paddles

how long is the neck line? and on the tow line, how long is it before they join? please?

The neck line is about 30cm.

The lead out line is probably about 3mtrs and is attached to the base of the harness, not

to the collar.

Can measure it properly tonight if you like.

Great, made a short lead to connect the collars, a y thingy to connect the harnesses, gave it a try out this afternoon, problem is that one of the dogs keeps turning around and getting tangled. Is this just a training thing? or have I messed up somehow? usually when I walk them, they just walk side by side fairly naturally.. (This is just using standard leads on the collars.) could it be the noise of the scooter behind them? (I'm being the propulsion of the scooter not them, since I do not yet have proper harnesses, just seatbelts) they keep turning and trying to chew the leads.

Thank you for your patence.

how long is the neck line? and on the tow line, how long is it before they join? please?

For a bit of fun, and ? i've been training my dogs to work/walk like sled dogs, Mainly working on teaching them left, right, stand etc. (We do not actually pull anything, and probably never really will) but I was wondering, how is the best way to hook them together? they pretty well just walk side by side, but on occasion will seperate. I use a seat belt harness when walking, and a bungy lead (When I'm walking one at a time) should I have two leads on them side by side? or do I hook them together somehow?

rambling a bit, but hopefully someone will get the idea.

Many years ago, I went to Geelong obedience club, andd found it wonderful! since then I have been a member of other clubs (We move around a fair bit) and can tell you this, you could do worse!

It does take a certain amount of dedication from you, as with any training club, but you will gain as much assistance as you need there.

I like my dogs to walk in front, there is no option of crossing behind me then (I always walk on lead) and also I can see them. I like to have a slight pull on the lead, not too tight, and they seem to do this quite happily. Around here, the biggest problem is having loose dogs come out at us, and by having them in front ofme, I can defend them.

They are English springer spaniels.

Oh, also, I've sort of trained them like sled dogs, since Ihave 2 boys, who I am sure, with boys being boys will get the idea of having the dogs pull them, (Many thanks to the Victorian sled dog club for information on training supplied)

Trouble is, she has to remain out of season for six weeks before the vet can/will desex her! so, as long as she doen's come into season again, all should be good! She is an adorable dog, who has settled in well (It took her all of 2 days)

Well the drama's we are having! She went off her food (Mind you, it could have been the heat, and she's a finiky eater at best) two days after she had been to the vet, armed with information etc, on dealing with a bitch in heat, what to expect etc, had a look, no blood, and her vulva has gone right down! I have no idea! Breeder thinks that she's doing trial runs. just hope she stays out of season long enough this time to get her desexed! LOL

how is it that the ones you want to come in never come in and the ones you dont, do

Aint it the truth.

Tell me about it, Sophies breeder saidd the same thing, she's waiting for a bitch to come in season... waiting waiting waiting....

Tell me one thing tho, do bitches in season loose thier appetite? Change thier behaviour etc?

Drats, definately in season, the mess, the fuss, Yuck. Her appointment to be desexed has been pushed back to april. Sigh.

I had a sheltie (Double coat) and he had been clipped before he came to me, probably several times, and his coat was awful. several groomers told me that clipping a double coated dog, always led to problems later down the track, unless you continued to clip. Having said that, I know of sevveral people, who clip just hte belly of the dog, and recon that the dog is cooler (I'm contemplating going that way)

for my dogs, I have one of those clam shell things with some water in it, they get in it to cool down. then lie stretched out on the concrete (Indeed seam to prefer to do this than come inside into the cooling) you just have to watch that they don't get all wet, and then come inside LOL.

Might have been a split season.

Have you spoken to the person you got the dog from?

NOt yet, I noticed it quite late last night, and felt it was too late to ring her, I'll ring her after I have been tothe vet, so that I have some info for her, since she can't see her, and making diagnosis over the phone could be dangerous.

Having said that, I emailed and rang her when I noticed her vulva was swelling again, but with no discharge, she was not concerned. I even went past the vets with her on monday and had the nurse check to see if she needed to see the vet, but same thing, no discharge, she's just looks like she's in/was in season. I've never had any experiance with bitches seasons etc. (Sophie came to me on the grounds that as soon as possible I would desex her, she's booked in for the first week of march.)

Twice I have brought entire bitches in to my home that have come in to season within two weeks even though they weren't due for some time. So hopefully it's nothing sinister! Definitely whisk her to the vets, if you think it's smelly though I would probably hunt around for a 24 hr clinic now 'just in case'.

within a month?

No 24hr clinics around here (I'm in country victoria) and unless I'm certain that it's a life or death situation, I can't justify taking her in for an emergency visit.

I'll ring the vet first thing, and undoubtly get an appointment in the morning (I spoke to the vet about her 2 days ago)

Ok, so now she is bleeding (Not gushing out or anything like that) I'll take her to the vet in the morning, but can I do anything for her now?

Northern Victoria

consult fee $50-

Desex 3mth old male $180-

Desex 8 mth old bitch $250- and up (18kg) I rang all the local vets getting prices, some were tricky and the quote did not cover aftercare, one didn't evern cover the cost of the anestetic. (That would be added to the cost dependant on what was used) all quotes were subject to change (Ie if the vet was in the dog for longer for some reason)

never had dental done

People used to wash the dogs with wool wash, because the eucalyptus oil was supposed to disccourage fleas (At least that was what I was told) personally I use a flea treatment (Advantix? or somthing like that) I take my dogs down to the local petstock, which has one of those coin operated hydrobaths, costs me $5- to wash my dog, no mess etc. (Just remember to take plenty of towels) I don't use the blow dry thing (The one here used cold air) I use any cheep shampoo, or the one in the wash thingy (I know he fills it with a good quality horse shampoo) My dogs come up fine, Maybe not show dog quality, but then they are just pets.

