suziwong66

I predominantly feed raw but I'm lucky because we have a local business that makes it up - Adelaide Dog are a godsend :) I buy all my raw food from them: non weight bearing bones, fish oil, joint powder, ground meat/bone/offal/fish/veg mix. All i've got to do is separate the 1kg containers into daily meals and freeze them - the bones are already individually wrapped and bagged up in like-sized lots. Totally spoiled here in Adelaide :)

ugh...off-lead dogs in on-lead areas annoy me big time. For me it comes under the banner of a total lack of respect for others in shared spaces. I don't care if someone's dog is friendly or not; when a dog is off-lead and approaches me with my on-lead dog it's totally unacceptable and i'm not happy about it. If the owner doesn't call their dog back after being asked, they can expect their dog to be booted away. Sadly it's not the dogs fault and the dog will reap the punishment, but at the end of the day i'm not willing to put my dog at risk over someone else's lack of common respect. There is a distinct lack of dog etiquette (including on-lead dogs) in public areas and we've been subjected to some very unsafe behaviours by some ignorant owners.

thanks for that. I'm a little confused. so technically one could still get a mini foxy through an ANKC breeder who bred TT's? Are they not different breeds?

Can someone please tell me why the ANKC doesn't recognise the miniature foxy terrier breed? How does someone recognise if a particular breed club is governing a breed well especially when the breed isn't recognised by the ANKC? How does one get a pedigree pure bred mini foxy and know that the pedigree is traceable and the breeder is ethical? The back story is a friend recently bought a MFT puppy; it arrived with worms and fleas and had been raised on Pal Pedigree (certainly not my choice of quality dog food but each to their own i guess) and no 'puppy info pack/folder' was given so the new owner has no knowledge of any breed health testing. The dog is registered with the Miniature Foxy Club of Australia according to the breeder, but i am curious to know how well regulated breed clubs are; especially ones where the breed isn't recognise by the ANKC. The new owner was told by the breeder that the dog is on a full register and can be bred with if, when it reaches adulthood, complies with the breed standard from the breed club. I realise that if the ANKC doesn't recognise a breed then as a puppy buyer the next best thing would to buy a pup that is registered with the breed club...but how does one know how well regulated a breed club is in regards to health, pedigree, breed standard etc Lots of questions; thanks for any answers/insight.

I would love for Australia to be that dog-friendly...we take Wilbur for a puppycino brunch every Saturday morning at our local cafe; they welcome furry friends outside. The only other places that i can take him with me have been Adelaide Dog, PetStock and Mile End BBQ's Galore. Whilst i really love taking Wilbur out and wish there were more places that i could take him, there is an element that i don't enjoy: other owners who take their aggressive dogs out in public. We've been charged by two aggressive dogs in the past 3 months. Once when we were walking past our usual cafe and a very old German Shepherd growled and lunged at Wilbur and another time when we were sitting having brunch and a small dog walking past with its owner growled and lunged at us. I also don't like being approached by other dog owners who have their dogs with them and seem to think it's okay for their dog to come into our space. Quite a number of owners have been very put-out when i ask them to pull their dog away. There seems to be a general assumption that because their dog is friendly, that it's okay for them to lunge forward to us. I was recently put in between Wilbur and a German Shepherd at our cafe; i wasn't at all comfortable and asked them to pull their dog away. They got very pissy at me. I don't think a public place like an outdoor cafe is at all a safe or appropriate place to introduce two dogs to each other especially when i am standing between the two of them without being given any opportunity to get away if things turn ugly. For me, taking my dog out in public also entails an element of respect: eg respecting other people's and their dogs space, asking to pat someone's dog, making sure my dog is not aggressive around other dogs, making sure my dog is trained, picking up after my dog, keeping my dog on an appropriate length lead in 'on-lead' areas and respecting others' right not to be bothered by my dog etc. I don't come across many people 'in real life' (as opposed to DOL) that extend the respect to me, that i afford them when out and about in public. Perhaps it's about education regarding pets in public for both those who take their pets out in public and those in public without pets. At this point in time IMHO, it's both sides that need educating. I come across both dogs and owners who behave irresponsibly or inappropriately in public just as much as i come across people in public without pets who behave irresponsibly/inappropriately around pets and their owners. As i said, i'd love for Australia to be more pet-friendly in public areas, but i'm not convinced we're ready for it at this point in time and i'm not a fan of making change without appropriate prior preparation; it can be a recipe for disaster. Miss23, my eldest daughter, now lives in Berlin and recently said to me that i'd love how dog-friendly Berlin is but i'd hate the large amount of dog excrement left in public places. Her words were, "There's dogsh*t everywhere...even all over the footpath." YUK Whilst there are lots of example of how dogs in public places can work well, i don't think Berlin is one of them by the sounds of what Miss23 has said

