Whippetsmum

Did anyone go today? What are the bargains to look out for? I'm planning on going tomorrow.

Is it a girl dog thing to collect, e.g to build a nest? DVDs, books, Shoes, socks, paintbrush, coathanger, Scooby Doo doll, pegs, random plastic "things", hose fittings, pieces of toast, bones, frisbee, tennis balls, car sponge.

I think the original post was deleted because...well, they asked about what kind of bed (singular), obviously should have been what kind of beds (plural or multiple). Our 2 have a selection, I count 6 beds so far- 2 trampoline beds with vet bed over the top- one on the top deck, one underneath- can't be expected to walk upstairs if you are really tired!; a fabric papapsan chair on the deck for curling up on as opposed to stretching out on; the BBQ table which they sunbake on; old lounge cushions on the floor in the TV room that they share with the cat and juvenile humans; old quilts piled in a corner of the TV room for when they want to make a den and don't want to be near the stinky juvenile human; a crate with foam cushions and old blankets for proper night time sleep; and we are waiting on a Snuggle Bed which I ordered recently (will replace the quilt pile with this). I plan to get a wooden day bed (hopefully second hand) to replace the papasan and one trampoline. They also steal the cats bed even though they can't really fit in it, laundry basket occasionally, and they also have been known to sleep in a large plant pot. They are not allowed on the human beds, but occasionally sneak in a dance all over the beds usually just after we make them.

Maybe video the behaviour and show it to the person you are already working with. Have a look at the video with them to pick up if the play is escalating and when and if and how to intervene. I used to worry about my 2 playing rough, but it was always the older boy who took damage- nothing serious, just a few scratches, and once or twice a nick on the ear from a sharp puppy tooth. In our case they were the same breed, and the play seemed and sounded very rough, but tails were wagging, body langauge was in fun mode, there was a silliness in the behaviour that we could see from both that showed us it was just play.

What in hell? What a messed up situation! Have a look in lost and found- the post is called "Help find Happy and Teddy"- I drive past these dogs photos every day outisde of the markets.

How's your dog doing now Peter, is she recovering OK?

It's a huge problem. There's someone locally (Western Sydney) whose dogs were "found " at a local market and "given" to a customer by the management, as if it's their call to make. Poor mum is still looking for her 2 babies, I would say they've been abducted, they were lost but it's now deteriorated, someone has them and thinks it's their right to keep them. How can the message get across that, just because a dog is wandering, doesn't mean it's by design or by lack of love or care. Sometimes it is just bad circumstances, a gate gets blown open, they find a window to shimmy through etc, someone leaves the gate ajar. Heaven forbid we are ever in the same situation.

Report it to the Police as a stalking incident....following you is stalking, make it clear that this person was following you to your home. I had something similar yeras ago with a guy following me with my old Whippet, just walked into someone elses property, as I had caught on.

I did like that the owner of the Portuguese Water dog acknowledged that the Oodle owner was happy with and proud of their dog. If it were a real situation, I hope I remember that one line.

Yes, but it depends which human is "supervising"

Weird.....I had a dream my Whippet befriended a Pit Bull.

Is there a secret handshake so we know when we meet another Doler? Do we all wear a green carnation/ is there a code word we casually slip into conversation?

I hope Peter's Grey makes a full recovery- mentally and physically. It would have been a shock for all concerned. In the interests in independent arbitration, Peter should report it to council. Depending on our own experiences we will all have different opinions, that's the human way, and that's why it should be up to an independent arbitor- e.g. council, the court system. Hopefully the investigator will be thorough and gather all the facts and make recommendations if need be for both dogs and both sets of owners. What I am genuiinely interested in from a behavioural point of view, is this: Is there a power imbalance when one dog's off lead and another is off lead? If so, is this always the case? Is it a hardwired evolutionary behaviour for a dog's protective system to be prepped if they are on lead and another dog is off leash and approaching?

It's amazing how many people drop into DOL, could be a 6 degrees of separation thing, maybe their ears were burning.

There's a sign at Kellyville/Beaumont Hills- male silver whippet by the name of Legolas- The sign says missing since around Christmas. He wouldn't have gotten to Turramurra alone, but could it be him?