First and formost, I would like to say, a few years back (2) I lost my 8yr old sheltie to pancrititis, i had repeatedly taken him to the vet, saying "The dog is sick" I got the whole you are a paranoid person, the dog is fine, (There is a long story to go with this, but I won't bother with it) until the dog went critical, and died after 3 days hospitalisation. He was fed a healthy diet, was perpetually on a diet (Ok, he was slightly overwhieght, but not grosely so) so I would like to say, that if your dog is prone to such things, they will get it. (Unless you are fanatical, and possible a vet), Now with the dogs I havve now, I am fanatical about thier wieght exercise etc, however, I see many a dog, fed the most appaling diet doing really well.

As for cooked bones, there are many a dog, that has lived a long and happy life being fed cooked bones (As a child, I remember feeding the dogs the chop bones from the bbq) however i feel that the slight cost, of buying a suitable bone for the dog, is minimal and well worth the dogs life, however Ihave had vets tell me not to feed bones at all, and to use such things as, what are they called? dentabone?

I lost 3 dogs over 3 yrs to various things (None my fault (I hope)) and with my two that I have now, hopefully they will have a long and lovely life. I consider the risks, ooked bones, fat etc), too much to risk my dogs, I cut the fat off, I feed a good food, I watch thier whieght, but sometimes things just happen.

Ok, rambling a bit here, what I'm trying to say, is, love your dog, feed it to it's energy requirements (Ie, if you are a marathon rjunner, and you take your dog with you....) a bit of fat won't hurt your dog if you,and dog are active (Like chocolate is good for you, unless you are obese...) but if yyou and your dog lead a more sedentary lifestyle, then cutting the fat back is a good idea.

I've had her a fortnight (No boys got at her) she was still swollen from her season when she came here, but appears to have enlarged more today. She is 5 weeks since the start of her season. (I think) I was wondering if the heat could have caused it.

no sign of a bite, she's not scratching, or appearing in any way uncomfortable. there is no discharge that I can see

from internet research (Oh the folly!) she looks like a bitch going into season (But She came from a breeder who knows a lot more than me!)

I just noticed that her girl bits are all swollen? any suggestions why? (I haven't ever noticed it on another bitch like she has) she finished her seeason a couple of weeks ago before I got her

I'm finding this all very interesting reading, I went out into the court this morning, with one dog at a time, and let them run on a bit, then recalled them, sophie came back quite happily each time (I've only had her a couple of weeks, and was/am quite apprehensive about letting her off lead) Fred however seemed more interested in sniffing, whatever he was sniffing. eventually coming, now I rewarded him when he came to me, and tried to resist standing there calling him repeatedly, even trying walking away from him, (Which strangely enough worked to a fair degree), now my question is, should I keep a long lead on him, and if I do, when he ignores me, should I give a tug on the lead?

In the past I have only used the long lead when the dogs/pups were young. I was taught to recall the dog with the long lead only on the odd occasion,as they soon learn when the lead is on or not. And fred certainly knows when it is on.

I have 2 english springer spaniels, before them, I had 2 Shelties, both breeds are lovely in thier way (all were just pets) with minimal training, sit, walk on lead and recall) all are brilliant (Ok, fred and sophie are destructive at the moment, but just you see in ten years! LOL) But I have to say, that the springers, are more likely to just want to be with you, as opposed to looking if you have food in your hands......

Best family dog ever! (For active kids anyway)

I am having problems with my dogs recall, neither is particularly obediant if they think that they can get away with it, they know when the long line is on, are not particularly food orientated (I use food rewards, but they seem to ignore it when they want to) I am concerned, I have not had this problem before.

Both dogs are english springer spaniels, one raised from a pup, one aquired as an 8mth old, both are just pets. I get wary, if I can not improve thier recall, something tragic will happen one day.

I would like refresher ideas on training them.

Thank you

isn't stripping pulling the hair out? ouch!

(Ok, I've pulled horses manes etc, and when I had a sheltie, I combed out thier coats, but how do I do the springers head? (If it's a case of yanking out bits of hair by hand, I'm not going to be comfortable doing that.) I have a mars comb, that I use on the body, but doesn't seem to do much on the head.

Will add though there is no need to thin there feathers.

The only thinning is blending the throat,bum & feet .

yep they exist.Ours get used 5 days a week practically all year & hard work.

I have found the Wahl,roseline to be a good budget thinner

what do you do for the top of the head, and ears?

Thank you for your prompt replys, I will look to get a pair of doggy ones.

I have two english springer spaniels, and they are constantly wet in this warm weather (they have a wading pool) and I am concerned that one will gett an ear infection again (we've had one once before) a friend told me, that black gunk in the ear does not necessarily mean that they have an infection, and that I should just sqirt some epi-optic into thier ears, however the vet told me when fred had his infection, that excessive cleaning (I do them once a week, just wipingout the accessable parts) can cause infections,a and that the ears are pretty well self cleaning (I'm not putting this right) She said what I do is fine, but that I shouldn't be squirting cleanner into the ears. I've just had a big vet bill (Grass seed) and am reluctant to trot back to the vet if I can avoid it, Mind you, if I think that she definately does have an infection, we will trot off to the vets quick smart, I'm just not certain that she does have an infection. she is not shaking her head, or scratching at her ears, they don't smell bad (Or worse than usual, but my sense of smell is unreliable) but there appears to be black gunk in them (I've cleaned them this morning)

any suggestions?