Little Gifts

OK, you have your answer so perhaps talk to council about your concerns re your dogs and seek their advice so it can be managed. You don't want your angels affected. He will probably move on fairly quickly - people who create trouble don't tend to stay in one place too long.

I know others may not agree with me here but we had a new owner complain about our dogs so I straight away talked to the council dog control officers about it asking for their help to resolve the situation. They could tell I was a responsible dog owner who was wanting to resolve what was a temporary problem. They are not stupid - they can tell the real complaints that need action from the ones which owners want to fix. And part of our problem was the new neighbour was hanging over our fence trimming trees and yelling at the dogs to stop barking. Once the trimming was over and they were no longer invading our space no more barking. The new owner had dog issues which I was able to also explain civilly to the council guy - the new neighbour put a note in my letterbox on about day 2 of living there saying I should get a puppy I had one of those collars that shock them when they bark. Obviously not a dog lover. I used to be a complaints officer with child safety and my advice is to not get into taking photos or video or audio tape his behaviour (it escalates things and makes you look like the nutter) but DO document anything you are aware of - dates and non emotive statements of what you witnessed. You also have a right to contact the council and share your concerns about the safety of your dogs from his behaviour with them. Remember dogs do bark from time to time and that is perfectly ok and doesn't make them a 'problem'. And also this person might have 'problems' of their own which are already known to council and police. if you get the sense they are then I'd also avoid direct contact/confrontation with them.

Some pure bred dogs also end up in the rescue and pound system. Kazzie has felt your collective wrath and removed her posts. Yes, us newbies can be naive coming on here asking for advice from those of you with knowledge. By all means use the opportunity to educate but please do it in a constructive way. Otherwise nothing is really learnt.

I was a vegetarian for about 15 years happily growing my own eggs and vegies. I just went off the taste of meat, chicken and fish. During that time any dogs in my care who wanted snacks the humans were eating only got vegetarian snacks and usually just fruit or home made bread crusts. I never thought they'd get so excited by watermelon but they did! Their main diet was of course dog food, including raw meat and bones. The strange thing is I have a dog on a *'supposedly' vegetarian diet now for the last 10 years. She has chronic pancreatitis and has only eaten dry or tinned Hills Prescription Diet W/D in all that time, under my vets supervision. She even gets vegetarian pigs ears as treats. She also gets fresh chopped raw carrots to chew for her teeth. She is thriving on this diet - almost 16 and still very active. My vet did go to the effort of translating this it all into a diet I could make myself for her but there were more ingredients required than are stocked in my whole house to get the same balance (no meat though), so we've stayed with the packaged variety. She doesn't even bother with what the other dogs are eating (raw meat). It keeps her from getting sick so we'll stay with what works. What's wierd is the other dogs often raid her biscuit bin so it can't taste too bad! (*And I say 'supposedly' because I just pulled out the biscuits and in the long list of ingredients is included chicken by product meal third on the list)

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard - my ribs hurt! I also often wake up to a brown eye. Usually I just tuck the tail between the legs but now I see I have another option. Must get one in each colour to match my doonas and pillows.....

Is that like biting him on the ear will make him respect you and be obedient forever :rolleyes: When I was pre-school age (I'm now 47) we had this small dog (no idea of the breed) called Chimmy and he would bite me and steal my vegemite toast every morning at breakfast. Apparently I took to biting him back on the ear in return. He did stop stealing my toast out of my hand but anything that hit the floor was still his. Back then in our family if the family dog bit you it was normally considered your fault and you had to sort it out between you!

My old staffy girl is currently 2 months shy of her 16th birthday! She was my first staffy rescue, has had numerous operations due to her original neglect, on a special diet for chronic pancreatitis since 2000, got diagnosed with cancerous tumours 3 years ago and was diagnosed with mammary cancer and dementia about 2 months ago. Partly blind and deaf, went from being black to white hair, has a piddle problem, doesn't like to be touched so much now and needs inside and outside warm comfy spots but she is definately not ready to go yet! She plays with me and a young staffy every morning (roughly with the other dog) and would have a tanty if we all went walking without her (she does have a dog pram just in case). Has not once been off her food in her entire life with me (almost 15 years) and starts and ends every day warm and comfortable with a contented look on her face. With the cancer I'm not sure how much longer we will have her so we are taking photos a lot more regularly and never passing up an opportunity to show her how much we love her.

OMG Macka, Archie does this too !! Sometimes he stays in that position just watching what's going on around him. Front legs on floor, back legs still up on the couch. Must be a lab trait, Mason does it too, OH finds it hilarious! my GSP does this too I've had 2 staffies who use this exit technique. It's like they are having a bit of a stretch at the same time.

Frank Robson has done 2 books about Lucky - I've read them both and they would both be informative for you re how they manage Lucky on their boat. Plus there are lots of islands that are national parks where you aren't supposed to have your dog so tehy cover some of those issues. Frank Robson is a Australian journalist and I bet if you had a look online you could find a contact email for him and ask him some specific questions about living on a boat with a dog, which he would answer with honesty. Have fun!

