Dju

Ah.. so the neighbors have been gossiping.. apparently it was a neighbor's JRT who dug underneath our fence to get in

We don't know which neighbors exactly, that's the problem.. we have our suspsicions but since we can't prove anything because we didn't see it, we can't really go around laying the blame. I have a feeling it was the neighbors across; they tore down their 6 foot fences a week ago and have been using rentals that don't look like they enclose much at all--and they have a very athletic Amstaff for a pet. Still, as I said, we can't blame them if we don't have proof Lots of people around here have dogs, and a lot of them let their dogs wander around the streets.

I have news.. today, the neighbors called us over.. to inform us there's a dead chook in their yard. I went over to check without thinking and burst into tears when I saw it was my baby Princess. She had basically fallen apart from the wounds. :cry: I feel so traumatised now, why why why did I have to look??

Thank you for your words everyone, my mother and I are very comforted to read through the comments. These chickens were more my mother's pets since I got Hugo and she's much more grief-stricken than I am about their departures I wish our girls got to live past 14 years of age. Or even a tenth of that. They were so fearless, they weren't intimidated of Hugo or any other (friendly) dog or cat that was invited into our yard, and would even run up and grab food from Hugo's mouth (much to his dismay)! On closer inspection, we only found one body, strangled with puncture wounds in its neck and laying behind the metal sheets. It looks like she tried to hide but didn't quite make it in time.. :cry: I still can't believe that the other three bodies are missing though, usually with dog attacks they would leave all the bodies behind after killing them..

We think it must have been dogs that jumped our fence, the fence isn't really that high (4-5 feet maybe?).. We've been keeping chooks for several years and never had a fox or snake attack but we did watch as a Rottie carried off two of our girls in his mouth a few years ago from our old flock, so we assumed another dog must have gotten to them.. We're all really depressed about this because we used to lock them up in their fortress of a pen (you can see the door of it in the top left corner of the yard photo) to ward off predators at night time, but since the Rottie died, we didn't really feel the need to do that anymore and we left it open. These were Isa Browns, a black Australorp and a Leghorn; and unfortunately my mother said many times before that these will be the last flock of chickens we'll ever have Thanks for the support guys, it feels so quiet and empty in our yard without them clucking or making a fuss when they lay an egg or digging up our garden and noisily dustbathing in the sun..

I recommend www.macklinshepherds.com. I sent them an email a few months ago gushing about how I love that they're keeping the traditional look of their German Shepherds and they just very lovely to converse with. If I ever get a German Shepherd, it will be a Macklin. Their dogs are gorgeous.

This is in memory of the little babies that I raised from chick-fancy. We only had you for a year. You were my darlings. We lost one of you at the early stages of life, Honey, though we tried to save you, but the remaining five I thought would be mine for many many years. I remember picking you sll out from the farm and bringing you home in a box for an Easter present for our family. You loved snuggling into me so much, and whenever I put my hand in the box, you would cuddle up against the warmth. I always thought you guys slept the funniest I'd ever seen chickies sleep, with your faces in the ground and butts in the air, like some sort of chicken comedy routine. I remember when Snow White had been attacked by crows and ended up with a split scalp, how we drove for over an hour to take you back to the farm so they could fix you up again. I loved you so much, you were my favorite. But when you came back, things weren't the same. You were on the bottom of the food chain again and you were losing the weight you had gained from living by yourself in a cage at the farm while you healed. This carried on for a few months, and I had finally thought the bullying in the coop had died down and you were finally getting back some weight. When you quietly passed away a few days ago I was shocked, and heartbroken, but I never thought that your sisters would soon be joining you in heaven too. My Snow White, my Sasha, my Princess, my Youhzni, and my Spot. I just wish I could have given you one last cuddle. I keep expecting that any minute, you're going to climb up our stairs to lay your eggs in our shoes, or sunbathe on our doorstep, or just jump into the shelves to get away from Hugo licking you. But you won't be doing that anymore, ever again. The neighbor's dogs were ruthless, they took all four of you this morning before I could even feed you and left nothing but feathers for me to remember you by. You had only reached your first birthday a few months ago. Why did you have to leave me so soon? I can't stop crying, I wish I had woken up just a little earlier so maybe I could have avoided your deaths. I am to blame, I wasn't there to defend you when you needed me. I should have been there, but I wasn't. I'm so sorry, my darlings. I love you, rest in peace.

I was a beagle cross

The Whites Hill Reserve one? It's about 100 meters away from Cavendish Road High School I don't know what it's called.

I assume you're talking about kibble and not powdered milk.. And it depends. Some breeders think puppy food is a crock and put the puppy on adult from the start. Some breeders don't let their buyers off puppy food until the 2 year mark. What does your breeder have to say about it?

I think it depends on the Vall with how active they are, Hugo loves to play fetch too but after 15 throws or so, he'll lay down and chew on whatever you were throwing. He's also okay if we don't do walks every day and he'll nap throughout the day too. But introduce him to another dog and (provided the other dog is up for it) Hugo can do a good solid half an hour of zoomies and wrestling.

If all you need is a few holes punched in it, most shopping centres have places for watch repairs/shoe repairs etc, and they'll do it for cheap or some, free!

Tablets, yes, but not really the chews--you don't know if there's an equal dose throughout the chew (if the chew is anything like the meaty ones you get in heartguard). I can understand it would get expensive with four dogs--I'd probably get something in tablet form to split up.

Puppy, that one was about band members that were killed when their car broke down on the highway. They were coming back from a concert. That's all the news said pretty much.

Hugo is a Swedish Vallhund, and these are traditionally known as the "Viking dogs", so I think they were originally fed off a diet of the English, probably.

Sorry, horrendously off-topic, but.. What.. what is that thing dangling next to her tail?? Do I want to know??

Sounds like fun, might go to the Gap one or Sunnybank Hills, depending on how much time I have inbetween study :D

We have a dog park along Cavendish Road. There's some agility equipment there but it's not spectacularly huge or anything, just an average sized park. Never had any issues when going there, and the folks that visit always pick up their dog's poop which is nice too

Hugo simply loves playdates So do I, kinda, LOL.

I have managed to escape unscathed, thus far :p Same for me too I make the impossible.. possible!

Aw man, I wish I had known about the Brisbane one, I would have gone in a heartbeat

do you know why they're doing it? is it just a promotional thing? I think they're just trying to promote their brand, that's all

No worries, everyone loves a bargain! :D

Hi DOLers, Interceptor is running a little promotion and I thought I'd forward it on to the good people of DOL (Sorry if this is a repeat thread, I couldn't find anything on the front page so I hope it's not!) Just fill in the form and hey presto!; a worming tablet will begin hurtling towards you at the speed of light. :D http://www.vetshopaustralia.com.au/Interceptor-Spectrum-Free-Sample-W153.aspx Greets, Demi

Speaking from the ingredients on the back of the packages, Eukanuba should be a better choice. (Surprised nobody can give you a straight answer here ) This is a good thread: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/72887-how-to-grade-your-dogs-food/ In the end though, it's what your dog does well on. All dog food is technically "balanced" in terms of nutrients (e.g. your dog won't grow up malnourished if you feed it Pal and that's one of the worst dog foods out there), but it's more about what you feel comfortable buying and also what your dog thrives on.