Isabel964

In my experience when I walk my dogs around the neighbourhood (which I do for about an hour every day), is that when my girls and I walk past - the dogs in other houses and yards bark. When my dogs see another person with dogs walk past my house they bark. I had understood this to be normal behaviour. Is it not?

Man, Id be so scared to use a nailgun! I am way too much of a clutz.

Idigadog, I'll have to get them a platform - that one of yours looks awesome! My dogs would love it to sunbake on, and the do seem to like being higher up. My Westie kept jumping up and sunbathing on the outdoor table. She would use the chairs to jump up but then jump straight down which is bad for her legs. So now I keep the chairs tucked right in so she can't get up. But she will love a platform. Maybe a cubby house and definitely a sandpit or pile. I'll keep looking at the link some of you posted and future replies too. you know, its kinda fun planning a backyard for the dogs!

You know how some families put swings and a cubby house and a sandpit in the backyard for the kids to play in? Well what do people do for dogs? My dogs are mainly indoor dogs, but we are moving to a home with a lovely back yard and I will be going to full time work in the next few months....so my girls will need to get used to spending hours and hours outside. OK, so I can put in a sand pit. I can put in a nice double kennel set up that will protect them from the rain, sun and wind if I am not home. What about the equivalent of a slide/swing set....does anyone make dog-sets for dogs to play on, sleep in, have fun with? I know my girls love sunbaking, they love dog hammocks. So the hammocks, the double kennel (like a cubbyhouse) and the sandpit are the ideas I have so far. Anyway, just asking because I was wondering if anyone makes stuff for dogs in the backyard....and know if they do, you guys will be able to tell me Otherwise, any ideas would be good.

I will get him the best care and research all option, and see all relevant specialists. Thx for the hugs

Bailey is one of my cats and has a condition my vet said he has only seen in dogs - pemphigus foliaceus. So I am posting here to see if anyone has experience with a dog that might help me. So please forgive me posting about my cat in the dog section. The vet just called. This is what he said. Bailey has pemphigus foliaceus, which is an auto-immune condition where the body attacks the skin follicles, this causes blistering, sores, scabs. It is treated by cortisone. Too much cortisone can cause diabetes. It may be able to be treated topically. I told him we can't cause diabetes because Bailey is absolutely imposssible to treat at home as he is kinda feral. I don't say this easily, I go to the ends of the earth and spare no expense when it comes to my fur babies - but the fact is, that Bailey will have to go the Rainbow Bridge if treatment depends on being treatable at home. Even two men find it hard to hold Bailey for pilling - he is big and strong and feral when not happy. The other thing is that he is fraidy/nervy cat and pilling/treatment atempts cause him immense stress and he hides for several days becoming very nervous and stressed for a long time. When he has no vet issues, he is a lovely smoochy baby who I adore so much. I am crying writing this because he has been with me through so much, and I love him so dearly, and this might be the start of the end for him. I hope I find a good treatment that works and does not cause other issues in his body. I will call the Cat Specialist Clinic that treated Milo during his CRF battle on Monday and see if they have experience in it. If they do, I will absolutely take him there...even though its about an hour away by car. The vet I spoke to at my local vet cliic said he has never see this in cats - only in dogs. I have not started my research yet - just got off the phone to vet half an hour ago. Yasmin

The second one has captured the ears perfectly, the last one, just gorgeous. The first one looks like a lovely dog. I don't know the dogs but it looks like you have a gift of getting the personality of the dog into the sketch. They look very real. what a lovely gift you have.

LOL, I bet it was funny to watch. Did she like it or find it annoying?

You are very lucky, how very nice. Seems the Greys have added to the 'ambience' of the community Its always nice having lovely neighbours.

Wow, you are very talented and you have these as treasured memories. I can see Alex was a very special dog, and he has a lovely gorgeous face in his photos and pictures. That is a lovely poem in your first post too. I have not seen that one before. I believe that every minute of happiness with my girls is worth the terrible grief I will experience when they go. No, it doesn't get easier, I have never lost a child but I'm sure its like losing a child - its just devastating. I send you hugs. May the time come you think of him fondly and smile without the tears soon.

