Lucy's mama

Thanks for all the help. He is an Australian Shepherd. I and my vet don't think he is over weight - but every Aussie person I have met does. Once I took the milk off him (the cow kind - I had no ice and it's in a big block so he could only lick it not guzzle it or gnaw on it) and got organized he was back to normal. No doubt if I'd left it five more minutes I wouldn't have even felt the need to post. I will mention to the vet though that he does pant a lot just in case. I have always just assumed it is just how he is. I will keep him inside for the day because it is really hot and the other dogs are still coming and going along the back.

Thank you. I have given him a bottle of frozen milk he is licking now. Chewbacca - do you mean the fact he has always panted a lot could be a sign of a chronic illness? No, I have not noticed any other changes. His panting has settled for now and I think I will take him to the vet. He has had some MASSIVE runs at a flat out pace recently (The neighbours kids let him out, he saw an opportunity and took off at full pace) where I have worried he will just run himself to death. He just doesn't seem to know when to stop.

Like I said - I have no network coverage. I have walked around for 5 minutes trying to get coverage but nothing.

Hi. I have come home from school drop off to Banjo madly barking at the back fence. A couple of dogs were down there in the swamp/bushland on the other side of the fence. They ran off and I called Banjo up. He immediately went for his water bucket, stood in it and drank between panting. He has a bit of blood on his muzzle but nothing much else. He has always been a real panty dog but he is panting quite fast even after 5 or so minutes. I've poured water over him, bought him inside on the tiles and have the air con on. My bloody phone is showing 'no network' so I can't call the vet and ask. In the last few months I've twice taken him to the vet for small concerns and nothings been wrong with him - just me being a worrier, so I don't really want to keep doing that. At what point would you rock up at the vet if your dog was panting a lot in a cool environment??

Ah! So you weren't even talking to me, lol. Silly bourbon-fuddled brain!

Sorry RPM girl, I have had a bad day and am a wee bit tipsy. Or rolling drunk, which ever you prefer. Is Abbey your dog? Did she come from the owners of the boarding kennel at Rothwell?? It looks like a fantastic place to leave your dog. Just disapointed by them booking us then cancelling us.

This morning I booked Banjo in to a Pet Resort at Rothwell from december 29th till January 2nd. They took all his and my details, and my credit card number for a 50% deposit. They then called me 15 minutes later to say they wouldn't take him after all as they have a 10 night minimum, would I like to extend his visit? I said No as there is no way I can afford 10 nights at 27.50/night, plus an extra $10 per 15 minute walk and $5.50 per 15 minute play. I'm pretty pissed off actually that they can cancell me so easily, but if I'd cancelled them I'd have been out of pocket 25% of the booking fee. And in those 15 minutes I'd rung and told my sister we would definately see her over x-mas. (She has been away for 5 years) then had to immediately ring her back and say no, actually, we won't be seeing you over Christmas. But anyway, much as I don't feel like sending them business, they seem to have at least a 10 day vacancy over the busiest part of Christmas/new year, so very possible you may get your 4 weeks there if you call them soon enough.

I spent hours on the phone yesterday ringing every kennel I could find between Redcliffe and Gympie. Most actually had a bit of a chuckle when I said I was after something over the Christmas break. I MIGHT have found something at Eumundi. Fingers crossed.

I booked Banjo into these kennels so I could visit my sister over Christmas. I rang them today to confirm opening hours and got a 'this number has been disconnected' message. I then rang Bundaberg Council who informed me that business is no longer registered. It sounds like they have closed down. I'd have driven 3 1/2 hours Christmas eve only to find them shut and I'd have to turn around and come home again and miss Christmas with my family. So if you are booked in there, please check if they are still open for business. If any one in that area could confirm for me if they are still open that would be great. It may be possible they have just changed names and that is why council no longer have them registered.

I'm just wondering if there is any particular way you should tug? I've always just assumed you pull and tug on the toy at random angles and increasing and decreasing the force used at random too. One thing I have learnt since joining dogzonline though is that I know way less about dogs than I thought, so maybe I am as wrong about this as I have been about other things. If I want to increase my dogs desire to tug is there a way to do that or is it just tug more often and they will like it more?

All the dogs must be at it at the moment - I just mentioned in another thread that Banjo has a thing for Christmas beetles.

TW, I can see why you might feel that it is just barking and it can't really harm anyone, perhaps you are similiar to me in that when I hear dogs barking all day it doesn't really bother me, and I'll generally sleep through it at night. But play back ground music all day or leave the telly going in the background and I will be extremely irritable and snappy. It annoys the crap out of me to the extent I feel like I can't even think. So it is not hard to imagine that that is how others feel when dogs constantly bark. If a dog's needs are being met and the owners have given behaviour modification techniques a good go, then there is not much left to do except de-bark.

Well, two reasons - more convenient for the dog and for the pushies. This is the first time we have been uteless in 7 or 8 years and I do miss the convenience. I myself am not worried about containment issues because I think I have it all worked out. I was just wondering if others are opposed to dogs on utes altogether or if they think it is o.k if the dog is contained and sheltered.

They look good mita. The cage is not just to contain him though - it will stop anyone setting him free or petting him etc.

Kind of. I'm very open to suggestions though, because the better it is, the more use we will get out of it.