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Congrats on your new pup!! I agree, the more toys the less likely that your normal stuff will be destroyed. Actually my dogs don't really destroy their toys either. Maybe it is because they have sooo many Golden retrievers need balls - we have found the high bounce chuck it to be the best. I also vote for the squeaky soft toys and the deer antlers. I wasted a lot of money on rubber toys. Also think carefully about rubber toys that are designed to be stuffed, bone and rope toys which may cause safety issues.

We have stayed in numerous places with our dogs. We take them everywhere with us when we go on holiday even when we go out to dinner. We also love to go on sunrise and sunset walks while we are away. We have discovered that a yard where we have the space to run and play with our dogs is a very high priority even for one night. We have found that these places create the fondest family memories. A fenced yard is also essential especially for those dark late night visits to the little boys spot. Therefore the yard, the fence, the number of steps and the views (ie the dogs needs) come first before the actual house for us. By the way - Can anyone explain to me how some houses can be listed as "pet friendly" and then also state that the dogs must be outside at all times? We never stay at places where the dogs are not welcome indoors.

I really feel for you as I know that this can be a horrific experience. Just a thought... has Kobi been desexed? I have read that having your dog desexed can help the way other dogs react to him. Have other forum members found this to be true? Was your dog desexed when it was attacked? I also wonder what is the best way to handle the situation. Has anyone been attacked themselves by a strange dog while breaking up a dog fight? Also how did you heal from the experience? Humans seem to have a tougher time over this as they are fully aware of the potential of the situation and are aware that it could happen again at any time. Wishing you lots of healing energy and I hope that you continue to get lots of wise advice.

When you think about it it shows that they actually loved that dog very much. They wouldn't continue to use that name if it brought up awful memories from a horrible dog in their past. It would be considered as an honor to the first pet who must have been greatly admired. Just like some people choose to give their child the same name as themselves ie Sam Junior, even though it can be very confusing. It does not mean that baby Sam does not have his own unique and valued place in the family. I believe that some ?Jewish? people also name the next child to be born with the same initials as the last person who has died in that family to carry on the fond and special memory/empowering energy of that person. Thanks for the interesting topic

Golden retrievers have a dense coat that do not usually require a rain coat as they tend to dry off pretty quickly. My two do not seem to feel the cold at all. Actually I think that they would overheat if I put any kind of coat on them. This might be why you have found that the golden owners have not been able to suggest a good coat. If it helps you at all my girl is 70cm from her collar to the base of her tail.

I am shocked to hear about Bonnie after all that you have all been through in the past year Your tribute to her was so beautiful. I wish that I could offer some useful advice to help. All I can think of is offering BBQ chicken. Our vet said they use it for pets that won't eat. Our two also go nuts for liver treats in particular. These might only be short term band aids but I am sure that you will get more great advice form the forum. Good luck Indie!!

I love having two goldens. Double the beauty, the fun and the love. If you do get another golden they will play, run and sleep together. However my two also run, play and sleep with US just as much. Goldens (or any dog for that matter) are happiest when they are a part of a family and are fantastic companions. The goldens I know love EVERYONE unconditionally. In my opinion all dogs are in need of constant love and affection from humans as well as from their own species. I also believe that dogs do not grow up until they are at least 3. I personally would not get another puppy until the other dog is at least three without expecting a lot of energetic shenanigans to deal with. So your girl might be roughly just about at the right age then. It sounds like you have a sweet girl who is deserving of your love as well as the love of another furry golden companion. You have been given some great advice about the boy/girl combo. I was originally looking for another girl but I am pleased that we ended up with a boy. I have read that there is a reason why they call them bitches. It is better to be safe than sorry regardless of the breed. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I hear you. The ANZAC weekend is a heart breaker for so many people. For us it brings all the memories of the dark neck deep turmoil that were in this time last year. Congratulations on honoring your fur buddy so beautifully. While the rainbow bridge section has a precious place on this forum few of us visit there too often because it can be too overwhelming. Your post here is a gentle reminder of how precious our friends with fur are. Good luck with your continued healing. It still hurts because they took a piece of our heart with them but we must remember that they left so many sweet memories in their place.

We are DINKS (Double Income No Kids). Our sign says, "We had to get rid of the kids because the dog is allergic." :D

My older dog sings joyfully. I tried to teach my new dog to sing but all he can manage is a joyful growling sound. He looks totally and utterly adorable when he does it. His body language and his beaming eyes tell me that his thoughts are consumed with nothing but love and wanting to please. Dog aggression is a far more complex issue that just encouraging a dog to be vocal. Would I teach a dog who had already shown aggressive behaviour to growl? Probably not.

I have found that some dogs feel the heat more than others. Just like some people feel the heat or cold more than others. I agree, please invest in a cooling mat. It is a life saver for my pup especially when we are traveling in the car. We found that they liked the Silver Eagle mats were the best. Also consider leaving the crate door open in the ensuite. We used a baby gate in the doorway of the ensuite to keep him safe in the beginning. PS Your pup is utterly adorable!!!!