my 18 month old lab's front legs turn out; our vet diagnosed it as muscular after xrays found nothing to indicate otherwise. We've done physical therapy exercises and water therapy on a water treadmill. His legs still turn outward but the tightness in his mobility has eased somewhat. Your vet will be the best person to start out with in looking for a diagnosis and treatment.

I used one for a few months this year while Wilbur (16 month old lab) was learning to be a little more self-regulatory at training; his lunging at other dogs was not acceptable behaviour even if it was to play. He's progressed back to just the check chain again; eventually i'd like to see him in a flat collar eventually. I used a Black Dog halter which he hated...he hated the Gentle Leader halter more though :laugh: I'm a fan of halters; they're a great training tool.

Muratti on Prospect Road, Prospect (Adelaide) is our regular Sat morn haunt with Wilbur. They are happy to accommodate dogs at the outdoor tables at the front of the cafe and always provide a bowl of water.

targeting is a fabulous tool...Wilbur as a very young puppy would only hump a soccer ball till i taught him to target. now he play's 'soccer'

I used Kyra Sundance's method; using food to lure the dropped dog's nose to it's side, then further over to its back and it 'falls/rolls' over.

we used to use our local vet, Adelaide Animal Hospital on Prospect Rd, Prospect...i say "used to" because a year ago, we brought Wilbur into our family and i took him there for his post arrival vet check. The pressure to a) get him desexed asap and b) undergo Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS) surgery was turned on BIG time...i booked puppy classes with them and by the end of the classes, i had started looking for another vet - yet more pressure to desex early. I went to Pin Needham on Greenhill Rd, Glenside to 'interview' him while he gave Wilbur his vaccinations - I've been there ever since. I was straight up in saying that i was looking for a vet who would treat both the physical and emotional needs of my dog and wasn't 'surgery happy'. Pin might not have the best people skills on earth (but not the worst either :) ) , but i'm very happy with his veterinary skills. Additionally for short boarding stays, they board clients animals. For me, Pin and his wife Lesley fit particularly well as they breed chocolate labs and are a wealth of information re labs - our chosen breed of family dog. They are both active members of our local obedience club and are happy to give training support in the clinic - Lesley fitted Wilbur for a slip chain and then later for a halter when recommended by some of the trainers at the club. Lesley also supported me in my decision to not desex Wilbur until he's about 18 months old. The surgery also has hydro therapy facilities which i've used numerous times. I know others here in Adelaide, have not had the same positive experiences i have had at Glenside Vet Clinic, but i'm very happy with the level of service.

