shapeshifter

I'm researching whippets as a possible dog choice and have found huge differences in pricing, all registered with papers, the pricing ranges from $350 to over $1000 for a stud that says they use IMP dogs, although some of the cheaper ones around the $500 have also used IMP dogs. I don't mind paying for the right dog but like anything I don't want to be ripped off. At present we just want a pet but temperament, confirmation etc. is still highly important to me, there is the possibility of showing down the track but I'd want to be doing obedience and agility first.

Who told you this? Just a person or was it a rescue group? If it was the latter beware as some rescue groups have funny ideas, won't place a male dog with another, won't place a dog if you work, won't place a pup with an older dog, it goes on and on, don't be discouraged though just try another rescue group, not all are on power trips and think they are god! You know your dog better than anyone, do what you think is best for your family.

I know it's not dogs but OCD happens in a lot of horses, it's not a genetic thing it's purely environmental. How does it happen, to much feed way too soon, which then puts way too much pressure on the bones, ligaments, muscles etc. The horse owners know they are doing it, it's deliberate when horse have to look like they have muscle on muscle especially in the western horse industry. I often see it in this area with dogs that are quite big for their ages and they are allowed to jump up on people and things, I tell people why they shouldn't do it but they don't care, their dogs, they'll do what they want. The following I completely agree with as well as what you are doing: As a breeder if you test when you can, don't knowingly bred from animals with an issue and raise your pups with love and care, at some point the new owners have to assume responsibility for that living creature in sickness and in health.

I like the can of worms :) The German Shepherd used to be a dog I would consider having but not anymore, it's absolutely disgusting what they have done to the breed. It also looks to me from some of those photos that other breeds are starting to head in the same direction.

this!!!

Thanks Sue, definitely what I'm looking for :)

Has anyone had made or know of somewhere that makes roller doors that are dog sized? I'm wanting some made up that are approximately 1m x 1m. We are fairly handy so can install them ourselves so are open to where they come from, Sydney/Newcastle would be great though.

Oh thanks for that, I'll ask them about it, funny enough she never has any fluid when we go to the vets LOL, I've cut up the tablets into tiny pieces and given her one, it takes about 20 minutes and then I'll know, she never gets in trouble, it's not her fault, just makes for more washing. Mmmm thanks for the info about the ultrasound, I'll talk to them and see what they think.

She did have a full blood profile done a year ago, so yes she's due to be done again, it was all completely clear last year. No I haven't had an ultrasound done, we don't like having to put her under any more, she was attacked very badly in 2008 and almost died but turned around really quickly (as mini foxies tend to do ). She hasn't been put under since due to that and her heart. She on the smallest I can give her, quarter of a tablet lol I don't know if I can make it smaller than that, I might give it a go, surely a little bit every day and not making her incontinent would be better than irregular times and making her incontinent. Oh I should also add that she is permanently in air conditioning, sits between 19-21 degrees, she has been sleeping with me lately so this has made her worse, I just started working full time so she's been a bit funny, I've stopped that now and she is back out in the laundry (right on the room where the air con is).

Yes that is what the vet said and that is definitely what we see as well, like fainting in humans, she's only just started with the twitching as in the last month or so, it never happened before it was just more like fainting.

Now I know the answer is probably yes but I can't figure out why and what they would be. About 4 years ago I noticed every now and then, months apart, my mini foxie/TT would glaze over and start to stagger, she would then fall on her side, I would pick her up not knowing what was going on, she would never move though, no fitting as such. I took her to the vet and she has a heart murmur, oh she was 11 at that stage so it's an old age thing, never had a heart murmur before. She was put on fortekor. The episodes basically stopped that I'm aware of. In the last 2 years these episodes have started up and gotten worse, she can have several a day. She used to just do it after she'd be playing and suddenly she starts coughing and then glazes over, staggers and falls over, she is now to the point where her body is twitching when this happens. We were told originally (she wasn't twitching then) that it was because she wasn't getting enough air as she also has fluid on her lungs if she gets too hot when it's humid, she was also put on a diuretic for when it got worse, she gets incontinent though so I don't give them too her all that often. Yes I know I have to take her back to the vet, I will be, it's a Saturday night though and I don't know that it's an emergency. These episodes are lucky to last a minute at the most and she comes back to herself and is completely normal. I'm just wanting to know if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing and what the vets did, if anything?

Is there a GAP NSW? LOL don't worry found it http://www.gapnsw.org.au/ for everyone else.

spotty you remind me of Ambridge on eques, well when she was on eques, she's now gone to cyberhorse, but that's beside the point, your stories are always full of fun and you can tell how deeply you care for your family :p keep up the stories they are for me anyway an enjoyment to read and give me a smile when I need it.

oopss double post...

That third photo is just gorgeous, lucky babysitter you are, I'd love an aussie

ooppsss double post

GSPs are definitely not reserved, well the ones I know anyway, of the 3 I know they all live together, they are all definitely different and the younger female shows some timidity (is that a word) but even she loves playing with other dogs and people. Interestingly, I take my TT over to run around with them, I won't say play as my TT doesn't play LOL, and they all love seeing her but they are careful not to be over the top with her and take care around her, I've been told that the older female is like that with children, she will actually get down to their level so they can pat her.

I haven't read all the replies or comments yet and I might not fully understand what people have said so far, but are you telling me that when my dog of 14 yrs so far dies I have to get references off other people, god knows who as I don't know a lot of people, to be able to buy another purebred dog???

Don't know if anyone else has said it but a Halti on a Malamute/Husky is just so dangerous, a husky breeder once told me that due to their coats they don't expend heat like other dogs and the primary way is through their mouths when they pant, a Halti doesn't allow them to pant enough or at all in some cases.

I could hazard a guess at who you are talking about and if it's someone different then geez I would have hoped that they learnt what not to do off the first person, either that or they looked at it as, well x did it so can I. It's not a great way to start a breeding program no matter how many 'real' koolies/coolies are in the breeding program.

Don't know if anyone else has said it, can you use paragraphs, when reading that I tended to drift off as it all just bled into each other.

I'm glad that there are videos out there of snakes, often I've seen snakes and have no idea what sort they are. This way we all know what is what. What I actually saw in the video is, yes a snake that was awfully pissed off and yes displayed that but I think she wasn't getting to where she needed to, hence SC picking her up again, as soon as he released her near the reeds she went straight for them. As he explained he needed to make sure she was 100% healthy to let her go, that's all I saw.

I'll get flamed for this I'm sure... How is that different to feeding your dog at dinner time and then not seeing it again until feed time in the morning, besides the fact that yes you are in the house 'if' something was to happen, but you had that covered by letting your neighbour know who you obviously trust otherwise you wouldn't have done it. You made sure you had everything covered, sure feel guilty but I think that's only because you love your dog and want what is best. I've heard of some people on here leaving their dogs for days with only the neighbours checking and feeding them, no other contact...

I agree PM they are gorgeous :D

ROFL, I used to work in Coles there, now that was an experience I tell you, never seen so much cash money in my life