Her Majesty Dogmad

You are heading in the right direction with desexing, vaccinating etc. I have a friend in VIC that lost an Am Staff recently, I could always ask if you go ahead.

You weren't there, you don't know my dogs or their relationship, so what you would do in such a situation isn't really relevant. Well if you don't want anyone to comment on what you say, or your situation or your dogs, then don't post at all - what you have said is not relevant, is it? If you don't think one dog attacking another in the way you describe isn't horrific, that is your business. If one of my dogs decided to get one of my other dogs by the throat in the way you have described and I chose to put my own dog to sleep, that is my business.

SpikesPuppy, that situation is horrific. If one of my own dogs tried to kill one of the others in that way, they'd be gone and not to another home.

Totally unacceptable from dog and owner. Has to be stopped before a fight occurs - of course some dogs tolerate it but it isn't good behaviour and needs to be corrected. Many owners are such ----wits.

siks3, sorry to hear this story, I've heard many similar ones. There are often signs that there will be trouble and we can't afford to ignore them especially when there is such an enormous size disparity. Once the big dog decides to have a go, the small one will never win and usually not survive. I do agree that you should rehome one of them certainly and never have them together again because the foxy won't have forgotten. I rescue and rehome foxies in particular and know them well! I don't agree with you saying that asking two males to get along together because they haven't grown up together is a "big ask". I've had well over 100 foster dogs in the last few years, mostly males - partly because there are more males than females and party because I prefer them. I currently have 5 males - none of them grew up together and they all get along very well. Three are mine, two are fosters. Of course sometimes you do bring home a dog with an issue but that has been as rare as twice for me. I try and check their temperaments very thoroughly whilst at the pound. I also recommend extreme care with two dogs of different sizes - people run into trouble for all sorts of reasons, they expect dogs to eat together and the dog they bring home is food aggressive. Toys, beds - they can all be issues for the territorial dog and it is nothing to do with size - some of the posters may like to blame small dogs but that is simply unfair.

It defies imagination. These people deserve severe punishment.

Sometimes it needs to be done for the dog's welfare. I just rescued a dog and had her dew claws removed, they were deformed with the nail pointing upwards and would have been at risk of getting caught in everything. I've seen dogs with dew claws hanging off, not nice.

So young to have a brain tumour, I know how awful it is as I lost one of my beloved dogs that way. It is a terrible torment for dog and owner. Brock is at peace now and I hope that he meets my Wonderdog over the Bridge. Hugs to you.

Car sickness is not a disability of any kind, it is nothing to do with a dog's parentage and I will take car sickness over storm phobia any day of the week and many, many working dogs suffer from storm phobia. I just rehomed a brilliant little rescue dog that would have been an ideal agility dog according to my vet's assessment (she's the president of a club). I planned on doing that with her but circumstances recently led to me rehoming her. She's most likely a poodle/terrier cross. None of the crossbreeds asked to be born. I don't have any snobbery against purebred dogs (I even run Italian Greyhound Rescue with a breeder) and I hate backyard breeders and puppy farmers with a passion.

I have a couple of food aggressive dogs, there's no way I ever leave any food lying around if I'm going out. Hopefully you won't have an issue with that but every time a new dog comes into the household (I foster dogs for rescue orgs), it is an adjustment and sometimes you have to do things you hadn't planned on. Providing you are flexible and experienced enough to recognise any issues, all should be well.

My advice is to NEVER muck around with ears. It's a problem that must get sorted with professional help. I had a foster dog with blown eardrums due to years of untreated ear infections. She had 3 ops whilst with me and daily drops, all managed on a vet's plan on a continuous basis - that is worst case scenario. You can also blow eardrums by using the wrong treatment at the wrong time. I put a rescue dog on a plane for someone - I just got handed the dog at the airport. When I landed at the other end, the poor little dog had to be handed over to a new owner but I could smell her from a distance. The people didn't want her because she smelt so, with a friend I met down there we went to her vet and guess what? Yes, her eardrums had burst because the person who "rescued" her, an individual, had never taken her to the vets and had her checked over. She'd had a terrible ear infection. That person I'm sure, will never do it again. Diet plays an important part. With the dog I fostered (for 2.5 yrs as she was too sick to be rehomed), I put her on the Natural Balance diet from www.pricelesspets.com.au. It's formulated for dogs with ear/skin problems and my vet saw a big difference in a few weeks and said to keep going with whatever I was doing. Never feed canned food or cheap food as they can have lots of additives. I now feed my dogs on the Natural Balance, raw turkey mince and veggies and they love it.

