Double Lab Love

SOrry for overkill but I am leaving work soon... Have just done this - do you think it would be OK ? On A4 paper Please be aware that there is a local resident threatening to leave bait around due to excessive barking / noise.. This was told to park members early Sunday morning. Please be vigilant in checking the grounds daily and keeping an eye on your dogs… this was not perceived as an idle threat. RANGER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

Mrs Rusty Bucket - I used to be one of those late night party people until I got the Labs and that all changed BIG time Hence being up and about at 7.00am on a SUNDAY :D

Just thinking about the flyers.... am going to try and make a few up on the QT at work and run them around to the park tonite when i get home.. Could I have a few suggestions on what to put on them ?? Bit clueless like that... Luvsdogs ALOT of kids at that park too A

Odin-Genie... I agree totally with what you have said above... He struck me as someone who has been complaining for a while and has decided stuff this I am going to take matters into my own hands soon... I agree re dogs barking - this is a new development for my two- Tango's is an excitement thing and Tippi is more defensive hence why we are seeing Steve as I don't think that is acceptable behaviour and want to nip it in the bud.. My prob is I don't know have bad things have been over the last few months re the noise / fighting as I haven't been going there...I must admit for the small amount of noise over the hour i was there i did think it was an overeaction.... BUT who knows what has gone on in the past and i guess he may have small children / work long hours etc and it was early on a Sunday... BUT that is no excuse to go around and threaten to bait dogs in a dog park - which in itself is a criminal offence... so that's why I think OH and I decided to report to the police when we get home.... Forewarned is forearmed... it makes me sick to think that here are such horrible people in the world that would go to such an extent - surely a more diplomatic approach would have worked... The flyers are an excellent idea and i did briefly think of that today as a way of warning people what he might be up to..... I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't had a run in with other people there in the past so they would know who he is and maybe where he lives bc I unfortunately didn't see which house he went into... Thanks you all for your support/advice..... Still horrifid that people can be so vindictive

Mita - I don't know the other guy at all but his comment to me was that it's an approved dog park so this nutter can complain all he likes to the ranger re the noise but the council appoved the park and location in the first place. I guess if I knew he was I am sure he would verify but have no way of getting in contact with him. Pav Lova - thank you wasn't too sure about breaching forum rules. The park is question is: Jamison Park Racecourse Rd Jamisontown NSW 2750 Sign posted area behind the netball courts,next to Racecourse Rd Jamisontown. I am also thinking of reporting it to the poloce as well - poeple like this make me sick - there are so many rules/reg about where dogs can / can't go and to have them threatended in the one place that they should feel safe makes me

Thanks Brennan's Mum - we rarely go there (unless it is empty) I must admit but my concern is that alot of other people do Yep - Steve is awesome - we saw him 12 months ago and he was just briliiant - have a few furbies with their on lead behaviour - Tippi in particular - and want to nip it in the bud early... I just hope I have done enough and am happy to be PM'd or to put the park location out on the froum if I am allowed ??? I would much rather err on the side of caution as this guy was NOT joking - he was deadly serious and I think that is what scared me the most...

