Staff'n'Toller

Hehe, was talking to my best friend about it one day and she asked "geez is there a company that covers pet rabbits, like about $3000.00 ago???"

They are pretty much all underwritten by Hollards anyway.

Yeah I think it will be Altona SP ...I think Altona and Keysborough are about the same distance for me and I know the Altona area a bit better. How is everyone going???

Download the Pet Insurance Comparison Chart from here: Barkers Vet That chart was published in The Veterinarian and is the best one I have found so far- needs a bit of updating with the newer companies but at least you have dot points to go on when adding new comparisons. :rolleyes: Mel.

AFAIK- which isn't much if you go to a trial and offer to help out for the day and then ask nicely, they may let you take a couple of birds home at the end. Your other option is to locate Pigeon sales/auctions in your state but then of course you'll need to *dispatch* of them yourself.

Sorry I don't have much experience with the newtrix, other than needing to explore it for an assessment. I have fitted quite a few infin8's and have used them on my dogs where necessary and I quite like them. You may find that it helps with the anxiety as well if that is an issue outside of the home environment. Cheers, Mel.

Obviously I will have to reschedule my date....pity about the Vizsla Club trial- anyone know why it's cancelled? Edit found answer...scheduling clash! I needed more time anyhoo.

I use Carole Bryants Pad Wax from www.berigorafarm.com.au. I guess if that doesn't work check it's not her pasterns that's the issue...??

Ray's awesome but only works limited days at his practice now so may be hard to get into- worth a try tho! I tend to use Dr Georgia Davis- Otimal Chiro based in Hawthorn but mobile as well.

Is this the one you're looking for? http://www.geocities.com/vicobedience/

Why did you bother asking me if you weren't going to take any notice?!?!

Being someone who has studied through Delta as a course provider I just wanted to add a few things form my perspective...not to discredit anyone but just to give some extra background info from my personal experience. I don't currently use visual barriers although it has been on my 'to-do' list for some time. My take on it is that it would be shade cloth stretched over a square freestanding frame of perhaps pvc. The aim is to reduce visual stimulus but not get rid of it completely. Reducing visual stimulation can aid over excitable pups who are having lots of trouble physically relaxing. I would be using it between two dogs sitting next to each other but they could still see the dog next door and the dog across from them. I only have a small area and our chairs are not movable- they are like church pews. In saying this however, I would tend to try showing and reminding the handler of what they should be doing to help their pup settle and focus on them i.e. targeting, luring back to your mat, rewarding focus, bridging and rewarding any calm behaviour. I think we have probably all had the very hyper terrier pup in class who is constantly barking and rehearsing some behaviours with other pups that perhaps would be aided by reducing their opportunity to do that. Generally, the handlers are quite embarrassed about the fact that their pup is a bit reactive so it may help there too. With the behaviour problem solving owners need to be taught 1. Manage behaviours so they can't be rehearsed 2. Teach what you want the alternative behaviour to be instead. Delta's recommendations are that puppies are NO OLDER than 14-16 weeks before beginning puppy school but I deal with this on a breed/age case by case basis and if I had someone ring me with a 14/15 week old Labrador, then my recommendations are going to be head straight to a young dog or basic class where they have more room to move around, (as these classes are generally outside) AND the handlers don't find it too basic- which puppy school may be by that stage. I generally don't do off lead play in my classes for a few reasons, mostly that my area is too small. The recommendations are that we can conduct off-lead play, but this is best done separated from the on-lead pups i.e. via an ex pen, and that we choose compatible pups in temperament and to a certain extent, size. Also that this is done in small groups of 2 or 3 and is watched at all times by a trainer- which is sensible IMO. It can be a difficult situation in that a playful whack from a Labrador may unintentionally hurt a poodles back and create a negative association or lasting physical problems = not very happy poodle owner!!! I have seen this in adult dog classes where the situation was poorly managed and know that the smaller dog I witnessed also has lasting anxiety issues and regular visits to the Chiro. Seeing as the trendy thing to be doing is training our dogs that other dogs = neutral stimulus then it's not a terrible thing that there is no off-lead play IMO. Added to that, if clients in my class really must socialise their pups off-lead then they can organise it with friends dogs in their own time. I do agree with the polished floors- I have two venues but trade the bigger room with the polished floors to my smaller one with textured tile floors for that reason. I would only ever use polished floors if it was covered with the click-style rubber matting they use for martial arts. There are a bunch of other aspects I could prattle on about but I think that's probably enough for now! It just seems that there is incorrect information coming through, and that the training philosophy of the Cert IV in CAS is more complete than one would realise from the outside. There is- of course- that other can of worms that is adult learning and what can be lost in translation when you have a bunch of puppies to distract everyone in the class! Cheers, Mel. Edited for crappy grammar due to sleep deprivation.

