LisaCC

Yea they taught it in our beginners class, I don't like how they "taught" us. They just said to stand on your dogs lead and ignore it, there wasn't really anything else said. They also tried to approach us while the pups were 'parked' which I didn't like. Obviously you know from classes recently they've changed this approach to using any command we like when they approach.

Yes, there is some disturbing evidence of where some peoples PETA donations are going to. Straight to official terrorists groups in America. Also some quotes by some of their head people about it being a good thing to use bombs and violence because talking doesn't get them anywhere.

:laugh: Maddie's long lost twin, I don't call her the beady eyed assassin for nothing. That's why I named her Maddie as she's M-A-D! She is very cuddly to me but she's a cunning little piece of work. I'm the same Steph I just love my boys, I've always had them and I've never really thought about their penis. Balls on the other hand nup...they aren't attractive on any species O.o Just get a fluffy dog, then you can't see them. Unless they flash them at you, which I swear is sometimes done on purpose.

Might be going through a lanky stage at that age, puppies go through some very funny looks

I have to agree, very sad but I can't imagine any good breeder giving you such a short deadline anyway. I would have only given 24 hrs to think about it. How long is a breeder supposed to knock back possible homes while waiting for someone to make up their mind? Sorry, bad wording, I meant shorter than what the breeder said originally.

I have to agree, very sad but I can't imagine any good breeder giving you such a short deadline anyway.

As Aussie lover said, yes there are different types of lab but if Ernie is from show lines he will probably be of the stockier type once he matures, he is still young though :) An entire male will generally be thicker set than a dog desexed young too. My lab from show lines who was desexed at 6 months still continued filling out until around 3 years of age. But he was taller and had less muscle in some areas (like head) than his intact siblings. He was still a big thick boy though, at a lean, active, ideal condition he was 36kgs, whenever he dropped below 34kgs we knew we were in trouble with his IBD.

I personally prefer male dogs, I find them more affectionate where females tend to be more happy to do their own thing (in my experience anyway). When I was getting Nova and told people I was getting a boy I got HEAPS of people going "Eww" etc, I couldn't believe the bias! The stupidest reasons where that "you can't give them belly rubs", "They piss in the house", "They hump people", "They smell more". My boys 18 months, intact and doesn't pee in inappropriate places or hump anything! He went through a humping toy stage as a baby puppy then grew out of it. Not sure where the "smell more" bit comes from, and the penis is easy to dodge for belly rubs Oh sorry, the other week at dog training he took a drink out of the paddle pool then peed in it But that's the worst thing he does.

Can she try goat as a novel protein? Or even lamb or fish if the dog hasn't had those before? I hope she isn't changing the steroid dose without vets advise. If the dog is better on the steroids keep it on the steroids.

Maybe I've missed something, I was under the impression that the dog has been properly diagnosed, in other words has had biopsies taken from the stomach and intestines? If that hasn't happened it definitely needs to to confirm IBD, there is more than one type too. And yes agreed about the steroids, they are necessary for issues like this.

Have you read the companion Novellas Yonjuro? 'Grey Ghost' was a wild dragon on Dragonstone during the Dance of the Dragons :) If you just picked that without knowing that's extremely lucky lol

I hope the ABs clear everything up Don.

Genuine query : I get that IBD means the stomach is very inflamed. But isn't it still relevant and valid to work out WHY it became inflamed in the first place? And couldn't that be because of proteins that irritated the stomach in the first place and which over-time developed/progressed to IBD? Also, I agree about needing to address inflammation as if this is not done, the stomach is not going to be able to tolerate or digest food, and that would (in my logic) lead to malfunction of so many other organs in the body which in turn completes the cycle to an on-going and spiralling down-hill issue. There are numerous natural based supplements that act to reduce inflammation, not only by acting as a barrier/protectant but also as an aid to getting the organs in the body to calm down and support it to an improved functional level. My thoughts meander along the lines that for Yonjuro's friend, steroids haven't worked, that there remains the background source of irritation to the stomach. ??? Yes, the inflammation can be caused by protein allergies. We spoke to many specialist vets about his case and were told that many times. A normal allergy doesn't cause IBD but having it in conjunction sure can make it a shit load worse. If it was the simple fact that meatybites were processed then one of the other dozens of dry foods, including prescription ones would of worked too.