I was of two minds in posting bc of the general opinion of dog parks (largely justified by alot of idiot owners) but felt strongly that I should post this as a warning to anyone on these forums who frequents this dog park and also to ask / get advice if we have taken all the necessary steps to report / prevent this. We rarely visit this particular dog park (western sydney) however where up early around 7.00am Sunday and decided as we were driving past and it looked fairly empty it might be a good idea to let our two burn off a bit of steam... as we got to the gate there were a couple of people with dogs hanging around and about 7 dogs in the park - two having a barking "play fight" - no aggro whatsoever... As we near the gate Tango lets out a few excited barks when he sees the other dogs as does Tippi - just to add we are working on their on lead behaviour (meeting with Steve K9Pro in two weeks time) but it's a work in progress and another issue.... OH goes to go through the gate and this irate guy rushes up and starts yelling at OH and I about our agressive dogs barking and carrying on... apparently this guys lives across the road from the dog park and HAS NO DOG... He heard the two other dogs play fighting and rushed over the tell us all off for the noise factor - and we just had the bad luck to be there for the first time in forever and of course with two excited dogs. OH goes into the dog park and I am still outside with Tippi with another guy and his dog just settling Tippi down before we go in.... Just to note at this stage Tippi has barked TWICE and Tango THREE barks and once in the dog park not a peep out of them - too busy running around with the other few dogs there - and NO NOISE at all from any dogs... This is what has upset me - this guys bascially yelled at us saying he was sick of the noise over the last few months, sick of the dog fights (OK that morning was fine but I haven't been there for 2-3 months) He lives across the road and has had enough AND has complained to the ranger several times and said - in front of me and the other guy - that if it doesn't stop he will get up early one morning and PUT BAITS IN THE DOG PARK AND JUST SEE IF HE DOESN'T. He then storms off leaving me very upset and horrfified that someone could be so aggressive and hateful to threaten dog owners in the only designated fenced and safe spot for dogs in this area... I know how hard local residents petitioned council to get this area fenced about 12 months ago and am so upset about what happended yesterday.. So OH and I spend all day Sunday trying to get through to the ranger with no luck OH trying again this morning... Bascically what we have reported is his threats / alerted the ranger to the fact that he would be known to them (his earlier noise complaints - so they would know where he lived))and if any dog dies in the park chances it would be him... BUT what else should we do.... report it to the police / other authorities ??? I would never forgive myself something happended to a dog there and I hadn't done enough... I have been stressing about all today as alot of people use that park... I dont' know about the legalities of posting the dog park location here so as to further alert poeple maybe thru FB etc ????

I have a two fold question if anyone can assist... Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated... apologies if asked before but can't find the links... Firstly - and this topic relates to my two Labs - I was afer any recs for doggy day care centres in / around lower blue mountains / Penrith. My wonderful day care lady has to close her day care centre as of this weekend ( very sad circumstances) and I have just had Tango home from patella surgery yesterday and was hoping that Tippi could be kept at day care whilst he recovers for the 6 weeks.... Luckily - or unluckily - - Mr DDL is now at home job searching due to company restructuring which hopefully will be rectified shortly - hopefully.... Due to the nature of our work (when in work) we are both away over 12 hours a day (have to work in CBD) which meant that we utilised day care for most days which was a god send when our two were puppies and destructive youngsters :D I guess I am hoping for any suggestions/recs re day care/minders/anything - or how to manage the two if no one is home during the work week.... They are both crate trained but 12 hours is too long contain a 20 mnth old Lab... Any suggestions ( any even outside the square) would be appreciated - the curve balls have flown thick and fast this last month Secondly - this question relates to my neighbour's 7 mnth old cattle dog.... They are going OS in two weeks time and have decided - due to pup's boisterous behaviour (won't even go there) that they need to have him boarded but also are considering having him trained in basic obediance at the same time - which is badly needed..... They have asked me - as the street's dog obsessed lady - for any recs on training / boarding - not my choice however they feel it might be a useful thing to do since have to board their pup anyway... So any recs for this sort of facility in or around the same area as above would be greatly appreicated... Mmmmm - seeing potential business opportunities having just read back on all of the above Thanking in advance...

Same here. I bought a pair of nice thick rubber gloves, they feel silky smooth and don't have that yucky powdery feel on the inside. The dogs know when they see the gloves that something is going on with their food I am such a dufus I have a box of those latex gloves that I bought ages ago ( not too sure to this day why ) and I didn't even think of using them.... Very good idea..... might put a peg on my nose too

How silly. When I first got my poodle x and took her to the vet for a general check up, the vet checked her knees while she was at it, because that's how common it is in poodle x's. Then she told me Pixie has LP. You wouldn't even know from looking at her, I've seen her lift one back leg maybe 10 times in the year I've had her. If the vet hadn't told me about the LP I would have thought nothing of it. x-ray? Seriously? Money grabbing. I agree fuzzy82... mumtoshelley why didn't your vet just manipulate/check the knee instead of watching her walk ? We certainly didn't need xrays to know it was LP as you could feel it - the limp and shake of the hind leg did give it away initially but since Sunday he hasn't done it once but I know it is still there.... Our specialist will do xrays to determine the severity ofthe LP and they advised us it was no point getting xrays done BEFORE we saw him as if they weren't done properly then they would need to be done again anyway and more $$$$$$$

