fuzzy82

Yep, I won't own giant breeds with short life spans. There are several giant breeds that I really like and would seriously consider if it wasn't for the short lifespan.

I love the idea. Planning on getting some. But seeing as they have a link on them, you could easily set up your own site with the pet's profile and then just engrave a tag with a link to it. Probably cost about the same.

Whilst I can't fault your logic, I can assure you that after you actually have them, all selfishness quickly disappears! True, I'm sure people with kids become less selfish after having them, but having them in the first place is always for selfish reasons.

Yes, it's funny how a lot of people with kids make comments about how people without kids are "selfish". The only reasons to ever have a child are selfish, while there are several reason for not having kids that aren't selfish. Such as caring for the environment. People who have kids usually have them because they like kids, because they WANT kids, because they have an urge to have kids (biological clock), to pass on their family name, to please their parents, to have an heir, to have someone to take care of them when they are old, to see how their genes turn out etc. And all of the reasons are selfish. No one ever has kids just because they wanted another human on the planet to experience how great life is, which is the only unselfish reason I can think of, and one I have never heard anyone mention when asked why they had kids.

I've only ever heard negative opinions on him. Really? I've seen him in person as well as on the news, and he seems like a really good dog trainer to me, as well as a pleasant person to be around. Nothing wrong with the way he trains dogs, and he trains dogs for conservation work all over the world. I don't really see how anyone could have a negative opinion of him. I don't enjoy looking at that photo, but I don't find it "sick" (and I love cats, we have 7). If you kill pests for a living of course you can take pride in your work. That doesn't mean you're not a nice person or that you don't love animals. I know people who work for the RSPCA who euthanise animals every day, and they love animals and are really nice people. It's just a necessary evil.

Because I rate my dog's health above convenience and a lower cost to my wallet. I don't get my dogs vaccinated annually either. As for surburban vets being the be all and end all of health advice on your dog? Until very recently, many of them were adamant that annual vaccinations were the only way to go when titreing and longer periods between vaccinations had been published in veterinary journals and practiced by some vets for years. When a leading holistic vet, when asked about heartworm jabs ( I refuse to call them vaccinations when they aren't) simply said "don't" - that was an indicator to me that further homework was required. I've done it and have decided that a monthly tablet carries less risk, especially as mosquitos are not a problem 12 months of the year. But, as I mentioned, if the health risks were as overwhelming as people claim in here, vets would refuse to give the injection. Clearly they don't benefit from killing people's dogs. Also, my vet is young, and she doesn't recommend annual vaccinations.

I am interested in what reasons the vet gives for being so keen? What is the real advantage to this yearly injection besides convenience? Mine was keen also but I think it was more convenience and maybe if it is more expensive they get more in the end.. Although mine said it was a cheaper option.. Who knows I am disappointed in the 2 vets I have been to thus far.. I didn't think finding a vet I trust and doesn't come across wanting me to keep putting my hand in my pocket would be so hard... I feel like I have to have a degree and worldly product knowledge of everything vet related. lol.. Yep - I haven't found one I am totally happy with either. For instance I would like to be given some ideas about why he may be having skin problems instead of just treating with an injection which in hindsight I don't think was warranted. As for the annual heartworm injection I find it hard to understand why people can't just get a cheap calendar and keep it on their kitchen bench - it only takes a couple of minutes to mark the same day each month with the necessary treatments. Maybe people don't have calendars and diaries any more Why have a calendar and have to give monthly treatments when you can get it cheaper in an annnual dose? My vet didn't push me to get the injection for my dog, I asked her about it, and she didn't mention any potential side effects, nor see any problem administering it, other than suggesting she gets tested for heartworm first. For me another reason to do it, other than me forgetting a lot of the monthly doses, is that my dog doesn't happy swallow the tablets. She doesn't like them and will spit it out if mixed with food, so that means forcing them down her throat every month. I don't see why you'd give a monthly dose when you can give an annual dose? There is the potential for side effects with any treatment, but a few horror stories doesn't mean that the potential for harm is greater than the good effects (no missed doses, fewer dogs with heartworm). If they were that dangerous, the vets would refuse to give the injection, or at the very least warn people of how dangerous they are.

I cane toad trained my dogs using just a check chain on walks. Whenever they walked up to a toad to sniff it they got a hard correction. Now they stay away from them. Would be even better if you used an e-collar, but I didn't have one on hand.

