Staff'n'Toller

These types of posts usually spark massive numbers of dolers going to their local pet supplies/supermarket looking for Dougal's fav toy. :laugh:

Grisha is also presenting at APDT conference in Bankstown in October. :)

Brilliant footage! Love those GoPro cameras. Not sure how to fix the wobbles, apart from strapping it to the dogs head- might be worse. :laugh:

Try PMing Paulp. Berwick run week night classes over daylight savings but I have no idea if they set up their trial ring. :) The trial ring is certainly there on Saturdays AFAIK. With agility and flyball running concurrently - good distraction.

Thanks, I will msg her if she doesn't immediately come to someone's mind here. :)

Dr Hanlon used to work at Broadford Vet in Vic, does anyone know where she is practicing from now? Thanks in advance, Mel. :)

This just came up on the google ad at the bottom of the page. :laugh:

Blackdog might be happy to make you another, they just charge a bit extra for 'special order' stuff.

The short version is that allergies are based on the fact that consuming large proteins causes a huge histamine release in the body - a bit like hayfever, but obviously different. The histamine release is an over response by the immune system. Proteins with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 daltons generally go undetected by the immune system - so no histamine release. In Hills z/d, and also RC hypoallergenic, the proteins are hydrolysed down so they have an average molecular weight of 3,000 daltons. Starches included in the food are either extremely low protein <1% or purified so they contain no proteins. Some dogs will have chronic gastrointestinal symptoms not because they are allergic to one specific protein, it's due to large proteins causing skin or gut issues. It wouldn't matter what animal protein you tried if the dog's system cannot process large proteins - which is very often the case. Thank you very much, very interesting. No worries, it's hard to take all that in, in one visit with the Vet but if you want more info there is a Hills hotline purely for customers and I'm sure they would email you anything else you'd like to know. Whilst it sometimes seems like the Vet just wants to flog you a really expensive food. When you are referred to a specialist for dietary indiscretion, the first thing they will do is put you on z/d ultra for 6-8 as an exclusion diet so absolutely nothing else to eat other than z/d. If this resolves the symptoms then it most likely is a large protein problem - obviously there can also be other reasons, I'm not a Vet :p. If it doesn't fix it though, then you move to 'working up' the symptoms, probably a pathway such as blood tests, abdominal ultrasound, then endoscopy and biopsies.

<br />The short version is that allergies are based on the fact that consuming large proteins causes a huge histamine release in the body - a bit like hayfever, but obviously different. The histamine release is an over response by the immune system. <br /><br />Proteins with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 daltons generally go undetected by the immune system - so no histamine release. <br /><br />In Hills z/d, and also RC hypoallergenic, the proteins are hydrolysed down so they have an average molecular weight of 3,000 daltons. <br /><br />Starches included in the food are either extremely low protein <1% or purified so they contain no proteins. <br /><br />Some dogs will have chronic gastrointestinal symptoms not because they are allergic to one specific protein, it's due to large proteins causing skin or gut issues. It wouldn't matter what animal protein you tried if the dog's system cannot process large proteins - which is very often the case.<br /><br /><br /><br />Yes I know all that. I know you did, it wasn't for your benefit.

The short version is that allergies are based on the fact that consuming large proteins causes a huge histamine release in the body - a bit like hayfever, but obviously different. The histamine release is an over response by the immune system. Proteins with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 daltons generally go undetected by the immune system - so no histamine release. In Hills z/d, and also RC hypoallergenic, the proteins are hydrolysed down so they have an average molecular weight of 3,000 daltons. Starches included in the food are either extremely low protein <1% or purified so they contain no proteins. Some dogs will have chronic gastrointestinal symptoms not because they are allergic to one specific protein, it's due to large proteins causing skin or gut issues. It wouldn't matter what animal protein you tried if the dog's system cannot process large proteins - which is very often the case.

Was just browsing old topics on this that are deactivated. Anyone still feeding this mix? How long does a batch keep in the fridge, on average? Thanks, Mel.

Before you totally change your mind, why don't you hook up with a breeder that breeds specifically for temperament (well they all should, really) and take your family out to meet their dogs first? We deal with a few untrustworthy Rott's at work but I've previously had a lot of contact with particular lines that are just the most gorgeous family dogs. Perhaps you just need to find the lines that suit you and go from there.

As in, just a chunk you could get cut at Clark Rubber or some such place??? Is the "eggbox" type surface better? Yeah - we just get it cut to size, not the super expensive type but a decent thickness. I think the egg type is better according to a dog physio I know but I haven't tried it. :)

Gypsy's preference is high density foam. All my dogs have preferred it actually...I wrap them in old snooza cotton covers. Over the winter they have dry-bed cut to size over the top of that just for warmth and comfort. And a jacket and a heater in the laundry...hmmmmm spoilt much? :laugh:

Ebook - Before You Get Your Puppy - from www.dogstardaily.com. :)

It sounds like she is showing some lovely communication - that being she is not all that interested in playing with unknown dogs. I second everything that megan said.

Ok, will go to Puppy Power as well :) I'm pretty sure if I used the latest crate I have as a table it would collapse on the poor dog!

Contact Jenny and she will let you know. It's most likely that you will book in for a course of 6 or 8 weeks duration - depending on your dog's level of training. I think you'll find her very good, she has many years experience and is a very down to earth and common sense type of trainer. :)

AFAIK for that type of quality they are all a similar price. You may pick up Shor-line or some such second hand from Veterinary equipment suppliers but they will still be in the thousands.

Cold pressed flax seed oil can have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin. My Stafford girl has been on an assortment over the years but I think the best was Hills prescription z/d low allergen, Royal Canin Hypoallergenic, and Eagle Pack Anchovy and Salmon. Now she seems to cope with Advance sensitive skin tuna and rice, but she is on daily anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis so I think that has some sort of benefit.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, looks like there is somewhere close that stock Bono Fido and TFH so I can compare. I'm having trouble seeing (b/c I can't enlarge the image enough) how savic crates are any different to what I have now.

Savic crates are great - solid and sturdy. You can get them from show stalls (Don Day has them at Erskine Park in Sydney) I'm in Vic.

Desperately hoping to get some Crate Games style classes running now that I have a wonderful new area to train. I have ordered a few Kramar crates for myself and the clinic recently and they are getting more and more sh*te with each new one coming in. Not happy at all with how wobbly they are when set up, that they don't align properly and the flimsy quality of the joiners. SO where should I consider getting some nice, well-made strong ones from?? :)

As a blanket statement, I don't agree. IMO, it would depend on the situation, event, the dog and what you're trying to achieve. Generally speaking though, an appropriate mix of aversives and rewards can work even better than either of these things individually. But again - no blanket statement being made by me .... it depends on the situation, event, the dog and what I'm trying to achieve. Senario- Dog behind fence hits fence. Reward- My dogs begin fence running Punishment- Everyone gets hosed (the only option when you have a moon boot on lol) Result- Dogs don't go near fence. The Aversive in this situation was clearly more powerful than the reward of Fence running. I do agree that one of my dogs likes the aversive (of being told no) because it means she gets to the reward quicker!! For example a sloppy position and she is told no, the next time she does it correctly she earns a treat- generally she locks onto a behaviour pretty quickly. Another of my dogs shuts down with an Aversive so for her unless I am truly trying to extinguish a behaviour its positive all the way. I have trained at a no food club and in all honesty I find using treats such an easy way for me as a trainer to communicate to my dog that they nailed it. But I am a naturally lazy person who likes to cheat when I train my dogs so they always win (but don't tell THEM that :laugh:) Training with clarity and setting the dog up for success is not cheating. :) It's just smart.