Adnil444

Or they can just break a window or crowbar a door off its hinges. Locked doors only stop honest people. Most thieves will avoid a house with a dog though. If you lock your gates and have a security system, a big dog door shouldnt be a problem IMO. Exactly. If someone wants to break in they will. I had this argument with a local supplier today who told me that the biggest door they could sell me was 25cm x 40cm because "any bigger and a person can climb through". Well that's all well and good but my dog won't fit through it either! Hi, I have a Staywell fitted to my solid wood exterior door (the actual size of the flap is an A4 sheet!). I have a large dobexrottie and she fits through with no problems whatsoever, my smaller dobexkelpie easily jumps through. My larger dog is ridgeback size. My mum has a patio dog door (fitted into a sliding door) for her golden retriever and again, the size of the flap is an A4 sheet size and all dogs easily fit through it and have no troubles using either of them. Hope this helps.

Good suggestion kelpiekaye - a few trips by the rangers at different times would be a great way to remind people to do the right thing. I'm also always amazed at the amount of poo that is left in dog parks given that the bags and bins are provided for you. Pure selfishness and laziness in my opinion. It will be these people complaining when the dog parks are closed that it isn't fair. Gosh I wish they would bring in "private parks" where you had membership to a park and had rules etc and they only members all followed the same rules. I would be happy to pay to use facilities like these (I've seen a couple in the US and they are fantastic).

I wish this show would get a real behaviourist in to assist Chris - he can be the vet and do vet things. Surely they can find a good looking behaviourist to complement Chris!! This show does worry me as so much of what he said is incorrect and yes we "doggy" people can choose to turn it off, but just how many dog ignorant people would watch this and treat it like a "bible". This show if done correctly, could be a wonderful tool in educating people and it would still be enjoyable to watch. People want to watch shows about animals, so why not make it an educational tool as well. It is such a wasted opportunity to educate people in my opinion.

If I can get my hands on the Big Dog Barf, I will give this a try. The other Barf my stockist sells I'm sure isn't Big Dog though, I think it is Country Barf??? Happy to give Big Dog a try and see how my dogs go on it and if it is a bit cheaper, then all the better.

Totally agreed Adnil. Look, honestly our dogs are normally very well received with the general public when we take them out, so we are usually very lucky. We gets lots of people wanting hugs, sloppy kisses, pats etc and it is always really lovely... so I guess this is why this particular beach trip really stood out to me. But, yeh, I hear you. Oh gosh just this morning, I was out the front with the dog and a small pug cross something ugly walked past on the other side of the road. Saw my dog, went absolutely ballistic, pulling on the lead, snarling etc etc and the owners started yelling at me because they were worried my dog would come and attack theirs. Of course he ignored the display completely - living in the eastern suburbs of Sydney I think teaches a dog to ignore all the small spoiled ones because anyone who has walked down Queen st Woollahra will have noticed that several will try and attack any dog every day. Once they were confident my dog was going to remain at my side, they started laughing, and saying, oh I don't think our dog likes yours, he always tries to protect us from the dangerous breeds. I say nothing these days, just smile and nod. People do just have a completely different attitude towards smaller dogs, and as a bigger dog lover, well it's just something I've resigned myself to living with. I hear you too Jaqui835 - I can't walk down my own street with 9 of these horrible ghastly little dogs fence rushing, snarling, attacking etc. The owners do absolutely nothing. I've trained mine to ignore and praise and treat them when they do and we can walk past them without any issues. I'm sure there must be some nice well behaved swfs out there, but not around where I live. They rush and snarl when they are on lead, when in restaurants sitting on their owners laps when I walk past - I often take mine for walks past the outside cafes/restaurants along Dee Why beach and the big dogs sit their nicely (or lie down under the table), the little dogs though will rush, snarl etc and the owners laugh. I just don't get it. I also have a lovely old mini schnauzer and she would never do that - she was trained with the same rules as a big dog - there is no set of rules for big dogs and a set of rules for small dogs (and when I'm speaking about small dogs I mean those shitzu/maltese type dogs). So many are sold in pet shops but you rarely see one at an obedience class - makes you wonder. I'm not knocking the smaller dogs as it is their owners that are the problem. There are many small breeds that are lovely dogs - e.g pugs and cavs have never snarled or rushed at us. I can walk past their homes without any issues.