My dogs were on monthly heartworm stuff up until Jan this year. I found that I kept missing the monthly, either because I forgot or because I couldn't afford it that month and put it off. And of course that defeats the purpose. So when we went in for annual vaccines in Jan I asked the vet about the annual heartworm injection. I mentioned that a lot of people seem to be against them, but she didn't see any problem with it. My dog had to be tested for heartworm first, because I'd missed some of the monthly doses, but she was negative, so she was given the injections. No issues at all, and now I don't have to worry about it. The injection was about $75, so that works out cheaper than the monthly stuff as well. Planning to take my other dog in for the test and injection as well. I don't see why you wouldn't. Fair enough that it probably shouldn't be done at the same time as the annual vaccines, but like I said, no issues at all here.

Not wanting to sit next to a baby on a long haul flight isn't about disliking kids. I don't like kids either. People are different, some people dislike the things that other people like. Nothing about kids appeal to me, I find having conversations with them really boring and sometimes painful, I find the things kids get up to mostly annoying, and a lot of them are noisy and destructive. And I just don't like them. Just like some people don't like dogs and/or cats. I would never wish anything bad to happen to anyone's kid, and I don't care that my friends have kids. Good on them if they're happy.

I ticked Individual play/attention time at least once per day Air con'd/heated Grass exercise areas Solid partition between inside dog runs for privacy (this is the least important of the things I ticked though) Super premium dry food offered as standard But other than the general good standard of the kennel, it's also very important that the people are experienced and friendly. When I call up to ask them about the kennel I want them to encourage questions and be happy to answer everything, when we drop the dogs off I want the staff to make an effort to get to know them, not just stick them in a kennel, I want to walk them in so see where they'll be staying, I don't want the staff to conduct any sort of training of the dogs while they're there, and when I pick them up I want to see that the dogs are excited to see the staff who are getting them out of their kennel and I want their demeanour to be the same when I pick them up as when I dropped them off. Complimentary hydrobath is nice too, but certainly not a requirement. A camera so I can see them while I'm away would be really great too, but not a must.

Mine eat a bit of grass regularly, but the only time they actually graze obsessively is when they have an upset tummy, and when they do it I know I'll be up numerous times during the night to let them out. At least I get some warning.

:laugh: Probably lol btw you're obviously not having a good holiday since your back on Dol so you'll have time to pick me up some chocolates ... as long as their yum and will go well with a cup of tea I'm happy Hah:p Holiday is good, but we were up stupidly early because of jet lag and went down for breakfast and now were just hanging out waiting for it to be time to go and pick up the rental car :)

He wasn't just a person with no social skills. He was incredibly rude and hostile, like flipping a switch when I asked to walk the dogs in. I would have been happy to hand them over to him and simply follow them in and watch him put them in the kennels. I just wanted to see where they'd be staying. His whole demeanor completely changed when I asked to go in, he was rude, hostile, threatening, pissed off, showing contempt etc. I seriously think he must have something mentally wrong with him, his behaviour wasn't normal, not even for a person with bad people skills. I'm sure they've settled in by now and I'm managing to not worry. Will just have to wait and see what they're like on pickup.

I always walk my dogs into the kennel and pick them up also. But I somewhat of a regular, so maybe that makes a difference ... anyhoo, OP: what are you doing on DOL - go and enjoy your holiday! Leave us forumites stuck in Australia to argue about the kennel :laugh: Hehe, yep I should go finish packing and we're off to the airport in an hour :) Going to Norway to see family and ski and celebrate my 30th :)

Maybe a friend or relative that lives nearby can ask for a tour of the kennel for you. Or maybe there are DOLers who have boarded their dogs at the same place who may be able to provide feedbac wrt the kennel, and how their dogs were cared for. Bon Voyage and enjoy your holiday Even if the kennel is shiite, the dogs will be okay! Dont worry! :) Thanks :) My MIL said the cattery looked nice and clean, but she couldn't see the dog kennels from where she was. But I guess if they keep the cattery clean they will keep the kennels clean as well.... And I was allowed to leave a bed, blanket and a toy for them.

