Remarkabull

Completely agree with Stormie - we all feel things differently and have different processes for getting through the emotions. I too think you should see a doctor and try to get some help with what you are going through. If you are or have seen a councellor and they are not helping you at all then maybe you should try a different one.

Hopefully Kashing is at the vet now and has just walked away from the computer (I often do this and people assume that I'm on FB all day long even though I barely look at it). If you're not at the vet please go there now. ETA can you leave work, it is an emergency, or can you get someone else to take the puppy to the vet for you?

Chuck it ball here. We had the same one for over 6 months (and it was left in the backyard for some of that time) and it was still whole, and then I went and chucked it into a lagoon and the dogs were not watching so it is now lost forever! We cannot have any other kind of balls cause they all get chewed and ripped apart.

I supervise the eating of bones and will remove them (if there is any left which isn't often with 5 dogs). Mostly they get horse or buffalo (mixed pieces, but will be getting necks next time) and sometimes mixed chicken portions. All my dogs get given bones from the time they get here, no matter how old or what breed.

3 of my 5 dogs have had the injections and have had them for a few years now and we have never had a reaction to them. For those 3 dogs I will continue to get the yearly injection because it is convenient and I can forget about it for another year. Not sure if I'll have the Dobe done though. He is on Interceptor (as is the AMSTAFF X) and will probably stick with it because the injection is so bloody expensive particularly for dogs over 30 kgs and it takes care of intestinal worms at the same time.

I have no problem with breeders making money from selling puppies, as long as they are doing all the right things as far as health testing and they look after their animals what's the problem with a bit of profit if you can get it. As for desexing, I have had entire animals most of my life and have also never had an oops litter. My Dobe will not be getting desexed unless it is required for health reasons and I guarantee you that he will never father a litter oops or otherwiwse.

I am not a breeder, but I do currently own a Dobe and have shared my entire life with at least one for as long as I can remember. From what I've seen you can expect to pay anywhere from $1000 to $2500 (I have seen some advertised for $4000 on main registration but I think that is a joke and would not pay that myself). I payed $1500 for my current boy on limited rego (he is from working lines so I was never interested in showing or breeding so main or limited papers made no difference to me)and was happy to do so because he is from the lines I wanted. I advise you to reasearch lot's of different breeders and find one that suits what you are looking for and vice versa. Good luck and please post pics when you get your puppy. Dobermanns are the most beautiful dogs in every way!

I once had a neighbour that had a GSD that wouldn't stop barking. It eventually was declared a nuisance dog and as far as I saw (or heard) nothing was done about it and 6 months later the ranger knocked on my door to ask if the dog was still a problem and if enough people said it was then he would keep the dog on a nuisance order for another 6 months. I asked why as it didn't do anything to help stop the problem, he told me that if a dog is a declared nuisance and if any complaints are made or breaches of the order occur then the owners will receive an instant fine. If you are sure that the dogs will not be able to escape or cause any problems then I would just wear it for 6 months and then it goes away.

Spot on, there is no need for supplementation 'generally' if you're on premimum kibble diet and your dog has no issues. What are te 'Supergreens' you mentioned? It is a concentrated powder of spirulina, wheat grass, chlorella and barley grass. Well then you do give your dogs supplementation when you said you don't. On occasion, when I don't have the fresh ingredients on hand then yes I suppose I do. I don't rely on them to provide my dogs with a balanced diet though.

Spot on, there is no need for supplementation 'generally' if you're on premimum kibble diet and your dog has no issues. What are te 'Supergreens' you mentioned? It is a concentrated powder of spirulina, wheat grass, chlorella and barley grass.

I'm reading this thread thinking to myself I'm either very lucky or my dogs are different to all other dogs because I don't give any 'supplements' at all and I have never been to the vet for any reason apart from vaccinations or injuries. I feed half super premium dry and half raw (my own mixture, not barf or any other commercial brand). Everything they get is fresh (occasionally if I don't have any green vegies to add I'll put a couple of tablespoons of 'supergreens' to the mixture) and my dogs have never looked better. 2 of them have suffered skin conditions/allergies in the past but this is no longer a problem. It seems to me that unless your dog is lacking in a particular area or requires something in particular for medical reasons isn't all this supplement giving overkill? And in fact it can possibly cause more problems especially if you're not sure about the dosage, possible side effects or even the need to offset one supplement with another?