I just wanted to say - esp to you readysetgo - I took your advice re changing my Labs food and got in touch with the Fresh Meat Store and of course went completely mad and ordered in bulk to fill my new chest freezer... So got home last night and the everything was on the doorstep and i was very happy with the quality/freshness and prompt service i received.. Looking forward to giving them their roo tails once/twice weekly - they look great and will be SO much beter for them as toothbrushes than the dental sticks Plus so much healthier for them weight wise..... The only thing is - I am a vego (have been for 20 yrs) and OH had to work back last night.. AND I had 10kgs bags of beef mince/roo mince/rootails/necks/carcasses to bag into weekly portions.. SO there I am at 9.00 last night up to my elbows in stinky roo mince /tails and everything else scooping out portions with my hands and trying not to I am usually OK with things like that and just deal with it but I by the last bag i had really and truly reached my limit... Sigh.... the things we do for our dogs........ there is NO one else I would do that for - not even the OH :D

Thanks to the lovely Steve at K9pro they are crate trained and love their crates so if things go ahead I am so thankful that at least I can crate him... Your brother's Lab sounds like Tango (size/build) and Tango does have a nice tuck and waist but probably not as well defined as your girl - so i am working on that.... Tippi - just looks like a rectangle and everyday I look at her and think come on ribs show yourselves... Sigh... she is on two chicken necks in the am and mashed steamed pupmkin/masses of veges - no carb variety - and raw roo or lean beef mince... AND lots of exercise - so not really sure what else I can do but to perservere.... AND the cold weather is NOT helping those hearty appetites

Run free beautiful Emma.... So sorry to hear this has happended...

So very sorry for your loss....

My female labs is also a great watch dog. She had a big bark and most people look twice as you would not expect it from her. My male lab is useless ;) He very rarely barks at all. My female Rotty is an excellent watch dog. I can tell my the her bark if if is someone on the street or someone actually walking to the house. Lucky she makes most people think twice before entering our yard because as soon as you come in the gate her barking changes to a "pat me" bark buddy1 - Too funny... I have two excatly the same :D My very pretty / petite Lab girl has a big deep bark and always alerts us when things aren't right - has from being a puppy.. My big imposing Lab boy does nothing - except for a brief period when his bark "broke" and he went from high pitch to a lower pitch and I think just barked due the novelty factor

tdierikx - after looking at BOTH weights of your lovely girl - I think Tango could afford to drop another 3-4kgs.... which will bring him to a lovely lean weight of around 32kg... He looks a little bit taller / bigger boned that your girl... I am happy that in 2.5 weeks he has lost 1 1/2 kgs... BUT my girl Tippi She is a much smaller Lab than Tango and on the same diet / more excercise than and half the amount of food Tango has - she is currently 28 kgs I can't see any weight loss... I watch them eating religously so no food stealing and OH is under strict instuctions that he will be excommunicated if he sneaks treats... Is it a male / female thing or can it be the case that some dogs just have a slower metabolism and take longer to lose weight? Just really disheartening as I know she is hungry and is always looking for food in spite of a large bulk up of pumpkin/veges carrot...

Quickasyou can - you have hit the nail right on the head It does sound daunting re the op and post op care - I keep looking at him and thinking how on earth are we going to keep him quiet for 6 weeks... Added to that since Sunday he has been 100% - no limping etc - so now i am thinking perhaps it is not as bad as we originally thought.... so fingers crossed that it may not need surgery and that if it does it won't be as intrusive and have a quicker recovery.... Sigh - never a dull moment..... My OH has banned me from research on the internet until after his appointment next Tuesday ( DOL excluded) due to my tales of doom and gloom and that is probably not such a bad thing

Harper GD - Steve from k9 is brilliant and if you can travel to Kurrajong to see him his advice is invaluable. It could make a nce weekend away mid winter :D We took our two Labs to meet with him late last year for a few issues and not only did he help us with those but gave us a heap of advice on numerous other related problems in addition to follow up support via email. We only had the one visit with him and considered it time very well spent.. I believe he may still do remote/phone consults ? Definitly have a look at his website as that may be an option for you ?