Dyzney - I can appreciate what you experienced. In fact i look for parks/beaches that have large breed dogs. I would much prefer my dogs to play and socialise with the larger breeds than the swfs. One of mine is rottiexdobe and she can look formidable, however she is so sweet and just loves people and other dogs - especially dogs roughly her own size where she can really have a great romp and play. I love rotties, dobes, danes etc - I grew up with danes and they were wonderful dogs - we never got that sort of reaction though - generally people were very accepting of our danes. I think with rotties though, they have an image - they have been in movies as devil dogs, are used as guard dogs, they are black - which obviously makes them horrible dogs - not. All the rotties I have met over the past few years have been nothing but wonderful dogs - it is a credit to the ethical breeders out there who have turned the image around (though by the reaction at your beach trip, obviously not). I've come across more and more people with rotties (mostly families with kids) and not only are the dogs a credit to them, but the owners have all been very responsible. There is a lady that goes to one of the dog parks that I sometimes go to - she has just had her third child and her gorgeous girl is one of the nicest girls I've come across - she loves people, especially children, loves other dogs and has had basic obedience training. It's strange that people think like this and I understand that no matter how hard you try, some people will always have that perception of certain breeds, but if they really had a close look, it generally is the smaller breeds that cause many of the issues not the larger breeds. Give me a park full of large breed dogs any day!!

Of course you are - go for it. If it is a dog off leash beach and you have effective control of your girl, then what is the problem. When I encounter people who question why my dogs are in a park. beach etc off lead, I calmly explain to them that this is one of the few parks/beaches that allows dogs off- lead, however the council has provided hundreds more parks and beaches that dogs are not allowed so if you find this a problem, I suggest you go to one of the many many parks or beaches where you won't find a dog.

For the texture to change that much you can only guess how much the product had to change for it to be so noticeable. Not only does it contain so much linseed that it coats the poo in such a way it looks to have been rolled in linseed the smell has also changed. I do not trust VIP pet foods and could not continue to buy Dr B's Barf. My dogs did not like the new Dr B's Barf and they were itchy - putting that down to the excess amount of linseed because they never had a problem with it before. I was a distributor of Dr B's Barf for several years and this decision was not taken lightly but was necessary. Not only were my dogs not happy with the change but customers who had been purchasing it from me for many yrs were also not enjoying it either. I told some how to make it themselves when supplies were difficult and to feed holistic dry food - or wait. Those who waited have been much happier with the change over to Big Dog and so are we. Agree with everything u have said Andisa!! As other have said there is always two sides and the side we got direct from big dog... puts Br B in the silly section so i guess we wont know the answer... We will soon be stocking the big dog and will not be feeding or selling the dr b's i still think the world of him as a vet and what not but the change in these paties makes me cringe :S Its raw meat and my boy WILL NOT TOUCH it he just hngs out for his bones and is dropping weight... at 15 this is just not good enough... clients have also noticed the change and have boxes of BARF that isnt being eaten and are pissed to say the least that there money is going down the drain everynight Funny about that as my stockist cannot get enough of Dr B's - it flies out the door. I'v had to wait on several occasions for the next delivery and ask them to hold it for me. They also sell another "Barf" product, not sure which one it is, but it doesn't sell anywhere like the Dr B's. My dogs love it and I've got a fussy eater.

Strange about that as I spoke to Ian Billinghurst about the changes (I spoke to him about not being able to get any Barf during the changeover period). Once it was back up and running again, he asked me to comment on the product and I told him I like that the packaging was all recyclable, that the product was now back to the original recipe and texture. He said they didn't change the recipe - it is still the same ingredients, only the texture has changed along with the packaging. My dogs love it - and always have. One of mine is a pretty fussy eater and if he can't get Dr B's Barf he won't it - lol.

I must admit I liked those rolls too - the banging on the verandah was also sure to make the dogs run away!! I also had a pyrex round dish that was just perfect for thawing 3 patties at once.

Hi frufru, I've been buying from them for some years - no problems whatsoever. Free shipping on the products I buy (advantix, pro-heart). I've put other people onto this site as well and they all have had positive experiences with them. Hope this helps.

Hi, Dr B's Barf has always had kangaroo and also rabbit along with pork, beef, chicken, lamb and combo. They don't have turkey yet.

Hi, I've been feeding Dr B's Barf for some years now (our farm is situated not that far from his surgery in Bathurst and we go and stock up as it is cheaper there!!). Yes, they have changed the packaging and recipe/texture several times and I'm pleased that they are now back to the "original" recipe. I like the packaging as all is recycled now, which is great when like me you are buying 6 boxes of it every few weeks. I live on the the northern beaches and Pet-O in Brookvale is one of Dr Billinghurst's Barfs biggest sellers. They can't keep up the demand for it. I won't change from Dr B's Barf - happy with the results. My dogs are so fit and healthy on this food.

Hugs to you and your family - you have lots of memories to keep you all going.

Hi, I've got some great leather collars from the US - given the dollar is near parity and the shipping is reasonable, it is great value. The leather is extremely soft and they are really lovely collars. Details are:www.ForDogTrainers.com

Another one where I get my Advantix and worming tablets from is www.budgetpetproducts.com - free postage too.

