Scottsmum

um....quick google of "tick zones Australia" gives us this... Not entirely 100% a hard and fast rule but coastal areas are tick areas. Best to be safe rather than sorry.

This is basically the same as saying "if I sit still will mozzies annoy me?" In my opinion - your best line of defense is a spot on designed for ticks, applied as instructed on the pack coupled with a full search when you've got him home. Every time you take him to a high risk area. To be really honest - I have a short haired, mostly white dog - and I was beside myself when I recently took him to a tick area. I think I would probably avoid taking him if I owned a long haired, mainly Black dog. But... ya gotta live your life... Edited to add: http://kb.rspca.org.au/how-can-i-protect-my-dog-from-tick-paralysis_523.html

I'd agree with this.

I'd be organising for the trainer to come and observe without the dog knowing they're there while you're out.

Why are you not ready to breed with him? Did you have a conversation about when you would breed with him and how often? Uh... well ... Wouldnt that be covered in the agreement - verbal or written? This sounds like a reasonably un-related matter. Actually sounds like a friendship or house sitting arrangement gone sour - I'm sure we've all been there, done that, in one way or another. I'd keep the house sitting separate to the gripes you have over the breeding terms. Chalk that one up to experience and don't house sit for them again. I would write a list of things directly related to the dog and the breeding that you want to address and have a cup of tea with them to discuss it. Eg. Where your dog is to be housed during the time, can you drop him off 2 or 3 times during the course of her season or pick him up when they're satisfied he's done the job? Can you renegotiate the terms of the contract? Can you buy them out of the contract & have him desexed? What would you consider fair payment for his service? How many mating's do they expect from him - how many times per year do they expect to access him? What do you think is fair from your point of view? What would happen if you moved interstate with him? Formalise the agreement, get some clarity around the things you dislike and hopefully you can move on, because honestly you sound a little but whingy - but I would be too if I thought these arrangements had been sprung on me - but I'd say there has just been a miscommunication here.

Oh lordie! No suggestions. Just thoughts for you. Dealing with one dog is enough for me

I was there this morning and was only in there for 5 minutes max! :laugh: No dogs with me. ha ha ha - usually I'd agree with you - but my last few trips have been quick as a flash.

Hrm... Well... Ah... As the owner of the dog who killed the bird... Where do I start? 1. The bird was extremely unfortunate. He ended up dead. 2. I'm pretty sure the bird didn't make any kind of un-invited advance towards the dog. I could be wrong. 3. Actually...come to think of it the bird didn't ask me before patting the dog. Stupid bird. Got what was coming to him. 3. It's possible the birdy parents just had a momentary lapse in attention - which is how the bird got bitten... /sarcasm. You're right. You totally don't get it. These two incidents are totally different. Unsupervised dog, off lead, private space Vs On leash, public space. It's entirely up to the parents of the child to keep their eyes on their children out in public. What if the kid had fallen into a display spa or pool and drowned? What if she'd pulled a display down on herself and been crushed. Both horrible situations - but a risk - we've become a culture where people like to blame anyone other then themselves. And a nanny state. 100% the parents should have had their kid under better supervision. Same applies to the owner of the dog. If you can't trust your dog, or you're going to be struggling with 40 kilo bags of potting mix or something - maybe leave the dog at home. I think it's great that you can pop into the hardware shop and grab a few supplies if you need to, but if you think there is a chance you can't pay full attention to your dog - don't take it. I often leave Scottie at home - even when I pop out to petbarn specifically to buy something for him. I really agree with the comments above where they say it shouldn't be dogs Vs Kids. Both parties are responsible for very strict supervision of their dependents - 2 and 4 legged and if you cant supervise or trust them - try to make other arrangements.

I just nod and smile. Seriously. I have a friend who I consider very very knowledgeable in all things dog - even she told me the other day her dog cant have a certain kind of protein in case it makes the dog want to eat that kind of animal. anyhow... just smile and nod. Do what's right for you and Thistle.

How offensive In response to this & my full quote is not shown above anyone who has read my regular posts on here would know that I never intend to be offensive. I was merely stating what looked to be a wind up & that anyone who thought seriously about the subject would realise at least some of the many costs involved but that lots of people really do not think deeply on this matter. That is not being offensive. It does happen on here quite a bit. I have not posted any personal offensive comment about the poster. Nothing to be mad about. Merely an observation that may have been valid. There was no need to add my list of costs as many had posted them before me & I did comment that the poster would now understand. I didnt see anything offensive in your post...

I assume you mean won't eat anything else? I've not heard that.

Could you get a step for the bed? My parents recently put a footstool in their room for one of their 15 year old cats to use to get up on during the night

or me either. Stupid snotted up, drugged up brain. Hello friday!

never mind me...

Hey all, We've had at least two threads which have specifically discussed recall in the last few months (particulary sighthound Vs other breeds) and this blog popped up in my feedly the other day. Hope you all enjoy it, I really like Patricia's style - she's no nonsense and usually has a terribly pretty photo from her farm at the end of each post. I'll get around to reading her book(s) one day. - See more at http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/is-your-dog-safe-off-leash Her post has really bought home that I'm pretty sloppy with Scottie. He doesn't have an emergency stop and his recall has been gettingworse recently - there is a fence at our park which is just irresistible - if I let him get too close to it, it's nose down and he's gone. If I can keep him away from the fence we're good. Little stinker. Fence > Mumsy.

It wasn't really a thing when Guin was around and I didnt bother when I adopted Scottie - I figured they'd always get me on "pre-existing" for an adopted dog with no background. I've heard lots of shonky horror stories - most recently a lady with a large breed who had to pay for diagnostics. They'd pay her back if it was certain things, but not if it was arthritis as they had it listed as a common ailment in her breed. Turned out it was bone cancer and they paid out in full for the diagnostics and the treatment - which is great. But this lady was telling me that bone cancer is pretty high in this particular breed too. Anyhow...maybe one day if I ever get a pup, but not while I have my crotchety old man. We'll just take it as it comes.

Nope, exactly the same thing! Other spot ons do differ though. Revolution is the only one with the exact same composition i believe. Frontline / fipronil is the same drug different volumes for different sizes.

Love that one with Donny.

LOL

You can certainly split a packet of frontline (btw say two 10 kilo dogs in one month) I wouldn't risk it with a chew - and I certainly wouldn't open a blister pack and cut a chew and then leave it open until 'next month'

Nah - it was a adult. I saw in between gagging as I cleaned it up.

I think this lori might have been injured - at least down for the count. We have mynas, Kookas and Maggies who happily come and go and help themselves to his bowl - and he doesn't usually bat an eyelid. The baby maggies also play in the yard a lot - and they're noisy. "Our" maggies are so tame they know how to use the cat flap and often help themselves to cat food in the kitchen- little shits....I will add - this is NOT encouraged! Anyhow... all of this makes me think this one might have hit a window and been shocked or was down and unable to get away from him & was making enough squeak to be attractive.

that plays. I'm not an expert - I wont even begin to guess. Keep us updated.

...can you enlighten me what - in your opinion - is a 'humane dispatch of pests'?...do you rate fighting pests like common myna birds, mice and rats in your garden / home via dogs and cats as 'inhumane'? I'm not going to argue with you Willem - I've seen you be argumentative for arguments sake on other threads and I'm too tired and stuffed up with a cold to bother with an ethics debate. I classify "inhumane death" as anything where an animal, native or not, suffers unnecessarily or the process is drawn out. End.