Jake-K9

You get one from here Hahahaha, awesome! :D I know what a spoilt mally is getting.... LOL

Too cute! Now... where do I get one of those for my mal??!

We don't actually know that. There are actually good signs that point towards it being so. Bloat is a mystery....that's as scientific as people can be. I stand corrected. Everything I'd read about it had said there is no link, body shape and sometimes conditions (being fed straight before/after excercise, etc) had more to do with it. I can't say I've done much research in recent years, though.

I really need to get off my arse more often... more for my own benefit than that of the malinut... We went down to the river this morning, I wouldn't exactly call it a walk but it was excercise for us both as I ran up and down the shoreline as he swam laps! The river was up about a metre on where it usually is, and flowing quite quickly, but I made sure nutcase had his PFD on and kept him in close to the bank, and he had a 40min swim (though I gave up after about 10mins, running in sand is hard!) and is now snoring in his crate :D

So long as he gets enough excercise and mental stimulation he should be fine. I have an average sized yard but my mal just about knocks me down to get into his crate inside when we get home of a morning :/ I have to kick him out again so he will go relieve himself and then if I leave him out for more than about 10mins he either snuffles at the door wanting to get in, or goes and barks at the neighbours >_< I don't think he would even care if we didn't have a yard as he gets enough excercise

As bloat is not a hereditary genetic condition if the dog makes a good recovery I don't see why it shouldn't be able to breed or compete (obedience/show/etc).

Hiya, I did some quick googling and came up with this - http://www.barlowscientific.com/technotes/home/sweater.htm it looks like it should do the trick for you

I have been using Moreton too and they are great No experience with the Karalee/Karana vet but I believe a workmate takes (or used to take) their GSD there and had no problems with them.

I have been flattened several times by my dogs, current and previous, thankfully nothing broken... It's always embarrassing as hell when your pooch takes you out! I took my old rotty boy out to play ball in the park with a mate's dogs, he got along fine with other dogs just not people, so I had to keep a hold of him until we were ready to play ball. I'd climbed out of the back seat of my mate's car with his long line wrapped around my wrist, I'd just gathered it all up without really thinking... anyway mate doesn't realise I'm not ready and throws the ball... Doggo takes off full pelt with the long-line attached to his harness, pulls me straight off my feet! Thankfully I managed to land on my knees in mud and slid along about 10ft before I could reel him in and pull him up, but my mate pissed himself laughing, the bastard I've also been dunked in a lake by a GSD I was looking after, when some bloke threw a ball for his fox terrier... caught me completely off-guard and into the water we went... I think that was even more embarrassing as it was out in public

Ouch. That's about AU$500 I don't suppose you would be able to order something cheaper from on-line? I know here in aus we can often get things much cheaper from the US... I haven't been camping in some years, been too busy working, but I used to go frequently. You seem to have things pretty much covered, and as you do it more often you will work out what you do and don't need, it tends to be a bit of a trial and error process, but you will love it! Good Luck

Those tents look like a pretty cool idea, but I'd be a little concerned about how secure they would be. I gather you have large breed dogs by the fact you can't fit your crate in the car, lol I have a folding soft-crate for my malinois when we are at home, so he can come inside and enjoy the aircon during the day while I am asleep, without having run of the house. He is well crate trained and quite happy to just chill out and sleep in there, but I suspect that should there be an intruder or unwelcome person in the house he'd be out in a flash! Anywhere outside of the house he goes in a folding wire crate or solid plastic petpack. Where abouts would you be using your crate/tent? If it's something pretty laid back - say, a show or an obedience trial, a tent would probably do the job just fine, but if you plan on going somewhere more exciting or unpredictable and there is the chance of your dogs getting very excited while tented, you may end up with a loose dog and a wrecked tent (or even worse, a loose dog tangled in a wrecked tent!) I'm afraid I don't really have any useful suggestions, I've always had vehicles large enough to fit my stuff into.

Awesome photos! What gorgeous dogs you have there

It's a great feeling to know you have a furry protector by your side isn't it? Well done to both your dogs!

Thanks again

Reminds me of the time I was at a workmate's place, they had a big black GSD and a property that backed onto a large river, with their own little pontoon. We took the dogs for a run and went out onto to the pontoon, my crazy malinois jumped straight in of course, and the workmate's GSD was running up and down the edge of the pontoon trying to grab hold of him to pull him out, before finally jumping in himself (though it was more like a half fall and crash landing, hehe)... I hauled my mal out, mate hauled his GSD out, my nutcase promptly leapt straight back in, followed closely by the GSD! So once again we dragged them out of the water and then kept them both on leads until we got away from the river again, crazy dogs LOL

The malinut is either in his crate just inside the door (it's a rental place and I cant let him run free inside, or he'd no doubt be under my desk) or out in the yard doing whatever it is he does when I'm not looking...

Classic!

I got my mally as an adult so I'm not sure if he got any sort of 'training' in regards to water as a pup, but then every mally I've met loves the stuff! If my nutcase knows there is water around - even just a puddle - he will try his hardest to get to it, from sneaking off when he thinks I'm not looking, to just outright charge, towing me along too! He is SUCH a pain in the arse about it :/ He is a good swimmer, but I use a lifejacket on him for my own peace of mind, he would drown himself from exhaustion as he loves the water and swimming in circles so much. It's also good to know that when we go to the beach and he gets dunked by the waves that he'll pop back up again right way up much sooner, lol. He swims well with the jacket on, but every so often I throw him in somewhere without it, and his bum will sink a bit to start with, but after a few mins he's remembered how it all goes again and swims just fine My next pup (probably still a few years off yet) will definitely be introduced to water at an early age, swimming is such good excercise for them! "Throw the frisbee... Throwwww the frisbee!"

Just get a run-up for the hills.... Or make him get out and help :P What is he like socially? I would be a little worried with only what appears to be flyscreen and zips holding him in. If he is likely to want to chase cats/etc or interact with other dogs/humans you may have a problem keeping him in there. Otherwise it looks like a fun idea!

Hahahaha! That's great!

I second sas' comment

Hahaha I got my left and right back to front with my descriptions... I plead sleep deprivation! LOL

Thankyou for the quick suggestions

Those tugs look like fun Here is my really really horrible attempt at explaining a 'round' braid (please excuse the awful Paint skillz!)

Hi folks, I have searched but after trawling through 6 pages of results with nothing that really fits the bill I guess I will have to post... I have a 3yo malinois who is my little mate and usually comes just about everywhere I am able to take him, however I am looking at going on a few overnight trips (and some possibly longer) this year, and will not be able to take him with me I am currently living in the Ipswich area but would be willing to travel to the right kennel, so if anyone knows of a good place around Brissie, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could let me know Thanks!