Shepherd Lover

We put a reversing camera in our float. It does the job (cost around $130). We also bought a weather station for just over $100 and put the receiver inside the float and the reader in the car. It took a while to find the right spot (front of float) for it to work properly but now it works well. We get a temperature report from inside the float. They don't feed to an I-phone but at least we can monitor while travelling. Edited to add: The reversing camera works with a plug into the cigarette lighter. The weather station works with AA batteries - one in each unit.

Dancin bc, The link to the Bayer site seems to cover a lung worm of canine derivation. Rat lungworm is is lungworm of the rat species, transmitted by snails that have come into contact with infected rat faeces. I wonder whether the Bayer drugs would cover rat lungworm. Edited to add: I just read the old DOL thread on it and I see that Bayer say that their drug is not effective for rat lungworm

A puppy I sold a few years ago picked up rat lungworm at his new premises. They live in an affluent Sydney northern suburb. The puppy was affected by some sort of paralysis in his spine if I remember rightly. He was treated and on last contact, seemed to be OK. I haven't followed up on him for a while. My understanding of rat lungworm is that the snails eat the faeces of infected rats and then carry the disease to others.

You're probably missing something. Many breeders make statements that their stock are not fit for guarding because they use it as a deterrent so they don't see their pups used as guard dogs at service stations and other areas where the true interests of the dogs are not served. Those breeders should be applauded for caring, not criticised for making the statement. I don't think you can have it both ways. Aren't the 'property guardians' visited daily, fed, watered and generally cared for out of service? Don't they work at night and after-hours? They are not specifically livestock guardians, meaning they don't require the constant companionship of another animal's heartbeat. They are suited to property protection for that reason. I am sure some service station dogs are exceedingly well cared for. It is up to the breeder to place the dog with a suitable home, but they cannot dictate what the dog will be used for. IMO It appears that you have overlooked the fact that German Shepherds are not Maremmas by nature even though they are both used for guarding purposes. Unlike some Maremmas that are conditioned and raised with stock, they require attention and companionship, either with another dog, or with human company or at least require some meaningful human attention such as training and exercise. They are highly intelligent and are working dogs that dote on actively working, being trained, being useful and/or being a companion. They can become problematic when left to their own devices. Whilst some German Shepherds do adapt to being a property guardian with little interaction, in my opinion anyone who has a loving regard for the breed would not place one in a situation where it would only be (in your words) visited daily, fed, watered and cared for without regard to the other psychological needs. I have said what I believe and I will not be drawn into an argument any further.

The funny thing is, nothing in the GSD breed standards say that they shall be a show dog?. So how does a good show dog which is not required of the GSD by the breed standards be considered a good GSD when it doesn't have the instinctive traits to do what the breed standards require? A GSD breeder once told me that her dogs are not suitable for guarding but her lines had won multiple shows and were considered of type at the highest level?. I would have thought if they are not suitable for guarding when the breed standards says they shall they would then be duds, or am I missing something You're probably missing something. Many breeders make statements that their stock are not fit for guarding because they use it as a deterrent so they don't see their pups used as guard dogs at service stations and other areas where the true interests of the dogs are not served. Those breeders should be applauded for caring, not criticised for making the statement.

You are entitled to your opinion but this is probably not the place to express it, in view of past discussions here.

I wouldn't be without mine - I haven't used my hydrobath for years. It not only washes the dog but dries the dog at the same time. The beauty of the unit is that you can anivac the dog in the house as no water leaves the unit or the dog onto the surrounding area so you could even anivac the dog on your best carpet without any worries. All my dogs are fine with it but in saying that it is very noisy. The unit itself is noisy but it comes with a much longer hose than a normal vacuum cleaner so you can anivac the dog about 10 to 12 feet away from the unit. The scary part for dogs is the sucking noise coming from the nozzle which is quite intense so you need to condition your dog by starting at the back end away from the ears. When using the vac near the ears we always close off the ear canal with our hands so the noise doesn't go right into the ear - so that makes vacuuming a two person job - one to vacuum and one to hold the dog and ears closed. I always reward my dogs after the vac. with a treat and now they all line up to be vacuumed - I don't have even one dog that is scared of the unit. Perhaps for timid dogs who decide they are petrified of the noise the unit may not be useful, but I haven't had any issues using the vac. and it does a great job. The dogs look like they've had a bath. As well as using the vac for cleaning the dog it is a wonderful mess cleaner - if you have vomit or loose stool accidents it is wonderful. You can vacuum the carpet and what it cleans up in the way of dirt from a carpet is marvelous. Hope this helps.

Have you stopped to wonder why an everyday occurrence was being filmed?

Can you think of any other possible explanations for your observations? No, only that five years ago snakes were not an issue in our area and now they are. Nothing has changed except that more people have built houses in the area.

No, but a dead snake leaves the 'territory' open for younger equally venoumous snakes to come in a try to claim the area. Who wants that? Clear enough of them out and there won't be that problem. I don't have any snake tolerating neighbours either. Regarding snake territory - we have lived in the same location for 25 years - we never saw ANY snakes until about 3 years ago even though our suburb has become twice as built up in that time. In that last 3 years we have seen a number of brown snakes and at least 10 black snakes. To me, its a bit like the crocodiles in Queensland, when is enough protection enough? Crocodiles are literally invading the north of Qld due to the protection they have enjoyed for so long. I believe due to the fact that snakes have been protected for so long that they are now moving into suburbia and becoming a nuisance. The other day a friend of mine saw brown snakes in a very inner Sydney suburb.

