Nic.B

Lots of good advice, I agree this needs this needs to be jumped on now as escaping her pen at this age can set you up for issues in the future. Separation anxiety is also something you want to avoid. I would keep things very simple for her, no fuss. Do some short training bursts with her, play games and wear her out, toilet her and then set her up in her pen with a kong, a nylabone with some nutrigel, or something she really enjoys. The rewards need to be something she will do anything for (high value rewards). Find out what she enjoys toy wise as well (squeaky toys are good fun esspecially for puppies) even an empty cardboard box, toilet rolls or an empty coke bottle with the lid and label removed. Leave her and allow her to settle, hopefully she will sleep/enjoy her treats and toys. Once she wakes ask her to sit or wait for her to settle, reward and take her outside to toilet and play. You need to ensure the time she spends in the pen is positive and in short bursts to begin with, you can build on the length of time slowly. There needs to be a balance between the pen, inside time and playing outside etc. I am a hideous worry wart and would worry about a young puppy outside while I was at work as well. My adult dogs have the house and the deck while I am at work, I have never left them in the yard unattended (mostly due to snakes and people who may arrive without notice). Relax! as she may also be picking up on your worry and concern. Keep it simple :) Good luck!

Oh!! I would love to play! Gosh Neko is divine, how do you get anything done Kirslin :laugh:

Juat wanted to wish you and your little one the very best, she sounds very special and is very lucky to have such a devoted mum :) I am sure the perfect home will come along soon where she will come along in leaps and bounds living a happy and rewarding life. Good Luck with your other little girl too.

I have been bowled over more than once by my own dogs and my rescues (large breeds) doing zoomies. One minuite I am standing up the next on am on my bum :laugh: my fault though we were at home and I was not watching them 100% if I had been I would have been able to correct them as they approached. Every single time I have had my back to them hanging out washing or gardening. I dont visit dog parks though if I did and my dogs were in that zone with someone else about I would get them to settle and play some other games until the area was free. I know that my dogs have the ability to put people on their bum on occasion in that situation. Having said that, if you visit a dog park you also need to be aware of what is going on and your surroundings.

Fantastic thread :) so much information and advice, I am definitely going to get some calendula for all of us. It makes so much sense. When my oldest was little she developed a tiny red spotted rash over her torso so I took her to a doctor who said it was eczema and gave me a quarter zone cream. I bought the cream though it just didn’t feel right so I called a naturopath. He asked me over the phone if she was constipated, I had noticed that she had been. He suggested lots of water and diluted prune juice and a couple of other things which I did, the rash was gone the next day (and the cream went in the bin). Natural remedies are amazing :)

Yay! congratulations Wishing you much success with the next steps for Ruby :)

Another good luck wish for Ruby and those advocating on her behalf tonight

Wishing you and Ruby the very best. She is in good hands with you and is simply gorgeous. BHSC are a very difficult council to work with in terms of any dog chipped to their councilarea. Keep fighting for Ruby even if it is tiny steps forward while she remains legaly safe and sound. You know this already I know Good luck Ruby

I must be weird because a waitress cuddling a dog would not worry me at all in fact I love watching or experiencing those things. For anyone in Sydney, Kurrajong Village cafes are pet friendly, the coffee and food is great :) There are a couple of lovely parks (not offlead) one has a pretty creek the kids, dogs and I love visiting. Kurrajong is a high tick area though so make sure you treat/check your dogs if you wander through the bush.

we have those here too coogie. I call them the spandex brigade :laugh: classic

You need to visit Kurrajong village Huski :) everyone brings their dogs along. All the dogs I have met are well behaved and socialised. One of the cafe owners has a lab called Ruby who comes to work with them daily, she mooches about and supervises :) Really dog friendly area. We take our dogs to our local cafes, I take one at a time though so we can just chill. On the weekend we had Billy with us, we met a red and tan kelpie and a little old chi at the cafe. They all behaved and interacted beautifully and totaly enjoyed each others company. Ruby the lab also joined us :)

It is such an individual thing for our dogs. Sometimes they may have a bad day and then perk up and move along happily. When the good days outway the bad, they get closer and closer together, quality of life is lost its time to make difficult decisions. For me, I look at the dog I adore and think to myself, If I were you and you were me, I would want you to set me free. You will make the right decision, you are a wonderful person and dog lover. Hugs to you both

That is awesome! I can see Fern in one of those, she is such a sticky beak! Bella would love it too :) Hazzy Stan would be a classic in one of those :laugh: You have to do it! Mouse is gorgeous, all of the dogs are. So nice to see them all socialising and enjoying their day.

