DaisyDog

Sorry to sort of go technical, but it's important that people know that Multiguard is definitely NOT non-toxic. It supposedly tastes bitter, so not as appetising as the others, but if enough is ingested it can most definitely be fatal. Yes I know of a pup that died. Use beer people if you feel the need to kill snails.. Or coffee. Coffee kills snails. So deeply sorry for your loss

That was the boy being called a Bull Terrier

The woman on channel 9 news was telling us all about how Bull Terriers are illegal in NSW. *sighs*

I had a 3 year old desexed bitch and a ~9 year old desexed dog. And we're having big issues with fights at the moment. The last big one left our boy with a bad cut under his eye. She starts them, every time. They can be quite happily playing together then she'll just turn on him. This morning they were talking to the man at the front door and the excitement turned to a fight. When they do fight she gets major time out which for her is major punishment. These dogs get walked for an hour or more every day. Is she just trying to become the top dog? Or is it something more? They've never fought when we've been out (that we know of) and she will go at him if he comes near me sometimes. When she starts a fight we have to pull her off because she doesn't stop. I love this girl, she's my heart dog. I just don't know what to do She goes to obedience every week and she knows that I'm her boss. I can't seem to find anyone here who will come out and see them in their environment And because they usually do get along so well I don't want to keep them apart (plus with my disabled father it's near impossible).

we're packing at the moment and my BC X girl loves helping with linen! She waits while i pile some on her back and give her a pillowcase in her mouth and she takes it all down to my mother to pack!

My girl just holds the thing in her mouth until it dies, then it's a great toss toy for her!

We're moving from Darwin to Armidale NSW in 12 days, and have decided to drive down with the animals (2 dogs, 3 cats). The original plan was to go down the Qld coast, but the weather has put a stop to that so down the middle it is. We've got the current Holidaying with dogs book, but 1st hand advice is usually more accurate. So does anyone know of dog friendly places to stay on that trip? Or will I really have to buy a tent and sleep outside with our dogs? We've got a BC X and a Red Heeler X, both inside dogs and very house-trained. Thanks

For Darwin Howard Springs Pet Meat Pty Ltd Mahaffey Rd, Howard Springs (off Girraween rd) Phone number(08) 8983 1223 We buy a box of necks (cow or horse) for $30 and that it packed full (about 2kgs?) of really really meaty bones.

All of my animals get human names; dogs, cats, fish, birds, chickens, turtle. *shrugs* It's just how I am. They get the name that suits them.

I'm in remote NT but can get to Darwin. I couldn't find ANYONE in Darwin when i was having agression issues with my girl. Barkbusters have just arrived in town though

OT, but the NT now has 130km limits on all the roads that used to be unlimited But we don't have to wear helmets if we're over 18 and on cycle paths. I love riding with my dog, but moving to NSW soon means I'll either have to give it up or find a state park to do it in.

My girl weighs 20kg atm, but you'd never know it from looking at her, she looks so skinny! A few months ago she was 18kg and was all hips and ribs now she's just perfect, so shiny with a great tuck and just a few ribs showing. I don't go by weights any more, by by how they look.

OMG bawling my eyes out here, so beautiful

Yay! Marlows is helping my girl learn how to play with dogs too!

My old boy is terrified of them. Mostly due to some darling children shooting fireworks at him a few years back. But this is Darwin. Morons stockpile the fireworks they can legally buy on July 1, and let them off just about every single night of the year (when it's illegal).

My girl protects me, but not always for the best! When she knocked my off my bike some very nice men stopped to help me up and she wouldn't let them near me until my mother caught up. When my parents are away she always answers the door with me and I make sure to give her permission when people are hanging around our back fence (house backs onto a very busy main road and school oval)

My girl gets RMB and Bonnie working dog kibble, the only kibble that keeps the weight on her!

And it's the most revolting thing ever to change the goo in them. I just chuck the whole thing and buy a new one.

no i have tried the squirt bottle on my pup before. He has absolutely no fear of it. He welcomes the spray of water and he will look at you like "one more one more" i know, its very weird. maybe i have to tighten the nozzle a bit more. At the moment the water is evenly spread out, i didn't want to spray him with the tighter one just in case i accidently get his eyes. They're not supposed to be scared of it. The squirt is meant to to make them stop the behaviour. Which if he looks at you it probably does.

That's good to hear, thanks for the clarification. You did mention changing to a martingale so it wasn't clear that it was working out for you, so I thought I'd offer a solution. the head collar works really well for us, I just felt that changing to a martingale would be easier when we are traveling in Feb. A lot of thinking goes into these decisions because she really is my best friend. I'd never do anything that would hurt her.

Daisy dog, please don't use an extender lead on a head collar. The only way your dog can make that lead function is to pull on it - and in addition to totally defeating the purpose of the head collar, that tension is not great for her chiropractically speaking. Head halters should ONLY be used with a fixed lead. Switch to the martingale or use a long line on the head halter if you want her to have more freedom on walks. ETA: I note you say you don't lead the lead extend. A fixed lead is a lot easier to manage in that situation. As pf has pointed out, retractable on a head halter is not a good combination. Timing of correction is very important, all dogs will feel the correction but unless it provides them with enough information to figure out what they are supposed to be doing, the correction will be ineffective ("nagging"). A martingale will not solve this problem for you, only good instruction, good timing and perhaps more than anything else consistency will. If she is strong enough to injure you, then you need leverage. A head halter can provide this leverage, as can a front-attaching harness. One good way to use these tools is to use a double-ended leash attached at the other end to a flat collar. This way you can transition to the flat collar more easily and are only using the tool when required. Use rewards when she is in the correct position. Define what "correct position" means first, so that you are absolutely sure what to reward. Her extension leash is ALWAYS locked. The only time she gets to use it unlocked is when we're on the oval at the local school and she's on her flat collar. We use what works for us.

My girl gets walked on a Black dog head collar and a fully retracted extender leash. She doesn't feel corrections on flat collars or check chains and has dislocated my knee on more than on occasion by pulling me over. We've just bought her a martigale collar and are hoping to use that instead of her head collar, but only time will tell.

My understanding of using a squirt bottle was that it distracted the dog from the behaviour.

Will take her to the vet when i get paid next, I've asked them about mites before when she went through a period of itchy ears that were losing hair and was told it was sandflies

I've gone back to Fido's Fre-itch wash, doing it every 2 days instead of 3 and she seems less itchy, but still ticky. I'm worried as we're moving to NSW next year so need to find something that works.