Whippetsmum

I've got the same problem here. Ours is 6 months old, and is very busy and gets into everything. I had to fence off the garden a while ago because she was chewing things and making herself sick, she has just started on the lawn this week. Poop in the holes only sends her somewhere else, so we have more holes rather than one big one. I agree it may not be boredom, she has loads of playthings including a 4 year old dog- everything but her own Nintendo! Ours seems motivated by rocks and pebbles, she seems to dig until she finds one she likes and then carries it around, I wish she could find her perfect rock and then keep just that one! I'm considering unfencing the garden because holes in a garden are safer than in the middle of the lawn where she can catch her foot in when she's running around. I'm off to KMart tomorrow to find a clam shell for mine to dig in, all my pot plants are already in the front yard.

This is the situation, 6 months old pup who has company all day from an older dog has decided to dig in the lawn, the lawn digging started on Monday. We have previously fenced off the garden beds because of some minor digging, and she does like to dig in a pebbled area, which is less of a problem because the pebbles are easy to rake over. This digging is now getting extreme. 4 new holes in one day. The lawn digging is a major problem as the holes pose hazards when the dogs are zooming around. It doesn't matter if the pup is alone for an hour or a day, a new hole appears. I work 3 days and am home for 4. If I go out for a few hours, a new hole can appear. I have put doggy poop in all existing holes, but precictably, a new hole is then opened. There are heaps of toys and treat balls. I have never had a digger before, so I am really worried. What should I do, eg: allocate an area of garden that is allowed to be dug in? Do clam shells for digging work? Is it better to leave one hole so they don't make new ones? I don't want to put a balloon in a hole, because she is the kind of dog to eat it and then end up at the vet. Someone please tell me this is just a phase! Please help!

;) Hi, I need the DOLers help again: My 6 month old pup is a very poor traveller, literally 5 minutes is all it takes in the car before she's throwing up. I need something that will settle her so we can get to training, which is only about 6 minutes away.....otherwise I have to get there 30 minutes early so she's recovered from her vomiting and is herself again. On the way home, she throws up all her hard earned treat rewards, it's just not fair for the poor little thing. Has anyone used Ginger tablets sucessfully? Is there a correct dosage for dogs eg: per kilo? any other suggestions to help her travel better? If I need to take her on a long trip, my vet will give me something appropriate, but it will make her groggy, and I don't want to have to medicate her every week. Thanks for any help!

The Reject Shop has them for $35 at the moment.

I'm so relieved for you! I work close to home, and I can't tell you the number of times I've had to drive home for my "diary" or a "file" only to find everything was in place! Have you gotten your neighbour's phone numbers for any future emergencies?

Sorry, but nothing surprises me anymore. Sign in Petstore last week...."Doggie wants a Bone" ad went in to say, "with view to benefits" (puppies) plus a list of possible breeds, ie: mutts. I have complained to the company that run this set of stores that this idiot was allowed to place this ad. They haven't replied.

How about...."Beware of the Owner!"

Any news? Are they OK?

I know this is a really dumb question......but can someone define "reactive dogs" for me? Sorry to be a pain, but I am still learning all the terms and jargon. Thanks

Maybe the balance is different to what you usually feed, eg: more carbs (energy) and less protein, or higher GI and so more easy to access energy but quick burning. My dry food lists the meat as the first ingredient, ie: that is what the bulk of the food is, and also lists the breakdown between carbs, protein, fats etc. If you can compare the proportions between teh 2 food, you might get an idea of what's going on. I just checked VIP website. The ingredient list mentions no preservatives, the ongredient list varies slightly between the flavours, but the general list reads like this: Bran fibre (Fibre) Garlic (Allicin) Minerals (Minerals) Whole grain cereals (wheat) (Carbohydrates, protein, fibre) Beef, lamb, chicken etc, Cereals (barley, rice, bran), Liver chunky vegetables, heart, kidney There are also some with egg or Kelp. Some kids are sensitive to wheat with their behaviour, does your usual food use something different as a carb?

Great news!

Try this link Pandii....they call them "Cat Condom beds", but don't be put off, it's really just the donut bed with photos step by step.....there's probably something on youtube, but I couldn't bring myself to look........ http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php...;threadid=70758

My Whippet loves to play frisbee, he's a bit fussy about what we throw though! He's a bit of an addict and carries his old torn disc around like a treasure. Our original Frisbee was light weight rubber, smaller than the usual, at about 7" across. It was very soft on his mouth. We have a small yard, so it's important that the "flying disc" can be thrown a short distance and still fly well, and that it hangs in the air nicely. The company that made the original that got him hooked still make flying discs with the same product code, but they are too heavy for our needs as they just don't stay in the air unless thrown a big distance and with force. Please save me from having to take yet another rubbish flying disc back to the store......I know that someone has already found the perfect one! PS I am really crap at throwing things, so it needs to be really easy to fly!