The first mat that I purchased got stinky very quickly. Then we bought the silver eagle cooling mat. It works, is light, thin and does not stink. You are supposed to soak the 'blanket' in some water. The water is absorbed and the mat is ready to use. I must confess that I just splash some water on it daily and still does the job. I have not noticed any dampness on my dogs. It is really helpful at keeping the dogs cool in the car.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAX!! Yes it is tough especially when the grey hairs appear. I can see my ten year old retiring. It is as if a part of her has already gone BUT there is plenty of her still here so I try to focus on that and bring out the puppy in her out as much as possible. She still loves getting out and about to meet people but she does like to relax and chill out more often around the house than she used to. It reminds me of the inevitable; it is as if I am being prepared for it. :D Then again, I also thought this about my boy when he was ten and he ended up leaving when he was 16 You never know.

Thank you for keeping us up to date. I am so sorry that you had to let your girl go. There is something very special about letting her go when it was her natural time. Unfortunately most of us are not allowed that option. I am pleased to hear that she went quietly. She obviously achieved her mission in life as it is very clear how much she was loved. A part of your heart will go with her but a part of her will always be with you. Good luck with your healing. :D

I am so sorry that you are going through this. It is definitely overwhelming especially when your pet has not been well for some time you tend to put a lot of loving energy into tending to them and when they are gone left with nothing but emptiness. It is true that when they leave they take a part of you with them. The hardest part is all of the firsts that you are now experiencing, the first time you come home and he is not there to greet you or the first time you go to the shop and not buy any dog food. This forum helped me a lot - http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showforum=19 in particular the gratefulness candles http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng and the virtual candle prayer ceremony http://www.petloss.com/ We also planted a rose bush in his favourite spot in the garden. Beware, it was during the candle ceremony that I came to the realisation that I needed another. This new dog cannot in any way replace my pet as he is so different but by golly he keeps me busy and brings way much more joy than I could ever have imagined. I am able to remember my pet with honor instead of so much devastation. May this heavy fog be lifted from you soon so that you can freely remember your boy with feelings of happiness for having known such a beautiful soul. He would want you to be brave just as he was.

We wash our dogs after swimming at the beach which is hard work but to see them run freely and so happily makes it worthwhile. After swimming at the beach we all want to get the sand out of our creases and rinse off any icky residue so I do the same for my dogs. If I lived by the beach I would at least hose them off.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. It is such a difficult time but I am glad to hear that she is still wagging her tail. This is a VERY personal decision. I felt very strongly about not letting my boys go just because they no longer 'performed' like they used to. However, when the time came when they could no longer function at all I had no choice but to set them free. I found it devastating and all consuming but I got some comfort from the gratefulness candles http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng and also from the virtual prayer service http://www.petloss.com/ May it all become crystal clear when the time is right as it did for me. Best wishes, unfortunately there is no easy option.

Update: We ordered a canine cooling blanket/mat called Cool Champions from Silver Eagle and it works very well Now we are looking for the bandana version. Do you know where I can order a cooling bandana/ collar in a large size online? (I am looking for a bandana without the slimy and smelly crystals.)

Yes do it! We have booked through takeabreak.com.au (Some of their pet friendly properties will let you stay for one night) I agree, check to see if they are allowed indoors and if they are fully fenced. GOOD LUCK!

Semaphore is our fav beach. We go before 10 and most of the people and their dogs are so friendly. Sorry I cannot help you with any other swimming suggestions but I did want to bump this thread in case anyone had any other ideas. Does anyone know of any other decent dog walking places in the north with or without water? Are there any safe fenced areas where dogs can RUN freely? Golden Grove has some fantastic walking trails but my retriever finds the rabbit scent too overwhelming. Mawson Lakes is a nice walk but no swimming is allowed.

I am so sorry to hear about this upsetting news. We definitely send out our healing and best wishes to you both during this awful time. Good luck Gus!! :D

16? Whoohoo go Gus!!! If it were me I would take him with you. At that age the worry of what IF something happened to him while I was away would drive me nuts. Although family and friends are great they will not provide the same level of comfort you will. I hate being away from my other half and it sounds as though he hates it too. I always tried to take my 16year old out with me whenever I could. Have your cake and eat it too. If you can go to a place with refreshing beach views. There are plenty of bed and breakfasts that take dogs. We also take our dogs to all sorts of restaurants. He sounds like a great dog I think that you should make the most of every moment you have with him and take this opportunity to make some very fond memories. I hate to say it but later down the road there will be plenty of time for those solo trips.

After one bottle we did not see any difference. Have heard good things about it though. All cases are different. We are sticking with the joint guard for now. Good luck!

We bought a mat with gel like crystals inside that would swell when it was soaked in water. It was definitely cool and impressive but our dog was reluctant to lie on it because of its unsteady slimy and squishy texture even though it was quite thin. It also needed to be hosed off and hung out to dry daily. This was difficult as it was damp and heavy. We decided to get rid of it after a few days because it began to stink! I am looking forward to seeing what has worked well for others (as well as what to steer clear of) The bladder one sounds encouraging.

I'd like to reinforce what has been already said here. We feel for you and I am so sorry that you are going on this roller coaster. You must be finding it easier said than done but your kids need as much positive energy around them now, you have no choice but to focus on the uplifting outcomes that the others have experienced. You have sought out the best treatment you can and it is obvious that you love your pups very much. Hold on to the feeling that you have an army of DOLers sending healing vibes to you all and cheering you on! Your message serves as a good reminder to us to appreciate our kids in a special way even more than we already do. BEST wishes and GOOD luck!!! Please keep us updated