Corvus I laughed and laughed about that frog moustache story. I tried to tell my sister but I don't think she was getting the same visuals as me!

One of my dogs is the silly/inquisitive type and EVERYTHING has to go in her mouth - I love the looks she makes when something ends up in there that she doesn't like! "Oh, it's *pthut* lettuce!" She once had two live mice in her mouth - tails and legs hanging out. She had no idea what else to do with them. Her startled eyes told me they were being quite active in there!

This has got to be the most disgusting and yet informative thread I have ever read on DOL. It has given me all kinds of unpleasant yet enlightened visuals.....

When we take the 3 dogs out in a leads off aea my youngest always runs off exploring. My sister started saying to her husky/shephard cross "Wolf, go get Stussy!" and Wolf would go and round Stuss up, driving her back to us. Our dogs also go beserk when they hear our cars coming down the street. I got a new car wednesday arvo yet by the time I came home in it on Thurs night they already responded to the sound of it. I bloody love dogs! They are so amazing!

I am an ex farm girl who has experienced a mouse plague but still can't use the kill traps because it seems an awful way to go - half the time they just snap down on a leg or something. I release mine in a park near a big industrial bin containing what I hope are yummy mouse type snacks. I know that means they end up at someone else's place eventually but the buddhist in me thinks everything has a place in this world (except cane toads). Maybe there are stray and hungry cats out there thanking me right now! As for baits and dogs or cats - I would never ever even take the risk. Even if it didn't kill them it could hardly be good for their long term health.

When I was a teenager I was running down a hill at a park on the Gold Coast and a big hairy Old English Sheepdog was running up the hill. We collided, rolled down the hill together and it was LOVE! Mind you I only ever had the one OES (which I got to choose as a pup from a breeder when I was 16) as Phobie could never be replaced. We all adored her and treated her like a lap dog - dress ups and shopping trips. I still remember mum making a big silverside for dinner one night (we had guests) and Phobie took it boiling hot straight off the tray in the kitchen and inhaled it. All my other dogs since then have been in need of a home, pure breds and cross breeds, all mainly furry things. My first staffy was 15 years ago and they continue to be the breed I take in when I can because of their general attitude. And the talking - I love that. Since being on DOL I have been following the pug thread a lot and I figure when I am too old to manage a muscly staffy I might take up pugs because I really like their attitude as well.

I started writing about one incident then remembered another, and another, and another. All about one particularly 'unlucky' family member called Bundy (My Rainbow Bridge boy). I never thought I was such a bad mother - I like to think he was more challenging than my other fur babies given no-one else has fallen under the stairs, out of a moving car, got locked in the shed, run into rather than over walls, had dried gyprock all over his face, been left hanging by his butt from the landing. He made us laugh and made my vet wealthy enough to buy her own practice!

We have 3 dog house and not one of them can catch the mice that come and go! And their access point is a hole under the stairs (that goes to under the house) that one of the doggies made as her own version of a doggy door! I use a couple of different traps with varying success. Can't think of the brand names but I got them at Bunnings and they are hard plastic things. One is like a trap that closes over the whole mouse so you can release them somewhere else (but not near my home thank you!) I smear peanut butter inside as the sticky mess seems to need more mouse effort to remove. The other item I bought was around $25. It is like a large plastic book which a smoky grey lid that slides on and off. The mice walk in and can't walk out. I've caught and released quite a few using this thing. No bait required and I have no idea why it works but it does.

I'm here in Brissie and have sent the word around work to anyone I know from the Camira area. BFR also have Spaghetti's info up on Facebook spreading the word further amongst the pet lovers in SEQ. He is the kind of dog you wont see many of so hopefully he gets spotted very soon.

I worked in an office close to home that allowed dogs to come to work (as well as babies and children). If I ever worked the weekend the dogs would come in and have the run of the place. Myself and another lady had dogs very scared of storms so we often went home and brought our dogs back to work with us. It was all a compromise for us needing to work some odd/long hours to meet critical deadlines. I worked at another office for the same organisation and thinking the same deal applied I bought my old boy to work one day because he wasn't doing so well. I sent a courtesy email around saying there was a dog in my pod for the next couple of hours. All these people came round to double check thinking I was sending a fake email! Why the hell would someone do that???? Anyway it was a funny day. I had the boys lead looped around my chair and got called into a fairly major meeting. Since he hadn't moved all morning I went in for my 5 min speech. Not long after, the whole meeting saw him strolling down the hallway dragging my chair, looking for me.....

So many great ideas! We put on the thick doggy PJ's, jackets or hoodies as soon as the temp starts dropping in the early evening. I tend to get them a little larger so her bum and thighs are covered when she is lying down - almost like a cape. Keeping them warm as they get older makes a big difference to their comfort and mobility.