Considering the ever increasing reports in the media where "professional help" and counselling after disasters are being shown to do more harm than good, no way would professional help be my first port of call. Post traumatic stress and phobias are very different issues- to put it in dog terms, you are confusing your breeds. This child has already been through a layman's desensitistion- it didn't work in it's varius attempts- pettting friendly dogs, nice cudddly pup at home, and Nan/Gran obviously has introduced her dogs. Professional help is not the first port of call in this case.....but it probably will work, because treatment of phobias is a well researched and has good sucess.

I agree with RANDCMOORE31. Fears that are not "rational" to the outsider could be Phobias, but need to be properly diagnosed. The parents should talk to their GP about a referral to an appropriate Health Professional for assessment and treatment. having a Phobia doesn't make a child "sick" or mean that they have a big problem, just something that will take a little time and care to resolve. The trouble with Phobias is that we all seem to have theories about how to fix the child, but phobias can have many levels, and without a proper analysis, our layman's interventions could do more harm than good. For all concerned, this family should not get a dog until the child has been treated for this issue. It's npt fair on him, the dog, or the rest of the family. E.g. how would the siblings react if the dog had to be rehomed? How guilty would your grandson feel? What would happen if the dog is always squealed at when the boy comes near? It's not a good situation for anyone.

"I'm now weighing up living peacefully in the neighbourhood vs my dog getting hurt" (quoted) There's nothing peaceful about feeling unsafe walking your dog either. Repeated approaches by off lead or unattended dogs, or dogs that we see as aggressive can affect both our feelings of safety, and our dogs. Some people ar more conident in dealing with dog approaches, I'm not, but tat's not the point either. The point is if you feel like you can't go somewhere in your neighbourhood for fear of a dog attack, it is serious business. I understand that upsetting this distant neighbour isn't what you want, and that it might make you feel uncomfortable, but realistically, this person's lack of control over their dog is already making you feel very uncomfortable. It will be more upsetting for everyone if the dog is siezed by council for an attack. There is a potential risk in upsetting the neighbour, but it may be more likely that you or your dog will be injured in the near furture. Weigh up what is more likely to happen. Council, or a note in the letter box, it's up to you which you choose.

You've probably already got a solution, but if you havent been able to find anything out that works, there are always the good old Bessa blocks (concrete blocks) that you can stack around the base of the water unit. They're heavy and cheap, and because they stack, it could be an easily removed structure. You could use landscaping liquid nails to join the blocks together. If you need something even more stable, stack them on their sides (takes more blocks though). You could block access to the entire side of the house that the water heater is on, if that's possible. Another idea is to make concrete blocks that a temporary fence can stand in, like the commercial temporary fences.

It's great that your are thinking of her needs, and how she will respond. Most places in Europe seem more pet friendly than here,it could be a great experience for her. Even if you think you may not want to expose her to the flight home to Aus, you could have her with you for a few more years while you work, and make the big decision about rehoming later, you may think differently later. Is there a chance you could be over there for a longer period?

My OH had canvas prints done of my girl and although I still burst into tears occasionally, (like now), they remind me of her. I also planted her favourite flowers in pots- she always loved eating violets, and she loved sleeping on blue daisies, so I always have both flowering soemwhere in a pot.

If you see anyone throwing out a sofa, the chair cushions make great dog beds too. The cushions are usually very thick foam, you can wash them in the bath tub. The covers can usually be zipped off and hand washed. Put the cover back on the cushion when it is only a little bit damp and let them dry fully before use.

Are the bargains worth while? Is there a list of trade ehibitors so I can do my homework first?

Hi V, Is this the story so far? Friend and her brother had been sharing a house with a third person. Brother and third person (now ex girlfriend) have split up Friend's brother owns a dog which is listed as a Pit Bull on council records There is some question of whether the dog is a Pit Bull, but brother of friend never questioned this previously. Ex girlfriend is making trouble - has made complaints to police and council Friends brother has a Pitbull which council are taking action to sieze Pitbull has a record of minor offences The Council officer has said the owner of the dog could get someone to assess teh dog to tell if it's a Pit Bull or not

I replied earlier but thought I'd update, my girl responded immediately, barking and checking the house perimter- i.e. checked front and back doors, checked the garage door. Unfortunatley she was on high alert for ages- she finally slept at around 2 am, she barked seemingly randomly most of the night. Maybe it's a male Coyote, and maybe my girl is coming into season? Was it a mating call?