Leema

As your puppy ages and becomes a bit more savvy with the show ring, I think they will end up ignoring people other than the handler, anyway.

Steve, I messaged your last night. I can take one adult dog and can drive anywhere within Adelaide metro and south country (Victor Harbor/Yankalilla) for transport. I messaged you my number as I don't want to put it publicly on DOL - however you can contact at [email protected] or, if you visit http://leemakennels.com/contact.shtml my number is on there. I can also store one unregistered car for a month or two if it can be transported here. I am in Happy Valley

It's very hard. Having working in boarding kennels, we used to get owners who think their dogs love it there because they're 'excited' to go in and 'excited' to leave. Some dogs were, and did love it! Some the owners thought their erratic, nutty behaviour was excitement when it was really stress. As staff, it put us in a difficult situation. Do we tell owners "your dog doesn't enjoy boarding" and possibly loose business? Or some owners had no other option, so then they would continue to bring the dog in and feel guilty for the process. I guess the best way would be to set up a video camera. Video cameras don't lie, don't care about your feelings, and don't care about their business.

Thanks stormie!

I can't help but think that your dog has found a marvelous way for you to feed her elaborate meals. I would decide what I wanted to feed the dog and stick with it. She won't starve herself (if she is healthy). She's just being fussy because you let her be. I like this guide: http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Writing/TeachEat.html

I actually did suggest Comfortis. And also the new 'shoo tag', which I've never heard any personal accounts regarding, but is still interesting. I am still curious about my original question, though!

I am enquiring for someone else. Personally, I do not treat my dogs for heartworm and do not plan to. The dog in question has a flea allergy and they are finding Frontline ineffective. They are looking for alternatives, but are concerned that some of the other spot on treatments contain heartworm treatments and that this may be harmful to their dog.

What products for heartworm can be used without the dog being tested beforehand? What products for heartworm can't be used without the dog being tested beforehand? ETA: I know the term 'preventative' is a bit misleading in this topic title. They are, in fact, treatments... But anyway, you get my gist!

My first and only litter at this stage got: *The puppy *A vet certificate of health *Vaccination certificate *Microchipping paperwork *About 35 pages of information sheets (that I had written) about puppy care *PetPlan insurance *ANKC pedigree *Membership to breed club *A CD with photos of the litter (from birth onwards) *A toy that had been with the litter *A blanket that had been with the litter *Advance puppy pack All paperwork was included in a folder. I printed out a "Congratulations on your new puppy" page on the front, with their puppy's birth time, weight, etc, and a photo of their puppy a few hours after birth. None of my puppies went locally, but if they did, I would have supplies a crate. They're, like, $20 for a cheap shop, and all the puppies were used to sleeping in a crate before they left. However, they're unsuitable for flying, so I could send them.

This press release does well to disassociate pet shops with unwanted animals. Statistically, yes, pet shops do not account for many dogs and so are unlikely to be a major contributor to the problem. I did not need this media release to convince me of such. However, the media release does consider the first point here - "We buy dogs from puppy farms that are cruel and unregulated". This press release does nothing to address the origins of their puppies and their welfare. The other major issue with pet shops, not addressed anywhere in this press release, is that pet shops place puppies in conditions that are not ideal to their development. That is, keeping puppies in a small area forcing them to excrete in the same area as they sleep. Additionally, this small area is on display which allows for potentially harmful interactions with people during the critical socialisation period to take place. Furthermore, there is nothing to prevent a puppy to spend the entirety of its critical socialisation period in this small space. All these issues make for a pet shops potentially impacting adversely on a dog for the rest of it's life. The press release is fine and good for combating the obvious - pet shops don't account for much in terms of unwanted pets. However, what it does not address is the other major (and a lot more substantial) arguments against pet shops selling animals. This omission incriminates pet shops, as failure to counter argue this opposition perhaps implies a lack of legitimate counter-arguments.

I don't find I bond to dogs very quickly, if at all. It takes me 6 months + to bond. I am beginning to bond to Winona at the moment. Just today I looked at her and thought, "I do like you". But at the same time, if she I rehomed her tomorrow it wouldn't bother me. With Chip, I haven't bonded to him at all. I appreciate him for being a secure and confident dog, and I am very happy with him in temperament and conformation, but he was never going to live with me forever and that's fine with me. I can talk quite confidently about his future in other homes with no distress. :p However, looking at Clover and knowing that she is going to die someday makes me cry! Just looking at her sometimes, knowing that, crying! Clover and I connect. I think perhaps my connection with other dogs is compromised because they will never be half as wonderful as Clover.

