Stressmagnet

Ernie is a loon outside but I've trained him from 6 months that inside is quiet. We're mostly successful - he still can't help the odd zoom of happiness. Next door has a 2 year old girl. I must admit I was nervous when she came over as I thought Ernie's exuberance might be too much but weirdly, he was very quiet with her. She smacked him on his head a couple of times, he licked her cheek and then settled and just watched her. Oddest thing.

I wouldn't simply because the science behind Nutriscan still hasn't been released as a scientific publication yet. The website says they are preparing the data for that to happen, well I would wait for that to happen and be peer reviewed. LOL right, so instead of using a test created by the worlds leading animal scientist....do an elimination diet incorrectly like most people do. Or you could do it correctly? I don't think wanting scientific backup provided before undertaking an expensive test is such a bad thing? Um yeah -- why would she do it INCORRECTLY? She's from all indications intelligent and committed to her dog's health - is it hard to do? I did an elimination diet for my anstaff and while not fun, I followed the rules and we worked out that Georgia couldn't have chicken. And I'm no rocket scientist.

Oh FFS. Ernie (lab) has a BFF that's an elderly cavalier. He runs free for an hour with little Charlie brining up the rear. SUPERVISED. Ernie is a big dog and while he's not aggressive - little Charlie could get hurt. That's just basic common sense. I'd no more leave the two of them in my back garden unsupervised than I would a toddler and an 8 year old human. If I can figure it out - why can't a so called dog expert? And why are people so stupid???

When I first started researching Labradors - I couldn't believe the wide range in price! I mean, it's one of the most popular dog breeds around - how hard could it be to raise a litter? Especially for 'just' a pet home! Just greed, surely? Then I started noticing the differences in the levels of testing given; and the amount of support given. I started reading the testimonials and guestbook entries from folks who already owned pups from some of the more expensive breeders. And compared them to Gumtree ads (the ones where it was obviously an oops mating) or even the Trading Post. The differences in the looks was startling and the commitment to caring for the pup AFTER it left the 'seller' - the more expensive breeders seemed to actually CARE that the dog fit in with our family and had a long and happy life with us. And they would help us make that happen. In the end, I chose a small breeder who didn't have many litters but whose dogs went on to have seemingly great lives as pets and as service dogs. She was not the cheapest and even now, I hesitate to tell folks how much Ernie cost 'for a lab'. It truly was the best decision I've made. There's so much more that goes behind a pup than 'just' price. It's years if breeding for the right reasons; it's caring about the dog past the sell point and it's carefully matching temperament to buyer. I do not regret the months of Ranen Noodles Ernie cost me - not one mouthful.

I roast them or boil them in vegetable stock and mash them. The dogs don't care, the kids prefer roasted.

I'd kill for a Friday and Saturday job. Just because I've cancer, employers seem to think I'm brain dead - even when I can prove I scheduled my chemo around days off and work extra hours. I've been a year out of work and I don't even get an interview.

My sister shows her Westies all over Canada and parts of the U.S. She uses her holidays and days off to go to shows - her job enables her hobby. She too, suffers from depression but the dogs keep her balanced. Whilst I get that your hobby does the same thing, unfortunately you need to understand that any employer is going to expect you to put your job - for which they are paying you - first.

Oooh Jake is so tempting.

Honestly. This is worse than high school. Got an opinion? Fine. OWN IT. Don't create aliases for yourselves. You look like idiots. There are people here who post opinions I don't agree with but at least they are adults and don't snipe and swipe behind fake names and made up crap. Grow the hell up. --- I for one, am INTERESTED in hearing about the steps taken to improve the conditions of the dogs held at the pound. I'm interested in well stated thoughts on how this can be done. I'm saddened by what I saw in those photos. I'm excited that Madley and the folks from Great Dane Rescue have stepped up. Isn't that what we want? Won't this improve the lives of those poor animals?

