FranVT

Omg I am excited all this is such good news! I WANT ONE RIGHT NOW Coincidentally, a breeder called Watersedge at the Gold Coast will have puppies ready to go on the 20th of December.. which is when I will be in the area... on my way back from seeing Steve... NO FRAN, TOO SOON, STOP HAVING IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS! I am sure the puppies are already pre-sold anyway BAD FRAN STOP GETTING YOUR HOPES UP it is a huge coincidence though... Atlas is totally 100% fine with girl dogs, puppies and any male dog that is smaller than him. He just has small man syndrome with other male entire dogs where he tries to hump them or jump up on them, which will get him into trouble He loves doggie plays and running around with other dogs. Oh and re the air con dubiousness.... is that a word? Anyway, re that, no complaints here I would much rather get my puppy acclimatised to the heat and use air con for really, really hot days. There is plenty of shade on our block, big cement shady cool area under the house, verandas, trees, anything you can name they can hang there

Yep, that is the plan, definitely getting a female and will definitely desex. No plans to show or breed, just want a pet and a dog for agility and obedience trials :D That is so great! I think this will be awesome for my fitness as well :D I longingly watch the agility guys at my obedience club wishing I could join in! Poor Atlas and his gammy back leg! (he doesn't limp on it but no way am I risking a re-injury) A dog that's easy to train?!?! *falls over in a dead faint* That will come as a complete shock to me! I reckon now that I've trained a stubborn, independent bull terrier I can train (to basic level) any dog ;) Oooooooh, is National Dog available at most newsagents or online only? THANKS LAPPIEMUM That is all such positive information, I was worried you'd be like "DEFINITELY NOT THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOU" hehehe. Now to research breeders! Any tips?

Rockhampton just got a JB HiFi after years of having to go 700km away to get to one as well :) Might go have a chat!

Rockhampton just got a JB HiFi after years of having to go 700km away to get to one as well :) Might go have a chat!

Okay so I have been quietly wanting a lappie for awhile, stalking the breed sub-forum thread, reading this one thoroughly, checking out breeders and as much info as I can garner and now I feel brave enough to ask some questions on here... My main questions: 1. I live in Central QLD which can get quite hot. We can get up to 40degrees here in the middle of summer (just like everywhere I guess). I would be happy to provide an airconditioned area for the dog to access even when I'm not home, we have clam shell pools, shady cement areas and good breeze usually. Would this be okay for a lappie? If not, that pretty much rules me out of getting one I would say we have a similar climate to Brisbane, honestly we don't get much hotter than there, sometimes Brisbane is even hotter. 2. I have a lovely <2year old bull terrier already, he is a male and entire, but absolutely gets along fine with any female dog of any size and especially loves puppies. He can be funny with male, entire dogs that are larger than him, but only at first. We are also working very hard on this small bit of dominance that he has, ie. I am booked in to see Steve at K9 Force in December to fix some drive / dominance issues (and owner issues ), we have been doing lots of obedience training to which he has responded wonderfully, and we got the suprelorin implant to see if that will dampen him down too Do lappies get along well with other dogs? I would like a bitch, I would get her desexed quick smart. No showing or breeding. 3. Ideally I want first and foremost a pet! I love Atlas but he is my partner's dog and due to some cruciate ligament issues I cannot do the stuff I want to do with dogs. I want to do agility mostly, but would also love to do obedience showing. Not sure if Atlas will ever be good enough for that Would a lappie be suitable for this? I read previously in the thread that they are but would love to hear personal agility experiences if possible! Thanks everyone!

That's a great price and is apparently the equivalent to a 450D, but my only concern is - can I get it fixed locally if I have a problem with it if I buy it from overseas? That would be a dealbreaker for me... Sigh maybe I should just forget it or just start saving, if I have to buy new lenses and things I'm very rarely going to have $1000+ sitting around

Okay why is that? Because the ones that came with the kit aren't worth it or? Sorry I am so new to this kind of stuff! I have been taking photos with my phones for years because I had Sony Ericssons and they are pretty good but my iPhone is terrible And I want to take better / more sophisticated pics!

The lenses cost as much as the camera? And I need multiples of them? Oh wow.

Okay so if the 50D has superseded the 40D, is the 50D also a good beginner's camera? That lens etc info was fantastic thanks SchnauzerBoy! ETA: Is there a better beginner's camera anyone could recommend? Not necessarily Canon.

Dear DOLers, whom I have come to rely on for advice on every single thing imaginable: I would like to start getting into photography (just as a hobby). I want to take photos of this that and everything! I run lots of concerts here in Rocky so I'd like to get some good shots of those, plus of my loved ones obviously and my precious doggy, so I don't want something that is specific. More to the point, I don't want anything overly complicated. If it's complicated I'll just get frustrated / overwhelmed and give up. I was looking in the November Challenge thread today and the Canon 40D seemed fairly popular. Obviously I also don't want to spend a fortune, Probably around the $1000 mark would be okay. Any advice would be great! Thanks, Fran

Atlas just when we got him at 8 weeks: Now at nearly 2 years old... can you tell I got a different phone with not such a good camera?