So tracking is back this season. Chip had only a couple of short training sessions last year, but after his summer break he is great. He's a bit strange, because I really don't know WHY he's tracking. He gets a ball at the end, but he soon drops it. He is a very soft dog who likes his cuddles and affection, and likes people, so perhaps he just likes getting praise and to meet a new person? I don't know but he does it! Clover has come back much the same. She has missed a couple of articles in our last tracks, so it's something for us to keep an eye on. She finds articles very rewarding (it is a tug toy!), so I don't know why she hasn't picked them up. But oh well, it's a bit early to declare it as a problem yet. I've been meaning to film a training session with Winona for "how I train the 'find' cue". Winona is only 17 weeks and I would like to document the training process... Wish me motivation...

No it's not. Punishment always decreases the likelihood of a behaviour. The removal of the ear pinch is negative reinforcement (taking something bad away to act as a reward). The application of the ear pinch in the first place is positive punishment (adding something bad to act as a punisher - the ear pinch punishes the dog for not taking the dumbell). Negative punishment would be taking something rewarding away. E.g. if your dog really liked you, you could exit the room whenever the dog did something wrong.

I fast occasionally, more so if they had a big meal day the day before. I think it's healthy and natural, and the dogs don't really seem to care. However, I would never expect this to just create better behaviour in dogs. Perhaps for increasing food drive for training sessions, yes, but fasting itself is not going to procure a behaviour change.

Um, my dog is a pro at finding tennis balls? :p I never had to teach this - she just does it. Compulsively. My first thought would've been keys or wallet, but I don't like the idea of my dog taking those out into the garden for me.

Here's some 'teaching hold' ideas: http://laurawaudby.blogspot.com/2011/03/ho...og-to-hold.html

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but sometimes I'd prefer just a ribbon! I went to a nice country show, four shows over two days, and ended up getting some good in group wins. These were lovely, but MAN it was annoying getting all that crockery in the car! I won a dish or plate with each prize and I would've really rather have left them there. They came home and then soon moved to the op show after that as a donation. At our BT speciality recently I got some really great prizes! I got a jacket, which I'm so happy with - I have never won clothing before! It is way too big for me, which I guess is always the risk with clothing. I also got a crate, a dog bed, dog food, etc - all very well received here! I've never received a fuel card or a Woolies/Coles voucher but that'd be great too. Cash and sash is really the best... Everyone needs money!

Here is one opinion on the proposal: http://www.savingpets.com.au/2011/04/chang...ou-should-care/ I haven't read all of the proposal (and nor am I likely to), so haven't formed an opinion. I just thought the above may offer a perspective.

Take five to ten pieces of something tasty (like cut up fritz, cheese, or 4legs). Take one piece of something-tasty and put in pill. Wash hands thoroughly. Feed dog in quick succession two 'normal' pieces, the one with the pill in it, then two more 'normal' pieces. I have not had this fail with any dog that will take food (dogs that will not take food I need to deliver the pill manually). The dog is so distracted by the next treat coming, that they seem to swallow the one with the pill in it. Washing your hands before giving to the dog seems to dissipate any excessive smell of the pill on your hands.

Cluster shows are the things that get me places. If there is two shows in one day, I'm pretty much going to be there, regardless of where it is in my state. If there are 2 days of 2 shows a day (or more!), that's even better. I'll travel anywhere within 10 hours for that. If it is a breed specialist, or a UK judge, I am more inclined to travel as well. I really dislike when judges are doing multiple groups. It holds up everything if 6 groups are judged, and then one judge continues onto a second group. Very annoying! I am also the kind of person that likes to get going straight away, so if my group is on second then I am not inclined to enter.

What 'vital elements' are rabbits lacking? Source?

Have you tried your dog on turkey? This meat is relatively cheap and easy to get ahold of, so may be helpful to tide you over.

... I do think my breeder actually taped something to my puppy's crate as she came over, but in the puppy excitement I left it at the airport. Perhaps others aren't as puppy absorbed as me!

Shamefully, no. But thank-you. Clover could do everything if I wasn't such a lazy mum! She is titled in conformation and earthdog, and is on her way to being titled in tracking... Lazy sports like her lazy mum. Clover is same as ever, but now screams at me when she thinks I'm doing it wrong.

Don't get me started! Let me just say, that my "Clover at 14 weeks" ( ) video caused a stir on a Border Terrier forum. All Clover's meals, at that age, was spent after she had done something. She got no 'free food'. I was considered abusive as I was 'not letting my dog eat in peace' and not letting 'my puppy be a puppy'. Strangely, it was actually quite a few people who held this viewpoint and I subsequently got banned from this forum.