Yonjuro, I get the whole private thing. You'd be surprised at how little I really share about the last 8 years. But cancer can be lonely and a bad diagnosis even more so. People aren't sure what to say or do, so often they pull away. It's understandable but very very saddening for those on the receiving end. If I may put on my Pointy Advice Hat - just be there if she withdraws or goes quiet. Rock up to her place with a meal or a bottle and if she's not accepting company - stick it in her hands and leave. If she's not adverse to company but is sad or angry, that's ok - just nod and make noises. Just don't assume that other folks are doing what you are, because I can tell you - a bad cancer diagnosis makes friends desert in droves. It's like the bad news is contagious. The friends I've kept are the ones that ignored me when I told them to go away in tears and the ones who let me say sad things and the ones who drove me to appointments or who helped me with makeup or who just hung in there.

A butternut is a squash and so is a Jap Pumpkin, but from what I have read, it makes no difference whether it is called a squash or a pumpkin, they really are all in the same family, as are Zucchini, though we don't tend to grown these out to maturity, so probably don't have the same nutritional value in the skin. At a guess, I would say the ones with the thickest skins would be best. Ones like Queensland Blue & Jarradale. .... The ones that are hard to cut. YES!! They're bastards to cut so I tend to cut and cook it all at once and Ernie gets what's left.

Excellent. Love these sort of stories. Thank you.

Ok. I asked the girls and apparently I tend to buy the stuff that ISNT butternut. Sorry I'm not more help. There IS a language barrier between Canadians and Australians sometimes - no matter what you think. Canadians don't tend to eat as much pumpkin except in pies - so it's s thing I started doing here. :D And I know Georgia (anstaff) was prone to yeasty beasties so I'm guessing it's the pumpkin they refer to here. Ps. I spent 15 very frustrating minutes in Officeworks looking for 'Elmer's glue and construction paper' so I DO know it's ME not Australia.

Oh so great!! Please please photos - two of my favourite terrier breeds!

Um. Whatever is on special or leftover from the kids dinners? I'm hopeless really.

Well see? I'm sure I read that study and understood it all. Thank you DD - I feel vindicated because I really was starting to wonder if I WAS indeed trailblazing :D.

I always used to give my anstaff cooked pumpkin - skin and all to ease her itchy feet. I'm not known for being a front runner in dog treatment or care or feeding - so obviously I read about it somewhere. The thing is, it definitely worked. And I also regularly give Ernie some (2x a week?) - just because I'm a creature of habit. So far, he seems to have escaped the dreaded Labrador skin things, and I'm sure it's not down to scarfing dropped kids lunches and leftover pizza when I'm not looking.

CountryGirl - so far, all the posts I've read by you sound very angry. I'm going to assume that's merely the limitations of a keyboard and NOT how you really are.

^ this. I sort of assumed you'd tackle leash training and pee training at the same time. I'd forgotten how confusing I can be before I've had 3 coffees, sorry.

Yonjuro - happy to help her through this. Just PM me. I too was given the all clear and then had a relapse within 3 months. It's not.a Death sentence no matter what 'they' say - I'm proof of that. I was given 18 months over 8 years ago and while yeah, I'm still doing chemo - there's way more to my life than cancer. Sending a hug to your mate, she must be feeling shell shocked but you just tell her my story and tell her that someone has to be at the top of the bell curve - why NOT her?

Thank you. I will follow the pups and I'm not at all interested in slanging or crap throwing - so also thank you for a classy response.

Hey Madley Just wanted to say I think your posts on this thread show both grace and class, and I wish you the best of luck - you sound like the best person for the job down there.

Purple Spray! Can't remember what it's called but it's a spray on antiseptic that also keeps flies etc off the wound.

No ideas sorry on the eating. I own a Labrador! Just wanted so much to say how pretty Willow is and how she reminds me so much of my sister's first dog Casey. He was an absolute wonder and I miss him. I'll always have a huge soft spot for the breed.

Not all Labradors are ridiculous over exuberant idiots. :D Get a good breeder, tell them what you want and you'd be surprised. They aren't Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for nothing!