aliwake

Looks like 60cm is the biggest they have online, so I hope my local has a big one!

Good to know guys, thanks. I do actually have a horseland very close by, but it's quite a small shop. I might call and find out if they stock the dog coats there. Would be good to check by the sound of it!

I just measured Nixon and I kept getting 70cms! The weatherbeeta site suggests 55-65 for labs... He was wiggling a bit though. Maybe I'll go the 65 to be safe...

I know what you mean - he is definitely pretty waterproof! I will have a closer look next time it rains. I felt like he did get wet through on occasion, but maybe with his thicker winter coat it won't be as likely.

OMG he looks amazing in that hat! I have something similar in blue - I might have to try a similar pose :)

That's a lovely offer thanks little gifts - I can knit but not well enough to actually follow a pattern :) As you say, he shouldn't really need the warmth in Brisbane though. Nixon has never actually lived in Cairns - that was more just an example as to why I'm clueless about dog coats (because I grew up there)! Nixon has always lived in Brisbane, so his coat is fairly appropriate to the climate I think. When I get home at the end of a wet day he is usually VERY over excited, but probably not cold cos he tends to race around a lot in the afternoons. Usually after I dry him off and he calms down, he tends to want to wander outside again :) Most of the rainy days we've had so far since we've had him have been over summer though. I just have a feeling we're going to have a few more wet days this winter than we did last year.

ah, TWTD - we must have posted at the same time! ETA Re whether he'd be happy to wear one, I'm not really sure. He's fairly placid in a lot of ways, so as long as it doesn't get in the way of him licking his bits he might not have a problem with it? :)

That looks very snuggly Sheena! I'm thinking about getting one of these: http://www.horseland.com.au/weatherbeeta-rainstop-dog-rug.html Mainly cos it's on sale, but I think being a straight rainjacket, without any additional warmth or quilting, might be a good compromise. I wouldn't worry about him getting cold if he's dry (or mostly dry). And if he doesn't overheat he might actually be tempted to leave it on. I guess I'll just have to get one and see if he'll leave it alone or not.

Fair enough, I know I'm a bit of a worry wart :) I definitely don't have any issues with him racing around and getting wet (which is the most likely scenario), it just worries me that he might stay that way all day til I get home. I know he takes a long time to dry off too. If he went and stood around outside in the rain first thing in the morning, he'd be wet until I got home at around 5pm. Brisbane doesn't get super cold, but it can get to the low single digits at times through winter. Unlikely during the day though I guess.

I am in Brisbane, sorry - just realised I should have mentioned that! He is pretty tough, and has a lovely thick coat naturally, but I hate putting him outside on rainy days, even though he's happier out there! His kennel has a cushy canvas covered bed inside, but I'm not sure it gets super warm. It's in a sheltered spot, but on a side of the house that doesn't get a lot of sun (great in summer, maybe not so great when it's wet and cold) Some burrowing towels sounds like a good idea, though no doubt he'd drag them outside and leave them in the rain! I certainly wouldn't put a coat on him when the weather is nice, but it sounds like you guys don't worry about leaving your dogs in a coat all day, so maybe I'll look into one just for when the weather is bad...

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to dog coats - I grew up in Cairns where they certainly weren't necessary! Just wondering generally when people use them? Do you ever leave them on the dog when you're not home, or are they for supervised use only? Our lab Nixon is outside during the day when we're at work. We don't have a patio or anything in that part of the yard, so he has a fairly fancy kennel to use should he choose to keep dry when it's raining. I have actually sprung him using it on occasion which I was very happy about, but I know towards the end of the day when we're due home, he will be racing around the yard gleefully regardless of weather! He's generally quite happy wandering around in the rain, but it worries me through winter, when rain is combined with cold, and we won't be there to dry him off til the afternoon. Would any of you consider a waterproof coat in this situation?

I'm pretty sure she said that that's why she hasn't already contacted the breeder - she already feels bad enough without getting scolded further. She was given bad advice from a professional she should have been able to trust, but has been taking full responsibility for the outcome - I'm not sure what would ever be achieved by getting upset at someone in that situation

I'm not sure about immune system, but my boy had a lot of tummy upsets when he was little, and probiotics really helped complete his recovery in my opinion. They make such a big difference! Even if he gets a bit gassy these days I whip them out and they help.

Poor puppy... Sounds like it's had a rough run. Glad it's getting the right treatment now. *ps I'm not game to look at your pic!

What a sweetie pie!

Happy Birthday Nova!! Such a handsome boy Lisa. Gorgeous pic!

What a lovely thing to say Di - thank you! I have noticed he definitely scouts around looking for more after he's been fed now, and he comes and gazes at me with his head in my lap when I'm eating dinner, but we've always been pretty good about not giving him access to human food, so I just try not to think about it too much. Hopefully when we're on adult food we'll be able to give him a little more again without it being a problem. I'll be glad once we've found his ideal adult weight and have some more concrete numbers to work with. It's all still up in the air a little at the moment! The vet said he thought around 30kgs would be good, but I have to admit I think it will be a touch over that.

Thanks Lisa, his coat is lovely at the moment - I get so many nice comments about it, even from other chocolate lab owners :) All thanks to your Livamol recommendation! The vet was so funny - he was pretty young and was being so vague and diplomatic. I just ended up saying "are you trying to tell me he's a bit fat?" "cos if so, I agree" and he looked so relieved! He's just at that tricky age where I know he probably won't get any taller, but I was under the impression that he would continue to bulk up a bit for another few months, so we were being a bit indecisive about whether it was fat or muscle and how he was meant to look. I'm happy to know my gut feeling was probably on the money. We need to switch to adult food asap, but this last bag of puppy food is taking forever to get through now we're feeding him less!

I finally have a nice, current pic of Nixon to share :) I got a new camera for a trip we're taking in a few weeks, and I'm stoked so far! Nixon has been going pretty well - he's had a cough for a couple of weeks which has been a bit of a mystery. Was contemplating going back to the vet for chest x-rays, but he's improved a lot in the last day or so, so hopefully it was just a viral thing. The vet also very diplomatically suggested he was looking a bit chubby (which I had already suspected), so we've cut his food back and he's looking better already. Apart from that - adorable as always :)

He looks so beautiful! What a lovely boy

so what treatment did the new vet suggest? I would have thought neocort would be good, but I'd be interested to know why it's not (for future reference - not judging!)

Petbarn got me last time I was there, but it was for the guide dogs. I was about to decline as I usually would, then realised I do actually think it's a good cause so I caved :) I would definitely rather not be put on the spot though.

I think the Peugeot 4007 is the same body as the old shape outlander.

She is very cute! Will show my friend on monday

Do you have any pics? I have a friend who would be a perfect new owner - though she thinks she doesn't want a 2nd dog til later in the year. I think the right pics might give her a push though :)