War Consigliere

Fair enough. Thanks anyway, guys.

I can't really say why I need this, but is a reference available online as to how effective (or otherwise) DNA breed testing is? Anecdotes aren't really helpful, but if anyone can point me to a study put out by an impartial body (i.e. one that's not associated with a group that has a financial impact pro- or anti- breed testing) it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Again on the two-row rake, but if you can train the dog not to respond to the vacuum (hard, but not impossible), going over them with the Dyson grooming tool after the raking will save you a remarkable amount of time otherwise occupied with the vacuum.

I found one of the patches - it's about half-way up her tail, so whenever she wags she blows stench everywhere. I can't see any skin irritation beneath it, though. I think there's another one in the shag on her withers. Assuming it's dry tomorrow, she's off for another bath.

Thanks for the tips. I'm not using a hair drier because I don't own one, but I'll try and borrow one and give it a go. Is there a preferred type for drying mals? In the meantime I'll see if Malaseb or Phisohex shampoos work. I'm not looking to shave her, even though there's an Elkhound around the way whose owner shaves him in a lion cut at the start of Summer and it looks hilarious. The vet's working on the assumption that it's a bacterial issue based on the bacterial infections that keep coming out of that particular set of swamps. He didn't take a sample. Neither of us can quite identify which patch of skin and hair the stink's coming from.

A few weeks ago I let my malamute off her lead in a local park and she set off at a dead sprint for a green, stagnant, stinking lagoon, bounding in and staying in for about fifteen minutes before I could lure her back to the shore. She went straight back on the lead, walked directly home, was thrown into the shower and washed three times before she was fit for polite company. Still, the stench of what I think was blue-green algae has stayed with her ever since, even through professional washes. I think the bacteria's outcompeting the normal stuff on certain pockets on her skin - ones I can't quite place to go after with bleach - and when she walks past if the wind's right she still reeks of mildewed sneakers. Has anyone got any recommendations beyond a sheepdip of Demestos? I can cover the smell for a few days, but I'm trying to work out how to take care of the bacteria that are causing the odour, particularly because of the dangers of blue-green algae. My vet's thrown up his hands and said that it needs to be taken care of, but he's got no idea how. Thanks, N.

Surfin' Bird Tyler Utah (it's a Point Break reference) Cheryl Don't Surf (Apocalypse Now) Pantone 275?

if we live in the world against purebred dogs, all f1 cross-hybrids are 'apparently' healthier. The cross-breeds aren't typically having five year lifespans before their hearts and livers fail, with severe joint problems beforehand. The acromegalic giant mals aren't built to live at that size, and - like human acromegalics - die young. Your hotbuttons don't enter into it. Again, breeders who produce purebred dogs who trade ongoing health problems and halved lifespans for double-sized dogs aren't reputable. 'Apparently' or not.

Some American breeders (of whatever provenance) list themselves as breeders of "giant malamutes", breeding dogs up to about 65-70 kg. Some are true malamutes selected over the generations for size, others are crossed with newfoundland stock or similar, bigger dogs. The true malamutes tend to have pretty short lives due to the pressures on the skeleton and organs, the crosses are usually healthier, but you won't find reputable registered breeders with purebred "giant malamutes" of that size by definition. If they're breeding mals with 5-year lifespans they're not reputable, if they're cross-breeding they won't be registered. Edited to add: a couple of the breeders I just googled up claim that their "giant malamutes" are purer descendents of M'loot dogs. This isn't true.

Sydney Park's good, but stick around the brickworks after dark - the pond area's not well-lit, but it's crawling with rangers who'll book a dog for having wet feet (the ponds are dog-free). Moreover, if you don't see them when it happens, they'll just scan the chip and mail you the fine, so it's tough to argue that. In that area, Camperdown Rest Park is usually populated pretty late, and it's well-lit. The park behind Enmore TAFE is also lit, but has a fairly rough crowd of staffies and bull terriers after dark - I had to stop taking my malamute a couple of years ago because he was getting terrorised by 3-4 dogs working as a pack.