Hi Sherel, Probably get 2-3 bags at a time. I would be interseted in distibuting it but would first have to find some interested dog owners. Could possibly drum up some interest at obedience classes (if they didn't mind) and give out samples and info etc. Renee

Yes please, that would be appreciated. I'm currently paying $130 for 15kg of dry food atm so if it comes in at that or less than then I would be more than happy to go ahead with getting it freighted up here. Thanks Renee

I certainly wouldn't let my almost 12 year old do anything like that, however, when I was that age I was expected to help my father break up any fights between our dogs (Dobes) and the neighbours GSD's. My mum had/has a bad back and completely panics in those kind of situations so she was no help to anyone and the neighbours used to just stand there with a smile on their faces (idiots) and dad couldn't handle 4 big dogs on his own so it had to be me. At that age my mother would have let me approach the dog to try and help it but I was a very dog savvy kid and could read and react to the body language of the dog. My kids would want to help but they would turn to me and expect me to take charge and do something about it not let them do it.

So when is it coming to Darwin? I ws feeding it while living in VIC but can't get it up here, would love to be able to buy it again as dogs looked great and loved it!

My OH doesn't mind the dogs inside but only the little ones are allowed on the lounges (otherwise there is no room for us!) and Barkley (malteseXshih tzu) is the only one allowed to sleep on the bed, Acheron (Dobe) sleeps in our room on his own mat and the other 3 sleep outside, but all 5 are allowed inside right up until bed time. Heck , we even let the dogs lick our plates after we've finished eating sometimes and dog lick (face, feet, legs and even nostrils if you're not careful!) is a normal part of every day.

When I got my Dobe I specifically wanted a Black & Tan. There is no way I would ever buy a Blue Dobe for any price let alone a overinflated one, but luckily Dobe breeders don't seem to be trying to play the 'rare' card with them (well not that I've seen so far anyway). Sadly I've notice in the USA that there seem to be a rising number of White Dobes being advertised and promoted as 'rare'. I can only hope that it doesn't start a similar trend over here.

7.30 Thursday nights, right after the 7pm Project. Happy viewing

I can add alot more to my list if we are including horses and cats! Oh and birds.

Heaps over the years: Puncture wounds from trying to break up fights (not always our dogs) Badly bruised foot from kicking a dog that was attacking one of mine Blood blisters on my fingers from one of our Dobes who had enough of me bossing her around (I was about 7 at the time) I was bitten on the face quite badly as a teenager by my fathers nasty, cranky DA and HA Rotti X Bull Terrier And plently of accidental scratches and bruises from rough play and over excited dogs

From what I've seen they still don't have a consistant 'look' about them. Some are way taller than others, some have faces like a boxer, some like a bull dog. My OH desparately wants a BB and I started researching Aussie Bull Dogs because I had heard that they have less health issues etc but I wasn't overly impressed with them. I'd still be going for a well bred BB over an Aussie BD any day.

I have 5 - 2 large & 3 small. Food - $130 for bag of premium kibble - lasts over a month. I spend about $50 a fortnight on raw food. Vet - hardly anything so far. Have been very lucky with my dogs, only had 2 big vet bills in the last 10 years (over $600). I only vaccinate every few years or if they are going into a boarding kennel. I walk 2 or 3 at a time depending upon which dogs I'm taking, but OH and kids are sometimes wrangled in to help and then all 5 can go at once. 4 of them get to go the the dog park once a week for a big run and a swim. I am just about to start a full time job so while nobody is home the 2 large dogs and the female JRT will be outside and the 2 little boys will stay inside because they can be shit stirrers and might bite off more than they can chew with the Dobe pup.

Will do

Not for me it isnt eta and my name isnt Rover This is funny For the record I can't stand him and think that the show is a joke. They have an opportunity to educate and inform the general public on many dog/animal related issues and instead they would prefer to go along with common misconceptions and laugh about real and serious behaviour problems because it entertains the masses and makes money for all involved in the show. However, I WILL continue to watch the show, partly because it is morbidly facsinating (the car crash theory ) and because I enjoy getting on here and 'discussing' it with others. Happy watching everyone

My dogs run to the fence and bark when people walk past (usually only if they have a dog with them but sometimes even if they don't). They even get quite riled up if the person and dog are quite close to the fence (our yard backs on to a road and has 6 foot cyclone fencing and there is a bus stop behind the neighbours house, there is nothing stopping anything from coming right up to the fence). I don't find that menacing at all. I walk past dozens of houses on my walks that have dogs doing exactly the same thing, doesn't bother me at all, as long as the fencing is secure.