First of all, I am answering these questions based only on my own experience and what information I have gleaned from researching the breed both before and after obtaining our puppy. There are plenty of FAR more experienced owners and breeders on DOL so if they could please correct any of my mistakes / misconceptions then I would be only too pleased. QUESTIONS 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) I am a first time owner of a pedigreed bull terrier. 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? As I only had limited "hearsay" information on this, I thought I would just link to the Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Terrier#History 3. How common is it in Australia? More common than I first realised before I owned one, but due to a non-deserved "bad reputation" not as popular as other breeds and certainly not as popular as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. 4. What is the average lifespan? Around 10 - 14 years. 5. What is the general temperament/personality? Bull Terriers require firm discipline and a strong leader as they have stubborn tendencies and are usually quite independent. They are known as both the clowns and the gladiators of the dog world. They are quite smart and will challenge for leadership if not shown a firm, assertive hand. Bull Terriers are happier knowing their place in the pack (as are most dogs). They are quite protective and very, very loyal to their pack and their leader. They can be territorial and dominant. My BT, and most BTs I have heard about, are very affectionate and love to be around humans and are good with children. They can be hard to focus in training but respond well to reward. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? In my opinion and in my experience so far, active BTs need to be walked daily in order to keep destructive tendencies to a minimum. It is also important to keep a BTs mind occupied with games, training etc. My BT would fairly happily sleep most of the day away if he is home alone, waking only to undertake such tasks as dragging couch cushions up and down stairs, pulling the wheels off the lawnmower and patrolling the perimeter, followed by a big drink and another sleep. 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? I think this is dependent on how much realistic effort one is prepared to put into training, exercise and having the skills to be a strong leader. I, personally, would not recommend the breed for a first time owner as they can get "out of control" behaviour wise fairly easily if not shown a firm hand. This nearly happened to my partner and I, and neither he nor I are even close to being first time dog owners. Solid obedience training and more firm leadership has helped us immensely. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? "Long periods" is relative... My BT does not get separation anxiety as he is quite happy to sleep most of the day and play with his toys or drag things around the yard while we're gone. He is always excited to see us but is capable of occupying himself. 9. How much grooming is required? Bull Terriers shed all year round and require a good brushing with a rubber curry comb or other brush designed to get rid of loose hair fairly regularly, however, they are flat and short coated so they do not require clipping or removal of knots/matts. Nails can be kept trim by clipping, filing or with regular cement/bitumen walking. It is important to keep the eyes and ears clean and check teeth, as with any dog. Good, gentle, positive facial / paw touching and play was beneficial for me with our BT as he has no problem with his face or paws (or indeed any part of his body) being touched or examined. 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? Yes, unless it is well trained. Bull terriers are quite boisterous and can, innocently, be too rough for small children or the infirm. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? This information is from the National Bull Terrier Council website and is more succinct (and better spelled) than I could say myself: Bull Terriers can suffer from hereditary diseases, such as Kidney Nephritis, Polycystic Kidneys, Heart Disease, Deafness and Luxating Patella. These problems can be identified by Hereditary Disease testing and BAER testing (deafness). Bull Terriers (Miniatures) may also inherit Primary Lens Luxation. 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) I am unable to answer this question fully, however, we were told our puppy was BAER tested, HD tested and had his heart & renal system scanned - all of which were fine. If I were to buy another BT puppy I would ensure I had copies of these results for my records, and would enquire into the health / history of the parents of the puppy. In saying this we have had no problems with Atlas' health (accident & injury aside) so far, touch wood. I hope this information is helpful and not incorrect, other BT owners / breeders please feel free to correct as stated earlier. This is purely my experience as a first time BT owner.

Nekhbet you are SOOOOOOOOOO right, I am not a cat person, but I really can't stand that cat - however, I can't help but respect him because he RULES that house! He gets fed on the counter, pretty much lives there, and even when you pat him he's like "ohhh I suppose I will allow this indiscretion........................ wait did I say stop?" Lol.

Good call guys ;) that's what we've been doing, I would never have increased the amount of his food anyway, just wondered if there were any kind of superfoods for regaining weight healthily. But yes, happy to just toddle on and let him regain naturally. It just makes me anxious to be patting / brushing him and feeling ribs so close to the skin Poor fella.