Wear ear plugs to bed and you wont even notice the snoring!

I feel your pain. My youngest staffy is now 2.5 and we have given up on the yard - while she doesn't eat the plants she has eaten all the garden lights, decking, display items, outdoor furniture and dug holes deeper than herself. Anything not locked away (like the mower or wheelbarrow) is chewed. Oh and that includes all the specific chew toys we got her! Inside she is worse. Only one week ago she was left inside for 3 hours (with the other dogs) and ate every doona and pillow in the house. The problem has definately improved as she gets older but she just seems to be the kind of dog that needs to taste test everything and gets terribly excited (ie possessed) by fluff! She has two other dogs for company who she adores and actively plays with, as well as tug and stuffed toys I play specifically with her with everynight, as well as exercise by herself and with the other dogs. We had to proof our house from her - nothing on low surfaces and things locked behind doors and doors shut as she will get up on anything. She is normally baby sat when we go out or she wears a light muzzle. She is getting better but I don't think she will ever not taste test. You might have a kindred spirit but that doesn't mean another dog will have the same behaviours. maybe look at getting a slightly older dog that you already know is well behaved to guide your younger boy? Always plenty of fantastic staffies looking for rehoming!

I used to work with an accident inspector and learnt a few important things. A big injury causer in crashes is the projectiles inside cars. ALWAYS secure pets, people and possessions. And don't let passengers sleep with their seats reclined - on impact the seat belt doesn't work the same as when a seat is in the upright position and sleepng passengers can slip out of the seat and seat belt and become projectiles. The worst I saw was a chain saw sitting in the back seat with a young girl, short car trip, car rolled several times - I'll let you can imagine what the chain saw did to her. I always keep that one in mind when I am tempted to put anything untethered in my car. So any of you with crates please also think about making them secure - you can't control what other eejits are doing on our roads but you can control your own safety inside. Having said all that, I just bought a new wagon and pick it up this wednesday and I decided not to get the cargo barrier installed because they are a job to remove if you want to use the whole cargo area, and I would use the whole thing, not just the boot area, more often than I have the dogs in the car. I'm hoping I have made the right decision now? Eek! My dogs have always been secured into the seat belts on the back seat so I was going to continue with what works. I was going to make my own fur cover for the backseats with slit for where the belts click in. I dread to think about the outside duco though - do I wrap the entire car in bubble wrap before and everytime the dogs approach it????

My dogs always slept in the laundry at night without a problem. In my current house we even replaced one laundry door with a sliding half door to allow more fresh air to circulate in summer and so that the dogs could still hear and play guard dog for me during the night as I was living on my own at that time. Then one of the dogs got very sick and I had her sleep on the bed with me a couple of nights so I could watch her. Then the old boy was not well so he was on the bed too. Suddenly no one would sleep in the laundry anymore - they were even jumping the half door during the night and coming onto the bed all by themselves! If I shut my bedroom door they would be sniffing and scratching at it all night! When my old boy passed on I decided it would be back to the laundry for all future dogs. So when my next rescue pup came along she went to the laundry first night while my old girl got on the bed as usual. I didn't count on my old girl crying and carrying on all night till the pup was sleeping with us on the bed (even though the pup was perfectly content with the laundry after being in a kennel)! So much for being alpha! Now even my sister's dog sleeps on my bed with my other two and if I'm lucky they leave me some room. I have been known to sleep across the bottom of the bed out of desperation for some fur free sleeping space! The wierd thing now is I can't get to sleep unless all dogs are on the bed with me and I wake as soon as one jumps off.

G of E I am now almost 47 years old and am not the person I was in my teens and 20s. The people I was with in those countries over those years were all the family I had in those days so I did my best to fit in. I ate what I had available - I didn't have the option to go to Maccas or cook for myself. I was a vegetarian for 15 years after that so it obviously had an impact on my life. I do feel bad about my experiences back then which is what I was trying to share - my mixed feelings. The treatment of animals particularly in poorer asian areas is horrific. I saw many things that made me very distressed but the situation is so widespread and so generationally imbedded. I didn't feel empowered as I do now. The rights of animals are very important to me here in Australia but as for other countries I have travelled or lived in it is so very different that I know they don't see it like we do. Asian countries in particular will cage and eat anything. They like things very fresh and believe things like if you eat a monkey's brains then it is good for your own brain. Have you ever seen traditional chinese food? It all has head and eyes and feet on it. Nothing is wasted and nothing is considered morally wrong to eat (unless for religious reasons). I can still cherish animals and recognise that other parts of the world may never share my feelings and beliefs. I also try to accept when I am travelling to out of the way places that their staple diet is not necessarily my own when I am at home - hence the camel eating when I had to. The camel belt? I'm still uncomfortable about that since I don't even buy leather shoes or handbags. Sometimes when you are surrounded by carved bone trinket boxes being sold by very poor people you buy one without making the connection with the original source. I try to learn from my experiences each time.