Wilbur on his fb likes to think he's batdog...in reality he's just baddog :laugh:

when OH and i first got married our first child was our furbaby Keiran, a German Shepherd. He was a family dog, but mostly my dog - in that i raised him, trained him etc. After our first daughter was born, i was exhausted all of the time and poor old Keiran, 3 years old by that time, wasn't getting as much attention from me. As soon as i was a bit more back on board, which took a couple of months of readjustment, we started to take Keiran for walks with us with the baby in a pouch...for me, it helped that Keiran still came into the house just as he did pre-baby (of course he was never left alone with the baby). Perhaps your wife needs support in being able to readjust to your new life with a baby and furkids - if your vehicle is big enough, perhaps take the whole family for an outing that includes the furkid(s) and do other things that include the dogs. Rather than raise the topic of the dogs not getting enough attention from your already tired and readjusting wife/partner, you could try introducing some pet friendly family activities where you support your wife in bringing the dogs back into your daily activities. Perhaps with the intention of training the dogs to be around the new baby (much better way to have the discussion), you could encourage your wife to join you in integrating the dogs back into your daily lives. Good luck

nice one :laugh:

an interesting stoush over dog ownership in the US - i can't understand how the legal battle is STILL going on...the first owner clearly proved ownership - end of story imo. here's the link OWNERS BARKING MAD IN DOG FIGHT Yahoo!7 July 13, 2012, 12:55 pm When you finally stumble across the dog that ran away from home a year ago in the loving arms of his new owner, who gets to keep the dog? That's the difficult question currently being played out in the courts in the US. Sam Hanson-Fleming couldn't believe his luck when he spotted his beloved pet pooch Chase sitting inside an idling car outside a coffee shop in the US state of Oregon. Only the 2 1/2-year-old husky-shepherd mix wasn't called Chase anymore; he was named Bear, and for the last year he'd been in the care of 20-year-old student Jordan Biggs. None of that mattered when Mr Hanson-Fleming stumbled across Chase, he was just happy to see his best friend after a year. "Chase instantly jumped out of the car and into my arms," Hanson-Fleming told local media. "He was licking me and loving me - all excited like he gets." Feeling some sympathy for Ms Biggs, Mr Hanson-Fleming gave her a week to bid a fond farewell Chase/Bear, before returning him to his former owner and his two young sons. That's where things get messy. A week later, Ms Biggs said she wouldn't return the dog. According to Mr Hanson-Fleming, Ms Biggs hung up the phone and cut off all contact with him. Ms Biggs hasn't returned media enquiries. The difficult task of determining the dog’s rightful owner has fallen to Mike Oswald, from Multnomah County Animal Services. Mr Oswald told the Oregonian it's not the first time two parties have tried to claim one animal. "People believe or want to believe it's their animal," he said. "These are gut-wrenching decisions. They're difficult decisions." Presenting photos of the dog on holidays with his family, Mr Hanson-Felming showed there's no doubt the dog had once belonged to him, and should be returned to its original owner. Ms Biggs claimed the dog couldn't have been properly cared for if it was able to jump a fence and escape for a year. She argued she had successfully cared for it for over a year, and should be allowed to keep doing so. After months of agonising back-and-forth legal maneouvering, the authorities ruled on Mr Hanson-Fleming's side, arguing Ms Biggs hadn’t taken the proper steps to try to find the dog’s original owner. Mr Hanson-Fleming made regular calls to the local animal shelter, posted flyers around town and posted lost dog information online, to no avail. Ms Biggs failed to file a found report, which would have given her ownership of the dog after 180 days. Surrounded by friends and family this week, Mr Hanson-Fleming was overjoyed when he read the finally ruling giving him ownership of Chase but his joy was short-lived. Ms Biggs has already filed a civil suit, asking a judge to grant her custody of the dog. In her suit, she claims that Hanson-Fleming has "threatened to impair (her) full enjoyment" of "her own dog." She alleges Mr Hanson-Fleming was negligent in allowing the dog to run away. The case continues.

posted in wrong area - sorry

i bought a black-dog one recently from my dog training club and it was called a halter extender...even though i thought it really should have been referred to as a connector. The one i bought is slightly different; it has one metal connector at one end the other end is a webbing loop which you slip knot through either a flat collar/slip collar.