X2

Don't panic, Moving house is very stressful, don't forget you are probably a bit anxious, I always am when I move into a new place and have to get to know a neighbourhood. Just because one neighbour has a story, doesn't mean that all your neighbours are dog haters with a pack of cyanide. There are loads of possibilities to explain a poisoning- IF there even was a poisoning. The neighbour doesn't know who poisoned the dogs, and you have no way of knowing what is true, maybe it's a local tale to encourage people to do the right things with their dogs. If the dogs were poisoned, you don't know what or how.....dogs get poisoned in numerous ways, my guess would be that it's probably less by deliberate action and more by by accident or omission, eg: rat sak left around, off leash dog finding a rabbit that's been poisoned etc, or my personal experience the "something" in the yard that no other dog has ever bothered with and for some reason, the new dog eats it......or new plants. There are so many plants that can be toxic, especially the Dracaenas and the Birds of Paradise that are so popular in the newer style gardens.....is it one of those places where the new gardens are being built and dogs might find fertiliser to eat? (Blood and Bone, Dynamic Lifter etc)? It's still poisoning, but it does shine a different light on things. If you are worried that your dogs barking might upset neighbours, then be proactive, look at the options and keep communication open. As someone else suggested encourage them to speak to you if there are any concerns and you can outline whatever plan you have come up with. As you have already said to your neighbour, the dogs will take some time to settle in. Maybe focus on what calms you and your dogs and go with that, eg: big walks for all, or some decent bones for them, whatever keeps you all calm. PS Don't forget to change your address with the Microchip people and register the dogs with the new council. Whippetsmum

Hi, I'm minding my mother's Maltese x Shitz who is a barker. It has diminished with a) turning my back and folding my arms until he is quiet- works well for when he barks as a demand to be patted/played with etc, the reinforcer for being quiet is then patting him, or playing, or letting him inside. (I've just noticed as I write that he doesn't whine anymore for attention) and b) seaking in a softer tone than what they were originally trained in, ie: his compliance with requests has increased since I have made a conscious effort to ask him quietly ....the opposite of what he's been used to with my mother (raised voice then yelling). So, he does seem to think any loud commands are barking. Funny how mum still hasn't worked out that yelling will not increase compliance- never worked with us kid, and it sure hasn't worked for her dog.

I might give them a go.... Slightly of topic, but with the big bags of feed, do they keep fresh? I'm looking at getting the 15kg bags which would last me a couple of months.......I have one dog on puppy and one on adult, so I'd need 2 bags simultaneoulsy. I used to have big plastic containers to store the food, but the food smelt a bit plastic and the dosg didn't wnat to eat it. Also, is the $5 per item or per order? Thanks

I'm looking after my mother's Shitzu-Maltese boy, he's 10 years old. He's been here for quite a while, but that's another story. I have been working on rehabilitating this dog while my mother is away, so far, we have reduced his barking, eliminated his food aggression, and made inroads with his snapping at people and dogs. My latest challenge is that this dog has really bad brown red staining on all his underside, his feet have a bit of staining, also around the mouth and to a lesser extent his eyes. he has had this for as long as I remember, but as he's here, and I've been working on other things with him, I thought I'd ask for your help. This dog gets clipped only every 2-3 months, and he is kept outside. I have been washing him (I use Aloveen), and trying to keep the fur shorter on his beard and around his eyes. I am trying to kep him dry, eg: not let him on wet grass etc. His fur and skin are not overly greasy or dry, he doesn't seem bothered by it. What causes the staining? What can I use to correct it? How can we prevent it? I'd like to have some sort of plan and treatment under way when she takes him back. Thanks in advance for any advice

Property damage from a vehicle = a report to the police doesn't it? If a vehicle or property are damaged etc, I thought you reported it within 24 hours (they won't come out, but tehy could fine the driver) your insurance may need the reference number. You should find out if you can have a temporary fence/ hire fence erected maybe even some star posts and wire for the time being. I'd phone the truck owner and explain that you need the fence, maybe he can send some of his workers out to make some temporary but satisfactory arrangements, or you could send him a Boarding Kennel bill. I can sympathise.....I got up one morning to find my neighbours had pulled down the adjoining fence..... I gave them and the tradies who they employed an earful and told them to put the fence back where I had left it......which they did. I mustn't have had the same PJs as you!

I just found this site, has some nice quotes, many of which have been posted already: http://thinkexist.com/quotation/he_is_your...our/258206.html

Dior cleans Noki's teeth for him, she seems to spend ages nibbling each tooth, the weird thing is that he lets her!

I stopped at the 2 and a half paw mark on my girl. I'm not sure when I'll get the courage to finish my girls paws..........I'll wait until I have a supply of Stop, Quick Condy's Crystals and soap on hand! My boy got his all done, not a problem, he loves having his nails done.

As soon as she sees anything food related, she's into it. I did manage to get some on the foot though and it has stopped bleeding. I might try and get some Quick Stop for the medicine cabinet, any idea where to buy it? Thanks everyone!

Thanks, She's not used to her nails being done yet. My boy on the other hand rolls over and waits for his nails to be done because he likes to be fed treats while I do his. She's eating the cornflour......

Hi, Just cut the dog's nail too short as she was jumping around too much....how do I stop it bleeding, when will it stop etc?