flame ryder

OK this provetlearning seems popular.......I will get her to ask the vets here about it Thanks

Personally, I really dislike seeing dogs in places serving food or places with a lot of children around. There are certain places that clearly aren't appropriate places to walk dogs- just like there's places you wouldn't take children. It's not discrimination, just common sense. Lovely. In the mean time, it gets stepped in or someone's child touches it. I can see why most councils choose to restrict dog access on beaches and other public land. Well duh I meant clean it up on a city beach where there are other beach goers. The beaches we usually go on there are no other people

Well as far as I'm concerned dogs should be allowed everywhere! My dogs are part of my family and part of me, I feel totally weird out walking without one of my dogs beside me. You don't see signs saying no children allowed and yet at times the dogs are more better behaved than the kids. We love the bush, beaches and hiking...but no dogs allowed in National parks...so we rarely go to them. I think dogs on leads would have little impact on national parks, or even a small fee for dogs. But I realise there are some ferals who would break the rules and spoil it for everyone else. And whats with the beaches that don't allow dogs??? Crickey my dogs love the beach more than anywhere on earth...if they pooh so what! Clean it up...if not the tide will take it away..big deal. When we go on holidays it's 100% more fun with the dogs but way more stressful because there are all those annoying "NO PETS" signs.

Thanks for the replies. We looked into similar on-line courses before, she actually took the paper-work to the vet and asked. They said that they wouldn't recommend the on-line training either. Ravyk...we were once told she could do the same - that she could do the same TAFE course as you are doing partly on-line just going to Adelaide for the practicals, Then she rang TAFE and asked them about it only to be told "no" she'd need to attend classes every day...? If this option was available this would be better, although she'd still lose 2 days just driving to and from Adelaide. anyway...still thinking. Can I ask....how long your terms are? Are they the same terms as normal school or shorter?

Just wondering if anyone can help me with this... My Daughter would dearly love to become a vet nurse (and maybe later a vet) but we live 5 hours drive from Adelaide where the TAFE course is. The course she is looking at doing is 2 years fulltime study at TAFE in Gillies plains in Adelaide. That would mean she has to move out and live in the big smoke for 2 years...not practical. She is a country girl and would prefer to remain here but she also really wants to be a vet or a vet nurse. She has visited with some of the vets in this area and they sometimes offer traineships, and when they do they are advertised, so we will wait and hope. But in the meantime does anyone know of any other options she may have? It's rather frustrating that most things seem to revolve around the major cities. Us country folk are sometimes forgotten.

Is that apple and other bits of fruit they are eating? Weird!!

We are in the South East. I agree Persephone if there's gunna be baits laid it needs to be done properly, if so it can reduce non target species eating them however it isn't always reliable. We once baited on our farm (many years ago) I was on edge the whole time. We checked baits every day and even when we tried every trick in the book to catch the foxes, none ever ended up taking the baits. In the end I threw them away...I couldn't stand the stress anymore. I was always scared something else would dig them up and drag them around, then a crow or other bird of prey might pick them up and drop them elsewhere, or the intended fox would dig them up then become suspicious and not eat them, leaving them exposed on the ground. Probably un-likely but my imagination worked overtime. Same in the dunes, same thing could happen...freaks me out. I hate baits.

We love to take our dogs for a walk on the beach. Main reason is because the beach seems to be the only place we can let them off their leads and they can just run free. And I'm talking deserted, windswept, country beaches...not city beaches, and there's usually no one else on the beach (especially in the middle of winter) except us and our dogs. But lately we rock up at the beach and we see these blasted signs warning us of fox baits laid in dunes and adjoining beaches. Grrrrrrr I know that there's a big fox problem and I hate foxes as I have poultry, and I know they need to be controlled but the beach...Cmon!!! We then made our poor dogs stay on leads when they are used to running free, and they look at us as if to say " wtf? stupid humans! Why are we still on leads?" This is on most beaches in our area and there have been cases of dogs taking the baits. I hate baits...better to have a hunting day and shoot all the foxes, least it's a quick death and no innocent dogs eat bait and die a horrible, slow and painful death.

One year way back when my kids were young we decided as a fun game to hide all their Easter eggs in the garden. We forgot about the dog... The dog thought it was the best Easter ever! She ate the lot, with no ill effects. Few years prior to this I had a chihuahua who slept on my bed...I kept my birth control pills beside the bed...one day the naughty Chihuahua ate the whole packet...I rang the vet afterhours in a mad panic...the vet said just keep an eye on him...nothing happened. Everyone thought it was funny saying that perhaps he was trying to tell me something lol.

