Staff'n'Toller

We have sunk railway sleepers along the back fence where there are dogs on the other side, it was fairly easy to do. I think before electric fencing this dog really needs an assessment by someone qualified to work out why she doesn't want to stay in her yard. She should be getting 2 short exercise sessions a day, and not just with the kids in the yard, she needs to go out of the house confines for a good sniffing walk and run if there is a safe enclosed area for her at a park or school. She should also have environmental enrichment every day- things like stuffed kongs, treat balls, bones, chewies. Toys are only as good as the person on the other end of them, many dogs won't play by themselves. Has she been to puppy school? It's about time they started obedience with her and build a bond. Is she being supervised at all times with the children? Perhaps they are doing something that is scaring her. Mel.

Royal Canin have a few prescription foods that are generally more palatable. Digestive Low Fat springs to mind but there is also one in a brown packet that I can't remember the name of. Your mum should give her Vet a call anyway for their recommendation on which Royal Canin food would suit best.

Yep congrats to Jenny Judson, it is lovely to see her passion for the Delta CGC award for dogs, how many hours she puts into that, and many other aspects of training. We were just remarking today about how much we enjoyed Nicole Wilde - very down to earth - and quite humble about the fab books she has written. Which reminds me to go look for her fearful dog book. I also sat in on Kelly Gorman's 'Open Paw 4' shelter program, setting minimum mental health requirements for dogs in shelters, she was a great speaker too and inspiring to hear her work. A pretty good standard set for my first ever APDT conference! Mel.

You are very welcome to PM me with any questions, I am just finishing the course. PM me particularly if you are taking a dog because I can give you an idea of what sort of temperament your dog needs to have to be comfortable there. Mel.

Go to another Vet and get a second opinion. Dogs under 10kg, well I have only ever heard Vets recommend that the surgery is optional as they tend to cope very well and make enough scar tissue to keep the joint stable. If you want to do agility or flyball in the future then that is a different story. Mel.

I think you can also get F10 (maybe this is the avisafe renamed?) cleanser, there is one type that kills Parvo...we have it at work I can check for you. Yes you need a sealed floor that is away from the thoroughfare of adult dogs. I use Hills puppy packs and they also supply graduation certificates, Advance and Royal Canin both do packs as well. There are nice certificates here: Vet Stationery Supplies This is also a fantastic book, I'm not sure if non Vet Clinic classes can get this but it would be worth trying as it has the basics of everything you will probably cover and it is very positive e.g. it actually says not to punish for accidents in the house and that sort of thing. Surviving the first 6mths with your puppy I was already a Trainer running puppy schools but I did a weekend course with Creature Comforts and Karen Damiani was the presenter awesome, awesome weekend and I know that there will probably be another organised after Christmas. Stacks of info on safe play, safe introductions, reading body language, approaching dogs, teaching the basics positively, kids and dogs, and I walked out with 2 booklets - a trainers manual and a ready-made handout booklet!! Not sure where your club is, I think you're in Vic? I am happy to come and advise or am more than happy to have trainers sit in and watch my classes. Puppy schools are different and need to be run differently to a young dog course, or puppy and parent gain nothing from the experience other than stress and frustration!

Just make sure they are soft bones like chicken necks, wings and frames. Be mindful of the big bones with marrow- marrow is very fatty and can cause upset tummies and pancreatitis. I only ever feed soft bones and Billinghurst talks a bit about these- the non-weight bearing bones of the animal- are less dense and safer as far as tooth wear and tooth fractures. :rolleyes: Mel.

Hair growth all depends on whether the hair follicles have been damaged or not...and with long term mange it's hard to say.

Thanks For the OP - but I guess you have these details by now - Werribee University Hospital is always open. Mel.

Where do you live? (State and area).

I just wrote a reply.....then I lost it. Contact SABS you don't need a Vet referral to go there, but the Vet's at SABS will generally recommend you have a full health exam done with your regular Vet anyway, so yeah, have a full health exam and let your regular Vet know that's where you're going. We can give general advice, but the advice may or may not make any difference in your guys situation, and it is best seen to by a Vet Behaviourist as it is a behaviour problem and not a training problem. Particularly if the phobia is getting worse and also generalising to other things. Whatever you do, don't get any franchised trainers out to see your dog as one in particular uses noise as a fix for every problem. You can help him out, but he needs a very specific and guided training program and maybe medication on the advice of the Vet. Don't let your Vet just whack him on Clomicalm either, it can be good for anxiety but not necessarily for phobias. Good luck, Mel.

Which State do you live in? Mel.

Berwick Obedience run on Saturday afternoons....not sure if that helps or you are looking for weeknight group? Mel.

Scubadog, if you have specific questions about the Delta course you are welcome to PM me anytime. Mel.

I work at the club in Kew so if you have any questions you are very welcome to PM me or come down and visit us sometime! Mel.

Here's one - go see your Vet. No-one here will prescribe over the internet....it's ummmm......illegal!!

She should be fine 4hrs post worm treatment. Regular bathing will reduce the effectiveness of Advantage so it may only last 3 weeks or so...which is about the time you are away for so all should be well. Mel.

Probably the only way, if you have to feed them all together, is to get rid of the bowls and spread the food (if it is dry?) then it's 'everyones' food and there are no boundaries to guard as such. My 4 won't tolerate others stealing from their bowls, but if I scatter food outside they will quite happily move around each other whilst eating. Problem is you can't be sure that each individual pup gets the same amount.

I read your post in general...or wherever it is....and it sounds like classic separation anxiety to me. Are you modifying your routines or does she watch you get ready for Uni/work everyday and then being put outside as you leave? Are you leaving her with environmental enrichment when you go out? Kongs, buster cube, bones, chewies etc etc? I think the fist step would be a Vet Check if she has only just started digging out of the yard, but I can remember you speaking about her doing damage to the garage trying to get in, in the past. So from what you have said the anxiety is in her history. Mel.

Clavulox and Rimadyl. They generally just stitch up the pinna like a quilt to form scar tissue so that the ear cannot fill up with blood again. Some Vet's use that flexi drain (in pics above) or buttons, xray film etc etc. Just so that the pressure of the suture line does not cause the sutures to cut into the ear. They need to go home with an Elizabethan collar so they don't scratch the ear with their hind legs, and a lot of dogs benefit from having the ear bandaged to their head so that they can't shake and flap the pinna causing it to bleed again. In some cases an ear infection starts the process, so the dog may need to be discharged with drops to treat this, and advice on regular cleaning.

How did u go BC? Mel.

Dogs will learn to pull on any head collar or harness, the training you do in the immediate sessions after fitting the equipment is the most important. My favourite is the Blackdog head halter, the infin8 coming a close second, halti, and in harnesses the easy walk no pull harness which is still fairly new. If you are in Vic I am happy to meet up for a fitting session and you could try both a halter and a harness. I fit and do a short session with all the dogs I fit from the clinic. Mel.

I bought the minimum 5mtr, it was all I could afford. It has done the job fine though. Once the dog is happy to zoom through I doubt extra length makes much of a difference.

I bought one from agility click too, got delivered really quickly and it's currently getting a pounding at dog club....looks the same as when I bought it. Mel.

Hmmm.....me thinks they did not know what you were talking about. Mel.