Sheena, I have a house full of dogs of unknown parentage. I see you have a Border Collie. That would be the last dog I'd ever have. As a rescuer of dogs, I find your attitude towards them to be very discriminatory and lacking in experience. My point is that we are all entitled to own whatever sort of dog we like. The dogs I have here are "gold". Many, many visitors and strangers stop me to say what wonderful dogs they are. Purebred dogs can have fits, have wobbly knees, bite, have strange behaviours, shit in the house, sick in the car, get deposited in the pounds - just like dogs of "unknown parentage".

Poor little dog. Owners probably made the dog live in the backyard and just chucked food at it, happens a lot more than people realise.

There were two kinds of fly traps when I went into Bunnings on Saturday as I have fly problems here as well. I've used them before and they are pretty good, just gruesome when you have to empty them - that's what hubbies are for my friends tell me, maybe I can borrow one?? LOL. I was told Permoxin was good, Vaseline on the ears can help as well I think I read somewhere. Everything is worth a try when your dogs are suffering!

How hot is a dog in the Australian summer with a full coat like this? I read that this and that breed are insulated but having got a Keeshond cross here (rare I know but microchipped when dumped in the pound so no question on breed type) who gets extremely hot in the warm weather, never mind the height of summer, I found it was the kindest thing for her comfort to get her clipped. She was very badly matted when I got her, hadn't seen a brush in years.

I had to wait 15 years before I could have a dog due to living in rented units in Sydney and just not being able to have one. I adore all animals but particularly dogs. I used to housesit for people who had dogs (for nothing) and for 3 years I volunteered at the Animal Welfare League, walking dogs and giving them some attention. The poor dogs really needed and appreciated it plus I was able to tell anyone looking at them a little bit about the dog. I'd perhaps offer to walk people's dogs or feed them when they go away, things like that.

As lovely as they look, I always worry about the practical side of things. I've got two hairy dogs (not as hairy as a Bearded Collie though) and when they get upset stomachs which is luckily not very often, the rear end is a real nightmare. Then there's the grooming aspect, it's a lot of work requiring a great deal of commitment. It's great that you are researching in detail, I've learned that hairy dogs are not right for me no matter how gorgeous they look.

Aussielover - the neighbours kids next door to me were, it was like an all day thing with them popping up every 5 mins at the weekends. Maybe it was because it was new and novel or it was a party situation but either way, my loungeroom windows are only about 10 feet or less away from their fenceline and where the trampoline was placed originally. Not only was it intrusive but very very noisy with all the screaming.

For all those people who think it's OK to have kids bouncing up and down on a trampoline (and sometimes their friends) for 8 hours a day and looking into their neighbours' windows at the same time, what about if their neighbours like some privacy in their own homes? Some of us might like to walk around without clothes on in our own homes - who wants their kids to see that??

Had the same thing with my neighbours last year, kids bouncing and looking right in my lounge windows, dogs could also see them through the fence and going barking crazy. I went round and spoke to them (they are lovely) and they moved the trampoline to the end of the yard and now it's obscured by a shed so my dogs don't bark and the kids don't see in. They were very apologetic and understanding thank God.

It's unacceptable behaviour (not just me saying this, this is from a behaviouralist) and should be discouraged. Once he starts - squirt him with cold water, if he doesn't stop then put him in a crate or somewhere else for 10 mins. The minute he starts, same thing again. He'll soon get the picture.

moofius - if your dog has gone to the door and done wees then she's on the right track. You may be missing the cues somehow? Dog doors are the best invention and make life so much easier. If you can't fit one into a door or glass or are in rental accomm, have a look at the Pigs in Mud doors that fit alongside sliding doors.

Contact Dogmovers and see if they can help. GTE are another option.

Oh dear, poor dog has had an awful shock. I'd get some calming Chinese Herbs from the All Natural Vet at Russell Lea (nr Drummoyne), they are also behaviouralists so you can do everything with the one consultation providing you explain what you need at the outset. The calming herbs are amazing, I've had great results with them before.

I have padlocked my gate for years, it's about 5 ft high and my neighbours have vaulted over it using my bins (don't ask) but have been warned not to do it again. Most normal people wouldn't attempt it thank goodness.