Hi Hanna, I'm on the northern beaches and would be happy to help out - we can help each other out. I have 3 dogs - a mini schnauzer, dobexkelpie and a dobexrottie. I have been walking with little dogs wherever possible to assist my dogs as well (2 are both fine) one is a little excited with them at first but once we keep moving and walking in a brisk way, she completely relaxes and is fine. My mum's golden (she is a delta trainer) who is also on the northern beaches would be perfect for you. He has helped so many dogs with fear aggression and does not react at all to them. He ignores them and will happily walk alongside. If you like, I can organise for us all to meet and we can walk together. Let me know.

Thanks everyone. I've got the bucket at the back door on the ready!!! The cat hasn't been in now for 2 days - let's hope that the frights I gave him have got the message across. Great advice from everyone

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, these are terrific and I hope one of these or a combination of them works. Thanks everyone.

Hi, thanks for this. It does put my mind at peace somewhat, but being an animal lover I would hate to see anything happen to their cat. He is lovely, but a bit too curious. I will have another chat with the neighbours and as I've said, they understand and are doing their best. I'm sure it will work out and the cat will soon learn not come over.

Legally? No. That's hardly likely to solve the issue with your neighbours though. I suggest you talk to them about it. Thanks. I have already spoken to them several times. I suppose they are in a situation as well as how to contain their cat, or how to allow their cat freedom, but not on my side of the fence. Hopefully the frights I have given the cat will deter it.

Yes they are. I have already spoken to them several times about this. I'm hoping these recent visits by their cat is because we were away and it thought it was safe to venture over here. Before this, the cat didn't come into the yard.

Hi, I have 3 dogs only one which is cat friendly. My issue is that the new neighbours (they have been there for about 5 months - lovely people) have a cat and a dog. The dog is no problem at all and gets on with my 3. The issue is their cat. He is only about 1yr old, but keeps coming into my backyard recently. Out of my 3 dogs, only one is cat friendly. The other 2 - mini schnauzer and dobexrottie are not. The mini schnauzer is nearly blind and is deaf so her reactions are no longer the same as if she had all her faculties!! The dobexrottie though is not cat friendly and will chase and if she caught the cat, I'm not sure what she would do, but certainly don't want to take the risk. I have spoken to my neighbours, they understand totally and we do get on well and they do try and keep the cat away from jumping the 7 foot fence. We were away for a week (with the dogs) and perhaps the cat thought it was ok to come over now as the dogs were gone. But now we are back. I have managed to chase it away and hopefully give it a really good fright a couple of times and I'm hoping that it will get the message (none of the other cats surrounding my house ever come into my backyard as I suppose they know that there are dogs there and it is possibly not safe). My question is, if the cat did get attacked on my property, would I be held to blame? I never let my dogs out of the yard/house unless they are on-leash and always obey the leash laws (I consider myself a bit anal about obeying the laws with dogs as I don't want to give the councils any more reasons to ban dogs from certain areas). If dog owners have to contain their dogs, are cat owners supposed to do the same? I know that they keep the cat in at night. If I were ever to get another cat (my last cat was put down before I got my last rescue dog, he was 15 and was in ill-health), I would get a cat run built. I feel that I shouldn't have to worry about my own dogs in their own yard because of a neighbours cat. My dogs can't get out, are only out when exercised or taking them for drives etc. Should I stop worrying about it? I will speak to the neighbours again about it, but I worry that if the cat was injured I would be held responsible. Has anyone else been in this situation?

It is very similar to bull fighting - that has had a resurgence in the past few years in Spain - I don't understand why, it is brutal and the outcome for the bull is always death, but the Spaniards say it is their culture etc - we used to feed Christians to the lions etc, but educated, civilised people move on and learn that causing pain and torturing any animal is cruel and should never be tolerated full stop. We don't tolerate child abuse therefore we should never tolerate animal cruelty. Unfortunately both continue and we must always continually fight to stop both. I understand what you are saying, but surely these kids that have been brought up in this environment go to school, read, etc so how they can think this is normal is beyond me. To a rational, educated person, seeing an animal being tortured and in pain is not right, regardless of background etc.

Hi, I see lots of haltis, harnesses and plain old flat collars around where I live. I use a sporn mesh harness on one of mine - he is a terrible puller. He is brilliant in training classes, and in very quiet streets, but in traffic he pulls like you wouldn't believe - 3 years of obedience training has him most times being a lovely dog, but walking along a medium to busy street and he will pull. He is approx 20kgs. My other dog is easily walked in a flat collar, and she lopes beautifully beside me and only after a couple of training lessons got the idea of how to heel. Each dog is different and some unfortunately can't be trained out of pulling, it is in them.