I agree...our council appears not to be policing off-lead dogs/owners so a campaign is at least something in the way of being more proactive regarding the (what appears to be) growing issue.

tonight i bought a pair of Australian telescopic walking/trecking poles on eBay for $26 including postage - there were cheaper versions from Hong Kong and China but the sellers had very dubious feedback. If they're crap, i've only lost $26.

thanks for the suggestion - there are some good light weight poles about without the spike at the end Mixeduppup - just because an off lead dog is friendly (according to its irresponsible owner) doesn't mean that my dog (and entire male) stuck on the end of a lead will react well to the uninvited intrusion or that i am comfortable with another dog approaching me; i don't like strange dogs at all ~ they make me very nervous - We all have the right to walk the streets without being put in unwelcomed situations where we have no control. There is a simple solution to so called friendly off-lead dogs getting a whack from me if they approached - put them on a lead.

For the first 10 months of having Wilbur i've managed to luckily avoid inappropriate off-lead encounters with other dogs...then in the last week we've had three. The first was with at dog-friendly accommodation where another guests little dog came aggressively at us from a considerable distance; i took a swipe with my boot ~ it ran off luckily. The next day the dog ran over to us again and lunged at Wilbur. Then last night in a street away from home on our way back from a visit to the part two men were walking their two dogs off-lead. They called out that their dogs were friendly..and i asked if they were off lead and they said yes. then before i could tell them to put the dogs on leads and control the situation one of their dogs ran right up to us. Tomorrow i'm buying a riding crop...any dog that comes near me is gonna get a whack. I don't care if off-lead dogs are friendly...that approach fails to account for my or my dog's needs...i have NO choice in the encounter. No body asked me if i want my dog to interact with their dogs. It's at best rude and selfish.

this one can be added to the SA list: Clare Valley Cabins Hubbe Rd Clare There are 8 self contained cabins and a converted chapel which we're staying in as i type. All dogs are welcome inside, but they do ask you notify them of a dog coming when you book. It's a privately owned 51 acre bushland property. The property itself is a shared space between all the guest and unless your dog has fabulous recall i'd recommend it stay on a lead or long line lead. This weekend some dog owners have had their dog on leads and there were no issues...the dogs that were off lead had no recall and were being a menace. After one dog kept coming over to us with Wilbur on a lead (a good 50 to 100 meters away from its owners) i asked the owner to put it on a lead; they spent the next 10 minutes chasing it :laugh: after i'd had my entertainment i gave them 2 pieces of sausage roll so they could catch their dog. There are no fenced yards to keep dogs in; so if you want your dog outside for an outdoor respite you could probably tether it...but with the likelihood of other unrestrained dogs around it's probably not a good idea. Having no fencing is not a concern for me as we're only here a weekend and Wilbur prefers to be with us anyway.

Wilbur often has a gurgly tummy....and he farts like a trumpet as well :laugh:

there is no ability to answer the question regarding type of food the dog receives for those who feed raw...Additionally on the same question regarding type of food the last answer is about quantity of food. I'm afraid i abandoned the questionnaire part way through as i couldn't answer the question about type of food and the electronic copy won't let me move on. Research data needs to be factual for quality analysis to occur and the questionnaire didn't allow me to be factual as it fails to ask about 'other' options that the researcher has failed to ask... herein lies one of the weaknesses of quantitative research with a singular data gathering methodology.

How about society provides the means for supporting the homeless who struggle with the health of their dogs rather than removal since, as you agreed that, dogs provide a therapeutic benefit to their owners? Perhaps we need to think laterally rather than going straight to the assumed easiest/best/logical/ etc solution. If we always take the economic rationalist solutions to societies problems then many people wouldn't/shouldn't have children or pets...and where do we draw the line in the sand? People often don't have economic means for a variety of reasons and some that do have economic means aren't necessarily providing the emotional, social and physical care that their pets (and sometimes children) require. As you can gather, i'm not a fan of economic rationalisation.