Her Majesty Dogmad

I have done two things that I saw on a dog training show: 1. Turned and walked in the opposite direction 2. Turned meeting another dog into a positive experience - distract your dog by instructing your dog to sit, reward the dog and keep him occupied. I had a dog that was on-lead aggressive but would also bark like crazy at buses, trucks, cyclists etc. The second method above worked beautifully for him and he started to be fine with these situations. Sadly he passed away soon after we were working on this. He was also super smart - a foxy cross.

What a way to live! Not good for the dogs or you. You must desex them both as a top priority, it takes about 2 months for the hormones to disappear. After that, you may discover that they simply may not get on, and then you should perhaps consider rehoming one of them. When you move house, treat them equally, they should both be allowed in to the house and enjoy some interaction with you as their owner on a regular basis. Daily exercise should also make up part of the routine and hopefully at the end of it you will experience some harmony and they'll be better behaved!

I've fostered many dogs over the years and mainly take older dogs. My own old dogs found 2 1 yr olds very hard to cope with but there were no fights. But the pack order changes each time. All dogs should be desexed. I've brought male dogs in that were undesexed in the beginning and that causes a few problems for sure, not so much fights as my own dogs are lovely natures but it causes lots of urination everywhere. I've decided not to do that again. I also believe in keeping to dogs of the same size.

So young and so loved, poor boy. My heart goes out to you.

So sorry for you, two together is a terrible thing to deal with. I lost two within a fortnight last year, it knocked me for six. Go easy on yourself and take time to grieve.

RIP sweet Rosie. Thanks for taking an oldie on and giving her love in her last years.

I am pm'g you with a recommendation of a mobile groomer who is very reasonable.

So sorry for your loss, Tigger sounds very special.

so sad for you and Krueger, poor baby

Poor baby, what a terrible end for a beautiful boy.

Ah yes, a subject I have a great deal of experience with - in fact, I just wrote an article in the Doggie Rescue magazine on this very matter! A recent foster dog had a very stinky bottom, no scooting but some licking in that area so it was off to the vets - end of problem. My Italian Greyhound has Inflammatory Bowel Disease which causes his to need emptying on a regular basis. I left it a little too long once and one squeeze by the vet led to the surgery walls getting a good splattering and in the end, so did she. Revolting ... I have zero interest in doing this myself, I prefer to pay ...

Ah yes, a subject I have a great deal of experience with - in fact, I just wrote an article in the Doggie Rescue magazine on this very matter! A recent foster dog had a very stinky bottom, no scooting but some licking in that area so it was off to the vets - end of problem. My Italian Greyhound has Inflammatory Bowel Disease which causes his to need emptying on a regular basis. I left it a little too long once and one squeeze by the vet led to the surgery walls getting a good splattering and in the end, so did she. Revolting ... I have zero interest in doing this myself, I prefer to pay ...

Get tests done - I've had a couple of dogs like this - Cushings and Kidneys

I might add that I was recently quoted $35 just to bath my medium sized dog from a mobile bather - and I had to go to the suburb of their choice! I thought that was a bit expensive.

I have a fantastic mobile groomer in the inner west - she is excellent and very experienced. Will pm you her no.

I took my boy to the All Natural Vets at Russell Lea and after about 3 visits, he was back to normal. They are simply fantastic - vets PLUS natural therapies such as herbs etc. I can't recommend them highly enough.

For dogs with skin issues that can't tolerate the spot on, I use "Proban" tablets from the vet with no probs. They only cover fleas on a twice a week dose. It's daily for ticks and you need separate cover for heartworm etc.

I use either a mixture of Napisan dissolved in water OR white vinegar and water OR bicard of soda and water. Works at my place!

What a beautiful boy, a terrible tragedy, my condolences to his carer, so devastating to experience. I'm sure many of us could relate and you can either be lucky or unlucky at times like that, it's in the hands of fate. I would actually like to see fireworks banned completely, I've always hated them because of how they affected animals. An awful waste of money and the cause of suffering, hardly a great idea.

Thanks for taking him and giving him a new life!!! I've had skeleton like dogs before - I give them 4 small meals a day. I use good quality meat and add things like Basmatic Rice (most nutritious), sardines, scrambled eggs and usually a dietary supplement. Sometimes it's hard to get them started eating again and things like tuna, BBQ chicken etc will get them started quite often but just not too much at once. Best of luck, I find it takes 2-4 weeks to see a difference and about 2-3 months before they come back to normal.

What a beautiful tribute to your beloved boy. It has made me cry with sorrow for your loss. So young and so loved, it is so unfair.

Sounds like he needs some fish oil, it certainly won't do any harm. I never feed my dogs on dried food only. Try sardines for breakfast - cheap in Woolworths in no brand can, maybe half a teaspoon of olive oil on dinner at night too.

I hope this poor dog has gone to a vet. Sounds like a bladder infection. I've had one and if you had, you would have rushed her in, it is painful - trust me.

My dog Dixie was diagnosed with Cushings 4 years ago. It was an awful time of 6 months of tests and stabilising - she has a tumour on her pituitary gland. She was about 11 or 12 at the time of diagnosis. The vets said maximum of 3 years but she's now been here more than 4. She has been on chemotherapy tablets which I give her myself, they are quite a hassle as they are highly poisonous for us so I have to wear gloves and put the tablet in something, make sure we are in a room away from the other dogs. That keeps her hair growing. I used to pay for the regular tests they recommend but at $500 every 2-3 months, I couldn't afford to keep going so stopped and only get them done periodically. They make sure that the chemo dosage is appropriate. One issue of being on the chemo is that she can't have surgery so 2 years ago, she had to come off the chemo for a few months so she could have an urgent dental. Unfortunately, they then found a growth so she hadn't been off the chemo long enough and had to go on a drip for a day before surgery. The growth was removed and was non cancerous and she lost a couple of teeth and had a clean. Unbelievably, 3 months later, when she'd had tests and gone back on the chemo, the vet said her teeth needed doing again. They haven't been done due to the chemo issues and also because she wasn't expected to live this long. The vet feels she couldn't take another surgery - it's all been quite difficult as I'd never leave a dog with bad teeth by choice. She has the odd fit which I believe is due to the tumour.

Personally, with kids that young I think you've got enough on your plate, wait till the 2nd one starts walking .... I'd wait until the kids were 5.