4Kelpies

I doubt that this behaviour has been caused by herding. She may be more aroused when stock are near and getting hyped up as she wants to get out and work but this wouldn't affect her behaviour away from sheep. It may not be a good idea to have her playing with a group of dogs after working when she is excited. I don't blame her for reacting when the GSD was staring at her - I wouldn't like a Shepherd that was bigger than me staring at me either. I agree with the suggestion of getting a qualified person to observe her and try to work out why she is behaving this way and then help you work to solve the problem. There are lots of reasons why dogs show agression but fear is the most common.

Great news. Give Fred a (gentle) hug for me. I hope he's back to his old self soon.

Hi goldens, I'm so sorry to hear your news and I'm sending all my best wishes and healing thoughts to you and Honey. I'm sure you've been doing lots of research and have checked out plenty of websites but please take a look at these. They were so helpful to me when my two dogs were dignosed with cancer. I'm sure labsrule will agree with me. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/ http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/cance...age=Jun2004.php

Hi Kingbob, I'm sorry to hear your news and can only imagine how devasted you must be. Have you checked out the canine cancer list? http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/ I can't recommend this list highly enough. I received so much support and information when my dog was diagnosed about three and a half years ago. It can be so helpful to talk to people who have been through the same experiences. My dog had surgery with clean margins and hasn't looked back. He is now 13 and a half and is fit and healthy. There are plenty of stories like his. Fred is young and healthy and you have caught the tumour early Another wonderful list with help about diet is http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/cance...age=Jun2004.php My best wishes to you and Fred. I'll be thinking of you.

Hi Labsrule, I really think that although there is no cure for cancer, we can do a lot with diet to help the body fight this horrible disease and help healthy cells to stay that way. It sounds as if Fitzy's diet is already close to the recommended cancer starving diet. I have a lot of faith in Lew Olsen of B-Naturals. Although she is not a vet, she has a PhD in animal nutrition and all of her articles quote or contain links to studies that have been done. She has been happy to answer my questions on the list as well as private emails and doesn't mind giving advice free of charge. I'm glad the chemo has gone well and Fitzy is happy and bouncy. As you will hear many times on the caninecancer list, our dogs are not dying of cancer, they are living with cancer. I've lit a healing candle for Fitzy and will be thinking of you. Make sure you take the time to look after yourself. I know how exhausting this kind of stress can be.

Labsrule I am so sorry to hear your news. It's so devastating to hear the diagnosis of cancer. I have had two dogs with this disease - one (oral squamous cell carcinoma) who had surgery with clean margins and is still going strong three and a half years later, and one with bladder cancer (TCC) who was pts a year ago. I found the caninecancer list http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/ a wonderful help with so many people with experience and expertise in different types of cancer sharing their experiences. I also used the B-Naturals cancer diet with its high protein low carbs http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/cance...age=Jun2004.php Best of luck and all my healing thoughts to you

Congratulations! Give your dogs a pat for me. What did you have to do in the instinct test?

Here's a link to another website with lots of information and tips on how to make life easier for a dog who can't see. http://www.blinddogs.com/

Don't worry about boring anyone. We all get the chance to bore you too.

Congratulations Jules. Now you'll be hooked and spend all your time driving to training and competitions. Do you have sheep of your own? You do realize don't you that they'll be the next expense? I know of a few people who lease paddocks to run a few sheep I used to compete with horses too and didn't have problems with the atmosphere. I used to do eventing, where there's no point in being bitchy - you either get over the jumps or you don't. I must admit I really enjoy not having to clean gear before and after a competition, plait, spend heaps on petrol towing a float, need expensive equipment and clothes and most of all not falling off. So what happens now that you have passed your early tests? I must admit I don't know much about herding.

That's bad timing. The next training day at Landsborough is also on May 3. It sounds as though everyone has chosen that date. And then there will be weeks and weeks with nothing on offer. I've heard that Ben and Lyn Page run good schools. Hopefully there will be another one before too long and it won't be the first weekend in July when the next Landsborough training day is being held.

Congratulations Dova. I don't know how far you want to travel over the border but there are training days at Landsborough (near Ararat, Vic) every two months. There are details in The Working Kelpie Council News Bulletin http://www.wkc.org.au/ Just go to the main page and scroll down to Advance notice of trials and training days. There is also a yard dog trial being held at Gringegalgona near Coleraine on May 9 & 10.