Alkhe

I have wanted a new camera for aaaaages but just haven't been able to justify shelling out that kind of money for a long time. Until last week, when I decided that even though my phone is about to die and I've been saving to replace it, I want a camera more than that. Enter, Nikon 5100. I did photography in high school and loved spending time in the dark room and mmm, the smell of developing fluid.. mmm. But I haven't really done any photography since, except a handful of photos on my ixus point and shoot when I went to Africa a few years ago. I have some shots that I'm pretty proud of from that trip, but they're nothing special in the scheme of things. Anyway, my camera arrived last night and I spent a few hours playing around and attempting to remember about apeture, shutter speed and ISO.. I'm forcing myself to only use it on the manual setting, and by the end of the night had a couple of shots that I actually like. Even if they're not amazing photography, they're much better than the black screen I kept getting until I remembered how the various exposure things work...! I have also got a flickr account, flickr.com/photos/allerix

She is on Trilostane, but unfortunately she's on a different dose

I will check for you :)

Yes - RWL have a little dog called Snow in permanent foster care now, who has Cushings. I'm not sure what medication she is on though.

Oh god, I want to put them through my Allie-bootcamp. Poor girls

I grew up with a Toy and Mini Poodle, then a Poodle mix.. I always believed that due to my allergies I would only ever be able to have poodles, so didn't even consider anything else. I now have a purebed Toy Poodle and our old Poodle mix living with me, but I'm sure that from now on, our dogs will be foster failures. If our circumstances were different, we'd keep the little Maltese x we are currently fostering, and I never thought I'd want a SWF! But life is strange sometimes :D There's something kind of exciting and fun to think that instead of "choosing", we'll just end up with the right dogs finding and staying with us, and they'll probably be random little non-shedding things. If it were up to me and I could actually choose from any breed in the world, I don't think I'd be breed loyal, there are just too many gorgeous breeds I'd love to own. .. but I'd still probably end up with a house of foster failures! :laugh:

I LOVE it. In fact, I almost get offended when people don't pay attention to us! :laugh: I also like getting the chance to talk to people about fostering, because when people fall in love wiht my foster dog (which they invariably do, because he is so bloody adorable) I can talk about how he's a foster dog! It's great. I always take a dog with me when I go up the street to get a coffee, and tie them up next to the door while I wait - they are literally 1 metre from me and I watch the whole time, don't worry (I'm totally paranoid!). If people walk past and don't actually at least SMILE at the dog I wonder what's wrong with them.. :D My dogs tend to attract women, and my Toy Poodle in partcular attracts older women - I have had a lot of comments about how you don't seen poodles anymore, and how pretty she is and how you don't see silver poodles much.

Absolutely, I agree. You need a nice letter from a lawyer to this woman. She's being completely unreasonable. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Oh, and I suggested fostering a Greyhound because there are a huge numbers of Greyhound rescues, and if you foster for GAP it's just for 2 weeks at a time. A much smaller commitment than buying a puppy. I fostered a Greyhound before getting my dog because I hadn't had a dog as an adult, and wasn't sure if I was able to make the commitment yet. At that point I didn't know you could foster other breeds or anything about fostering, really. And it was a great entry into dog ownership again. If people find it hard to live with a foster dog, and meet its needs, it will hopefully turn them off adopting or buying a dog. It woudl potentially also help, having someone else to answer to about the dog's care (ie, the foster group).

I suggest Greyhounds as a good breed choice for someone who doesn't want or shouldn't have a high maintenance dog, or a dog that requires huge amounts of exercise. I love Greyhounds - I think they're brilliant and underappreciated, and often don't even come into people's minds as a possible breed option. Or, people think they need huge amounts of exercise.

YES - bcos my RUDE neighbours at the back have threatened to "ring Council to take the f***** dog away".... to teach me a lesson! They are too gutless to see me face to face but just shout abuse and hit on my fence when he barks... Now when they stand and talk at the back of their house, my dog barks & growls at them ...which they don't like!... they tell my "good" neighbour that he is a nuisance even though he has not been barking daily! If I were you, I'd make an appointment with the Council and explain the situation to them, in person. It doesn't seem to me like the Council woudl be interested in a vexacious complaint like that, particularly when yuo're a responsible dog owner, etc. It's often easier and more productive to deal with someone face to face, where they can also have to see you face to face. Either that, or approach your neighbours directly and explain the situation to them, why the dog barks, and that you are doing your best to address the situation. Even ask them if they could let yuo know when there's an issue so that you are aware of it. Also explain that hitting the fence when he barks is just maknig the situation worse.

Ah, I just re-read the OP - I thought the boyfriend had a Dane too, not that he USED to have a Dane. So .. yeah, no company at all.. hmm. I can't think of ANY dog that this would work for, if there wasn't any real stimulation or care when the people were home either! That said, sometimes people change and she may become the best dog owner in the world, and become totally obsessed wtih the dog.. who knows.. one can hope!

No worries - I'm way too familiar with this piece of legislation, unfortunately! :laugh:

Ah, I just digested that part too.. god, if my dogs had only ever had 3 incidents like this I'd be over the moon!!