My worst nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a big RBB in the house (removed by a snake catcher) now I am paranoid. Why do they come into the house Snake Catcher? Dumb question though what does carpet python poo look like? I think I may have found some in the garage, at first I was trying to pretend it was from a possum, it is too big though. When we moved here we found a huge snake skin. It measured over two meters in length, as wide as my hand stretched out and the little thin bit at the end was a couple of inches short of reaching from my wrist to my elbow. Pers, thats not good, you must be worried. Are they close to the house? or has she caught them while out and about with you? I am looking forward to the cooler weather, cant come soon enough!

Yes you will Kirslin, I am so happy you have such beautiful memories. Funny little bug :) it is beautiful that you appreciated her little quirks. Thinking of you

Fern can at times be a little scatty with random things, she's not too bad though. The other two dont bat an eyelid at anything. The funniest I have seen was Sammy (horse). I let them in the house yard for some pic and was watching him through the kitchen window while washing up. He let this huge, loud fart go, I heard it inside :laugh: he launched forward, stopped and turned around to look what was there with a not impressed look on his face. Scared the life out of himself with his own fart

Ok, thank you :) Poor little soul, Rest in peace sweetheart

Tragic, poor little soul Interesting that the mother and boyfriend are being charged with manslaughter. Is that because they think they were involved? I hope they didnt put the dog up to it. Or are they being charged on negligence? Either way I agree it was forseeable and preventable, so many clear risk factors ingored.

Oh Kirslin, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. I know how precious and special Kibah is for you, your tribute to her is absolutely beautiful. Sending love and hugs, Run free sweetheart and watch over your Mumma

Beautiful Pers and so true. Bless Bella and your family, my thoughts are with you. Run Free sweet Bella

Gosh Kibah is gorgeous enjoy your special time together, Nanna dogs are so special.

I am so sorry, what a terrible lot you have been through Bella is blessed to have such loving, devoted owners, what a blessing for Bella knowing you are always there for her. Enjoy your special time together today. Thinking of you all and sending love xx

Can you put the tablets in a handful of small kibble and do some training with her? Sit, drop, stay etc and reward with some dry, then repeat though this time have the tablet in your hand with a small amount of dry, open your hand and let her scoff the lot? I use four legs too, if she eats that put the tablet in say one of five balls and do the same. The other thing I use at times if I am busy is nutrigel. Put a blob on your finger and cover the tablet. Let her lick your finger (mine love it!) and then folow with the tablet. Mine are all fine to have medication popped into their gob's if needed. Agree a spot on is probably easier for you, though finding a positive way for her to take meds is worth working on if she ever needs oral meds in the future :) eta

I don't think Bonnie is really relevant to this directly and I'm reluctant to go off into a tangent on this one as I feel like this thread has finally gotten back on track. I will mention briefly that Bonnie was never set to be adopted directly from the pound. A very reputable rescue group was lined up to take her with an experienced foster carer. This group has some of the best behaviourists in Sydney on board with them should they ever need them, and they are not afraid to make the decision of euthanasia if it is the right thing to do. All pound staff and volunteers were totally confident she would pass the temp test as in three months she never showed any aggression to dogs or people, even dogs that went off at her. One of the main reasons they stuck their neck out for her was for this. The temperament assessment was performed by a vet in his vet surgery (we all know how some dogs can get at the vets), hardly a neutral place and by someone with no behavioural qualifications. It was performed after the dog had been impounded for three months. Again, not really neutral or fair. She apparently reacted to the other dogs there and was failed based on that. She deserved further assessment out of the pound environment, like any other dog would have gotten if they had a great rescue lined up to take them, especially after showing no behavioural issues in the pound. There have been numerous studies done in the USA recently showing that the way an impounded dog reacts in a temperament assessment, even a really well researched and performed one, can differ hugely from day to day and generally does not predict behaviour outside that environment. Unfortunately the legislation set her up to fail and denied her that. I am well aware of the temp test and the vet involved. Why did it take you three months to have Bonnie assesed? A NOI and assesment is a fairly straight forward process. It would have taken a couple of days max.

Is anyone able to confirm that Bonnie did not pose a risk to the community? We all feel for Bonnie though why was she failed/pts? You are working with a shelter who is incredible in meeting the needs of dogs and cats in care. I have taken many of the same breed and assisted with lots of others, all responsibly placed after NOI and assesment. Three months is a long time to be in care for a dog (Bonnie) esspecially in a shelter environment.