Pretty Miss Emma

He has heart disease, and was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I think the meds he is on is a beta-blocker, so I guess he probably does have fairly high blood pressure. I recall the specialist saying that he had a thickened ventricle wall, and he was suprised that I hadn't picked up the problem by him collapsing! It's only been the last month or two that he's really shown any signs of having a problem at all.

Rebanne that sounds a little like my boys "spells". He also has a heart issue and I think the 2 are related, so we will be off for a visit to a vet with experience in the area. Apparently cats with heart issues do well to go on for a few years after diagnosis and I think we may have outdone our time. Of course while he is fine we will keep treating and see how we go. Rappie, that's interesting and makes sense. And I guess it could mean he is having a "stroke".

This is actually about my cat more than my dogs but I figure that it would probably be transferable information. I assume dogs and cats can have strokes just like us humans. What would the signs be though? A lot of the human signs are to do with speech and certain movement, as well as obvious muscular issues. One of my cats I have noticed this week has had a couple of "spells" and I'm trying to figure out the best approach given I don't have a vet near me yet. It may be related to another issue he has. The main problem being that in between these "spells" he is 100% fine. But just interested if anyone has had any experience of their pets having a stroke.

Yep. "Meal" is the product minus the water, so it is good.

After the one I've handled a couple of times in the show ring I'd have to say without exceptionally good training while young they are so so so so strong!!!! And this girl isn't very big. But that sort of thing comes down to training as much as anything.

Hamish on the day he came home... And here he is 2.5 years old, he's growing up!!

Baby Kenzie Kenzie turned 5 in October!!

Aside from these things what are some of the characteristics you want? Big or small? Shedding or non? Long coat or short? High exercise or low? Trainability? Something else to think about if you are in high school is where will you be in the next few years? Things to consider are where you will be living, what your social life might entail, further study, work, etc. That's not to say that a dog is not right for you at this point in time but they are all things to consider when adding an animal that will probably live for around 15 years.

I have to say I'm curious as to why there are the dogs at the school and which organisation did the temperament testing to ensure they would be safe in a school environment. I only say this as I work daily with dogs and kids and our dogs have to undergo extensive temperament testing and we have restrictions on what we can do with them based on each ones individual abilities/temperament. I'm suprised with how litigious people are towards dogs and potential bites with kids that the principal allows that many at the school, especially as they are the ones who will be legally liable for any issue. And I mention that because your dog is showing a fairly major issue. Behaviour like that could get your dog classified as a menacing dog. And in a school I'd be really really cautious about where you let the dog go and what the environment is like. Personally I think the dog should not be off lead whenever there are children around. I knwo they mostly run in playgrounds, but having been in schools for the last 15 years I can guarantee they also run in classrooms and corridors (no matter how often you tell them not to!!). And I just worry for your dogs safety if something happens, and then there is also the follow up concern of your own relationships within the school if something happens. My girls doesn't go out to schools for this very reason - she will react and chase things that are moving. When we have kids with us she is on lead and they are all given very very clear instructions about not running. I would make sure your dog is crate trained so that he can sit in a crate any time you cannot be giving him 100% attention while he is on lead with you. To eliminate the behaviour you have to make the fast movement of no value to him. In which case train him something else to do (sit, drop, look at you) and make that thing to be of such high value that there is no value at all in the moving thing. And do this in every environment you possinbly can. He isn't going to grow out of it, he needs to be trained out of it. And until he is 100% reliable in all environments and circumstances I would not have him off lead in the school environment at all.

My boy doesn't like puppies when he first meets them. He has now learnt to ignore them, but if they push it and are too insistent on meeting him he tells them where to go very forcefully. I always try to make sure it never gets to that point as I can see when he is uncomfortable - chances are your dog may have given you some warning signs before he behaved this way and you just missed them. My boy completely averts his gaze away from them, will turn away, will lip lick and will constantly check in with me - all this often happens in about 3-5 seconds. Now I know what to look for and move him before there is an issue. And like your dog my boy generally loves meeting most other dogs!

Yep that's me too!!