Atlas lost a lot of weight (around 4kg) in the vets while he was there post-MVA, and now you can see his ribs quite clearly and he looks even lankier than his normal lanky self. I really want to get him regaining some of his former bulk that was just starting to come through. The skin around his neck and chest is all loose as well. The vet said that because of his liver trauma we need to keep him on a low fat / salt diet, so we've been feeding him roo mince (which he LOVES) and some chicken necks with any excess fat trimmed. He is quite fussy, doesn't like dry food at all, never has. Any tips on how we can get him to regain some weight (doesn't seem to be happening much if at all) without overloading him with fat? Must add, his liver values on Tuesday were back to normal so we can start adding some fat back into his diet but yes don't want to overload. Help would be appreciated!

That's ridiculous! :D I don't even really agree with bringing kids up vegetarian but that is just me and my opinion. Dogs are carnivores! I really really hope she never gets a dog!

My best mate is housesitting my mother's house at the moment. Mum has 3 cats and 2 dogs, dogs are being dogsat somewhere else (good call mum!) but the cats are at home. My mum's Persian, Sebastian, is absolutely without doubt the LAZIEST cat I have ever seen, he just lies around on the kitchen counter ( ) or the veranda table in the sun or the kitchen window ledge alllllll day and alllllll night. Pathetic! Whenever I bring Atlas over for visits he spends all his time trying to get Sebastian to play with him by putting his paws up on the counter and crying/whining/talking. Sebastian tolerates it for awhile, staring at him in distaste, then suddenly *BATBATBAT* on one of At's paws, then *BATBATBAT* on the other paw and At goes down Poor fella! Cats are mean and no fun at all!

Teebs so it works on BTs then? Hmmmm might get one... Anything I can do to reduce Atlas' outrageous shedding would be great. Sometimes I can literally SEE the hair coming off him like he has a weird halo-like glow around his whole body in the sun Then he shakes it and it just covers everything. And I wear a lot of black.

Phwoaar I think they are going to charge me $56 postage. Nothanks! That is pretty obscene postage fees. That's what it states for "outer suburbs" which I am guessing would be me. Unless they're sending it completely assembled I can't see why it would be that much! EDIT: That was for a different thing ... :D Not sure what the difference is but the collapsible cage-style crate I'm leaning towards getting (after Pet Shop soujourn) is only $17 to freight. Phew! Will get a cover as well.

90 x 60, that sounds plenty big enough! I will make sure I get one that is collapsible too. I'll pop over to the pet shop one afternoon this week. Should I call them to see if they'll let me bring him in? Or do all pet shops generally not mind?

Yep, that is why I don't want to underestimate, and as he is a rather solid chap (muscular etc) he's not particularly lithe. Will the pet shop allow me to actually put him in one to see or will I just have to guess?

Umm... he ... sleeps in our bed.... ;) But we could put it in the corner of the room or something? BAD PARENTS! Thanks heaps Neats! Will check them out for sure! He really likes dark cosy spots so I don't think he will mind the crate one bit. That info is fantastic I am going to check it all out right now! poodlefan I think you're right, that one might be too big, I suppose I'd rather get one that was a tad big than a tad small but I need to be practical about it. Will go to pet shop and see what sizes they have and then use that dimension, that way I don't have to support our pet-selling pet shop YAY!

Yep my brain doesn't do dimensions very well ;) 104cm is pretty long I suppose! I can always fold it down and take it with me and have him harnessed in the back on the seat protector like normal. Okay that seems simple enough, feed him in there and give him chewy things because that way; food = good therefore crate = good? Simple enough even for me!

I have decided to crate train Atlas, for various reasons, the major one being that OH has bought a 4WD so we are going to take him camping and stuff so I want him to be reliably crate trained. But I also really like the idea of Atlas having somewhere to go that is comfy, safe and a "happy" place. So here are my questions: 1. Will this crate be big enough? http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/dog-home-g...le-104-63-71cm/ He is a fairly normal-sized bull terrier. I will get or make a cover for it so it's nice and dark in there, just how he likes it. 2. Where do I start? Do I just put toys etc in there and hope he figures it out? I don't want to "put" him in there because I fear that will bring negative connotations to the crate and he'll think it's a punishment thing. 3. For those who travel with dogs, could I travel with this in the back seat of my Mazda3 if I could figure out a way to secure it or am I just better off buying a harness for him in the car? This is mainly for our 1600km trip to see K9 Force. At the moment I'm just harnessing him but I thought it would be nice to take his crate plus I will probably need it when we get to our accommodation. Thanks guys.

if dogs dont absorb though their skin how does frontline work i think dogs absorb though their skin The way Frontline was explained to me is that you put it on somewhere where the dog can't lick, and it gets absorbed and distributed through the oils on the dogs skin. THAT is why you don't wash them 2 days prior or following, because prior they don't have enough oil to work properly and afterwards because it takes time to make its way around the body. Frontline has nothing to do with fur. If it did it would only treat the hair you applied it to! Sam that pink spot is awesome! Just tell everyone you did it for breast cancer month - there's still an hour and 15 mins of it left!