dartuche

Thank you for all the other replies as well, I really appreciate the help and tips =) Trying to make sure I get them to hit all the checkpoints properly when looking to get a pup - I want the breeder to interrogate them as well so they know for sure this is definitely the breed that's right for them.

That's a good point, I was going to drag her along to one show at least so we could meet some breeders face to face, going from dogzonline I wasn't sure if there would be many people there! Personally I LOVE the idea of a velcro dog, but I want my sister and her hubby to make the right choice, not just for them, but for their future dog as well. I'll go stalk the online events calendar so that I can find something we can all go to.

Hi, my sister is looking into getting a dalmatian as her first dog, and we live south of Perth in Western Australia. I've had a hunt around on dogs online and it seems that there are only two kennels that show dalmatians (Brondeal and Arranbrae) and a few other's that don't. I poked my nose into the Dalmatian specific thread but it's pretty quiet there. Has anyone gotten a Dalmatian from either the Brondeal or Arranbrae kennels, who can comment on what their experience was like with the breeder both before and after getting a pup? Or if you've gotten a pup from a different breeder, what was the process like, did you get support from the breeder afterwards etc? I'm asking because I don't know much about Dalmatians myself, nor does my sister (I lurk in the Dobie threads here personally :p) and want to make sure that a) the dalmatian is the right breed for her and b) we find a reputable breeder. My sister and her husband have a medium-small backyard. Although they both work full time someone is home by 4pm and they have a friend who will be happy to check in on and feed the pup through the day for the first few months. They're looking mostly for a family orientated dog that has medium exercise requirements, as they intend to start a family in the next 2 years. They're happy to walk the dog for up to 40-50 minutes a day but would like a dog that can also chill out with them. They're interested in the breed because they've heard they're good family dogs with medium exercise requirements and low grooming requirements. Any help is muchly appreciated :)

Woah thank you so much for all the suggestions everyone this has been heaps of help-- haha I didn't expect more replies until tomorrow morning! It's always hard to tell when Zephyr is in pain =( He's so stoic the most he'll do is be reluctant to get up and give me the sad puppy face; I've only ever heard him make a small yelp or whine when he was in extreme pain (after surgery for a fat lump) At the beach he mostly walks on the firm sand or elbows deep in water, but getting him to swim is a struggle because he just likes paddling. Like Pretty Miss Emma suggested I'm going to have to try shorter, gentler beach walks with him instead, since the big boof head still loves it and will pretend to be fine the minute he hears the car harness jingling. He's going to the vet tomorrow for another cartophen booster shot so pain meds will definetly need to be discussed. The problem is that every time I go to the vet i'm seeing a different vetinarian on duty which makes it hard to discuss things regarding zephyr that have been ongoing. Perfect Partners, would you be able to recommend where you buy the Natural Animal Solutions oil blend? I'm in WA and the only website I can find it on is here but it won't let me see what ingredients are in the supplements, and City Farmers don't seem to stock that brand. The all in one tablet would be much better for him as well. Harley how have your two beeing going with the joint guard powder? Did it take a while to build up and show results? From what everyone has said I'm going to go buy him the fish oil+glucoasmine tablets, and the vitamin e, and give him four of each per day. That plus sardines every second or third day sounds like my best bet to start with. If that doesn't show more results I'll give the joint gaurd a go-- I want Zephyr to be comfortable and out of pain but like I'm sure everyone knows, dogs come hand in hand with lots of budget juggling antics.

Thanks for the suggestions Pretty Miss Emma, much food for thought there =) Yeah I figured it was the beach stressing his joints out so have cut that for the moment (which sucks given our scorching 30+ days at the moment)I was doing the same thing, buying whatever brand is on special, but I got a bit spooked by people reporting the issues with too much fish oil and realised that was what I was doing to Zephyr. The tinned fish thing sounds good, how often do your dogs get them-- just mixed in with normal food, or as treats? Zephyr is a bit of a pain he does NOT like tablets at all so I have to hide them in his food. Did you have any problems getting them to eat it? I'll look into doggy chiro if I can find one (will have to google it) but that is more of in a month or two thing once the wallet stops crying in a corner.