Exacerly!!

I just thought it was a Staffy boing at .28. Looks awesome btw...

I notice you dodged my statement TSD, I'll take that as "already resigned to the Labrador camp".

Congrats on your runs TSD- sounds to me like you're getting a working Lab next!!

There has been a legislation change in Victoria. Only Cert IV nurses and Council Rangers etc. Can chip now and must undertake the course (which also includes video on correct implantation) and complete it to get an implanter ID. NSW/QLD are a bit different, but I believe there will be changes in the future.

Went out today with Geords but it was only a short one because still warm at 4.30ish. We went up an enbankment to a flat area to do some grass riding and then I saw two large dogs off lead coming the other way. As there is a creek on one side and fencing all the way on the other side for about 1.2km I did a sharp u-turn- too sharp- on the side of the hill, with the slick tyres on and tipped over! :mad :laugh: I have been riding since I was like 4yo and I never fall off. Oh well, the rest of the ride was uneventful and back tomorrow for another round.

Gremlins.

4 was a deal breaker for me, we made it work but boy it was hard at times. I was sent a pup though from interstate and unfortunately when he came up the ranks my old boy gave in- not what I had assumed would happen!!! Their personalities just didn't gel. 3 is very different to 2 so choose your pup carefully, I find with 3 one little ratbag is always doing stuff behind your back when you're not looking- and the ratbag role is interchangeable- it's like organised crime!! :D

If you can give injections, the Vet might be happy to give you a small bottle of Clavulox ready-to-use on hand. Otherwise tablets work ok too...they are always helpful to give at first signs, if it's a tummy infection. Sounds like your doing fine though, even in the 'burbs with a bright and happy dog I would not be racing into the clinic, just starve them, provide fluids and chicken/rice as you are doing. Mel.

I'm hoping to ride every day of the long weekend too. I am also trying to get Geordie to the pool twice a week b/c I find it hard with work during the week too.

They will have you come down and fill out an enrollment form and bring your girl with you before starting a class anyway so you can see how she goes and you will have a chance to talk to a trainer then. :nahnah:

Yes they are a positive club. I'm sure your BC would be fine depending on her friendliness towards other dogs. They certainly had a big mix of breeds for the 15 or so months that I worked there. We saw dogs of all personality types. They have moved clubrooms down a quieter area but it is still an offlead park, for that reason when I was there we found it hard to accommodate reactive dogs, if yours was well managed then maybe...but you would have to speak to them- I think Karen Damiani was going to run a reactive rover type class but again you would need to quiz them about it. They are all qualified trainers or students currently studying so it was a good quality club with a lovely member base when I was there. We were small enough that we could (for the most part) manage new and existing dogs very well and educate handlers at the same time. :nahnah: Just give them a call and pop down when it is convenient to have a chat to a few of the trainers. They have a range of time slots so it may be possible for you to drive home and swap dogs between classes. Mel.

Torquay is no-where near Pakenham. I assume you've got a couple of assistants with you then Erny? Running classes with 10 pups?