mackiemad

It isn't grain free, it has rice in it. It is corn and wheat free. My itchy dog has always done well on it but every dog is different. I wouldn't classify it as an anti cancer diet though - maybe try ivory coat or meals for mutts if you're looking for a grain free, Aussie kibble?

I think secret dogs business operates in that general area and they do heaps of puppy schools at various locations

I go to the Richmond markets every Saturday morning with the dog. There's a fenced off lead Park next to it he gets to run around and toilet in before the great mental stimulation of being on a short lead up and down the veg stalls. It's our favourite part of the week, I get cheap veg and he gets a romp, attention and stimulation :)

My aunt has ms and is not very mobile any more. She lives down the roadshow her little local ships and uses her motorised scooter to get there and back. She has had a lovely little bishon frise boy but in his very late teens he has finally passed. She is very sociable and often has ppl over but lives on her own and needs another dog for company. We would get her something like another bishon or havanese but a puppy isn't suitable, and local (Vic. Mornington Peninsula) adults cone up rarely. So looking to rescue a little, low energy dog who would love living with and going everywhere with its person. Preferably low shedding as that is the coat care she's used to. Male or female. Though as my aunt is a strong personality she seems to click better with male everything better as a rule! We are looking at converting her garage into a flat for a carer but the main residence is just her and the dog - so it would get a lot of attention! Separation anxiety isn't really a problem as she rarely goes anywhere without the dog - she doesn't drive anymore so for doctors we tend to take her and the docs don't mind seeing the dog as well as her :) but it needs to be sociable for these occasions and for her, ahem, spa parties with her local mates. If you guys know of anything that might be suitable I'd really appreciate it - trawling through pet rescue atm but it's full of lots of little active terriers which wouldn't suit.

313 vets at 313 riversdale rd, Hawthorn east are half normal half holistic. They do acupuncture etc and focus on diet etc. But not sure how herbal they are. Very thorough clinic though

Free facelift for her in that last one! Beautiful area and photos :)

I've been reading and loving it - I just didn't have anything useful to contribute! So please keep posting as it's a really interesting journey to have documented and I'm sure others besides me are reading and enjoying :)

He's grown so much but still manages to look like a naughty gremlin!

I saw an episode of the supervet yesterday where he had a greyhound with corns. He diagnosed it by using toothpaste and a toothbrush to scrub the pads and then you could actually see the corn. Perhaps if you do this you'll be able to see it disappearing? So you don't stop any treatment too soon? Anyhoo, it was interesting!

Aw champa. A huge loss because he was such a huge character. So naughty but so loving...

Hey scottsmum, that sucks about the wag wear - mine is still strong and together after 5 years. Maybe take it to a horse rug fixer and get them to re sew the front strap and maybe go over other stitching? Shouldn't cost much at all. Then it's stronger and still a satisfactory fit and warmth? Depending on state we can give you reccomendations :)

Ashling, the rough collies we had were great with the chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits and cats. However they were raised around them. I remember when we buried my first burmese cat our male dog grieved for weeks, spending the day lying on top of or next to the grave.

I grew up with rough collies - as I child they were a breed with an extremely high eq, extremely gentle with us kids and other smaller pets. However I had horses and though we got them trained around the horses they were a little harder to train to a real proofed standard than perhaps labs and golden would be. They were always prone to a bit of a bark, but usually only at ppl entering the property or at sheer joy when arriving at the paddocks :) I'm not sure I could ever have another rough collie even though they're wonderful, partly because of the hair but mostly because I'm not sure any dog could live up to my wonderful memories of my childhood dogs. They all loved having their nails painted, doing 'agility' courses in the dining room with chairs etc, wearing tutus doing 'runway' shows with my sister and I and listening to my cello playing. Such beautiful sensitive dogs. But an Airedale would really suit here, as would a standard poodle I'd imagine.

A mini schnauzer in breed clip costs around $70-85 where I am. Every three months and that's if they keep the knots down in-between. Clipping it's all off may be a little cheaper but it depends on the groomer. So if he's cheap that adds up quick.

It sounds like you gave Jasper all the love and care any dog could ask for. I'm sure he took comfort in your being there in his last moments. Don't punish yourself for grieving, it's a huge loss so take care of yourself and give yourself a bit of the extra love that jasper would have wanted you to have.

Maybe a mini schnauzer but totally clipped off? Definitely not a standard schnauzer as that's a lot of dog for first time owners like this. Honestly maybe a havanese clipped off might work too? I've seen a lot of dachies with issues when raised by non dog savvy ppl.

Sheridan I'm so sorry to read this. Mini sounded like one in a million. I hope grumpy gives her a marvellous welcome

It's because of hydatid tapeworm I believe. So maybe just pick up offal for human consumption, feed it and regularly worm for hydatids?

Gosh darn he's cut! At first I was going to say what a cute face. Then what a cute butt. But all of him is adorable! And he looks like he's having so much fun :)

Don is such a good boy and really loves his heart human - I mean he must love you to pick up a sandy, dirty shoe!

Or you could go to a naturopath and by Curcumin from them, it has turmeric in it as well, just crush and mix with food? I use the mediherb brand, green bottle. Though the golden paste isn't hard to make either :)

I'm so sorry, he was a beautiful boy

I haven't ever owned an aussie but I've got a couple of very good friends with them. I'm not sure they'd be content with that lifestyle. All the ones I know thrive with lots of mental and physical stimulation. Plus all female Aussie's I've known have been very dominant and had to be managed carefully by experienced owners. I'm not saying you can't manage this- but you did say you wanted a dog requiring less work. Personally I'd think a gun dog would suit you better than an Aussie.

I've got a wag wear waterproof for Max and it fits the same as the weatherbeeta he tried on (I didn't like their colours), maybe even a little better as it has a couple of darts near the bum area. I also have a couple of fleece pull over styles for inside in winter (he feels the cold and no heating) and a kazoo dryzabone style which looks fab on him. I also had an inside jumper handmade by a dol member, which ties up which looks very fancy and fits like a glove ;) he's a mini schnauzer 40-42cm long but not fat at all so may be a similar shape to Scotty?

I've got this for the back of the car and used it when we go camping in the tent or outside. http://www.mypetwarehouse.com.au/afp-outdoor-camp-mat-orange-medium-83x68cm-p-22079 I've got it in violent green, but the coloured side is ripstip and waterproof and the other side is fleece. Easy to wash, easy to pack up and my relatively fussy Max loves it :) I think you can get slightly bigger though for a husky!