I didn't want to inspect the whole kennel, I just wanted to walk the dogs in, remove their harnesses and walk back out. He had to walk them in anyway, so I didn't see why I couldn't just follow him in. At the other kennel where they stayed that's what we did, and it only took the one person to walk the dogs in with us, reassure us that they would be fine, then walk back out. Most kennels you will find that their insurance doesn't cover you as a non staff member for going into the actual kenneling areas. So if a dog manages to bite you, you slip on the wet floors etc you would not be covered by their insurance. I think it's reasonable that you wouldn't be allowed into the actual kennels. However a tour of the facilities is not too much to ask and to view the kennels through windows at the outside of the block. There was no excuse for the man's rudeness though, he could have communicated this to you in a MUCH better way. Right, didn't know that. Problem is you can't see the kennel at all, because there is the reception building and a bunch of trees and bushes all around it, completely covering the kennels. If I could see the kennels from the reception area that would be fine too, but I basically left the dogs there with no clue at all about what the place looks like.

Yes, definitely learned my lesson. In the future I will inspect well in advance, and if they get weird about it I will have time to book them in somewhere else. I think I will go back to the kennel they stayed at last time, it's an hour away, but the staff were really friendly to us and seemed like they really cared about the dogs.

I didn't want to inspect the whole kennel, I just wanted to walk the dogs in, remove their harnesses and walk back out. He had to walk them in anyway, so I didn't see why I couldn't just follow him in. At the other kennel where they stayed that's what we did, and it only took the one person to walk the dogs in with us, reassure us that they would be fine, then walk back out.

I just dropped the dogs off at a boarding kennel at Deception Bay, and the experience literally left me in tears. I booked them in in person a few months ago. I asked at the time if I could see the kennels, and they made some excuse and said they normally do it only by appointment and they avoid it if they can etc. But there was a big sign out the front that said inspections welcome, and my MIL has boarded her cat there and she was allowed to come in when she dropped the cat off, so I figured I would just walk them in when I dropped them off, like I did the last time I boarded them at a different kennel (and where we were encouraged to come in and have a look by some very friendly staff). So today we are heading off to the airport at 12, going overseas for 2 weeks. At 9 we went to drop the dogs off. I waited outside with the while my partner went in to pay. Then a guy comes out with leashes etc and says he's taking the dogs in. I said "I'd like to walk them in please" and he said "it's too wet" to which I replied "I don't mind". And that's when he became horribly defensive and rude, saying that's not how they operate, it's "against the law" for me to come onto their premises, and asked me "are you gonna be funny about this?? Either I walk them in, or they don't stay here". I was tempted to take them home, but seeing as we're leaving in just over 2 hours, that wasn't an option. There are no boarding kennels I approve of nearby, the previous one they stayed at is an hours drive away. So I had no choice, I had to let him take them. He had to pick them up because he claimed the ground was so wet going to the kennels (it's behind trees and bushes, so you can't even see it from the reception area). So too bad if they didn't like being picked up by strangers..... I was literally in tears. As if it wasn't terrible enough having to leave the dogs in kennels for two weeks, but now I'm also dealing with having them basically ripped out of my arms and taken into a kennel run by a rude, hostile person and I'm not even allowed to see where they'll be staying. The guy made some comment about how he's been breeding and boarding dogs for 45 years, and "don't you trust us??". How am I supposed to trust someone who is that defensive about having their kennel inspected?? I will be letting them know when we pick them up that because of how he behaved the dogs will never stay there again. Dunno if I'm allowed to post the name of the kennel, but if anyone wants to know you can pm me.

I don't have kids, but I can't imagine giving the kid any say at all. I would pick the breed for what I want to use it for. Maybe consult the kid on colour of the collar and name, but ultimately have veto if I don't think it's a good idea.

oops, just realised I already replied to this :laugh:

If you post the photos online, there is no way to stop them just downloading them from the website. You'd need to put a big watermark right across the whole photo, to make it worth it for people to pay for the photo rather than just saving it to their computer and removing the watermark.

I have heard (from a vet) that dogs prone to fear aggression will become worse if desexed, because the testosterone level makes them tougher, and when that's gone they become more fearful, and so the aggression gets worse.

If more people kept their dogs inside, it would not be such a huge problem. If you put the dog inside and close all the doors and windows, it's less likely to find anything to bark at in the first place, and even if it does, the neighbours would barely hear it. It's weird how Aussies insist on keeping dogs outside all the time. When we walk down the street with the dogs at night nearly every house has a dog that wakes up and starts barking at us. And we usually walk between 10 and 11 pm, which means most people are asleep. Must be annoying to get woken up by your dog every night, yet people keep putting them out.