It's a tough one - but if it were me, I'd just categorically tell her exactly why you don't think it's a good idea. And then suggest some breeds that may be more appropriate. As long as you don't seem like you're just being negative and ruining her fun, and actually come up with some alternative solutions, people are more likely to respond better. I'd say look, it may SEEM like a dog is a dog is a dog and they just need a walk and food and they'll be fine, it's just not true, adn it's a bloody long commitment if you're not ready for it. Dogs aren't all the same thing, wearing different coloured suits - and Vizslas are bred to be athletic, energetic dogs.. blah blah. Tell her straight out it would be cruel to force a dog like that into a lifestyle that doesn't suit it, and it would be an irresponsible thing to do when there are plenty of older/lower drive/whatever dogs that would suit her lifestyle and circumstances much better. Also tell her what a living hell her life will be if she has a high energy young dog whose needs aren't met.. etc? What about a greyhound? Or fostering? She could foster a Greyhound for a while as an introduction into dog ownership?

:) That's why a professional opinion is worth every cent ! When we can't think of ideas .. they usually can work with us to help. Yep - and you basically work to desensitise him to workmen PERIOD. Once you've done that effectively, you being there or not will be irrelevant.

Yep - Domestic Animals Act 1994 (Vic), s12A(2)(a). You can dowload it from legislation.vic.gov.au, or http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/vic/consol_act/daa1994163/s12a.html A person must not advertise, or cause to be advertised, a dog or cat for sale unless— (a) the advertisement includes the unique number contained in the microchip contained in the prescribed permanent identification device implanted in the dog or cat; or (b) the dog or cat is the subject of written veterinary advice that the health of the dog or cat is liable to be significantly prejudiced if it is implanted with a prescribed permanent identification device, in accordance with section 10D(2); or © in the case of a registered domestic animal business, the advertisement includes the registered domestic animal business number and the name of the Council that issued the number. It's not mandatory in all states though.

I completely agree with this - it's much better to actually address his underlying fear of strangers/sounds/whatever rather than punishing his response to it. If he's scared, punishing the fear is not going to do you or him any favours. A muzzle or bark collar or something like that is just a bandaid solution. So whether it works shouldn't really be the question in my opinion - I'd recommend a behaviourist to get some tips on reassuring him and desensitising him to the things that scare him. Not just making him be quiet; that's like the symptom, not the actual root issue. What you need is to address the root issue.

Agree. The whole perception pushed so easily and willingly by rescuers that all dogs are neglected, abused, unwanted and that all former owners are uncaring people who have no idea of responsibility is just plain illogical and false. There are many dogs that end up in pounds in Australia that are very much loved. They may have been lost, stolen and then lost, on sold and then dumped - anything could have happened that eventuated in that dog ending up in the situation it is in. Long haired dogs only need to be on the street for a short time wandering before they end up looking like a mess. Dogs lose condition very quickly when under stress and dogs that are wandering and lost would be stressed. The first assumption is though that the animal is uncared for or abused. When I ran my rescue I took in surrenders. No questions. No judgement. There were many legitimate reasons to surrender and many, many heartbroken owners who gave me their pug or pugs. There were often tears and always words of regret. I had no doubt that most loved their dogs. Where possible we looked for alternatives. When there wasn't any, we took them in. People should also consider the level of edcuation regarding dogs, ownership and who can help in times of need. Not everyone knows they can find help. Not everyone understands they can find help. Many know they will be judged and are wary of speaking to rescuers. You only have to read the judgements on this forum to see that. It's funny, this seems to be the default assumption of everyday people I run into, actually. More so than being pushed by rescues (though I agree that some do thrive on it). Whenever people meet my fosters or talk to me about fostering etc, the default response is "ohhhhhhhh you poor little thing, I can't believe someone would abuse you!!!!" or "wow, I'm SO glad you've ended up here, nobody will hurt you now!!" etc. Even when I say nah, I'm pretty sure this little guy was someone's loved pet etc (which is often the case, I'm sure) it doesn't seem to make a difference. It annoys me more because it contributes to people thinking that rescue dogs are damaged goods or 'untrustworthy', which is another assumption I come up against a lot. My current foster was a stray who was not microchipped/registered and was never claimed in the pound - he looked pretty worse for wear in his intake photos, but he's the most well adjusted, well socialised little dog ever, and is toilet trained, knows how to use a doggy door.. I'm sure he was someone's loved pet who got out and never made it home. But still, people are like 'here, have a treat, I feel sorry for you' (not that he minds!)

Ah, I was going to put this too - I was reading about it the other day on Border Wars. I'm sure some people will find the article inflammatory, but I'm posting anyway. http://www.border-wars.com/2013/05/why-dalmatians-are-a-train-wreck.html

Yet another person who has followed her story from the beginning, but not really commented. Roo has been so lucky to have had such a beautiful and caring owner - if more people were even a fraction as dedicated and selfless as you, the world would be a much better place. I wish there was something better to say than I am so, so sorry, and just.. thank you. :grouphug:

Wow, she is adorable! Congratulations :thumbsup:

I'm on my way to the show now, I've never handled a dog in a show ever, but I can mind others if that would help you? Or if you're REALLY desperate I could attempt to handle for you but er.. Yeah, you probably don't want that! Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

What an amazing transformation already! Great work MUP and foster carer :)

:laugh: I like this forum more than the general dog one!