I just tend to adore all dogs - I could take anyone's dog home from the park and love it I reckon. Dunno. But with my dogs - all but one was gotten at 12 weeks old or so pups and I have adored them immensely from the get-go. Good thing too because pups take ALOT of work and we often feel inadequate or question if we are doing things right or not. The adult dog we got was in the newspaper, had to find a new home urgently. Went to see it, a red cloud kelpie about 4 years old. Human parents had split up, Mother had left with the kids, Father was left to sell the house and had found a job on a barge up North in WA. So we gave the dog a home. When we put him in our car, the father cried the saddest tears, so sad . Got him home, he wouldn't eat - he missed his Dad. or 2 weeks he hardly ate. My hubby marinated meat, bought fillet steak, chicken breast, tried things raw, roasted, canned food, dry food, fried meat, poached, marinated... nothing worked. But we gave him love and he started to eat and love us and feel at home. We loved that dog so much. We just had to get to know him. I wonder..... should we need to make sure we are 'attracted emotionally' to a pup/dog before taking it home? Maybe its like people - we are not all going to like or connect with everyone we meet, sometimes for no particular reason. Maybe its the same with dogs and people. Or maybe is it because in your heart this dog is not the dog with your ex? (I'm so sorry for the heartache and loss of your partner and dog BTW, you must have been through such a tough time personally.) I wonder though if it would be a good idea to rehome him since he is so young. I personally do not know what I am talking about, but I would think it would be much better if he was in a home with a human(s) that bonded with him and you had a dog you bonded with. The other thought I have is maybe an animal behaviourist can help you bond with your dog. You and the dog deserve a wonderful bonded life. Its such a special thing.

Do you have heating pads for your dogs? I'm in Melbourne - Geez its freezing here ATM!! Anyway, wondering if anyone has heating pads for the dogs. Are they safe? Mine love heat. Wondering if its spoiling them too much if I get them. I have the central heating at 19 degrees at night to keep the chill from the air, but its still cold. I was thinking about ordering two of these large pads called Pet Mats towards the bottom of the pageHeating Pads Do you have a brand to recommend? Anything I should be wary of?

Goofy really sorry for what has happened, I really feel for you and your lovely giant . I hope he gets to live a happy relatively pain free life, even if it isn't the life you intended for him. I have no idea what breeders should or should not do, but it seems yours is being supportive and I think that is great. Also, sorry for the couple of snippity comments made in a some posts, I don't know why people get like that, so unnecessary . All the best for you and your giant, and hugs too.

Agree with above advice. Else phone the vet and explain the difficulty. Maybe the vet can help with the shave? Hopefully this will work and it won't be needed for long.

So sorry about the pup, such sad news. BTW there is nothing wrong with your post at all, ignore any accusations of you trying to pass the buck....I don't know what gets into some peoples heads.

Far out! Isn't it a shame dogs don't have a natural aversion to the things that they can't eat? It sure would be handy!

Yeah and email address is false

I like the last one the best

Glad he has been to the vet and hopefully he will get better soon. Good thinking of persephone re the being careful about the back. I'd guide you to watch that infection under his mouth so you know it well and can detect if it is improving or not. If it is an infection I would have expected the vet to also give antibiotics, maybe its just really mild. I'm not trying to second guess your vet at all, but what I am saying is that if it gets worse, go back and perhaps ask if antibiotics should be given. Poor Benny, hugs and vibes for him to be feeling better soon.

I hope she has a good hone and finds herself back in it.

OMG! That is awful just to tell people that, let alone if they really do it! Maybe they are trying to frighten people into containing their dogs but it's not right.

Hubby and I have always loved our dogs equally. We also agree on dog or breed. Excrpt.....when I wanted a westie. He said a little white thing was not a real dog and there was no way we'd be getting a little happy thing ( he like bigger dogs). Well I talked to the breeder, she had the perfect puppy for me. I sweet talked hubby's into 'just going for a drive to have a look'. He paid the $900 and brought her home with me He adores her! It did take 6 months before he would give her much of his attention though. My hubby's very involved in the dogs lives. I think your hubby's might be more involved if he chose the dog, but only you would know about the chances of that. Perhaps ask him? I'm sure you will love whoever you guys end up with....that is the nice thing about dogs. Ps I adore kelpies, so intelligent, so loyal, so easy to train and very sweet dogs. Also love the heelers.

Kirty councils don't seem to have catered for indoor cats, Most indoor cat owners work on the basis their indoor cats are not bothering anyone. Indoor dogs? There are more than we think, but I dont think that will change the limits. I'm happy with 2 dogs but at times I wish I could add a little indoor chiuaua.

I only just saw this post, so sorry about Indie not eating. I know from your post about Bonnie and the photos you shared with us how close they were. I hope nothing is medically wrong and I hope her spirits lift soon. Maybe try a behviourist? Does she perk up when she has another dog to play with at the park?

I have driven 2 hours many times to find the one right cat. Down south, up north, out west, inland.....the kitten just had to feel right to me, I knew what I was looking for. And I have done that for 2 cats. With dogs, I only had to go about 1.5hrs to get my last puppy, and she was perfect. Depending on the circumstances, I'd go anywhere - but I would expect usually it would not be necessary to drive more then 1-2 hours out of Melbourne. You driving 5 hours? I don't think its crazy at all.