My first dog was from a back yard breeder (I was young and silly) and my second was from K9 rescue down in mandurah. My rescue dog is the sweetest thing and so loving, and despite his health problems I've never regretted getting him. That being said-- my next dog will be a purebred. With Zephyr I definetly got the luck of the draw, that alongside the willingness to re-train him, and even then we had our ups and downs. I would prefer a purebred because behaviour wise and HEALTH wise I will know exactly what I am getting into. I love Zephyr to pieces but I have spent, in the last 7 years, almost a $6000 a year on treatments or vet bills for various health issues. After my pure bred I might get a shelter dog, but I would defiently be looking for a specific temprament. I wouldn't get a puppy- as stated, you have no idea what you are getting into (case in point: my boyfriends family got a aussie shep X terrier and ended up with a short, hairy daschund looking dog with a VERY loud bark) and would prefer an adult dog, but even then there are just SO many variables, such as the behavioural side-- and I don't think there are many WA shelters that foster dogs out before adoption. Also, I like the security of having a breeder to rely on- adopting a shelter dog by myself, I made SO many mistakes out of ignorance. With a breeder to rely on I will feel so much safer and secure having them as a resource to guide me through health or behavioural problems, where as with a shelter, I had to google everything myself... and I didn't always make the best choices.

Hi all, First time posting after lurking for awhile, and I have query about fish oil dosages and glucosamine. I've been doing a lot of reading today, through some of the old DOL posts and some stuff from google. I was just wondering how other people go with their dosages and what brands etc they find are good. I have a 9 1/2 year old rotte X GSD who is about 43 kg that I got as a rescue dog at aprox 2 years (no one was sure of his age.) Over the last two years he got arhtiritis in his hips (has always been a bit funny about them anyway) and in the last two months has been limping more and more because of his left elbow. He is currently on his second round of cartophen and just getting his first set of boosters for it (Decided to go for cartophen again when the hips played up once more.) He gets 4 cups a day of blackhawk chicken and rice biscuits as well, softened with a bit of beef stock, and I've started giving him some carrots and liver every so often (once a week as finances permit) as well. I've heard recommendations of greek yoghurt and spinach to liven it up-- he has been losing his appetite and I have to WATCH him eat or he lets my other vacuum-on-legs (rottiexstaffy) eat his food. The vet just told me to give him fish oil, and to give him 2 tablets per 10 kg. So he was getting 4 1000mg tablets for brekkie and 4 more for dinner. After doing some reading I reckon I've over dosed the poor thing and I need to get some vitamin e into him as well. A lot of my reading has suggested double dosing at first to see the effectiveness, but I'm worried I will upset his health even more. In the last two months his stools have gotten softer, he is going noticeably gray and now after a good swim/walk at the beach he spends the next 2 days limping because of his elbow, and limps intermittently throughout the day when he has been lying down lots. His appatite will drop low for 2-3 days then he will scarf everything for 2 days, then it will drop off and he won't be very hungry for another 2 days. If I stop the fish oil for a few days his stools firm up, his appetite improves but he limps LOTS more. What I'm considering is one tablet a day of both "Blackmores Natural Vitamin E 500IU Capsules" and "Nature's Way Glucosamine 500mg & Fish Oil 500mg" as his normal dose. Has anyone used similiar brands/combinations and had any luck, and what was your tablet > weight ratio? How well did your dog respond to it? Any help or advice is muchly appreciated =)

I love the halti head collar- I have a GSDxRottie who is a major puller- semi chokes and harnesses did nothing, he just ploughed ahead. With the halti I find him much more behaved and I feel more confident and in control. I had him on double leashes for awhile, but swapped over to just using the halti, I find him more responsive on it and I feel a lot better about handling him with it. A couple of pointers though if you decide to use it... Get Jesse used to it in a positive sense first, my staffyXrottie HATES putting his halti on because I rushed him with it at first, so before walks we play "when are you going to stick your nose in it!" for 5 minutes or so. So definetly make sure that HE puts his nose into the halti, and that it is a positive experience! I've read that a lot of people suggest sit, nose in, treat, then wear it for food, and give them lots of positive rewards with it on or just wearing it, to reinforce that the halti is a good thing. Be careful of "whiplash" with the Halti; do NOT yank straight back for corrections because the dog will just drag you everywhere (also, hurts your shoulder.) Pull gently from the side and up/back a little, just a little tug to make them pay attention. With my GSDX i really foucs on, the minute he pulls I make a corrective noise (a special whistle) then tug, and walk backwards until he has turned around and looked at me. I'll keep walking backwards until he does! A RSPCA trainer showed me that trick 6 months ago and now my boy is a DREAM to walk, instead of a pulled-muscle chore. The halti is a great tool, but like any tool, dogs can AND WILL learn to get around it if they get the oppurtunity. Good luck with Jesse =)