lanabanana

Snakes are found all over the country, unless you live in a high rise. Seriously the chances of coming across one in the middle of suburbia are not high but also not impossible. The majority of our early season snake bites came from town not from the rural areas. Oh ok, thanks for that.

LOL that is a cute pic. I refused to photograph Pippi while she is wet. She loses her scruffy look and becomes this scrawny ugly little thing LOL

LOL! Love the analogy. So funny reading oyur dogs name....my daughter is called Ava

Sorry, where do you get snakes? I live right in Sydney, they dont come in there do they? (ignorant I know but I come from NZ - no snakes at all) Also, can you not have the dogs snake proofed? In NZ dogs can be kiwi proofed to stop hunting dogs going after kiwis...maybe you can do this with the dogs then you can leave em free during the day and they can just move away from the snake.

Where do you bath your dog and how often? Barney (big dog) is only bathed over the warmer months and he is bathed outside using the hose. Being big and black a nice cold "shower" helps with keeping him cool. Pippi (small) has her baths all year round and we just take her in the shower with us. Often she gets in with my daughter. That seems kinda odd reading it like that ....LOL

If you are concerned about the neighbours, I dont think there would be any harm in going and having a quick chat with them all to explain you are awar eof the issue and trying to work on it. But I suppose on the flip side you start giving them ideas then....

Oh another interesting something I read about this the other day was that the dog came from a shelter (the dog who played Hachi in the Gere movie) and there are now people trying to claim his ownership. I am not even sure where the hell I read that - maybe here?

Excellent movie. Though, I think in RL the dog did not escape new owners. He lived with the family and then made the journey everyday, dying at the train station. Or am I getting confused with a different RL story lol

Thanks Justice Shades, very sweet of you As always, I'm open to input, postive or otherwise. If responses to my threads can help me with decisions in the future or help others in a similar situation, then it's a good thing. Unfortunately reputable rescue groups seem to be thin on the ground in SA Rusky and most are breed specific. Mmm, true. Most of the rescuers/foster carers I deal with are individuals, not necessarily the groups familiar to DOL. Unfortunately, as with anything that is meant only for very specific situations and meant only to be implemented by experts, once it gets into public arena, there's always going to be idiots who latch on to it (my ex-husband for one), usually to the detriment of the dog Have you met Banshee greytmate? Just curious...you seem to know a bit about that specific dog

I dont even have a vacuum....but I think Barney would hate it. When you get a blow dryer anywhere near him he starts attacking it.

LOL funny. But truthfully, I did learn soemthing new today...I didnt know all dogs had 5 moles on their face. I knew they all had moles but I didnt know there was a spcific number...we can guarantee I will be counting them later LOL

In response to the query about male and female issues: My mum had a stafford bitch and a mixed breed male who always used to fight. But the female was the aggressor, and she had begun with another bitch initially and just continued the aggression with the next dog who was a male. I dont know whether it is breed based or not, but we have always owned staffy x's and never had issues...always one of each (male and female). We currently own a lab x (we assume) and a foxy/shih tzu mix and they run together 24/7. Barney (big boy) is super patient with our wee girl Pippi. I have noticed she can "switch on" at times when playing gets too exciting, or she doesnt want him to have a toy or a pat but it never gets to fighting. I think this is partially due to Barney. he doesn't seem to recognise that she is trying to get aggro and thinks she is still playing so he just plays with her (if I were Pippi Id be annoyed because there is nothing worse than trying to fight with a male and them not fighting back LMAO) either that or he just doesnt care. In sayign that, aggro is not the right term for what Pippi does. Eitherway it never escalates and the two of them are best buds and always together. Though, this thread is making me a tad paranoid. I trutst them together fully, and Barney is always very patient and tolerant of Pippi but after reading some of these posts I am a little paranoid. At the end of the day, if Barney did decide to "go" pippi, she has got no chance. He could crush her with one bite. I am just very thankful that he adores her and thinks she is the best thing since dog food LOL. But it is something I am aware of could possibly happen and the minute I see any behaviour that may become an issue, they will be separated while we are not home (just hopefully it doesnt happen when we are not around - I woudl hate to separate them now as they pine when they are apart)

Personally I think they shoudl be able to seize animals if necessary....but only if necessary and there need to be proper rules to establish when it is necessary. I watch all those dog cop programs on TV and I am amazed at the state of some of the animals, yet the animal officers cannot go in and seize them. I think its ridiculous.

I dont mind the SPCA, I have a dog from there and I used to volunteer my time there (in NZ). I havent had much to do with them since moving to Aus though so dont know if its different here.

Check this out for lucky. My mum is moving to Melbourne and she currently is not even in the country. Emailed about a house and said she had a dog, got it. Hasnt met the landlord or the agent but they gave her the house immediately. First house she applied for. So it does happen LOL