Why is it they do that? Eat cat poo that is. It turns my stomach to see this....I love dogs but this is the grossest habit all dogs seem to have....gross gross gross

Ok this has probably been done before so sorry if it has but...My small dog (Chinese Crested) is due for his vaccinations this month. He's had the full set of them last year...as a puppy. At the time of the last shot the vet said that these days, especially with smaller dogs there's no need to do it every year and he should be safe for 3 years. Then a few days ago I went in the vets to buy worming tablets and it came up on their computer that his shots were due...I said no he should be good for 3 years as the vet here told me. Receptionist said 'no, that's not true, none of the vets here would say that'. I'm not a fool and I clearly remember the vet saying this, so does my daughter who came in with us. I asked to see the vet but she was in surgery. So I came home and did a bit of research on-line and read all about over vaccinating and it should be only every 3 years, then I read that yes it does need to be done every year if you want your dog fully protected, then I read no don't do it, it's just a money making scheme for the vets....and so on. I'm now confused. I'd really like to speak to the vet but she's always un-available. My dog is booked in tomorrow...I want something else checked out, and will then finally be able to speak to the vet about the vaccination issue...but will she then convince me it needs to be done just so they can cash in? All I want it what's best for my dog. Money is not the issue for me, this dog is loved like my child, I don't want to fill his tiny body full of toxins if it's not necessary. What are your thoughts?

I don't like Bull terriers. Many years ago I was the opposite,I used to like their chunky looks and their piggy little eyes. So I went out and got one. He was 8 weeks old and pure white with a brindle patch over one eye. I did all the right things, obedience training, socializing with other dogs, people and my 3 cats, lots of exercise and de-sexing him. But one day he went nuts at little girl who came to my place selling raffle tickets, she was only about 8 or 9 years old, if he wasn't tied up on a chain that day I'm sure he would have killed her. Then a few weeks later I observed him from my kitchen window trying and nearly succeeding to kill my cat who he was brought up with. Only the cats agility, and quick wits saved his life. He wasn't just playing, he meant business for sure. After that I re-homed him. Don't worry the new owner new what he was taking on...and he was just the type to own a Bully. I will never get another and I don't trust any of them anymore. Don't be offended if you have bullys, I'm sure there are some nice ones out there, but this was my experience. And I know of some Sharpei cross Staffie cross Pit Bulls for sale.....what a lethal combination. Some people should not be allowed to breed dogs!

Thanks boxagirl, I watched them both...your dogs are both beautiful....and smart. Bondi the boxer looked so pretty in pink.

I don't live in the city anymore but I used to live in Adelaide. I love walking, sometimes at night in the summer, I always felt safe with my dog...a long haired German Shepard. I would never walk alone in Adelaide now especially at night without a decent sized dog. A few times I was stopped and asked directions from blokes in cars...Id always put the dog between myself and the car...they all seemed genuine but without the dog I wouldn't have gone anywhere near them to find out. Yep big dogs make me feel safe!

Awesome!! still keen on the breed, I guess there are dummies in every breed (and us humans too, I sure have my 'blonde' moments). KOE what a pitty you lost your Boxer at age 8 and no I didn't know they used them as police dogs in the UK...cool! What I hate most about the big breeds (and dogs in general) is that they have such a short lifespan...after 10 years or so spent training one dog you have the perfect companion who is highly trained, a great guard dog, dedicated to their owner and part of the family...and then...they die and we have to start all over again. I still miss my previous German Shepard Cross who died of cancer at age 10 last year (the perfect dog in every way...oh wait she was the worlds stinkiest dog...ok maybe not 100% perfect but pretty close). It's just so un-fair they should have the same lifespan as us humans. I am off to send an e-mail of complaint to mother nature about the un-fairness of it all.

Hi there. I have trained dogs for many years, and been member of a few different obedience clubs. I trained mostly German Shepard cross dogs and a few bitsa's (mongrels). I've trained puppy's and older dogs that we've rescued from the pound. All with great success. All my life I've wanted a Boxer dog...can't explain why, I just think they look kinda cool with their cute droopy eyes and those sad faces. Finally I am in a position where I can get one. Of course I'd be doing obedience training with him but having mentioned this to a few people I've had a few negative comments about Boxers and their intelligence level or rather lack of it. They are often refered to as big clowns, taking about 9 years to grow up then dying at age 11. So before I spend mega bucks on a Boxer pup I'd like some opinions. Do you have Boxers and obedience train them? Do they do well? Do you know Boxers at your obedience club and how good are they? I don't mind a playfull dog but want one that's going to concentrate and work. I've never had a dog I couldn't train but then again I've never had a Boxer.