Sam was a very extreme case, here is his story

As soon as I read the OP I thought thats IBD not IBS, my last dog had it and the most important thing she can do is find something, ANYTHING the dog can eat and digest properly. If she hasn't already start a strict vet guided exclusion diet, a referral to a veterinary nutritionist would be the best way to go. It will need to be a novel protein as Erny said, and some kind of carb (rice or potato, Sam could not even handle rice) and often some supplements (vet will advise, not dog ones as these often contain meat proteins) on top as it will often be long term. I'm dead serious with the "Anything" part, the only thing Sam could eat and gain any weight on was Pedigree Meatybites. After months of exclusion diets and everything else, we fed him it because he liked it the week before he was going to be put down and he suddenly gained 5 kgs in one week and went into "remission" for 5 years. I wrote up his story in the health thread after he passed, I'll try and link it to you.

Great video! This is probably the only reason I would want to live in Sydney I trained Nova in drive by myself for obedience (I attend a club, but just to practice in that environment), but I think we would really excel with some proper instruction and weed out some faults. Saving my moneys for perhaps a trip next year

Greyhounds makes the best friends

Wow. Aren't all those celebs with pocket dogs going to feel stupid when this gets out. Assuming it DOES get out. Hah. The thing is, this has been publicly available information for a very long time. A lot of people don't bother to look that hard at what they throw money at. I know other dolers have before bought up the exact quotes and dates before but how many decades ago did PETAs founder come out and publicly say they are better off dead? As Mita says, their views are also very anti-science. During my Animal Welfare classes at uni we had entire lectures and assignments on how to give and write animal welfare talks/media releases/ papers and NOT sound like Peta or Animals Australia or any of the other "Animal Rights" groups. Unfortunately when people do find out how wacko these groups can be lots of people then think Animal Welfare (actually science based) is part of it, it's setting us back in more ways than one

It's not, it's an extreme animal rights organisation. They would rather kill all animals than see them "used" by humans for any purpose, including being a pet. More people need to realise what they actually stand for, they aren't "save the animals" at all.

There's a video in the link with security footage and why there hasn't been any prosecution PETA Reportedly Steals and Kills a Family Dog

Wow she looks down right majestic on the couch! Beautiful girl!

At the I Love Dogs Show last Sunday, I asked one of the Vets about vasectomy. The reply was no Vets do not do this in Australia. This was not for desexing at a young age either. I ended the conversation. That's bullcrap, my vet will and it costs the same as desexing at the same age Yep it's definitely done, just not all clinics will do it. Ask if the breeder will consider Vasectomy/Tubal ligation, if they refuse I personally would not buy a pup desexed at that age and would look elsewhere.

Well the dog has a health problem if it is overweight. Should that vegetarian diet be more carbo than protein, then there are issues there I would say. Would the neighbour consider a Vet visit for a check up or not bother? VM I've never discussed the diet with her, but I think I'll raise the question next time I see her. She's a lovely lady and certainly not stupid, and the dog is very sweet. She obviously thinks it's the right thing for the dog There are dogs that can have protein allergies. Perhaps this dog is one of them?

First dog was a Labrador. He was a horrible puppy but a perfect adult (when he eventually grew up... around 4). I would recommend to a first time owner IF they can put the work through puppyhood and not want to get rid of the destructor pup. Perfect first dog to get into dog training, learnt quickly and would do anything for food. I would of trialled in obedience with him but my mum wouldn't let me at the time Even though Nova is the first dog I own myself, Sam was definitely my first dog and responsibility. Nova is one of the higher driven aussies and I would not in general recommend him to someone who had never had a dog before. He is very much a one person dog and can be stubborn, he often refuses to listen to even basic commands from seasoned dog owners and accomplished trainers. Sometimes I think he goes out of his way to do the exact opposite. He has a good off switch but he does best with multiple training and exercise sessions every day. If I'm sick he will stay on the couch with me, but he is not happy about it after a day or so. I have some health issues so rain, hail or shine I keep up his routine so he is chilled out when I need a rest day.

Get a size 2, I went chest measurements with my Aussie when he was still growing and he fits a size 2 at it's smallest. No way I would get a size 1 for a GSD, he would grow out of it