What exactly are you going to do with the snake when it's about to bite your dog, leave it to it???? Poor dog, sorry you have to suffer cause your owner won't protect you. Rebanne, perhaps Kirty will leave the snake alive and shoo it off by the sounds of it. It can then come back when Kirty's not home and bite the dog.

Is there any way you can fence off an area with bird wire...not netting? We had an an incident with a Brown Snake and our Kelpie, that still gives me nightmares, at our old house (in Sydney suburbia and on a busy road). When we moved to a new house, backing onto a bush reserve, we had timber railing fencing installed along the back and we attached aviary or bird wire to the timber, and also sunk it below ground level. So far (fingers crossed) in two years, we have not had a snake in the yard, although other houses in the street have. Neighbours, who have two GR's found a Red Bellied Black in their frontyard last summer...fortunately not in the backyard or near the dogs. There is a creek running through the reserve and Red Bellies are common here. They are not as aggressive as Browns thank heavens. We tried bird wire around the dog area and it doesn't keep snakes out. I imagine all bird wire does is keep out the very large snakes, not the small ones.

Well you did ask for suggestions. Shade-mesh was suggested as a safer, effective alternative; and the illegality, cruelty and posed danger (to your dogs) of bird netting was highlighted. :clap: Snakecatcher, thank you for your info. The poor snakes get a rough deal and its good to know someone is on their side! What about the poor dogs that get a bad deal. Sitting in their pens, minding their own business, when an aggressive brown snake crawls in. The minute the dogs move to even have a look a brown snake will strike. Brown snakes are very aggressive and will strike at anything close that moves. People have a right to have their dogs safe. People can feel sorry for snakes when dogs are invading their territory (unhabited land) but not when the snakes are invading the dog's territory

snake catcher Who are you kidding. I've had 3 venomous snakes bite dogs after the snakes wandered into the dogs' small areas. I don't appreciate the $1000+ each in antivenene costs. As far as I'm concerned a good snake is dead one.

It would be nice if the ANKC/Canine Councils could make up their minds.

Not correct Pam. Phone your Kennel Control and you will find the new rule is 500 kms. It was previously 1000 kms. and was changed THIS YEAR to 500 kms. You might be reading from a rule book that is outdated.

Some tips: Soak dry biscuit in hot water until soggy - so that the swelling of the biscuit is done before ingestion not after. Feed two smaller meals per day rather than one large meal. Make sure the dog has access to electrolytes during hot weather. Rest the dog at least half an hour before eating. No exercise after for a couple of hours. Don't allow the dog to drink huge amounts of water in one go after exercising (especially in hot weather). Watch the dog if they are swimming that water is not being taken in while they are swimming, particularly if they are in the water for a very long time and have a tendency to chase sticks balls etc in the water. Avoid large leather chews that can be ingested whole. Even chicken skin. In fact anything large which can obstruct the passage of food. I had a dog bloat on chicken skin which covered the piloris (the outlet to the intestines) and caused bloat. Edit: spelling

I will be taking on a rescue Collie soon, and was wondering what Collie/Border collie people use to heartworm their dogs with. Can anyone enlighten me as to the best product to avoid the Ivermectin problem? Edited for spelling

I absolutely agree with that comment. I brought in a puppy at the age of 13 weeks and couldn't house her with another puppy I had due to the fact that the puppy I already had was limping and couldn't stand the rough play. So I housed the two puppies not far from one another. But the pup I brought in was stressed because she had lived with other puppies where she came from. Months went past and I couldn't clear up the demodex, it became worse and her face was already bald, she had patches under the chin and some on the front legs and it started to crop up on her hindquarters and trunk. It was becoming systemic. I was treating her for demodex with everything I could, and in the end she was put onto daily Ivomec (which I hated). I still couldn't control it, it went on for months. It wasn't until I removed the stress of being isolated from where she wanted to be that she started to clear up the demodex and is now completely free. I brought her inside and slept her right by my bed at night, she lived in the house and had been removed from the stress which was unbeknown to us causing her problem. Do not underestimate the role stress can play in demodex cases.

Over the years I have had a case each of both of these mites and yes, they can be cured. Sarcoptic can be controlled with Revolution (sometimes takes a few months). Once controlled it won't recur unless your dog comes into contact with a carrier (ie. another dog or fox). Demodex can be a little difficult due to the immune response problem of the dog but yes it can be cured also (or at least put into remission). Demodex can recur in the same dog if the immune response is low but this is also usually unlikely.

To Melt and Cutecav Thanks for all your advice. I have followed up on what you suggested and have my girl on Eukanuba Low residue food - she is doing well (better but not perfect yet). I have this week started Protexin and she seems to have improved somewhat since I started both these. Just thought I'd let you know as too many times on threads of DOL people don't come back and give a follow up to advice kindly given by respondents.

Melt, Thanks for the pricing info. I'm going to order some. Cutecav, I will get onto Google and have a look at Protexin as well

Melt, Forgot to ask you - I've been told Low Residue is expensive - is it?

Hi Melt, I can see you are cruising. Thanks for all your helpful advice! I will certainly look into it.

Cutecav, What is Protexin? Is it a veterinary line or can you buy it over the counter? Is it an additive?