Slightly off topic- but i think its funny that you say that wasnt cheap. I had an ankle reconstruction earlier this year. My 5 titanium screws cost around $800 each, my plastic fake ligament cost over $3000!! Then there was the surgeons bill, his assistants, the anaesthetist. So all in all I was under for 4 hrs, 5 screws and one plastic thing which ended up costing well over 15,000 (thankfully under health insurance). I personally think people get a pretty good deal from vets ;) To the OP- I worked for David as a night nurse last year. He is really great with clients and in the operating theatre! All his nurses are really professional too lol. Thank you

Thank you for all your replies and good wishes for my boy... Ir was also really good to hear that Tango is in safe hands with David.... I had heard he was very good but it is always reassuring to hear from people that have dealt directly with him and are happy with the results.. Newco - thank you for your post - very informative and good to know even after such a big operation she was running around after the all clear... I have done a bit of research now so feel a bit more informed with what we are dealing with.... the post op care is going to be difficult with both of us working full time etc but work will just have to suck it up..... If they kick up too much of a fuss they could find themselves with an in house Lab mascot for 5 weeks so they had better play nice

No problems Like you said if he is already under for xrays may as well get hips checked as well. It may be a case that his knee doesn't even need an op. Keira who had her left knee done also had issues with her right knee as well but over time by keeping her lean, controlled exercise etc as she grew up the patella stopped moving out of position and although if that knee is manipulated the patella will pop out, it will only do it with manual manipulation and hasn't popped out on its own in years. I am crossing my fingers he doesn't need an op....Keira gives me hope !! But my other thought is to get it done when he is young so it heals 100% and doesn't develop into arthritis down the track ? I guesss I will know more next Tuesday... The chiro had told me two weeks ago that I need to take a couple of kg's off him to keep him lean in case of potential joint issues and I have been very strict with his new diet and when he was weighed last Saunday he had already lost over a kg He is big for a Lab and very large framed so I think another 2 kg's should do the trick.... definitley will be watching that post op ( if it comes to that ) and cutting him right back....

mumtoshelley - she might well have.... Tango hasn't limped since Sunday and to look at him you would think he was fine...I took him for a gentle walk with a friend last night and he looked 100% I am sure she thought i was telling porkies.... BUT when the vet actually manipulated his patella you could feel it sliding around and popping out so perhaps that is what your vet needs to do ?

Yeah, I agree with Perse. Oh, Em has patella issues too... you wouldn't guess if you saw her. ETA: I got quoted $1500 for surgery (that's not including meds and stuff) if Em was ever to get surgery. But, thankfully, she doesn't need it. But, she's also a Japanese Spitz, so I'm not sure if that's the same price for a Lab. Poor Em Knowing my luck it is probably 1% increase in $$$$ per kg - good lord and he weighs 36kg My aunt has a Japenense Spitz they are just gorgeous.....

So sorry fuzzy82 - that just doesn't seem fair.... Tango was never going to be more than my boy but still - sure as hell didn't see this coming...

Keira & Phoenix - thank you for the suggestion re the hip check as well... I hadn't thought that through... makes sense.. We are seeing David Lidbetter at Paramatta and from what I have heard he is very good ? We couldn't see our normal vet - too early on Sunday morning - so we saw another vet elsewhere - but she was brilliant with the presenting symtpons and checked him thotoughly... Like some of you have mentioned I was so worried about the vomits/shakiness.....thank dog that was all OK... We were told us we could go and see out vet today for a second opinion but we just wanted to get it looked at asap with a specialist so we know what we are dealing with.... His chiro has said he thinks his hips are OK a few weeks ago but as Keira & Phoenix has suggested - bearing in mind the specialist's expertise and he is getting sedated anyway for Xrays - we may as well get it all done at once.... Thank you for all your good wishes.... I hope it may not need surgery but I guess I will know next Tuesday... If so I hope it is all straightforward.... I shudder at the thought of keeping an 18 mnth Lab quiet for 6 weeks But you know it just goes to show how quickly things change... here is me last Friday chatting away on DOL about insurance blah blah and here I am Monday dealing with this... I didn't realise that insurance didn't cover a luxating patella... I am definitley leaning towards now putting money aside monthly into a "slush "fund for emergencies - esp if the return re claims is now only 80% and so many things are ruled out re cover ?