (since I usually try and not be around when these particular relatives visit). I was furious, because it seems like these relatives are not only teaching their child to be afraid of dogs, but they're teaching my dog to be afraid of babies! Chupa was clearly anxious, and wouldn't leave my side the whole time they were here. Now i'm worried that when she meets my nephew in January (who I adore, and want to have around as much as possible), she's going to transfer this fear across. So i'm wondering how the best way to introduce them should be. Should we just bring the baby in and not make a big deal about introductions until she's used to seeing him in the house? Kinda act like it's a non-event? When they meet should I not be the one carrying the baby in case she becomes jealous? or should I carry the baby so that she sees that i'm ok with him, so he must be ok? I really want this to go well! Help please!!! Kismet

Hi Chuckie500... I did actually read your thread (after posting this) about allergies. I bath her about once every 2 to 3 weeks. Have you been trying the "not bathing" thing? How's it going? I'm actually living with my family again at the moment, and they're really not doggy people, so I don't think the "not bathing" would go down too well here (smell wise). I think we're pretty well sorted now anyway - would be a different story if I tried feeding commercial dog food again I think, but I have no intention to. I hope you get your dog's allergies under control... I know how distressing it can be. Good Luck Kismet

Thanks again all! The Aloveen oatmeal shampoo/conditioner seems to be working a treat. Beccy, I really appreciated your tips on water temp and thorough rinsing etc. The aloveen said to leave on for 5 mins before rinsing - I think this was the longest 5 mins of my dog's life She was looking at me like, "what the hell are we doing?" fifi, is Plush puppy itchy skin from your vet or petstore? (just keeping in mind backups) Kismet

omg Aloveen's the BEST. I washed chupa with it today, and she smells SO good, and is SO soft! I think i'm sniffing her more than she sniffs me now Thanks again for the advice guys. I've made a note of the other recommendations in case she has a real flare up again. Kismet

Thanks guys, Will stop in at the vet tomorrow Kismet

Hi, I'm sorry I know this has been covered before, I'm just not sure where now. My staffy cross has always had skin allergies since a pup, and they're pretty well controlled now by diet (all home cooked food (chicken,rice,veg) and trying to introduce more raw). Her skin used to flare up any time I tried to give her commercial dog food. Just wondering which shampoo and where to get (i'm in sydney), would be best to minimise her itching. She still gets a bit red on her belly from scratching, but no where near as bad as previously (she used to make herself bleed regularly). I've used a couple of different shampoos from pet shops, but don't feel that they make much difference - any suggestions? I know someone mentioned one you get from Vets, but I can't remember the name. Appreciate any help Kismet