I'm wanting to decrease some over excitement levels, and as such think that if I can teach the dogs that particular stimuli are neutral that should help with this. So how do you teach them that something that is currently exciting is actually just neutral? I could just go with giving lots of treats for attention to me at such times. But I think that adds a value to the stimulus - as in when that stimulus is present there is an expectation of reward. And while I do want more attention to me, I also want the dogs to just be able to ignore certain things in the world or see them as not brilliant and not negative. So, just after some thoughts please!!

If you are worried about dog interactions start with a really good puppy school and then get going to some sort of training where socialisation can take place appropriately and if you have issues there is someone there who is able to give decent advice. Toys, does she want to destroy them or does she just want to carry them? I know a lot of goldens that just carry toys around!! My guys love to carry and destroy so I get toys from op shops and $2 shops. My guys love soft toys, just be careful about eyes and things like that. But in terms of what sort of toy to get, I'd say with a puppy get a big variety of different types and let her figure out what she likes best!!! I'd get a nice thick dog rope, something made of rubber, a nylabone, and Kong soft toys are great and there is a variety. I know that's not super useful, but different dogs like different things!!

I wouldn't pay $45 for that!!

I more just want the pros/cons of what is around. Certainly some don't end up with any good reviews, others get great ones. I'm betwixt and between as I love my old club I just cna't get there anymore (I'm having the same issue with vets!!!)!

Hastings would be ok. What are the pros/cons of Hastings?

So after taking Hamish through a bit of an obedience run through it would appear we need a group environment to train in!!! I'm after recommendations/comments on clubs not too far from Frankston (to be honest I don't want to travel too far), looking for something where I can be there one week and then skip 3 weeks and it doesn't matter. I'm more after a club who is happy for me to train the way I train, I really just need the class environment and structure of the class. So if anyone has comments or thoughts on the clubs that are not too far I'd love to hear them so I can figure out where we will go when we have time next year!!

Bump

Just doing some research for a friend and thought I'd ask this in here because there's a bit more traffic. If anyone knows of good puppy schools in the Bendigo area that run in January could you please let me know the details. A friends sister is picking up a pup mid-December so due to Christmas is finding it hard to locate a puppy school. Hoping that someone here might know of one!!

I used to do therapy dog work with Delta. Didn't cost me anything although they encourag eyou to fundraise to help support the program. To become a Delta pet partners team (at least that's what it used to be called!) you really just need to take your dog to obedience classes and keep them really well socialised, along with them just having that special something (and personally I think that the humans also need the special something plus being able to read their dogs really really well and manage any possible situation with them). My old girl used to love her pet therapy work, and everyone loved her!! Delta will do a temp test with your dog and they need to be able to things like following basic obedience instructions - sit, down, heel/keep close, etc. But possibly more importantly they need to be able to cope with things like people yelling at them, knocking them with equipment, strange/erratic movements, out of sight stay, friendly with all varieties of people and animals. There were other bits and pieces in the test when we went through it I'm sure it's probably still somewhat similar.

Don't forget you can be a member of your state CCC without being a registered breeder, so it could just be their personal number and not have any breeding prefix attached to it. I'm sure there would be some people out there who would do such things to appear more reputable. I'm sure lots of us know people who are a member of the CCC and have pedigree dogs but they aren't registered with the CCC as a breeder (not saying they would be doing this but this could be a technicality as to having the number, not registering the litter etc).

For those who have asked or are interested in different types of dog equipment there is a seminar running next week in Melbourne. Info in picture attached. Looks like it will give a good overview for those who are new to different types of equipment and choosing what will suit and whatnot.

Hang around somewhere near the ring where you can hear the steward for a little bit (just stay out of the way of the exhibitors), it will give you an idea of what is going on. It will also be incredibly confusing listening to what they call but after a bit it starts to make sense!! Often there are people who have finished showing their breed or whatnot who are hanging around the rings watching what is going on and some of these people may be happy to explain what is happening in the ring.

Thankyou!!!

Emma the border collie was my first dog. She turned 9 years old about 5 days after I got her! And she was perfect!!! Oh and she got me hooked on the breed!